The Lodger by Robert E. Kearns

In the heart of Dublin’s cutthroat housing market, Alice Foley, fresh from graduating college, embarks on a desperate search for a place to call home before starting a new job. With time ticking and her budget stretched thin, she navigates a maze of grim apartments, shady landlords, and questionable roommates. Just when hope seems lost, a peculiar newspaper advertisement leads her to a stunning Georgian townhouse in the city centre offering a room at an incredibly low price. The catch? Its enigmatic owner, Mr. McArdle, a charming yet oddly formal gentleman who speaks of the house as a living entity with a soul of its own.

What begins as a dream come true spirals into a chilling nightmare. As Alice and her skeptical mother uncover the house’s dark secrets, they’re ensnared in a reality where time bends, dimensions blur, and escape is impossible. McArdle, bound to the house by a sinister pact, reveals a terrifying truth: the house chooses its occupants, and it has chosen Alice for a role she never signed up for—a servant to its eternal will.

Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Lodger-Robert-Kearns-ebook/dp/B0BVX316L5?ref_=ast_author_dp

Now with a Five Star review from Readers' Favorite:

Reviewed by Bryone Peters for Readers' Favorite

The Lodger by Robert E. Kearns is about a recently graduated woman, Alice Foley, who accepts a position in Dublin. The trouble was finding suitable accommodation there. Her friends warned her that it might be a nightmare. Alice struggles for a while but eventually finds an accommodation to her liking. The rental price is cheaper than most other places. She found it curious because it had ample space and was in a desirable location. It ticked all the boxes for her requirements, except for one thing. There was something inexplicably different about the landlord. Regardless, she was thrilled to have found suitable lodgings and ignored any reservations about the place. She invites her mother to come and view her new rental abode. Then, events take an unexpected turn.The story has a strong vein of psychological terror. The drama and nerve-wracking scenes make it a worthwhile read. The antagonist, the butler, is creepy and bizarre. The writing is good and is perfect for the plot. The build-up to the climax is excellent, and the ending will leave you with a quickened pulse. The best part of the narrative is in the dialogue. The dialogue between Alice and her mother reveals the thoughts of any like-minded individual who might find themselves in such a situation. The mother’s apprehension about the new landlord drives the suspense. The mother’s concerns parallel the concerns of anyone who fears for their child’s wellbeing. The Lodger by Robert E. Kearns will not disappoint readers who enjoy suspense.