Member Reviews
This book starts off quickly and the suspense continues till the end. Information about the characters is slowly revealed which adds some thrill to the plot. I really enjoyed how it was written, how we saw the perspective of various characters throughout, sometimes this takes away from the plot and slows things down but I found it kept it fresh and revealed the secrets the reader needs to know. Definitely will be keeping an eye out for other books by this author!
The House Across The Street is a multiple POV story about a murder and all of the suspects. I listened to the audio version of this and it was a bit confusing with all the jumping around. That is the main reason for this rating.
This was a 2 star book (for me) until the end. The ending earned it another star.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was an enjoyable listen, but i do have couple of issues with it.........
The narration was great.
i liked the twists and turns, but you have to wait until 3/4 way through the book for it to really get going.
I must of really got into the book because, when i had finished it, i was mad with Anna for allowing her 10 year old daughter to be left alone - especially knowing what had been done to her!!! no mother i know would of ever done such a thing!!
A book about secrets & betrayals - definetly worth a read/listen
4 stars
The House Across the Street is my first Jill Childs novel. I enjoyed her style of writing and the story itself was very well developed. I usually don’t give four stars to books where I’ve figured out the twist early on. I did accurately guess the mystery/twist in this book, but I I enjoyed the characters and the story enough for it to merit the rating. I have already looked through Childs other offerings and have a few in mind to read next!
While a neighbourhood party is underway, a respected elderly doctor is murdered in his bed, leaving those who know him completely confused and disturbed at this turn of events.
Not least Anna and Tim, the adult siblings living across the street who lost their mother early. Because as their father's close friend, Dr Taylor has treated them, as well as Anna's daughter Cassie, with affection and given them his attention over the years. His own daughter, Lily, has always been Anna's best friend, the children growing up in each other's homes.
This book was not an unadulterated success for me. I guessed almost everything well beforehand in terms of the plotline, and it seemed to take a very long time to get to the point.
I found the ending particularly unsatisfying, and not very realistic, given the motivations of and the relationships between the key characters.
I think however, that for readers who do not guess where the story is leading, the book may well have something to offer. It gets 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
This book was a ride. I had some of it figured out really early, most of it really, but there is a point at the end I didn't expect to happen.
This book has a lot of themes around found family, the secrets we can keep for each other, and breaking points. It also seems to hint at don't trust people who do things you wouldn't want done to you, which is fair. The TW is a bit of a spoiler, so I'm going to place it at the end. This was a good read overall, I'd definitely recommend it to the psychological thriller lovers out there. It wasn't for me, but I thought it was well written and well executed.
TW for sexual assault/molestation, some moments where a child is endangered.
2 best friends keeping secrets..... What's the worst that could happen? The House across the Street is twisty. It started off slow, but then all of a sudden I was hooked and it kept my attention. I did figure out some of the twists early one, but the last one... got me right as it was happening. I listened to the audio of this book and the narrator was great! Each character kept their own voice and she kept a good pace and kept me on the edge of my seat.
This is my first book by Jill Childs. I will be on the lookout for more. Thank you to @Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I feel deceived. I feel humbled and very much naive.
I thought I had this story all figured out and that was NOT the case.
The House Across the Street was a thrilling, suspenseful and twisty book that I loved!
The narrator Kristin Atherton was incredible and made the book all the justice.
For those who love a suspenseful thriller, this one’s for you!
A huge thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
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Happy pub day!! The House Across the Street is a pretty solid psychological thriller. It’s a very quick popcorn read and I flew through this one in a night.
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There is nothing crazy out of the ordinary about the concept of this one. The characters aren’t super likable or unlikable. Some of the twists aren’t overly shocking either. There is a good amount of suspension and tension throughout the story. But the ending; I really enjoyed the ending, even if it was open ended. That ending is what made this book for me. Steady pace throughout, solid writing and a great ending is means for a solid popcorn thriller.
