Can Josie save herself and return the estate to relative normality when a spate of burglaries causes havoc and deadly violence erupts? Or will both she and her tenants become victims of violence that no one will see? Kindle Edition , pages. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Behind a Closed Door , please sign up. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
May 05, sue rated it really liked it Shelves: I really felt like a nosy neighbor reading this book at times, getting into peoples personal lives, and lets face it, aren't we all a little nosy? I really enjoyed this account in book 2, we get to meet a few more characters from the Mitchell Estate.
Josie is the Housing Officer, we see and hear a lot about her.
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Very kind, very patient, but does her job. The Mitchell Estate is a down and out place to live, lots were reliant on benefits from the state, and LOTS knew how to scam too, dodgy dealings, I really felt like a nosy neighbor reading this book at times, getting into peoples personal lives, and lets face it, aren't we all a little nosy? The Mitchell Estate is a down and out place to live, lots were reliant on benefits from the state, and LOTS knew how to scam too, dodgy dealings, crime. Some dirty unkempt residence that were treated with respect from Josie. I loved the comment when she arrived at someones door, the person was [well let me say I feel Josie goes way beyond her job description as the Housing Officer at times.
She got to know many of the tenants. She had to deal with unkempt gardens, refuse, waste, anti social behavior, help with benefits. Even an escaping dog!!! Josie has problems in her private life of her own.
Her marriage wasn't all it was cracked up to be. She worked long and hard hours, many times getting in late. Her husband Stewart hardly pulling his finger out to do anything. We later see some decisions being made. This story also focuses on a 20 something girl with a young daughter of her own. She did live in the 'better' part, but through no fault of her own she finds herself on the Mitchell Estate.
Right smack bang in the middle. It was interesting to see Josie's part in her life and how the young girl changed her life around until There also is another love interest other than her boyfriend, so will this make a difference to her life? Her future, her daughters future?
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And Josie the Housing Officer, the caring person that she is trying to do the best she can. I loved the insight the author gave to Josie's personal life, her expectations and her exacerbations. This is not an edge of your seat tale, this is a relax enjoy, its like watching one of those documentory's on the TV like Benefit street! I must thank Mel Sherratt for allowing me the pleasure of reading this.
I found it fascinating and I really felt like some nosy neighbor peeking out of my window. Oct 22, Sarah rated it it was amazing Shelves: Behind a Closed Door is the second book in The Estate series and actually reads easily as a stand alone, though having read the first you are missing out if you don't read it as well. In Behind a Closed Door we get to know Josie better who is doing her best in her role to try and make things better for the tenants in the Mitchell Estate. It does seem like she is fighting a losing battle at times as some people do not want her help and just see her as an interfering busy body.
I have to say Josie de Behind a Closed Door is the second book in The Estate series and actually reads easily as a stand alone, though having read the first you are missing out if you don't read it as well. I have to say Josie deserves a gold medal for what she has to put up with in her job. She really wants to try and help everyone even though at times she might as well be hitting her head against a brick wall trying to get through to some of the tenants.
Josie really does have her plate full yet she wants to try and better herself even more, much to the disapproval of her husband Stewart. Josie really is a great character and I love the friendship that starts to blossom between her and Kelly the other main character in the story. The Estate really is a great series, the author tackles some tough issues in todays society and it makes for a gripping read.
I just love how the author manages to shock the reader and throws the odd twist in for good measure also. I really can not recommend this series highly enough, I have absolutely loved the first two books and I am so glad I have got the third book already on my kindle waiting to be read as I can not wait to see what else is in store for the people of Mitchell Estate. Oct 24, Sharon rated it really liked it. However, I have been pleasantly surprised; I love how this series makes you feel like a "neighbour" on the estate and how you get to know your neighbours, their secrets, their dark lives and the sadness that exists; but also how you feel as though you are a part of the tight knit commun I've been on a Mel Sherratt binge this week and finished off Behind a Closed Door last night.
However, I have been pleasantly surprised; I love how this series makes you feel like a "neighbour" on the estate and how you get to know your neighbours, their secrets, their dark lives and the sadness that exists; but also how you feel as though you are a part of the tight knit community that does exist on The notorious Mitchell Estate - yes it has it's fair share of neighbours from hell but when you scrape beneath the surface there is a whole lot of hurt and damage that has led to this and you cannot help feeling as though you are cheering them on to better things!
