Lock the Doors by Vincent Ralph

Tom's family has moved into their dream home. But pretty soon he starts to notice that something is very wrong - there are strange messages written on the wall and locks on the bedroom doors. On the OUTSIDE.

The previous owners have moved just across the road and they seem like the perfect family. Their daughter Amy is beautiful and enigmatic but Tom is sure she's got something to hide. And he isn't going to stop until he finds the truth behind those locked doors. . .

Will their dream home become a nightmare?

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Vincent Ralph’s Lock the Doors is a tense and gripping psychological thriller that will keep readers on edge from start to finish. With its dark secrets, unreliable narrators, and a protagonist who can’t resist investigating what he shouldn’t, this book is perfect for fans of slow-burning suspense with shocking twists.

When Tom’s family moves into their dream home, it seems like a fresh start. But the dream quickly sours as Tom notices unsettling details about the house—cryptic messages scrawled on the walls, unexplained locks on the outside of bedroom doors, and an eerie sense that something terrible happened there. The mystery only deepens when Tom meets Amy, the enigmatic girl across the street, whose family used to live in the house.

Tom is a compelling protagonist—determined, flawed, and haunted by his own past. His need to uncover the truth about the house and Amy’s family is both understandable and reckless, creating a nail-biting tension as his investigations lead him into dangerous territory. Ralph expertly captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of small neighbourhoods where everyone knows—or thinks they know—each other’s business, adding an extra layer of unease to the story.

The pacing is well-balanced, with enough red herrings and revelations to keep readers guessing. As Tom delves deeper into the mystery, Ralph raises the stakes with twists that are both shocking and grounded in the story’s darker themes. The final revelations are chilling, tying together the strands of suspense and dread that have been woven throughout the narrative.

Strengths:

• A unique and unsettling premise that immediately hooks the reader.
• A protagonist whose personal struggles add depth and emotional resonance to the mystery.
• Expertly crafted suspense that keeps the reader guessing until the very end.
• Themes of trust, trauma, and the darker sides of family life explored with sensitivity.

Challenges:

• Some readers may find Tom’s impulsiveness frustrating, though it is integral to his character.
• The resolution, while satisfying, may feel rushed compared to the careful build-up.

Book Recommendation:
Lock the Doors is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers like The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum or Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land. Its gripping narrative, creepy atmosphere, and shocking twists make it a page-turner that will stay with you long after you’ve finished.

TV Recommendation:
This story evokes the eerie tension of Criminal Minds, particularly episodes that delve into the psychological impact of secrets and hidden crimes. The way Tom pieces together the mystery feels reminiscent of the show’s intense, investigative storylines.

Lock the Doors is available now. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.