*Invite Me In* by Emma Curtis is a psychological thriller that delves into the dark recesses of human obsession, guilt, and betrayal. With its tightly wound narrative, sharp twists, and morally complex characters, the novel keeps the reader engaged as it explores the consequences of unchecked desires and the secrets people are desperate to hide. If you enjoy thrillers that combine suspense with emotional depth and character-driven storytelling, *Invite Me In* offers a compelling read.

### Plot Overview:
The story revolves around **Penny**, a seemingly ordinary woman who is dealing with the aftermath of a devastating personal tragedy. Penny’s life is turned upside down when a chance encounter leads her to meet **Niall**, a charming, yet mysterious man. Niall is recovering from his own set of emotional scars, but he quickly becomes fixated on Penny. Over time, his presence in her life grows, and with it, the tension and sense of unease.

When Niall begins to insinuate himself into Penny's life in increasingly intrusive ways, things take a dark turn. Penny starts to question whether Niall's interest in her is truly romantic or if he has hidden motives. As Penny becomes more entangled in his world, secrets start to unravel, and both characters are forced to confront their own demons.

The novel moves back and forth between different points of view, with chapters alternating between Penny and Niall. This dual narrative approach allows the reader to understand the inner workings of both characters, amplifying the suspense and providing insight into their psychological states. The tension grows as their lives become increasingly intertwined, culminating in a shocking and unpredictable conclusion.

### Character Development:
The central strength of *Invite Me In* is its complex characters. Penny is a sympathetic protagonist, though her vulnerability makes her prone to being manipulated. Her backstory, filled with personal loss and unresolved grief, explains her emotional fragility and makes her a highly relatable character. Throughout the novel, Penny is forced to confront not only the emotional scars from her past but also the consequences of her actions in the present. Her psychological state, while empathetic, is fraught with self-doubt, which allows the reader to question how reliable she is as a narrator.

Niall, on the other hand, is a fascinating and sinister character. Curtis does an excellent job of portraying his charm and charisma, while subtly revealing the cracks in his facade. His growing obsession with Penny, and his manipulative behavior, create a sense of creeping dread as his motivations become less clear. As the story unfolds, Niall’s psychological depth adds layers to the narrative, and the reader is kept guessing about his true intentions.

The tension between Penny and Niall is palpable, and as their relationship deepens, the complexity of their personalities and actions comes into sharper focus. Penny’s vulnerability makes her susceptible to Niall’s influence, but it’s also clear that she harbors her own secrets that complicate the dynamics of their interactions. This complexity makes both characters intriguing, as the line between victim and villain blurs.

### Writing Style:
Emma Curtis writes in a style that is both direct and immersive. The alternating perspectives of Penny and Niall are handled skillfully, providing a sense of intimacy and psychological depth. The pacing of the novel is steady, gradually building the tension and suspense as the relationship between the two characters grows more fraught. Curtis does an excellent job of maintaining an air of uncertainty and mystery throughout the story, keeping readers on edge and unsure of who to trust.

The prose is straightforward yet evocative, creating a tense atmosphere that lingers as the plot unfolds. The shifting viewpoints offer contrasting insights into the characters’ thoughts and motivations, adding complexity to the story. Curtis also has a knack for crafting scenes that evoke both emotional and physical tension, from quiet, intimate moments to scenes of heightened suspense.

### Themes and Symbolism:
*Invite Me In* explores several themes, with **obsession** being the most prominent. The novel dissects the ways in which obsession can warp relationships, leading to manipulation and unhealthy power dynamics. Both Penny and Niall are shaped by their pasts, and their interactions reflect how old wounds can fester and influence present decisions.

The theme of **trust** is also central to the narrative. Penny’s growing suspicion of Niall, and the gradual realization that not everything is as it seems, highlights the fragility of trust in relationships. This distrust extends to the reader, who is left questioning the truth of what is being presented at various points in the novel. Curtis plays with the idea of **truth versus perception**, making the characters’ motivations and actions difficult to fully pin down.

**Guilt** and **redemption** are other important themes that emerge throughout the story. Penny is haunted by her past mistakes, and as she becomes more involved with Niall, she begins to confront the consequences of her decisions. This theme of confronting one's actions and the desire for atonement adds a layer of emotional depth to the book.

### Emotional Impact:
*Invite Me In* is an emotionally charged thriller that plays on the reader’s emotions, especially around themes of vulnerability and the psychological cost of obsession. The moral ambiguities of the characters make for a deeply compelling psychological journey. While Niall’s manipulative actions are sinister, Penny’s own internal conflicts give the reader a sense of empathy, which complicates any clear-cut sense of who is "right" or "wrong."

The suspense builds slowly, and the novel’s twists and turns keep readers engaged. The emotional payoff comes in the form of character revelations and unexpected developments, which feel earned by the complexity of the relationships at play. The final moments of the book are both shocking and emotionally resonant, leaving the reader to reflect on the nature of obsession, guilt, and human connection.

### Final Thoughts:
*Invite Me In* by Emma Curtis is a gripping and emotionally charged psychological thriller that will captivate fans of suspenseful, character-driven stories. The novel’s examination of obsession, guilt, and the psychological tension between two complex characters makes it a standout in the domestic thriller genre.

With well-drawn characters, a tightly woven plot, and an atmosphere of creeping dread, *Invite Me In* is a compelling read for those who enjoy thrillers that delve deep into the human psyche. The book's ability to blur the lines between victim and perpetrator, while exploring the consequences of trust and obsession, makes it both thrilling and thought-provoking.

