The Murder House
Author: James Patterson, David Ellis

It has an ocean-front view, a private beach--and a deadly secret that won't stay buried. — Noah Walker isn't superstitious. But there's one beach house in Bridgehampton that has a troubling history of violence and mystery: when Noah was a kid, No. 7 South Ocean burned down in a devastating fire, killing the couple trapped inside. Investigators had no explanation for what happened, and many believe it was no accident. Rebuilt after the fire, the gorgeous, ocean-front property is still known by locals as The Murder House.

Now, sixteen years later, a powerful Hollywood player and his mistress are found dead in The Murder House--and the police unearth proof that the couple is undeniably linked to Noah's past. To prove his innocence, Noah must uncover the house's dark secrets--and reveal his own.

This is the third Patterson book I've read that was co-authored by David Ellis. The first, Invisible was a really good thriller that I enjoyed a lot; however, the second, Mistress was in my opinion one of the worst of Patterson's novels. So I wasn't sure whether The Murder House would be a hit or a miss...well fortunately it was a hit! A real page-turner of a mystery that held my attention from start to finish.

The focus of this thriller is a two-centuries-old, mostly abandoned, creepy house located at No. 7 Ocean Drive in the Hamptons where over the years the owners have committed a string of horrendous murders. Former NYPD detective, Jenna Murphy, is recently hired by her uncle, Landon James, the police chief of Bridgehampton, after Jenna resigned from her position with the NYPD because of being charged with "skimming" evidence (cash and drugs). When Jenna arrives in Bridgehampton, she starts having nightmares about something that happened when she was a little girl. She comes to associate these nightmares with "The Murder House" and something dreadful that occurred there. Then she becomes involved in an investigation into the brutal murders of a Hollywood mogul and his girlfriend whose butchered bodies were discovered in the mansion. Soon other similar murders occur leading Jenna to believe that a serial killer is on the loose. However, one of the townspeople is arrested for the first murders in a seemingly open and shut case. But did he really commit the crimes?

This one kept me guessing as to who the murderer was right up until the end. Patterson/Ellis developed their characters well and kept me turning the pages. One of the best of Patterson's stand alone novels that I would recommend.

Headed to fathermurphy in Texas...a wishlist tag. Enjoy!

Thank you for tagging me. I've read Invisible but not Mistress. I like to read your journals as you're usually right on the money. I look forward to getting into this one real soon.

This was a great read. You'd think a beautiful multimillion dollar estate in the Hamptons with a private beach and terrific ocean view would be a popular place to be. But, it was the scene of a series of killings that haven't been solved. Now it sits empty, neglected and rumored to be cursed. The local citizens won't come near it because it's now known as the Murder House. This had plenty of twists and turns, a real page turner, and held my interest from cover to cover with an ending I couldn't see coming until the end. Very, very good!!

This was a good read. The house the locals called the Murder House was a mansion fit for the rich and famous, but it was the scene of several murders that had yet to be solved. Detective Jenna Murphy is trying to escape her troubled past and get her career off the rocks, in the Hamptons. What seems to be an open and shut casee turns out to have many secrets and the Murder House is part of the scene. Jenna keeps having nightmares about when ever she comes near the house. In trying to solve the murder cases, she also finds the cause of her nightmares. In my mind, there were at least 4 suspects. Only at the end did the true murder get caught.

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Caught this one from Mom to read and release, thanks!

Borrowed from bookstogive to read

I love to figure out "who dun it". The Murder House has so many twists and turns that I figured it out at least 4-5 times changing my mind the more I read.
Warning, if you read this you are in trouble cause it's so hard to put down even for dinner. On a scale for 1-10 I give it a 12!

After some duds Patterson finally hits a home run with The Murder House. There is something strange and creepy about 7 Ocean Drive. It has been the scene for a number of murders and deaths and the locals know to stay away.
Jenna Murphy has returned to the area from New York and joins the police force where her uncle is the Chief but it seems that he does not really support her and they are at odds over the investigation of a crime.
Jenna is determined to find out what happened even if she must go it alone.

This one is now ready for a new reader

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Received from bookstogive. Thank you!

One of Patterson's best. Kept me reading.

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