Synopsis
THE NO.4 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
THE RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK
GET READY FOR THE MOST GRIPPING THRILLER OF THE YEAR...
You’ve won the house of your dreams. It’s about to become a nightmare…
--
Merri and Dev can’t believe it when they win their dream home in a national prize draw.
A sprawling mansion with glass walls and lakeside views. Total escape.
It was pure luck.
But luck makes headlines. And Merri already had reason to fear that someone was watching her.
Shadows lurking outside. Footsteps in the night. Is it just paranoia, or is someone closing in?
Then a body is found in the lake, and Merri realises her dream home is about to become a nightmare...
--
PRAISE FOR K. L. SLATER
‘Full of secrets, lies and betrayal – it will keep you guessing right to the end’ T.M. Logan
'A triumph of clever plotting and sharp writing. A compelling thriller, masterfully executed' Rachel Abbott
‘Brilliant, very clever . . . I absolutely recommend it’ B. A. Paris
‘Just when you think you know exactly who did what, there is a twist to beat all twists’ The Times
‘One of the best thrillers I have ever read’ Angela Marsons
‘A gripping thriller that will make you question everything you thought you knew about marriage’ New magazine
* No.4 Sunday Times bestseller 21.12.25
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9781405962513
- Number of pages: 416
- Dimensions: 197 x 129 x 27 mm
- Weight: 284g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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Brilliant
I was completely hooked from the first page! This gripping, atmospheric thriller blends the dream of a fresh start with the creeping dread of buried secret... READ MORE
A good beach read
I've often wondered about these houses you see on TV as prizes in a lottery style competition. Never bought a ticket. Never even bought a lottery ticket. D... READ MORE
4.5 stars
One of the most enjoyable thrillers I’ve read this year. Great characters, great premise and really kept me guessing.
Merri and Dev are down on their l... READ MORE
Careful what you wish for
My my! What an incredible thriller this book is. Merri & Dev inherit a mansion in one of those "Omaze" type competitions but once they move in the horrors ... READ MORE
Suspense
My second book in a row about a spectacular house that doesn't bring happiness and leads to murder.
Merri and Dev are ordinary people who have a stroke of... READ MORE
Great Read
Merri and Dev win a luxury house and move to the Lake District. All the publicity catches the attention of someone from Merri’s past and the dream home bec... READ MORE
A Solid and Satisfying Thriller
Many thanks to Michael Joseph (Penguin Random House) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Lucky Winners.
This suspenseful novel ... READ MORE
Psychological Suspense Thriller
I have only read one other book by this established British author, of which I loved & vowed it wouldn't be my last, & The Lucky Winners hasn't disappointe... READ MORE
Brilliant
Merri and Dev are happily married but sometimes struggling to make ends meet. On their wedding anniversary, Dev splashes out and buys Merri a ticket for a ... READ MORE
Everyone has secrets
Thanks to Kim and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Lucky Winners before the publication date.
It is an easy, yet engrossing book.
The author has cr... READ MORE
Fabulous
Review of ‘The Lucky Winners’ by K.L. Slater, due to be published on 14 August 2025 by Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House.
Merri & Dev are struggling ... READ MORE
Hooked from that start!
I was hooked on this story from the beginning. When Dev wins and expensive house why is Merri not so pleased? Why is she scared of being in the public eye... READ MORE
Unputdownable!
An atmospheric, enjoyable plot. Merri’s secret hunts her throughout the story, even when she moves to a new location. Full of remarkable characters, but ev... READ MORE
Great Holiday Read
Just who can you trust?That's the question at the forefront of this book.The story is told from three perspectives,Merri,Dev and an ominous "Watcher",with ... READ MORE
Great summer read
Despite its dark themes this is an easy read and one I enjoyed tremendously. Dav and Merri, a married couple, are down on their luck doing jobs that neithe... READ MORE
Riveting,
In spite of being in rather dire straits, mid-thirties nurse Merri‘s husband Dev buys a 20£ dreamhouse raffle ticket for their anniversary…and they actuall... READ MORE
Brilliant
I was completely hooked from the first page! This gripping, atmospheric thriller blends the dream of a fresh start with the creeping dread of buried secret... READ MORE
Brilliant concept and an nerving experience
The concept is fantastic. Merri is bought a ticket for the Dream House prize draw by Dev for their wedding anniversary and as the title suggests, they win!... READ MORE
Solid Thrill Ride
Certainly suspenseful and excellently written.
An excellent plot with strong characters who are oddly likable.
