Review of 'The Sea House' by Louise Douglas
Release date: November 5th, 2024
Publisher: Boldwood Books
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REVIEW
Feeling quite uneasy after reading this eerie novel, The Sea House! Louise Douglas certainly has a way of building intense suspense through atmospheric settings and internal dialogue. Not to mention creating a creepy villain! Little by little the plot is eked out to the point I felt as if I was holding my breath too long under water! She provided lots of twists and turns that kept my mind spinning and flipping back and forth as to what might happen next.
When I picked up The Sea House to review, I did not realise it was part of a series. Having not read any of Louise Douglas’s books before, but being aware of her work, this was a new reading experience with this author for me. Now after completing The Sea House, I can verify she definitely knows how to create atmospheric mystery thrillers! It was the cover that caught my attention first and the title. The blurb was intriguing, too. Now that I have read one, I would like to delve into the rest of the Toussaints Detective Agency series and learn more about it. But even though I had not read the previous instalments— I was still able to follow the recurring characters of Mila and Carter.
The ending left me with a question (as everyone else will see) and certainly made it seem like another book will follow. At least the crime case at the centre of this story was settled by the end with a complete and satisfactory conclusion to the mystery of the missing person of Astrid Oake and the unusual gift that was left to her by friend Elisabeth Quemener. The journey was quite interesting learning about both of these women and the lives they led. Again, the Oake family’s tragic past is not quite as it seems. Mila is determined to unravel this mystery connected to them and a child. This parcel left in a bequest must only be opened by the person it is intended for and we learn why that is so! As the secrets begin to unfold and Mila grasps more of the pieces of the puzzle, her determination to carry out the request is heightened and puts her in danger. But she will stop at nothing to deliver this package. At times it takes precedence over the troubles in her personal life that have been amassing. Distance has brought to light issues between her and her long time fiancé. On top of this, she has become a surrogate mother to her teenager niece since her stepsister and husband have strangely disappeared. But through her relentless detective work, her heart becomes fine-tuned and certain things come into focus: both with the missing person case at work and that of her extended family. With the help of Carter, her associate, shocking realisations are made.
Tragedy runs like a bitter thread through this novel. Severe victim control by a menacing villain is widely covered and left me reeling with disbelief. There are many twists and turns, surprises and alarming events that made me feel edgy. Reading this at night stoked my imagination a bit too much! But the author has delivered her stories well and I do want to know what will come next. 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.
