Title: THE HOUSE ON THE WATER
Author: Margot Hunt
Narrator: Taylor Schilling
Publisher: Audible Original
Duration: 2 hours 47 Minutes
Source: Audible
Every year, Caroline Reed takes a trip with her best friend, Esme Lamont. They’re usually accompanied by their spouses—but this year, everything’s changed. Esme has just gone through a bitter divorce, and Caroline is wondering if her own marriage is reaching its breaking point, as she and her husband John cope with the discovery that their nineteen-year-old son has been abusing drugs. Still, the inseparable duo books a week-long stay at a beach-front home in Shoreham, Florida, inviting Esme’s brother, Nick, and his new husband, Ford, in hopes that the additional guests will help lighten the mood.
After a blissful first night in the vacation home, tragedy strikes, and one of the houseguests is found dead. While it’s assumed at first to be a horrific accident, it quickly becomes clear that there’s something more sinister at play, and over the course of this fast-paced, deeply chilling novella, the potential motives of each guest are revealed—until a shocking conclusion is reached.
Official Summary
21 May 2024
I have not had nearly enough time to spend listening to audiobooks lately. They have become a favourite pastime while journalling which I always look forward to.”The House on the Water” delves into the depths of human nature amidst a backdrop of picturesque shores and dark secrets. Hunt weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, drawing you into a web of suspicion and uncertainty from the very first page.
The story revolves around Caroline Reed and her best friend Esme Lamont, whose annual trip takes a sinister turn when tragedy strikes their beach-front vacation home. As the layers of the mystery unfold, the author peels back the facades of the characters, revealing their hidden motives and tangled relationships. From the looming spectre of divorce to the harrowing reality of drug abuse, the novel explores the complexities of human emotions.
This book has a relentless pace and intense tension that builds with each passing chapter. Hunt keeps you on the edge of your seat seats, deftly navigating twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. The inclusion of additional guests, such as Esme’s brother Nick and his husband Ford, adds further intrigue to the narrative, as each character becomes a potential suspect in the chilling mystery.
Moreover, Hunt’s writing is both evocative and immersive, transporting you to the sun-soaked shores of Shoreham, Florida, while simultaneously wrapping you in an atmosphere of foreboding. The sense of place is vividly rendered, serving as a haunting backdrop to the unfolding drama.
This is a riveting novella that grips you from start to finish. With its finely drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and relentless suspense, Margot Hunt delivers a compelling tale of betrayal, secrets, and ultimately, redemption. This is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers seeking a gripping and thought-provoking read.
Also by Margot Hunt
Tell Her Story
From the author of Buried Deep and The House on the Water comes a shocking thriller about a young podcaster who’s investigating a cold case in her hometown and determined to uncover the truth at any cost.
Paige Barrett was living her dream as a journalist in New York City, racking up bylines as a staff writer at The Razor, a cutting-edge online magazine. But when she’s suddenly fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend, she finds herself back home in the quaint seaside town of Shoreham, Florida, waiting tables and living in her sister’s guesthouse.
Restless and itching for something meaningful to occupy her time, she decides to launch a true-crime podcast about the death of Jessica Cady, a beloved teacher who died mysteriously 20 years earlier. The case went cold with no leads and no suspects, but the more Paige digs into the woman’s death, the closer she comes to a killer. In a small town like Shoreham, it’s impossible to keep a secret forever.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Margot Hunt is a USA TODAY best-selling author of BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, FOR BETTER AND WORSE and THE LAST AFFAIR. Her Audible Original audiobook BURIED DEEP was a number-one best seller. Her newest Audible Original, TELL HER STORY, is now available.
Margot has also written eight previous books as Whitney Gaskell, and the Young Adult series GEEK HIGH under the pen name Piper Banks.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. I have spent a lot of time reviewing books in new-to-me genres, and I am sure you have been missing the usual mix of thrillers and mysteries. Do you stick to a specific genre or do you mix up your reading? Leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
