The Roommate

by Andrea Mara

A dark and dangerous secret one woman has desperately tried to forget becomes the plot of a hit TV drama in this chilling short story from Sunday Times bestselling author Andrea Mara.

Elena’s looking forward to a quiet Friday night curled up with her husband with a glass of wine and a new crime drama on TV.

As the show starts, she realises, with a jolt of every detail mirrors one horrific night she’s spent years trying to forget.

Elena doesn’t believe in coincidences. Someone knows her secret—and she’ll lose everything if the truth comes out.

Andrea Mara’s The Roommate is part of the Deadly Ambition collection, stories about greed, control, and the sinister side of making dreams come true. They can be read or listened to in one bingeable sitting.

Genres: Short Stories, Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Novella

39 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2026

Reviews

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Friday night, Elena and Richard look forward to a quiet evening on the couch complete with a Vintage red wine, gourmet cheese and a bingable new crime drama on TV.

This Friday, they have chosen to watch “The Roommate”.

But, as the show starts, Elena realizes, that every detail is exactly like one horrific night from her own past that she’s spent years trying to forget…

She can’t stand to watch but she can’t seem to look away either…

Elena doesn’t believe in coincidences which means only one thing-

SOMEONE knows what happened that night

Andrea Mara’s The Roommate is an Amazon Original short story which is part of Amazon’s Deadly Ambition collection-stories about greed, control, and the sinister side of making dreams come true.

They can be read or listened to one at a time or in one bingeable sitting-about 54 minutes to read or listen.

Available now on Audible or to read if you have Amazon Prime.

WHICH ONE WILL BE YOUR FAVORITE? THIS WAS MINE!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️s

The Roomate is book two in the Deadly Ambition collection available on Amazon.


It’s only 39 pages long, and the audio can be finished in under an hour at 1.5x speed.

I went in blind, but the Goodreads synopsis actually does a nice job for once without giving too much away.

If you’ve got a little time to kill, this is an entertaining shortie with a satisfying and unexpected ending.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Settling in to watch the telly after a long week, Richard and Elena start the first episode of a show called The Roommate. To Elena’s horror, it’s about something from her past, and the details are terrifyingly accurate.

This was a really cool idea, and I felt hooked straight away. For a short book, this one was pretty good.

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent for a short story. It moved fast without unnecessary details, and I did like the plot and twist as well.

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-5 stars
Now that’s how you write a short story. Really good.

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

the setup…
Elena Sullivan is spending a quiet evening at home with her husband and teenage son. They tune into a new crime drama on TV an as the show progresses, Elena is shocked to see parallels of the show to a horrible event in her life from fifteen years ago. Only one other person knows about it so how are all the relevant details appearing on this show?

the heart of the show…
Elena is clear she’s never talked about what happened to anyone so that leaves her partner in crime. I felt her anxiety from the moment she realized her life was playing out on screen. Of course there’s a twist coming but I still got surprised.

the narration…
Heather O’Sullivan was great with the voice distinctions and the storytelling. And, she delivered that twist perfectly.

the bottom line…
I felt like the proverbial fish on a hook with this clever tale, right up until the end when I realized I’d been…well, you’ll have to read it for yourself. This is how you craft a short story. Deadly ambition indeed.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts | 4.5⭐️
Oh my days this was SO GOOD for how short it was??? Again I wish it was longer, I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future, come to think of it I have another book of hers on my TBR which now I'm definitely excited to get to!

Plot Summary
Elena is settling in for a peaceful night with her husband, expecting nothing more than a bit of escapism with a new crime drama. But as the programme unfolds, she’s shaken to realise the story mirrors a traumatic event from her past; one she’s worked hard to bury. Convinced it can’t be a coincidence, Elena begins to fear that someone knows what she did. And if her secret is exposed, it could destroy the life she’s built.

My Bookstagram

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was only 39 pages, so if you are going to make it that short, it needs to be really good. Unfortunately, I didn’t totally love the premise of the tv series.

It did get better with the twist at the end which was the best part, but most of the book was just so-so.

[STEPH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this is too good! I would’ve never expected that twist at the end. That was clever.

It reminded me of a Black Mirror episode—there’s a similar vibe. Imagine keeping a dark secret for years, only to have it turned into a TV series. Someone knows. Someone is talking.

