Under Her Roof

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Pub Date 13 Jun 2024 | Archive Date 4 Jun 2024

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Description

It seems too good to be true…

When struggling writer Sebastian finds a room to let in a palatial Hampstead residence he cannot believe his luck. The rent is ridiculously cheap and he immediately feels a connection with his beautiful widowed landlady, Adriana.

It is.

Things take a dark turn when he finds out what happened to the last lodger. Could this be why the house is a fortress of security, and why Adriana seems so fragile? Adriana doesn’t want to talk about the death and sadness that seem to follow her wherever she goes and Sebastian has secrets of his own.

Now someone is watching their every move and there is nowhere to hide.

This house of light becomes a dark nightmare as the threat ramps up - what does the watcher want? And how far will they go to get it?

A gripping, twisty thriller perfect for fans of B.A. Paris, Shari Lapena and Lucy Foley. If you were hooked by Netflix series You or The Watcher then you will love this.

It seems too good to be true…

When struggling writer Sebastian finds a room to let in a palatial Hampstead residence he cannot believe his luck. The rent is ridiculously cheap and he immediately...


Advance Praise

‘Intense, intricate and packed with intrigue...a thrilling and addictive read.’ B.A. Paris

'Taut and intricately plotted with such exquisite writing.' Imran Mahmood

'A masterclass in suspense - I couldn’t put it down, and the twists will absolutely floor the reader.' Lisa Hall

‘A dark, twisty, unputdownable thriller that will send your mind spinning. Truly sublime.' B P Walter

'A compulsive thriller that crackles with a sense of menace. Tense, twisty and gorgeously atmospheric.' Kia Abdullah

‘Another spectacular triumph ...this is a taut, gripping page-turner with an unguessable twist.’ Lucy Martin

'A nail biting, claustrophobic thriller with a plot that will give you shivers, and a twist that will blow your mind.’ Sarah Clarke

‘A gripping, voyeuristic page-turner...from a hugely talented crime writer at the very top of their game.’ Howard Linskey

'A taut, edgy thriller.' Marion Todd

‘A spine-tingling, cerebral thriller packed with real psychological depth and a final twist that hits you like a gut-punch.’ Chris Merritt

‘A razor-sharp thriller...Beautifully dark and utterly compelling.’ Victoria Dowd

‘Intense, intricate and packed with intrigue...a thrilling and addictive read.’ B.A. Paris

'Taut and intricately plotted with such exquisite writing.' Imran Mahmood

'A masterclass in suspense - I...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781804362945
PRICE £1.99 (GBP)
PAGES 400

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Average rating from 86 members


Featured Reviews

Good book!! Some really crazy twists and turns!! Wow! Definitely some shocking moments! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
It seems too good to be true… When struggling writer Sebastian finds a room to let in a palatial Hampstead residence he cannot believe his luck. The rent is ridiculously cheap and he immediately feels a connection with his beautiful widowed landlady, Adriana. It is.Things take a dark turn when he finds out what happened to the last lodger. Could this be why the house is a fortress of security, and why Adriana seems so fragile? Adriana doesn’t want to talk about the death and sadness that seem to follow her wherever she goes and Sebastian has secrets of his own!

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I was completely sucked into the book from the start and couldn't put it down. The writing is excellent and draws you into the story. It's well plotted out with characters that are vividly brought to life. There are twists and turns and the most perfect tension that's huolt throughout the story. It's all just so real and so I was invested throughout and dying to know wxactly what secrets were being hidden. An amazing book

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Whoa did not see that ending coming. Adriana is renting out a room because she’s lonely as a widow. As seb gets to know her, he starts to wonder what happened to her last lodger who committed suicide. Meanwhile he is getting emails from someone about Adriana. Who is she really? Who is this random man that shows up from her past? And how are they all connected? Def not in any way you will ever guess! Very suspenseful!

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Under Her Roof" by A A Chaudhuri is a spine-tingling thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. This captivating story of secrets, suspense, and obsession kept me on the edge of my seat and left me guessing until the shocking conclusion.

Chaudhuri has crafted a gripping tale filled with twists and turns that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The dynamic between Sebastian, the struggling writer, and Adriana, his enigmatic landlady, is fraught with tension and mystery. As Sebastian delves deeper into Adriana's past, he uncovers dark secrets that threaten to consume them both.

