Happy release day to this new exciting thriller!
Thank you Bookouture for the gifted ebook copy and having me on the blog tour
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME – Wendy Clarke (Released March 5th, 2025)
Book Description:
‘You don’t really know your husband,’ my sister-in-law whispers, and a chill runs down my spine. ‘Can you really trust the man you married?’
Gary and I have always been happy. Our fridge is covered in the love notes I leave him every morning, we always start the day on the doorstep with a goodbye kiss, and I make sure we never, ever fight. But since Gary’s sister Lisa moved in, things have been different…
The day Lisa arrived at the school where I work, asking for help, I knew we had to welcome her into our home. Gary hasn’t spoken to his parents in years, and his childhood was far from perfect. But now every time Lisa enters a room, I watch him sneak out the door. He’s no longer home for dinners, spending longer hours at the office. It’s me who’s chatting to Lisa all night as we cook. Learning more and more about the family Gary told me nothing about.
And then I spot them through the front window on my way home from work. Arguing. Shouting. Gary thrusts an envelope into Lisa’s hand. He looks nothing like the man I love. Lisa won’t tell me what’s going on, but she whispers to me that I shouldn’t trust the man I married.
When I met Gary, I thought I was finally safe. But Lisa’s arrival in Victoria Avenue is forcing my husband’s secrets to surface. She thinks I’m innocent, that my own past is picture-perfect, but she has no idea how far I’ll go to protect the ones I love.
A rollercoaster psychological thriller full of twists and turns that will have you gasping for breath. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena and The Housemaid.
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars
In-laws, right? Catherine is beginning to learn that maybe she shouldn’t have welcomed her sister-in-law, Lisa, to stay with them. Catherine and Gary have a happy and seemingly perfect marriage – love letters, never fighting, and always supporting each other. Even though Gary has always been guarded about his parents and his less than ideal childhood and upbringing, there aren’t any secrets kept between them. Or so Catherine thought. When Lisa, Gary’s sister, approaches Katherine at work asking for her help and a place to stay, how could she say no?
Once Lisa moves in, Catherine notices a change in Gary. Longer nights at work, avoiding conversation with Lisa and spending time together, and just a complete 180 in his demeanor. This isn’t the man that she married and she can’t get Lisa’s warnings to not trust him out of her mind. His secrets are threatening to be uncovered and her own past has secrets – what is Lisa doing to her husband to cause such a shift?
This got really tense at times and the pacing is exactly what you want from a thriller. I’d say this falls under the popcorn thriller umbrella – it’s a quick and easy read that will keep you glued. I did enjoy the book and while some might be able to predict parts of the ending, I don’t think that will ruin the experience!
About the Author:
Wendy Clarke was a teacher until the small primary school where she worked closed down. Now she is a writer of psychological suspense but is also well known for her short stories and serials which regularly appear in national women’s magazines.
Wendy has two children and three step-children and lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex. When not writing, she is usually indulging in her passion for dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!
Connect with Wendy:
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