I liked this one.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars**

[Celeste Velocci (bookrecs_by_celeste) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick audiobook listen. I enjoy these Amazon original stories they’re the perfect read or listen to help toward my yearly reading goal and keep me pretty entertained at the same time.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Quick and extremely satisfying! I definitely never predicted that twist! Chilling, shocking and very entertaining describe this spine tingling short story!

[Alan (the Lone Librarian) Teder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality TV
A review of the Amazon Original Stories eBook released on Kindle and Audio on April 1, 2026.

On the couch, Elena is sure she’s going to be sick.
Please don’t suggest going to a club, she thinks, her knuckles white around her wine glass. Everything will be OK as long as they don’t go to a club.
‘We should go to a club,’ Ben’s boss says on TV.
Elena stands, rushes to the downstairs bathroom.
Richard is calling after her as she kneels, head in hands, skin hot and cold all at once. ‘Elena, are you OK?’
‘Yes,’ she whispers. No. No, I’m not OK. How is this story on TV?

Elena, a company CEO, is looking forward to a quiet Friday night at home with her husband Richard, a few glasses of wine and a binge-watch of the latest streaming crime drama on TV. To her horror, the story being told on screen parallels an actual event from her earlier life which she has sought to escape ever since. What might she not do in order to ensure that the real story behind the fiction never sees the light of day?

I have to say this was quite as interesting as the 1st in this anthology series The Price of Honey and it also came with a final twist reveal that I didn't see coming. 2 for 2 is pretty good odds for Amazon Original Stories, which have often disappointed me. Perhaps it is the theme for the Deadly Ambition anthology (see below) which lends itself to increased drama and suspense. We'll see if the other 4 stories live up to expectations.

Trivia and Links
Irish author Andrea Mara is a suspense and psychological thriller novelist whose most popular book (based on current GR ratings and reviews) is All Her Fault (2021) which was adapted for the same-titled TV-series All Her Fault (2025). Andrea Mara's most recent novel is It Should Have Been You (January 13, 2026).

The Roommate is the 2nd of 6 stories in the Deadly Ambition anthology collection from Amazon Original Stories released on April 1, 2026. The promo for the collection reads:

What drives someone to keep reaching for all that glitters, no matter the price? It’s easy to believe that more is better: more acclaim, more control, more wealth. But when dreams are fueled by greed, they can quickly twist into nightmares. These six propulsive short stories explore what happens when the true cost of ambition comes due.

You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here and see the Deadly Ambition collection here (links goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).

[Bo.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a short story, I thought it did the job it needed to. The premise is simple but effective; it’s quick to get through and held my attention from start to finish.

The characters are lightly developed but still add enough tension to keep the story engaging. The plot twist, while not groundbreaking, actually landed for me, and I think reading this as an immersion read helped. The story is so short that I barely had time to theorise about the ending as it unfolded—I didn’t want to risk missing any clues.

If you’re after something quicker than quick, with enough suspense to make you raise an eyebrow in suspicion, this might deliver on that.

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Matt Ferenczy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, tense story—perfect to read right before bed if you enjoy being kept on edge.

The story follows Elena as she settles in for a quiet Friday night with her husband, watching a new crime drama on TV. She expects something relaxing—until the show triggers an immediate, visceral panic. What follows is unsettling and strangely immersive: as the plot progresses, the details begin to mirror a horrific night from Elena’s past. After fifteen years of trying to bury those memories, she’s forced to confront how much the past can resurface—sometimes through the most ordinary things.

I listened to it as an audiobook, and even though I didn’t love the narrator’s voice, the experience overall was still enjoyable. It kept me hooked with a steady build of suspense and plenty of twists, all within about an hour.

If you like short psychological suspense with an “oh no, this is too close” feeling, this is an easy recommendation.

[Melody McNamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part of Amazon's Deadly Ambition collection. At 39 pages, there wasn't much suspense or character development in this short story. The ending was abrupt and the twist was underwhelming and fairly predictable.

[Raven (_birdiesbookclub_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

How insane would this actually be to play out in real life?! This was quite an interesting take on a situation that is just crazy for sure.

[Victoria Tezangi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine your biggest secret, the secret you have been trying to hide for years is playing out right in front of you in the form of a new TV show on a random evening. Sat on the sofa, a glass of wine in hand, ready to relax and unwind with your husband and a new Drama to keep you entertained the last thing you expect to see is the world learn of the worse thing you have ever done.