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Josie, the Housing Officer whom we met in book one, is the main focus for this book and things are not as they appear on the outside when we are taken into Josie's life in the book; life behind closed doors is very different than others perceive it to be! And that's what i love about this series - it could be any estate anywhere in the UK - we all have our perceptions and judgements - but when you open the door that the books provide then you get a wee glimpse of what is really going on!
You could read this series as stand alones but I'd recommend reading in order because it gives a greater insight into the characters that you will meet. Continuing my binge with book number 3 in the series! The Estate Series Read a couple of these today, about to start the third. I was pleasantly surprised by the series, only because I've read some terrible books lately, thanks to kindle unlimited and the annoying practice of promoting awful books to kindle unlimited subscribers. The characters are not necessarily all likeable but they are well written, so is the depiction of life on an estate, especially the The Estate Series Read a couple of these today, about to start the third.
Not set in London, which makes a change. Not sure what people outside the UK would think, just because council estates are a weirdly British thing. There's a lot going on in the story but it all ties up nicely in the end. I don't do plot synopsis because there's plenty of those already and I'm never sure what constitutes a spoiler. Definitely worth a try. Jun 23, Kerry rated it it was amazing. An excellent second book in the Estate series. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the new characters as well as learning more about characters featured in book 1. I already have book 3 downloaded so I will be starting that now.
Jun 01, Gerry rated it liked it. Jun 13, Joann rated it liked it Shelves: This is the second book in the series "The Estate" which takes places in a large sprawling tenement in the outskirts of London. The English call them estates. These are older novels written by Mel Sherratt and seem to be missing a bit of edge in the telling.
I did enjoy this one more than the first one. This one wasn't as cliche - you have a young mum with an abusive boyfriend but the girl is smart and rallies to make better of herself by going to school, etc. This book had strong femal character This is the second book in the series "The Estate" which takes places in a large sprawling tenement in the outskirts of London.
This book had strong femal characters. Yet again, another smashing read from Me!.. She has a knack for making her character true to life, the goodies and the baddies!! Looking forward to reading more about Josie!! Dec 17, Sue McQuaide Kitt rated it really liked it. After wanting to read the Estate Series for several years, I am on a binge and amreading them all consecutively, and what a treat it is.
Dec 05, Ann rated it it was amazing. What a brilliant book, a good story too loved it. Feb 19, David Highton rated it liked it. More 'grit-lit'from the Mitchell Estate - a bit like a soap opera. I am really loving Mel's books but this one took me a while to get into it. It was just-- too much. Too much of too many plots and sub plots and I tapped out at the unrealistic attempt to tie these things together. Thankfully all the reasons I like these books came rushing back and this one was no different. Book one I thoroughly enjoyed, book 3 was an absolutely brilliant read as was this although book 3 has the edge.
Josie Mellor seems to be the heart of these books although not necessarily the main focus of stories.
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As the Housing Officer for the Mitchell Estate where these books are set, she is a pretty central and important character. She and her daughter are now fending for themselves after her boyfriend is sent to prison. Her boyfriend, is certainly a character you can love to hate. However, I liked the way that multiple stories are told and we get to see another Tenant Amy Cartwright try to make her way as a young mother with learning difficulties.
Behind a Closed Door
Alongside the investigation and on going problems with her family, she also has difficulty fitting in with her new team, they still miss their old boss Allie Shenton featured in previous books by the author and they also have trust issues which is hardly surprising considering who she is, but all these issues add to the overall tension.
Hush Hush is a solid start to this new crime series, with misdirection, suspense, and a dysfunctional family at its core this is undoubtedly a not to be missed crime thriller. My novels take you to the heart of the crime. I write police procedurals, psychological suspense and crime dramas — fiction with a punch. I wanted to write about a character who was nice to everyone using one persona but out for revenge with another side to her that she tries to keep hidden away.
The reader knows exactly what she is up to — but not the reason why. It was standalone for two years but I have now written two more books with Detective Sergeant Allie Shenton as the main character to create a trilogy. There are four books, available individually or you can read the first three as a box set. I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter named after the TV serial killer and make liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books.
You can find out more at my website http: Hi Lorraine — great to be back. Thanks for having me. I write novels that take you to the heart of the crime. I write psychological suspense, and crime dramas — fiction with a punch. She Did It is my eleventh crime book, but my second straight psychological thriller.
I had an idea back in but was already contracted to write other books so it had to go on the backburner for a while. It started off around the idea of two couples — one of the four is murdered and the other three are all lying to cover everything up. From this it became two women. I do have a strong urge to write that first idea now though.
