The Housewarming

A Novel

De: Kristin Offiler

Narrado por: Jordan Claire McCraw

In a haunting novel of psychological suspense, a summer getaway gone wrong rips apart a group of lifelong friends, thrusting their story into the true crime spotlight—and potentially their secrets, too.

For five friends vacationing on Block Island, it was a summer to remember. How could they forget it when only four made it back to the mainland?

Now, half a decade after Zoe Gilbert’s unsolved disappearance, Callie Sutter invites estranged friends Meg, Tess, and Lindsey—the last to see Zoe on that fateful trip—to reunite on the anniversary of the mystery that tore them apart. Back on Block Island, Callie reasons, they can come together again, memorialize Zoe, allay old resentments and recriminations, and put the past to rest. But it won’t be so easy. Patricia Adele, a true crime podcaster who once made a name for herself by casting suspicion on Zoe’s surviving friends all those years ago, is most eager for the reunion. She’s resurfaced with a book proposal claiming to expose them all as cold-blooded liars and conspirators in a crime once and for all.

Driven by self-preservation, the women must reckon with their long-held secrets and shared history if they’re to find out what really happened to Zoe on that hot August day. But will the truth set them free or condemn them all? No one is prepared to find out.

©2025 by Kristin Offiler. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Original, exceptional, complex, brilliant, and an inherently fascinating, compelling read from start to finish, The Housewarming clearly demonstrates author Kristin Offiler’s genuine master of the psychological suspense thriller genre.”—Midwest Book Review

“Like a thunderstorm on a summer evening, The Housewarming is equal parts enchanting and ominous. Kristin Offiler’s debut crackles with fierce honesty about the intricacies of female friendships and the dangers—and freedom—of long-held secrets coming to light. Sharp, suspenseful, and completely spellbinding.”—Caitlin Mullen, author of the Edgar Award winner Please See Us

“Kristin Offiler’s slick and sizzling debut is that rare treat of a thriller: one replete with both unforeseen twists and complex, multilayered characters, characters who will just as soon break your heart as they will shock and scandalize you. Read this one with a signature Block Island-inspired cocktail at the ready and be prepared to not put it down until the final, gut-wrenching, saltwater-scented page.”—Christa Carmen, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Daughters of Block Island

There Is No Ending!

It’s funny, I literally had this thought run through my head! Where is the ending? I even went back and listened to the last chapter again to see if I missed something. I did not. The story had potential and kept me listening but with no ending I’m left hanging and I don’t personally enjoy that. I like it all wrapped up in a nice, neat bow. Not amazing, not horrible. I’m neutral on this one.

The House-Warming

Just wrapped up The Housewarming by Kristin Offler and… I’m shook. This book is such a mix of “nothing happened” and “EVERYTHING happened.” 🤯

The story centers on Zoe, who vanished after a casual hangout with her friends Meg, Tess, Callie, and Lindsay five years earlier for a summer meet up. These girls were the last ones to see her, and their lives were basically ripped apart because of it. Fast forward, the neighborhood housewarming/anniversary digs everything back up—guilt, secrets, suspicions, and a whole lot of buried trauma on top of the fact a reporter who was the main reason for these girls demise and public outbreak is now venturing out into a book series.

The characters really carried this book:
• Meg – the protective one, always trying to keep control.
• Tess – blunt, bold, not afraid to push buttons.
• Callie – fragile, deeply scarred by the past.
• Lindsay – desperate to keep the peace, even when it’s crumbling.
And yes,
• Patricia the reporter—everyone hates her, but honestly, isn’t that exactly how reporters act? Annoying, pushy, and always digging. She played her part perfectly. First podcast was about the disappearance of Zoe and now going into writing books wants Zoe's story to be her big break - reveal.

I loved the atmosphere, the detail, and the way Offler built tension between the girls and their families. But the ending? Meh. It kind of fizzled after such a strong setup. For me, this lands at ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5.



⚠️ Spoilers ⚠️ → Finding out that it was Callie’s dad with dementia who was responsible for Zoey’s disappearance was heartbreaking, but what crushed me was Callie’s mom’s silence. She kept the truth hidden to protect herself from embarrassment over infidelity… all while letting a child die and her daughter + friends carry the weight of that trauma. Twisted, selfish, and just plain unfathomable. Back to what others even said and I agree this was such a high build up and the end just fell flat. There was so many good details and plot twist but then... nothing. Definitely will recommend and read more from author just not my favorite book.

Overall: Creepy, layered, and a total page-turner—even if the ending didn’t fully deliver.

There was no ending !

I had trouble with the monotone reader but listened to the full book. The story line was soft but expected the ending to pull it all together. It didn't. I went back and re-listened to the last chapter thinking I missed something, but no, I hadn't.

Nice voice

I enjoyed her voice and thought she did a great job! The he said, she said was a little much, but I can’t think of a better way to phrase it.

great book

I loved it, I loved the reader and everything, a fresh new voice in fiction if you ask me. I don't really know why people are saying, there is no ending.
(spoilers)
it was obvious to me, that, we know what happened to Zoe and how she died. and the ending, we are left to figure out, was her last moments with her friends, before going off to meet up with Callie's dad. I didn't feel left hanging, did I wish maybe she had written about her last moments with him, maybe. But, at least, we saw her some what content at the end and didnt have to read a sad death scene at the close. I felt like it was well written and I look forward to more books.

Narration sounded like AI

The story was OK dragged down in some spots. Did not care for the narration

Do not purchase

This is not worth your time. The mystery is lacking. There are no big plot twists. Highly disappointed

Not that good at all.

I felt like the story had potential but just fell flat. There were no likeable characters and it just dragged on.

Not worth a credit

This book was all over the place. There is no real story. Not a thriller or mystery.