Great summer read which didn't take me lo... READ MORE
Enjoyable read
A couple win a dream house and decide to live in it. The husband is more keen about it than his wife. When they move the locals don't seem happy about them... READ MORE
Dark, domestic thriller
Another great dark, domestic psychological thriller from one of my favourite authors.
When Dev buys Merri a raffle ticket to win a dream house little does... READ MORE
The Lucky Winners by K L Slater
The Lucky Winners by K L Slater is the story of Merri and Dev who buy a lottery ticket at the very last minute for a dream house in the Lake District. Dev ... READ MORE
A win but at what cost?
Down on their luck, Dev buys his wife Merri an entry into a competition to win a luxury house, overlooking lake Windemere.
Much to their surprise, and t... READ MORE
Kept me guessing
The Lucky Winners tells the story of Merri and Dev, a couple struggling with financial difficulties. When Dev impulsively enters a prize draw for a luxury ... READ MORE
An excellent, thought provoking read
5 star reading for sure. I loved Merri and her husband Dev - the other characters - not so much.
I had this deep worry from early on that one of them wo... READ MORE
Compelling Read
My second book in a row about a spectacular house that doesn't bring happiness and leads to murder.
Merri and Dev are ordinary people who have a stroke of... READ MORE
A great read
I really enjoyed this book, it kept me gripped from start to end, a thriller with twists that keep you guessing right to the finish. A thoroughly good read... READ MORE
A twisty psychological thriller
Dev spends money he can’t afford to spend, buying a raffle ticket for their wedding anniversary, the prize is a luxury state of the art house in the Lake D... READ MORE
A dream home isn't quite a dreamlife
Told from two perspectives, between two time periods. Merri and Dev win a dream home and while Dev is excited for their new start, Merri is apprehensive. T... READ MORE
Cold and dark like the Lake itself
Merri lives a hand to mouth, humdrum existence in a rented property in Nottingham. Owning a luxury show home in the Lake District is something she can't... READ MORE
Utterly satisfied
This authors books I read devour then await her ne t one she can never write fast enough for me.
Don’t be mislead by the title winning a dream house walki... READ MORE
Relies on story rather than some of the more common thriller tropes
The lucky winners
The story of Dev and Merri, a hard-working couple who are scraping a living in Nottingham, who win a dream Lake District house in a char... READ MORE
A good read
I enjoyed this book but I found it a little bit slow and short of real excitement. The writing was great and the descriptions of the area were amazing. H... READ MORE
A good read
This book kept me turning the pages but I wanted things to get better for the couple not worse, so in one way I didn't enjoy reading the book. I received ... READ MORE
If Something Seems To Good To Be True, It Normally Is....
When Merri and Dev buy a ticket on the last day of a national draw to win the house of their dreams, they never, in a million years, expect to win. Less th... READ MORE
Twisty and addictive
With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily
Only my second book by this author and once again I was ... READ MORE
4 star!
The Lucky Winners follows the life of Merri and Dev who are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet and just going through live day to da... READ MORE
Good twists
i liked the premise of this book, with Merri and Dev changing their lives by winning a dream house after buying a lottery ticket. Unsurprisingly past secre... READ MORE
Twisty thriller in a dream house
The Lucky Winners
Merri and Dev have been struggling to get by for most of their married life. Life has begun to overwhelm them despite them both having j... READ MORE
Ok
I did struggle with this book at the half way point and was losing a bit of interest. Not as tense and gripping as I’d hoped but it was an ok read . I have... READ MORE
Revenge Thriller
Merri and Dev have their own little place but they are behind on all the bills and barely scraping by. Dev buys Merri a lottery ticket for her birthday, a... READ MORE
The Lucky Winners.
Merri and Dev are struggling to pay their bills and have to watch every penny.
Dev buys a ticket for a competition to win a house for Merri for their wedd... READ MORE
Topical
The Lucky Winners is an interesting concept filled with believable characters. The suspense really got to me at times, especially as I was home alone for a... READ MORE
Totally Different!
Another stunningly original read from K L Slater!
Merri and Dev aren't well off - they get by, living from month to month, paying the rent with not a lo... READ MORE
Definitely worth sticking with
The Lucky Winners by K.L. Slater is a thriller novel set to be published on the 14th of August 2025 by Michael Joseph.
4 stars.
