This book is full of mystery and intrigue and was hard to put down. Scary at times and nail biting. A great read!

while I was reading this, I was engaged, attentive, thought the content was interesting and was very much looking forward to discovering how everyone was connected. but when I reached the end and everything was tied together, the only feeling I could feel was “okay…? so what? who cares?” I just was not impressed. the ending definitely doesn't justify all of the effort the reader has to put in to get there. it just feels kind of pointless? it's just a massive bummer because I actually really enjoyed experiencing the story and going along for the ride. I guess the anticipation of answers was more enjoyable than the actual reveals themselves.

Another dark tale from Alex North, this one is nicely layered to disguise the connections which results in an immensely satisfying read.

I have very mixed opinions about this book. I liked the storyline and I was surprised by some of the twists, but I also struggled with it. The main thing I struggled with is the amount of characters. There were so many, I kept getting confused and I feel like I’ve missed some parts of the storyline because I wasn’t sure who it was about or who that character was. At times they were referred to by their first name, other times it was their surname, and this just made it more confusing. I like how the storyline all tied in together, but I was confused a lot of the time because of how many characters there were in this book. I like Alex North’s writing, so will read future books from them, but I unfortunately didn’t like this one as much as The Whisper Man.

This story is told through multiple POVs. The pacing is perfect. The characters are well developed. This is a multi layered creepy story.

Loved this nail biting thriller, raced through the pages to uncover twists and truths. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

I have loved Alex Norths' previous novels, but I'm afraid this one left me cold. It seemed very long (it isn't) and extraordinarily overly convoluted. I don't mind that it is difficult to follow, I like complex stories. But this zipped all over the place and made little sense. In the end, I just didn't care enough about the characters to really try following it.

This author just keeps getting better and better. This book is a brilliant read. It would work as a straightforward crime thriller but somehow Alex North manages to blend psychological, police procedural and a bit of the other worldly to give this book a darker, smarter edge atmosphere. This book slowly and cleverly brings seemly very unrelated events together perfectly.

This had me guessing from start to finish and the ending was so unexpected. I was so absorbed in the plot and the characters felt like real people. I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for a chance to read and review this book’.

*Just to note, I brought the audiobook for this one to read alongside the gifted ARC*

Although this book is a fantastic thriller, it requires significant attention to track the various timelines and interconnected characters. Despite the challenge, I found the story satisfying in the end, with all my questions answered.

The plot centre's around a brother and sister who have become estranged, an unexplained death being investigated by the police, and a book that may predict the future. The author skilfully weaves multiple threads together to create a complete picture, much like a portrait made up of individual photographs.

The book is an intriguing mystery, with readers trying to decipher exactly what is happening and rooting for the survival of their favourite characters.

The story is a thrilling adventure and a game of cat and mouse spanning many years.

If you choose to listen to the audiobook, consider increasing the speed to keep your interest. Those who struggle to follow multiple timelines and characters may find it helpful to read the book on paper to keep track.

I chose to read a free ARC of The Half Burnt House but that has in no way influenced my review.

Alex North is an author I always make a beeline for. I love his books with their creepy edge, compelling plotlines and believable characters. I feel North creates the same eerie feel for his readers as C.J. Tudor does, and I flipping love that (and if you enjoy Tudor's books and haven't read an Alex North novel yet, make sure that changes!). It's been a few years since The Shadow Friend, North's last book, was published so I was very much looking forward to the arrival of The Half Burnt House. Grabbing hold of a copy as soon as I could and moving it straight to the top of the TBR!

The Half Burnt House is an intriguing, multi-layered mystery which centres around two families. It's an intricately plotted tale that does require the reader to commit to the story. There's a heck of a lot going on in this book! Multiple characters, multiple view points and multiple timelines. I found myself wishing I had made more thorough notes. But the author does tie everything together at the end of the novel. The characters are interesting and draw the reader in. There aren't many likeable characters but that's never really stopped me from enjoying a book. The unlikeable characters make for a much more interesting reading experience, right?! I enjoyed discovering more about the philosophical view of determinism. I believe the author studied Philosophy so his knowledge of the subject gave the book an original edge. All in all, I'm really glad I read The Half Burnt House. I remain a fan of the author and I look forward to seeing what he has in store for us next.

I chose to read and review a free ARC of The Half Burnt House. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Katie and her Brother Chris' relationship is difficult. Katie feels guilty still from an event that happened when they were teenagers. We all know how thoughtless and selfish teenagers can be, and Katie was no exception. Choosing to meet her boyfriend rather than walking home with her annoying younger brother.

