The Mistress Next Door
by Lesley Sanderson
Narrated by Eilidh Beaton

Rating: 4.2/5.0 Stars

The Mistress Next Door is a slow burn. Harriet is a mom of three. After one of her littles goes missing for a short time, she starts receiving threatening notes from someone who seems to know about a horrific event that some blamed her for that happened years ago when she was little more than a child.

Aside from that, her philandering husband is up to old tricks and maybe hitting a little closer to home than usual. Harriet isn't sure who she can trust, and this book revolves around her neighbors and their quaint neighborhood, where it seems someone is always keeping an eye out on the goings-on of everyone...

This was a fun, easy listen that kept my attention to the end. The various neighbors each had their unique motives and characteristics. There was no way of guessing who or why until the reveal, and it was a bit of a letdown when it was revealed. Overall, the book was enjoyable, and I'd listen to or read more by Ms. Sanderson in the future. The narration was well performed and brought life to each unique character.

Thanks to #BookoutureAudio, #NetGalley and the author for the chance to listen to and review this ARC!

This is a story about a mother that has a secret past. She has created the perfect life for herself, but, now someone from her past shows up to destroy all she’s built.

Firstly, I have to say that I am glad I don't know anyone like Harriet, I'd have to shake her. I wish they had made her just a little bit stronger... she is unrelatable and frankly a little on the vague side, I found myself, on more than one occasion, saying 'Good Lord, Harriet! No, he cannot be trusted. Yes, he is lying to you - again!!'Infuriating, really. Oliver, heavens, what an idiot.

The story ticked along at an okay rate, I didn't hate it but nor did I love it. The half a star is for the narrator, who I rather liked.

3.5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher for my ARC.

This took a bit to get into, and is a bit of a slow burn suspense novel. There are dual timelines, and a couple of viewpoints. Our FMC is the main viewpoint, but there is another anonymous voice sprinkled in. Her husband is definitely worth a throat-punch, and I had an inkling about the prior event that was the catalyst for all of the events in the book. A good novel though, I would recommend checking it out.

Harriet is a mum of three living in an exclusive neighborhood. Her nanny up and quit, and trying to get her trio of girls through their day and work her burgeoning business out of her home, she’s becoming stressed. And when one of her girls goes missing from the park? That’s just the beginning.

When Harriet's twin daughter goes missing she panics, and a search party is organized - finally when they find the child everyone is relieved, but Harriet senses a threat and surprisingly she receives a threat note as well in her bag - who put that there and when? Why is someone threatening her and her family?
To top it all, her husband Oliver is acting strangely and she starts to wonder if he is back to his old habits!

This book was ok, I liked that the author tried to build suspense but then there were a LOT of characters - it's really hard sometimes to keep a track of so many!
Also in one of the chapters there's a mention of Oliver's ex-wife - what was that? There was nothing elaborated or did I miss something?

Overall it was a good book, thanks to netgalley, bookouture audio and Lesley Sanderson for the audio ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

OMG HER HUSBAND IS A DOUCHE. But of course, we knew that going in, but OMG what a dick. The twists and turns make this book totally worth it, as it isn't just about the cheating dick of a husband. There is so much more and I was totally here for it! Off to add more of Lesley Sanderson's book to my TBR!


#TheMistressNextDoor
#NetGalley

The Mistress Next Door is a psychological thriller with an unfaithful husband, tragic historical event and a woman who struggles to forgive herself.
Harriet has a secret that she has not revealed to anyone in her life. When her daughter goes missing from a local playground and she begins to receive threatening messages, she knows someone has discovered her past.
Fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy this book, but I found the plot quite unbelievable and far fetched at times. If you can overlook that, the novel is a thrilling read with a fast pace and many twists.

The setting of this domestic thriller made it feel so claustrophobic and tense. I was hooked on this book from the very start. I was constantly doubting who the "mistress" after being drip fed clues and red herrings. Throughout this complicated story almost everyone seems to have a secret and possible motive. I couldnt stop reading this I just needed to know the truth.

I enjoyed this one. It wasn't predicable. and the narrator did a good job engaging you into the story

Told mainly from one POV but with different timelines, The Mistress Next Door is about Harriet, a thirty-something woman who is married to a cheating husband named Oliver and a mother to three daughters, the youngest named Lucy and twins Tilly and Tess.

The title of the book makes one think that it is about infidelity but it is more than that. It’s also about Harriet’s past catching up with her, a past that not even her husband knows about.

After promising that he is past his philandering ways and days, Oliver starts coming home late because of work and spends a weekend in Paris because of business. But Harriet has got a hunch that there’s more to it than work and starts investigating his credit card bills only to see meals for two charged to it, as well as purchases in Paris for women’s clothing.

