I really enjoyed this book! I was lucky enough to do the LFL drop off, so it was really cool to share it with friends. It made for an AMAZING book club read!! There was so much to talk about and pick apart.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

I had some trouble getting into this one as on the very first page a man hits a dog with his car (the dog is fine) but harm to animals on page 1 is enough to make me want to DNF. Then there were the POVs- 5 right out of the gate, flipping back and forth within chapters, which was at least 1 too many POVs for me. Then there were the sheer number of characters- each POV had a spouse/child or multiple children/coworker/friend. The base storyline was interesting but it was just hard to follow and I had to crowdsource to confirm the dog was OK before I read forward.

Wonderfully written but be prepared this is depressing. I am looking forward to what the author continues to write because this was really well done.
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Thank you Celadon and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Emerson seems like any other suburb in Massachusetts, but when the body of a young woman is found the peace and tranquility of this idyllic town is shattered. Four people were hanging out that night, leaving three suspects in the detective’s sights. There is Jack, the popular boy with a bit of a history; Christopher, the son of an immigrant on the bottom of the social ladder; and Hannah, a sweet girl with a history of her own. Each has their own motivations to keep suspicion off them, motivations driven by their parents…parents that have a lot to lose as well.

I found Locust Lane to be really good, right up until the very end, which I found to be incredibly disappointing. The characters were realistic; they had real flaws and problems with real reactions and motivations, and they were well developed. I especially liked Patrick. I felt he was a tragic individual with a giant heart. All of the characters have a voice as well, each sharing in the narration of the events surrounding Eden’s death. Unfortunately I found the murderer to be a little bit of a cliche, making it too obvious of a choice. Without spoilers, I found other aspects of the ending unsatisfying.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I was super into the synopsis and thought the book started well, but it just was not for me. I thought all of the drama and intrigue surrounding the “who-dunnit” was a little too detailed and a little too much. I would say this is more domestic drama than edge of my seat thriller, though I can see why other readers loved it so much.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

I struggle with domestic thrillers, and I’ve determined they aren’t really my thing. I couldn’t find purchase to relate to the characters and their lives in the story outside of the main plot of the murder. I would have loved less of the drama of the parents, and more around what happened with the murder. The audiobook narrator did a great job though!

After reading the synopsis, I really wanted to like this book, but it far from expectations. I struggled to finish it. Many aspects seemed unreasonable. Twitter and the internet are through around all the time. It's like they only exist in the small town of Emerson, not the world. This novel does bring light to how social media can be easily used to destroy a person, whether the comments are true or not. The characters are superficial at best, with little development. There is not happy ending, no package with a cute little bow. This was a nice change to what is the current trend in the mystery/thriller genre.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cassandra Campbell, too. Cassandra's narration was great, even though the novel fell short. I would read and recommend Cassandra as a narrator.

I want to thank Netgalley and Celadon Books for an ARC, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook.

I was hearing lots of buzz about Locust Lane, so I was beyond excited about receiving an ARC! Having never read any of Stephen Amidon’s novels, I didn’t really know what to expect. The book started out pretty interesting and as the story surrounding the murder of a young woman in a small town unfolds, that’s where the interest stopped for me. I wanted to love this book so badly, but it just never clicked for me. It was difficult for me to finish and I found myself not really caring about who committed the murder. I formed no attachment to any of the characters and felt it jumped around more than a lot of books with alternating POV’s that I’ve read. I really dislike giving negative reviews, as I respect the amount of blood, sweat and tears it must take to write a book. Even though Locust Lane wasn’t my cup of tea, doesn’t mean that it wasn’t well written or a good story. I appreciate the opportunity to have read this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Locust Lane was a very character driven, slow burn mystery. I found there were a lot of characters introduced right away and it was a little hard to keep them straight at first, but once the story gets going, you will be staying up all night to find out whodunnit.

Good thriller. Wish I loved the ending as much as I did the rest of the book, would have given 5 stars if I did. Thank you to Netgalley for the early read.

On the surface, Emerson, Massachusetts, is just like any other affluent New England suburb. But when a young woman is found dead in the nicest part of town, the powerful neighbors close ranks to keep their families safe. In this searing novel, Eden Perry’s death kicks off an investigation into the three teenagers who were partying with her that night, each a suspect. Hannah, a sweet girl with an unstable history. Jack, the popular kid with a mean streak. Christopher, an outsider desperate to fit in. Their parents, each with motivations of their own, only complicate the picture: they will do anything to protect their children, even at the others’ expense.

Locust Lane is filled with secrets and a heck of a lot of drama. There are several POV as the story is told from the parent’s perspective. Parents who are trying to protect their children, or their own secrets? I found almost all of the characters to be unlikeable. After finishing the story, I wonder if that was done on purpose?

I think this one would have benefited from multiple narrators. With only one I had some trouble keeping up with who was currently speaking.

I liked how everything wrapped up. The ending could be taken different ways. I’m still debating on it, and I think would be an interesting book club discussion!

