Member Reviews

I really like Andrea’s books because they are edge of your seat thrillers, but not overloaded with darkness.
Very easy to read along yet enough to keep you interested

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Twisty, dark and tense: a thriller that I couldn't put down. Throughly enjoyed it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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A first for me, but definitely not my last! I have been meaning to read a book by Andrea Mara for some time and this one certainly did not disappoint!

This book had everything I love in a story, relatable characters, mysterious happenings and a dark history. I was intrigued from the outset, with a sudden event I wasn’t expecting and from there on I was hooked, watching events unfold in ways I didn’t always predict!

The setting was clearly portrayed, a locked gate community, the video clips online were truly creepy, made more so because there were children involved, and the back story to the family was fascinating.

A great fast-paced read with unnerving incidents and a surprising conclusion.

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Andrea Mara is a master of the tense, domestic thriller; in this our protagonist is plagued by fears of there being a stranger in her house. She thinks she is imagining the noises, and doesn't believe her son's stories of the dark stranger entering his room at night, until a video seeming to show someone climbing out of their attic is posted online...
What follows is a cat-and-mouse tale of the shadowy presence always lurking in the background, menacing but maybe imaginary, and the main character Julia who is afraid but can't be 100% sure she isn't making it all up.
You are left wondering until right at the end, which is exactly what you want from a thriller.

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As always Andrea Mara is the master of suspense and gradually heightening tension! Always one of my must read authors!

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I couldn't read this as an ebook for some reason so will get it when it comes out! Sorry! (Leaving a 4 star review to be fair.)

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Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara is a tense and unsettling psychological thriller. The story follows Julia, a mother of two, who recently moved back to Dublin. Her daughter shows her a TikTok video of something called The Loft...and it appears to be filmed inside their home! Her son is convinced that someone is lurking above in the attic, coming out only at night. Julia, together with a friend is determined to find out what's happening, but will it be in time?

Julia is a compelling protagonist, portrayed with vulnerability, but also with strength. The novel’s tension builds steadily, with Mara masterfully blending suspense and psychological depth.

The atmospheric setting and psychological depth make this book a compelling read for fans of domestic thrillers. Someone in the Attic is a gripping read that will keep you hooked until the last page.

4/5 ⭐️

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The story follows Julia and her family, who return to Ireland after years in San Diego, only to find themselves in unsettling circumstances. While her ex-husband Gabe is content with a new art studio and their son Luca is on the hunt for decent pizza, daughter Isla is miserable, having been uprooted from her sunny life and friends. Things take a darker turn when creepy videos from inside their new home start appearing on TikTok. Julia’s unease deepens when she learns that her former friend, Anya, has died.

The book continues with the same eerie tone, delivering twist after twist. Andrea Mara expertly balances the line between believable and terrifying, making for a gripping and unsettling read.

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📣SOMEONE IN THE ATTIC - Andrea Mara: MY REVIEW 📰

Ever since I read Andrea's first book The Other Side of the wall,I've been an avid fan..and she's just gone from strength to strength,upping herself with each book.
This book follows 3 female friends(they used to be a quartet but one died...not a spoiler!)Julia,Anya,and Eleanor. Julia has recently moved back to Dublin from San Diego,which is a story in itself. Also,5 minutes in and Anya dies. This is quite a fast paced read but not remotely complicated. One day,Julias daughter shows her a video on TikTok of the latest craze known as 'The Loft'. The premise is,someone hides in an attic and makes a video showing them coming out towards the camera,disguised..creepy stuff. This video however,seems to be in Julia's house! As she and her friend Eleanor try and find out who's responsible,some of the neighbours behaviours are called into question.
There's twists,hooks,red herrings,and not short of a suspect or two..this one will be done in one sitting,its *that* good.
I have an attic here,and I slept with the landing light on the night I finished this. Thrilling!

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Oh, my goodness! I loved this; different, thrilling, suspenseful read. What an amazing premise…..there’s someone in the attic…. It starts with a dramatic scene and I genuinely wondered how on earth this level of suspense and intrigue could be maintained…however, this adept and creative author manages it. For me, from first page to last and without dragging anything out or weakening the narrative. I was hooked and am breathless now I’ve finished. It’s the sort of book I could read again.