Aside from constantly thinking about her husband’s affair, Harriet is also receiving threatening messages after her daughter Tilly goes missing. I certainly did not guess who was the mistress but I’m gonna spoil the book for you, so do read it. It’s a short and entertaining thriller.

I loved the narration by Eilidh Beaton and she made the book so enjoyable. I would love to listen to more audiobooks narrated by her.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Mistress Next Door is an addictive book. It hooks you from the start. I really felt like I was a fly on the wall in Harriet and Oliver’s world.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Harriet and her husband Oliver live in Prospect Close with their young twins and baby daughter. When Harriet is at the park with the girls one of them disappears. She is later found safe and well saying she was with a nice man. Harriet is hiding a secret from her past but that is not her only problem. She believes her husband is having an affair with one of the neighbours. A cleverly written thriller.

This book was decent but I wouldn't rank it among my favorites. After all the buildup about the big secret, it wasn't that big of a deal. It wasn't like the main character actually did anything bad to warrant that kind of treatment. The surprise twist was good but that was all. It's a quick read but left me wanting more in the end.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishers for the opportunity of this Audio Arc.
Overall, I enjoyed this story, the audiobook was great, and the twist and turns at the end were really good. The beginning was a little hard to get into, and started out as a a too good to be true which took away from the suspense building that was happening. I did get into the story by about midway and enjoyed the book as a whole!
I will look for more by Lesley Sanderson!

The Mistress Next Door by Lesley Sanderson

Harriet and her husband Oliver have all they could ever want; he’s got a lucrative career in banking, she’s got a growing business making children’s clothes, three beautiful children, and a home in the coveted Prospect Close. Only to Harriet, this home feels suffocating. Harriet has a dark secret she’s desperate to protect and it makes her deeply overprotective of her children. When her daughter Tilly is taken and sets off a series of threatening notes, Harriet is more determined than ever to flee to the country so she can protect her family. All the while Oliver seems hellbent on staying. Will Harriet be able to unmask the threat before one of her children is harmed?

I really enjoyed this! A quick paced and satisfying story. Several satisfying twists and a double-cross! A great lesson on who you can trust, who may be out to get you, and that you’re never truly alone. I recommend for those who enjoy dual timeline thrillers!

TW: kidnapping, gaslighting, infidelity, SIDS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5

Harriet seems to have the perfect life, handsome doting husband, Oliver, 3 beautiful daughters living in the affluent estate of Prospect Close. However, Harriet starts receiving notes from a stranger, let her know, they know her secret. Threatening to expose Harriet and take away her perfect set up. Harriet’s life starts to spiral and she learns Oliver is having an affair and overhears gossip to direct attention to Harriets best friend next door, and now is not sure who to trust or turn to anymore.
Quite a quick paced book, some of the characters needed a bit more depth and development. An enjoyable read, but did lack the edge of the seat suspense expected in such a thriller.

I enjoyed this audio book, the story was predictable and not really anything new, however it did hold my attention and I enjoyed the narration. It was an easy listen although at times abit repetitive and slow

I have never read anything by this author before but thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. It kept my attention with plenty of twists and turns. I will definitely look out for more by her in the future.

This book had all kinds of twist and turns but I did guess who it was. It did keep you wanting to continue to listen to find out.

The Mistress Next Door had me hooked within the first 5 minutes.

It starts with one of the twins going missing and then the story unfolds from there. As a mom, I was listening to one of my very worst fears as if it were very real, and I was having anxiety on behalf of Harriet. Thankfully, Tilly is found safe, but Harriet is soon caught up in a string of crazy.

I loved how suspenseful this story was. It kept me guessing until the very end. I think I suspected the entire cast of characters to be behind the threats throughout the book and even I felt like no one was trustworthy. Out of all of Harriet's friends, I felt at points like any of them could have been behind the notes. Especially Gabby, with her secret someone she refused to talk about.

The narrator also did a wonderful job portraying the story. She was very believable and sometimes sounded like she was in fact, Harriet. I didn't love the voice she did for the children so much. It was a little annoying sounding. But they don't talk a whole lot and it isn't like it ruined the book by any means.

I really didn't like Oliver. But, as the husband having an affair and being basically a crappy person, I don't think we are supposed to like him. There were so many times I was yelling at Harriet to just walk away. (Like, actually yelling… Out loud.)

Some parts of the story did seem to drag on a little bit. But for the most part, I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good who done it, and also a story that keeps you guessing until the very end. I will most definitely be reading more from this author very soon!