“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?”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of Under Her Roof by A.A. Chaudhuri. Under Her Roof was published by Hera Books on 13th June 2024 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats. I chose to read a free eARC of Under Her Roof but that has in no way influenced my review. My grateful thanks to Kate at Hera Books for sending me a digital proof copy.

Sebastian Walker, a struggling writer, has called upon his best mate’s good nature for long enough. Sebastian knows it’s time to find a place of his own and give Jasper and girlfriend, Rochelle, the space they need. When he sees a room to rent in a grand Hampstead home for minimal rent, he can’t believe his luck. Before long Sebastian has moved in to Serenity House and is getting to know his new, glamourous landlady, who also happens to live in the house. But then Seb discovers the fate of his predecessor and things take a dark turn. His relationship with Adriana deepens, turning physical, only for Seb to start receiving ominous warnings. It seems someone is watching his every move and they’re not afraid to put the pressure on. Seb’s dream house quickly turns into a living nightmare. How far will they go to get what they want? And how many of Seb’s own secrets will be revealed along the way…

Under Her Roof is an intriguing, suspenseful tale full of brooding tension and creeping menace. Sebastian is a likeable, well-written character, although he has plenty of secrets of his own. These secrets hang over him from the start of the book, with the author teasing the reader, dropping hints about a troubled past but not really revealing anything of substance. It’s not until much later in the book that we discover the truth about Sebastian and what a shocker! All tied together beautifully by this talented author. The story is fairly intricate with flashbacks to the past, and told in the present day by both Sebastian, and our glamourous widower, Adriana. The flashbacks don’t really seem to fit with everything else initially. But the further the reader progresses through the story, the more it all starts to slot into place.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Under Her Roof is a highly intriguing tale that captivates the reader’s attention and keeps you turning the pages late into the night. I couldn’t for the life of me work out who or what was behind the threats. But the big reveal is done so very well, everything positioned perfectly ready for the jaw-dropping twist in the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and I’m keen to read more from this author in the not too distant future. Great characters, a killer, unexpected twist and bucketloads of simmering menace. What more could you want? Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Under Her Roof. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Under Her Roof by A.A. Chaudhuri was published in the UK by Hera Books on 13th June 2024 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

A. A. Chaudhuri is a former City lawyer. After gaining a degree in History at University College London, she later trained as a solicitor and worked for several major London law firms before leaving law to pursue her passion for writing. She lives in Surrey with her family, and loves films, all things Italian and a good margarita!