The premise of this book was interesting but the execution was lacking.
The pacing was also slightly off.
It had potential but it just didn’t deliver

Excellent book. Had me hooked from the word go. Lots of twists and turns to keep you entertained. The book was very well written and flowed well

Such a gripping book, a little creepy but thankfully not enough to give me nightmares!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

"Only one thing I know for sure. I’m not spending another second in that house.”

Talk about Big Brother watching you and then plotting against you! Why would anyone want to live like that? Signing away your privacy, having a microchip implanted and then proceeding to live in a house that knows your every desire - from how you like your coffee to the ambient temperature of your shower. But what would you do when the home that is meant to keep you safe starts to make you feel anything but?

Following a home invasion that left her traumatised, Cecelia and husband Scott move into a high-security, high-tech Smart Home...called SmartBlock. Everything is automated and pre-programmed to their every specific need. The microchips they had implanted organises everything from their personal needs to identification. They don't need keys, cards or even money. They even have an electric car that is completely incorporated with Saya, their home's personal assistant. Everything is integrated within the SmartBlock system.

On the outside, it appears perfect. But reality proves to be very different when the house that does everything you could dream of, from running your perfect bath to magically cleaning everything up, suddenly turns against you. Strange things begin to happen when it starts to make random coffees you didn't ask for, plays jazz music at a deafening level and heats your 3 year old daughter's breakfast to piping hot. You know things have reached a new level of madness when you begin arguing with the house's AI system...

And then the system begins malfunctioning revealing that the house, in which they are apparently the first to live, had a prior occupant...Lydia. Who is Lydia? And what happened to her? And why does no one in this community want to talk about her?

In a house that is meant to keep them safe Cecelia feels anything but and has the sense that someone is constantly watching her. But no one believes her. Not her husband and certainly not IntelTech. In fact, Scott's answer is for her to see a psychiatrist...based right here in SmartBlock. But Cece knows the problem is not her, it's the house. And when she catches a glimpse of a lense trained on her daughter Taryn's bedroom window one night, she begins to feel unnerved. How much do they really know about their neighbours? Who even are their neighbours? And why is the system calling her Lydia?

In her quest to discover more about the mysterious Lydia, Cece uncovers a few lurking skeletons and begins to realise that no one's secrets are safe...including her own.

Whoa! This book serves as a perfect reminder NOT to have a smart house. The things that went wrong and what is known about you is pretty scary. Big Brother is definitely watching here.

Upon starting this book and discovering AI featured rather heavily, I wasn't sure I would like it as all that is a bit too Sci-Fi for me. But the way in which Nina Laurin delivers the whole concept had me gripped from the beginning. I know it has been tried before and the two books I have read which feature AI technology, one of which failed to grab my attention and the other one only just, A WOMAN ALONE has a sinister edginess that both grips you and creeps you out.

The main characters were well developed, if not annoying, while the supporting ones lingered in the background. I have to say that Scott is the most egotistical selfish husband, dismissing his wife's fears and concerns as ridiculous. The ostentatious way in which he dismisses her every thought, fear or concern as "being just like her mother" is arrogant and abhorrent. He really did not seem to care about her feelings at all while at the same time reiterating the state of her mental health. I found him to be just as coercive as the house itself! And Taryn...OMG! I am not a fan of children, but this child was the spawn of satan. Her behaviour was abhorrent...but then given that she had the illusion of everything she wanted on her tablet screen, I was not surprised.

"I don't have to worry about waking Taryn. At exactly 7:35, the curtains of her room upstairs will open and the tablet by her bed will flicker on, distracting her with morning cartoons while I prepare her oatmeal and come to get her."

Seriously? And they wondered why Taryn continued to act out? When the cartoons finish, seconds count down till the inevitable happens. From her crib upstairs, she screams like a banshee and when Cece walks in and greets her daughter, Taryn is glaring at her and demands petulantly "Another. Now!" When that doesn't happen, she kicks and screams and flails her arms. Her tantrums are epic. In fact, every time Taryn features in the story (which is minimal to say the least) she is throwing some kind of tantrum.

