A psychological thriller with an explosive start. I really enjoyed the previous book I read by Andrea Mara but sadly I can't say the same for this book. The first 25% of the book was really gripping but after that the pace really slowed down and the story lost its thrill and didn't feel as though it was making much progress. There were a lot of different threads that seemed to get confused, the characters were unlikable and the ending was too neatly tied up.

I've never read anything by this author before, but the cover and blurb really enticed me. The opening chapter had me hooked, it was really creepy!

The world building was really good - there were a lot of characters but they were all well fleshed-out and I could picture the location easily too. I loved how many strands to the plot there were - there were multiple mysteries and it was really fun trying to work out what was relevant to the central plot and what were red herrings.

The ending was great - I loved how well everything was tied up in the epilogue, there were no unanswered questions. I'm so relieved that Basil made it through the book unscathed!

Anya is relaxing in a bath when a Black masked figure comes down from the attic hatch. Thirty seconds later she is dead.
Julia has come back home to Dubin after spending several years in San Diego. She has rented a house in an upmarket, gated community known for its high security. But when one of her children a trending video on Tik Tok called someone in the attic. She realises that it is her home the video has been taken. How can that be? Only her and her ex – husband Gabe has a key.
I am a big fan of the authors work and I was looking forward to reading her latest one Someone in the Attic. The story drew me from the Blurb. I expected this to be a creepy tense thriller. But for me personally I found it to be a complete opposite of that. There was too much going with going back in time with Julia and her friends together that I thought it steered to much away from the main plot of the story and found Julia unlikeable. This made me not engage in parts of this story. I only thought it got interesting right at the end. I was so disappointed because I loved her other works. 3 stars

Geesh that first chapter is something else and really sets the tone!

This book will keep you on your toes and has you questioning everything!

Just don't read this if you're home alone and you've got a loft in your house! A real page turner, that gripped me from the start. Plenty of twists and a few red herrings - kept you fully involved, a bit scared, and guessing till the end. Recommended.

This book kept me hooked from the first chapter. I had to know who or what was in the attic. The ending surprised me but it was very good and I didn’t see it coming.

Well I don’t think I took a breath whilst I was reading @andreamaraauthor newest thriller Someone in the Attic, which comes out in June.

I raced through it over the weekend- I couldn’t wait to find out the truth about what was going on for Julia and her family .

Andrea Mara has the uncanny ability to pinpoint your worst fear and then zoom right in on it without letting go, keeping up the tension from the first minute until the last word.

‘Someone in the Attic’ opens with a bang. Anya is relaxing in the bath, almost drifting off, when we as readers find out she’s not alone in the house and someone means her harm. The suspense as we hear the loft hatch slowly opening and someone coming towards an unsuspecting Anya 😱😱

Dublin born Julia and Gabe move back to Ireland from the US in a hurry. They’ve moved to a luxury house in a gated complex and trying to settle in with their family when teenage daughter Isla spots a TikTok video seeming to show someone living in their attic and stalking the family unawares.

Julia assumes it’s part of a TikTok viral campaign for reality show The Loft, using clever technological tricks. Her son Luca however is terrified that there’s someone there, hearing creaks and footsteps, convinced that someone is coming into his room when he’s asleep.
And did I mention that Julia is an old school friend of the now deceased Anya …

The story twists and turns at every page, the tension ramps up throughout. I suspected every single character at one point or another, and the final few chapters were a masterclass in revealing what was under our noses all along. Definitely recommend this but maybe dont read it when you’re alone in the house

Do not read this book when you’re home alone, or at 4am!! Trust me, you will be ordering a lock for your attic door. Creepy and breath taking, and frighteningly real, keeps you turning the page racing for the end so that you can sleep again at night. Well done Andrea Mara and thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy.

