Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a good premise, although I found it a little slow in places. 3 stars.

When Fern and her husband move into their new home she is still struggling with the death of her twin sister and in the middle of her first pregnancy. As she tries to navigate life without her sister she starts to question her own mind when she is shown around the new house by someone no one seems to know. As things take a darker turn her life starts to fall apart but at least her mother in law seems to believe her and together they are determined to find out what the street doesn’t want them to know. This will make a great drama on tv.

I really enjoyed this mysterious supernatural tale that is based in love and loss. It was an intriguing read and had a number of twists and turns.

Fern is grieving the loss of her twin sister while being pregnant, she knows her baby is a girl because she just had to know but it's still a secret to her husband Paul. They decide to move to get a fresh start, losing her sister has been extremely hard on Fern, Paul, and their marriage and they both feel like if they move they can find a way to move on. Things are strange for Fern, sometimes she still sees her sister and now since the move to the new house she is seeing more strange things, like a heart in the fog of the mirror that Paul says he didn’t draw, and then there’s the mysterious woman, Marte who showed her around the house but that no one seems to know or know anything about. Where did this Marte woman go? Was Fern just imagining her and she’s not real? Something doesn’t feel right and Fern’s going to get to the bottom of it.

I’m glad Fern had a mother in law like Tina. At first, Fern doesn’t want to have Tina around so much, her mother in law can be quite a lot to handle but in the end, she’s an absolute blessing.

Then there’s Paul. When things get rough and too hard for him to handle or understand, he just dips out. Completely leaves his pregnant wife with someone she’s not entirely comfortable with (at the time her and Tina weren’t as close as they become in the end of the book) and just goes and stays with a friend, Simon, leaving his wife in a new house with things going on that scare her, all because he can’t or won’t deal with the fact that his wife might be seeing ghosts. I wish he would have had an open mind or at least toughed it out because I don’t think it was right for him to run away from his pregnant wife like that. He’s supposed to be there for his wife, especially when she’s pregnant, she got hurt and he was wallowing away in his own self pity because of his own actions and how horribly he handles terrible situations. I’m mad at Paul for Fern, she took him back so easily. I get it, he’s the father of her brand new baby girl, but still, I would have made him work pretty darn hard to get back in my good graces. I think he was forgiven way too easily. Simon’s place was perfectly fine with him for a while, that’s where he’d still be if I were Fern because I feel like Paul not being there for her made her situation a lot worse.

I loved seeing Marte get the peace she so rightfully deserved and I just wish she would have got away from that terrible person before it was too late. She seemed so nice, so excited to be a new mother.

I loved the paranormal aspect of this book, it’s been a while since I’ve read a ghost story and this one was fantastic. I absorbed this book, wanting to help poor Fern get to the bottom of the mystery and get her the happy ending she needed. Not everyone on Crenellation Lane is nice but there are some pretty fantastic, if not misunderstood people there that I wouldn’t mind having as neighbors.

A very good debut novel. A supernatural storyline which leaves you guessing until the end. Who’s to say what happens in the afterlife maybe spirits do leave messages, so maybe it’s not so far fetched. I enjoyed the read.

When Fern and Paul move into their new house strange things begin to happen. Fern was already in a fragile state as she was mourning the death of her twin sister and she was pregnant. But now she has other things to worry about. Is she going mad, do the neighbours hate her, who can she trust and on top of all that Paul invites his mother to stay.

I wanted to like this book...I really did. But I'm not sure what it was about it that I didn't like. Maybe the fact I found it too wordy and too filled with description or scattered incessant monologuing by Fern. I'm a dialogue person. There's nothing wrong with monologuing...but it needs to be engaging and I wasn't quite sure if this was. It began OK and then I got lost. I understand that Fern's loss of her twin Linny was devastating and I appreciate that but I found it a tad depressing more than thrilling. I think the fact it was exploring the grief more than being an actual thriller, it failed to hold my attention and my mind kept wandering that before long I'd read half a dozen pages and no idea what had happened.

