‘Under Her Roof’ by A. A. Chaudhuri

Published by Canelo Hera,
13 June 2024.   
ISBN: 978-1-80436-295-2 (PB)

Although this story starts and ends with somebody on trial for murder at the Old Baily, most of the action is centered around an ultra-modern house in Hampstead. This is no ordinary house. It has automatic, locked, wrought-iron gates at the front, green shrubbery on either side and Fort Knox type security both inside and outside. The house belongs to Adriana, a beautiful widow who guards her privacy as though her life depends on it.

Adriana doesn’t like living on her own, so she lets out one room at low rent to Sebastian, a young writer of limited means who is looking for somewhere quiet to write. Unbeknown to each other, both Adriana and Sebastian -Seb- are hiding secrets from their pasts: secrets that stalk them like shadows.

Within a day or two of moving into the house Seb begins to get the feeling he is being watched. Adriana has the same feeling. Then they both start to get surprisingly accurate emails that seem to confirm they are indeed being watched, both when they are inside and when they are outside the house. Who is watching? How do they get access to the house.  Is it bugged?

Whilst the book relies heavily on the alternating narratives of Adriana and Seb, other characters provide external views and commentary. Jason, Seb’s old university friend, and Ruth, Adriana’s next-door neighbour, are both worried about previous fatalities at the house. Had the deaths of Adriana’s husband and Seb’s predecessor really been accidents or had there been something more sinister at play? Adriana had a troubled childhood and doctors Martin and Adams make significant contributions to the tale, as do her old school friends Eve and Xavier.

All in all, I can only say that in this compulsively readable, creepy psychological thriller, A.A. Chaudhuri and her characters have demonstrated a frighteningly high degree of competence in their ability to deceive the innocent reader.
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Reviewer Angela Crowther

A.A. Chaudhuri is the author of The Scribe and The Abduction, and two psychological thrillers published by Hera, She’s Mine and The Loyal Friend. Alex recently signed with Hera for three more psychological thrillers; The Final Party will be published in May 2023. After gaining a degree in History at UCL, Alex trained as a solicitor and worked for several City law firms before turning to thriller writing. She lives in Surrey with her family.   

https://aachaudhuri.com/

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.