I would have liked to see a bit more character development with the mysterious neighbour in the house behind Cecelia's. The only explanation, when it came, was so random and out of left field it really didn't make any sense why it was even there. Or why he had a camera trained on Taryn's window. He could have been more developed and interspersed within the story much better than the random way in which he was plonked there. Jessica, too, could have been a little more developed. Some of her actions were a little confusing when the bigger picture was revealed and some threads were left unexplained.

But overall, A WOMAN ALONE is a sinister tale that is chilling in more ways than one. It is creepy on a whole new level. But it is also edge of your seat and will keep you guessing till the end. And the twists will leave you thinking "what the hell just happened?"

Although this concept has been done before, I think Nina Laurin was far more successful in her tale than those who have gone before and I couldn't help but think it would make a great movie. It is chilling, thrilling and claustrophobic.

My first foray with this author, A WOMAN ALONE is perfect for fans of J.P. Delaney's "The Girl Before" and S.K. Tremayne's "The Assistant" ...only better.

I would like to thank #NinaLaurin, #Netgalley and #MulhollandBooks for an ARC of #AWomanAlone in exchange for an honest review.

From the outside Cecilia has a perfect life and a perfect home. Living in Venture in a smart home created by IntelTech you would think life would be great.

When the house starts to show glitches - the wrong coffee in the morning and calling Cece by a different name she begins to wonder what she’s let herself in for and if she and her family are in danger.

This is a futuristic almost sci fi thriller that I found totally and utterly absorbing. Just the kind of thriller I like where the protagonist isn’t believed by anyone and they have to go it alone.

I liked Cece and how she wasn’t believed and thought this was a great angle to the story. It made her a believable character and I sympathised with what she was going though.

It has echoes of JP Delaney’s perfect wife and the girl before so if you’re a fan of these you’ll love this.

Twisty right to the end - you’ll never guess the last paragraph. For once I didn’t see it coming.

I’ve not read anything by Nina Laurin before but would definitely pick up another of her novels.

Sadly, not one I enjoyed. I will admit the premise was intriguing, and the writing is good enough that you do get drawn in initially. But as it develops, it loses its way, and unlikable characters combined with poor plotting combine to create a disjointed and dull reading experience. The 'twists' come out of nowhere, there's no real development or build up so instead it's more like everything gets thrown in without any thought or planning, and the ending is just thrown in there. It felt very must like it was being made up on the spot, and there was no coherent thread linking everything together - instead, everything was just thrown in at the last minute to try and pass it off as a surprise twist. I really wanted an exciting, edge of your seat thriller, but instead it was somehow both predictable and unbelievable, and full of unlikeable characters who quite frankly I couldn't care less about.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

An great storyline, with interesting lead characters and a level of suspense that keeps you wanting to read more. A great book that I read within a day.

A gripping phycological thriller. I found the technology aspect a little creepy but really enjoyed the story.

I really enjoyed this book and will give it a huge thumbs up. With a great story line and excellent main characters - I would highly recommend this book.

After a traumatic home invasion, Cecelia, her husband and their young daughter move into a newly designed "smart community", where AI can ensure not only their safety and security, but also afford them every imaginable convenience and luxury: coffee machines that remember their preferred beverages, voice-controlled transport, and doors that will only open for the family who live there. But what started out as a place of solace and safety quickly starts to become the opposite. Technology begins to malfunction - but only for Cecelia, and never when her husband is around. Doors lock and won't open, the shower scalds her, and her identity chip malfunctions on several occasions. Then the house's Intel system calls Cecelia "Lydia", and Cecelia starts to think something truly sinister is going on. Who was Lydia? And does the house have some kind of motive for wanting Cecelia dead?

I wasn't sure about this one to begin with - I'm not normally a fan of AI-gone-rogue type novels but I have enjoyed Nina Laurin's other books, so I decided to give it a go anyway. Am very glad I did - "A Woman Alone" is an original and compelling idea, and the story is well told, with the tension gradually ratcheting up throughout. A tense and edgy read.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley, who provided me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having previously read and adored Nina Laurin's The Starter Wife, I leapt at the chance to read her latest novel, A Woman Alone. I revelled in this one also, loving the author's crisp writing.

