Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara follows Julia, a woman who begins to suspect someone has been breaking into her home while her family is away. She hears strange noises, notices things slightly out of place, and becomes convinced that someone has been living in her attic. As paranoia grows, Julia struggles to protect her daughter and keep her family intact, all while unraveling a web of secrets, red herrings, and hidden motives. But the truth about who’s really been in her home is darker than she ever imagined.

I think I might have set myself up for failure with Someone in the Attic. I went in completely expecting a horror-style read, something full of “bumps in the night” moments that would have me jumping at shadows. A lot of people described this one as sooo creepy, but for me it never really hit that level of suspense or gave me those big “omg” moments I was craving. Don’t get me wrong, the story itself is solid, but it dragged in a few places and honestly could have been trimmed down. I mean, come on…they make things called security cameras! That alone could have solved some of the tension.

What also fell flat for me was how the ending wrapped up with Julia’s daughter and husband. It just didn’t land in a satisfying way, and I felt weird about it. That said, Mara does deliver plenty of red herrings, and I’ll admit the big reveal of the villain kept me guessing right up until the end, which I appreciated. I think this book will work really well for casual thriller readers or anyone looking for an accessible mystery with family drama at its heart. But if you’re hoping for a truly creepy, keep-you-up-all-night read? This probably isn’t the one. And word of advice from me, starting it in the bath was definitely the wrong move. Let’s just say the vibe wasn’t it.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★.5

Someone in the Attic is out now. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books