Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh
I give this book 4.25 stars.

Someone is breaking and entering into homes in Tge Hill Cheshire and DS Leo Brady suspects the burglar is looking for something, or someone, in particular.
Over the border in Wales, DC Ffion Morgan recovers the body of an estate agent from the lakes. Suddenly their cases collide, Ffion and Leo discover people will pay a high price to keep their secrets behind closed doors . . .

With each book i read im loving this police drama series more.
We are back with Leo, Ffion and her work colleague George. There’s current cases to solve and a podcast cold case including a host of suspects. Expect plenty of deception and betrayal but this is interspersed with lighter moments mostly provided by Dave the rescue dog (my favourite character) and Leo’s ex Allie The authors writing style brings all the characters to life, she creates a sense of the place in both Wales and Cheshire. Her police knowledge base allows her to cleverly craft and intwine the storyline including twists to keep you guessing.
“That” ending left me impatient for book 4!
With thanks to Netgalley,Clare Mackintosh and Little Brown Book Group for my chance to read and review this book.

I loved this latest book, catching up with Ffion and Leo interspersed with the death of a woman found in a canoe and the long running theme of a cold case murder podcast. I particularly enjoyed the chapters about Allie, Leo‘s ex-wife. Her desire to always better herself in terms of friendships the styling of her house and so on made me laugh throughout, especially when she ended up being caught up in all sorts of dramas as a result of this. Although there are a lot of characters to get your head round, everything makes sense in the end, although I would suggest making a note of who lives where and with whom from the start rather than going back to the beginning halfway through the book as I did. This book was thoroughly enjoyable and I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Other People's Houses is the third book in the DC Morgan series. I have read the previous two books and really enjoyed them. It is great to catch up with the characters in this third book.
This one was fast paced with plenty of twists and turns that kept me gripped from beginning to end. I feel it could easily be read as a standalone story but would advise everyone to read the series from the beginning as it is just fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for my ARC.

It’s so good to be back with DC Ffion Morgan, DS Leo Brady et al.
Another brilliantly written book that not only includes three great main plots, but also a subplot to die for.
Ffion is dealing with the murder of an estate agent on a team building weekend. Leo is investigating burglaries from expensive houses where nothing of value is stolen, and every man and his dog, except the wonderful Dave, is listening to a podcast about the murders of a couple stabbed to death years previously.
As these three cases intertwine the plots build to a crescendo with a villain I never saw coming.
The developments in the subplot are just fabulous, not only between Ffion and Leo, but with other members of the team too, and we’re left with the most exciting news to carry over to the next instalment which I can’t wait to read.

Clare Mackintosh returns with what I believe to be her best book in the series so far!

We catch up with Ffion, Leo and Dave the dog for the next chapter in the series. The characters are well thought out, I particularly feel sorry for one of them throughout the book. Clare is one of the best thriller writers around and has a fantastic ability to set the scene and backdrop to North Wales. This book kept me guessing, not just who the killer was but how Ffion and Leo's relationship would develop (I'm not saying anything)!!

RATING ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Would I recommend? Yes absolutely!!

I am very grateful to Clare and littlebrownbook group for gifting me an early copy to review.

Other People's Houses is available to preorder now and is released on 27 February 2025! Make sure you grab your copies for release day!!

It was so goo to be back in the world of Ffion Morgan, but if you have never read anything else in this series, don't let that put you off reading this titles because it is SO good and Mackintosh fills in any back information that you need to know, which made me snort - even second time round! Ffion is a spiky, passionate, unconventional, Welsh policy officer. She has a huge heart but is both vulnerable in relationships but gung-ho in terms of her attitude to lawbreakers and rides roughshod over ever rule with little consideration for the feelings of others.

Ffion has had a colourful past, and she struggles to believe that Leo can really love her. Their fledgling relationship started earlier in the series, but it has taken this long for anything close to a commitment to develop. Their relationship feels real and complicated as they try to find middle ground which allows for them working for different police forces, accommodates Dave, Ffion's enormous gas-passing dog, and Harris, Leo's young son from his first marriage. In terms of characterisation, writing doesn't get much better than this. I can totally imagine these characters - think 'Happy Valley' in Wales!

