Iris is awesome. I loved her so much. She was a brilliantly written character and everything I wanted her to be when we first meet her in the story. She's spunky, passionate, complex and just wonderfully written. Officer Shaw was also a perspective I enjoyed very much, though I felt competing law enforcement angles caused that part of the storyline to unfold far slower than it probably would have if it were more streamlined and her background only served to explain her character's motives, but I'm not convinced it was necessary, barring a desire to branch this character off into her own book. The majority of the ending was what I was hoping for, but didn't expect to see, so that also added to the overall enjoyment of the story.

One note, however, is that the title is misleading. The story wasn't what I was expecting it to be as a result. Obviously, you figure out what to expect quite early on, but the title doesn't fit. I often pick up a book due to the appeal of the cover and the title. When you have hundreds of titles vying for your attention, the title needs to pull you in, but it's a bit strange when the title doesn't end up matching to the story at all. There was no house sitting. A house sitter is someone who watches a house for someone while they're away. A more apt title for this book would have been 'The Caretakers' which would still lend a bit of mystery because caretakers can mean caregivers for a person or people or it could mean people taking care of the home, but the name of the book has nothing whatsoever to do with the book, save for a quick mention of the term very late in the story.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to give this an advanced read!

Maureen was great and really liked her character which was just as well as wasn’t so keen on anyone else especially the male characters,not once nice trait amongst them??? A quick read and a slow burner but a great beginning and ending made this a goodish read

This time around I did not really connect with any of the characters, and I did not root for anyone, or even feel like I belong as a reader as a part of the book. I felt like an outsider the whole time, and the book left me cold. It was a quick read, and it was well-.written, but it was just not written for me.

Ooh, I loved to hate the two house sitters in this one!

There is a whole lotta crazy going on in Iris's Pacific Heights home! Iris is a wealthy seventy year old widow who could use some help around her gigantic house. It is her lucky day (or not) when she meets Lydia, who arranges to move in and is more than happy to start helping out. She brews steaming pots of coffee, fills her medicine pillbox, makes her breakfasts that are fit for a queen, including blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes. She even convinces Iris that "seventy is the new forty".

One night there is a 911 call, a struggle and a gunshot. When the police arrive, Iris is missing. Now, the search is on. I loved the rookie cop, Maureen and her determination and zeal to find Iris. As a former musician, she always had a song title to fit the moment. Her ear never steered her wrong!

I enjoyed this one quite a lot! The mix of light and dark was an added plus. Yes, parts are outlandish, but great fun with some dark humor and warped minds that added suspense and laugh out loud moments.

Recommend to fans of pacy stories that keep you guessing as clues are scattered around. Be prepared for entering into the "stranger than fiction" land, though it is fiction. I don't mind if I do and will await this author's next book.

I am having mixed feelings about this book.

Iris Duncan is some seventy year old woman who hired Lydia and Seth as caregivers. Things seem to be going well with Iris considering Lydia as her own daughter.

But then the police receives an alarming phone call from the house where Iris lives and Iris goes missing.

The story started out good--with the start of police receiving the call. However, it soon became slow burn and boring in my opinion that I almost lost in the story. However, the ending was good, which actually made my rating one star higher from 2.5 which I was originally going to give.

Nonetheless, I will look forward to read more books from this author--worth three stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

This fast paced mystery is perfect for a reading slump!

You fly through the pages as you work to figure out what happened to Iris and who the house sitters really are… Iris is just a poor old lady who gets taken advantage of by Seth & Lydia… right? This author does multiple narrators well! It was easy to distinguish who was speaking every time. The police officer’s POV was my least favorite. This one reminded me of one of my favorite thrillers, When I Was You by Amber Garza!

Pick this one up if you want a quick read with lots of mysteries to figure out and multiple plot twists!

👩 multiple narrators
📖 plot driven story
🔪 thriller/ mystery

Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for an advanced copy!

Grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. An excellent book from Ellery Kane. Well plotted and well rounded characters.
I received this book from Bookouture via Netgalley for a review.

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this Ellery Kane novel.
The words next to the title on the covered confused me a little. "She's in your home but can you trust her"? I am still not sure who that was referring too as one of the characters in the home is male.
The prologue is so well written only a few lines setting the scene but pulling you in from the beginning. You could almost hear the dispatchers heart rate raising and feel the old ladies fear.

But things aren't always as they first appear. Watching an elderly lady being taken for a ride by two crooks you feel like shouting at the pages, willing her to wake up, but that is impossible as she is confused and trusting, seemingly needing the help. The lies the caretakers spin to the point of not even getting their own stories straight and throwing each off kilter with a new revelation the other has made up.

Ellery Kane leads you down such a path that the reader becomes confused as to why the elderly lady Iris is allowing this to go on, does she really not know what her new caretakers Lydia and Seth are up to or is she really losing her marbles, it would appear so.

I was constantly looking for the twist and I even had first Iris then Lydia pinned as the one who was setting it all up, but any spark of doubt I had that it could be Seth setting the scene disappeared as quickly as it flashed into my mind. Ellery Kane's writing certainly makes you realise how wrong you could be.

