A Woman Alone

Nina Laurin

Jun 2020 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing

About this ebook

ONE OF POPSUGAR'S BEST NEW BOOKS TO DIVE INTO THIS SUMMER
ONE OF CRIME READS' MOST ANTICIPATED SUMMER CRIME BOOKS OF 2020
A house with the darkest of secrets.
A woman who is the only one who knows.

It's another bright, sunny day in Venture, Illinois, the sort of place where dreams come true and families can get a fresh start. Cecelia Holmes deserves it after the home invasion that shattered her previous life. Now everything seems perfect - her high-security SmartHome, her doting husband, her sweet daughter.

Until she begins to feel spied on. Her husband doesn't believe her. Her neighbors ignore her. So when she discovers a shocking secret about the prior occupant of their house, she feels that she has no one to turn to. And now Cecelia must face her fears alone...

Ratings and reviews

Following a home invasion, Cecelia and Scott move into a high -security SmartHome. It's totally automated and programmed to their specific needs. They even have microchips embedded in their body to coordinate everything for them. But all is not perfect. Cecelia feels that someone is constantly watching her. No one believes her ... not her husband, not her friends, and certainly not her new neighbors. She's worried, but her worry becomes fright when the house starts malfunctioning and calling her Lydia. Who is Lydia? Why does no one in this new community want to talk about her? Cecelia's angst and fear are palpable, starting from the very first page. I found myself almost forgetting to breathe as I read... it's quite a page turner. It's hyped as a domestic thriller, but I would classify it more of a sci-fi. The plot, and the details involved, are quite complex with characters that stand out. The ending was unexpected. Many thanks to the author / Grand Central Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

A Woman Alone by Nina Laurin is a sinister domestic mystery. Cecelia Holmes, husband Scott and three year old daughter Taryn live in an exclusive community which utilizes AI technology to keep them safe and perform daily household activities. Initially comforted by the security measures, Cecelia is becoming increasingly uneasy about their home. She is also troubled by Taryn’s tantrums and odd behavior. But it is not until the smart home begins calling her “Lydia” and starts malfunctioning that she becomes truly frightened. Who is Lydia? And why doesn’t anyone in the community want to talk about her? Cecelia is a stay at home mom who is extremely stressed despite their home’s numerous conveniences. Scott does not take her concerns seriously and she is growing angry with his dismissive attitude. Cecelia gives in to his suggestion to go to counseling although her previous bout of therapy did not help her. She has many regrets about their move into the SmartHome, but Scott quickly shuts down her requests to move back to the home they own. Convinced the house is out to get her, Cecelia is determined to find out the truth about Lydia. Cecelia runs into roadblocks everywhere she turns in her quest for answers. She is intimidated by their few neighbors around them and they are not exactly helpful when she asks about Lydia. After meeting another school mom, Cecelia realizes that many of the people in the community are harboring secrets. Which brings up concerns about how the company who owns the SmartHomes is using their data. Worrying about her own secrets, Cecelia hopes to escape the enclave before her past catches up with her. A Woman Alone is a mesmerizing mystery with an innovative plot and spine chilling setting. The characters are not particularly likeable but they are interesting. The story is well-written and moves at a brisk pace. With stunning twists and turns, Nina Laurin brings this suspenseful mystery to a very unanticipated conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this clever domestic mystery. I received a complimentary copy for review.

About the author

Nina Laurin studied Creative Writing at Concordia University in Montreal, where she currently lives. She arrived there when she was just twelve years old, and she speaks and reads in Russian, French, and English but writes her novels in English. She wrote her first novel while getting her writing degree, and Girl Last Seen was a bestseller a year later in 2017.
Nina is fascinated by the darker side of mundane things, and she's always on the lookout for her next twisted book idea. Learn more at NinaLaurin.com.