We follow Merri, a No... READ MORE
Enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns
Merri and Dev are living in rented accommodation in Nottingham and are struggling to make ends meet. On a whim Dev buys a ticket to enter a draw for a mult... READ MORE
Be careful what you wish for
This story about unexpected good fortune with unintended consequences is fun but fairly predictable. The strength of Dev and Merri’s relationship means tha... READ MORE
A good read
A couple struggling with making ends meet win big, a mansion in Scotland, but one if them is hiding a secret from their oast. Told in two timelines this is... READ MORE
Engaging thriller
I was quite invested in this book early on and really wanted to know how it was going to turn out.
I liked the setting of Windermere and the Lake Distri... READ MORE
Always wondered what it would be like to win a dream house?
Amazing read!!! You always see ads on the tv or in the media to win a dream house which is exactly what Dev and Merri have just won. They are struggling w... READ MORE
Gripping
What a thriller this was. Twists and turns around every corner. I was gripped to the very end. Another banger from the author.
Good thriller/mystery with a dramatic ending
Dev and Merri are struggling to keep up in their modest rented flat and when Dev buys an entry into a prize draw as a present for Merri, she is resentful o... READ MORE
Be careful what you wish for
This is one of those books about a dream we probably all have of winning a life changing prize in one of those draws you see on the TV but this story prove... READ MORE
A great twisty read
Winning a dream mansion in the Lake District should be the start of Merri and Dev’s happily-ever-after. Instead, it spirals into a chilling tale of secrets... READ MORE
A great summer read
Despite its dark themes this is an easy read and one I enjoyed tremendously. Dav and Merri, a married couple, are down on their luck doing jobs that neithe... READ MORE
A bit disappointing
Merri & Dev are just about keeping their heads above water. They are struggling to get through each month, so when Dev buys Merri £20 ticket to win a drea... READ MORE
The Lucky Winners
Merri and Dev win a dream house perched above Lake Windemere after Dev buys Merri a lottery ticket. Suddenly all their problems seem to be over - no more b... READ MORE
Be sure your past will catch up with you.
Despite there being plenty of material to keep me engaged, I had difficulty reading ‘Lucky Winners’. The second half of the book stepped up in tempo and te... READ MORE
Intricately written psychological thriller!
Despite their car not working and a pile of bills that need paying, Dev buys Merri an anniversary gift, a ticket for the Dreamkey prize draw. Against all ... READ MORE
Amazing
I really enjoyed The Lucky Winners an extremely captivating thriller by K. L. Slater.
Merri a healthcare assistant married to Dev an operations manager ... READ MORE
Excellent twisty turny read
‘Be careful what you wish for’!
From bills piling up in a drab Nottingham flat, to winning their dream house in the beautiful Lake District, Merri and Dev... READ MORE
it had me on the edge of my seat
K.L Slater is one of my go-to authors, so I was excited to receive a copy of her latest novel ‘ The lucky Winners’
Merri and Dev has been married for thre... READ MORE
Trust no one
This was an interesting thriller with plenty of elements that leave you wondering who to trust however I do feel the main characters backstory is flawed. T... READ MORE
Thought provoking
Everyone’s dream to win a beautiful million pounds house and a large cash sum. But what a nightmare it turned out for this couple! Very topical at the mome... READ MORE
Read & Reviewed
K.L. Slater delivers another masterclass in psychological suspense with The Lucky Winners, a taut and twisty tale that hooks from the first page. When Merr... READ MORE
Gripping thriller
Dev and Merri are the lucky winners of a mansion in the Lake District. After they move in they find that some of the locals are hostile and Merri has a fee... READ MORE
Four stars!
What begins as a dream come true quickly unravels into a chilling nightmare in The Lucky Winners. K. L. Slater once again delivers a tightly woven psycholo... READ MORE
Be careful what you wish for
Dev and Merri are drowning in debt when they suddenly win a stunning house worth millions. Situated with incredible lake views and furnished with every lux... READ MORE
Secrets and Lies
Merri and Dev can not believe their luck when they win the big prize draw for a stunning new home in the Lake District.
Suddenly, they are thrust into the... READ MORE
Who wouldn’t want to win a house?