What I loved most about "Under Her Roof" is its atmospheric setting and sense of foreboding. The eerie Hampstead residence, shrouded in secrecy and tragedy, serves as the perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama. Chaudhuri expertly builds suspense, creating a palpable sense of unease that lingered with me long after I finished reading.

The novel's pacing is relentless, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that left me desperate to know what would happen next. As the tension mounts and the stakes escalate, "Under Her Roof" hurtles towards a thrilling and satisfying conclusion that left me breathless.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, then "Under Her Roof" is the perfect read for you. It's a gripping and twisty tale of secrets and deception that will keep you up at night, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth.

In summary, "Under Her Roof" is a must-read for anyone who loves a suspenseful and chilling thriller. I highly recommend it to fans of B.A. Paris, Shari Lapena, and Lucy Foley, as well as anyone who enjoys a gripping story that will keep them guessing until the final page.

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The beginning of this book really hooked me in - The writing style was lovely and I could picture the house and characters really well.

I did find that the pace lagged in the middle - it felt a little repetitive at times. Also, a minor quibble but where did Max go? Adriana didn't appear to need an assistant after the first chapter, so if he was being paid a full time salary he's the luckiest bloke on earth.

The story picked up pace again towards the end, and I thought the ending was very good, albeit a little far-fetched.

Overall I would recommend this book as I did really enjoy reading it.

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Sebastian cannot believe his luck when he finds an affordable room in Adriana's palatial Hampstead house. He starts to have second thoughts when he discovers that the previous tenant committed suicide. Why does Adriana insist on so much security? Who keeps sending Sebastian emails? Is someone watching the house?
A A Chaudhuri writes well, conveying menace and tension throughout the story. Both Adriana and Sebastian are hiding secrets that are revealed in the shocking twist at the end of the book.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a dark and twisty psychological thriller. I will look out for more books by this author.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc. All opinions are my own.

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I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed reading multiple POVs and I thought the A A Chaudhuri conveyed the different tone of voice for each character really well. The twists were great. I guessed a few of them, but only shortly before they happened and it didn't take away from the enjoyment for me at all. Sebastian and Adriana were both complex main characters. They weren't necessarily likeable all the time, but that fit with the story and they were certainly interesting. I did wish I could've found out a little bit more about Seb. I'll definitely check out more of this author's work!

Thank you Net Galley and Hera Books for this ARC.

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This was a well written thriller which had me gripped throughout. I felt there was an edge of suspense all the way through. I really enjoyed the fast pace and the writing style. It was definitely one of those thrillers once you start you cant put it down. Thank you for the opportunity to read this fantastic book. I highly recommend this to everyone excellent!

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First and foremost, I would like to thank NetGalley, Hera Books, and especially A. A. Chaudhuri for allowing me to read and review Under Her Roof.

“There’s only one more witness the defence hopes to call. One who, until now, has failed to come forward and give evidence. But who could hold the key to my salvation.” In the Prologue, someone is on trial for a terrible crime. We don’t find out who that is until the end.

Seb, a gentle and injured soul with a background he’s desperate to hide, finds himself living in a beautiful mansion in London - a situation that seems too good to be true. As Seb begins this new chapter in his life, he realizes his new home and landlord are also hiding their past.

I have not read A. A. Chaudhuri before, and I love her very distinct writing style. I loved this story, and have rated it four stars instead of five for a couple of reasons: it was predictable and a little too creepy-sexual for my taste.

I managed to guess just about every twist in this story. It kind of doesn’t matter though, because I had so much fun reading it and couldn’t put this one down! I was excited each time a new twist was revealed. Very fast paced with WONDERFUL imagery. The switching between characters worked very well in this case. I would have loved to see some character development in Seb, Adriana, or Jasper as well. I’ll be looking out for this author’s next story!

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Seb moves to London to solve his own personal mystery and becomes a lodger to Adriana who has secrets of her own. Both characters feel they are being watched but who by and what do they want?

'Under Her Roof' sure packs a punch! There are multiple secrets and lies and I honestly did not see that whopper of a plot twist the end.

