This is the first book I have read by this author but it certainly won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the variety of characters in it and loved the lead detective. Certainly hope there is more to follow!

The Couple On Cedar Close is a fantastic psychological thriller. It features betrayal, incest and murder - what more could you aid for? This book is a gripping page turner, brilliantly written and full of secrets and lies. I can highly recommend it and would give it 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

The Couple on Cedar Close is book 2 in the Detective Dan Riley series - and oh my goodness what a book it is!! Absolutely Addictive!! Although I worked out early on who I didn't know why right til the very end. I wanted to read this in one go but being the silly season that was never going to happen. A fantastic story, original and an enjoyable read.

Cedar Close is a quiet place to live. The neighbourhood is friendly and nothing much happens. Until Robert Mills is found dead in his bedroom, and his wife Laurie sits downstairs in the dark with a large gap in her memory. She knows that she didn't kill her husband but nobody believes her. Their marriage is falling apart, with Robert having an affair and a daughter with another woman. The story jumps between the present wher Laurie tries to remember the events of that night, and the past.. but who's past is it?

A fantastic read that I would tell anybody to read who likes a great story. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

This book read like a true crime novel. Everything felt very realistic and very thought out. I read a lot of thrillers and this was so much more believable than any other thriller I have read this year. The characters were well written and I felt attached to even the unlikable characters. The writing carefully allowed us to peak into the past to keep us drawn into the story for more. I was very intrigued and finished it in one day and could not put it down.

I highly recommend this book.

3 Stars.

Laurie’s marriage to Robert has always been cloaked In secrets - that is until that fateful day at the barbecue on Cedar Close when a drunken Laurie spills all.

Months later, Laurie prepares a fancy meal for Robert, hoping for a good outcome. Laurie, awaiting Robert’s arrival, nervous and upset, begins drinking. Hours later she awakes in her bed, groggy, drunk, the power mysteriously off in her house. Her skin is wet and sticky. Fumbling, she finds a flashlight and discovers she is covered in blood: her husband’s - his body is beside her of which she has no memory. Of course, all evidence points to her.

Detective Dan Riley however intuits that Laurie is not guilty and he sets out to prove it.

A mystery / suspense that is an easy, fast-paced read. Though this book took on a few twists that were not to my personal liking, the story itself is enjoyable one. This is a part of the Detective Dan Riley series (Black Heart being the first) by Anna-Lou Weatherly (though the synopsis doesn’t describe it as such). It was good detective story and I would definitely read the next in the series.

This was another buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Anna-Lou Weatherly for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Goodreads and NetGalley on 12.21.18.

Such a gripping tale of betrayal.  I never saw it coming as to who would be the person masterminding the entire thing.  It was a shock but at the same time made complete sense to me.

The story was unique and very gripping throughout the entire thing.  I loved the little flashbacks of Bertie and Kiki.  Didn't at first pick up who they were referring to so when I first started reading I didn't really catch that these were two of the characters in the book that would be starring in it.

Lets start with the pace of the story.  This was an extremely fast paced novel that I didn't want to put down.  I love that as it shows such a variety of ways to keep someone interested in the books.

The characters were how should I say this not ones that anyone could really like.

Robert is a player of epic proportion and really doesn't have a lot of redeeming qualities.  I mean he married Laurie but still kept on being the way he was and didn't think of what he did to his family.

Monica is just plain cruel and while she shows sparks of humanity it is all fake and fleeting very quickly.  When you first see her you think she is the sweet widow who wants to help her friend who has been through a terrible ordeal in her life.

Claire is the other woman and was one that I found not as objectionable though I do find her choices questionable and that she really wasn't thinking of anything other than herself.  She basically ruined a marriage and kept seeing a person she knew was married.  It is harsh but she didn't really come across in a good light either but she wasn't as bad as some.

Laurie who is probably my favourite character in this book is a deluded and very naive woman.  She was easily manipulated for years and she still seems to think good about people despite what her experience shows her.  Her story is heartbreaking and all you can think about is that she is never going to be mentally strong enough to be with another person or have a normal relationship.

Agnes the mother of Robert is objectionable even though I know that she is sick from alcoholism the fact that she didn't act as many mothers would and treated her kids like nothing.  No wonder the kids didn't really have a lot to do with her or her husband Stan.  It seemed like they used religion as a way to mistreat people instead of taking what the true messages are supposed to be.