Never read this author before so gave this one a try and I really, really enjoyed this book! It was captivating and it hooked me from the very first chapter! Definitely recommend! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. I didn’t see the twists and turns coming but when they did I found that my mouth had fallen open in shock. This was so so good from beginning to end. I do feel like there was a lot of unnecessary stuff that happened but it was still an amazing read

From the first few pages of The House Sitter, Ellery Kane visually transports the reader to the horror happening in the caller’s house. Elderly Iris Duncan calls 911 to report an intruder in her house. When police arrive, they find a chaotic scene and no Iris. The next day, her new caretakers, Seth and Lydia, arrive and are taken to the police precinct to be questioned. As detectives question Lydia, she thinks back to “the last time.” Are the caretakers con artists who prey on elderly people in order to profit? After all, why would Seth want Lydia to get practice at her people skills if there wasn’t a need for them. And why is Lydia getting threatening messages from a man named Vinnie? Are they on the run? And who is Iris Duncan? Is she just an addle-minded elderly woman looking for someone to take care of her, or is there more to her story?

As the various paths unfold in The House Sitter, the character of Maureen stands out. A former musical prodigy, she changed course and joined the San Francisco police after her parents and the others are murdered at one of her symphonic performances. With a gut instinct to right wrongs and make sure all clues are explored, she strikes out on her own to track down what happened o Iris and where she (or her body) is located. With the men in the SFPD not prone to take her seriously, she feels the need to prove what she is capable of doing.

Another character that makes you take notice is Iris. You get sucked into her forgetfulness and feel sorry for her as the story develops. Then you suspect that there is more to her than meets the eye. Almost like there is still a sparkle in it. Is she as clueless about Seth and Lydia as presented or is there something else there?

The House Sitter is a delightful thriller that keeps you guessing. Just like Maureen, you find yourself trying to follow leads and pin what happened to Iris on the right person. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #arc #bookouture #ellerykane #thehousesitter

First of all, huge thanks to netgally and bookoutore for this ARC

The novel follows Iris, a widow who rescues Lydia from her work at a diner. Early on we realize that something isn’t quite as it should be with Lydia and Seth, her companion.

This novel exceeded my expectations. You were drawn in from the first paragraph when someone calls 911, bearing witness to a murder. I loved the set-up and slowly seeing the story unfold. I was gobsmacked by the ending. So clever and surprising! Didn’t see it coming at all! It wasn’t too unbelievable either, even if it wasn’t the ending you expected.

I truly enjoyed myself reading the house sitter, and would love to read more books by the author.

Four solid stars from me.

The House Sitter, a psychological thriller by Ellery Kane, was a great page-turner thriller that grabs you from the first page. Nothing was predictable in this story. Highly recommend this book! Thanks to NetGalley for the early release. This was a perfect Sunday read.

I liked that The House Sitter by Ellery Kane took place in the San Francisco Bay Area as I know the area, so it was enjoyable to read knowing I was familiar with various locations. The story grabbed me initially, but then it got too much with the characters. I did not really like Iris or the other characters. The only likable one was Maureen. The male characters all seemed caricatures of male chauvinists, which was off-putting.

I did not feel the book delivered on the "heart-pounding twist."

#TheHouseSitter #NetGalley @bookouture

Firstly thank you to @bookouture and @netgalley for this advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book as I absolutely loved it!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Synopsis
The story centres around Iris, a 70 year old lady who has been widowed for several years and still lives in the luxury home she and her beloved husband shared.
At the moment though she’s been struggling to maintain her property and daily tasks especially due to her failing memory issues.
One day she meets Lydia who serves her in a cafe and offers her the opportunity to come and work for her, offering her a room and job at her property.
Lydia can’t believe her luck, she’s newly pregnant and struggling and she very soon becomes an integral part of Iris’s life, helping her manage her medications, the bills, cooking and cleaning. She’s like the daughter Iris never had.
But one night there is an emergency call made from the property and when the police arrive there is no sign of Iris or Lydia.
The question is where are they and who is in danger?

Well this was a very quick read for me. I fell straight into this book and found it impossible to put down. The characters were so well developed and I absolutely fell in love with Iris.

Just when you think you know where it’s going there are more unexpected turns. This book is a twisty ride that’s full of intrigue.

It was a complex plot told in a very entertaining way as the reader is taken back to before the night of the emergency call and their disappearance and afterwards. There are also many perspectives and accounts of the events and characters you love to hate!

For me this book truly had it all, it’s my favourite kind of read and a really unique, memorable story.

I will definitely be reading more from @ellerykaneauthor in the future.

I highly recommend this book anyone who loves a suspenseful read that is impossible to put down will love it.

The House Sitter by Ellery Kane
Interesting story, kept me turning the pages to see how it would work out in the end. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this and leave my opinion.

Iris Duncan, a 70 year old widow, hires a couple to help her take care of her house. All of a sudden, Iris is missing and her blood is found throughout her home. Was Iris murdered? Who killed her? And why?

This is a whodunnit but with a few twists. This book opens on a 911 call from Iris and goes from the past before the disappearance to the present. It started off very strong but I thought it was lacking in enough character development. I didn’t truly connect with any of the characters. Sure, my jaw dropped at a few of the twists that I didn’t see coming, but the ending was lackluster. I was expecting more.

