From the bestselling author of The House of Now and Then comes a vividly portrayed story that reveals the darkness of greed and desire where people will stop at nothing to get what they want. No matter the cost…
After a brutal attack and the breakdown of her marriage, life has taught former TV star Remi Lucan that it’s safer to not rely on anyone. Instead, she’s buried herself in Hobart, transforming her dilapidated sandstone house back to its former splendour, and it has been her proudest achievement. Better than her short-lived acting career. Definitely better than being a smile-on-command trophy wife.
But when she runs out of money, her wealthy ex-husband tries to force the sale of the property and Remi realises her only option is to lower her defences and take in tenants.
At first, her biggest problem is adjusting to the intrusion of two unlikely housemates, but when a series of ‘accidents’ turns ugly, it becomes clear these incidents are more than pranks. Someone is out to get Remi, and they won’t stop until they destroy her…
Jo Dixon made her bestselling debut last year with The House of Now and Then, a twisty decades-long mystery set in Tasmania. Now, with this captivating second novel to her name, she’s well and truly ready to claim her place alongside this country’s best thriller authors.
A Shadow at the Door had me absolutely riveted the whole way through. I loved the Hobart setting, the relatable exploration of mature-aged share-housing in the middle of our cost of living crisis and, most of all, the twisty, all-absorbing, ever-thickening plot.
The tension in A Shadow at the Door creeps up on you, starting off with an ember of seemingly innocuous domestic drama that gradually flares into a full-blown edge-of-your-seat blaze. But the events that occupy the space between the first hint of disquiet and the gripping finale are far from filler – there’s a complex and compelling exploration of community and purpose intertwined with the thrilling plotline of this novel that makes it even more unputdownable.
Dixon masterfully navigates multiple POVs, flipping between protagonist Remi and, later, her new housemates Josephine and Emerson. The device creates intrigue in spades – I was holding my breath, constantly navigating new doubts and suspicions and shifting alliances until the end.
On top of being a flawless slow-burn thriller, A Shadow at the Door is also a book about female friendship, starting life again at any age, finding purpose, and overcoming trauma. You’ll find yourself wanting to spend time getting to know these characters, to walk in their shoes and explore their aspirations – and regrets. While often propulsive, this is not a book that you speed through just to get to the end (which, by the way, is as shocking as it is satisfying).
If you’re after a book that will get your heart racing but isn’t too chilling to read when you’re home alone, preferably with a glass of wine… pick up a copy of A Shadow at the Door. In the meantime, I’ll be looking out for Dixon’s next release – she’s definitely one to watch.
Leave a Reply