When her teenage son gets into trouble with some very dangerous people, Natasha knows they need to flee the city. But where can they go?
Out of the blue, she receives an inheritance that seems the answer to her prayers. A distant relative has left her a house, deep in the countryside.
It needs a lot of work, but to Natasha it feels heaven-sent—the perfect place to keep her son safe and soothe her crushing anxiety.
Soon after they arrive, local builder Henry offers his services. Natasha’s happy to hire him, but quickly realises there’s something odd about Henry—he doesn’t respect boundaries and acts like he’s one of the family.
Natasha is tempted to get rid of him, but then discovers that her idyllic home harbours a terrible secret. A secret that threatens to destroy her new life.
The increasingly sinister Henry is willing to help her keep that secret. But he does want something in return….
If you haven’t read a Jessica Huntley thriller before, this book is the perfect place to start. It’s a slow-burn domestic thriller that’s unsettling and addictive. But more importantly, it’s a character-driven story of a single mother pushed to her emotional and physical limits—and following her journey is a complete rollercoaster of emotions. If you love classic thriller tropes, this one’s got you covered—“too good to be true” helper, isolated setting, paranoid protagonist, buried secrets resurfacing, psychological manipulation, and more! And to make it more interesting, mental health elements are woven in—Natasha’s anxiety, panic attacks, and spiraling thoughts are portrayed in a realistic and relatable way, making the reading experience very immersive and hard to put down!
Told in a third-person POV that follows Natasha, you get direct access to her emotional state, spiraling thoughts, and rash decision-making—which all heighten the suspense. At the start, she’s REALLY at her wits’ end—scraping by financially, trying to manage her teenage son who’s always in trouble, and dealing with her own anxiety. She shows serious resilience when her son is suddenly in major trouble and immediately takes matters into her own hands—and that fierce determination makes her so easy to root for, especially as the stakes continue to escalate.
The story really takes off once they settle into the rundown, isolated country house—you can sense the house is hiding secrets, and not everyone in town is fully trustworthy. Then Henry, the handyman, conveniently turns up, giving off “too good to be true” vibes, with red flags popping up everywhere that spike Natasha’s growing anxiety and the tension. To make things even more layered, there’s a missing person mystery and subtle romance subplots that keep you constantly questioning everyone. Natasha’s emotional arc is strong throughout, especially as her choices become more desperate and the “survival at all costs” trope is fully on display!
The short, punchy chapters and good pacing will help you fly through this one. The second half really ramps up, with higher stakes and multiple twists—some you can see coming if you’re paying attention and others that will catch you off guard and shift the direction of the story. Be prepared to suspend your disbelief and question the logic behind a few reveals, but it doesn’t take away from how entertaining the final act is. The ending is satisfying, with a bit of karmic justice, and it lingers!
If you love slow-burn, twisty domestic thrillers with complex female leads pushed to their limits and morally grey decisions, this one is for you! And do yourself a favor and grab the audiobook if possible—Charlie Albers gives a convincing and gripping performance of Natasha and brings all the tension and emotions to life from start to finish!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Under Her Skin is narrated by award-winning narrator Charlie Albers, who’s narrated several of Jessica Huntley’s thrillers.
Albers portrays protagonist Natasha with an expressive, emotionally strained voice layered with anxiety—especially early on—capturing how she’s at her wits’ end, struggling financially, constantly worried about her teenage son, and dealing with her own mental health issues. It’s a convincing performance that grips you from the start and makes you immediately root for her. Her performance is dynamic, especially in Natasha’s inner monologues, where you can hear her second-guessing everything and spiraling into worst-case scenarios—and it will take you on an emotional rollercoaster at times. What stands out most is how she conveys Natasha’s maternal instinct—her fear and concern for her son are really evident in her tone, which draws you into the story much more immersively than reading the book physically.
Albers gives Natasha’s son, Daniel, a younger and often defensive voice that captures him perfectly as a teenager caught up in trouble and frustrated with his mother’s desperate decisions. The exchanges between Natasha and Daniel are a real highlight, especially during their arguments, where Albers brings out the emotional friction between them in a very believable way. As the story progresses and the stakes rise, Albers make their communication shift (for the better) in a realistic way—and by the end, their bond is emotionally healthier and satisfying to listen to.
