The House

The BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick

By: Simon Lelic

Narrated by: Gemma Whelan, Adam Newington

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The House by Simon Lelic, read by Adam Newington and Gemma Whelan.

THE PERFECT COUPLE. THE PERFECT HOUSE. THE PERFECT CRIME.

Londoners Jack and Syd moved into the house a year ago. It seemed like their dream home: tons of space, the perfect location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it.

So when they made a grisly discovery in the attic, Jack and Syd chose to ignore it. That was a mistake.

Because someone has just been murdered. Right outside their back door.

And now the police are watching them...

Critic reviews

HUGELY GRIPPING AND SPOOKY AS HELL (Mark Billlingham)

An intricate and powerful thriller (Tana French)

Taught, tense and terrifying, I loved it

This terrifying thriller sent shivers through me (Jane Corry, author of My Husband's Wife)

Lelic can plot like a demon

A brilliantly tense and shocking thriller. I literally couldn't put it down! (Nuala Ellwood, author of My Sister's Bones)

DELICIOUSLY DARK AND CLEVER WITH A SATISFYING TWIST. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (Mark Edwards)

Really creepy and clever. I loved it. (Julia Crouch)

Prepared to be scared. The House is a gripping psychological thriller. Simon Lelic knows how to turn the screw (Mari Hannah)

Clearly influenced by the great Alfred Hitchcock, this is not so much a ghost story as an homage to the master's expert touch with dread

Suspenseful family drama

The House is about love, life and family secrets. It's also about friendship, trust, lies, and abuse.
Syd and Jack, two apparently normal young Londoners who narrate their view of events from alternating points of view, weren't very likeable at first, which might put some readers off, but they grow into intricate and fascinating characters, which are well worth getting to know.
The plot is gradually and cleverly developed until the final, shocking twist.
Plenty of moral dilemas are brought up and although the violence isn't graphic, it is unnerving, and the ending isn't a perfect or typical one, yet I'd describe it as hopeful.
The setting in south London was a plus for me and the way the mystery behind and within the house is disclosed was well contrived.
It was a pleasure to read. The writing style is fast paced and the first person pov allows the reader to become more involved in the narrative and invested in the characters.
Especially for lovers of intense and disturbing psychological thrillers.
I listened to the audio version and enjoyed having two different narrators.