This book is a dark (but also almost funny?) thriller about an elderly couple who accidentally rent out their annexe to a wrong'un. I loved that all of the characters in this book were kind of awful, to varying degrees and in different ways. It didn't take me long to power through since I couldn't put it down, and some of the twists were so wickedly clever I didn't see them coming. I've already started recommending it to friends!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The blurb is all that is needed to recommend this book, and drew me in instantly.
I finished this quick read in a day because each time I thought the story was finishing, another shock came along to turn the story on its head.
I'm really enjoying older people as main characters in books lately and just loved this so much, especially Sissys character, who is definitely one to call if you ever needed a good place to hide a body!
Fantastic read that kept me hooked throughout.

I absolutely love this style of writing and A Good Place to Hide a Body did not disappoint. This book had me continuously guessing how it would go and made me want to keep reading to the end. Penny’s parents are old and in need of extra cash to look after their big run down house. She suggested they get themselves a lodger, after taking their advice, they find a lodger from a letting agency suggested by an acquaintance. Penny and her parents end up with the lodger from hell who has a whole different side to him. One night, Penny gets a call from her parents and their lives changes. Where is a good place to hide a body?

This was a very different kind of read from Laura Marshall than other books of hers that I have read. In saying that, I really did enjoy this dark but funny story. It will make you think twice about getting a lodger, no matter how much you might need the money.

Penny will do anything for her elderly parents. But getting rid of Cooper is harder than it seems. He is the tenant from hell, and manages to get away with it everytime. But one night, her parents find a permanent solution and Penny needs to help them clean it up.

Penny’s mother Sissy was hilarious! I loved how she used her age to her advantage. There are some dark themes here but overall this was a fun, quick read.

Thanks so much Hodder and Stoughton for my advanced reading copy. Publishes on July 4th, the perfect binge read.

The blurb for Laura Marshall’s A Good Place to Hide a Body hooked me at once, “Everyone is capable of murder. They just need to meet the right person.” Penny’s parents have killed someone and they need help with the body. Oh, dear, don’t you hate it when that happens?

Penny is fifty years old and divorced, but finds her parents’ new male lodger unsettlingly attractive. She doesn’t want her parents to have to take in a lodger but the family doesn’t have enough money for them not to do so. Penny describes her emotions as midway between desire and panic but we then see the family’s relationship with the lodger starting to sour. Penny’s parents start to become scared. Marshall does such a good job of articulating Penny’s thoughts and her parents’ growing fear and frustration, that I found the first few chapters awkward to read. The reader can really empathise with the parents’ impotence when a lodger’s behaviour is unacceptable. The law (understandably) protects tenants and makes it difficult to get them out; but what can landlords do when a tenant makes their life a nightmare? Given the book’s title, I have no doubt you can guess.

Although there are moments of humour, I would not describe this book as a comedy. Perhaps my imagination is too vivid but I found the predatory behaviour towards Penny’s parents unsettling. However, I think that is a remarkable compliment to the author – I know this is a novel; it’s fiction; but I am still living the action with the characters, even though, frankly, some moments are quite surreal (in a good way!). It’s a great read and I am very grateful to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for letting me have a free copy in return for an honest review.
#AGoodPlacetoHideaBody #NetGalley

For women in Penny's generation, it's normal to have to help out your parents every once in a while, but for Penny, it's become a little more serious. When she receives a frantic call from her parents in the middle of the night telling her not to call the police she rushes over. Only to find her parents in the garden with a dead body, which shows that anyone can be capable of murder if they find the right person.

This was a really good read, fast-paced and fun, although also managing to deal with some hard-hitting topics, including addiction and grief. I didn't enjoy the character of Penny to begin with. I really struggled with the way she spoke to her parents and the way she treated them, but as the characters developed, I began to like her more. I loved Sissy and Heath Penny's parents, and Sissy was by far my favourite character, and it just shows you that sometimes you should fear the ones you least expect. Highly recommend.

ARC review

This could be a good easy holiday read
Nothing too complicated and a bit different from your standard thriller
A few twists and kept me interested

Bloody hell, that was brilliant!

I've become really picky about my thrillers since having a baby - I used to read it all, and now there's lots I won't go near with a 10-foot barge pole - so I stick to the comfort of romance novels and HEA's. Every few months, though, something piques my interest, and I remember why I love thrillers quite so much; this novel did EXACTLY that.

