I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Normally I'm a big fan of Liz Alterman and her writing and for the most part this book is brilliant. But I hated every single character in it. The wife needs a good shake, the husband a good smack, the neighbour told where to go and MAYBE instead of internalising, say whats on your mind. Hmmm?

Laurel and Rob West are excited when they find the perfect house for their family to move into. Even though everything looks perfect on the outside, Laurel can't help but feel that something is just off with her new home. That her neighbors know something and they aren't telling her. Corey Sutton is newly divorced and is now living with her mom in Florida. She spends her time running to try to process and overcome her grief. Though these women live hundreds of miles apart and don't know each other, their lives may have more in common than they think.

Have you ever read a book that has left you completely speechless, but in a good way? The House On Cold Creek Lane was that book. Laurel and her husband move into a new house, and Laurel gets an uneasy feeling about her new neighbor. She tells her husband, but he keeps brushing her off as being anxious about an event in her past. Let me tell you, I did not like Rob very much. Then we meet Corey, who is also trying to survive a trauma from her past, but isn't coping very well. As the story progresses, we find out how both of these women are connected. These two characters are very well developed, and their stories will keep you turning page after page. When you get to the end, it will completely blow your mind. Honestly, my mind didn't want to compute the ending. I thought maybe I got it wrong somehow since it was so late at night when I finished. Phew! What a ride that book was!

3.5 Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The House on Cold Creek Lane is a domestic thriller, told from two points of view in alternating chapters.

Laurel, Rob, and their two young children have recently moved into a suburban home. A home on Cold Creek Lane where there was once a major tragedy- unbeknownst to Laurel. Side thought, something about Laurel's husband irked me the whole book! Ugh. Him and his whole family were lacking in the liability department.

Corey is grieving the death of her daughter, who died tragically and under suspicious circumstances. She's trying to start over but can't let the thought go that her daughter's death was caused by one of her old neighbors on Cold Creek Lane. She's determined to find answers.

The pacing of the story made for a quick read. It was predictable but entertaining. I was able to figure out the main plot twist, but there were still a couple of small reveals that surprised me. I enjoyed reading both women's POV and seeing how their lives ended up connecting and crossing paths.

All in all, it was a satisfying read. Check it out if you enjoy domestic thrillers!


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Genre: Domestic Thriller
CW: Grief; Child Loss

*Complimentary copy for review provided by the publisher, Severn House. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.

This was a twisty domestic thriller told from two POVs of two different mothers. One mother is currently living her happy life in a new house, only things don’t seem as happy as they seem. The other mother suffered a horrible tragedy and is trying to come to terms with the consequences in her own toxic way. The two find themselves both on a path of self-destruction as an unknown sinister neighbor lurks nearby. The book uncovers all the nitty gritty doubts and thoughts that go through a mother’s mind as it’s already hard enough to be responsible for raising a family. I found this read to be very intriguing and mysterious, keeping me turning those pages until the very end. That mike drop ending was all worth it.

A young couple with two children move into a new home where Laurel receives a threat to be aware of danger. A nosy neighbor that infiltrates her life and home, a new friend that she can’t get enough of and her critical husband that judges her every move. Laurel can’t shake her unsettling anxiety and suspicion of her grandmotherly neighbor.

Meanwhile, in another neighborhood, Corey is grieving the loss of her daughter and the end of her marriage, starting over in her mother’s retirement condo. Corey can’t believe her daughter’s death was an accident. Something sinister is in the air.

Find out how these lives intertwine and who is out to get Laurel?

My thoughts:
☁️☁️☁️
Interesting, suspenseful and a bit mysterious. I really enjoyed this 4/5 star read! It kept me entertained and I didn’t figure it out until close to the end! Loved it! Fans of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley will like this one!

So happy that I read this thriller. It did not disappoint!! Family full of secrets living in “perfect suburbia”. I could not put this down. Literally read it in one setting.

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Liz Alterman does suburban thrillers so well. A neighbor who is way too involved in the raising of your children, a husband that is acting odd, and a whole bunch of neighbors that you may or may not be able to trust. Perfect recipe for feeling like you’re losing your mind.

