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    The Suicide House
    The Suicide House
    The Suicide House
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Suicide House

    Written by Charlie Donlea

    Narrated by Vivienne Leheny

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    A chilling murder in a prestigious prep school is at the heart of this riveting new novel from acclaimed author Charlie Donlea, featuring forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore and her psychologist partner, Lane Phillips.

    Inside the walls of Indiana’s elite Westmont Preparatory High School, expectations run high and rules are strictly enforced. But in the woods beyond the manicured campus and playing fields sits an abandoned boarding house that is infamous among Westmont’s students as a late-night hangout. Here, only one rule applies: don’t let your candle go out—unless you want the Man in the Mirror to find you. . . .

    One year ago, two students were killed there in a grisly slaughter. The case has since become the focus of a hit podcast, The Suicide House. Though a teacher was convicted of the murders, mysteries and questions remain. The most urgent among them is why so many students who survived that horrific night have returned to the boarding house—to kill themselves.

    Rory, an expert in reconstructing cold cases, is working on The Suicide House podcast with Lane, recreating the night of the killings in order to find answers that have eluded the school, the town, and the police. But the more they learn about the troubled students, the chillingly stoic culprit, and a dangerous game gone tragically wrong, the more convinced they become that something sinister is still happening. Inside Westmont Prep, the game hasn’t ended. It thrives on secrecy and silence. And for its players, there may be no way to win—or to survive. . . .
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 28, 2020
    ISBN9781980073970
    The Suicide House
    Author

    Charlie Donlea

    USA Today bestselling author Charlie Donlea was born and raised in Chicago. He now lives in the suburbs with his wife and two young children. Readers can find him online at charliedonlea.com.

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    Reviews for The Suicide House

    4/5

    110 ratings13 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Took a while to get into this one, but I love this author. I'm glad I stuck with it!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      If you liked "Some Choose Darkness" then you will like this one as well. I like books with boarding schools and podcasts. Great writing, good pacing, three-dimensional characters. Another solid novel from Charlie Donlea.

      Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an ARC.
    • 5/5
      What happened at Westmont Prep last summer?

      That's what this book sets out to explore. Two students were murdered at this elite prep school, with the others who were present that night committing suicide since then. Two reporters and two crime scene specialists are interested and wanting answers as well as the original investigator.

      Each chapter shifts to a different character, a different time, a different part of the story... Generally, I would find this absolutely confusing, but it totally worked. There were lots of characters, but I was easily able to keep track of what was going on. And I was kept guessing the entire way through... In fact, I stayed up well past when I should have been asleep because I couldn't go to bed not knowing the ending.

      High praise to Charlie Donlea for crafting such an interesting adventure that kept me thrilled.
    • 5/5
      I feel like I picked this book up at the perfect time of year for it. Fall days call for slightly creepy thrillers just like this one! Last year I read (and loved ) Some Choose Darkness by this author. This book would actually be considered to be the sequel as it focuses on the same characters but the author stated at the end of this book that he intentionally wrote it so you could read this one as a standalone. Do I think you should read them both (and in order)? Definitely! Only because they are both SO good so it's definitely worth your time! I'm going off on a tangent here but I love how the author tied the other books he has written together at the end in that same author's note. It makes me want to go back and catch up on everything else that he has written. This book though was such a great read! I picked it up and just couldn't set it down. The combination of a boarding school, a secret society, the legend of the Man in the mirror, and then all of the mysterious death surrounding that abandoned house had me completely hooked! The bonus to all of that (which totally would have been enough for me to pick this book up based on all of that alone) was getting to read more about Rory and Lane. Rory's character is so unique and I was happy to get to read another book focused on her. We also got to get to know Lane a bit more which was an added bonus. There is also a true crime podcast aspect to this book that I think that readers will enjoy. This book was such a page turner! It's told from multiple viewpoints with short chapters which meant I just kept reading to see what happened next. There hits one point though where - wham - the author completely pulled the rug out on me and I was here for it! I loved that I didn't see that piece of the storyline coming at all! I did feel like I had an idea of who was behind it all halfway through the book but I didn't mind. There was just enough that I wasn't certain and let me tell you that I was completely compelled to see how it would all turn out regardless. I really loved this one and cannot wait to read more by this author!Overall, I definitely recommend checking this one out! It was just SO good! I'm really looking forward to going back and reading this author's backlist after enjoying both of the books I've read by him so much. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you turning the page, this book is one to check out! Highly recommended!Bottom Line: A five star read for me! That should tell you everything you need to know!Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I read a copy courtesy of my local library. Honest thoughts are my own.CW: Suicide, domestic abuse, violence, murder
    • 4/5
      I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

      Bookish First Impression
      Discovery consists of seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.
      —Albert Szent-Györgyi

      The Suicide House pulls you immediately into the book where there are many moving pieces. Several characters are introduced setting the stage of mystery and suspense. In the introduction to the story, someone confesses to pushing his brother in front of a train which kills him. It makes you wonder about all the apparent suicides which were reported after the tragic “accident” at the private boarding school.

