My first Jill Child’s book and I really enjoyed it.
A really solid thriller with an ending that reminded me of Freida McFadden!
A book filled with juicy secrets, trauma, and deception.
More thoughts in my TikTok.

4.5/5 stars!

CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS

This was a really thrilling book that kept my headphones glued to my ears. I couldn’t devour it fast enough! With more twists and turns than a theme park, this book kept me guessing till the very end. The audiobook narrator was very good and had distinct enough voices for me to tell what character the chapter’s POV was in. This was on the same level as the best Freida McFadden books I’ve read and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Publication Date: 07/15/24

"The House Across the Street" centers on Lily and Anna, childhood best friends who have shared many secrets and experiences of both joy and sorrow. The plot takes a dark turn when Lily's father is murdered, prompting Anna to uncover the truth behind the crime. As Anna digs deeper, she unravels hidden secrets from both the past and the present.

The narrator's performance in the audiobook is commendable, enhancing the listening experience with clear and engaging delivery. However, some listeners might find the book a bit lengthy, and the plot twists somewhat predictable, which can detract from the overall suspense and intrigue. Despite these points, the story offers a compelling exploration of friendship and the complexities of uncovering hidden truths.

I do recommend this book, giving it 3.5 stars and thank both Bookouture and NetGalley for my pre-publication audiobook, in return for this review.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for the book #TheHouseAcrossTheStreet by #JillChilds. This suspenseful book kept me guessing to the last very second. Lily and Anna have been neighbors and best friends since childhood. Lily’s father gets murdered and Anna is trying to help the investigation. But when things start affecting her daughter Cassie, she makes a choice to back off to protect her. There is a lot of drama and secrets right up until the end.

When a horrific murder happens across the street, Anna finds herself a key part of the investigation. Soon enough everyone’s seemingly perfect lives and relationships are put under the microscope and the secrets and lies that have been buried deep rise to the surface.

This was such a gripping story, I listened to the audiobook and had to force myself to stop listening at points or I’d have listened to the whole thing in one go. Just when you thought it was heading in one direction, revelations completely steered the story elsewhere and it kept me guessing until the big reveal.

And don’t get me started on the ending. Wow. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor!

Me, shaking my fist into the air demanding Goodreads allow us to give half stars. The House Across the Street is a good book, solid, not terribly demanding and a quick read. It falls between a 3 and a 4, but on this one I'm not rounding up. As an audio arc from Netgalley, I'm glad to have been introduced to writer Jill Childs and will read more of hers, but this one was just ok for me.

It's the typical domestic thriller set in a neighborhood, best friends, time between events, a muuuuuuder.....all one can expect. But, I did not feel a connection (hence could not care) about her characters.

This book will appeal if you like murder mysteries and intrigue. Two best friends, Lily and Anna, from two close families share years of secrets and loss, as well as happy times from childhood. Both their brothers have their own demons, which are revealed in time, and Anna’s daughter Cassie has an absent father who is ever present in the back story.
A sudden accidental death and a murder feature early and there’s a lot to solve with plenty of twists and turns to satisfy the reader. To be honest I ‘guessed’ one of the major story threads by about 20% through, but that didn’t spoil the book overall. It is quite fast paced at times, was read very well by Kristin Atherton for the audiobook, and came to an unpredictable conclusion. I recommend.
Thanks very much to Bookouture and NetGalley for my pre-publication audiobook, in return for this review.

Well, I'm always up for a domestic thriller, especially when it is focused on neighbours or a small neighbourhood, and when someone is murdered and everyone (or some people) has secrets.
That was pretty much the case with this book. I got, more or less, what I expected by reading the synopsis. The characters seemed realistic enough so that I could actually care about them, and the writing held my attention.
I gotta say, though, that there were some moments this book seemed to be longer and, even though I didn't predict the ending, I wasn't surprised by it, either.
All in all, this book ended up being just OK to me.
The audiobook narrator, in my opinion, did a pretty decent job. I'd recommend it.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture Audio, for allowing me to listen to an advanced audiobook copy of this novel.

**Book Review: The House Across the Street by Jill Childs**

Jill Childs' *The House Across the Street* is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the dark secrets lurking behind closed doors in a seemingly quiet neighborhood. Set in a picturesque English town, the novel follows the perspective of Isabelle, a newcomer who becomes fascinated by the mysterious history of the house across the street.

Childs excels in creating an atmosphere of suspense and unease right from the beginning. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter unveiling new revelations and deepening the intrigue surrounding the house and its inhabitants. The author's ability to weave together multiple narrative threads keeps the reader guessing and eager to uncover the truth.

The characters in *The House Across the Street* are well-developed and multi-dimensional. Isabelle, with her own troubled past, is a relatable protagonist whose curiosity about the house's history leads her down a dangerous path. The supporting cast, including her enigmatic neighbor and the town's quirky residents, adds depth to the story and heightens the sense of mystery.

The novel's strength lies in its intricate plot, which twists and turns with expert precision. Childs skillfully builds tension, layering clues and red herrings in equal measure. As secrets are unearthed and motives are questioned, the suspense escalates to a satisfying climax that ties together the narrative threads in a compelling manner.

