Howell is a new to me author and The Outsider a fantastic introduction to their writing style.

I didn't read the blurb and went into the book blind, having no idea what awaited me. It didn't disappoint. It's a dark domestic thriller that had me hooked from the opening chapters and held me captive till the end.

Omnipresent feelings of isolation and loneliness pervade as Megan feels unaccepted into the community.

Whilst I couldn't take to any of the characters, they are deep and well written.

Shrouded in suspense with an air of mystery and some clever twists.

An enjoyable and engaging read.

Family, marriage, affairs! This is going to be a ride you won't forget. This is a gripping tale, a hard to put down book and a story that will stay with you once your are finished reading. It is engrossing, emotional, thrilling.

A great read, well written and love the characters. It has mystery and suspense which keeps you reading. Well paced, filled with characters that have been well thought out and well worth the read. Loved it.

Thank you NetGall;ey and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was a favorite as it combined a slow burning mystery with historical background which is one my favorite ways to pick up knowledge.
Set deep in the Welsh countryside this is tense atmospheric thriller. Who is out to get the "outsiders" transplants from different part of the UK and still not welcomed even after years of trying to make a go of their Welsh farm. Is the mysterious Welsh language teacher also willing to destroy others for his cause or is the threat coming from closer to home? I was intrigued by the Welsh cultural and the idea of a language all but lost to the tides of time and added to a solid thriller this was a can't miss book.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Outsider' by C.R.Howell

This may be the first book I have read by this incredible author but it most certainly will not be my last!!

'The Outsider' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Howell discusses/includes animal slaughter, mental health, infidelity, infertility and failed IVF.

Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done C.R. Howell!!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author. I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible author's books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by the incredibly talented C.R. Howell. WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules as once you start this book you will not be able to put it down! This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline. I absolutely loved the unique storyline and I will tell you now you may as well stop wasting your time reading this and grab your copy of this book now! In this utterly addictive page turner Howell drops the reader into the beautiful Welsh countryside. I must admit that when I seen this book was set in Wales the fact that I am Welsh and live in South Wales definitely made me want to sink my teeth in to it before I even finished reading the synopsis!! Howell describes the Welsh countryside absolutely perfectly along with, sadly, the attitude of some people who live in certain parts of Wales when it comes to those that do not speak Welsh!! Anyway, moving on from that! It is here that we meet Megan who lives with her husband Noah on a remote sheep farm. It is actually Noah's father Ray who owns the farm. The plan was for Megan and Noah to renovate and let out the 3 cottages they have along with the farm to holiday makers for Ray. The locals are not happy about the cottages being made into holiday homes and there have been problems including graffiti. However, when things escalate and 26 of their lambs are slaughtered. When Noah finds their body Megan is at a new Welsh lesson where the teacher turns out to be Gethin who Noah had fired when he was just a teen. Gethin makes some comments to Megan and she is determined not to return. When Megan discovers the lambs have been killed she is devastated but things get even worse when Ray finds out. Ray decides he is going to hand the farm and cottages over to Noah's sister Imogen who is currently living in a unit due to the fact that she is refusing to take her medication to control her schizophrenia. Imogen is married to Aled and they have a young son called Hari. This causes even more tension and problems with Megan and Noah who have also been struggling with IVF failures and family difficulties. When things go from bad to worse Megan starts an affair with Gethin and life for this family goes from the frying pan into the fire, quite literally!!! I will not say any more than that as I do not want to run the risk of giving anything away but if you want to know more then grab your copy of this gripping drama today and I can GUARANTEE you will not regret it!!! With a storyline absolutely RAM PACKED with drama, action, mystery, secrets, family, lies and so so much more What Are You Waiting For?!! Howell's brilliantly emotive descriptions will have you feeling every emotion the characters are from anger to fear, passion to heartache!! It is one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read!! Howell's evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline with the characters and surroundings coming to life around them. This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how powerful and emotional it is. The multiple protagonist perspective narrative brings the story to life along with the descriptions and ensures the reader can see everything that is going on and what the characters are thinking and feeling. When I was reading this book I could feel my heartbeat speeding up as I was getting a dark sense of foreboding the deeper into the book I got!! It is one of those books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my kindle glued to my hands. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with each of the characters and going through their anger, pain, sadness, curiosity and much more. You need to clear your schedules because you will not be able to put this book down. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and although it could be a difficult read at times with emotions running high I would seriously recommend it to anyone and everyone!! This is a book that will stay with me for years if not forever! AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!! The characters were all very strong and realistic and Howell's writing ensured they jumped off the pages at me. They all have their own unique personalities and I enjoyed discovering their histories as the story unravelled. Anna's fantastic evocative writing skills bring each of them to life. Pick up your copy of this book today and meet these memorable characters yourself.