Laurel and Rob West move into their dream house in suburban New Jersey, a house Lauren can’t believe they can afford. A pastry chef by trade, she is unable to work with a toddler and newborn, so she tries to make a comfortable home and connect with her neighbors—but her husband seems to constantly second guess her and push her to be more friendly, especially with Marian, an elderly woman who lives next door and is overly familiar with the children while criticizing ever move Lauren makes.

Corey Sutton, in the wake of a devastating divorce, has moved to Florida, staying with her mother at her retirement community, with some of the other residents none too pleased. Corey wants only one thing—answers—and she had a plan to get them, no matter what it takes or who it hurts.

Corey and Lauren, though they’ve never met, have much in common, and their fates could be in each other’s hands.

This was a quick read, and just what I was looking for at the time. What mothers will do for their children—for good or ill—colors every narrative thread. Lauren, unfortunately, is vulnerable and made to feel she isn’t doing enough. For her part, Corey is an unrepentant and messy, with a soft spot only for one of her teenage coworkers who dreams of attending college.

The story is fairly predictable, and I wish Rob had been more complex. I also thought the motivations of some of the characters was unclear. I did like that the ending was rather uncompromising!

This was a great thriller. I loved the two separate stories and was eager to see how they would eventually merge. It was very difficult for me to read as a mom with young kids. Corey’s grief really got to me and made me hug my own babies tighter.

Laurel and Rob West move into their first house with their young family. Several neighbors are on hand to welcome them to Cold Creek Lane. Corey used to live in the West house until tragedy struck.

This was a domestic thriller told in dual first person POV with complicated mother-daughter relationships. The story had flawed characters who were at times unlikable. I liked Corey's POV the best.

Though I figured out the villain early on, I kept reading to see how Laurel and Corey's stories would intersect. If you're looking for a thriller to round out your summer TBR, give this one a try.

Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

Two women, two lives and many heartbreaks in between. Laurel comes from a dark past and because of that, puts everything into raising her family. “To some people I might have seemed pathetic, co-dependent, but my children had become my entire world, the family I’d craved since I lost my mom. I needed them just as much as they needed me.” While Corey is a cranky, sarcastic smartass who moved back in with her mom after her own tragedy. She admittedly had the “bitch switch permanently stuck in the ‘on’ position.” The contrast between the two was stark but the similarities brought them unknowingly together.

I was glued to this story! I laughed out loud at Corey and her mouth multiple times. At the same time, her grief was heavy. You could feel the depth and the pain she experienced. But I found myself relating to Laurel and her over-compensation for a past she had no control over.

I was hooked to this story until the end. Don’t get me wrong, that end was fabulous! But it was an ending that stopped at a certain point before the reveal, then the next scene is after the “big moment.” Ah! I don’t want to fill in those blanks of the story that are only briefly touched on afterward. I want the intricate, juicy, all-consuming details of each moment. It was an intense ride with a slow reveal that comes together well at the end.

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers; The Pulse and NetGalley for the copy!

The book releases August 6, 2024.

A mother will do just about anything for her children, especially when is driven to the brink of despair.
Suffering loss, specifically a tragic one, is difficult to overcome. Laurel has lived with that horror since the murder of her mother. When her gut is telling her to doubt the neighbor, she stuck to her belief even though her husband doubted her. She may have been harboring ill feelings for the wrong one.
Corey, too, experienced the tragic loss her daughter. Made to feel crazy for her belief that a neighbor had something to do with her daughter's death, she fled to stay with her mom.
The other things Laurel and Corey have in common is the House On Cold Creek Lane, and the nagging hunch a neighbor is not who she portrays.

It's a slippery slope. . .

Apparently Liz Alterman is one of those authors whose writing clicks with my brain as I am a bit of an outlier on this one. I had also hinted at wanting a sequel to her previous title The Perfect Neighborhood and there is a crossover character in this new release.

If you enjoy suburban thrillers you should give this one a try. A young mother is new to the Manhattan adjacent neighborhood and oblivious to the fact that there have been tragedies connected to her new home -- the one her husband snatched up for them at a bargain price. She should have known better in this housing market.

Liz Alterman gives us two POVs. Laurel lives in the house now with husband Rob and their two kids. Corey is a previous owner and has run to Florida to escape her past. How will their lives intersect in the present? Which of Laurel's neighbors is the problem child? The nosy older woman with too much advice and an ever ready plate of muffins? Or the vivacious single with wine and a listening ear at the ready? This does go into OTT territory, but I totally enjoyed the ride. I will definitely be watching for the next book from this author.

Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Laurel and Rob West have just moved into their dream home, but Laurel doesn’t know about the tragedy that happened there with the previous owners. She doesn’t have a good feeling about things and she’s suspicious of some of the neighbors. Corey Sutton used to live in the house on Cold Creek Lane until her daughter drowned in the creek and her marriage imploded. Lost and grieving, Corey decides she won’t let the same thing happen to the new residents that happened to her.

This domestic thriller was gripping and suspenseful and I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the writing and the dual perspectives of Laurel and Corey. None of the characters were particularly likable, but I still wanted to know how things would turn out. There were times that I wanted to shake Laurel and tell her to get a spine. Her husband, Rob, was awful. Just awful. And the neighbors were just a bit much for me to deal with at times.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Emily Ellet and Gail Shalan did a great job narrating this story. They each did amazing with telling their character’s story and were the perfect choices for this audiobook.

This book was a bit of a slow burn, and although I was able to figure out some of the major twists, it was an enjoyable thriller that had me hooked. It’s no wonder everyone at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse has been raving about it!

Thank you Severn House and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The House on Cold Creek Lane by Liz Alterman

This was a quick read that I devoured last weekend. A slow burn suburban thriller, it scrutinizes motherhood in all its forms, including the behind the scenes of domesticity and its vulnerable side, and how far one will go to protect their children. It also showed how often the feelings and thoughts of mothers are dismissed and taken for granted. Laurel and Corey’s stories seemed different but they are connected by the house in Cold Creek Lane. Despite Corey’s bleak back story and dark attitude, I actually liked her POV more than Laurel’s. Laurel’s husband Rob annoyed me so much that I wanted her to divorce him asap!!! I guessed the bad guy super early on and wasn’t entirely surprised by the finale. But I was still happy to have read this because the issues here are very relevant and need to be talked about more frequently. Also, I enjoy stories about complicated mother and child relationships. Thanks to @lizalterman @severnhouseimprint @berittalksbooks for my digital ARC.

To say I loved and enjoyed this book would be a huge understatement. I have a thing for books with less breakneck speed and action, but more character-driven developments. And this book was absolutely character-driven, and I was here for it!
The book should come with a trigger warning for those that need trigger warnings (child loss), it’s a major part of the story and it adds a huge, thick layer of heartbreak to the otherwise suspense-filled story where it’s hard to figure out why people act the way they do.
I loved that the book was not entirely filled with twists per se, it was fairly obvious what was going to happen, but I had to keep reading just to see how exactly the shit was going to hit the fan in the end. And it did not disappoint. It went flying and haywire everywhere.
Also, I might be the minority here, but I feel like the book had a happy ending, a weirdly happy one, but a happy one still. Everyone got what they wanted or deserved. Yes, even the (unplanned) extra casualty. It’s like The Fairy Of Horrible Consequences got her say there and sprinkled her magic dust all over everyone involved in the story. You get a shit, and you get a shit, and you get some shit too, ok and you die, and you too, yay!

Liz Alterman's latest, THE HOUSE ON COLD CREEK LANE, will keep you on the edge of your seat to the explosive finale! In this twisty, unpredictable, must-read domestic, suburban thriller, the lives of two women converge—from motherhood to grief, secrets, obsession, marriage, vengeance, and murder!

The author keeps readers riveted as they follow the unraveling of the lives of two women in this web of deceit and lies, with unexpected twists that will keep you guessing.

About...

Laurel and Rob West are moving into their new home on Cold Creek Lane in New Jersey. Rob is moving ahead with the logistics due to Laurel's pregnancy. He also hides the facts about the house's history.

Dealing with the new baby, Poppy, a C-section, and her lively four-year-old toddler son, Jasper, she finds she dislikes the neighbors. They seem suspicious and nosy. However, one neighbor seems nice that she confides in, but is she just putting on a front?

Rob is not a lot of help with all the kids or the nighttime feedings. He is also not sensitive about her past trauma.

Marian, the older lady, seems very judgmental about Laurel's motherhood skills. Laurel is sensitive and insecure. Addie, her neighbor seems like she has it together, but is something going on with her and Rob? Is she malicious and calculating?