      Having read book 1, Some Choose Darkness, I would say that this can easily be read as a stand alone novel as the author intended. I would say that you learn more about the nuances of the characters who may have been in previous books. Each story is totally unrelated in context so the reader isn’t confused.

      Rory Moore is taking a break from her last case, which is typical given the extent to which she invests herself into each investigation. She has learned over the years how to use her OCD and autism spectrum symptoms to help her when needed. For the most part she prefers to work alone as a forensic reconstructionist and porcelain doll restoration to “relax”. She lives with her boyfriend/partner Lane Phillips who is a renowned forensic psychologist and former FBI profiler.

      In this novel, Lane Phillips asks her to join him as he goes to meet Mack Carter, an investigative reporter now running a popular podcast called, The Suicide House. They sought Lane for his expertise with profiling serial killers and wanted his input for the podcast. Before Lane arrives, Mack goes to Westmont Prep to meet Ryder who is hoping to make a name for herself like Mack. She alerts him to a post on his podcast website which indicates that one of the surviving students from the Suicide House murders wanted to tell him what really happened. This case has been closed by the Peppermill Police department as they discovered a manifesto describing the killings of the students by chemistry teacher, Charles Gorman.

      Unfortunately, when Mack and Ryder make it to the school they discover the body of Theo Compton lying on the train tracks. He had given a brief interview to Mack stating that Charles Forman didn’t commit the crimes.

      Alternative chapters provide a mystery person reading from a therapy journal discussing many disturbing events from the past. As all the students at Westmont Prep are encouraged to write in a journal the author isn’t discovered until later when the mystery starts to unfold.

