This book was so addictive! Amazing sequel to The Poison Tree that I didn't know I needed!
Great crime/mystery that I think will really hit home with a lot of people.

Erin Kelly delivers another gripping and atmospheric thriller with The House of Mirrors, a novel that masterfully blends psychological suspense with rich, immersive storytelling. From the very first page, the tension is palpable, drawing the reader into a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

Kelly’s prose is elegant and evocative, bringing both the eerie setting and complex characters to life. The novel is full of twists and turns, keeping you second-guessing every revelation. The psychological depth of the characters adds another layer of intrigue, making their motivations feel believable even when their actions are questionable.

While the pacing slows in some places, the novel’s compelling mystery and haunting atmosphere make up for it. The ending is satisfying, unexpected yet fitting, leaving just the right amount of ambiguity to linger in your mind.

Overall, The House of Mirrors is a well-crafted, intelligent thriller that will appeal to fans of slow-burning psychological suspense. A strong 4 stars!

Absolutely loved The House of Mirrors. If ever a book deserved a sequel The Poison Tree did and this does not disappoint. It was so good to find out what had happened to the various characters over the years and to be introduced to new interesting people. There’s a lot happens in this but no spoilers here, I just recommended you read it and love it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review and to Erin Kelly for a great piece of work-you have a new fan.

The follow up to The Poison Tree and just as good. Plenty of twist and mystery to keep you reading. Good characters old and new, excellent plotting..You don't have to read the first book but it helps. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this review ARC.

A thrilling read that will keep you guessing from the very first page. A book that you will find hard to put down once you start.

Sorry, but I didn’t enjoy this book at all. I didn’t find it interesting or exciting and it seemed to take forever to get to the end. Not my cup of tea at all I’m afraid.

When it comes to deeply involving, twisty thrillers, Erin Kelly is in a league of her own. The House of mirrors is a magnificent mystery that begs to be read in a single sitting but deserves to be pored over slowly, every word savoured. Possibly the finest thriller you'll read all year

Although I found the story a little slow to get into, it ramped up well and was eventually going at breakneck speed. Once up to speed I found it hard to put down.
The story leads you in and keeps you gripped with shocking twists and turns. The ending is excellent.

The author clearly loves fashion and her descriptions of clothing and the aesthetics were intoxicating. 

I did find that it felt a little jumpy in places and although the perspectives from multiple characters was quite innovative I did find it a little confusing at times (that could just be me though!)

What did I just read! It was so blooming good. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. I can't believe I have already read a top 5 book of the year. Maybe even the best book of the year!

This book tells the story of Karen, Rex and their daughter Alice. And the mystery of what happened to Rex's sister Biba. Rex has been in prison for the murder of two men, one in self defense and the other accidental. He got out of prison when Alice was 10. Biba his sister has been missing since the night of the murders, missing presumed dead. What happened the night of and where is Biba

The character of Karen, well she was a bit of a Karen. At first I did not like her but as I grew to understand her. I kind of got her although I still didn't fully like her. Alice I absolutely loved her. She was such a well rounded character, I completely got her need for the truth. And just to put the mystery of the night of to bed. Rex and Liss were also two great characters. You could feel Rex's pain through the pages and Liss her need for answers.

This book is so intriguing, it's a proper page turner. I was completely engrossed. I was gasping out loud at parts that I did not see coming. With the way this book ends there better be a follow up. I need to know what happens next. I need more Alice, Liss, Rex and Karen in my life!!!!

This is the first book by Erin Kelly I have read. Where has she been all my life! I need more!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for allowing me to read this fabulous book.

In a book where everyone has a secret, starting with the double murder by Rex whose daughter Alice suspects it was actually his sister Bibs who he did time for. Meanwhile, Alice’s mother Karen has secrets of her own which Alice’s activist boyfriend seems determined to uncover. I really enjoyed this book, especially as I got further into it and most secrets unravelled. A highly recommended read.

Karen, Rex and their now grown up daughter Alice. She wants answers to her parentage…. Lots of twists and turns gripping read

House Of Mirrors by Erin Kelly is a follow on book from The Poison Tree, and follows Karen, Rex and their little girl Alice.
Rex is finally out of prison, so Karen has gone to collect him with their daughter so they can be a family finally. Biba is a dirty word…
I loved seeing what had happened to Rex and how Karen had coped with having a little girl alone.
Alice grows up and is just like Biba in more ways than one. She has a flair for clothes, but has turned that into having a shop and selling vintage clothing.
I loved the fact that we had little snippets of news about the past, to send your thoughts in a different direction. It was great!!
All in all, it’s a great story, lots of mystery. I’m hoping there may be more. We’ll have to wait and see!.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley,#HodderStoughton,#Erin.Jelly.

A twisty thriller but not her best one for me. I liked all the gothic elements and the vintage clothing but I just didn’t connect with any of the characters. Probably me.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

House of Mirrors is a second book to The Poison tree, which I haven't read. It didn't feel like I missed out though. There was enough character development and premise to allow me to enjoy the book as a standalone.

I did get confused at the start though, as I though Biba was a shop not a person!! I loved Alice's shop and the dynamics between the messed-up family. And felt intrigue pulled through the story to keep my interest. I loved the twists and really found it a page turner!

