I am a big fan of Kerry Wilkinson's books and I am always happy when he brings out a new one. I have read three or four so far, and this story is a bit of a mixed bag.

I think the main problem with it for me was the pacing. The first half of the book drags somewhat, and occasionally feels repetitive. The characters also don't seem particularly likeable or interesting.

However, the great strength of the book lies in the portrayal of the character of the single father and his young daughter, still struggling from the senseless murder of their wife and mother respectively. Their relationship is portrayed with great tenderness, as is their grief and the need to heal from it.

The book picks up speed and suspense abruptly towards the end. All the loose ends are tied up and everything suddenly makes sense. Overall, the story is definitely worth a read, but the reader might do well to skim through the first 60% and pay attention in the last 25%.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
Publication date December 5, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Heidi and Freddie move to a new house in a neighborhood. Heidi discovers Freddie his hididing secrets, locked in his home office. Willow, Gabe and Willow's teenage daughter live across the road. Willow and Freddie went to school together, but Freddie does not want to talk about it. Gabe goes out late at night, with no explanation to where he has been or what he has been doing. Dylan and his daughter Orla live next to them. Dylan's wife was attacked and murdered 3 years ago, and the killer was never caught. The mystery of who did it consumes him. Next to them are Alison and Kenneth. Kenneth is often away on business, but his very traditional Asian mother is with Alison, always keeping an eye on her. Everyone in this neighborhood has secrets, and they all conveniently unravel during a neighborhood party.

This was a fast-paced book from multiple viewpoints.

This was such a good suspense novel. Multiple of viewpoints and different timelines. The characters also have their own storyline along with a bigger one at play. This story is more of a slow burn than a fast-paced thriller, which allows plenty of time to dig into each character’s complicated life. Just when you think you’ve figured out the mystery, another layer is revealed, keeping you on your toes until the very end. Wilkinson does a fantastic job of weaving together each resident’s storyline. Overall this book held my attention and I finished it in a weekend.

The book opens with a 911 call and we know something has happened but unsure with who or what exactly has occurred. Just your everyday friendly neighborhood... or is it? There are Heidi and Freddie who have purchased their first home but there something odd going on with Freddie... he is keeping his office locked and not allowing Heidi to enter which maker her very suspicious of her husband. Then there is Willow and Gabe, another couple hiding secrets... Gabe is out at all hours of the night and Willow has major concerns of what her husband is up to. They have a teenage daughter Isabella, but Gabe is not her father. Dylan has a daughter Orla and is a single parent (his wife was murdered just a year or so prior), trying to navigate this role as well as he can. But Dylan is experiencing dark thoughts and some impulsive behavior. Alison is married to Kenneth who works a lot overseas. Alison is the neighborhood organizer, a role she takes very seriously but annoys others...

Overall a solid 4 starts

This was a slow read for me because although a lot happened it felt slow paced. It was too easy to pick up and put down rather than feeling I had to keep reading. NetGalley stated this book is a thriller which was why I read it. I don’t consider this a thriller, more of a domestic drama which is the genre shown on Goodreads. It was a little bit all over the place and I was constantly waiting for the thrill and the twists which just didn’t come. That said if there was a follow on book about the characters I would read it but I’d know not to expect a thriller. I’d like to know what happened next because I felt it was left up in air. I was going to rate this three stars because it didn’t deliver as a thriller. However as a domestic drama it does deserve four.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

A very good thriller with plenty of twists which I didn't expect. This story just kept on taking the reader down so many different paths and dead ends that I really had no idea how it would turn out. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review..

I was a bit disappointed with this book as it was more a domestic story than a thriller. Not much suspense. The ending seemed rushed and did not explain all the loose ends.. I would definitely read the next one though as it was well written. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. SPOILERS IN THE REVIEW.

I am feeling very confused and annoyed with this book. The ending has me questioning why this book plot even exists, because 98% of the book doesn't match the ending.

The book is written from several different perspectives, which I found to be a bit overwhelming trying to keep all of the characters straight. The chapters were short, which made it a quick read.

