Apologies but this was a DNF, was fed up of the main characters commentary on being scared of the flat upstairs on her return (after the first few chapters ) and so realised this book was not for me as the main subject of the book is the flat upstairs!

The Apartment Upstairs is another gripping psychological thriller from one of my favourite authors. It’s a slow burner, full of interesting characters and a murder/suicide that may be connected to the case of a missing girl..
Lesley Kara always creates intriguing characters and there were plenty to watch out for here.. I liked Scarlett who still lives in the apartment below the one her aunt was murdered in. Her health issues were handled well and played a big part in how she acted.
I thought I had everything worked out but I was so wrong! There were twists, there were some shocking reveals and there were secrets that were never going to stay hidden.
An addictive read-definitely one that you won’t want to put down.

Scarlett's aunt lived - and was brutally murdered - in the apartment upstairs. But Scarlett is determined that life shall return to some kind of normal, even if that means living with just a ceiling between her and the scene of such a devastating crime. After all, this is her home. She's safe here. Isn't she? Dee is busy balancing her job as a funeral director with organising an event to mark the disappearance of her best friend ten years ago. So she's got enough on her plate without worrying about the threatening messages that are appearing on her company's FaceBook page. When Scarlett approaches Dee about planning her aunt's funeral, an unexpected link between them emerges.

The tension builds from the first page, The pace is on the slow side but don't let that put you off. Filled with red herrings that will keep you guessing and two storylines running throughout the book, they soon join together seamlessly. i was quickly gripped by the storyline and it held my attention throughout. We also meet Lindsay who runs the funeral business with Dee. The story is told from different viewpoints, I quite enjoyed this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #LesleyKara for my ARC of #TheApartmentUpstairs in exchange for an honest review.

Lesley Kara books are always so addictive! I read this in an afternoon, with each chapter leaving me needing more. I loved the way the two stories intertwined and kept me guessing right until the end. Once again I was thinking I knew it all but I was wrong in so many ways 😅 I love it when this happens.

Would you go back and live in the house where a family member was murdered? Against her families advise, Scarlett does just this. He aunt Rebecca was brutally murdered by her fiancée, who then killed himself in the bathroom. This all happened in the apartment upstairs from where Scarlett is living but it is hard not to constantly think about it. She turns to Fond Farewells to help organise the funeral. Dee, the funeral director, is dealing with her own demons. Her close friend Gina has been missing for almost 10 years now. The 2 women bond over their losses and find that they paths had crossed before.

The ending of this will shock and surprise you. I certainly didn’t pick it. Full of twists and nasty characters, The Apartment Upstairs is a fantastic thriller that will certainly entertain you.

Thanks to Random House UK for my advanced copy to read. Published June 23rd.

I started reading this and just couldn't get in to it. I made it over 100 pages in and I just kept forgetting what was happening. I really enjoy the authors other work, so maybe I will come back to this book in the future, but right now, it just is not for me.

The apartment upstairs was referred to as the ‘bedroom bloodbath’ by the tabloids. It’s where her aunt Rebecca lived. Lived being the key word here, because it’s also where she was brutally murdered by her fiancé who then cowardly milled himself. Scarlett is trying to heal and move on, to claw back the comfort in her own home just a few feet below a crime scene.

So when it’s time to try and say goodbye, she goes to Dee to organise the funeral - but Dee has enough going on, managing her job as a funeral director, trying to plan a memorial for her own missing best friend and the recent anonymous abuse she’s been receiving. But in their grief they find something else - hope. Hope that they might just uncover secrets that have laid buried for a long time. But secrets are buried for a reason, and if they’re not careful they could end up in the dirt with Rebecca.

'"Maybe having this service will be like drawing a line under the past."

"Not like a line exactly, more like the asterix you sometimes get in books, to signify the end of a scene."'

It's already clear that Lesley Kara is the Queen of suspense, and this is no exception.

Weaving in complex, deep relationships and family dynamics from the first few pages, immediately setting the stage and key players and making it feel like we've known the characters for ages. The relationship between Scarlett and Rebecca was cemented right away, the connection and love between them was clear and heart-warming even when they were distant.

The beauty of this mystery is - there wasn't a mystery. Not to start. There was a murder, it was solved. The reader is left wondering what could possibly be hiding in the shadows, what links these two seemingly random women and why there is a creeping chill growing from the first chapter that I couldn't quite explain.

Another compelling, captivating read with a horrifying realistic tale that will make you double check the doors are locked.

I did enjoy this book but felt it became a bit confusing towards the end. I loved the characterisation and the funeral director aspect which was a wee bit different, also all the family dynamics that were going on.
It certainly was a good thriller and I liked the way that Scarlett suffering from ME was explored. All the characters were dodgy so it was fun to find out why people were acting the way they were!

