The Summer House by Keri Beevis

It’s my stop today on the blog tour for The Summer House by Keri Beevis. Many thanks to Rachel for the tour invite.

17 years after the brutal murder of her sister, Lana Hamilton is back to the place where it all began. After the death of her parents, Lana, her twin brother Ollie, and older sister Camille, moved in with their grandmother Kitty. Lana was a tomboy while her older sister was attractive and very active in the dating world.

One night, their lives took a turn for worse when Camille was invited by her lover to the Summer House. Camille went in thinking she and her lover would have a good time. Instead, she was brutally assaulted and killed.

Now, Kitty is dead, and Lana and Ollie have inherited the house. They don’t want it and are planning to sell it. As they reach the house, old memories start to surface.

The summer house is our special place. This private part of the garden, far away from the main house, is a place of secrets. They are ours alone and no one will ever learn what truly goes on inside this pretty white wooden building with its vaulted roof and panelled door.

Another fantastic thriller by Keri Beevis! Engaging story and characters, a mystery to keep one guessing till the end, and full of twists and turns. I had a great time reading this gripping thriller.

As the story begins, we readers are told about a character who has a secret to hide. And this particular secret has something to do with Camille’s murder. Camille’s murderer was caught, all right. It was Seb, her boyfriend. Seb’s younger brother Xavier was Lana’s boyfriend. But when Lana told the police about Seb and they arrested him for Camille’s murder, Xavier walked out of Lana’s life for good.

We have an eclectic mix of characters here. There’s tension between the siblings Lana and Ollie. This started soon after Camille’s murder. When Lana reaches her grandmother’s place, she has a surprise waiting for her – Ollie’s there too, and he’s brought someone along. As the story proceeds, we see clashes between Lana and Ollie’s fiancé.

Then there are the others – former schoolmates and friends of the twins. Some of them aren’t happy that the twins are back, and they make sure the twins know of their displeasure.

We have a mind-blowing twist. Lana discovers Camille’s secret journal. It contains Camille’s most private thoughts and dark secrets. Does this mean Camille’s killer wasn’t Seb but someone else? Does this also mean Camille had a secret boyfriend?

From start to finish, this book is full of suspense and keeps you guessing till the end. It’s a Keri Beevis novel so it goes without saying that storytelling is fantabulous. Twists and turns are plenty and be warned, so are the red herrings. So, play detective at your own risk!

We have a shocking turn of events in the second half of the book. I was shocked when the killer’s identity was revealed. I never thought they could be capable of killing someone. It’s not just Camille’s murder, you see. When Lana finds the secret journal, she has no idea that her life is also in danger.

The only niggle I had with the story was the ending of one of the side stories – particularly the one involving Ollie’s girlfriend. Though she had a pretty significant role throughout the story, the ending – not so much.

The Summer House by Keri Beevis is an engrossing, suspenseful, and gripping thriller. Highly recommended!

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