Our House

Starred review from June 4, 2018
British author Candlish makes her U.S. debut with an artfully plotted, affecting page-turner. Fiona Lawson gets the shock of her life when she returns from a brief getaway to the beloved London townhouse where she alternates custody with her estranged husband, Bram, of their two children: another family seems to be moving in. Bram has apparently sold the home out from under her and the kids—and vanished, along with the £2 million payday. Even more devastating betrayals await the doughty Fi. Alternating narratives—one Fi’s, the other Bram’s—raise the tension. In a particularly inspired move, much of Fi’s account comes via her emotionally raw tale on a true crime podcast, The Victim, with tweets from the audience serving as a kind of Greek chorus. Movingly chronicling the decline of a marriage that once looked as solid as the couple’s stately red-brick residence, Candlish manages to stash a couple of trump cards, setting up a truly killer climax. American fans of domestic suspense will want to see more from this talented author. Agent: Deborah Schneider, Gelfman Schneider Literary Agents/ICM Partners.

In this contemporary thriller, listeners follow the story of a London- based family whose lives are turned upside down through various bad decisions. Narrators Elliot Hill and Elizabeth Knowelden tell the story from the viewpoints of husband-and-wife Bram and Fiona. Fiona tells her story through a podcast, while Bram tells his through a letter. The dual narration is helpful as the plot jumps around in time. Both narrators do a sterling job of bringing life to this typical suburban couple. Hill's highly skilled narration, especially his character development through accent and intonation, is particularly notable. Both narrators keep the suspense of this thriller going right to the very end. K.J.P. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine