Name: The Couple on Cedar Close
ISBN: 9781786814999

Anna-Lou Weatherley

"Cedar Close has always been a nice place to live--a quiet suburban street where everyone looks out for one another and bad things don't happen. Until late one evening, when Robert Mills is found dead in his bedroom. Downstairs, in their beautiful kitchen, his wife Laurie sits alone in the dark with her head in her hands. She can't remember the last few hours, but she knows she didn't kill Robert. The trouble is, no-one believes her..."--Publisher's description.

An Absolutely Gripping Psychological Thriller

The Couple on Cedar Close

One sunny August afternoon, the residents of Cedar Close throw their annual summer barbecue. Children play in the cherry-tree lined street, tables are laden with food, and the wine is flowing. For Laurie Mills, it’s her first time meeting the neighbours. And it’s the first time she discovers her husband Robert is having an affair. Cedar Close has always been a nice place to live – a quiet suburban street where everyone looks out for one another and bad things don’t happen. Until late one evening, when Robert Mills is found dead in his bedroom. Downstairs, in their beautiful kitchen, his wife Laurie sits alone in the dark with her head in her hands. She can’t remember the last few hours, but she knows she didn’t kill Robert. The trouble is, no-one believes her… An utterly gripping page-turner about the dark secrets that lie behind closed doors. Perfect for fans of JP Delaney’s The Girl Before and Gone Girl, The Couple on Cedar Close will keep you reading late into the night. Read what everyone is saying about The Couple on Cedar Close: ‘A.......maz........ing, what a fantastic book, loved every word on every page, a great psychological thriller that held my interest throughout and I didn't want it to end…I could carry on raving about this book but just read it for yourself, I can definitely recommend, you will not be disappointed.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Gripping, page turner, disturbing, just a few words I would use to describe this fantastic read! I loved this book, it reminded me of The Girl on the Train and quickly became one of my new favorites!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Ten stars for being able to keep me up until 4 a.m. I just HAD to finish this book! I cannot begin to describe how riveting this novel was. Great writing, characterizations, plot, timing, suspense--it has it all. Trust me, you will NOT be able to put it down until you finish reading it. So many mediocre thrillers out there that this one hit me like a ton of bricks. Absolutely SUPERB!’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars ‘What an explosive read...this is a loop the loop rollercoaster of a ride, you better strap in and get ready, your head will be spinning trying to keep up with all the twists, betrayals, friendships, heartache, loss... this book has it all, puts a whole new meaning on the term psychological thriller!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Flipping heck! It's a while since I've raced through a book like this, so engrossed that I literally did nothing today except read. I was caught from the very first line and it wouldn't let me go…The story is so well written, the characters so fleshed out and real, it was like watching a movie in my mind. excellent stuff!’ Rona Halsall, 5 stars ‘An awesome mystery that kept me guessing and guessing…The author has the ability to connect the reader with the characters and the story immediately. It's a winner!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘I fell for this book within the first chapter! Anna-Lou Weatherley kept me guessing until the last chapter! …I read it in a few sittings. Highly recommend!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A fantastic psychological thriller…This book is a gripping page turner, brilliantly written and full of secrets and lies.’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘I read a lot of thrillers and this was so much more believable than any other thriller I have read this year…I was very intrigued and finished it in one day and could not put it down.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Reminded me a lot of The Girl on the Train but more disturbing…A definite page turner!!’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘Wow!!! …Trust me, this is one you don't want to miss—it's going to be huge!’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller

Alistair James

Ruth Parker 

I actually read this first without realising it was the second in a series, but quickly purchased Black Heart as soon as I realised it was book Number 2!

This book begins with introducing us to Laurie Mills, a recently separated woman whop is expecting her husband to come home to talk about their situation. she is hoping to convince him to stay with her by cooking his favourite meal and dressing the part of a dutiful wife; one that he needs and wants in his life. she knows he has been tempted away by another woman and that he has not only cheated on her but has fathered a child with another woman. She knows this. The whole neighbourhood knows this. But still, Laurie is sure if she can just get him to talk to her she can convince him to come back to her.
Suddenly, its almost eleven o'clock. Laurie wakes up in her kitchen. Her husband,. Robert didn't even bother to tell her he wasn't coming. She rings him, angry. Fuming. Seething. the call rings out. She tires again... only this time she can hear the familiar chime of his ringtone. Robert is somewhere in the house. Assuming he has gone upstairs for a nap when he saw her passed out at the kitchen table, Laurie heads upstairs to wake him up. 
Only to discover, there is nothing that will wake Robert up now.

This book had so many twists and turns. I loved detective Daniel Riley, the detective with the kind eyes, and his ability to see the truth in people. He looks deep into this case throughout the novel and works hard to achieve results. He was a genuinely lovely character. I'm looking forward to reading more about him.

This book is not a domestic thriller; instead it is a mash up of thriller and detective story, which means that the truth comes out around the middle of the book for the reader - although it's pretty clear what is happening from about fifty pages in or so - and instead of looking forward to a big twist, you are looking forward to a big chase. I loved it! I'm not a huge fan of detective books - I much prefer domestic thrillers, which I thought this was when I bought it. But it quickly became one of my favourite detective books and an instant 5 star rating.

Check it out as soon as possible! It's a great read.

Megan Leprich

Thank you so much to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Laurie thinks she has the perfect marriage to her husband Robert until one fateful day at an annual barbecue. Laurie discovers that her husband Robert is having an affair, and has a child with the woman. Robert moves out of the house and when Laurie decides to try to give their marriage a second shot, Robert is found upstairs brutally murdered. Laurie wakes up covered in blood with no recollection of what happened, largely in point she believes due to her addiction to pills and alcohol. As Laurie tries to piece together the events of that night other murders start happening that Laurie is getting blamed for also, but she doesn't have a recollection of those either. Is she having blackouts or someone framing her for the murders?

I think I had higher exceptions for this book and it kind of felt like a letdown to me. There really wasn't any suspense to the novel and I had the killer figured out less than half way through the book due to some not so subtle clues. It was definitely focused more on a police drama than a domestic abuse drama like I assumed it was going to be. I liked the character of Dan Riley and how he went about solving the murder and how he didn't let the evidence sway him away from his gut instinct. All in all not a terrible book but definitely lacking in suspense and mystery.

Thank you again to Bookouture and NetGalley for the copy!

The Couple on Cedar Close An Absolutely Gripping Psychological Thriller

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