The plot is intricate and complicated. There are a lot of characters - and not many are very likeable! Estate agents do not come out of this story very well at all, though in some respects they are a side story to the main event. I got to about a third of the way through this book and thought I knew what would happen, but I was so wrong as the pace picked up and the story became even more intricately and yet delicately woven...and I could not put the book down.

The ending is perfectly mapped out - left open enough for another story. When will that be? Please don't make me wait too long!

First time I have read anything from this author and I enjoyed the style of writing. It was fast paced with a good storyline. Plenty of suspense throughout. I would definitely read the next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

What a delight to catch up with DC Ffion Morgan, Dave the dog and DS Leo Brady. Ffion along with DC George Kent are assigned to a suspicious death of an estate agent in North Wales, Meanwhile Leo has been tasked to investigate a burglary on a very exclusive and expensive street called The Hill. However, all is not how it appears and both cases are connected. How, why and what are the connections? Ffion and Leo must look behind closed doors to attempt to solve their case. The story was well written and very descriptive especially the locations! I could not stop reading so I stopped up all night to finish it. More Ffion, Dave and Leo!!

'Even on the most desirable street, there's a dark side . . .'

I was really looking forward to returning to Leo and Ffion's lives. This was another fast-paced crime thriller and my favourite book of the series so far.

The story starts with DS Leo Brady investigating a series of break in a luxurious estate called The Hill.
Over the border in Wales, DC Ffion Morgan recovers the body of an estate agent from the lake.
Ffion and Leo start to find their cases have more and more in common. I loved how the two cases merge as more secrets are uncovered from the residents of The Hill and the estate agents surrounding the murder investigation.
Leo and Ffion are such brilliant, relatable characters, and I love their relationship. The banter between them is so funny!
I also really enjoyed reading some chapters from Ali's perspective (Leo's ex and Harris' mum) and I couldn't help feeling sorry for her as she so desperately tries to be accepted into the women from The Hill.
I couldn't put this book down and flew through it. There were some very unexpected twists, too! I highly recommend this whole series and I can't wait for book four!

Another tour de force from Clare Mackintosh, the third in the DC Ffion Morgan series. I think this could be the best book in the series - Mackintosh has relaxed into the characters and we readers are rooting for the ongoing characters as well as following the latest case. I read that Mackintosh is moving to a new publisher and hope that she'll be taking this series with her.

3.5 stars - Thank you to the publisher for an early ebook copy in exchange for my honest feedback!

3rd book in the DC Morgan Series
Loved book 1
Book 2 was pretty good

This one follows DC Morgan as she investigates the murder of a realtor who is found in a kayak. Meanwhile there’s an unsolved double homicide that is the topic of a podcast. And several burglaries in this community.

First off, always love DC Ffion Morgan. I think she’s a badass FMC which is why I keep returning to the series. I loved how many moving parts there were in this story and how many people have drama within drama. That being said, I thought this story had far too many characters leading to too many options for which one would be our culprit.. which in turn made the reveal pretty anticlimactic for me - though I did find the climax scene heart pumping and I was on the edge of my seat holding my breath.

This book does center around rich people which I have expressed not liking in books, however it wasn’t the over the top posh/uptight/old money snobby vibes I typically roll my eyes out so it didn’t really contribute negatively to my reading experience.

I think Mackintosh is an excellent writer and storyteller.
I liked this one slightly more than the 2nd book, but not as much as the first.

"When Leo had first visited The Hill, he'd felt envious of its occupants. The wide avenue with its set-back houses. The private driveways and electric gates. The views over Cheshire...
Now...the street has a very different feel. Funny what a few days can do to your perspective. Money doesn't inocukate you from crime, or sadness, or trauma. People are people the world over."

Book three of the North Wales / Cheshire based police procedural sees DC Ffion Morgan and boyfriend DS Leo Brady sees a dead body in a kayak on the lake and break-ins in a wealthy community. Blending a true crime podcast about a cold case and estate agent hijinx over homes of the wealthy Cheshire set keep them both busy as their relationship develops. One of my auto-buy authors I throughly enjoyed this escapist yet grounded mystery with plenty of twists and turns, a setting I know well and great characters.