While the ending may be somewhat predictable for seasoned thriller readers, the journey to get there is thoroughly enjoyable. Childs' prose is engaging and evocative, painting vivid scenes of both idyllic small-town life and the darker undercurrents beneath its surface.

*The House Across the Street* is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, offering a compelling blend of mystery, suspense, and well-crafted characters. Jill Childs proves herself adept at keeping readers on edge until the very last page, making this novel a standout in the genre.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Just from reading the synopsis of this book, I knew I would like it. From the start, it grabs your attention and doesn’t fail to keep it for the duration. All of the characters are interesting in their own right and I love how it does bounce from different points of view. I was not expecting the ending and then when I thought it was ending, there were even more surprises! I can’t wait to read more from this author.

The House Across the Street
by Jill Childs, narrated by Kristin Atherton

I listened to the audiobook and the tension is HIGH, made higher with Kristin Atherton's narration. So much crying, screeching, yelling, and despair, all for good reason. The story starts with a car hitting a woman on a dark night and the troubles continue from there.

In the present day, we meet single mom, Anna, her ten year old daughter, Cassie (cute, smart kid), and Anna's brother, back home after being away for about ten years. The brother/sister team have a bad memory from ten years ago, a past that must be lived down and the reason Anna's brother was gone for so long.

Anna's best friend is Lily and they are best friends forever, despite horrible events of the past. Lily's brother is still not over what happened long ago but mostly time passes and everyone makes the best of things until someone murders Lily's dad, Anna begins getting threats to herself and her daughter, and everyone pretty much goes into meltdown mode.

The audiobook sent my blood pressure soaring, it doesn't make for a calm listen but then the story is fraught with danger, accusations about the past and present and questions about who did what when. This is one of those books that isn't over when it's over. Very few people here are really all that nice and almost none of them make very good decisions. Cassie's a chip off the old block in the bad decision making department but she's learned from the best based on the actions of her mom and uncle. Good times are NOT had by all and someone still needs a good comeuppance by the end of the book.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

✩ 3.95 ⋆｡°✩ 💛
<u><i>review based on audio book</i></u>


<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review</i>


‧₊˚🔪✩ ₊˚🎧⊹♡


<b>MAIN REVIEW:</b>

✦ → it’s a story about two best friends and the secrets between them that unravel slowly throughout the book


✦ → The starting to the book is a little slow but it gets better and the ending was <u>unpredictable</u> and it had me making so many random guesses throughout the book


✦ → the characters felt real, especially Cassie. Overall well written and executed.


✦ → there’s a lot of information thrown at you at the end of chapters and so many twists and turns, it really grabbed my attention and had me at the edge of seat

✦ → highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers


♫₊˚.🎧 ✩｡

This was my first book by this author and is a good domestic thriller. The narration was well done and had a good pace and flow.

Anna and her 10 year old daughter, Cassie, live across the street from the family home of her best friend, Lily. After a party one night, Anna finds Lily’s father murdered in his room. She sees a suspicious figure walking away from the house. The murder is the focus of the story with a sub plot emerging as to who Cassie’s father is.

The story has twists and turns, a couple I figured out before revealed and was happy to have guessed correctly! Others kept me guessing until the reveal. I did get a bit confused with the timeline at points and had to repeat the chapter to figure it out.

The story goes into overdrive at the end with more twists and ends on a surprise twist.
I will read more by this author.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the arc. I leave this review voluntarily.

No secret lasts forever… this was such a fun read!

Premise: Anna and Lily are lifelong best friends with intertwined lives. Anna lives across the street from Lily’s parents, a beloved couple in the community. But one day Anna sees something odd through the window - she heads over to check on Lily’s dad and inadvertently walks into a murder scene instead. Someone knows Anna saw too much and now her daughter, Cassie is being threatened.

I really enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters in this one! They were vivid and human, it was easy to root for them! This is a slower burn psychological thriller, but never dull and definitely still bingeable. Pick this up for your summer travels!

I listened to the audiobook version, which is a great way to enjoy this book on-the-go (I was such a holdout on audiobooks, but now that I’ve given in to adding them to the mix, I’m obsessed). The narrator,
Kristin Atherton, has a lovely voice, incredibly pleasant British accent, and does a beautiful job with the various characters - you really forget they’re all being read by only one person.

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lily and Anna are best friends who have grown up together living on the same street, one day there is a murder and suddenly their life doesn’t feel so safe anymore.
I won’t say much more about the plot because it’s best to go in blind and get whisked along.
It’s a tangled web that is gripping throughout, plenty of mystery from the past and present to keep you guessing, it was thoroughly enjoyable and well written.
I listened to the audio audition of the book and I didn’t love the narrator. She made the majority of the dialogue aggressive or angry when it wasn’t always warranted.

Anna notices some strange goings on and investigates to find out the father of her best friend Lily who lives across the street has been murdered! And Anna has secrets of her own. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook.