Lock the Doors

I read this book in a day. I had to know the answers to the central mystery. And the answers haunted me for days. But although this is undoubtedly a thriller the central character, a teenager with anxiety, is so beautifully depicted that I was rooting for his happiness and despairing when things went wrong for him just as much as i was interested in the the mystery. And then the novel takes a daring twist.... but I won't say anymore. I highly recommend this book. I've already bought a copy for a friend so we can talk about it!

Another thriller from new author Vincent Ralph and even better than his first novel ‘Are You Watching.’ Like all the best thrillers, it keeps the reader gripped throughout, drip feeding bits of information with each chapter. Then just when you think you know where the plot is going, it takes you in a completely different direction. In a brilliant twist, you are suddenly told the story from another character’s point of view, which answers some of the questions and poses others. Apart from the intriguing plot, this book also looks at a number of other issues - domestic violence, mental health, family dynamics. These issues are dealt with sensitively but not to the extent that they become the central focus of the story. A book aimed at young adults, it hits all the right notes. Fast moving plot, short punchy chapters, rounded characters, familiar situations. As a former librarian I would review this book as a recommended purchase for any library - public or school. As a lover of a good read, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tom and his blended family happily move into a new house and right away Tom starts noticing strange things about his bedroom, like holes on the OUTSIDE of his bedroom door that could have held a lock. When he finds that the prior residents moved in across the street, Tom has more and more questions and concerns that amp his anxiety levels up. I enjoyed this thriller very much and how Tom followed the different clues to decipher the mystery surrounding his house and the neighbors. I also liked Tom and his mother's backstory and how they overcame their troubled past and learned to trust again. This was an excellent adult and young adult thriller and I highly recommend it. I received this book from Sourcebooks Fire through Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

This wasn’t at all what I was expecting and I was more than pleasantly surprised. Tom and his family move into a new house and it doesn’t take him long to find things that unnerve him. Like holes in the bedroom doors where it appears locks used to be… on the outside, as if someone were locked in. Tom pays more attention to detail than most and when his brain has something to chew on like this, he is like a dog with a bone. And he wants to know what went on in the house before they moved in. Even more so when it involves the new girl at school. I really loved how well this book paired his and her family dynamics. I thought this was fun and riveting. And from the second half of the book on I could not put this book down if I wanted to. The mystery and the twists were well written and kept me guessing. I loved Tom and his tenacity. And I look forward to reading more from this author.

A new home, a new friend, and a new mystery. Tom’s family has just moved into a new home, but he begins to notice strange messages and locks on the bedroom doors. At school he meets a new girl... who happens to have lived in his house before he moved in and she just might have the answer to his questions... except she is more mystery than answer. Tom is intrigued by Amy, she is beautiful, quiet, and is hiding a secret that gnaws at Tom. He is onto a mystery and for some reason it just won’t leave his mind and he is determined to find out what her secret is and how it relates to his house. He can’t tell if Amy is in danger or if she is the danger. This was an interesting mystery story, it was a quick read and keeps you invested in the mystery. It wraps up everything well by the end and I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a quick mystery to pick up! *Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire, Sourcebooks Fire for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*