I'm not sure how much any of that counts as spoilers as it's based on my reading of it rather than plot. The Narrator was fab, using different accents and tones for each character so they were easily distinguishable from each other. As they read, I found it easy to follow and enjoyed the atmosphere they created with their reading. I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Pigeonhole. I write this with my fat fingers which the author seems to find repellent so please do bear with me while I stuff some bonbons in my mouth and cry into my fat girl ice cream. The impact of constant change and uncertainty in Lesley’s early years is reflected in one of the recurring themes in her books: what happens to those who are emotionally damaged as children. It was an extraordinary childhood and in all her books, Lesley has skilfully married the pain and unhappiness of her early experiences with a unique gift for storytelling. When police start to interview the residents of the Close, they soon discover each neighbour harbours their own secrets. Because everyone on the Close is far from what they seem.

Pearse has written a book with so many twists and turns that you will find yourself wondering who has killed the 13 year old girl until the very end. This is a very gripping book and I listened to the entire book in one sitting.Does Belle have the courage within herself to try and escape? Will she have any allies out there in her quest for freedom? Read this exciting book from wonderful author Lesley Pearse to find out! Pearse enjoys introducing her readers to characters that they will connect with and care about. While other books in the genre she writes in rely on formulas to get from the beginning to the end, she doesn’t use any formula to write her novels. The genres that they are set in also vary from genres that aren’t totally defined, from crime to historical adventure or engaging books like Trust Me, which was based on the real events of child migrants from England that were being sent over to Australia after the war.

The premise of this book was exactly the kind of book I normally enjoy so I entered the competition to win a spot on the pigeonhole readalong. But, after one drunken rage too many, she has the courage to leave him. Eve is warned that it's a difficult path, yet she needs to give her children hope for the future.As the image of a ‘perfect place to raise a family’ starts to tarnish, Nina and Conrad’s life plans start to unravel. As police interview witnesses, they soon discover each resident hiding their own secrets. Because few in the Close are exactly who they seem . . . However, it just didn’t hit that sweet spot for me, although I am grateful for the chance to read this book, and for being able to have a proof, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. And without them, the story didn’t resonate with me. This is just to say that others will probably love it for all the reasons I listed above which is wonderful-anyone who command sales in the millions and get people reading, has my utmost respect! It just sadly was not quite the book for me.

As always Lesley Pearse writes brilliant characters, people we can relate to know, people we may all know. I really liked Nina and Connor, both had difficult childhoods and are now starting their lives together. They are only in their 20’s, younger than a lot of Willow Close’s residents, but both are wise beyond their years, Connor was orphaned at a young age and Nina is estranged from her family. They are really likeable, with big hearts and I loved Connor’s active imagination, always looking for drama, and here he may have found it. There are some brilliant supporting characters as well that add so much to the book; an escort, a religious fanatic, the street gossip and those that break the law. There is also a lot of drama making this a fast paced and compelling read. Then her husband enlists in the Army and is sent to the battlefields. Belle starts to realize slowly that her entire life is on the verge of falling apart. But she is resilient and will not stand by and watch it happen. Belle volunteers to help treat the wounded and ends up working abroad as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross In France.I'll say now, this book is apparently "not up to her usual standards", which is really good as there's no way to give no stars...

Nina and Conrad had thought they’d found their dream neighbourhood. But have they moved into a nightmare? Maybe die-hard fans of the author will lap this up but I genuinely cannot understand how this novel even reached publication stage. On the day Nina and Conrad Best move into their new home in picture-perfect Willow Close, a body is discovered. The premise for a good thriller was there which is what earned it a star. A child gets murdered in a close on which several people live and they form the primary suspects. I identified the guilty party right at the beginning so even a big twist or reveal wasn't forthcoming. Last, but by no means least the police behaviour in the investigation was ridiculous. Despite poor editing I did not allow glaring errors to affect my review as the copy read was an advance copy.

Publication Order of Ellie Books

The Police come across as farcical and inept. The characters are two dimensional. There is a preoccupation with writing about everyone's weight and appearance and there are bizarre leaps in thought processes which leave the reader incredulous. The dialogue is stilted and there is way too much explanation rather than hints and establishing connections through what is not written. In fact it is more like a manual or set of instructions and I NEVER read those. I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Penguin and I am leaving this review voluntarily I am afraid I cannot give a star rating to this book which is unusual given that I am a liberal giver of 4 and 5 stars. Before the first neighbour can pop around with a welcome gift, before they invited to the neighbourhood watch group, they hit the ground running trying to work out who lives where and who does what.