Review: Invasive Species by Ellery Adams

 

Invasive Species by Ellery Adams

Publication Date: April 14th 2026 by Hanover Square Press & Harlequin Audio

Pages: 327

Audio Book Length: 9hrs 31min

Narrator: Courtney Patterson

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Natalie is trying to break out of her role as suburban housewife and mother, selling real estate, but this isn’t easy in the male-dominated 80s. Her chauvinistic boss is giving her 90 days to prove herself. The listing Natalie’s given is in her own affluent neighborhood, but it unfortunately butts up to Mrs. Smith’s decaying, vine‑choked estate.

 

Beth and Elaine, Natalie’s friends, have their own issues with Mrs. Smith.

 

Mrs. Smith has been a mystery for years, never seen out of her crumbling estate with its overgrown garden, but things are about to change. Mrs. Smith is a hungry creature masquerading as a human and she needs nine human sacrifices to stay alive. Now that she’s on the hunt, no one is safe!

 

Jill, Natalie’s twelve-year-old daughter, feels the evil coming from Mrs. Smith’s lair.  Her housekeeper/babysitter, Una has suspicions about Mrs. Smith, as well, and together they try to discover her origin and motives.

 

The story unfolds through the perspectives of Natalie, Jill, Una, and Mrs. Smith herself. I was hooked by all four voices, but Jill and Una’s POVs were my favorite. I felt bad for Jill and the way her mother treated her.

 

Invasive Species was a fun, sinister tale set in the 80s which stirred up all kinds of memories for me, as I was Jill’s age during that era, and the setting felt spot-on. I rooted for all these women as they went up against the evil Mrs. Smith!

I alternately read and listened to an audio and can recommend either version. Courtney Patterson did a fantastic job performing all the characters, accents and emotions, enhancing my enjoyment of the story!

4 Stars

Book Description:

“Dark and delectable. I gobbled this book up and enjoyed every last bite.“
—Kirsten Miller, author of The Change and The Women of Wild Hill

The women in Cold Harbor all have something to prove, and they'll have to do it in a world full of monsters.
 
Something’s not right in Cold Harbor—more so than usual. While this sleepy small town has seen its fair share of monsters in cheating husbands and leering bosses, none are as hungry as Mrs. Smith. The mysterious resident has finally emerged from her crumbling mansion on the hill, mesmerizing the townspeople with her beauty. Her secret? Nine human sacrifices to feed her immortality.
 
Natalie Scott is more worried about Mrs. Smith blocking her first real estate sale—the one that will take her from stay-at-home mom to working woman extraordinaire. She's eager to prove herself in a world where the social mores of 1980s suburbia reign, where she's expected to keep a magazine-perfect home and raise beautiful children, all while sticking to her husband's budget. Natalie's two best friends are facing their own demons, and Mrs. Smith and her deep, dark woods are an easy scapegoat for everyone's problems.
 
But Natalie's twelve-year-old daughter, Jill, and her Icelandic housekeeper, Una, can sense something deeper at play. Armed with library books and a whole lot of grit, Jill and Una team up to save the town once and for all. But as the rest of Cold Harbor sinks into anger, fear, and jealousy, they’ll have to confront the What does it really mean to be a monster?