A young couple with two children move from the States back to Ireland; the daughter is particularly resentful of this move, although, it would appear she is to blame….then, strange things happen and Julia (the wife) starts to wonder if her past has caught up with her?

For those who enjoy a well written, clever, tense read, look no further. I shall be reading more from this excellent author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Books UK and many congratulations Andrea Mara on this triumph.

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Really exciting book. Loved the plot. Though a bit silly at times. Mix of characters that really make the book what it is. Fast paced once it hits the middle of the book. Lots of twists and turns and a shocking ending I didn’t see coming. Then after that a happy ending which was nice. Very well written

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Started off as a fantastic read but by half way through it was just plain unbelievable. The actions and reactions to what was happening in their house by both Gabe and especially Julia just didn’t add up. The only was they made sense was. If it was just to move the plot along. So good potential story but failed miserably in the ultimate execution

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It's a fear we all have as children- that there is someone hiding in the house & at some time they are going to come for you. This book plays on that fear. Anya is enjoying the peace & quiet, luxuriating in the bath with a glass or two of wine when a figure appears from the attic. Moments later Anya is dead.
Julia has recently returned to Dublin after living & working in San Diego for many years. She is enjoying rekindling old friendships with Eleanor & Anya. She & Eleanor had been waiting for Anya when she died.

Julia & her family are renting a very luxurious house in a safe gated community. When her daughter shows her a video of a new TikTok craze of someone coming out of the attic & creeping through the house she is sure the video is of their house. Her son Luca is convinced there is someone in the house that only comes out at night- is he right?

I found this book totally gripping. I had no idea what was going on & who the villain was & read late into the night to find out. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- it was a cracker!

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Starts with a punch! Very readable and the perfect summer thriller. Wished it had carried on with the same impactful writing but it did seem lose itself in detail at times.

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Another winner from Andrea Mara! I couldn’t put this down and absolutely loved this. The perfect summer thriller. The cover is gorgeous too.

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I have enjoyed Andrea Mara's novels in the past and I still need to get around to reading The Sleeper Lies, which a lot of my friends tell me is her best.

Someone in the Attic starts out really strong, with a cracking opening chapter in which one of the female characters, Anya, is killed in her bathtub after she witnesses a figure coming down through her attic hatch. If it sounds creepy, it's because it is! I was immediately gripped. However, I am disappointed to say the novel unravelled after this, for me.

I love a suspenseful, chilling tale, but this one just had too much going on. There were some elements to the plot that I felt were unnecessary (like Julia and Gabe's living arrangement?), and I found it very difficult to understand Julia's actions when she discovers the video footage being recorded inside her house. I am well able to suspend disbelief when reading thrillers and am usually happy to go along for the ride, but when a story is firmly rooted in a realistic, relatable setting but the character's actions are baffling, I struggle. I won't go into too much detail and ruin the plot, but there were so many times I found myself screaming, "will you just...!".

I also found there were a few too may characters were introduced, and most of them were unlikeable, which I usually don't have an issue with. Why do all of these women have to be SO successful and so privileged?

There are certainly elements of this story that readers will love, and I am in no doubt that it will be a bestseller and an essential holiday read. It is a page-turner with plenty of red herrings that will keep readers guessing, and the concept is interesting. However, I thought it was too busy, and the mystery was tied up way too neatly in the end. Disappointing, but I will continue to read Andrea Mara's books. 2 - 2.5 stars.

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Oh wow, this really starts off with a bang and gets really creepy the the thought of someone in your attic is really unsettling. I loved this book. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

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Another intense read from Andrea Mara that had me selective when I read it - as ever - way too close to the bone but this time set in your home with the concern that you are not actually alone. Go in with no information, ride the rollercoaster and face your fears. Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the ARC

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Someone In The Attic Andrea Mara

As a fan of Andrea's previous books, think I've read them all, I was delighted when this book landed on my kindle.
Equal measures of who done it and why this book is a solid read.
Andrea has a great knack for sucking you in and letting you think you know where a book is going, only to spring surprises along the way.

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Enjoyable, easy to read, creepy in places. Some good twists, a proper guessing game. I do enjoy books set in Ireland. Great characters, great writing

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