This was my first book of Amidon’s.

I love domestic and “neighborhood’” thrillers but this one missed the mark for me. Told in many POV’s it got a little confusing and redundant. I also hate when there is an animal killed or injured so that wasn’t fun right off the bat.

Thank you for the arc.

This was just okay for me. The first chapter definitely hooked me in, but then I was left confused. There are a lot of POVs, all of which are the parents of the kids involved in the murder. I would have proffered the kids POVs I think. The ending was surprising but left me annoyed and wanting more.

Thank you netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Celadon Books, NetGalley, and the Author, Stephen Amindon for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of this book.

Locust Lane is a wonderfully written mystery thriller that had me turning pages fast! I was so eager to find out where this was headed and how everyone was tied into the murder…

The book starts out with Patrick hitting a dog while out on an early morning drive. Yes, he swerved, but when he got out to check on the dog, he thinks he sees a figure standing in the woods. Patrick cannot be sure of what he sees since he has been drinking.

The shocking murder of a teenager, Eden Perry is revealed. Eden was murdered in a house nearby and the suspects are three teens that live in her neighborhood. We watch the well-meaning parents help solve the mystery and still protect their children. The story is told from different points of view of characters that all have something to do with the murder. It’s truly a story that could happen to anyone in any neighborhood.

Stephen Amidon is an excellent storyteller. He has you gripped with the first line, and you are following the breadcrumbs until the end. I liked that I was constantly thinking a different person was responsible for the murder, but as soon as you think that…here comes an unexpected twist and turn and now you don’t know who it is anymore. I am looking forward to reading more of his books.

Quick and Dirty⁣
-murder mystery⁣
-explores social issues⁣
-multiple POVs⁣
-quick read⁣
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Synopsis⁣
Nothing ever happens in the quiet little waspy town of Emerson, at least not until Eden is murdered. The troubled young woman was temporarily staying with a distant relative but seemingly has no other ties to the community. Not long after her murder, the police identify Christopher as their primary suspect. The quiet young man is the only son of an immigrant chef, who soon becomes the target of racial slurs and online harassment. Christopher is definitely hiding something, and his best friend, Jack, is determined to keep that secret under wraps. Meanwhile across town, a fallen financier is hitting the bottle hard, but not hard enough to forget what he saw on Locust Lane the night of Eden's murder. But will anyone believe him this time? ⁣
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Musings⁣
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be such a thrilling page-turner. It had a bit of everything: family drama, in-fighting, mystery, and intrigue. The unlikeable characters and ambiguous ending won't be for everyone, but if you don't mind those things I would highly suggest you give Locust Lane a chance. I especially enjoyed all the social commentary the author weaved into the story: classism, racism, cyberbullying/harassment, privilege, addiction, and mental health. One character, in particular, was so well-written that it made this book a standout for me. Not every author accurately captures the dance between addiction and grief, but Amidon does a wonderful job portraying the relationship between the two. Overall, this book is a great option for litfic lovers in search of a murder mystery!

Locust Lane is a riveting, page-turning novel of families, mystery and relationships. Told from various points of view, it delves deeply into each character's inner life and their history.

The novel opens with Patrick, a grieving alcoholic, taking a nighttime ride in the privileged town of Emerson, Massachusetts. He inadvertently hits a large black dog with his vehicle and when he gets out of his car to see the damage that occurred, the dog growls at him and takes a bite out of his thigh. Patrick senses someone in the trees nearby but when he calls out to this stranger he is met with silence. The next day, Patrick reads a surprising headline - a 20 year old woman was murdered in the house closest to where he hit the dog. Though legally drunk at the time of the accident, Patrick is sure of the events that occurred and even reports them to the police.

Eden, the murdered girl, has been taking a time out from her mother and living with distant cousins in Emerson. Her mother is a salesperson in a jewelry store and not one of Emerson's cadre of wealth. The house is often empty on weekends because the owners travel, and it is known by the local teenagers as a place to party On the night of the murder, a few of Eden's acquaintances were present and when questioned, each has an alibi and cover-up story. Since these teen-agers come from 'good' and 'wealthy' families, the police tend to believe their alibis. Only one of the teen-agers is not from monied Emerson, and he is the one who is accused of the murder. Patrick has a history with the police involving his dead daughter who was a drug addict, and he is not only disbelieved, but is treated rudely and as a nuisance.

The story is multi-dimensional, much more than just a murder mystery. It is about the lengths parents will go to protect their children, a montage of the inner workings of several relationships and marriages, and the secrets and shame that people carry with them. Mr. Amidon gets the voices of all the characters so that they ring true and real. He understands teenagers and portrays them in their self-proclaimed glory along with their lies, stupidity and faltering loyalty to their peers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and my only criticism is that it is very repetitive, something I find quite common in mystery novels. It is as though the author wants to make sure that the reader remembers what transpired and, in order to do this, must reiterate the facts. This happened too many times for me to feel totally overwhelmed with the book. Had their been less repetition, I would have rated Locust Lane a '5'.