Congratulations CR Howell on an absolutely drama packed, unforgettable, emotional and gripping book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! This is the reason I would definitely like to welcome you my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, action packed, addictive and compelling MUST READ!!


#TheOutsider #CRHowell #JoffeBooks #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours

@CRHowell @JoffeBooks @ZooLoosBT

https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?ref=bookmarks

https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__tn__=%2As-R

https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhitlock86/

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34299953-kirsty-bookworm86

https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AFZ2XZBSFHIHXBXGZLBQ666XVK4A?ie=UTF8&ref_=ya_mb_l_prf

I really enjoyed this book in a lot of ways, but I did feel like Imogen's difficulties and experiences were shown in a bit too much of a lighthearted way. Thay may just be because I know people who have had similar experiences and have similar disadvantages so I guess the writing doesn't really reflect the troubles faced. However, everyone has diferent experiences, but to me it didn't resonate based on what I have seen.

I do think the book will be very popular as the story line is fanatstic and the plot well thought out.

The Outsider by C.R. Howell is a gripping, well-paced psychological thriller. Megan and Noah are running a sheep farm in the north of Wales. Struggling with the failing farm and having trouble getting pregnant is putting a strain on Megan and Noah's relationship. Megan is Welsh but grew up in a different part so she does not speak the language as well. Wanting to fit in some, she starts to take a Welsh language class once a week. But when she embarks on a passionate affair, Megan stands to lose everything including her marriage.
This story was absolutely immersive. I have never been to Wales, but the way Howell describes the stunning landscape I can almost believe I am there. The dual POV between Megan and Noah showcase the inner turmoil and perceptions of their crumbling marriage. Definitely give this one a shot!
Thank you to NetGalley, C.R Howell and Joffe Books for this ARC. Expected release date is February 13th 2025.

A great domestic suspense thriller. Great twists that pull you in from the start. I never seen the ending coming. Great story!

*The Outsider* by C.R. Howell is an average read that blends mystery and suspense. The story takes its time unfolding. While the first part of the book lays important groundwork, it isn’t until about 75% in that the pace truly picks up, delivering a satisfying ending.


**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.**

The author has gone to great trouble to create a suite of characters with true depth and this makes the reader truly invested in their fate. The layers and complexity in each of them builds the tension as the plot develops. A smart, interesting book.

C.R. Howell’s The Outsider is a gripping, psychologically charged thriller that pulls readers in from the very first page. With a cast of morally complex characters and a plot filled with suspense, this novel keeps you questioning everything until the very end.

One of the book’s strongest elements is its dark, layered characters—each with their own secrets and hidden motives. Their unpredictability adds to the tension, making it impossible to fully trust anyone. The story unfolds with an eerie, almost haunting quality that keeps you turning pages, eager to uncover the truth.

While the novel is well-paced and compelling, the subplot involving the sister and her secrets felt like it had even more potential to be explored. It was a fascinating piece of the overall puzzle, and a deeper dive into her storyline could have added even more depth to the mystery.

