I haven't read the author's first book The Whisper Man, and perhaps I didn't read the blurb properly when I requested this book, but for some reason I had it in mind that this was perhaps more of a psychological thriller or even a ghost story rather than crime fiction. I did find it quite a disturbing read and began to regret having requested it. However, despite my squeamishness and sensitivity towards crime fiction, the writing and the plot were so engrossing that I had to read it all.

I found it quite complex. I won't even attempt to summarise the story because I can't remember what the reader knows at the beginning as opposed to what is revealed further into the book and as I would hate to spoil it for potential readers, I'll keep my mouth firmly closed.

What I will say is you need to focus and perhaps read it a little faster than I did, because chapters are fairly long and with each new chapter it will jump to a different scene and a different thread to the story. I found that if I left 24 hours between chapters, I'd have forgotten what I'd read and end up being confused. Of course, if you're very much into your crime fiction and don't hesitate in picking up the book at every opportunity then you'll fly through it because it is tense, thrilling and compelling. After all that, I did actually quite enjoy it, even though it's not really my thing.

I'm giving 5 stars because you really can't fault it on mystery, tension, plot, interesting characters and lots of atmosphere. I highly recommend it to fans of crime and thriller fiction.

Firstly, I thank the publisher for a copy of this book. I have read the authors previous novels so I was looking forward to reading this.
I really wanted to like this new novel from Alex North. But for me personally I found the first half of this book to be really slow and disjointed with the different time lines and characters. Because of this, I found it hard to connect to this book or the characters. Even so I kept at it and I did realise later on in the later half of the book what was going on and it got interesting. But by then I didn’t really care. Sorry, this just wasn’t for me. 3 stars.

This was just not for me. Might be for others. Alex North is talented, this just missed the mark as I lost interest.

As The Whisper Man by Alex North is one of my favourite books of recent years, I was really excited to give his latest release, The Half Burnt House, a read.
This is certainly one of the slower paced thrillers or mysteries that I have read, which may be to the taste of some but for me, it did kind of drag this story out a bit more than it needed to be.
When it did pick up, I found it difficult to put down but the pacing definitely ebbed and flowed.
As you would expect with a book like this, you do really need to be paying attention as it can be easy to get more than a little confused if you don't.
It does have that creepy, atmospheric vibe that I think Alex North is now known for, so I enjoyed that.
There were also some great twists and turns.
But it didn't quite fully live up to my expectations.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved The Whisper Man so I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read the latest offering from Alex North. I absolutely whizzed through this book. I enjoyed it more than I have enjoyed a book for ages. Lots of strands and complex timelines, which I love. It even encouraged me to do some research on the philosophy outside of the book! Lots of characters past and present, including investigating officers and family members (with secrets!) Super creepy serial killer to top it all off. Thoroughly riveting read!

Fabulous latest offering from Alex North. One of the best writers out there IMHO. He has such a knack of crafting worlds and characters that absolutely suck you in that I tend to finish in a day or two, and this was no exception. It's a proper page turner - you wot be disappointed.

Disturbing, dark and extremely creepy, this book is well written and atmospheric. I didn't find it easy to get into but once I did I enjoyed it.

Katie’s brother Chris has gone missing, although they haven’t been close for years she is trying to track him down for her mother.
A complicated thriller that kept me guessing as to what was really going on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Katie is married to her school sweetheart and they have a daughter. Back when Katie and her husband were dating, one choice she made ensured she wasn’t with her brother when he was brutally attacked. Her brother took a downward spiral when he was older into to drugs. Katie cut him off. But now he’s back in her life, and has found himself in trouble that links to a far deeper and more harrowing story from the past.

This was an excellent read. It had crime, mixed with the creepiness of a past existence of harrowing and brutal crimes. The storyline was greatly written, and very clever, with a tension that builds from the very first page. The story goes to before and the present day, and everything becomes clear of how Katie and her brother has come to where they are. The characters were well written, and a perfect example of the brother and sister relationship that many siblings face in this day and age. An excellent read I’d recommend.