For the handyman Henry, Albers uses a smooth, overly friendly voice that immediately feels “too good to be true,” and through subtle changes in tone, she hints there’s a manipulative edge to him and he can’t be trusted. Supporting characters—men Daniel gets involved with, Megan, and various townspeople—are all given distinct voices (and even accents), which makes it easy to follow along and entertaining!
By the final chapters, her portrayal of Natasha shifts again to depict a woman who is no longer just reacting but actively fighting back and refusing to be manipulated. It’s a really accurate reflection of Natasha’s emotional arc, and you’ll be fully invested in her outcome right through to the end—a clear sign of a standout performance!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Under Her Skin is narrated by award-winning narrator Charlie Albers, who’s narrated several of Jessica Huntley’s thrillers.
Albers portrays protagonist Natasha with an expressive, emotionally strained voice layered with anxiety—especially early on—capturing how she’s at her wits’ end, struggling financially, constantly worried about her teenage son, and dealing with her own mental health issues. It’s a convincing performance that grips you from the start and makes you immediately root for her. Her performance is dynamic, especially in Natasha’s inner monologues, where you can hear her second-guessing everything and spiraling into worst-case scenarios—and it will take you on an emotional rollercoaster at times. What stands out most is how she conveys Natasha’s maternal instinct—her fear and concern for her son are really evident in her tone, which draws you into the story much more immersively than reading the book physically.
Albers gives Natasha’s son, Daniel, a younger and often defensive voice that captures him perfectly as a teenager caught up in trouble and frustrated with his mother’s desperate decisions. The exchanges between Natasha and Daniel are a real highlight, especially during their arguments, where Albers brings out the emotional friction between them in a very believable way. As the story progresses and the stakes rise, Albers make their communication shift (for the better) in a realistic way—and by the end, their bond is emotionally healthier and satisfying to listen to.
For the handyman Henry, Albers uses a smooth, overly friendly voice that immediately feels “too good to be true,” and through subtle changes in tone, she hints there’s a manipulative edge to him and he can’t be trusted. Supporting characters—men Daniel gets involved with, Megan, and various townspeople—are all given distinct voices (and even accents), which makes it easy to follow along and entertaining!
By the final chapters, her portrayal of Natasha shifts again to depict a woman who is no longer just reacting but actively fighting back and refusing to be manipulated. It’s a really accurate reflection of Natasha’s emotional arc, and you’ll be fully invested in her outcome right through to the end—a clear sign of a standout performance!
The audiobook of Under Her Skin is narrated by award-winning narrator Charlie Albers, who’s narrated several of Jessica Huntley’s thrillers.
Albers portrays protagonist Natasha with an expressive, emotionally strained voice layered with anxiety—especially early on—capturing how she’s at her wits’ end, struggling financially, constantly worried about her teenage son, and dealing with her own mental health issues. It’s a convincing performance that grips you from the start and makes you immediately root for her. Her performance is dynamic, especially in Natasha’s inner monologues, where you can hear her second-guessing everything and spiraling into worst-case scenarios—and it will take you on an emotional rollercoaster at times. What stands out most is how she conveys Natasha’s maternal instinct—her fear and concern for her son are really evident in her tone, which draws you into the story much more immersively than reading the book physically.
Albers gives Natasha’s son, Daniel, a younger and often defensive voice that captures him perfectly as a teenager caught up in trouble and frustrated with his mother’s desperate decisions. The exchanges between Natasha and Daniel are a real highlight, especially during their arguments, where Albers brings out the emotional friction between them in a very believable way. As the story progresses and the stakes rise, Albers make their communication shift (for the better) in a realistic way—and by the end, their bond is emotionally healthier and satisfying to listen to.
For the handyman Henry, Albers uses a smooth, overly friendly voice that immediately feels “too good to be true,” and through subtle changes in tone, she hints there’s a manipulative edge to him and he can’t be trusted. Supporting characters—men Daniel gets involved with, Megan, and various townspeople—are all given distinct voices (and even accents), which makes it easy to follow along and entertaining!
By the final chapters, her portrayal of Natasha shifts again to depict a woman who is no longer just reacting but actively fighting back and refusing to be manipulated. It’s a really accurate reflection of Natasha’s emotional arc, and you’ll be fully invested in her outcome right through to the end—a clear sign of a standout performance!