Written in the Scars
When I am drafting out a book, I want to be editing and when I am editing, I want to be working on something new. I just have to sit down and do it. There is something great about getting to end of that first messy draft though. In She Did It you mention book bloggers and social media. How important do you think both are for authors? For me personally, having been a book blogger for four years before being published, I think they are a crucial part of the industry.
Book bloggers are so passionate and give up their free time for no more than their love of books. They share their own work, as well as their fellow bloggers, and push awareness about a book around publication time, and afterwards too. I love the crowd of book bloggers I know and have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of them too.
When I finally got the chance to sit down and write, her story poured out of me. I have the first in a new police procedural series coming out next year. So, there will be plenty of the dark stuff. Only that I have to have new notepad for each book. I have a lot of them that I will never use as they are too nice to spoil! One can never have enough notepads, I say. Have you always wanted to be an author, and when did you first realise you wanted to write?
I said an author then. It took me a fair few years to realize my childhood dream! Yes, I write a brief story arc for each main character, and then I marry them all together and start writing. I write a very quick and dirty draft I call it draft zero of around 50, words to get to know the story and the characters and then I do several more drafts to add words, fill in the gaps etc. Things always evolve and the middle might change, but the beginning and endings tend to stay pretty much the same. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
Gosh, writing gritty realism gets me a lot of poor reviews. It was like someone blowing candles out on my birthday cake! It was a standalone for two years but I have now written two more books with Detective Sergeant Allie Shenton as a main character to create a trilogy. There are four at the moment, available individually or you can read the first three as a box set. A successful businesswoman, Tamara enjoys her champagne lifestyle to the full. At least, that is the front she displays to the world. A promising new member of staff brings the injection of fresh blood needed to win the contract that will turn things around.
Working for Tamara is a perfect ruse for Esther. But, along with fake references and qualifications, she also has a plan for revenge. Tamara is keeping things secret. Esther has a dark side she is trying to hide. For both of them, lying is a habit. She Did It has all the elements I look for in a psychological thriller, unreliable characters, a plot that messes with the head, and a constant sense of intrigue and malice that keeps the reader on their toes. From the beginning I became very suspicious of the two main characters Tamara and Esther, different as chalk and cheese they come together to launch and promote a novel for Dulston publishing.
It soon becomes apparent Esther is using the work as a ploy to get close to someone who hurt her in the past. She Did it is a tale of lies, deceit and misdirection, a constant sense of foreboding makes this an impossible book to put down. Would I recommend this book? And the best news? Every creak in the house made her alert. She was waiting for him to come and get her. The small city of Stockleigh is in shock as three women are brutally attacked within days of each other.
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Are they random acts of violence or is there a link between the victims? The investigation leads Eden to cross paths with Carla, a woman trying to rebuild her life after her marriage to a cruel and abusive man ended in unimaginable tragedy. As Eden starts to close in on the attacker, she also puts herself in grave danger.
Can she stop him before he strikes again? And can Carla, terrified for her life, save herself — before the past wreaks a terrible revenge? An absolutely gripping and chilling police procedural which will hook fans of Angela Marsons and Rachel Abbott. What I love about this authors books is her ability to take very credible plots and give them a gritty realism that make her books impossible to put down.
Eden and her team make a credible one and I hope as this series progresses we will learn more about her team. What I love about this authors writing is her ability to create characters that are very true to life. I became emotionally involved with Carla a woman who suffers terrible abuse and unbelievable heartbreak, her character unfortunately was very credible, as were the rest of the woman in the refuge.
Mel Sharrett has written a roller coaster of a thriller for sure, but this novel is also a rich and harrowing story of domestic abuse. Mel Sherratt writes gritty crime dramas, psychological suspense and fiction with a punch — or grit-lit, as she calls it. Since , all nine of her crime novels have been bestsellers. Mel lives in Stoke-on-Trent, with her husband and terrier, Dexter, named after the TV serial killer, and makes liberal use of her hometown as a backdrop for some of her books.
What sort of book blogger does that make me? I would say a pretty rubbish one. I have had a very stressful week, basically I started a new job I managed eight shifts and resigned! But through it all, Lori and her sister, Jessie, have always supported each other. Then Jessie is killed. Devastated, Lori struggles to cope with her loss, and to learn to live in a world without her bright, bubbly sister by her side.
Around her, her already fractured family start to fall apart. And, as Lori and her mother try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, secrets long thought buried are coming painfully to light. Faced with the unthinkable, Lori is forced to ask herself how well she really knows those who are left behind….