What a terribly good book this proved to be. It had all the elements needed to keep those pages turning. Blackmail, adultery, grooming, murder and a good dose of guilt. If only I didn't...
The plot centres around the protagonist Julia and her family as they move from San Diego to Ireland. . Julia has sold her company for a seven figure sum and bought family including ex- husband Gabe with her. There is tension as Isla her wayward daughter didn't want to move and doesn't know the reason behind it: A horrifying case of grooming and blackmail but that is introduced later.
The story picks up as we witness the murder of her old school friend Anya, someone who by all accounts was a nasty piece of work. The two had fallen out over some advice Julia had given her regarding a firing procedure and their make up is ditched by her untimely death. The real plot however is the notion that there is someone hiding in the attic. Someone who walks freely at night entering rooms especially her son's. whose line whilst eery is superb and spot on "I.m not afraid of being alone in the dark. I'm afraid that I'm not alone"
There have been a spate of TikTok videos showing people in houses so when Isla receives one of their new house they at first ignored it. That is until more follow and the chase is on for who is targeting Julia and what has it got to do with the four school friends JADE all those years ago.
The introduction of the residents of Brentwood have the reader trying to piece clues together. It wasn't worth it, such is Mara's skill at weaving this piece of detective thriller.
The atmosphere is electrifying and foreboding it had me glancing up at my ceiling a few time. While this is the first book I have read from this author it wont be my last.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this .Highly recommend

Andrea Mara is high on my list of favourite authors so I was eager to read her latest thriller 'Someone in the Attic'. The very title holds the promise of dark and scary happenings and I was not disappointed.
The story begins with Anya who is in the bath when an intruder emerges from the attic. Seconds later, Anya is dead. Meanwhile, Anya's friend Julie is puzzled by internet videos which appear to have been taken inside her house. Is someone gaining entry through the attic?
The novel is fast-paced and gripping with a cast of believable characters, .I loved the sub-plots and flashbacks showing how the past has an impact on present events.
Andrea Mara's books get better and better and I could not put this one down.
A great thriller and highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Someone in the attic - Andrea Mara

I loved the then and now aspect of this book, it was needed in this story. I wish I could have read all of it but it expired when I had 15% left to read… Now it’s going to do my head in not being able to read the last bit. lol great book up to the point I was at 👏

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A creepy read. Is there really someone in the attic?

Andrea Mara has a way of luring you into her stories from the first chapter and keeping you turning those pages, desperate to find out what on Earth is going on!!!

A lot goes on in this book so I'm going to struggle to write a lengthy review without giving away some spoilers.
However, not much needs to be said except I strongly urge you to read this if you're into fast paced and creepy thrillers that keep you on your toes from start to finish!
It was filled with secretive characters and had a really immersive plot that left me questioning everyone and everything!

Aa well written thriller that keeps the suspense until the very end. A few red herrings and twists in the plot that keep you guessing too. All loose ends nicely wrapped up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the advance copy of this book.

Not one of my favourites from this author I found it hard to get into the storyline, just didn't grab me.

The characters were well described but I just didn't get to know them.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for this ARC, I just wish I had enjoyed it better

This is definitely a rather spooky read, not one for reading alone in a somewhere with an attic!
I enjoyed reading it, on the whole well-plotted but had a few irritations along the way, but pretty good.
read and enjoy

Another good book by Andrea Mara.

If you have attic space are you sure it is empty and no one is there? A real good page turning book, that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Dynamic writing at its best. How really secure are gated estates for private houses? Do you trust the agents?

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Brilliantly written, this book kept me guessing right to the end. This is my favourite book of Andrea’s that I’ve read to date, I raced through it. I’ll be recommending this to everyone.

Another great read from Andrea Mara. I was looking forward to reading this and wasn't disappointed.
The book was well paced, the tension building gradually and pointing you in many different directions before reaching the conclusion. All the characters were well written and their stories provided lots of additional sub-plots.
Some key messages from the book: don't make assumptions, talk to one another and put locks on your loft/attic hatch!

What a brilliant opening to a book! After that start I just couldn’t put it down.

Anya is enjoying a relaxing bath after a stressful day in the office when the attic hatch opens and she realises there’s someone in her house. Seconds later, Anya is dead!

Julia, a childhood friend of Anya’s, has recently returned to Ireland from the US. She isn’t overly concerned when her teenage daughter shows her videos online of people climbing out of strangers’ attics and filming their houses. Especially as it’s all for a TV Show called The Loft. Until Julia realises the video she’s watching could only have been filmed inside their home. And then there’s a sudden creak from upstairs …

The tension is palpable from the get-go and there are plenty of twists along the way. Andrea masterfully litters the plot with clever red herrings. I really enjoyed thinking I had it all figured out to have the rug pulled out from under me!

Thank you so much to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.