Title: THE LANDLORD
Author: R.B. Egan
ISBN: 9781399732253
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 320
Source: NetGalley
He’s invited you in, but will you ever leave?
After Cathy’s boyfriend surprisingly ends things she is distraught. She also needs to move out of their flat and find a new place to live.
When a friend tips her off about a room to rent it seems like her luck has suddenly changed.
The house is on one of the city’s most sought-after streets and the live-in landlord, whose son has just left home, is charming and kind. Best of all, it’s affordable.
Cathy’s invited to make herself at home. But there is one she can never go into the garden. Everything else seems so perfect she doesn’t think twice.
But she’ll soon realise the deal she has made is too good to be true… and now it’s far too late…
Official Summary
02 May 2025
He’s invited you in, but will you ever leave? That chilling tagline hooked me instantly—and I’m happy to say the story delivered exactly what it promised: a tense, unsettling, and highly bingeable psychological thriller.
The novel begins with Cathy at one of her lowest points—freshly heartbroken, forced to find a new place to live, and emotionally raw. When she stumbles upon a dream rental in one of the city’s most desirable areas, it feels like a lifeline. The landlord is warm and welcoming, the house is beautiful, and the rent is almost too good to be true.
Spoiler alert: it is too good to be true!
What follows is a slow build of tension as Cathy begins to realise that her perfect new home isn’t quite as perfect as it seemed. The fact that she’s not allowed in the garden sets off subtle warning bells—but as many of us might, she brushes it off. I found her character incredibly frustrating; her desire to settle and feel safe made her blind to the warning signs I was practically yelling at her on every page. That made her descent into this twisted situation all the more believable and unnerving.
R.B. Egan does a great job creating a sinister atmosphere, where you feel something is off, even if you can’t quite put your finger on what. The pacing was tight, with just enough breadcrumbs scattered along the way to keep me guessing. The landlord himself is written so convincingly charming that I couldn’t help but doubt my own instincts right along with Cathy. That’s a mark of a good psychological thriller in my book.
While some elements were familiar if you’ve read in this genre before, the execution was fresh and compelling enough to keep me hooked from start to finish. And that ending? Creepy and satisfying.
If you enjoy stories where cosy domestic settings slowly unravel into your worst nightmare, The Landlord is definitely worth a spot on your TBR.
Also by R.B. Egan
ONE PERFECT STRANGER
Would you commit a crime to save your family?
Nicole had the perfect life, with her handsome surgeon husband Mark, their two young daughters and a beautiful big house.
But everything changed when Mark suddenly left his job at the hospital six months ago. He’s distant. Keeping secrets. And they are out of money.
Then Nicole gets a strange
There is a million euros in your bank account. All you need to do is drive a car. Yes, or no?
This would be the answer to her prayers. It would save her family. But who sent it? What do they really want from Nicole?
And why hasn’t Mark come home?
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Dubliner R.B. Egan started out as an actor, working in London and performing alongside household names like Sinead O’Connor, Kevin Spacey and Celine Dion. Later he moved to Tanzania where he project managed the design and construction of a safari lodge outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with his wife. Together they operated a hotel and safari business for some years before settling back in Ireland. R.B. Egan now lives in Dublin with his young family and writes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy. This one is guaranteed to leave you shouting at the protagonist as you turn the pages. Have you read One Perfect Stranger? I would love to hear your thoughts. Should I add this one to my TBR? Please leave a comment below. Until Next time…. Happy Reading!