Scarlett moves back into the downstairs apartment of the house where her aunt Rebecca was murdered. Whilst arranging the funeral, she discovers a connection with Rebecca and a missing woman Gina, who disappeared 10 years ago. Dee, from the funeral parlour may also be connected and has her own mystery to solve. Who can Scarlett trust? What happened years ago?
Excellent fast paced book, really enjoyed this and will follow Lesley Kara. Addictive read, hard to put down!

Scarlett returns to her downstairs apartment of a converted house. Upstairs lives her aunt Rebecca. But she was brutally murdered. She oversees arranging the funeral but is finding it difficult to do this as she has ME and the stress of what is happening is causing a flareup. She decides to arrange the funeral Fond farewells an independent funeral director which is run by Dee that knew Rebecca. Dee is single and still lives with her father and still is getting to grips after several years because of the disappearance of her friend Gina Caplin. The two women realise there is a connection and goes out of her way to investigate what happened to them both when things come to light that revolves some of her family members.
The Apartment upstairs by Lesley Kara is the third book from the author I have read. And whereas I really enjoyed her previous novels I didn’t enjoy this one as much. It didn’t grip me like her other books and quite got lost along the way. It had an interesting storyline but for me I was expecting more. 3 stars from me.

Really enjoyed this .
Kept in suspense
Good writing and plot
Read this in the one day, kept going back to it after short breaks

Always enjoy this author’s books. Love her writing style and how she pulls you in. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing as usual. Good characters. Look forward to her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Lesley does it again with another belter of a book. I think out of the 4 this one has to be my favourite but then I say that with every new book of Lesleys.

I loved the characters, Scarlett and Dee were my absolute favourite,  and Lindsay was full of spice (she reminded me of a friend who sadly passed away but it made me smile).

This book really left me gasping, partly as I'd been holding my breath in suspense. I would have devoured this book in one sitting if it hadn't been for work 🤣 but it's a book that really draws you in and doesn't let go right to end.

Another 5 star read from Lesley and I'm already looking forward to book number 5.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Like the authors other books, this is an easy read which flows well
and you won't want to put down
Plenty of twists, believable plot
Certainly kept me guessing

Thank you netgalley, Lesley Kara and Random House

Rating: 2.0/5

I have now read all four of Lesley Kara's novels and none of the most recent three have come close to living up to the impressive promise of her debut, "The Rumour". Sadly, I would have to say that this latest offering is the weakest of the lot.

There were elements in the first half of the book, that I quite liked. Some appealing characters were being created and this was backed up by dialogue that was generally very natural and realistic. There were also some nicely observed humorous moments, too - though this also contributed to aspects of the style that seemed confused. There were a number of times when, stylistically, this felt like it was being penned as a cosy mystery, which is certainly not what I associate Lesley Kara with. Nor could the core of the plot's content be described as befitting a cosy mystery, so these elements did not always marry together well, though it was still managing to make for entertaining reading at this point.

Unfortunately, as the narrative progressed, so the style and content deteriorated. By the final third of the story, what had, until then, been a reasonably entertaining mystery with hints of cosiness, descended rapidly into something that was just plain silly. The plot and the characterisation became simplistic to the point of being puerile and developments were unrealistically convenient. It was almost as if the author suddenly realised that she had a deadline looming and just needed to get it finished. She even decided to introduce some totally pointless references to the global Covid pandemic in the final stages of the book, which added no value at all and were totally unnecessary and avoidable. Disappointing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

This one was a surprise.
I loved this book and what I loved more is the representation of the protagonist.
Writing a protagonist with a chronic illness takes courage and doing it right takes skills - Lesley and gone for it and did it so well.
The book is perfect for a popcorn time.

I read this in one sitting! I have been a fan of Lesley Kara’s work for some time so I had to pick this up immediately and it did not disappoint!
I really enjoyed the two storylines running side by side and trying to figure out how everything is connected, just when you think you know what is going on then a plot twist is thrown into the mix! I’d highly recommend this suspenseful thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat!

Another great read from Lesley Kara.
If you enjoyed her previous work you will love this.


Scarlett's aunt is murdered, Dee is the funeral director, together they uncover hidden secrets.
So many twists and turns to this story.
I would advise really setting aside the time to read this book as you are really pushed to continue and i found myself up most of the night to finish it.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy and to leave my honest review.
No hesitation in leaving five star's.

Scarlett lives in the flat below the one in which her aunt was murdered.
Dee has to organise the funeral as well as a gathering for her friend, Gina, who went missing 10 years ago.
The two women start to feel a connection, but
could there possibly be a connection between the two events?

A steady build up of tension and sense of anticipation.
Taut, tense, twisty!

Scarlett is arranging the funeral of her aunt who was murdered in the flat above hers. She calls on a local funeral directors and meets Dee who helps her. Soon these two women feel a connection but why?
This was a strong read and held my attention and I enjoyed it. Lesley’s books never fail for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great read. Twisty, dark and suspenseful and full of everything you need to keep you up all night reading. Loved it.