This book really was wonderful and I am sure will get people to have very strong opinions about it.  It was hard as some of the story of what happened just trigger very unpleasant thoughts and images in my head.  It is such a strong book and I am really looking forward to more from this author as well since she has such a great talent of getting into the minds of those people.

This book had me hooked. Absolutely lived it and this is why I keep reading thrillers. Can't wait for more from this author.
Thank you for letting me know me review

I am sure what Laurie goes through in this book is everyone’s worst nightmare. To be accused of something you know you haven’t done. Couldn’t think of anything worse.

Detective Dan Riley and his team seem to have it all worked out. Dan though isn’t entirely convinced. I am a true believer of going with your gut instinct as it’s never proven me wrong so far and Dan can’t get rid of that niggling feeling. Even though the pressure is on from above to make a conviction.

The story alternates between present and past to a little girl who we don’t quite know who she is or how it all ties in with what is happening in present day. Things do become apparent quite early on though and the story has a cat and mouse feel to it which I really enjoyed.

The murders are pretty gruesome in this story which I absolutely loved but may not be for the more faint hearted of readers. It was good to see how even the police who get quite hardened to death are still affected. I also felt like I got to know Dan a bit better throughout this novel and he truly is one of the good guys in life.

The Couple On Cedar Close goes to show that people never know what truly goes on behind closed doors. I enjoyed the battle of intelligence between the police and the killer and the author keeps the reader on their toes as to who will win. A dark and gripping read with plenty of thrills and chills.

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.

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…
Gripping, page tunner, disturbing, just a few words I would use to describe this fantastic read! I loved this book, it reminded me of Girl on the Train and quickly became one of my new favorites!

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheCoupleOnCedarClose
Pub Date: 18 Jan 2019

Solid psychological thriller that was easy to read. the plot was fascinating and true to form. My only complaints are that DI Riley's voice was a bit over the top and longwinded and the whodunnit was figured out quite quickly. Otherwise a good read.

Your estranged husband is murdered, you are the prime suspect, you can't remember......what an explosive read.... Laurie Mills doesn't know if she murdered her cheating husband Robert, could she have, she doesn't know, her best friend says she did!!!! All an act or has she finally had enough of the mental abuse he has put her through over the year? Ooooh you will just have to read it to find out, this is a loop the loop rollercoaster of a ride, you better strap in and get ready, you're 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!!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a stunning read, with a plot that raced along, twisting and turning all the time. Taut and really well written, I loved it.

Cedar Close is a tight knit community, and as the residents gather to celebrate at their annual summer barbecue, they prepare to meet their newest member, Laurie Mills. But the event reveals the terrible secret her husband has been hiding, he’s having an affair. When Robert is later found dead, Laurie has no memory of the events leading up to her husband’s death, she only knows she’s not the one who killed him. Any woman who has ever been cheated on has had a fantasy about offing her husband and his mistress, but they don’t actually follow through. Is Laurie the woman scorned who decided to get justice on her own terms?

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!

What a fantastic read.. keeps you wondering and guessing throughout the whole book. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an early release of this book. Have already recommended it and will continue to do so.

Incredible gripping story!! Loved how you thought the main plot had happened then they throw more unexpected turn of events in there and completely blow you away!! Amazing domestic thriller and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Excellent book! Loved the characters and it was a great storyline. I would highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed this book the writing and plot was good and so was the pace.I did guess who the killer was but as it was revealed during the book I only just got there before the reveal so it was no big deal.There were still a few surprises thrown in,that I didn't see coming.I also liked the police team especially the main police man would be good to see him in another book.Overall I would recommend this book and I enjoyed reading it.Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC.

This is a good solid psychological thriller and makes for a quick read. I had an idea what was going on quite early in the book but it in no way spoiled my enjoyment at all as it was so well written and as they say a real page turner but perhaps not many surprises. My first book by this author and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Laurie is both dreading and looking forward to tonight. Her husband, whom she hasn't seen for awhile, is coming for dinner. Robert (Laurie's husband) wants to talk about the next step in their relationship. Try to get together, again? Divorce? Robert has a love child with Claire and maybe he wants to be with them permanently? Laurie drinks and drinks and Robert does not show up...

This thriller is a bit predictable yet quite interesting. I honestly did not want to put the book down! A few intertwining relationships in this read makes for a really great story. Since the characters are so excellently defined - this adds to the great read. I definitely would recommend !

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an excellent read!