I do so love an atmospheric haunted house thriller but it was so shrouded in Fern's grief more than anything else that I found it difficult to see past that. Unfortunately I didn't get to finish it to find out if it got any better or got worse. I have no idea if she had a boy or a girl, who the mysterious Marte was, the truth about Linny's death or even how it ended. I would have liked to know but really...I could't get past all of the things I didn't like about this book to continue.

A pity, really, as the premise was intriguing. However, one is not going to like every book we read despite the fact that so many actually enjoyed this one. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I need to revisit this one again later when I'm in a different mindset.

I would like to thank #JenniferMoore, #NetGalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheWomanBefore in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

DNF @16% when I got to the line "what if she couldn't be trusted with her own baby?"

Depression and psychosis in pregnancy is too common to be used at as a plot device.

The woman in this story is pregnant, and grieving the loss of her twin sister. Her husband is dismissive and seems to think that "snap out of it" is a way to help his wife when she's having the most awful pregnancy nightmares and hallucination visits from her dead sister. On top of that, they're moving house. And he wonders why she isn't coping too well?

I don't care how this story goes.

Thanks for the ARC, sorry I couldn't be more positive.

The large, old house on Crenellation Lane is supposed to give Fern and Paul a new start. After Fern's twin Linny was killed, Fern keeps seeing her everywhere. Paul decides that maybe a change in scenery will remedy this irrational condition. But now Fern also sees another woman, pregnant Marte. And when Fern begins to ask her new neighbors about Marte, strange things start to happen like violent dreams, graffiti on the house, and unexplained indoor temperature fluctuations. Paul can't take the drama and chooses to abandon Fern, their unborn baby and his mother Tina. But the women of the house will solve the mystery and put Marte and her baby to rest.
I really enjoyed unraveling this mystery. In my mind, I had the ending all wrong!
And the novel made me laugh and cry. I connected emotionally with Fern and Tina in a surprising way.
Unfortunately, most of the men in this book are immature. But a few do manage to redeem themselves in the end.
Fern's internal dialogue is also confusing at times. The author chooses to include it with italic font, but I still found myself confused sometimes about if Fern actually said what she was thinking out loud.
If you like paranormal mysteries with strong female leads, this book is an interesting and entertaining read.
My favorite quote from Linny to her new niece:
"Never let anyone tell you you're not good enough. Never give up on your dream. Never do tequila slammers on an empty stomach. Never eat garlic bread on a first date. And never let your mum do karaoke in public. She' terrible, she really is."

This is a debut author?! I can’t wait to read what’s next!

The Woman Before is part ghost story, part murder mystery that will have you reading all night to find out what’s going on.

The characters are well thought out and relatable/believable. It kept me guessing the whole time and tied up nicely.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Also KUDOS to Jennifer Moore!

This was part ghost story, part murder mystery that will have you wanting to find out what in the world is happening to Fern. Having just moved into a big old house on Crenellation Lane, she is seeing people and things that no one else sees. She and her husband Paul are expecting their first child, so perhaps pregnancy hormones can explain the recurring sightings of her deceased twin, but what about the strange things that are happening at her house? Lots of relatable characters plus a very twisty mystery make this book a must read, for sure.….5 stars!

A great book, a good read but ultimately wants a reader that likes the supernatural element which I don’t.

A definite must read for anyone that fits that description though!

A gripping, very realistic novel. From start to finish I was hooked. I believe that the author had got Fern’s feelings for her dead twin quite accurate. When a twin dies and leaves the other one behind, they feel as if they have lost part of themselves, not in every case, in quite a few. How Fern was portrayed with people thinking she had had a breakdown was very realistic. I loved the way she was like a dog with a bone. Never resting until she got answers. Many people do think that if you say you have seen someone who is dead. Paul, Fern’s husband, was also characterised well. His attitude towards her was illustrated brilliantly. Although I find it hard to accept what he does, it made me discuss it. Paul’s mum was the character I admired most. She was loving, caring, full of life and a wonderful sleuth.

