I enjoyed the story which felt like a literary fiction thriller and had an intriguing mystery. Although there were several characters that were similar they were distinctly written which made the storyline easy to follow.

I also enjoyed the social commentary of life the racial differences in the 1950s and how this impacted the characters and outcome of the book.

I didn't predict the ending but was very satisfied with the ending.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes literary fiction and mysteries.

What a fantastic new author find!

Inga Vesper explores a turbulent period in U.S. history with great sensitivity and accuracy. The disappearance of housewife Joyce Haney, leaving behind a bloody scene and her young children, sets off a gripping mystery set in a 1959 suburban town.

The novel blends elements of "The Stepford Wives," "The Help," and "The Truman Show," creating a rich tapestry of issues. While the plot itself is engaging, it's the characters, especially the determined Ruby, who truly drive the story. Despite a few issues with character behavior and memory that kept it from being perfect, the themes of chauvinism and racism are well-explored.

The ending, though a bit predictable, wraps things up nicely. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author!

I really enjoyed this book. A really fast paced thriller with a great cast of characters. I didn't want it to end. Highly recommended.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Absolutely loved this book. A really good thriller that sent shivers down my spine! Thank you net galley for a copy of this title in exchange for a review.

A real pacy page turner. Couldn’t get through it fast enough! I needed a long long afternoon to be sure I could finish it. Well written and fantastic story

“ The sunniest places hold the darkest secrets.
Yesterday, I kissed my husband for the last time....

It's the summer of 1959, and the well-trimmed lawns of Sunnylakes, California, wilt under the sun. At some point during the long, long afternoon, Joyce Haney, wife, mother, vanishes from her home, leaving behind two terrified toddlers and a bloodstain on the kitchen floor.

A beguiling, deeply atmospheric debut novel from the cracked heart of the American Dream, The Long, Long Afternoon is at once a gripping mystery and an intoxicating vision of the ways in which women everywhere are diminished, silenced and ultimately under-estimated.”

This book had been on my TBR pile for some time and after reading a recommendation on my online Book Club I decided to read it. Being set in the Californian suburbs in the 1950’s made for an interesting read as things were very different in those days especially when it comes to race and gender inequalities! While the life of a Stepford Wife MAY seem appealing or glamorous, the reality is dark, suffocating and oppressive.

This is a real mystery of a story and I raced through it wanting to find out what had happened to Joyce and why. I loved Ruby’s character; her determination to make something of her life when all the odds are stacked against her is inspiring.

Thank you NetGalley, Manilla Press and Inga Vesper for the opportunity of reading this book in exchange for an honest review. I am looking forward to Inga’s new book, This Wild, Wild Country.

Review left on Goodreads and Amazon.

A dark and clever who-dun-it thriller that brings to light the secret twisted lives of the ladies of the prestigious Sunnylakes. The story focuses on solving the case of missing housewife Joyce Haney, who's disappearance shocks the neighborhood and who's tragic demise rakes up a whole heap of shocking revaluations.

There's characters you'll love and others you'll despise but together their actions keep you gripped - I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough! I loved how two of the most unlikely characters came together to solve the case, how the author kept you guessing until the very end and boy what an ending it was! Loved it.

Inga Vesper's 'The Long, Long Afternoon' is a whodunnit, told from various points of view. Vesper paints an intimate portrait of women's lives in the 1950s and provides a reminder of the freedoms we take for granted, such a short time later. Having said that, it often feels like we're going backwards recently. I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Mikhaila Aaseng, Janina Edwards and Adam Barr. They really brought the characters to life.

1959, Summertime. At some point in the long, long afternoon Joyce, a seemingly happy housewife and mother, vanishes from the home, leaving behind two terrified young children and a bloodstain on the kitchen floor. When her maid, Ruby discovers the scene, she is arrested immediately. Detective Mick Blanke believes there is no reason she should've been arrested and discovers the reason she was - the colour of her skin.

This was a gripping and impressive thriller. It had me guessing and guessing throughout and there were a few minor twists and turns that sent my mind round in circles.

