This domestic thriller will keep you guessing right up until the end. And the ending will likely feel like a bucket of cold water on your head.

About the Book

Bill and Amanda are living in a semi-detached house, stuck in a depressing rut of boredom and disappointment when Terry and Fiona – glamorous, successful and very much in love – move in next door. Despite their different outlooks on life, the couples befriend each other and life appears to improve for both pairs. But all is not what it seems, and their increasingly interconnected relationships are fated for tragedy.

Semi-Detached is a thrilling psychological drama from the bestselling author of What’s Left Unsaid and Me and My Shadow.

My Thoughts

I have discussed more than once that my biggest love is for characterization. And by the end of this book, I’m not entirely sure if I liked a single character in this book. I’m not sure if the author wanted me to or not, either. I’m not one who needs likable characters, but I do prefer that someone in the book be likable. At different points, I did like a character here or there, but in the end, I just couldn’t really relate or empathize with anyone really.

There was also a twist in the end that just really took me for a wild turn. It seemed very out of left field and didn’t seem like it fit the character that the author had built. Thrillers are like that sometimes, but it really challenged my suspension of disbelief. That said, I definitely was compelled to finish the story and find out what was going on.

I was pretty sure from chapter one that I knew one of the twists, in fact, I think I was supposed to. In the end, I was left a little unsettled and uncertain whether a character had told the truth and whether or not the resolution was true or not. Some questions were answered and some weren’t. Overall, it was a shocking, thrilling book that definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and the pages turning. It was rife with tragedy, and really showed what people will do when faced with desperate situations.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this as a month-long read-along because it is absolutely a book you should take your time on and really digest. It has a lot of moving parts and requires some thought. It does have quite a few triggers that will bother sensitive readers, so do be careful of those before reading. I am grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for allowing me to be part of this read-along.

Who’s It For?

If you enjoy domestic thrillers, this is a great book for you. There are so many twists and turns it will keep you on your toes from start to finish.

Content Warning: This book has several potential triggers including, but not limited to, incest, sexual assault, child abuse, murder, poisoning, domestic abuse, adult language, adult situations, suicide, suicidal ideation, pregnancy, abortion, childbirth, and more.

About the Author

Deborah Stone read English Literature at Durham University and lives in North London with her husband, two sons and gorgeous golden retriever, Stanley.

Her new novel, Semi-Detached, was published on April 3 available in Kindle and paperback. It has just won a Chill With A Book Readers’ Award for 2023.

Her last novel, Me and My Shadow, is a thrilling psychological suspense novel. It has just been awarded a Chill with a Book Premier award, which is only awarded to those books which achieve outstanding ratings from all reviewers.

Her first novel, What’s Left Unsaid, won The Chill With A Book Runner Up Prize for Best Book of 2018 and has been highly acclaimed.

Her non-fiction book, The Essential Family Guide to Caring for Older People, is an important manual for any family looking after older relatives. The book was shortlisted as a finalist in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2022, which the winners to be announced in April.

Deborah Stone is a leading expert in the field of elder care. Through her website, www.maturethinking.co.uk she provides information and advice for families caring for older people, as well as advising companies on the effective development of products and services for older people. Deborah regularly appears on BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 5 as a care expert, as well as contributing to lifestyle magazines and national newspapers with advice for those making decisions about care for relatives.

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