The only negative aspect is the unnecessary repetition and I feel quite a chunk of text could've been left out, however I did love the twist and it made the lengthy text worthwhile.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hera and A.A. Chaudhuri for the opportunity of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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A wealthy widow advertises for a border. She lives in a stunning home and the rent is dirt cheap. When Sebastian answers the ad, his gut tells him to pass and not look back. But Adriana, his landlady intrigues him, and the price is right so…… Yep, he ignores his gut.
While he gets settled, things just don’t appear quite right. Her last tenant died mysteriously, and someone seems to be watching the house. She also has an odd rule, but Sebastian thinks she’s entitled since she’s sharing her gorgeous home with him.
Soon it seems that one of them is being targeted. But who. Sebastian or is it Adriana. I thought I knew where this was going, but I was totally wrong. Both main characters were hiding secrets. When everything came together, well, I closed my Kindle with a satisfied smile. My first book by this author, and it will not be my last.

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Sebastian is looking for a new property and when he sees an ad for lodgings he jumps at the offer of the room. In exchange for minimal rent he may have to do a few things for his Landlady. And when he meets Adriana hes taken slightly aback by some of her rules but decides to sign the clause anyway. What he doesnt understand is that Adriana has a secret and this secret caused her previous tenant to commit suicide. And when Seb starts receiving sinister emails these cause him more concern. This novel is a proper rollercoaster of a ride, tense and unnerving, told mainly from Adriana and Seb's point of view with an unknown voice too. Its ruthless and unnerving and a great read

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There is a lot of edginess in this story of two people thrown together with very different motivations but in two worlds that the reader is shown will collide in a series of extremely suspenseful points of view; Sebastian needs a room and doesn't have much money, whilst Adriana is looking for a very particular type of lodger who isn't put off by what may or may not have happened to his predecessor.

Through a series of flashbacks and a very clever weaving together of characters' points of view, the suspense is allowed to build and the reader is kept guessing who the 'Watcher' night be who sends both Sebastian and Adriana messages, seemingly trapping them in a never-ending circle of deceit.

Each of the two main characters are well-drawn and their faults contribute to what, ultimately will be a downfall, but for whom it is genuinely guesswork as the story progresses. Some themes are explored which send the story down some very disturbing paths, but not gratuitously so - in fact, they enhance the plot.

A.A. Chaudhuri is most definitely a suspense writer who continues to deliver.

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This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

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What’s the old saying? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Seb, newly back in London and a struggling writer, decides not to listen to his instincts and become a lodger in a grand, luxurious home with a mysterious landlord. Adrianna seems great, but she seems to be hiding some secrets. However, Seb’s hiding some secrets of his own, so he can’t exactly complain. When the pair begin to suspect they’re being watched, things get creepy quickly. Is someone from one of their pasts’ responsible? And does that mean they’ll have to reveal their most painful memories?

This book is told from multiple POVs, in the present and past, though it is pretty easy to keep track of them, IMO.

Right away, the book starts off with a foreboding beginning, then never really lets up. We know right from the start that things go horribly wrong at some point, then are forced to watch the story unfold. And unfold it does! It’s like a car wreck you can see coming from a mile away, but can’t stop. Which is just amazingly thrilling for this type of mystery.

And the reveals were well worth the wait. There were some really intense moments in there that I did not see coming as the secrets began to pour out. And the author does not spare us: she spills that tea. She delivers on her promise to reveal everyone’s demons and we get ‘em all: the good, bad and the ugly.

And the ending, whew! I’ve seen similar, but did not see this one coming because it was set up really well. The author doesn’t rely on cliches and tropes to create her characters and I appreciated that.

Overall, A.A. Chauhuri is quickly becoming an author-to-watch and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

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Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Wow, talk about a crazy end reveal. Throughout the book I was a little confused with the multiple POV's and timelines, but then it all came together. Once it all fell into place I was pretty shocked and also impressed as well. The characters of Seb and Adrianna are pretty likable even though each has their own hidden agenda and secrets. The author did a great job developing the characters and their backstory. I feel like this is almost a slow burn because while there are things going on throughout the book, the end is what really kicked it into high gear.
Great job.