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I listened to this one via audiobook. Kristin Atherton was a great narrator for this one. I enjoyed the audiobook a lot. It was easy to follow. Definitely recommend the audio.
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The House Across the Street released today!!! It’s available on kindle unlimited!! Be sure to check it out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio and Jill Childs for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in audiobook format.
In the realm of psychological thrillers, Jill Childs’ The House Across the Street stands out as a gripping tale of secrets, suspense, and unexpected twists.
Narrated by the talented Kristin Atherton, this audiobook brings this story to life with a captivating performance listeners will view as addictive.
This story revolves around two best friends, Anna and Lily, who live across the street from each other in a seemingly idyllic neighborhood. Their lives take a dark turn when Lily’s father is found murdered in his own bed. As Anna vows to help Lily’s family find justice, she begins to receive threatening notes and experiences a series of terrifying events that put her own daughter, Cassie, in danger. The tension escalates as Anna navigates the treacherous path of uncovering the truth while protecting her loved ones.
Kristin Atherton’s narration is nothing short of spectacular. Her ability to convey the emotional depth of the characters and the suspenseful atmosphere of the story is remarkable. Atherton’s voice modulation and pacing enhance the listening experience, making it easy to get lost in the world Childs has created. Her performance adds an extra layer of intensity to the already thrilling plot, making this audiobook a must-listen for fans of the genre.
Childs masterfully explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the lengths one will go to protect their family. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping the listener guessing until the very end. The author’s writing style is engaging and immersive, with vivid descriptions that paint a clear picture of the characters’ emotions and the eerie setting.
As a book reviewer, I found The House Across the Street a compelling and addictive listen. The combination of Childs’ intricate storytelling and Atherton’s dynamic narration makes for an unforgettable experience. The suspense builds steadily, and the shocking revelations towards the end of the story are both satisfying and thought-provoking.
The House Across the Street is a standout psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of Sally Hepworth, The Woman in the Window, and Liane Moriarty.
Jill Childs delivers a story that is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating, while Kristin Atherton’s narration elevates the audiobook to new heights.
Everybody has secrets! You think you know people! This was a good book. I enjoyed it, and I also enjoyed the twist at the end. I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong! The ending was WOW!
3 stars!
The House Across the Street is about two families and best friends who live across the street from each other with and unwavering bond and secrets from their past.
The House Across the Street tells the story of two best friends who live across the street from each other from multiple points of view with a few twists. I enjoyed the book but found some of the "twists" to be predictable and sometimes felt annoyed by the main characters' choices in either telling or keeping details from one another.
I listened to this book via Audiobook and the narrator did a great job at pacing and keeping me engaged. Thank you to Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy via Net Galley for my honest opinion.
This was a good thriller, and I was at least a bit surprised with the reveal on the murdered, so I count that a win! I also really grew to care about the characters. I personally didn't love the ending but I think that's a matter of taste -- still great writing. I would recommend this one for sure.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook!
This one starts with Anna stumbling upon the body of her elderly neighbor and best friend Lily’s dad, Dr. Taylor. Who would have murdered him and why?
Anna and Lily share a bond beyond friendship-they are like sisters, sharing everything. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that even the closest relationships can have cracks. Meanwhile, Anna and her brother Tim keep a chilling secret they can’t afford to be revealed.
The pacing was excellent, and the suspense built up perfectly, but things slowed down in the middle. The twist at the end was good, and I enjoyed the audio narration.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the free copy of the book.
A body found (in that house across the street) triggers a string of events that leaves you guessing and speculating all the way to the end. Just my kind of story. Maybe the twists weren't mind-blowing but actually refreshingly realistic. I thought the characters and dialogue were well-developed and interesting. The narrator is one I've listened to before and found she adds to the action of the story, rather than detracting from it. That's crucial in a domestic thriller for me.
Childs has written more psychological thrillers and I will head to those next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC. All opinions are mine.