      The story is a complex history of the year of the murders and suspected suicides and the present where some of the stories don’t add up. Whenever Rory and Lane get involved you are sure to uncover much more than the truth. Another creepy psychological thriller by Charlie Dunlea is not to be missed!
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed The Suicide House even though I was a bit confused in the first 50 pages with all of the characters. I think if I'd have read the series in order, I'd have known some of the characters and that would have really helped. Despite the confusion (which didn't last too long), I thought that this was an excellent well written book that kept me guessing while I read the hints that were provided.The story is told in two timelines2019 - Westmont Preparatory High School is an elite boarding school in Indiana. It's tightly run and very strict. On the outer edge of the school property is an old decrepit house that is used by the students as a late night place to hang out. Here, only one rule applies: don't let your candle go out--unless you want the Man in the Mirror to find you. . . .In 2019 two students were killed in a violent slaughter. One of the teachers was charged so it was an open and shut case. Or was it?2020 - The case has become the focus of a hit podcast because there are so many unanswered questions - the main one being why several of the students who were at the hangout when the students were murdered have returned to the house to commit suicide. There are several people working on the podcast - the well known Mark Carter has stolen most of the story from investigative reporter Ryder. Despite the fact that the podcast becomes very popular and Mark is getting all of the credit, Ryder continues to investigate. The two main characters from book 1 also become a major part of the investigation. Lane is a psychiatrist and Rory helps to solve cold cases. Her mind works very different than normal and she has been very successful in helping the police solve cold cases. Tie all of these characters in with students and ex-students and it all got a bit confusing. It all worked out in the end and every one of the characters was a needed part of the overall story. The ending of the book was perfect and overall, I really enjoyed it. Based on the way the book ended, I expect that there will be future books staring Lane and Rory.
    • 4/5
      The Suicide House is the second book from Charlie Donlea to feature forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore, and her partner, psychologist Lane Phillips. It follows The Woman in Darkness (also published as Some Choose Darkness), though it can be read as a stand alone.“Welcome . . . to The Suicide House.”It’s been a year since two students were murdered on the grounds of an exclusive prep school in Indiana, and though a chemistry teacher was convicted for the crime, his attempted suicide means there are questions that have never been answered. The mystery surrounding the gruesome slayings, and a subsequent string of related suicides, attracts the professional attention of an investigative reporter/blogger, Ryder Hillier, a podcast host, Mack Carter, and eventually Lane and Rory.The story unfolds from multiple perspectives over two timelines, and includes journal entries, transcripts and flashbacks. Surprisingly, Lane and Rory’s entry into the story comes quite late so at first I was a little puzzled by their absence. Rory in particular is such a unique and interesting character I was worried she would be sidelined in this mystery, and though that concern eventually proved unfounded, the resolution is very much as a result of a team effort.The plot is complex though all threads lead to the reveal of what really happened on the night when the students were killed at the abandoned boarding house. Much of the foundation of the story is provided by Ryder and Mack, though the scene of the murder is introduced by an investigating detective. The two murdered teens were part of a larger group of pupils taking part in a traditional initiation challenge, tied to the supernatural legend of ‘The Man in the Mirror’, to be admitted to a campus ‘secret’ society. The police determined that the chemistry teacher, who had been a target of the society’s pranks, killed the boys in a fit of rage but there are inconsistencies that seem to preclude such a neat resolution, hence the involvement of Rory, who is often capable of seeing what other investigators do not. Donlea skilfully develops several red herrings and alternate suspects that draw attention away from the killer so that their identity is obscured until the characters themselves begin to make the connections.An engrossing mystery with an atmospheric setting and interesting characters I enjoyed The Suicide House.
    • 5/5
      Wow! This is the first book I have read by Charlie Donlea so did not know what to expect. I am happy to report that the book, a psychological thriller, was amazing! What a wild ride! I was immediately drawn into this story. The pieces of the puzzle would fall into place but always one critical piece withheld. I finally came close to believing I knew whodunnit, but I was wrong. The ending was believable and spectacular.There was never a boring moment in this book; something always happening. I loved the layout of the story with portions of the killer’s journal intermingled with the narratives. The alternating timeline was also well structured, the current investigation alternating with one year ago when the tragedy at the prestigious academy, Westmont Preparatory High School, occurred. The characters of Lane, Rory, and Gus were really interesting. (Rory reminds me of Spencer on the TV show “Criminal Minds”.) Apparently, these are characters that “star” in a couple of Donlea’s different series. The chapters are short, making it easy to fit into the reader’s busy schedule.Highly recommend!Thank you to Kensington Books for the advance copy to read. All opinions expressed here are my own.
    • 5/5
      The Suicide House by Charlie DonleaPublished by: Kensington BooksI received an awesome prize pack from the publisher that accompanied the ARC of the book. It had: 3 pencils from Westmont Preparatory High School (the fictional school in the book), a flattened, stamped Lucky Penny, a small, red candle, a letter from the administrator of the school, a small journal.This book sounded interesting. A suicide house, that teens were going to and killing themselves, by stepping in front of trains. Sounds creepy, too.There all sorts of law investigators who are directly and indirectly involved in the plot. There are reporters who are unofficially investigating. The idea of a private school where there's a secret society that causes kids to kill themselves is a strong draw for the investigators.Of the investigators, the two main ones are Dr. Lane Phillips who is a forensic psychologist and a criminal profiler with his partner Rory Moore who is a cold case reconstructurist who happens to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder that allows her to focus on cold cases and bring missed clues to light and help solve the cases. Lane and Rory have joined up before, they provide a unique method for solving crimes.The case began a year ago, when two male students were found murdered at an abandoned faculty boarding house on the campus of Westmont Preparatory High School. The two boys who were murdered had been tormenting a chemistry teacher at the school. Evidence pointed to the teacher's manifesto that was found in his house and the fact that the teacher tried to kill himself by stepping in front of a train locomotive. The teacher is basically brain dead, so the police declared the case solved.This year, three different students have killed themselves by stepping into the path of the oncoming train and has stirred up the notion that the case isn't as closed as it appears to be.One of the investigative reporters, Mack Carter has a podcast that has attracted the attention of the students at the school and others who would like to solve the case once and for all.When Lane arrives at Mack's house to go over a taped interview with one of the suicide victims, there was an explosion and Mack is killed and Lane is severely injured. Only with the arrival of Rory on the scene, by following the tracking device on Lane's cell phone, is she able to successfully get Lane out of the burning house.At the school, all students are encouraged to journal all of their thoughts and feelings. The thing is, a lot of people have something to hide and their journal in the wrong person's hand spells disaster.The Seniors at Westmont Prep are hazing selected Juniors with their game of MAN IN THE MIRROR. The Juniors have a list of quests they must accomplish in order to become members of the secret society. Never let your candle blow out.I was provided the fun prize pack and a complimentary copy of this book by Kensington Publishers with no obligation to post a review.