I was captivated by this book and was surprised at how amazing it truly was for such a short read. With less than an hour of listening time I flew through this twisty thriller and was taken in by the unique plot that felt as though it had been plucked from an episode of Black Mirror. I felt as though I was one of the viewers of this new TV show and was finding out at the same time what had happened and what our protagonist had done. The narration for Elena was fantastic, I felt her anxiety and stress as she sat and watched her real life events play out in front of her wondering what would happened next. This was a well paced book that didn't feel rushed and gave us enough to be satisfied, although I do have to say that the ending had me wanting even more of Elena. The reveals, the drama and the stress kept coming right until the very last page. If you love a twisty thriller with a black mirror vibe this is perfect for you.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

4. That was a fun short story, a good distraction from the news.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

#2 in The Deadly Ambition series of 6 from Amazon. This one was really good and I wanted more.

[Shannon Moeser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best story in the Deadly Ambitions Collection. Original plot, clear prose, and well-delineated characters. It kept me reading until the (surprise) ending. I had never heard of the author—Andrea Mara—so after I finished the short read, I searched to see if she had written longer works. She has a few novels, which aren't available in my Canadian library, probably because she is an Irish novelist who has only been publishing for a few years. Definitely an author to keep in mind for the future. 5⭐️

[Tierney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fiction-mirrors-fact short. A cool idea, executed very well.

[Faith Duley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how you succeed at writing a great short story!

[Aggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second installment of the Deadly Ambition Collection—the sudden death of a friend that remained a secret until a book mirrored how it all happened. Everything looked good until it didn't.
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SPOILER AHEAD… scroll down at your own risk..

A random Reddit post by Kyle— he could’ve just talked Elena into deleting his Reddit post and get on with their lives.

[Tracy Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

I picked up three of the short stories from the Deadly Ambition Collection—The Price of Honey, The Roommate, and You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone—and honestly, every single one delivered.

These are quick, bingeable domestic thrillers that pack a punch in a very short amount of time. Each story is under 100 pages and less than an hour on audio, which made them perfect for when I wanted something fast-paced but still twisty and engaging.

What I loved most is how each story still manages to feel complete. You get the tension, the secrets, the messy relationships, and just enough twists to keep you hooked without dragging anything out. Classic domestic thriller vibes—unreliable characters, hidden motives, and that “something is definitely off here” feeling.

Also, the fact that you get the audio free with Kindle download? Such a win. These are perfect for a quick listen when you’re in between books or just want a little thriller fix.

All three were consistently strong for me, and I’d easily rate each one 4.5 stars. If you’re into short, addictive thrillers with plenty of drama and secrets, this collection is absolutely worth picking up.

[BookMadLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elena and her husband are relaxing in front of the tv on a Friday night, a tradition they have to relax after their two high powered careers. They choose the latest show to binge, a thriller about a couple who take in a roommate. The further the story unfolds on the screen, the more Elena becomes anxious because this story is all too real. Elena doesn’t believe in coincidences and she feels that her perfect life is now under threat.

Looking for a short thriller story by one of the current queens of the genre? Andrea Mara’s The Roommate was just released as part of the Deadly Ambition Collection for Amazon Original Stories and you are in for a treat with this story. Andrea is best known for her psychological thrillers novels where she takes very plausible scenarios, playing on readers’ nerves when these events play out and bringing them along on a fast paced tense journey. This is her first short story and I was really interested to see if her careful and detailed approach to her novels could translate to the short story format. And I can happily say that Andrea proved just how good a writer she is because The Roommate delivers on every aspect, giving her readers old and new a story that manages to capture her signature style and abilities to make her readers sit on the edge of their seats the entire time.

No words are wasted, the tension is palpable throughout. Andrea continues to demonstrate her strength in bringing a dark and sinister story to life even when confined to the shorter format. You have twists, red herrings, unreliable and unlikeable characters. It’s really the perfect short story thriller. If you haven’t read any of Andrea’s work before this, do yourselves a favour and pick this up. It’ll give you the clearest insight into why Andrea’s novels are popular and continue to capture and maintain her readers’ interest. And the ending – didn’t see it coming and a sublime finishing touch ensuring that The Roommate was a 5 star read.

[~Bellegirl91~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay THIS WAS MIND BLOWING! AND surprisingly good! Especially the twists and yet well played. At first it was crazy and intriguing and made me keep wanting more and liking it more and more as it went on, but then a major bombshell dropped out of nowhere and the end was epic. Absolutely brilliant!

[Heather Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful and clever novella.

[Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

My first by this author - good enough to have me interested in some of her other books!