That said, The Outsider still delivers a thrilling, immersive experience that will keep readers hooked until the final reveal. If you enjoy dark psychological thrillers that leave you questioning everything, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

3 stars
Expected publication - February 13, 2025

Thank you, NetGalley and Joffe Books, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

Noah and Megan are running the farm of Noah's mother's dreams. Already struggling with failed IVF attempts, now it seems people from town are against them. Noah's sister Imogen has been in and out of mental health care and does not seem to have a full grasp of reality. Then their father decides its best to have Imogen and her husband run the farm, sending Noah and Megan to town to take care of cabins he wants to rent to people on holiday, much to the disgust of locals. Nothing goes well for any of them....

I liked this book a lot, but I didn't love it. I did love the setting, and all in all, it was an enjoyable, quick read.

The start of the book drew me in and held my attention with it's raw, honest description of fertility issues and mental health. It was a mysterious plot that unraveled bit by bit as you read and sometimes left you with questions that don't get answered until the end. I congratulate the author on taking on the mental health disorder of schizophrenia which can be a hard and frustrating one to understand. While I didn't like all the characters each and every one is well developed. The plot had me struggling for air because it has so much complexity it's hard to wrap your head around. It isn't a light and fluffy read but it is a complicated, exciting mystery which is brilliantly written!

What a great book! I absolutely loved how twisty and clever this one was! I was totally engrossed from beginning to end and would definitely read from this author again, So, so, so good!

Dark, depressing and compelling, The Outsider tells the story of a failing farm and family. Noah and Megan have struggled to run the family sheep farm in the north of Wales for years. They are unable to have children, children who might have made them closer. Instead, Noah has pulled away from Megan and the two spend most of their time together in senseless arguments. Then Megan decides to spend a morning a week learning Welsh, a language she speaks hesitantly. This choice will leads to disaster. as life changing secrets, both old and new, are revealed.

This novel is beautifully written and evocative. Descriptions of the constant chores of farmwork are lessened by the raw beauty of the land. Noah and Megan's alternating viewpoints show the inner sadness and confusion of a failing marriage. The Outsider, by C.R. Howell, is full of pain but impossible to put down. It will stay with you long after you read the final page. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and C.R. Howell for this ARC.

I was drawn to the characters from the beginning, it was easy to connect to them. The way the farm and village were described let you feel immersed even more into the story. It makes me want to travel to Wales and experience the villager life. C.R. did a great job of expressing the emotions of the story lines and characters. As a mental health provider I was especially drawn to and felt for Imogen. C.R. showed her struggles and beautiful innocence so well. The book is a great mix of thrills, character development and easy to get lost in story.

Thanks for the opportunity from Joffe Books and Net Galley to read this. This is my honest view of the book.

A story full of huge secrets.
Set in Wales the author made it easy to visualise the scenes.
Gripping and compelling throughout.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

This is a compelling read and cover numerous human subjects such as mental health, marriage trouble and motherhood.

The novel is set in Wales and is richly descriptive of the place, the people and especially the Welsh language.

Megan is a fabulous character and I loved getting to her but their are secrets that need to be kept hidden and a desperation for a child.

This is a book filled with human drama. it is well told and brilliantly written. I enjoyed the suspense and the intrigue and I was hooked from the start... A one sit read for me

From the start, I found myself drawn into the mystery of the events and characters within this book, as it twists and turns! I’m no expert, but I feel that C.R. Howell truly captures the heart of the village in Wales where the book is set and does an excellent job including and describing the Welsh language; rebellion of local residents as their way of life is disintegrating; mental health and its challenges; and truly honest and raw character development through fertility issues, mental health, abuse, and familial disagreements.

The tensions throughout the book with character interaction is palpable at times and wills the reader to not put the book down in order to put the dots together and determine what is really happening throughout. It’s heart wrenching at times, full of love at others, and unapologetically real.

If you’re a fan of thrilling events, intrinsic storylines with well-developed characters, and reading a story that just unravels more and more as you continue to figure out the story, you will absolutely enjoy this book!