Books that start with a prologue introducing the ✨️main event✨️ have a habit of being really slow-paced, so the build-up is more dramatic. The same isn't to be said for AGPTHAB. It was engaging and interesting from the first page - I think the fact I read the entire thing over a span of three hours speaks volumes. The characters are mundane, and everyday people - as I'm noticing is the case throughout Marshall's work - but I think that's what makes the story so exciting? These 50- and 70-year old's with allotments and office jobs have a HUGE secret??? I am GRIPPED.

I really enjoyed the fact that there were multiple twists. The big part of the story was placed in the middle, as opposed to the end, and that really helped with the pacing of the story and the wanting to know what could possibly come next.

I implore everyone to add this to their TBR's, pre-order, and read as soon as it's published. I hope you love it as much as I did. And never, ever rent out your annexe... you never know what could happen...

Mixed feelings about this one, I found it humorous and an easy read but also a bit predictable, I found the character of penny to not be very believable, just felt she was not acting in a way in which she should in certain situations. I loved sissy and heath they were a great asset to the story, their relationship was lovely and I loved sissy's character. All in all an easy to read humorous but predictable story

I did enjoy the book and found myself wanting to know what would happen next.

I liked the characters of Penny and her parents, Zach was infuriatingly teenage and Martin provided some giggles.
The story was quick paced enough to keep me entertained but I did feel there were twists at the end just for twisty-sake.

This is a hugely enjoyable novel! I loved it. There’s lots to relate to in Penny’s life - her love for, but also exasperation with, elderly parents, her teenage son starting to go off the rails and then…a dead body! I couldn’t put it down (the book not the body, fortunately). Penny is a sympathetic main character with lots going on. I enjoyed the way her view of her parents develops as the story progresses. There are plenty of surprises, some strong, feisty characters and a particularly objectionable one. A Good Place to Hide a Body kept me entertained throughout and I would highly recommend it.

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

This is a dark, humorous read. The plot is fast paced, although a bit unbelievable, however, if you can suspend disbelief and enjoy the read for what it is, you will be rewarded. For the most part this is a thriller but there are some humorous scenes in this and I found the book quite funny in a dark way. There are also plenty of twists and surprises to keep you entertained.
Overall I found this a bit ridiculous but still a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.

A Good Place to Hide a Body, will it be your summer read?

Join Penny trying to navigate her post divorce life, with a socially awkward son and aging parents needing her help. She is just getting by when learning of her parent's financial trouble. Their new tenant should help but he just seems to be making everything worse and then the real trouble begins.

Short and snappy chapters to fit into what ever time you have, It has been great for my commute lately. It had an interesting level of mystery for the first half of the book, though it was quite clear where it was going. Even though you knew where it was ending, I still wanted to carry on to know how it was going to happen.
This won't be one of my top reads as I didn't gravitate to any of the characters but for a quick summer read, it did the job of getting me out of my book slump. This will just be what many people need for their summer holiday mysteries.

I would like to thank NetGalley and HodderBooks for the advanced copy.

Get the Book from the 4th July!

I feel like this book is a completely different direction for Laura, but I did feel like it needs to be more faster paced. But it's still an enjoyable read and gives you that anxious feeling.

I tried really hard with this one. I had to out it down many times because I was bored instead of invested. It is a shame becquse I have enjoyrd this author's previous books. I DNFed at 55%. The way the characferd speak and interact with each other doesn't make it appealing or interesting. When I read this type of books I look to be unable to put it down because the mystery keeps you invested. This wasn't the case with this one, at least for me.

First I loved the name of this and the cover is amazing!
I really enjoyed this and read it in one sitting it had everything I love in a good solid book it me gripped kept my attention
The characters were amazing so well written I could really connect with them

This was a really fast paced book, each chapter left me needing to read on to find out what happens next!
I don't fully know what I was expecting with this book but it certainly exceeded expectations.
Cooper was absolutely the worst kind of person in the world and I cannot imagine having to deal with a nightmare like that. And, just when you thought things were safe and you could sigh here comes more trouble...
Sissy and Heath were amazing, I loved their frankness and outlook on life.
I did find the first 35% a little slow and I did nearly give up but I am so glad I didn't because it just picks up out of nowhere and becomes the fast paced book I mentioned earlier.

I thought this was excellent!
I love reading about older characters who are not written as cliches so this one really worked for me. The elderly parents, their daughter, her ex husband and their teenage soon, all the characters were so well written. and bounced off each other wonderfully. The lodger is an absolute horror and becomes the enemy of them all.
What really makes the book special for me is the dark humour. At first I was wondering if it was really appropriate to be laughing, but soon realised it definitely was supposed to be funny at times.

It wasn't until halfway through the book that it took off for me.. There were some interesting aspects and twists I just wish it had been the whole way through the story not just the last half overall I just wasn't hooked and I really wanted to be.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.