In A Woman Alone the reader is introduced to the story's primary character, Cecelia (Cece) Holmes, who has recently moved to Venture, Illinois. The Holmes family have a wonderful home with all of the latest AI technology, designed to a specification intended to make the resident feel safe and protected. Prior to moving, Cece, husband Scott and their toddler daughter Taryn, were subjected to a terrible and traumatic break-in back at their previous house. When weird and puzzling occurrences begin, Cece soon realises there are skeletons lurking in closets just waiting to be let out...

Although the plot concept has been tried before, I loved the edgy feel Nina Laurin brought to the story. Her characterisation was impressive and Cece, in particular, was brilliantly portrayed with her overall unreliability and secretiveness. Undoubtedly an edge-of-your-seat read, I suffered from extreme 'just one more page' syndrome whilst reading this chilling tale. I am already eagerly anticipating what this talented author may write next. 🤩

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Hodder & Stoughton/ Mulholland via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I wasn't sold on this book at first; I found it slow and hard to get into. Once I reached the halfway point, I realised I was extremely invested in the story and needed to know what had happened.

It has a creative plot that focuses on advanced technology. It reminded me alot of a Black Mirror episode or John Marrs novel.

I really enjoyed reading this one much more than I expected.

This is a book you need to stick with - it needs you to keep reading at the beginning but when you do it’s unset downable - big brother is watching everything

I'm on the fence because I cannot tell if I liked or not. I liked the idea of a highly technological house but I didn't like the characters.
The plot is gripping and entertaining and I think some people will surely love it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Cecelia, Scott, and their three-year-old daughter move into a new house with a difference : everything is run by AI, from the making of their morning coffee to the latest security features. After being the victim of a break-in at their old house, Cecelia should feel safe, but she feels like she is being watched. Then the house AI starts to malfunction and calls her 'Lydia' - Cecelia wants to find out who Lydia was and what happened to her as Cecelia and Scott are supposed to be the first occupants of the house.

I thought this was a great premise. With the fact that our lives are becoming more and more dependent on electronic devices and systems, it was sobering to read about what happens when things go wrong. The book did use the tropes of woman on the edge and disbelieving husband, but they worked in this one. I thought it was a great read, although I thought the ending was just a little contrived. Overall, well worth a read if you like intriguing thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Hodder & Stoughton/Mulholland Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me an ARC of A Woman Alone.

This was such a brilliant thriller, easy to read and original. At the beginning of the book, I wanted to live in a house like this, technology laden, time saving and intelligent. I enjoyed how the narrative toyed with humanities relationship with technology as we all want to improve our lives with technology, but what good does that really do? The ending was unpredictable and I would definitely read other novels by Nina Laurin ..

A year on from a brutal home invasion, Cecelia, her husband and daughter move into a new Inteltech smart home. The house has a complex security system, the neighbourhood is gated, the residents heavily vetted - Cecelia should feel safe. One day the smart home starts to malfunction, revealing that the house once had another occupant - Lydia. Inteltech denies all existence of Lydia which drives Cecelia to try and find answers. Who is the mysterious Lydia and what happened to her?

I really enjoyed this unique take on AI and smart homes! Nina Laurin has an edgy and compelling style of story telling amassing the suspense, drip feeding information that keeps you hooked.

A Woman alone is a brimming with secrets and twists, a fun easy to read and easy to follow thriller that will keep you guessing right up until the end.

Thanks Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my copy to review.

Unfortunately I found this book quite annoying at first, a house with complex security devices that are bound to go wrong, we know that straight away, and who would choose to live in a place like that? Interesting story line but not quite my cup of tea.

Really good read. Would recommend to friends and family. I could sympathise with characters (important for any fiction novel!) and looked forward to picking it up and reading the next few chapters! Interesting plot line and a good ending. Will look out for more novels by the author. Thank you.

Thanks to Netgalley for the preview of this book. I found it to be ok. It was a good read but I felt it was more suited to the sci fi genre as opposed to a thriller.