Scarlett steals your heart with her vulnerability. She is ill and struggles with her grief at the loss of her aunt. Her family cares deeply for her and the way they look after her warms your heart. Ollie is a caring brother and his devotion to his sister leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy. 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 is a funeral director, she runs her business with her best friend and they are busy planning an event to remember their friend Gina, who went missing ten years ago. When Dee and Scarlett meet to discuss the arrangements for Rebecca’s funeral, these two women find comfort in each other’s company and both speak a lot more openly than they normally would. MY THOUGHTS: The Apartment Upstairs is an addictive read, one I couldn't put down and which had me reading into the early hours of the morning. 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?

The Apartment Upstairs: The addictive and twisty new thriller

Scarlett, on the other hand, is determined to have life continue as before. She will not consider the idea of moving as her apartment has been modified and adjusted to her every need. But who is creeping around her garden in the middle of the night or wandering around the apartment upstairs when they think Scarlett isn’t home? That bit was too easy to figure out, to be honest. If Rebecca's confused mind had been remembering something that she'd forgotten was supposed to be a secret, and if that secret had something to do with Gina Caplin's disappearance, then wouldn't her aunt's life have been in danger? 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 .' A brilliant read, I devoured this in the space of a few hours as I could not put it down at all!!' ***** The plot was far too slow and predictable with too little development. I also think that Scarlett and Dee, the two main characters, had far too little interactions. The author hinted that they become friends or even more in the future, but we'll never know.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. 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. The characters were great, various personalities but likeable. Definitely characters that are full of determination. 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 by Lesley Kara | Goodreads

Unfortunately, as the narrative progressed, so the style and content deteriorated. By the final third of the story, what had, until then, been a reasonably entertaining mystery with hints of cosiness, descended rapidly into something that was just plain silly. The plot and the characterisation became simplistic to the point of being puerile and developments were unrealistically convenient. It was almost as if the author suddenly realised that she had a deadline looming and just needed to get it finished. She even decided to introduce some totally pointless references to the global Covid pandemic in the final stages of the book, which added no value at all and were totally unnecessary and avoidable. Disappointing. 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. A tale about friendship and families and the secrets which always have a habit of emerging. This is a real slow burner of a novel and one that is especially character driven. The characters are a diverse lot, but all very interesting and all play their part in building the plot up to a dramatic conclusion, which I definitely didn’t see coming! My suspicions veered wildly from person to person, my mind becoming every bit as overwrought as Scarlett's. But never did I even come close to guessing what had really happened, and what Scarlett's actions would uncover. I have loved everything I have read by this author, but The Apartment Upstairs is the best yet. I spotted this book in my local books shop and was intrigued by the synopsis. I had not ready books by Lesley Kara before but it was a good sign when shortly after starting it I was already looking to see what other books she had written.The Priest’s Wife – A G Rivett | Blog Tour Extract | #ThePriestsWife @bryn.glas.books @RichardsonHelen Overall, this is very easy to read, it flows well with crisply written chapters that keep you invested and reading long past bedtime! Scarlett's aunt was brutally murdered in the apartment upstairs. One of Dee's closest friends has been missing 10 years. These two women will meet, and secrets will unearth that links both of them more than they could ever have realised.

The Apartment Upstairs by Lesley Kara - Fantastic Fiction The Apartment Upstairs by Lesley Kara - Fantastic Fiction

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 is nothing less than the same as her older books, if not more because of a queer representation and chronic illness issues.DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Apartment Upstairs by Lesley Kara for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. 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? 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? Lesley Kara tells a brilliantly creative tale about loss and heartache and just as you are in a comfortable place she turns things around, revealing that there is so much more to this story than you initially imagined. I love this author and this book did not disappoint. It’s a fabulous read. Startlingly original . . . It's hard to think of a recent novel than can match it for an almost unbearable level of suspense' Sunday Times