The overall plot is where I have the biggest issue. Literally nothing exciting happened in the first 70% of the book. The only interesting part were the "Future" chapters as they brought in the suspense I was anticipating. The ending was a massive letdown. We find out that Iz shoots her stepfather, but the overall mystery was not really revealed to the reader. It was hinted, but nothing that came right out to say how the wife died.

This book did not do it for me and I am walking away really confused about the whole thing.

Welcome to the Neighborhood......

WOWZA! Home Is Where the Lies Live is a gripping, twisted, secret filled thrill ride of a book! Whew! Kerry Wilkinson delivered once again! Huntington Grove is a picture-perfect neighborhood which is getting ready for its annual block party! Heidi and Freddie have just moved in and are anxious to meet their neighbors. As the party begins, Freddie is recognized by one of his new neighbors, and things take a turn....

Kerry Wilkinson did not save the drama for his mama! He poured it into Home Is Where the Lies Live! There is drama and secrets galore hiding in plain sight on Huntington Grove. The residents on this street each have their own secrets and challenges ranging from grief, being a single parent, marriage issues, growing pains, issues with teen children, a blast from the past, and locked rooms! This book is told through the POV's of several of the characters. This was a very nice touch and helped me get into the minds and to understand their motivations

Home Is Where the Lies Live kept me on my toes and turning the pages! I loved the secrets, the tension, the questioning, the lying, and the shocking reveals. This was the 15th book that I have read by Kerry Wilkinson. I always get excited when I see he has a new book coming out! I can't wait to read what he writes next!

Thrilling, entertaining, shocking, well written, well thought out and dramatic!!!

Sadly not for me but perhaps because it wasn't what I was expecting or hoping for. It started well with a 999 call reporting gunshots at a street party but then that turned out to be such a minor part of the story in the end. It was more a domestic drama, focusing on the secrets of four households although weirdly from three POVs (odd that Alison's family didn't get a POV). Most of the secrets didn't relate to the events of the street party and some were never fully answered such as what happened to Ciara (unless I somehow missed that). It was also very much a slow burn with all the action at the end.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture/ Bookouture Audio for this aArc of Home is Where the Lies Live.

Home is where the lies live is a compelling domestic thriller of interwoven lives of the people at a house party. The pacing of this book by Kerry Wilkinson is constant, balancing in-depth character development with the direction and twists of the plot itself. This keeps your interest as I listened/ read this book in two sittings and couldn't wait to get back to it.

The characters were well developed and likeable, even if some of the discussions these made weren't the best. I really enjoy books like this as the characters feel whole and human.

The audio version is narrated by Matthew Spencer, Rebecca Lee, Julia Barrie, these 3 people did a remarkable job in bringing the characters and plot out of the pages.

4.25 stars for Storygraph, rounded to 4 for other review sites.

When Heidi and Freddie move into their new house, they believe they have found the perfect home, but when Freddie meets Willow, their new neighbour but also an old classmate, he starts to behave strangely. Willow has her own issues, with husband Gabe going out every night and another neighbour, Stepford-Wife-style Alison, lives alone, so why is there terrible screaming heard from her house? Dylan is doing his best to raise his daughter alone, after his wife was murdered, is he the killer?

There is so much going on in this little neighbourhood and my head was spinning! So many secrets, so many lies and a whole heap of twisty truths about be revealed at the neighbourhood party!

I really enjoyed this book, it's a page turner for sure! I would have liked the ending to be less abrupt and to have tied up some loose ends.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Kerry Wilkinson and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

3.5 ☆

『 plot 』
huntington grove, a quiet, peaceful street, where everyone is polite and helps each other out but underneath the picture perfect street is heidi and freddie, who have recently just moved to the neighbourhood, but there’s one door that’s always locked in her new home, but why? heidi is determined to find out. there’s willow, who lives with her teenage daughter and husband, but is always seeming to be arguing with her daughter and then there’s dylan, and his 7 year old daughter. his wife was murdered a couple years back, but no suspect was found.
one day, an annual party, a gunshot and panic erupts throughout the neighbourhood but who was it? and why?


