The Family Across the Street by Nicole Trope

Synopsis

Sometimes, the most perfect families are hiding the most terrible secrets. How well do you know the people next door…?

Everybody wants to live on Hogarth Street, the pretty, tree-lined avenue with its white houses. The new family, The Wests, are a perfect fit. Katherine and John seem so in love and their gorgeous five-year-old twins race screeching around their beautiful emerald-green lawn.

But soon people start to notice: why don’t they join backyard barbecues? Why do they brush away offers to babysit? Why, when you knock at the door, do they shut you out, rather than inviting you in?

Every family has secrets, and on the hottest day of the year, the truth is about to come out. As a tragedy unfolds behind closed doors, the dawn chorus is split by the wail of sirens. And one by one the families who tried so hard to welcome the Wests begin to realise: Hogarth Street will never be the same again.

I got this book as a birthday gift from my sister, so it jumped to the top of my TBR pile immediately. And, oh, I am so glad that it did and I didn't sleep on it. 

As usual, I'm not including any spoilers in this review. 

I will say that this is one of the MOST suspenseful books I have read in a very long time - maybe ever. From the time I started it, I was on the edge of my seat and my heart was thumping out of my chest. 

The story-telling jumping between two households really built up the suspense and added an extra element to it. Then you have the delivery driver. Then it all comes crashing together in an unexpected ending. 

The rollercoaster experience of this read definitely makes me want to read whatever Nicole Trope publishes. 

I was absolutely HOOKED!

5/5 stars

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