Well it looks like there may be a third book about Karen, Rex and Alice, having read The Poison Tree it was easy to get right back in the drama however it can also be a standalone novel. Karen and Rex have a beautiful daughter called Alice who has just opened a vintage clothes shop everything seems perfect until Alice delves back into the past which Kate is very worried about as there are so many secrets that will ruin their lives.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughtob for an ARC

Having read the prequel , I found this title to be more enjoyable and feel that it could even be read as a stand alone. The author creates an intriguing mystery with (some) of the characters from the first novel. The mystery of why events of the past seem to be resurfacing are explored and we gain more insight in to the past traumas. Definitely worth persevering with this follow up, even if you struggled with the first.

I was given a copy of The House of Mirrors by Erin Kelly from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's a tricky review as this sequel had some wonderful moments, but I found various elements patently implausible.

Kelly has a knack for dialogue and a fine vision for storytelling. This book plays with the idea that podcasters don't understand that true crime affects people and isn't a joke. Alice, the daughter from The Poison Tree, has a passion for fashion and a thrill for true crime, which motivates her. She also has a boyfriend who seems untrustworthy, a typical red flag in Kelly's novels. We then return to Karen and Rex (still an excellent name), who live in Suffolk and seem to struggle financially, only there are many, many references to Waitrose purchases and champagne buying, which didn't seem all that necessary. As the story weaves along, the past appears ready to be upturned. As we enter Part 2, we need new characters who take the story in a new direction.

The new action plays out well, although none of the characters are convincing. I'm discussing a minor spoiler here, but it drove me nuts during Chapter 43, where one of the characters just happened to have her passport in a safe deposit box. It felt so wholly invented to push the storyline along. Whilst the story reached its natural end, the epilogue was so well-written that it made me think that so much of the action led up to that twist. (Minor spoiler alert: don't read this if you haven't finished the book: would the information regarding the train journey be available online? I doubted that too. It would have been a payment, not an itinerary.)

Erin Kelly remains a writer who understands dialogue, logistics and desperation. When the plot doesn't quite fit, she tries new ways to inspire the reader to read on, and you escape, for a while, from reality.

The House of Mirrors by Erin Kelly is a masterfully woven psychological thriller that keeps readers on edge with its tangled web of secrets, lies, and suspense. Set in the summer of 1997, the story begins when Karen, a reserved and studious young woman, meets Biba, a free-spirited and glamorous aspiring actress. Their encounter sets off a chain of events that leaves two people dead, another in prison, and a past that Karen has spent years trying to bury.

Now, years later, Karen is married to Rex, a man who has served his prison sentence for his involvement in the tragic events of that summer. They have a daughter, Alice, who runs a vintage clothing shop in London. While on the surface, the family seems ordinary, the weight of their past casts a long shadow over their seemingly perfect lives. The family has made a pact to never speak of the past, particularly the name Biba, and to ignore the darker, unpredictable side of Alice’s nature that occasionally surfaces.

However, when anonymous notes start to arrive at Alice’s shop, it becomes clear that the past is not finished with them. As the secrets of 1997 begin to unravel, Karen and Alice are forced to confront the dark truths they have long buried. The tension builds as we see the parallels between the past and present, and the creeping suspicion that one of them may be on the verge of repeating history.

Kelly’s writing is sharp, with layers of intrigue and suspense packed into every page. The narrative is rich with subplots that keep the reader guessing, and Kelly excels in creating a sense of foreboding and paranoia. The characters, though wrapped in glamour and charm, are fully realized and relatable, making their dark secrets and flaws all the more chilling. There’s a sense of realism in their relationships, and as the story unfolds, the characters’ vulnerabilities become even more apparent, adding emotional depth to the psychological drama.

What makes The House of Mirrors particularly compelling is Kelly’s ability to stay several steps ahead of the reader. The plot is carefully constructed, with unexpected twists that leave the reader questioning who can be trusted and what is truly at the heart of the family’s tragic past. The slow unraveling of secrets is both thrilling and heartbreaking, making this a gripping and thought-provoking read.

In true Erin Kelly fashion, the novel is an exquisite tale of suspense, where the past refuses to remain buried and the consequences of hidden truths loom large. The family’s secrets, combined with Kelly’s brilliant storytelling, make The House of Mirrors a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and intricate character studies.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Am lyfr diddorol, doeddwn i wir ddim yn siŵr beth i’w ddisgwyl pan ddechreuais ddarllen ac nid wyf wedi darllen y llyfr blaenorol ond ni wnaeth hyn amharu ar y stori gan fod digon o wybodaeth yn cael ei darparu!
Cawn gymeriadau di-ri gyda’r stori yn neidio rhwng safbwynt mam a merch, ac ambell gymeriad arall gan adrodd hanes un teulu llawn helynt. Troeon cwbl annisgwyl a digon o gyffro!

What an interesting story, I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading and I haven’t read the previous book either but this didn’t have an impact on this story as enough details were given of the history! We meet various characters as the story jumps between mother and daughter and a few other characters to tell the tale of a family full of troubles. Completely unexpected twists and lots of excitement!