Unfortunately Chris was the victim of a brutal attack that day, and Katie has had to live with that ever since. Chris and Katie's once close relationship become fractured and their lives became separated. The attack left Chris homeless and on the verge of alcoholism in his later years.

But that day wasn't all bad ... the boyfriend in question is now Katie's husband and they have a daughter together.

When an evil serial killer is found murdered in the 'half-burnt house', which was once a sprawling mansion, Chris is the main suspect. Known to the police for previous misdeamours. Katie is determined to finally do right by her brother and help him out of this mess.

But does she really know her brother at all after all this time, and how much danger is she putting herself in?
.

Brace yourself for a thrilling ride through this maze of twists and turns, where the characters' pursuit of truth takes unexpected detours. Love Alex North and can’t wait for more

An excellent read, to challenge your concentration!

The Half-Burnt House is mostly a tragic tale, which spans over three decades. Alex North cleverly relates events from the past, up to the present. He manages to challenge your concentration, but it is well worth keeping up to speed!

It mainly centres around Katie and her younger brother, Chris. When Katie was a teenager, she chose to see her boyfriend, rather than walking home with Chris after school. Unfortunately, Chris suffered a brutal attack that day, and Katie deeply regretted her decision.

After this episode Katie and her brother drifted apart. It affected Chris so badly that he started drinking too much and being homeless.

Many other characters are layered throughout the different timelines, but I don’t wish to spoil your enjoyment with too much information.

A particularly evil serial killer lived in the half-burnt house, but when he is found murdered the chief suspect is Chris. Katie wants to make amends and wants to clear her brother’s name. The conclusion is extremely dramatic, and I did enjoy the outcome.

Galadriel.

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.

This book was good but not quite as blow my head off good as the whisper man, or did have be gripped but I’ve been in a bit of a slump so maybe would have enjoyed it more at a different time.

A quick read that packs a punch! I enjoyed this story and felt the tension throughout. Just when I thought I had figured it out Alex North threw in another curveball, making me question everything I thought I knew.

I enjoyed this book so much, after reading the whisper man and the shadow friend I knew I had to get my hands on this and it didn't disappoint. I was engaged and intrigued right through till the very end.

General Thoughts 🤔

I have to be completely and brutally honest; I was disappointed with this story. I have read other books from this author and the story has always gripped me totally and completely so I was so excited to read this latest one. Unfortunately it didn’t excite me as much as I wanted it to and I ended up taking quite a long time to get through it.

That said, I didn’t hate it and there were things I admired about it. It’s a complex and smart plot that I had to concentrate on quite heavily. There are lots of characters and side plots that helped to keep me guessing what was going to happen and I was very surprised by the twist at the end.

Characters 👫👭👬

Katie was probably the character I felt closest too but I think that’s probably because she was one of very few women involved in the story. I didn’t really agree or disagree with any of her actions, I felt like I was just carried along with her. I empathised with her that she felt like she had to decide between her brother and her husband and daughter as that was definitely a difficult decision she had to make.

I quite liked the detective, Laurence Page. He had quite a dry sense of humour and he was very meticulous. He seemed like the type of person I would love to work with he came across as someone who was trustworthy.

Writing Style ✍️

I can fully appreciate the meticulousness that must have gone into writing this story and ensuring that all ends were tied, everything made sense and weaving the characters and the timelines together. However there was something missing from the plot in this Alex North book. I didn’t feel gripped and I wasn’t eager to pick the book up every day. Reading it felt like hard work at times and that’s definitely not the experience I have had with this author in the past.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖

I had been anticipating the release of this book for quite a long time and was so excited to get my hands on it and have my mind blown by a twisty and dark story. Unfortunately, this fell a little short for me this time and I didn’t quite connect with the story or the characters. I’m glad that I read it and finished as I am still impressed by this author, but unfortunately this book and I just weren’t a match made in heaven. I look forward to what Alex North produces next.

A brother and sister relationship that is fraught. From a dark episode in their past, the guilt and shame are very much alive. The story and characters are complex, and the story unfolds slowly as you piece together what happened. It takes some sticking with but is well worth your time.
ARC copy.

I have to give my own honest review and I struggled with this book. It felt quite confusing to me and it took a while for the pace to pick up. Towards the end it did pick up and felt less confusing.

I’ve read his other books and loved them so was a little disappointed that I don’t love this one too. The other reviews for this book are very positive so I’m sure the book will do well.

Many thanks to #NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.