Bath, Wine, and Shadows

Anya, alone in her boyfriend Chris's house, enjoys a bath and wine, reflecting on her life, relationships, and the complicated web of friendships with Julia, Eleanor, and Julia's ex, Gabe. The peace is shattered by strange noises from the attic. Suddenly, a masked figure emerges, and Anya is murdered in her own home. The scene is chilling, setting the tone for a story where the ordinary is invaded by the sinister.

Viral Video Disturbance

Julia, recently returned to Dublin from San Diego with her children, Isla and Luca, is unsettled when her daughter finds a viral TikTok video that appears to be filmed inside their new house. The video, part of a trend called "The Loft," shows a masked figure emerging from an attic. Julia's attempts to rationalize the video as a prank or clever editing are undermined by her children's growing fear and her own unease, especially as more videos appear and the account that posted them vanishes.

Old Friends, New Tensions

Julia reconnects with her childhood friends Eleanor and Anya (before Anya's death), revealing the cracks in their relationships. The group's history is marred by the tragic death of Donna, a fourth friend, years ago—a loss that still haunts them. Julia's marriage to Gabe, her move back to Ireland, and the stress of parenting teens in a new country add layers of tension. The friends' reunion is cut short by the shocking news of Anya's death, which is initially ruled an accident.

Death in the Attic

Anya's death is announced as a tragic accident—drowning in the bath after drinking. Julia and Eleanor are shaken, both by the loss and by the eerie similarities to the attic videos. The community is unsettled, and Julia's children become increasingly anxious, especially Luca, who is convinced someone is living in their attic. The sense of threat grows as the videos continue and the family's sense of safety erodes.

The Unsettling Aftermath

Julia's attempts to restore normalcy are undermined by more videos, strange noises, and the children's fears. Neighbors like Alastair, Shirin, and Tony become part of the story, each with their own secrets and suspicions. The gated community, meant to be safe, feels increasingly claustrophobic and sinister. Julia's relationship with Gabe is strained by secrets, including a mysterious payment and his connection to a woman from their past.

The Rabbit and the Vent

Luca's terror intensifies as he believes the "man in the attic" is watching him through the vent. The family's pet rabbit, Basil, goes missing and is later found in the attic, covered in insulation, confirming that someone—or something—has been moving freely through the house. Julia's skepticism is replaced by dread as she realizes the threat is real and close.

Neighbors and New Suspects

Julia's interactions with neighbors—friendly Alastair, glamorous Shirin, and the missing Tony—reveal a web of secrets. Tony's sudden disappearance, Shirin's affair, and the discovery of a hidden camera disguised as a smoke detector point to a larger conspiracy. The camera, installed by Tony to spy on his wife, is a red herring, but it deepens Julia's paranoia and sense of violation.

The TikTok Copycat

The investigation into the videos uncovers that the TikTok account "Lepus" is posting not just faked content but real footage from inside Julia's home. The account name, the recurring motif of a jade rabbit (or hare), and the use of spyware apps on Julia's phone suggest the perpetrator is technologically savvy and personally invested. The police are involved, but progress is slow, and the family remains at risk.

The Past Resurfaces

The friends' shared history—especially the night Donna died—comes under renewed scrutiny. Julia and Eleanor visit Donna's mother and brother, Andy, seeking closure and forgiveness. Meanwhile, clues point to a connection between the attic videos and the fallout from Anya's business: a disgruntled ex-employee, Vincent Gale, who was fired after being exposed by Julia and Eleanor.

The Jade Hare Clue

The recurring jade (actually peridot) hare figurines, the TikTok account "Lepus," and the German word "Hase" (hare) all point to Anya's business and the revenge motive of the stalker. The group realizes the videos are not about Donna, but about Anya and her business, and that the perpetrator is someone with access to their homes and personal information—someone hiding in plain sight.

The Wrong Queen Falls

The friendly neighbor Alastair is unmasked as Vincent Gale, the vengeful ex-employee. He manipulated his way into the community, gained access to keys, and used his IT skills to terrorize Julia's family and murder Anya. He attempts to kill Julia, drugging her wine and staging her death as a suicide, but is stopped at the last moment by Eleanor, who intervenes with a fireplace poker. The police confirm his guilt and the extent of his crimes.

Truths, Forgiveness, and Moving On

With the threat gone, Julia and her family begin to heal. The truth about Anya's murder and the attic videos comes out. Julia and Eleanor reconcile with Donna's family, and Andy reconnects with his mother. Julia quits her job, the family moves to a new, safer home, and the community finds closure. The story ends with hope, forgiveness, and the affirmation that, while the past can haunt, it does not have to define the future.

Characters

Julia Birch

Julia is the protagonist, a recently returned expat struggling to rebuild her life in Dublin after years in San Diego. She is fiercely protective of her children, Isla and Luca, and haunted by the death of her childhood friend Donna. Julia's relationships—with her ex-husband Gabe, her friends Eleanor and Anya, and her children—are complex, marked by guilt, loyalty, and the scars of past trauma. Her psychological journey is one of moving from denial and rationalization to confrontation and, ultimately, healing.