A whodunnit combined with a domestic feel… until the end, and it was very dark. I’m not saying it as a bad thing, but I would have definitely preferred to have this dark, more sinister vibe throughout the book rather than just a small part in the end.
Anna finds Lily’s father dead while a party is going on. Police ask her routine questions at first, but then they start investigating her as an actual suspect, so she decides to prove her innocence until someone starts leaving threatening notes on her door and her daughter’s wellbeing is tested because Anna has another secret (she just has like a tonne of secrets). So, is the same person who is trying to shed light on Ana’s secrets the same person that killed Lily’s father? Is she being framed? What is going on?
As I said before, this is a good story. The characters are good; I actually connected with Anna, especially in the last chapters.
I loved the family dynamic in this whole book—not just the blood family but the chosen one as well.
The book was really slow, though; it wasn’t quite the page-turner, but I found it interesting how the author wrapped it up. I don’t know; I would have been more satisfied with a focus more on Anna as a whole as a person, seeing a bit more of her personal story rather than the story being plot-driven. Had the writing been more focused on Ana herself a bit more in the earlier chapters to give the actual punch for the final ones and get the book moving a little bit more, I potentially would have liked the book more.
3 stars from me means that I enjoyed this novel and it’s a good book, but that personally I didn’t fall in love with it.
I downloaded it from NetGalley and found it to be a good accompaniment to admin. The characters just weren’t my kind of people, so I didn’t feel as invested in them as I otherwise would. I think that’s down to me rather than the author - I’m sure lots of people would like them, especially Anna and Lilly. And I’m sure that those who do will find this a 4- or 5-star read.
The book deals with some pretty dark concepts but in a way that introduces them naturally within the storyline. In the main I’d say it’s an examination of the power of female friendship, even when it goes sour.
Three Word Review: street of death.
The ending of this book completely took me by surprise. As much as I love an unpredictable ending, I didn't necessarily love this book like I was hoping I would. It was ok, a solids 3 stars, but I found it hard to connect to the lot and characters. I listened to the audio version, which was pleasant to listen to, but I often had to double checked to see which point of view the narrator was speaking as. I love audio books, but I think I may have enjoyed readying the actual book for this one.
Thank you o NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
Thank you Netgalley, Jill Childs and Bookouture Audio for the Arc of The House Across the Street.
Narrated by Kristin Atherton
The House Across The Street follows two lifelong friends , Anna and Lily who have grown up and have families of their own. The uniqueness is that they live across the street from each other. They have been there for each other through life tragedies but they hold secrets of their own too. One night, Anna finds out that Lily's Father was found dead and soon after Anna starts receiving threatening notes. Who is suddenly trying to destroy yhr peace on the street?
The House Across the Street is a good, all round, medium paced domestic thriller. The twists and turns are well executed and shows that we can be so close to someone and we may never know all the skeletons in the closet. This book is mainly plot driven told as a POV of Anna. The characters are fleshed out but would have liked to have seen more so they pop out of the book. Jill Child's writing style kept me engaged so listened to this book pretty much in 2 sittings.
Kristin Atherton did a wonderful job in narrating this book. I'll be looking forward to seeing both of them in future books.
3.5 stars, rounded to 4 for Netgalley, Goodreads and Amazon
Oh gosh… the atmosphere of the story is such a sad one. I’ve had to take multiple breaks between listening to the narration because it would put a damper on my mood. The book is very well written, and the narrator does a great job of projecting the pains and traumas of the characters. Two best friends and their families are going through a long period of downfalls… traumatic experiences and lots and lots of pain. Anna and Lily are close friends and neighbours and their turbulent past and present kept me engaged and curious about solving the mystery. As the “life spool” kept unravelling I felt sorry for Anna and Cassie and their circumstances. The male characters, Tim and Geroge, are going through their own personal turbulences and harbour their own secrets that affect their judgment at times. Overall, the story is heartwarming, thought-provoking and very, very sad…
I want to thank Jill Childs, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for accepting my request for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.