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end and leaves you reflecting long after the final page, *Invite Me In* is a highly recommended read.

Wow. Suspense, psychological, tense through and through! A well written book which hooks you and draws you in the further you get into the book. Highly recommended if you like an edge of the seat read.

A picture perfect life is rarely everything it seems and this brilliantly written story will expose the creepy consequences when someone infiltrates that life. Twisty and smart, I loved it.

Invite Me In Emma Curtis

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. Really engaging main character called Eliza, I was hooked on her story from the beginning.
Well written and thoroughly enjoyable. This was my first book written by this author and I now want to buy more of her books.

I was hooked in from the very first page. The characters were interesting. The plot is good and kept me engaged.
A fantastic book

absolutely loved this - gripping and believable, with a properly paced climax. Will be on the hunt for more books by this author.

I really love Emma Curtis's books as she writes domestic thrillers very well.

Eliza Curran is married to Martin and they are parents to 6 year old Lucas and 3 year old Aurora. They are quite well off and own a lot of rental properties. Martin uses a wheelchair as he became paralysed after a car accident.

Whilst at an upcoming rental property, Eliza answers the door to a man named Dan who is interested in the flat and asks for him to be considered ahead of it going on the market officially. Dan soon infiltrates Eliza's family, by getting into a relationship with her au pair whilst also hitting on Eliza, causing tons of destruction but why? Eliza did not know Dan before this but did he know her?

This is so twisty and I loved the little bits of information that were being drip fed to us. Although I didn't particularly like any of the characters, I did feel sorry for Eliza as Martin was a very controlling person. I always worry about the endings of thrillers because they can make or break a novel but I was pleased with this one!

After reading The Night You Left by the same author I was ecstatic to recieve Invite Me In as an ARC.

This was more of a slow burner than her previous novel but my god once it grips you it doesn't let go.

Emma Curtis has the most magnificent writing style that has all the elements needed to literally suck you in. Massive red herrings, twists and turns galore, awkward situations and planting those little seeds of doubt deep into your brain so that you have no choice but to keep on reading.

I do love a 'whodunnit' and this was no exception.

Whilst I didnt particularly like any of the characters they were executed brilliantly.

The main character Eliza seems to have the picture perfect perfect life but what goes on behind closed doors is the complete opposite.

A tale full of unravelling secrets, twists galore and dangerous games!

Huge thanks to netgalley and Random House UK Transworld for the ARC.

This was a book with impossible to guess endings. A compelling domestic drama, where things 'are not quite what they seem'. Lots of twist and turns, you won't be disappointed!

An engaging domestic noir full of eventful twists. To outsiders Eliza looks to have the perfect life but her marriage is not as ideal as it seems…

Totally unputdownable (is that a word?!)
This was a really well written book and had me totally on the edge of my seat a few times. It was very well written and the story flowed well and I didn't want it to end. Highly recommend.

emma curtis books are always a good read and seem to be a very easy read of psychological thriller. not to be missed and probably need a bit more pushing to get into the mainstream

A great read. I don't give 5 stars to many novels, but I really enjoyed this one. Cleverly written and full of twists, turns and surprises. Lots to keep you drawn in and wanting to find out more.

I found the book quite stale in the beginning. But it did turn itself around and I couldn’t put the book down. A very clever plot which was well thought out. Very well written once it got going . Lost a star due to the beginning letting it down

Really enjoyed this book and its many twists and turns. The one at the end is so clever. It hooked me straight away and never let up.

How did I miss this book!
This was laid right down my kindle books on my kindle and I hadn’t even written it on my TBR. I can only think I must have got distracted and forgot what I was doing….
My excuse!

Emma Curtis is a fluent writer who drew me in, she twirled me around so many times in my brain I got dizzy.
I’ve not counted the twists and proverbial turns there are many.
Very good ones too.

I listened to this on audio. The narrator was excellent in her pitch, power and pace. She delivered good when things got tense.

Eliza has it all, seemingly.

How many books have you read with that trope of a sentence?
I have! Loads…..
So when I found this on my kindle and thought, oh no…..I should have read this last year. It’s from Netgalley.
I looked it up and saw that above sentence in the blurb and quite honestly raised my eyes to the ceiling.
Here goes another one…….
I thought.

This one is intense people, it’s fast paced too (mind you, I did have it on 2x speed, that had nothing to do with it though….honestly) lots of things were happening and plenty of times I was questioning everyone.

I had a good time with this book. Lots going on in reality with life and this story really pulled me into it and out of my worries.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a copy of “Invite Me In “ for an honest review.

I’ve read ,and enjoyed , other books by Emma Curtis and this book was no exception. I like Emma Curtis’ style of writing .I found the story to be really well paced and a real page turner. On the whole the characters were not particularly likeable , and things did become a little far fetched at times , but this didn’t stop my overall enjoyment of the book.
An engrossing read

Eliza is married to Martin who is controlling, nasty and confined to a wheelchair. So when Dan turns up at one of their rental properties and shows interest in her, she’s more than flattered. But of course not everything is as it seems! There was plenty of action, not all of it great. Gripping even when the plot is implausible. If anyone likes books filled with unlikeable characters, then this is the one. Starting with doormat Eliza. The proofreader must have missed the part where Eliza manages to make a call from a nonexistent mobile/disconnected landline!

Another fabulously compelling read from Emma Curtis. I love the way that her books keep you guessing, and even when you think you've finally cracked it, it turns out that you were wrong all along.

Hit and miss. There isn’t one character I liked. And was hoping for more of a twist. That said it’s a good easy read and I’d give it 4/5.