Laurel had a rough, sad childhood, and Rob uses this trauma to his advantage with forms of gaslighting. His entire family is entitled and selfish.

Corey Sutton is another POV. She is recently divorced having experienced a significant loss of her daughter. She moves into her widowed mother's retirement condo in Florida.

Corey becomes obsessed with the events and people she suspects were involved in her daughter's death. She is watching a waiting for revenge. She attends grief group due to terrible loss, but she cannot go on until she holds someone she suspects accountable. She is driven by the anger.

When the paths of the two mothers, Laurel and Corey (who have never met), collide, they may have more in common than they know. This unexpected connection adds a layer of intrigue to the story, keeping readers engaged until the explosive ending.

My thoughts...

THE HOUSE ON COLD CREEK LANE was spectacular! It was my first book by the author, and I was blown away. I will be checking out her backlist and adding her to my favorite author list. I just purchased the audio of The Perfect Neighborhood. I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Told from alternating POVs, Laurel (NJ) and Corey (FL), these two mothers—women will connect in unexpected ways. Two women are drawn together into a mysterious web of secrets in this twisty whodunit, which will have you guessing until the explosive ending. Laurel's husband was horrible, so you know I loved the ending.

It's a page-turning spine-chilling whodunit, but it's also a moving and emotional account of grief and motherhood. You'll find yourself rooting for Corey and her determination to uncover the lies that surrounded her.

Totally absorbing, intense, and unpredictable. Brilliantly told a tale of deception and dark secrets in suburbia. The author cleverly designs her characters and many are pure evil and manipulative. I loved the dark humor, the twists, and parts by the boy Jasper were laugh out loud. (especially the audiobook).

From topics of mother-child relationships, motherhood, trauma, and unfaithful husbands. You will be rooting for both Laurel and Corey to the end. A riveting tale about marriage, trust, and dark secrets.

The Audiobook...

The audiobook was spectacular, narrated by the talented Emily Ellet and Gail Shalan. Their performances brought the characters to life, especially Jasper's voice, and added depth to the portrayal of the other evil characters, enhancing the overall listening experience.

Recs...

For fans of domestic, suburban thrillers, particularly those who enjoy the works of authors Mary Kubica, B.A. Paris, and Kimberly Belle, THE HOUSE ON COLD CREEK LANE is a must-read. It shares the same intense and suspenseful storytelling style, making it a perfect choice for fans of these authors.

Thanks to Severn House and Dreamscape Media for a gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 6, 2024
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Thank you @severnhouseimprint @lizalterman for my complimentary copy. My friends @thrillerbookloversthepulse are raving about this one!

This is a domestic thriller with well developed characters and an intriguing storyline. I suspected the culprit from the beginning but I enjoyed the ride!

When LAUREL and Rob move into their new house, Laurel feels a sense of unease that she can’t explain. After all, Rob bought the house for her while she was on bed rest during her pregnancy, and Laurel never actually saw the house until she moved in.

Laurel takes her children to the park and tries to make friends with some of the mothers. One of her nextdoor neighbors is particularly annoying, always insinuating Laurel is a negligent mother. The other neighbor is Laurel’s age, single, and lots of fun. They become friends.

Laurel is blissfully unaware of some of the past events that went on in the neighborhood, including events that happened at her own residence. Laurel also doesn’t know that someone is watching the her and her family.

COREY used to live in Laurel’s house, but Corey now lives with her mother in Florida. Should she warn the new homeowners about the house?

The story is told in the alternating viewpoints of Laurel and Corey, who are not aware of how strongly their fates could be tied together. The action moves quickly! The author does a great job depicting motherhood and the issues that concern young mothers daily.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the ALC and ThrillerBookLovers The Pulse, Severn House, #partner, for an advanced e- copy of The House on Cold Creek Lane in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by Liz Alterman but it certainly will not be my last. Right from the start, I was pulled into the story and loved how there was an undercurrent of suspense woven through. We learn rather quickly that something ominous has happened but we don’t yet have all the details…and I was desperate to get them! ⁣
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The characters in this book were all so richly created, whether they were likeable or not…and quite a few walked a thin line between the two. It was very easy to question their motives throughout. ⁣
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This character-driven thriller will keep you completely engaged and guessing as to what is coming next…I know I was! And I loved that I didn’t guess many of the twists!!!