I was intrigued by this book and the story itself, but it definitely did not deliver as I expected it to. I felt like the start of the book came in too hot so that when the characters were introduced, it was too much at one time to understand how they fit into the story. The overall story was good and did have it's moments, but overall I did not like the ending and ended up not really enjoying this book.

This is a grippy fast paced book. The short chapters make it a fast easy read. The story is based around a funeral directors. It is a creepy suspenseful read

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press for the arc of this book by Lesley Kara

5 stars- sensational read, gripping, so unique was such a great read wanting more page by page

As always a winner right here, twists and turns and shocking characters 😂 brilliant, once again ploughed through it like all her books and was disappointed when it was over! Can’t wait for the next one

Yet another addictive crime novel from Lesley Kara. The unpredictable twists and turns had me at the edge of my seat throughout. The different POV’s helped with the momentum but it was overall a slower paced read which I enjoyed. Loved it!

Thank you Random House and NetGalley didn't think I would enjoy a book based around a funeral parlour but I did.
Good storyline, characters and this was just a great read.
Highly recommend.

Oh shoot. This was twisty, eerie and darn right everything I love to keep me reading.

I read this in one sitting (because I was on strike doing chores as everyone’s watching football so I’m gonna sit on my bum too) so I did…..

This is based around a funeral parlour, I kid you not but.,.,,don’t freak out. It’s ok, they were all dead!

The main character I had a bit of a wobble with, marmite, ya know? Anyway, I got over that and got really invested in this creepy sinister suspense thriller.

I absolutely recommend this.

I loved this authors ladt book too, I can see her on my auto click list.

This is my second novel by this author.
Really enjoyed the fast pace and short chapters. Kept my attention throughout

My first book from Lesley Kara and it was a brilliant thriller that kept me guessing from start to finish. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

I enjoyed previous novels by the author but this one was not quite up to their standard. It was quite a slow read and a little predictable but kept me interested.

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

If I'm being honest, no book from the author has been able to live up to her debut novel 'The Rumour'. Not that any of them have been awful by any means, but The Rumour is still very much my favourite.

Now to the book in question.... 'The Apartment Upstairs' is an easy read. I really love these author's writing style. I was engaged, but not massively gripped like other books. I was intrigued, but I did find myself guessing a few elements correctly before the reveal.
The characters were likeable and full of determination.
A book I liked, but not one I loved.

I’ve read all the books by this author so I was really happy to be given the opportunity to read this arc.

It’s different from her other books, I did enjoy it but it still didn’t beat “The Rumour” for me, that book was brilliant.

Still this was a fast paced enjoyable read.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Lesley Kara for a copy in return for an honest review.

I devoured this book in one setting. Outstanding. Thoroughly enjoyed and cannot recommend enough!
I've read many of Lesley Kara's books and this is my favourite. 10/10.

Scarlett is returning to her Aunt Rebecca’s house where she has a downstairs apartment. She is very apprehensive as her Aunt Rebecca was brutally murdered by her partner in her upstairs apartment, Scarlett now has the job of organising the funeral and coping with ME. The funeral company she is arranging it with is run by Dee and Lindsey who quickly realise that Rebecca had been a supply teacher at her school years ago. She taught Dee, Lindsey and their friend Gina who went missing ten years previously. On going through her Aunt’s personal belongings Scarlett finds links between Rebecca and Gina. Is the disappearance of Gina and Rebecca’s death linked? The chapters alternate between Scarlett’s sorry and Dee’s story and bring them both together to make a gripping read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Transworld for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was so excited to read this book as I have loved every book by this author. This was such a good read I did not want to put it down.

Scarlett's aunt was brutally murdered in the apartment upstairs. One of Dee's closest friends has been missing 10 years. These two women will meet, and secrets will unearth that links both of them more than they could ever have realised.

Brilliant book with a gruesome storyline that had me gripped from the start. Scarlett / Lindsey / Dee are brilliant characters that portray strong independent women, which I absolutely love! It's a book that doesn't seem so 'fake' considering how gruesome the story is / the coincidences that come up. Lesley is a very talented author!

Description 🔖

Scarlett’s aunt lived upstairs in the apartment above hers. She was also brutally murdered in the same apartment. Most people would want to get as far away as possible, but Scarlett is determined to restore some normality to her life, even if she has to remain living so close to where horrible memories lie. Plus, she loves her home and she’s safe there. She thinks.

Dee has her hands full running her funeral director business and planning an event to mark ten years since the disappearance of one of her best friends. Throw in a troll leaving horrible messages on her company’s Facebook page and needless to say, Dee doesn’t have a lot of down time.

When Scarlett employs the services of Dee’s business to arrange her aunts funeral, it becomes apparent that there is a link between her murdered aunt and Dee’s missing friend. Unknowingly, the pair are about to uncover some long buried secrets, even though there is someone who will try their hardest to stop them.

General Thoughts 🤔

I’ve not read any books by Lesley Kara before so I was looking forward to seeing if I would enjoy her writing. I did very much enjoy this book. It was easy to read but was by no means boring. I loved the way that the book explored the bad things that people can and will do; all for a variety of reasons. Not every person who does something bad is inherently bad, but there are people out there who will do evil and not bat an eyelid.