The triple narrative is another thing that got a big tick from me. I love a dual narrative, especially in thrillers. I feel as though it allows you to get to know the characters personally and you can figure out the motives for each one.

One huge pro of this book is that it does not just focus on the mystery disappearance of Joyce, but also highlights institutional racism within the police force and the stereotypes that were (and still are) very prominent within 1950's America.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for an hones review!

I enjoyed this book but not as much as I expected.

The setting really came alive for me in this story, I really felt I could picture being there.

The story for me centred around a distressing story and racial oppression, which didn’t make for the cheeriest read. However the mystery was enticing and it did draw me in to carry on reading.

Multiple view points are used throughout to try and engage the reader which sometimes just felt a little clumsy and confusing to me. I struggle with Mick’s POV and enjoyed Ruby’s the most.

To me, some of the actions were a little too convenient, almost as if it was written to drive the plot forward rather than be believable and realistic.

I felt the being dragged on a little too long for me and that it ended up just falling a little flat.

I’ve given this one a 3/5.

A whodunit set in California 1959..
An ok read but the story was a bit predictable.
.It reminded me of an Alfred Hitchcock film.
The cover is really nice so this might encourage people to pick up the book.

The lovely lawns of Sunnylakes, California wilt under the sun in 1959 when Joyce Haney vanishes from her home, leaving behind two children and a bloodstained floor— a travesty for a well-to-do neighbourhood. Ruby Wright, the family's 'help', is perhaps the only one who can help to unpick the secrets behind the perfect curtains of Sunnylakes, but does she want to get involved at all?

The bucolic setting is so utterly tainted by violence, depression, racism and poverty, which made it a meaty whodunnit option. The POV swaps between Ruby, Joyce and the detective in charge, unpacking a busy plot with multiple voices. It's not the most believable, but it kept me entertained.

This is a story which needs a strong stomach. There was a series of sections involving involving violence against women, racism and poverty. A bit too much for me.

Full of twists and turns - this book is exciting and engaging, with a dramatic finish! I also really enjoyed the 1950s setting.

This was an ok read, I didn't really connect with the characters, and found it a bit slow in places. However I did keep reading, wanting to find out what happened. Although kept me reading to the end this was sadly a disappointing read for me.

This is a brilliant debut. I do like the whole setting/storyline of the 1950's American housewife. The perfect exteriors hiding secrets, never knowing what really goes on behind those curtains.

I was so hooked I read 40% in one sitting. The chapters are told from the viewpoint of the detective working on the case Mick, Ruby, the help, who works for Joyce and finds the crime scene, and Joyce herself. I have to admit, I would have liked more from Joyce's viewpoint, to know more of her thoughts.

This definitely went places I didn't think it would and I was kept guessing the whole way through, but it kept my attention, I needed to know what had happened. This would make a fab TV series. There was a lot to discuss, racism, misogyny, how mental health was viewed, women's role in society. All interesting topics.

I found the premise of the story interesting and I was compelled to keep reading as it was pacey and fairly well written. However I found some elements a bit uncomfortable, like the very 'black and white' portrayal of some of the characters, falling in line with old tropes and the fact the author is white but commenting on racial tension and writing from the point of view of a black character in quite a stereotypical way. A decent thriller but lacking the nuance needed to tackle some of the heavier themes.

I went into this expecting a thriller, but finished it feeling like it read more as literary fiction. There is a murder mystery, which intrigued me enough at the start, but then so many more topics are discussed that it detracted a little from the exciting and promising start.
There was much to enjoy, although it took me a while to follow the characters and the relationships. I was a little offended by the language used, which made it rather unsettling to read, but did mean I was more immersed into the timeline.

This was great historical fiction and a mystery combined. In a community of homes, just like in the Stepford wives, women stay at home, doped up on tranquillisers, maintaining the perfect home for the husbands who support them. But all is not as it seems on the surface when one such woman goes missing. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Ruby, the young black woman who cleans the house and a jaded detective trying to prove himself to his department. Ruby has ambition and wants to go to college- she’s bright and smart and helps to solve the case. In 1950s America we see the worst of racism and gender inequality and it is very well handled by the author. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.