    • 3/5
      I've had difficulty rating this novel.The Suicide House is captivating and the writing style is wonderfully descriptive. It's a fast-paced read, but at times I found it oddly confusing and predictable.The characters through the book had very similar names and, for me, it was hard to remember them and connect to them. The chapters jumped from each person and between timelines. Parts of the novel were incredibly repetitive, I felt like I was starting the story over again at various points. For me, it took away from the plot and I felt disconnected from the main story. Unfortunately, I was able to see the twists as they made their appearance in the book and that kind of defeats the purpose of the mystery novel, doesn't it? Maybe I was expecting to be wow'd, but it just didn't happen.The Suicide House intrigued me enough to read the entire book, but unfortunately, I don't plan read it again in the future.Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing me an e-ARC to read and review honestly.
    • 5/5
      The fame of Indiana’s elite Westmont Preparatory High School has been tarnished by a gruesome killing of two student a year ago, and those survived this nightmare seem move on accordingly until this summer. When the podcast host Mack Carter brings this year-old cold case back to life, he has opened the Pandora ‘s Box. The reopening of the case has further intrigued intensely the interest of the forensic psychologist Lane Phillips and his partner, Rory Moore, the master of forensic reconstruction specializing in cold-case homicides.However, the more these two learn about the killing and the survivors, the more they are shrouded in darkness and sinister cult..I love the character of Rory Moore who, despite of her mannerism of autism and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), possess the extraordinary talent that allows her to see and think what others don’t!I can relate to Rory Moore because I myself have some mild OCD, like when I am the last one to leave the house, I would always turn back and forth the stove top knobs or the door knobs a few times to make sure that they are off or locked. I work as a Special Education Assistant, and years ago, I worked with an amazing talented child with mild autism who exhibited the similar manners!THE SUICIDE HOUSE is my first book by Charlie Donlea, and I truly enjoyed this spine-chilling and harrowing thriller! Although this is the sequel of SOME CHOOSE DARKNESS, it can be read as a standalone. I definitely would love to read more about Rory Moore! I would like to thank Bookish First, Charlie Donlea and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this devilishly good thriller!
    • 5/5
      True crime podcasts, a prep school with questionable history, murders, and a quirky forensic specialist make this complex suspense uniquely entertaining.I find Charlie Donlea's writing style engaging and easy to get lost in. The chapters are short and the pacing steady.The timeline alternates between the summer of 2019, with a supposedly solved murder now called into question, and the summer of 2020, with old secrets unraveling and several more deaths. I thought the dual timelines worked well for building tension throughout.The Suicide House is the second Rory Moore/Lane Phillips novel. While Some Choose Darkness, book one, is a great read, it's not necessary to have read that one first. Both novels work well as stand-alone reads.*I received a review copy from Kensington Books, via BookishFirst.*
    • 4/5
      Two students enter a dilapidated old house on a dare.A disturbing history is revealed in a private journal.Police are called to a grisly scene near a prestigious prep school.Holy Moly…and we’re off! Three distinct & creepy threads make up a prologue that immediately grabs your attention & fills your head with 100 questions. Who are these people, are the events related, what the hell just happened…..there, I got you started. We soon realize everything revolves around an horrific event in Peppermill, Indiana during the summer of 2019. That’s where you’ll find Westmont Preparatory H. S., a prestigious academy that takes in teens & spits them out 4 years later, polished & ready for uni. On the summer solstice, a group of students made their way to an old manor house on school grounds. Most returned home. Two did not. Detective Henry Ott was called to the scene & although a local man was eventually convicted of murder, he’s never been able to let go of what he saw that night. One year later, several of the students returned to the area & one by one committed suicide. Despite the school’s efforts to hush up the whole mess, the cases are currently the topic of a hugely popular podcast & true crime website. And that’s when criminal profiler Dr. Lane Phillips & his partner Rory Moore get involved. We were introduced to them in Some Choose Darkness & they’re an interesting pair. Rory usually consults with the Chicago P.D. She has a unique ability to recreate a crime scene & “see” what others missed. Rory falls somewhere on the autism spectrum & although she lacks social skills, her eidetic memory & obsessive need for detail means she’s a rock star in the world of cold case solves. The book has an interesting format that serves the multiple story lines very well. Rory & Lane are key characters but they share narrating duties with several others in alternating chapters. This means you gradually get the low down on what happened in 2019 as events in current day unfold. It effectively builds tension as what you learn about the original case begins to inform Rory & Lane’s investigation. And it’s obvious pretty damn quick that someone would rather they stop digging & put Peppermill in their rearview mirror. After reading the previous book, I knew this was a series I’d follow. One of the reasons is the intriguing MC’s & their relationship. Lane is a smart & driven man who accepts Rory & all her personal tics as is. As for Rory, I enjoy watching how her brain picks away at a puzzle. The author portrays her as completely self aware, someone who has learned how to channel the “gift” she’s been given in order to function. Her hobby of restoring antique dolls is particularly poignant as the meticulous care she puts into fixing their broken bodies mirrors the effort it takes for her to manage her life.But the other reason I knew I’d be back is the author’s ability to spin a compelling story that keeps you reading. As each thread progresses, connections are made & the reader begins the game of name-that-killer. I was keeping my eye on a couple of candidates but it wasn’t ’til the final pages that i knew their identity. At some points we know more than Rory & this adds nicely to the tension that culminates in a creepy finale. A bonus for faithful fans are cameos by several characters from previous books. If Moore/Phillips #3 is on the way, I’m all in.