Characters 👫👭👬

I really enjoyed the friendship between Dee and Lindsay. They had been friends since childhood which I always think makes friends feel more like siblings. The two of them were very close, but both kept secrets from the other and I did have a feeling that once they started unravelling, they would struggle to mend the cracks. I understood the perspective of them both and I think I’d have struggled to have picked a side if it was two of my friends in an argument.

I wanted to feel a little bit more for Scarlett but for some odd reason, I struggled to connect with her. She had gone through something awful and was struggling with her own medical problems, but for some reason, I couldn’t empathise with her. I personally think that she held on to information that she knew for far too long but having said that, I was happy with the choices that she made in the end.

Writing Style ✍️

Although this book wasn’t speedy Gonzales pace, it wasn’t a negative thing. As soon as it started, I was hooked into the story and it definitely had the “one more chapter” feel about it. Please don’t be put off if you prefer lots of action and pace, stick with this book because the twists and turns weaved by the author were definitely worth it.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖

I got through this book in one sitting and I think that’s always a good indication of how much I enjoy it. It was engaging, suspenseful and it made me question moral decisions and what truly makes a bad person. I’d recommend this book for an easy read that still packs a punch with some hidden surprises.

I have been enjoying some great books on my NetGalley TBR. I enjoyed The Rumour by Lesley Kara a little while before starting the blog, so when I saw her name pop up during one of my searches, I jumped at the chance to read her work again.
The Apartment Upstairs is an intriguing mystery thriller that provides a great escape when you open the cover. The author tells a realistic story with characters who you find yourself bonding with quickly as you explore loss and the effect a missing person has on the people left behind. This book shares the anguish suffered by those left without any answers.
Lesley Kara tells a detailed story, allowing you to get to know the characters and reveal each one’s past before she drops a bombshell. I enjoy the way the story slowly unfolds, allowing you to feel comfortable with the characters and their roles before everything is turned upside down. She digs deep into the emotions of the characters as she brings them to life. Slowly revealing their inner workings, leaving you feeling as if you are forming new friendships as you get to know them.
Scarlett’s aunt, Rebecca, was brutally murdered in her bed, in the apartment upstairs. When the police are done with the crime scene and the clean-up has been completed, Scarlett decides to return home. She has the perfect apartment, and she is not going to give it up. She loves her home, and her aunt played a big role in her life. She has good memories of Rebecca, so there is no reason for her not to return home.
Dee is a funeral director, she runs her business with her best friend and they are busy planning an event to remember their friend Gina, who went missing ten years ago. When Dee and Scarlett meet to discuss the arrangements for Rebecca’s funeral, these two women find comfort in each other’s company and both speak a lot more openly than they normally would.
Scarlett discovers correspondence linking Rebecca and Gina and soon she is left not knowing what to believe when her father ad her brother acts strangely. Is she seeing things that aren’t there, or is her family keeping her in the dark for a reason?
I enjoyed the way this book eases you into the story. You get to know the characters as each one’s story unfolds and just when you reach a relaxed reading pace the tables are turned and more details are revealed that leave you suspecting that everyone is not who they initially appeared to be. When you reach the halfway mark in this book you will not be able to drag yourself away. The first half of the book, I read over two days while the second half had me hooked and left me racing to the end.
Scarlett steals your heart with her vulnerability. She is ill and struggles with her grief at the loss of her aunt. Her family cares deeply for her and the way they look after her warms your heart. Ollie is a caring brother and his devotion to his sister leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy.
Dee might run a successful business, but you quickly realise that this woman is not as strong as she pretends to be. Gina’s disappearance has left her distraught and while she keeps up appearances, she has put her life on hold. Never allowing anyone to see the cracks. Until her concern for Lindsay forces her to share some of her inner thoughts.
Lesley Kara tells a brilliantly creative tale about loss and heartache and just as you are in a comfortable place she turns things around, revealing that there is so much more to this story than you initially imagined. I love this author and this book did not disappoint. It’s a fabulous read.
Mystery and thriller fans will find themselves losing touch with their surrounding as they open this book. You can expect a relaxed easy read during the first half of this book but be prepared for an edge-of-your-seat experience once you pass the halfway mark. The Apartment Upstairs is a fantastic read that I would highly recommend. If you haven’t yet, add this one to your TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lesley Kara and Random House for the ARC of The Apartment Upstairs

First up, it's worth saying that I absolutely loved The Rumour and The Dare, so was really excited to read this next book from the same author.

Scarlett suffers from ME and has just moved back into her apartment. This isn't just any apartment, however; it’s the apartment below the one where her aunt was brutally murdered.

Left to arrange the funeral, Scarlett meets Dee - the owner of the local funeral directors, who is also mourning - the loss of her close friend Gina who disappeared 10 years ago and has not been seen since.

With a number of intertwining story lines, it soon becomes apparent that these ladies stories are linked - in the most unexpected of ways.

Whilst this book didn't thrill me quite as much as its predecessor (I found some parts a little predictable and the ending a bit unbelievable) it was still a fast-paced thriller that held my attention throughout.