I did enjoy the POV of Maureen, the rookie detective. I wouldn’t mind reading more about her.

Overall, this book was okay, but the ending wasn’t as exciting or shocking as I thought it was going to be. If you’re into detective mysteries then this would be a book you would possibly enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I requested this book because of the amount of great reviews it has and I'm so glad I did. This book completely surpassed my expectations in so many ways and I wish I already had the physical copy of it to put on my shelf!

The House Sitter was a very entertaining thrill ride! I thought I knew what was going on more than once, but didn't have it all quite figured out! I really enjoyed this book and it was my first by Ellery Kane. The book centers around a widowed woman in her 70's named Iris Duncan. She has a large home in a upscale neighborhood and is having trouble keeping up with the yard work and basic upkeep of the house. The neighborhood HOA has sent her warnings about the state of her yard/house.

Iris goes to a diner and meets a young waitress named Lydia who is down on her luck and hates her boss. She and Iris get talking and become fast friends. Iris actually asks Lydia to help her around the house as her boss at the diner fires her. Lydia brings her brother Seth with her to help with the yard work and outside upkeep. Things go well and eventually Iris invites the couple to move in. Lydia cooks for Iris, cleans the house, and helps her keep up with all of her meds. Iris has become very forgetful and often can't remember if she's taken her pills or not.

Things seem to be going well, but then a few months pass, and there's a frantic 911 call from Iris and a gunshot is heard.. When the police and paramedics arrive there's no body, but signs of a struggle and a lot of blood on Iris' bed. Seth and Lydia say they have no knowledge of what happened as the night before Iris had asked them to leave. There had been a dispute over a paint color for the porch railing. Seth painted it black and Iris was furious as she wanted it brown.

Seth and Lydia had lived with an older woman in the past, cared for her home, and she ended up dead. Coincidence or pattern? Are Seth and Lydia trouble or are they simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? Seth has a gambling addiction and will do anything for money to place his next bet and he's got someone after him over a gambling debt. Does this lead to Iris' demise? Is Lydia as innocent as she seems?

This book will keep you reading late into the night as you will want to know answers to these questions. The book does a nice job of telling you part of the story before the disappearance, and part of the story after the disappearance. You learn more and more as you go. Do yourself a favor and get this book when it comes out if you enjoy a good mystery. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy.

1.5 is all I can offer.

Lately, nearly seventy-year-old Iris Duncan, has become frightened in her own home, convinced someone is breaking in, and stealing from her. She’s also started forgetting things.

On a visit to a café, Iris strikes up a conversation with a young waitress, Lydia McKay. The two immediately hit it off, prompting Iris to offer Lydia, and her husband Seth, live-in positions of home-help/caretakers. Lydia is thrilled to accept, as she and Seth are struggling financially, and are currently living in a shabby motel. It’s a dream come truth, and the perfect solution, for all involved.

Until it isn’t. A frantic 911 call, shots fired, a bloody bedspread, no sign of Iris. Who would want to hurt a harmless elderly lady?

I’m going to keep this as brief as possible. I had a longer review planned, but it just contained too many spoilers. I would’ve loved to include some dialogue and writing examples to highlight my points, but this is an e-ARC so I’m unable to quote from it directly.

What I liked:

I have nothing positive to say I’m afraid.

What I didn’t like:

The Dialogue – Let’s say I wanted to teach a class in creative writing. This is the book I’ll use to show examples of bad dialogue. It’s crammed to the brim with them.

The Writing – This book contained more similes and metaphors than a writer’s dictionary.

The Characters – All atrocious, every single one. I have no idea why the author chose to make every male character a misogynist condescending asshole? All the men were women haters, and vice versa. There are numerous insults by male characters that pregnancy equates to emotional, unfocused, and incompetent. And, if I hear ‘baby brain’ mentioned one more time… I’m also mighty sick of pathetic female characters who have no confidence in themselves. And, just to clarify, this is set in 2022. Then, there were the police officers – what an incompetent, unprofessional lot they were, especially rookie Officer Maureen Shaw. She just did whatever she pleased, bar the consequences, her superiors, or the law.

The Police Procedures – The lack of other avenues of investigation and analysis of forensic evidence astounded me. The entire focus was on Seth and Lydia as suspects. And don’t get me started on the police interviews. Also, there were things that seemed incorrect regarding the US justice system, and prosecution.

The Mystery Plot – Predictable.

The Title – I don’t get it? They weren’t House Sitter’s? And there were two of them, so why call it The House Sitter singular? At one stage they refer to themselves as such, but that doesn’t make it so. They were more like ‘squatters’ by this point.

If you do plan to read this, I’d avoid the official book blurb, as it contains several inaccuracies. Including that this bears any resemblance to Mark Edwards work!

With a Goodreads average rating of 4.24, I’m in the minority – again! Ceecee and I buddy read this, and it made for an interesting lively discussion. For perspective purposes, be sure to check out her glowing 4-star review.

I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Bookouture, and Ellery A. Kane for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 14th June, 2022.