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I have other books by A A Chaudhui on my ever increasing TBR. Think I need to move them up to the top.

I really enjoyed this book. Or kept me gripped and was a great escape for a few hours. Would recommend to others.

Solid 5 star read from me. Thank you for the opportunity to review

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First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, A. A. Chaudhuri, and Hera (Canelo) for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

A long-time fan of A.A. Chaudhuri and her work, I was eager to get my hands on this ARC. Filled with a number of suspenseful moments, the reader is pulled into a piece where nothing is entirely clear. After securing a new place to live, Sebastian finds himself wondering about his new landlady, who is both highly attractive and secretive. The new living situation soon becomes somewhat tense and Sebastian finds himself questioning his choices. As things ramp up, truths emerge that ensures no one is entirely safe or at ease. A.A. Chaudhuri pens another winner with this story!

When Sebastian is seeking a new place to live, he feels that his options are limited. Struggling to make ends meet as a writer, he has been perusing the advertisements in hopes of stumbling upon something decent. When he comes upon a room for rent in a palatial Hamstead home, he feels that it must be a mistake. However, inexpensive rent and some decent solitude await him, as long as he can handle living with his widowed landlady, Adriana. He cannot sign the lease fast enough and is soon preparing to move in.

When Sebastian learns what happened to the previous lodger, his views on the place change drastically. While peaceful in its environs, the house is secured and nothing is left to chance, which is seen when Adriana’s fragility comes to the surface. When Sebastian tries to ask about her past or the time with the previous lodger, Adriana refuses to engage in the topic. Death seems to follow her everywhere, though Adriana refuses to shed any light on it. This leaves Sebastian feeling highly nervous and questioning the secrets.

Sebastian begins to sense that someone is watching the house, particularly those who live inside. While unable to put his finger on it, Sebastian cannot shake the thought that Adriana might be keeping something from him, juts as he is hiding a secret or two of his own. Will Sebastian be able to get to the bottom of things or will he become the next lodger victim in this web of deceit? Chaudhuri does a masterful job with this piece, adding suspense to every page flip.

While I cut my teeth on her legal thrillers, I have come to enjoy and respect A.A. Chaudhuri’s varied writings. She is able to capture the essence of the story in the opening pages of the book and does not let the reader remain in compete control. Her narrative style keeps the story moving and leaves the reader to catch up or be left in the dust. There is a great deal on offer here, with strong storytelling and some building suspense that is only made known as needed. Some characters prove to be just what the reader needs, while others have multiple layers, permitting a psychological chill. The secrets are plentiful, forcing the reader to pay close attention.

Plot points in a story of this genre are essential to the delivery. Chaudhuri does well to keep the reader on point with strong twists and turns throughout the story. The surprises not only keep the characters in line, but provide the reader with some suspense and moments to ‘gasp’ at what is taking place. I can see how Chaudhuri used this effectively and hope that more of her books follow the same rules. I am eager to see what else she has in store for readers in the future.

Kudos, Madam Chaudhuri, for this chilling tale!

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This was a very thrilling read with great plot twists and building suspense and tension throughout, it kept me captivated,

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Sebastian, a struggling writer, stumbles upon a room to let in a luxurious Hampstead residence, an opportunity that seems too good to be true, with its ridiculously cheap rent. He instantly feels a connection with his beautiful widowed landlady, Adriana, but his elation is short-lived when he uncovers the disturbing fate of the previous lodger. The house, once a symbol of serenity, transforms into a fortress of security, hinting at the ominous events that have unfolded within its walls. Adriana's fragility and reluctance to discuss the past raise suspicions in Sebastian's mind, who himself harbors secrets of his own. An unseen observer lurks in the shadows, their watchful gaze penetrating the couple's every move. The once idyllic residence descends into a labyrinth of fear and paranoia, as the threat escalates, leaving Sebastian trapped in a nightmare.

This was such a brilliant story and very cleverly written. It captivated me with its intricate plot and concealed twists.
The characters were complex and compelling.
The dual timelines created a dynamic tension, which expertly built anticipation and suspense.
The ultimate revelation, which I didn’t see coming, was both shocking and satisfying.
Thank you A.A. Chaudhuri, NetGalley & the publisher for an early copy.

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