Haven’t we all dreamed of winning an Omaze type lottery house? Well that’s what happens to Dev and Merri who are literally down to their last penny. Dev bu... READ MORE
A fab thriller
Not sure if I've read any K.L Slater before but after reading "The Lucky Winners", I shall certainly look out for more books by the author. Great thriller ... READ MORE
Creepy and compelling psychological thriller
Many of us dream of winning a one million pound house in a tv draw and this is exactly what happens to cash strapped couple Merri and Dev who enter and win... READ MORE
A fantastic read
What a fantastic read. I really enjoyed this story right from the first page, when Merri gets a ticket to enter a draw to win a house for her wedding ann... READ MORE
Great idea well explored
The lucky winners win a dream house but suffer many nightmares along the way. As is common at the moment the book is written across multiple timelines. A g... READ MORE
It was an excell3nt read
Merri and Dev both have jobs, but they are struggling to make ends meet. For their wedding anniversary, Dev buys her a ticket for a competition to win a ho... READ MORE
When winning isn't all it's made out to be
We’ve all seen those glossy TV ads promising a dream home in paradise – but what if winning turned out to be a nightmare?
When Merri and Dev win a stunn... READ MORE
Good but not gripping
Merri and Dev by a stroke of luck win themselves a gorgeous house. Dev is thrilled, a new start and no debt. Merri however is worried. it just seems too go... READ MORE
A tense psychological thriller
Merri Harris and Dev Jain have won a dream house on the shores of Lake Windermere after Dev buys a £20 ticket in a raffle for their wedding anniversary . M... READ MORE
Good idea but rather messy
When Dev buys his wife Merri a ticket in a house draw she thinks it's a waste of the money they haven't got. However, they win a modern luxury house in th... READ MORE
Good concept and easy to read
Merri and Dev love each other so much but Dev has always known there are secrets his wife keeps from him about her past. But he is ok with it. He loves her... READ MORE
Love it
I absolutely loved this book. The storyline was unique and kept me wanting more. The main characters were so interesting. I just had to find out what hap... READ MORE
Fabulous read
Haven't we all dreamt of winning big on the lottery or winning that 'out of this world' prize in a national draw? Buying a ticket and whilst clinging to th... READ MORE
So tense!
I couldn’t put this down! Get past the first couple of chapters where Merri & Dev are struggling to pay bills etc and the book really starts… The tension ... READ MORE
An intriguing read
An intriguing read. Merri and Dev have won a dream home. It sounds idyllic. I was suspicious of so many characters in this plot . I was wrong on all counts... READ MORE
Another Great Thriller from K.L. Slater
As a long-time reader of K.L. Slater, I've yet to be let down by one of her thrillers and this one was no exception.
The plot focuses on Merri and Dev,... READ MORE
Good read
I really enjoyed this latest book from KL Slater and have read a few others of her. It’s interesting as there are a lot of competitions around that where y... READ MORE
A fascinating read
A couple win a luxury house in the Lake District in a lottery and it seems the answer to all their dreams / problems. They are currently living in a small ... READ MORE
A good page turner with a satisfying ending
When Merri and Dev win a dream house in the Lake District in a TV competition their reactions are very mixed - Dev is thrilled with the chance to start aga... READ MORE
Slow-burn thriller
3.5 stars
The Lucky Winners by K.L. Slater delivers a compelling psychological thriller that kept me intrigued, even if the pacing didn’t always match ... READ MORE
A win is not always a positive thing….
A good solid psychological thriller.
During a hard financial period of their lives Merri and Dev win the house of their dreams as a raffle prize. One ecst... READ MORE
Enjoyable
I really enjoyed this story. We’ve all seen these huge prize draws for luxury houses and heard about the problems the winners can experience. I thought the... READ MORE
A must read
I really loved this book, it got you hooked from the first few pages which I love, such an intriguing story and so many twists and turns, it had you thinki... READ MORE
Suspenseful and Chilling
When Merri and Dev buy a ticket to win a dream house in the Lake District, they never in a million years think they will win, but as luck has it, they do, ... READ MORE
A good read
When Dev buys a last minute lottery ticket to win a house, Merri is furious as they are struggling to keep their head above water. When they realise that ... READ MORE
Good example of the genre
I really appreciated this ARC - thank you (review my own).
It's the dream - rags to riches overnight and all financial pressures off. The book didn't g... READ MORE
Great plot and characters
Great plot with believable characters, lots going on which kept me interested and constantly guessing how it would conclude. Very enjoyable.
Compelling
I really liked the look and sound of this one and having read previous books from this author was expecting great things.
Ms Slater certainly knows how... READ MORE
Not what you dream about when you imagine a life changing win
Living pay check to pay check, not always meeting the bills Paige and Dev celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary.
Splurging on a dream home raffle ticke... READ MORE
A Good Story
This is a slow burner to start with but still a good story. Dev and Merri win a multi million pound home in the Lake District which they hope will end all ... READ MORE
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