DC Ffion Morgan #3

Ffion has been called out to a nearby lake as a body has been found. Leo is investigating some burglaries on The Hill, an exclusive estate. All the neighbours have their own issues.

I did enjoy this instalment, but the WhatsApp messages from the neighbours were off-putting, making me lose concentration. There were plenty of suspects for both Ffion and Leo to investigate. We also have a cold case murder, the subject of a podcast being broadcast. The characters are relatable, but Allie was really annoying. The pace is steady in this tense read. I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first two books in this series, but I will continue reading this series.

Published 27th February 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #ClareMackintosh for my ARC of #OtherPeoplesHouses in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love the author’s psychological thrillers and think they are some of the best in the genre so I did feel disappointed a few years ago when I heard she was writing a police procedural series. However I absolutely loved the first in this series featuring DS Brady and DC Morgan and although I found the second in the series to be a weaker addition to the series I was looking forward to being back with Brady and Morgan, in this, the third instalment.
It’s set in Cheshire and North Wales , both beautiful settings and I think this is the best in the series so far. The plotting is strong and I love the personal and professional relationship between Brady and Morgan. The police procedural aspect is strong as is the characterisation. I loved this and would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I think this is part of a series and probably not the first one in the series either. Maybe not, and it doesn't matter because because I loved this! It's just a brilliant, brilliant crime novel with a fantastic plot and packed full of three-dimensional characters. The relationship between Ffion and Leo is gorgeous - completely authentic and so, so sweet. The plot, centred around a series of break-ins in a hugely affluent residential street, cracks along at a brilliant pace. Leo's ex-wife's desperate desire to be part of the wealthy set is so well done!

Also, a fabulous setting for a crime novel. As I read this, I could see it being made into a gripping TV series.

An absolutely brilliant read and I sincerely hope there are more Ffion and Leo books in the pipeline.

Another fantastic read by clare. Love this series and can't wait for the next book to come out. I highly recommend everyone gives clares books a go, you won't regret it

Confession: I've read several of Clare Mackintosh's books before; I Let You Go being my most favourite thriller ever. However, I'd not read any of the DC Morgan series so I approached this book with slight apprehension.

It turns out that I had nothing to worry about! I was hooked from the very start and went along for an absolute rollercoaster of a ride. I honestly couldn't put it down and ended up finishing it at 2am.

The plot is riveting. I did initially think that there were lots of characters, but their storylines were cleverly woven together and the theories had me guessing till the end. Allie's antics provided some comic relief- which I just loved.

I read this as a standalone and now have no choice but to go and read the rest of the series! A really enjoyable read, the plot wad well written and paced out. The characters were vividly brought to life and they were all well rounded and original. Obv having not read the previous, there are probably layers and backstories I didn't pick up on but I still really enjoyed the book. Its well plotted out, although I am not a fan of having various media forms in books. Like when there a podcast scripted In and then chat rooms and DMs a d newspaper clippings. To me it takes me out the story a bit but that would pro ably be my own down side and that's just my personal preference so in no way a reflection of how good the book is. A really solid read

I didn't realise this was a series when I started to read it. It didn't matter, however I would recommend that they are read in order, as I've probably missed out on some character development - this isn't a bad review, just advice for fellow readers!
I really enjoyed it. It was fast paced, well written, and I didn't guess the story!!!
I liked the characters and would like to know more. It really is a series I could get addicted to!!
Bring on the other books!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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

DC Morgan is back, and investigating a new murder, while her boyfriend and fellow officer, DS Brady is investigating a series of burglaries in an upmarket area, known as The Hill. As a sideline, DC Morgan is thoroughly invested in a true crime podcast of a ten year old murder case that is currently unsolved. Will this be connected to either of their cases?

This was a brilliant instalment in this series. I love the way Ffion is written, she is witty, strong willed, with a vulnerable side, and the relationship she has with her dog, Dave is great. Leo is also well formed, and is a really nice and understated character, and I cant wait to see what is in store next for the pair of them. The storyline was a real page turner, fast paced, lots of twists and turns, and gritty, as I have come to expect from this author. Looking forward to the next instalment!!