Before last year, when I signed up with Love Books Tours, I don’t remember reading any thrillers – though I probably had. But one struck my fancy, and I signed up. And from then on, this cozy mystery lover was hooked! Now, I don’t remember life sans thrillers! The genre has matched cozies as my favorite, and really – don’t tell the cozies – but sometimes it seems like it’s edging them out.
About the Book
It seems too good to be true…
When struggling writer Sebastian finds a room to let in a palatial Hampstead residence he cannot believe his luck. The rent is ridiculously cheap and he immediately feels a connection with his beautiful widowed landlady, Adriana.
It is.
Things take a dark turn when he finds out what happened to the last lodger. Could this be why the house is a fortress of security, and why Adriana seems so fragile? Adriana doesn’t want to talk about the death and sadness that seem to follow her wherever she goes and Sebastian has secrets of his own.
Now someone is watching their every move and there is nowhere to hide.
This house of light becomes a dark nightmare as the threat ramps up – what does the watcher want? And how far will they go to get it?
A gripping, twisty thriller perfect for fans of B.A. Paris, Shari Lapena and Lucy Foley. If you were hooked by Netflix series You or The Watcher you’ll love this.
My Thoughts
This author is amazing! I thought I’d figured out what was going on early. And, the author let me think I was right for a few pages or so. Several characters seemed to agree. Then, a huge twist ripped that theory right out from under us in a surprising last-minute upset. The plot was so complex it will easily be one of those you can read many times and find new intricacies.
One of the best compliments I think I can pay a thriller/mystery author is to say I didn’t figure it out at any point. If I get to the end and I didn’t know the answer until you tell me, you win. Not that it’s a game or a competition, but I LOVE it when the author wins. I’m not competitive. But I’ve read SO much in my life, and I am a fellow writer that at one time it was almost utterly impossible to surprise me. My husband could tell you that watching movies with me is just dumb. I will tell you five minutes in – almost no matter the genre – what’s going to happen in some way – those two will end up together, that guy is the bad guy/killer/etc. Books can be a little harder because many actors give too much away with their faces. But I still apparently notice more than many. But only in this one aspect of life.
The characters were interesting. I really liked Seb, but in the end i wasn’t sure how to feel about anyone. Everyone was a bit morally grey, but they all had good reasons.
I’m so grateful to the author and LBT for including me in this tour!
Who’s It For?
If you love twists, turns, and wild surprises, this is a fantastic book for you. But it deals with some of the triggers/content warnings that are hard for people to even read – so be very cognizant of that before proceeding. Otherwise, buckle up for a wild ride!
Content Warnings: Adult Situations, Adult Language, Mental Illness, Infidelity, Violence, SA, Child Pornography, Pedophilia, Child Abuse, Murder, Death, Domestic Abuse, Torture
Question of the Day
Do you enjoy figuring out what’s going to happen before the end or being surprised?
About the Author
A.A. Chaudhuri is a former City lawyer, turned thriller writer, who lives in Surrey with her family.
Once a highly ranked British junior tennis player, competing in the national championships and a member of the national squad, she went on to tour the women’s professional satellite circuit as a teenager and achieved a world ranking of 650.
After returning to full-time education, she gained a BA Honours 2:1 in History at University College London, and a commendation in both the Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at the London College of Law, before training as a solicitor at City firm Norton Rose and then practising as a commercial litigator at two other City firms, Kendall Freeman and Travers Smith.
She left law in 2008 to pursue her passion for writing and in 2010 passed the NCTJ fast-track newspaper journalism course, in respect of which she was awarded The Oxford University Press Public Affairs Award for the most outstanding public affairs central government paper.
In 2013 and 2014 she self-published two women’s fiction novels under the name Alexandra Sage: Love & Limoncello and the sequel Love & Loss. Love & Limoncello has sold more than ten thousand copies to date, reaching number 53 in the Amazon Kindle Bestsellers List in October 2014.
THE SCRIBE and THE ABDUCTION, published by LUME BOOKS in July and December 2019, are her first crime book series, plunging readers into London’s glamorous legal world and featuring series’ heroine, Maddy Kramer, fiction’s first female City lawyer amateur sleuth, who teams up with charismatic DCI Jake Carver to solve a gruesome series of murders and a puzzling abduction.
Both books have hit the bestsellers lists in the UK, Australia and Canada, with bestseller tags in Australia and Canada.
THE SCRIBE and THE ABDUCTION were published as audio books by Isis Audio on 1st January and 1st March 2021, both read by David Thorpe.
She has also contributed an original short story THE ENCOUNTER to crime anthology GIVEN IN EVIDENCE published by LUME BOOKS in May 2020, has written many articles and short stories for The Crime Writers’ Association.
In February 2021, Alex signed a two-book contract for two standalone psychological thrillers with HERA BOOKS, the first entitled SHE’S MINE was published on 18th August 2021 in ebook and 26th August in paperback. THE LOYAL FRIEND was published by Hera Books on 23rd June 2022 in paperback and ebook and on 26th June in audio with Saga Egmont. It will be published in the USA on 20th June 2023. In June 2022 Alex signed with Hera Books for three more psychological thrillers. The first of these – THE FINAL PARTY – was published in ebook and paperback on 25th May 2023 and has already achieved bestseller tags in the UK, Australia and Canada, as well as being featured in Woman’s Own and Bella magazines. It will be published in audiobook by Isis Audio on 1st February 2024. Alex’s fourth psychological thriller with Hera Books – UNDER HER ROOF – will be published on 13th June 2024.
She’s Mine was made the LJ Ross Book Club April book of the month in 2022 and was listed in various bloggers’ top reads of 2021, as well as achieving numerous bestseller tags in the UK, Australia and Canada in June 2023. It has reached No. 2 on Top Paid Crime and Thrillers behind CL Taylor and two spots ahead of Richard Osman on the Apple Books charts. It has also reached No. 4 on Top Books (paid) on Apple Books, ahead of Colleen Hoover.
The Loyal Friend was also listed in various bloggers’ top reads for 2022, achieved bestseller tags in the UK, Australia and Canada and will soon be available to buy in US stores, publishing with Canelo US on 20th June 2023.
Alex has appeared at Capital Crime 2022 and 2023, Newcastle Noir 2022, The Dark Side of Brighton February 2023, CrimeFest 2023 and Harrogate 2023. She will be appearing on the psycho thrillers panel at Harrogate 2024.
Besides being an avid reader, she enjoys fitness, films, anything Italian and a good margarita!
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/bkpcCTA
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1804362956/ref=sr_1_1?
Bookshop UK: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/under-her-roof-a-gripping-twisty-thriller-that-you-won-t-be-able-to-put-down-a-a-chaudhuri/7631784?ean=9781804362952
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205335016-under-her-roof
Author Website: https://aachaudhuri.com/
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.