Isla Birch

Isla, Julia's teenage daughter, is resentful of the move to Ireland and struggles to adapt. She is glued to her phone, both a source of connection and danger, as her videos are used by the stalker. Isla's relationship with her mother is fraught but ultimately loving. Her arc reflects the anxieties of adolescence, the impact of digital life, and the longing for belonging.

Luca Birch

Luca, Julia's younger son, is deeply affected by the events in the house. His fears about the "man in the attic" are dismissed as childish imagination until they are proven true. Luca's innocence and vulnerability serve as a barometer for the family's safety, and his experiences highlight the psychological toll of living under threat.

Gabe

Gabe is Julia's ex, an artist who is more emotionally attuned than he appears. He is supportive but harbors secrets, including a supposed affair and a mysterious payment. Gabe's attempts to protect his family sometimes backfire, and his avoidance of conflict complicates his relationships. His arc is one of reckoning with past mistakes and stepping up when it matters.

Eleanor

Eleanor is Julia's oldest friend, a source of both comfort and exasperation. She is dramatic, opinionated, and sometimes overbearing, but her loyalty is unwavering. Eleanor's role as the "glue" of the friend group is tested by the events of the novel, and her courage is revealed in the climax when she saves Julia's life.

Anya Hase

Anya is the catalyst for the novel's events—her murder sets the plot in motion. She is successful, driven, and often self-serving, with a complicated history with Julia and Eleanor. Anya's business decisions and personal betrayals create enemies, and her inability to confront her own guilt over Donna's death haunts her. Her death is both a tragedy and a reckoning.

Vincent Gale / Alastair O'Ryan

Vincent Gale, under the alias Alastair O'Ryan, is the antagonist. A former employee of Anya's, he is consumed by resentment after being exposed and fired. He infiltrates Julia's community, gains trust, and uses technology to terrorize and murder. His psychological profile is marked by narcissism, a sense of victimhood, and a chilling capacity for violence. His downfall comes from his own need to play games and leave clues.

Shirin

Shirin, Julia's neighbor, is caught in her own domestic drama as her husband Tony's infidelity and disappearance unfold. Her affair with Hugo and her resilience in the face of betrayal mirror the novel's themes of trust and deception. Shirin's arc is one of self-discovery and moving on.

Tony Hudson

Tony is Shirin's husband, whose secret life and eventual disappearance add another layer of mystery. His installation of the spy camera is a red herring, and his fate—death by a coffee machine explosion—serves as a darkly comic subplot about the dangers of surveillance and secrets.

Donna Wilson Straub

Donna's death years earlier is the emotional core of the novel. Her memory haunts Julia, Eleanor, and Anya, shaping their guilt and their need for closure. Donna's innocence and vulnerability contrast with the others' flaws, and her story is a meditation on the consequences of neglect, the randomness of tragedy, and the possibility of forgiveness.

Plot Devices

Attic as Symbol and Setting

The recurring motif of the attic—both as a literal hiding place and a metaphor for buried guilt—drives the suspense. The "man in the attic" is both a child's nightmare and a real threat, blurring the line between psychological horror and physical danger. The attic videos serve as both plot device and symbol, representing the intrusion of the past and the violation of privacy.

Social Media and Surveillance

The use of TikTok videos, spyware apps, and hidden cameras reflects contemporary anxieties about digital privacy and the dangers of oversharing. The viral nature of the videos amplifies the threat, making the family's ordeal public and inescapable. The perpetrator's manipulation of technology is both a means of control and a trail of clues.

Unreliable Perceptions and Red Herrings

The novel employs multiple red herrings—Tony's camera, Shirin's affair, Gabe's secrets—to keep both characters and readers off-balance. Julia's own doubts and the children's fears are dismissed until the evidence becomes undeniable. The narrative structure, alternating between present and past, deepens the sense of uncertainty and inevitability.

Guilt, Memory, and Forgiveness

The unresolved trauma of Donna's death, the friends' guilt, and the need for forgiveness are woven throughout the plot. The story's resolution hinges not just on unmasking the killer, but on the characters' ability to confront their own failings, seek forgiveness, and move forward.

Analysis

Someone in the Attic is a masterful blend of domestic thriller, psychological suspense, and social commentary. Andrea Mara uses the familiar setting of a family home to explore the ways in which the past can invade the present—through memory, guilt, and, in this case, literal intrusion. The novel interrogates the dangers of digital life, the fragility of trust, and the corrosive effects of secrets. Its structure, alternating between present-day terror and past trauma, builds a sense of inevitability and dread, while its resolution offers hope through truth-telling, forgiveness, and community. Mara's characters are deeply human—flawed, fearful, and ultimately resilient. The book's lesson is clear: the monsters we fear are often those we let inside, and healing begins when we face them, together.

Last updated: July 27, 2025