"The Dream House", T.M. Logan

An audio book.

It's 2024. Having moved into an old house with wife Jess and children, Adam finds a secret room behind a wardrobe. Lea is 16. She was 7 when Adam and Jess married. Daisy (4) and Callum (now 9) came later. Daisy wets the bed saying that she’s seen a ghost.

In the room he finds a Rolex watch initialled EJS and sells it for £4,000. He finds an old flip-up mobile with one number in the address book. They try it and they’re texted back. On the phone is a picture of wrists tied by a scarf. He finds a dog collar with an address, and visits the address. The collar belonged to the dog of the woman’s ex-husband. The woman, Max says that her husband disappeared about 20 years before. She has a son who never saw his father. Adam finds a coded message and a scarf.

Adam's just been sacked, not telling Jess. He finds a surveillance camera in a tree, and suspicious cameras around the house.

Someone comes to the house wanting the items, pretending to be the previous occupant's grandson. Adam gets a text demanding the items. Lea is stalked. Adam's suspicious of the cleaner and gardener. He tries to buy the watch back, but it's gone.

There are interludes when we learn of other people - loners, closet gays, etc.

Adam's knocked out by an intruder. He tells Jess everything, including about him losing his job, etc. He decides that he'd better return everything. He buys a fake replacement watch. Jess (surprisingly) does to the drop. The people aren't fooled.

An ex-detective turns up with the real Rolex. He says he worked on the original case. His theory is that there were 2 people and serial murders.

Adam sacks the gardener and cleaner. Jess (puzzlingly) thinks he's becoming paranoic. The ex-detective suggests that they try to give the real items over, and trap the baddies using his police contacts. Things don't work out. Adam gets a call which makes him realise that Jess is being held captive in the hidden room. He rushes back. It's the estate agent. He tells them that the items were evidence that his partner in crime had hidden as insurance. He locks Adam and Jess in, then sets the house alight. Max and her son catch him on the way out, and Adam escapes carrying Jess.

In the end I liked it. Adam begins to suspect everybody, with justification.