This was exceptionally well written. I didn’t want to put it down, always wanting to turn the page. Congratulation’s Jennifer this was certainly a fantastic debut novel, and I cannot wait for your next one.

Really enjoyed this book, excellent debut book. I love a good ghost story and a realistic one at that. A little slow to start with but then it was fast paced all thr way to the end. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more books in the future by this author.

The Real Trouble…
The old house that sits on Crenellation Lane is just perfect. Isn’t it? So think Fern and Paul. Nursing tragic events and past trauma they move, with a view to starting afresh. That’s exactly when the real trouble begins. With a well crafted cast of characters, much tension and an intriguing storyline this is a solid suspense and an immersive read.

Fern moves into her new house, a large, old dwelling on Crenellation Lane, a tree-lined cul-de-sac, with her husband, Paul after the death of her twin sister, Linny. Paul and Fern are awaiting their first child, and Fern is five months pregnant. But it's not long before Fern, who is suffering from mental health issues but is seeking help from Dr Earnshaw, is having terrible nightmares.

This was a compelling and intriguing tale with twists and psychological and supernatural elements. I had frequent changes of mind as I fought to work out exactly what was going on. The characterisation was good, especially in the case of Tina, Fern's mother-in-law who was a godsend. This book kept me guessing and it all tied up with a satisfying ending. A great creepy début.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HQ Digital via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I couldn't put this book down! It was THAT good.

I was immersed in Fern's story from the first chapter. Her determination to discover the identity of a mysterious woman and the secrets of her new house kept me turning the pages - it's a very addictive read.

This is a MUST read for any thriller lovers.

Fern is devastated by the loss of her twin in an accident and has struggled to accept that she has died . She speaks to her and sees her much to the concern of her husband Paul - who has grave concerns for her mental health.
As well as being pregnant they move in to a new house, hoping for a fresh start but things only get worse. Fern has awful nightmares and sees and talks to a pregnant woman who no one else has seen for six years.
I enjoyed some aspects of this book - but wasn’t so keen on the supernatural aspects - one step too far for me!

The opening of the book is a bit slow to get going but the action ramps up in the final third and I was fully engaged with the characters by the end, even if I'd guess the ending.
Paul and Fern move into a new (to them) house on Crenellation Lane. It is supposed to be a new start for them after the death of Fern's sister a few months earlier and a better place to raise their baby than the flat where they live. But as soon as they move in Fern begins having visions and hears noises. Paul is less than sympathetic and moves his mother in to help out while Fern is going through a funny phase. Previously Fern had found Tina overbearing and controlling but as she tries to get to grip with the odd happenings in the house she finds Tina becomes an ally, especially when Paul takes off, saying he can't deal with Fern's hysterics.
Much of Fern's mental state is put down to pregnancy 'hormones' especially by her husband and other men in the book. However, the story deals in quite a lot of detail with her state of mind after losing an identical twin with whom she'd shared her life until the point of her sister's death. The loss allows the author to play on Fern's vulnerability and bring in hints of paranormal and supernatural activity. Whether you chose to believe this as a reader doesn't really matter — it serves to ramp up the pressure on Fern and make sure she is an emotional wreck by the time the finale is arrived at.
There are quite an array of characters in Crenellation Lane, but all distinctly drawn, several with their own problems. I did wonder quite why someone as attractive and vibrant as Fern's sister would have been attracted to one of them, and quite why Marte was attracted to another, but that is really my only beef with the story.
A very readable and impressive first novel. With thanks to HQ and Netgalley for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

When Fern is viewing a house, she is shown around by a woman she assumes is the owner. After moving into the house with her husband, Fern discovers the woman is not who she seemed and begins her quest to solve a mystery. Is Fern right to feel unnerved or is she becoming obsessed because of the trauma of recently losing her twin sister?

I could not put The Woman Before down, I loved everything about it. It was a great story which was well written and I can’t wait until the next book by Jennifer Moore.