If you loved The Whisper Man than you are in for a real treat with this one!
Starting off in the past, Kate was meant to be looking after her younger, timid, brother Chris, but on a spur of the moment decision she let him make his way home from school on his own. It is that decision that still haunts the family years later.
Set in different time frames, this story starts with a murder and introduces us to a whole cast of characters, all fleshed out, all connected in a whole host of different ways, some self explanatory, others that take you further into this dark, suspenseful thriller to find out the connections.
With both likeable and despicable characters, scenes set in high definition and a storyline that sucks you in, it might not be the fastest paced book, but it is a creeper, slowing working its way beneath your skin and working its insidious plot into your brain!
For all fans of thrillers and suspenses this is going to be a book you really aren’t going to want to miss, it could even be put forward for the winner of thriller of the year 2023! That’s how good it is!
The Half Burnt House by Alex North will be published on 30 March 2023 and is available to be preordered now!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Half-Burnt-House-Alex-North-ebook/dp/B0B4CCHMWD/ref=monarch_sidesheet
A massive thank you to the author Alex North, publishers Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for my digital advance copy of this incredible book 🙏

The Half Burnt House is much more than a detective thriller, it's a macabre account of siblings divided and the repercussions of disobedience. Almost a Cain and Abel fall out. The major characters proferred an understanding of determinism although one of them, an ardent believer, became unusually upset when the woman he had set his eyes on, chose another.
I don't want to give the story too much away, sufficient to say it was a very good story and unusually difficult to speculate on the overall plot from the opening hook.

⭐️⭐️ 2 slow stars.

I never do this but I’m 60% in and it’s just dragging and I don’t want to read any more so I’m going to stop and may go back to it at some point. The pace is slow, the back and forth with characters and timelines is disjointed and I just can’t get into it

I did very much enjoy this. It's very complex and a slow burn but all the better for it. A little confusing at times with the jumps in time but a really gripping read.

I absolutely loved Alex North’s debut The Whisper Man and was delighted to be able to read his new title The Half Burnt House. In common with his last book this storyline also has child abduction, torture and murder. The police duo tasked with unpicking the tricksy case, Laurence and Pettifer, could have benefited from more fleshing out as characters. There is a multi strand plot, not least of which is a long dead serial child abuser/murderer, and which I struggled to keep abreast of. I also found that the pace didn’t pick up until the final few chapters. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC.

A gripping and heart racing novel full of suspense and action. The characters are totally believable and you are soon invested in them and in their story.

been looking forward to this book and it didn't disappoint just as good as his previous books. captivating and brilliant

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. One of my favourite authors and this did not disappoint. A fast paced thriller that will have you hooked from the beginning., I would highly recommend.

A brilliantly paced psychological thriller. Katie is supposed to watch over her brother but one afternoon she leaves him alone and he disappears. The story picks up years later when a local wealthy man Alan Hobbs, who was once a professor of philosophy is found murdered. A young man caught on CCTV standing over Alan leads to the realisation that it is Katie’s brother Chris. As the investigation into Alan’s death links to a missing book from his collection Katie hopes she can manage amends for the past.
The story gripped me from the first to last page. The characters were all believable and the reader is easily engrossed.
Alex North never lets his readers down. He has a knack of drawing readers into every page and bringing the books to life.

Having read previous books by Alex North, I was expecting a gripping, atmospheric thriller and wasn’t disappointed. The book draws you in from the first page keeping you absorbed in this tense, compelling plot.
The story is set in several timeframes, flipping backwards and forwards as the story unfolds. When they were younger, Katie let down her brother Chris by not looking after him. He was brutally attacked and left with scars, leaving Katie feeling guilty.
Many years later, Alan Hobbes – a wealthy professor, is found murdered in a dilapidated old mansion, and the crime is being investigated. There is a connection between events from the past and present day, Characters are well described and believable, developing as the story unfolds.
Katie is a relatable mother and teacher who is searching for Chris, her missing brother. Alan Hobbes – the victim of the brutal crime, the perpetrator, and detective investigating the crime are more complex, secretive characters. A chilling sense of threat runs through the story; It’s like a jigsaw of separate pieces skilfully fitting into place, making a gripping, absorbing story which keeps you turning the pages. The tension increasing as Katie learns more about her brother’s disappearance. Highly recommended.

Alex North knows how to write a good novel, and the Half Burnt House scratched my thriller itch!

I really enjoyed reading this, and will highly recommend this