Flat 401 by Kingsley Pearson review

About The Book

Book: Flat 401
Author: Kingsley Pearson
Standalone or Series: Standalone
Publisher: Orion
Publication Date (UK): 3rd July 2025

My Review

Wow, 2025 is delivering some seriously strong debuts!

What I loved most about this thriller is how grounded it felt in the everyday. I remember reading about the Timpson Foundation being one of the UK’s largest employers of ex-offenders. And that’s exactly where we begin, with Sri Lankan Jay, newly released on parole and trying to rebuild his life.

Jay is weighed down by guilt, both over what happened that night his neighbour died and over his sexuality. He’s desperately trying to establish a new routine. But when an anonymous note appears, warning that someone knows what he really did, his fragile new normal begins to unravel.

There’s quite a large cast to get your head around and while I did spot one twist early on, the final third of Flat 401 is excellent. The resolution was great and I found myself caring deeply for the central characters. This is more than a story about a crime. It’s about identity, standing up for yourself and trying to move forward when the past won’t let go.

Also: any book that manages to work in a Final Fantasy VII reference is a winner in my eyes!

Thanks to Orion and NetGalley for the ARC.