Flat 401

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What to expect

'A gripping and atmospheric read that balances suspense with heart... Fans of Gillian Flynn, Tana French, or Paula Hawkins will find a lot to love here.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The only person who'd tell you what really happened in Flat 401 is dead...

All Jay wants is to start again, to set himself up in a small, quiet town where no one knows him. But when a threatening note makes its way into the hostel he's forced to call home - Everyone is going to know what you really did - his hope for a fresh start begins to crumble.

Jay fears that the secret he went to prison to protect might finally come out. How far is he willing to go to keep his freedom alive? And with a shadowy figure from his past tracking Jay's every move, perhaps it's not just his freedom Jay should be worried about being taken from him, but his life...

Flat 401 is a tense, character-driven thriller perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins and Mark Billingham.

What everyone is saying about Flat 401:


'A taut, emotionally charged thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go... this novel weaves suspense and humanity into a compelling narrative.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A compelling and convincing debut about the murky space between the truth and lies, innocence and guilt... The creeping dread of what will or won't happen - and what did - kept me hooked to the end. Five stars!' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A gorgeously written debut... Stunningly captured... The author rendered each character with such authenticity and honesty... The kind of layered depth that invites you to lean in, trust the author and enjoy the ride... Perfect for fans of Abigail Dean.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An accomplished character-driven debut, which drew me in from the first chapter... Dark and twisting - this novel sensitively tackles big themes. Flat 401's characters and thrilling conclusion will stay with me for a long time to come.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Kingsley Pearson is definitely one to watch. As well as a pacy thriller with great concept, this is also an interesting social study. Thoroughly enjoyed reading and would highly recommend.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An intense thriller... I really enjoyed it. The drama and the secrets unfolded beautifully and the writing is really good. I was hooked from the start.' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Critics Review

This is a propulsive thriller that's rich with deliciously dark undertones. Pearson's writing is insightful on the themes of race, sexuality, guilt, grief and internalised homophobia. The fact that Pearson is a psychologist comes through in the layered depiction of the characters in this cleverly written multi narrator novel.
Chris Bridges
Flat 401 by Kingsley Pearson asks a simple question: what happens when you are sent to prison for something you didn't (quite) do - and then return to the free world? An intense exploration of the shadows that lie between guilt and innocence.
Vaseem Khan
I loved it! What a great read... Written with real insight into the human condition. Pearson's skills as a clinical psychologist are put to good use in this accomplished debut, where nothing is as it seems... This cerebral thriller is a welcome addition to a genre that rarely steps out of its comfort zone.
Iqbal Hussain
Flat 401 is a brutally raw story of how corrosive shame and longing can spiral into terrible tragedy, and is a nuanced exploration of the legacy of guilt and the desperate fight to free ourselves from the mistakes of the past.
Philippa East
Flat 401 is a compelling and psychologically astute thriller about the difficult choices we take in life, and the ongoing impact of trauma and guilt. A great new voice in crime fiction.
Anna Sharpe
Flat 401 is a deliciously dark thriller about an ex-offender's attempt to rebuild his life under the long shadow of a heinous crime. Richly layered and brimming with authentic detail, it explores trauma, guilt and redemption, and asks who deserves a second chance?
Kia Abdullah
A contemporary, authentic, compelling mystery suffused with intrigue, Flat 401 will hook you in from the start and keep you turning the pages until its final, shocking twists. But this is much more than a thriller - it's a social novel for the 2020s: an exploration of identity, relationships, and redemption. Pearson is a gifted storyteller who brings a vivid, multisensory, ungentrified London to life, using his experience as a frontline Clinical Psychologist to take us deep into his characters' inner worlds. An outstanding debut.
Chris Merritt
A character-driven and thought-provoking thriller that deals with themes of guilt and revenge, identity and loneliness, shame and desire. Uncompromising and honest, Flat 401 is a tense and compelling read.
Russ Thomas
I raced through this in a couple of days, I was hooked!! A great cast of diverse, intriguing characters; a gripping plot; secrets upon secrets; and plenty of twists and turns... I loved it!
Daniel Aubrey

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