By: Liz Alterman
Narrators: Emily Ellet, Gail Shalan
ISBN: 9781666666823
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: 08/06/0204
Format: Audiobook
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ALC)
An unflinching examination of motherhood and the dark side of domesticity set against a suburban backdrop that's anything but blissful.
This twisty tale invites readers to a slow motion unravelling that culminates in a devastating finale!
Who was I? What had I become?
Breathe, I commanded. You're doing this for your family.
When Laurel and Rob West move into their new home in New Jersey, it seems too good to be true. But Laurel can't shake off her old feelings of anxiety. The neighbour who pays far too much attention to the Wests' two young children… Rob watching her every miss step… and there's something people aren't telling her about this house…
I promised myself I wouldn't go to that neighborhood again. Not that street. Not so soon.
But I couldn't help it. They made it too easy.
Corey Sutton is trying to outrun her past. Recently divorced and reeling from a devastating loss, she moves into her widowed mother's retirement condo in Florida. Everyone says she just needs some time to recover and rebuild… but is Corey beyond saving? She wants answers. And there's very little she won't do to get them.
Though Laurel and Corey have never met, the women have something in common, and if they're not careful, it may just destroy them both…
My Review
Liz Alterman's latest, THE HOUSE ON COLD CREEK LANE, will keep you on the edge of your seat to the explosive finale! In this twisty, unpredictable, must-read domestic, suburban thriller, the lives of two women converge—from motherhood to grief, secrets, marriage, obsession, vengeance, and murder!
The author keeps readers riveted as they follow the unraveling of the lives of two women in this web of deceit and lies, with unexpected twists that will keep you guessing.
About...
Laurel and Rob West are moving into their new home in New Jersey on Cold Creek Lane. Rob moves ahead with the logistics due to Laurel's pregnancy. He also hides the facts about the house's history.
Dealing with the new baby, Poppy, a C-section, and her lively four-year-old toddler son, Jasper, she finds she dislikes the neighbors. They seem suspicious and nosy. However, one neighbor seems nice that she confides in, but is she just putting on a front?
Rob is not a lot of help with all the kids or the nighttime feedings. He is also not sensitive about her past trauma.
Marian, the older lady, seems very judgmental about Laurel's motherhood skills. Laurel is sensitive and insecure. Addie, her neighbor seems like she has it together, but is something going on with her and Rob? Is she malicious and calculating?
Laurel had a rough, sad childhood, and Rob uses this trauma to his advantage with forms of gaslighting. His entire family is entitled and selfish.
Corey Sutton is another POV. She is recently divorced having experienced a significant loss of her daughter. She moves into her widowed mother's retirement condo in Florida.
Corey becomes obsessed with the events and people she suspects were involved in her daughter's death. She is watching a waiting for revenge. She attends grief group due to terrible loss, but she cannot go on until she holds someone she suspects accountable. She is driven by the anger.
When the paths of the two mothers, Laurel and Corey (who have never met), collide, they may have more in common than they know. This unexpected connection adds a layer of intrigue to the story, keeping readers engaged until the explosive ending.
My thoughts...
THE HOUSE ON COLD CREEK LANE was spectacular! Spine-chilling, my first book by the author, and I was blown away. I will be checking out her backlist and adding her to my favorite author list. I just purchased the audio, The Perfect Neighborhood. I cannot wait to see what comes next.
Told from alternating POVs: Laurel (NJ) and Corey (FL)—these two mothers women will connect in unexpected ways.
Two women are drawn together into a mysterious web of secrets in this twisty whodunit that will have you guessing until the explosive ending. Laurel's husband was horrible so you know I loved the ending.
It's a page-turning whodunit, but it's also a moving and emotional account of grief and motherhood. You'll find yourself rooting for Corey and her determination to uncover the lies that surrounded her.
Totally absorbing, intense, and unpredictable. Brilliantly told, a tale of deception and dark secrets in suburbia. The author cleverly designs her characters and many are pure evil and manipulative. I loved the dark humor, the twists, and parts by the boy Jasper were laugh out loud. (especially the audiobook).
From topics of mother-child relationships, motherhood, trauma, and unfaithful husbands. You will be rooting for both Laurel and Corey to the end. A riveting tale about marriage, trust, and dark secrets.
The Audiobook...
The audiobook was spectacular, narrated by the talented Emily Ellet and Gail Shalan. Their performances brought the characters to life, especially Jasper's voice, and added depth to the portrayal of the other evil characters, enhancing the overall listening experience.
Recs...
For fans of domestic, suburban thrillers, particularly those who enjoy the works of authors Mary Kubica, B.A. Paris, and Kimberly Belle, THE HOUSE ON COLD CREEK LANE is a must-read. It shares the same intense and suspenseful storytelling style, making it a perfect choice for fans of these authors.
Thanks to Severn House and Dreamscape Media for a gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest opinion.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 6, 2024
Praise for Liz Alterman
Liz Alterman is a masterful storyteller ― May Cobb, award-winning author of The Hunting Wives
Fresh twists . . . Alterman is off to a promising start
― Publishers Weekly on The Perfect Neighborhood
Well written from start to finish . . . perfect for fans of domestic suspense!
― Manhattan Book Review on The Perfect Neighborhood
Alterman deftly uses alternating perspectives to show us the building tensions, leading to one surprising twist after another. I couldn't put this down
― Catherine McKenzie, USA Today bestselling author of Please Join Us, on The Perfect Neighborhood
In theory, The Perfect Neighborhood is the ideal place to raise a family. In reality, it's disturbing and completely riveting . . . Reading this book made me feel like I lived in Oak Hill, and I refused to leave until every secret was uncovered
― Samantha Downing, internationally bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and For Your Own Good
The combination of super-relatable characters and nearly unbearable suspense made it impossible to stop reading
― Sarah Warburton, author of You Can Never Tell, on The Perfect Neighborhood
Liz Alterman has crafted a riveting mystery that epitomizes every parent's greatest fear. A page-turning whodunnit that also packs an emotional wallop, if you love Lisa Jewell's dark domestic suspense, don't miss Alterman's captivating new book
― Rebecca Taylor, award-winning author of The Secret Next Door, on The Perfect Neighborhood
A suspenseful, shocking book about grief, loss, obsession, and revenge that will grip readers from beginning to end
― Booklist
About the Author
Storyteller at Heart
Liz Alterman lives in New Jersey with her husband and three sons. She spends most days repeatedly microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms. WEBSITE
Photo credit: Gracemarie Photography
