I was really looking forward to Other People’s Houses. I ended up getting an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher but I had pre-ordered it because my local libraries don’t always carry her books.

I really enjoyed the first (and second!) book in this series (and her other books) but this one was a little flat. I wanted more of Ffion and George and even Leo but instead a third of the book was about Leo’s pathetic failed social climber ex-wife. There were so many chapters where she was begging for attention from her sort of neighbors and it dragged down the book and kept us from the mysteries. It does come together in the end but we didn’t need so much time devoted to this character and her deranged need for acceptance.

The book should have ended with her going into the hospital for some impatient psychiatric help. What she did and how she acted was well beyond normal. I don’t know how a child would be safe with her, Her behavior was more desperate and disturbing than the murders and thieves.

I was surprised to read the interview with the author at the end and see that she really enjoyed writing that character!

I will surely read the next book in the series if there is one but I hope she is in it a lot less.