Review: The House on the Water by Margot Hunt (audio)

 

Title: The House on the Water
Author: Margot Hunt
Series: Audible Original Stories
Narrator: Taylor Schilling
Published: December 2020, Audible Originals
Length: 2 hours 47 minutes
Source: Personal copy

Summary:
From the author of Buried Deep comes brand new thriller about a summer vacation turned deadly, and a group of friends trapped together until they can determine who among them is capable of murder.

Every year, Caroline Reed takes a trip with her best friend, Esme Lamont. They’re usually accompanied by their spouses—but this year, everything’s changed. Esme has just gone through a bitter divorce, and Caroline is wondering if her own marriage is reaching its breaking point, as she and her husband John cope with the discovery that their nineteen-year-old son has been abusing drugs. Still, the inseparable duo books a week-long stay at a beach-front home in Shoreham, Florida, inviting Esme’s brother, Nick, and his new husband, Ford, in hopes that the additional guests will help lighten the mood.

After a blissful first night in the vacation home, tragedy strikes, and one of the houseguests is found dead. While it’s assumed at first to be a horrific accident, it quickly becomes clear that there’s something more sinister at play, and over the course of this fast-paced, deeply chilling novella, the potential motives of each guest are revealed—until a shocking conclusion is reached.

My thoughts:  I have really lucked out with these Audible Original Stories that I have been picking up. And this latest one is no exception. This is the first time reading/listening to anything by Margot Hunt and now I'll be checking out her other books as I really enjoyed this one.

This is a fast-paced, incredibly engaging mystery that kept me guessing all the way until the end. I thought I had it figured out right away, but then as we get to know the characters, I kept changing my mind. Everyone has their secrets and a possible motive.

It amazes me that this is just a novella - it feels like a fully developed story. It has all the elements I look for in a good mystery and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for something entertaining and quick.

Audio thoughts: Taylor Schilling does a good job with this audio. It was an entertaining listen and as it was short and moves fast, it kept my attention and I listened to it in one go.