An instant best seller. Locust Lane is fast-paced domestic thriller that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were well written, you either loved them or hated them, most times a little of both. In the end truths are told or not and families do what they think is best or not …a complicated mess. A definite 5 star.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc

"On the surface, Emerson, Massachusetts, is just like any other affluent New England suburb. But when a young woman is found dead in the nicest part of town, the powerful neighbors close ranks to keep their families safe. In this searing novel, Eden Perry’s death kicks off an investigation into the three teenagers who were partying with her that night, each a suspect. Hannah, a sweet girl with an unstable history. Jack, the popular kid with a mean streak. Christopher, an outsider desperate to fit in. Their parents, each with motivations of their own, only complicate the picture: they will do anything to protect their children, even at the others’ expense."

This story is told from multiple POV's, the parents of all of the teens involved and a member of the community that saw a man in the shadows the night of the murder. I found the story telling unique, being from the parents POV opposed to those actually involved, but it certainly added extra mystery - can you truly believe what your child is telling you? At times the parents behaviors seemed worse than that of the teens, immediately wanting to cover up what happened to protect their children without knowing the truth or even caring that a young woman was murdered. The book was full of unlikeable characters and proved that wealth and status are often more important than the truth.
Overall I enjoyed this story, it started a bit slow but quickly picked up speed. I would classify this as more of a mystery/domestic drama than a thriller, but it did keep me guessing until the very end. I love when a final twist in a story shocks me; but also, once revealed, I can clearly see the clues along the way.

⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)

Thank you to @netgalley, @celadonbooks, and @macmillianaudio for the gifted copy of this book.

Patrick Noone is drunk, an unfortunately not unusual state for him. As he’s driving around one night, trying to outpace his demons, he accidentally hits a dog wandering in the streets of his well-off town of Emerson, Massachusetts. He stops the car and gets out, even as he knows that this is probably a bad, or at least a self-defeating, move:

QUOTE
<i>Go home,</i> he thought. <i>Finish the bottle, hit the sack. You know the drill. Dawn will come, followed by another barren day.</i>

But he couldn’t do it. He’d injured a living thing. That made him responsible for it. He had to help. He didn’t need another item in the overladen shopping cart of guilt he was pushing around. He’d made a deal with himself not to abandon decency. He could leave behind everything else, but not that.
END QUOTE

While attempting to tend to the dog, he spots a figure in the darkness. When the not-too-badly injured animal turns on him, Patrick flees, but can’t get the encounter out of his head.

The next morning, he wakes up and discovers that a young woman was murdered in the house right near where he hit the dog. Was what he saw last night relevant to the case? More importantly, will the cops believe him, given the shakiness of his story and, more damningly, his already poor relationship with the local police?

The murder victim is Eden Perry, the home companion and dog walker for the wealthy Bondurants. Bill and Betsy Bondurant are getting on in years, and after hearing of the friction between twenty year-old Eden and her mother Danielle, offered their young relative a safe haven far away from the rough company she ran with in neighboring Watertown. Mother and daughter were both relieved by the offer, and Eden seemed to be thriving under their care. But now she’s dead, and Danielle is bereft.

Massachusetts State Police Detective Dorothy Gates tries to assure Danielle that she and the Emerson police are pursuing all avenues of investigation. But Danielle knows that getting to the truth about what happened to her daughter is really still up to her:

QUOTE
Danielle nodded. She’d go. She’d trust the smart woman with the gentle manner and the Glock on her hip. She had no choice. But Gates was wrong about one thing. They weren’t the ones looking after Eden. Danielle was. It had always been her, and only her. Just because the silly girl had gone and got herself killed didn’t change that. Not for one minute.
END QUOTE

As Danielle and Patrick’s paths collide and merge, they begin to uncover the terrible secrets festering in the heart of the seemingly serene town. Eden hadn’t been able to completely outrun her taste for fast company, falling in with a group of local teenagers with complicated personal issues of their own. When it becomes apparent that at least one of those teens was responsible for her death, Danielle and Patrick will risk their very lives in order to make sure that the truth finally comes to light.

Interspersed with Danielle and Patrick’s points of view are the narratives of three parents who find themselves entangled in the case due to the involvement of their own children. Celia is the extremely proper matriarch of an old money family. Alice is her wild child best friend. Michel is the immigrant chef behind Emerson’s hottest restaurant. Their stories blend together in the Rashomon-style of storytelling that has understandably gained significant appeal in the domestic thriller field of recent years.

There are many twists as the story progresses, with characters coming together and falling apart. I was really rooting for Danielle and Patrick, two damaged souls finding a safe haven in one another, throughout. That said, there were plot developments I found difficult to believe, particularly in relation to the fatalism of the fall guy. I also found the constant references to a “good” sort of Arab off-putting. But as a bald faced examination of affluenza and the privileges wealth affords, Locust Lane is a highly realistic read, with an ending that will have readers ruefully wishing that we all lived in a better world.