『 my thoughts 』
i did enjoy this book, but it did feel slow in parts and lacking in something.. the thing that kept me engaged throughout was ‘the future’ parts of the book, and the little mystery’s surrounding some of the families on the street. the story was told through multiple POVs; heidi, willow and dylan, which added depth and helped move the story along, it also helped with the secrets and mystery surrounding everyone and seeing different versions of the story. some of the mystery’s seemed very random, until you reach the end and realise why. however, the end was a bit underwhelming and i feel like i was left with more questions than answers

4.5🌟
You did a bad, bad thing.
So let’s try to figure out the what, why and who…

Freddie and Heidi just moved into a new neighborhood. Boxes aren’t even un-packed and he’s already itching to move again. Now why would that be?

Willow and Gabe are having issues of their own. Gabe with his mysterious evening jaunts. And his teenage daughter Isabella trying to grow in a direction her mother just can’t understand. Sounds typical right? Hmm…in this case maybe not so much.

Alison and Kenneth’s relationship seems to flow better when Kenneth is working overseas. But now he’s back, so what does that mean for them.

Dylan and his daughter Orla. Widowed three years ago when his wife was murdered. He won’t rest until her killer is brought to justice.

Those are your players…Ready? Let the games begin!

Do you enjoy neighborhood thrillers? This may be the crème de la crème when it comes to dysfunctional neighbors!

I was lucky enough to have both the audio and digital copies of this latest release by one of my go to authors - Kerry Wilkinson.
🎧I listened to the first 50%. With multiple narrators bringing life to the neighborhood characters, all doing a fabulous job.
💻The last 50% I switched it up and read the digital copy.

For this reader the digital copy worked best. I was able to immerse myself into the neighborhood and really understand the characters at a deeper level.
I don’t think you can go wrong whichever way you decide to go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture & Bookouture Audio

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #HomeIsWhereTheLiesLive by #KerryWilkinson. Huntington Grove is a neighborhood with lots of secrets. Heidi and Freddie just moved into this neighborhood and Freddie is acting very strange. Willow, one of their neighbors, went to school with Freddie but he seems to want nothing to do with her. Dylan, a different neighbor, whose wife was murdered a few years back, is raising his young daughter and always trying to find out who killed his wife. A summer picnic seems the perfect time to get to know everyone, that is until the police show up. Did someone commit a crime or has something caught up to a killer?

Following the residents of Huntingdon Grove, there is drama and death.

This is a slow burn read but as uaual with this author you get a good ending.

I loved how the myhstery unfolded and it ended with a punch

Recommended read

This book follows the story of the residents of 4 homes in Huntington Grove and their daily lives in the week leading up to a block party where a tragedy occurs.

Unfortunately this book fell completely flat for me. It reads more like a drama than a thriller and I was struggling to continue reading it. The back stories of the characters dragged on for the entire book and the ending was very abrupt.

I did feel that a couple of the characters were relatable and I found myself giggling several times, which was a pleasant surprise.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read and review this book ahead of the publishing date.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of home is Where the Lies Live. The cover of the house is Absolutely Stunning!!!! This was a very good read, many characters but not overwhelming that you didn't know who belonged to whom. I felt bored with one of the characters story BUT then I felt AWE, I'm glad it worked out the way it did. I felt as if I was part of the book and I LOVE that!!! Looks like there will be a sequel???Enjoy this, you will be happy you read it.

I thought this would have been a good read apart from it was quite slow. It reminded me of the set up for desperate housewives, everyone had secrets. I didn't enjoy it much.

Another brilliant thriller from Kerry Wilkinson, this one was absolutely packed with secrets, lies and shocking twists and turns. Fantastic, I loved it!

Oh this one had a great set up!
Slow build kinda dragged for me but oh the twists! Worth it!
Kerry does an amazing job with character development, backstory and keeping momentum. I loved the audio - though so many names to keep track of, connections, kept me on my toes and confused at times.
Also loved the "neighborhood" feel - invested in their lives, comings and goings, accepting a new neighbor. Well done.