The Apartment Upstairs: The addictive and twisty new thriller from the bestselling author of The Rumour

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Startlingly original . . . It's hard to think of a recent novel than can match it for an almost unbearable level of suspense' Sunday Times There is creeping sense of tension and unease from the very beginning which continues throughout and which had me gripped desperate to know what was going to happen but I definitely didn't see that ending coming ... and what a great ending it is! I have now read all four of Lesley Kara's novels and none of the most recent three have come close to living up to the impressive promise of her debut, "The Rumour". Sadly, I would have to say that this latest offering is the weakest of the lot. Who is Anna Stenberg? – Tracey Norman | Blog Tour Extract | #WhoIsAnnaStenberg | @DartmoorGal @RandomTTours

The Apartment Upstairs — Lesley Kara

ABOUT 'THE APARTMENT UPSTAIRS': Scarlett's aunt lived - and was brutally murdered - in the apartment upstairs. But Scarlett is determined that life should return to some kind of normal, even if that means living with just a ceiling between her and the scene of such a devastating crime. After all, this is her home. She's safe here. Isn't she? This author excels in creating solid female characters and The Apartment Upstairs is told through the eyes of two of the most unusual and intriguing women that I've come across for a long time. The family dynamics are done so well, with the male members of Scarlett's family assuming that her illness makes her weak, at times almost manipulating her to believe that herself. Dee and Lindsay's relationship is an interesting one to watch play out, often long-term friends will put up with much more from each other than they would from a newer friend. At times they become bitter towards each other, yet at others they are so very close. Lesley Kara tells a detailed story, allowing you to get to know the characters and reveal each one’s past before she drops a bombshell. I enjoy the way the story slowly unfolds, allowing you to feel comfortable with the characters and their roles before everything is turned upside down. She digs deep into the emotions of the characters as she brings them to life. Slowly revealing their inner workings, leaving you feeling as if you are forming new friendships as you get to know them. I have been enjoying some great books on my NetGalley TBR. I enjoyed The Rumour by Lesley Kara a little while before starting the blog, so when I saw her name pop up during one of my searches, I jumped at the chance to read her work again.Lesley Kara books are always so addictive! I read this in an afternoon, with each chapter leaving me needing more. I loved the way the two stories intertwined and kept me guessing right until the end. Once again I was thinking I knew it all but I was wrong in so many ways 😅 I love it when this happens. Scarlett’s aunt, Rebecca, was brutally murdered in her bed, in the apartment upstairs. When the police are done with the crime scene and the clean-up has been completed, Scarlett decides to return home. She has the perfect apartment, and she is not going to give it up. She loves her home, and her aunt played a big role in her life. She has good memories of Rebecca, so there is no reason for her not to return home. What bothered me the most was something near the end of the book (don't read any further if you don't want to know the solution to the murder): With fairly short chapters that leave you wanting more, this was a read that I enjoyed and raced through. Scarlett is an engaging character, suffering from illnesses, including ME, her health issues were highlighted sympathetically and if she wasn’t fully focused, it was quite understandable.

The Apartment Upstairs ebook by Lesley Kara - Rakuten Kobo The Apartment Upstairs ebook by Lesley Kara - Rakuten Kobo

For Dee that was horrifying and she thinks she should've confided in someone about it because that was a sign that he's dangerous. That doesn't make sense and it really bothered me that it read like kink-shaming and that "normal" people don't enjoy something like that. We also have Dee who runs funeral firm Fond Farewells with business partner Lindsay. They are arranging Rebecca’s funeral and also a big memorial for the anniversary of her missing friend Gina. When threats start appearing my first thought was the convenience of the timing and that they must be connected. Was it murder/suicide or was it framed to look that way? Where is Gina?It seemed rather predictable to me what had happened to Rebecca but the other part of the story kept me guessing right up until the reveal. Proving once more that you never really know someone, nor should you ever trust anyone. I mean, really, if you have trust issues, you might want to reconsider reading this one 😉. Some things became rather silly and somewhat over the top. Some characters’ behaviours had me utterly baffled at times. Yet, for some reason I can’t put my finger on, I couldn’t stop reading. I've been looking forward to Lesley Kara's fourth novel for ages, having read and enjoyed her previous three books, I was expecting another twisty, psychological thriller, and that's exactly what I got.

The Apartment Upstairs - Penguin Books UK

I found it very easy to read and engaging. The writing style is very good and the dual storyline works extremely well, leaving you guessing right to the very end, and, in my case, guessing wrong and being surprised by the twisted ending. The Apartment Upstairs is what I would regard as a ‘quiet mystery/thriller’ but with a sinister undertone running through. The story also includes a strand featuring that of a missing woman, a best friend of the two women who run the funeral business, Fond Farewells, engaged by Scarlett to deal with her aunt’s funeral. I loved this absorbing, twisty mystery - Lesley Kara has done it again!' Shari Lapena, No.1 bestselling author of The Couple Next Door Really enjoyed the whole guessing throughout with secrets, twists and lies thrown in a long the way to keep the reader engaged and trying to figure out how it would end. Scarlett discovers correspondence linking Rebecca and Gina and soon she is left not knowing what to believe when her father ad her brother acts strangely. Is she seeing things that aren’t there, or is her family keeping her in the dark for a reason?Lesley Kara tells a detailed story, allowing you to get to know the characters and rev That book was underwhelming. The idea itself wasn't bad, but it was written like a cozy murder mystery and I wasn't expecting that. At first, it would seem that Dee and Scarlett are only connected by Rebecca's death, but it soon becomes clear that they have other, long buried, links and these lead to Gina. Dee and Lindsay's best friend Gina disappeared many years ago. There's been no trace of her and Dee is helping Gina's family to organise a memorial event for her. The Apartment Upstairs is the sort of read that will have you listening out for creaks in the floorboards from other rooms. Lesley Kara is incomparable.'

The Apartment Upstairs by Lesley Kara | Waterstones The Apartment Upstairs by Lesley Kara | Waterstones

I enjoyed the way this book eases you into the story. You get to know the characters as each one’s story unfolds and just when you reach a relaxed reading pace the tables are turned and more details are revealed that leave you suspecting that everyone is not who they initially appeared to be. When you reach the halfway mark in this book you will not be able to drag yourself away. The first half of the book, I read over two days while the second half had me hooked and left me racing to the end. A brilliant read, I devoured this in the space of a few hours as I could not put it down at all!!' ***** Little do Scarlett and Dee realise but their lives are going to become intertwined in the most unexpected and shattering way. Scarlett Quilter’s aunt, Rebecca, was brutally murdered in her upstairs apartment. Scarlett lives in the converted house ground floor apartment and upon her return home after the forensic formalities have been completed has to cope with the memories of her aunt living – and dying upstairs, as well as seeing the dying flowers of remembrance outside on the pavement. The characters were great, various personalities but likeable. Definitely characters that are full of determination.There is Scarlett whose Aunt Rebecca was brutally murdered by her partner in the apartment upstairs. Chronically ill her family view her as weak and needing to be looked out for. As someone with a chronic and debilitating illness I felt the author not only showed how strong illness actually makes people but also the reality behind flares. How refreshing it is to read about illness/disability in a realistic but also positive way. I loved The Rumour by Lesley Kara and have read everything she has written since. Her latest is not only an intriguing mystery of a murder/suicide and a decade old disappearance, it is also an intense character study with two unusual females at the helm. The Christmas Love Letters – Sue Moorcroft | Book Review | #TheChristmasLoveLetters @SueMoorcroft @AvonBooksUK @rararesources When Scarlett meets Dee she connects with her straight away and soon it’s clear they have someone in common. Scarlett, an independent accountant, plagued by CFS and ME, lives in the apartment below that of her aunt who was brutally bashed to death by her fiance. She chooses Fond Farewells to help organize Rebecca's funeral.