A woman disappears and a neighborhood wonders: did she leave voluntarily or is her ex-husband to blame? A mix of mystery and neighborhood intrigue which I thoroughly enjoyed.

3.5.

I found this tagged as Women's Fiction but it's also a little bit of Mystery, somewhat of a Mystery as well. And you add Desperate Housewives as the final touch.

Izzy has recently moved to the suburban Yellow Springs and wants to start a new life to forget her forbidden crush on her former best friend now brother-in-law. Clara had a big plan and got together the neighborhood for a girl's night in her new patio, of which the guests can't remember much the day after. And Kristin is missing with her twins and money her husband would get a part of after their divorce was done.

Narrated from the three women's point of view, the story follows how the investigation affects the lives of the two who remained. We don't know if Kristin has really run away with the money and her children or if she's been kidnapped, we just know that her closest friends in Yellow Springs seemed to know very little about her and didn't even notice it until too late.

I was surprised finding myself liking Clara more than Izzy, considering I'm single and wouldn't usually relate to a mother of two plus a husband plus a dog. So I'd say the first issue I had was how hard Izzy was to like as a character. Her predicament, her unrequited love for her brother-in-law, made me pity her a lot but she never did anything the whole book but mourn her lost love. And when she finally did... it was falling for her neighbor's ex-husband? Her gone-missing neighbor.

Clara's parts were where the fun was. I loved how she really went for despite everyone. Honestly, if I had to change one thing, I wish she had a more interesting husband. She deserves the best, really. I loved her character.

The story isn't that hectic to be that much of a thriller, I think that's the reason it was classified as woman's fiction, but it's still curious. I was really worried over Kristin's fate, and you really don't know until much, much later. Even though I had almost no time to read this book, I had to advance even if a chapter more just find that out. So yes, the mystery is involving. And Kristin's parts gave us almost no clue.

Still, I wasn't too happy with the ending. It's hard to explain without giving things away so I'll have to stop there. But I add that it doesn't mean I hated it. It wasn't even that surprising for me to hate it. In fact, I liked the idea. Perhaps, the execution could have been different to reach there in a more satisfying manner. For sure, it made me want to read everything again, as it shed a new light on the story.

I wasn't expecting much from this book, so it was a good surprise. It had a little of Liane Moriarty, some of Paula Hawkins but it could have and a group of curious characters thrown into an uneasy situation they have no idea how serious it is. It's a good read that will probably make you turn pages to find out what happened. I think that's always a good quality in a book.

Friends and neighbors speculating about possible domestic abuse has become a popular trope in women's fiction, but Strawser injects it with new life and an interesting twist. he does a great job of keeping the reader guessing about whether the abuse is in the past or present and makes every character believable and relatable. Further, each character has their own secrets and story that colors their perception of the neighborhood mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed NOT THAT I COULD TELL

Jessica Strawser brings us an intriguing tale about loveable people that feel like good friends. This is a fast read, an interesting puzzle, and a sound ending. Involving family violence, there are authentic assists offered both as advice and an afterword. We all know someone who needs help, either literally or figuratively. This novel is a good wake-up-call and how-to-guide, masquerading as an excellent novel.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Jessica Strawser, and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

This book was great until I realized there weren’t any twists. I mean none. And isn’t that the point of a suspense/thriller book? It was like watching a magician put a rabbit in a hat and then pull it back out after saying a few abracadabras. What’s the fun in that. I would like to say that it was hard to figure out what happened in the beginning but then there’s this big twist and then you realize that what you thought was not what really happened. But no. This book is predictable from the beginning. Don’t like that character? Well, you have every right to because things are exactly what they seem in this book. The characters were well developed with each having their own good points and annoying ones as well. This book was more like general fiction with a little bit of mystery thrown in. Nothing to write home about but still, an okay story.

Thank you to Netgalley, Jessica Strawser, and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not That I Could Tell is an intriguing, suspenseful book about what happens in a neighborhood where one of the moms and her young twins go missing. It ponders the question, how closely involved should we be in our neighbors’ lives, should we mind our own business? The characters in this book are fascinating, and their interactions with each other are very honest. Each of the characters is struggling personally besides dealing with what has happened to their neighbor. I love books that give us insight into what happens behind closed doors!

A very enjoyable mystery that delves deep into human emotions. Not That I Could Tell reminded me of an episode of Desperate Housewives and the feeling you're left with at the end of each episode: that friendship conquers, fixes, and appeases all.

Absolutely read this book! It took me way too long to finish it, for no other reason than I have ben super busy. But this was a book I could not put down!
I have said before, when reviewing, I don't like to delve into the characters. Mainly because, I feel like even a tiny detail could give away an entire book. So here is what I will say...

I anticipated (from how the beginning started) that there would be a larger cast of characters. While there was a cast, it eventually narrowed down to a few. From how the book began, I did not in any realm, expect the ending. With that said, I am a person who tries to not overthink any book. I don't enjoy figuring it out before it ends, so I refrain from thinking. Also, I am a lover of "chick lit", which I kind of thought this was, but well....it is, and it isn't. There is an added sense of mystery. Again, I did not expect this. But I try to not over indulge in the "details" of the publisher's review.

Hands down. This is 1 out of maybe 20 books I have read this year, that I would absolutely suggest reading. Also, if this does NOT make it onto someone's book club, must read, have to have list...I will be disappointed.

Do yourself a favor and read it. I truly loved this book from beginning to end.

Well written mystery wrapped into a tight knit community. This was a great read. It had all the proper elements to make up a great psychological thriller. The ending caught me by surprise as well and I'm usually one that can guess the twist. Highly recommend.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own."

This was a wonderful story filled with so many different emotions from a big group of friends! While reading it many times I pictured the tv show desperate housewives in my mind. I loved the setting of a neighborhood group of friends. The story of where and what happened to Kristin had me turning the pages up thru the night. When I wasn’t reading I was thinking of who could I trust in this group! It’s definitely a must read!

For readers of "Big Little Lies" by Liane Moriarty and fans of B.A. Paris comes a new suspense thriller that will have everyone asking: "What happened to Kristin?"

"Not That I Could Tell" is the story of a group of neighboring women whose night of wine and fun becomes glaring sobriety in the morning when one of their group goes missing.

Seemingly typical housewife from Yellow Springs, Ohio Kristin Kirkland disappears out of nowhere the next morning, a few belongings seemingly missing, making everyone wonder if Kristin has left or someone has done something to her. As cops are called in and an investigation starts, everyone wonders what could have happened to their neighbor.

Neighbor Clara Tiffin-Thomas wonders if she, or anyone from their group, ever really knew Kristin as details about a previous marriage, a lot of money going missing from her bank account, and how her soon to be ex-husband Paul never adopted her two young children come to light.

Meanwhile, the lives of the women are examined and a mystery novel turns into the secret lives of the single, the married, and the heavy navigation life becomes as we get older. For one neighbor, Izzy, dealing with her sister Penny's relationship with a past potential love interest might be holding her back from living her life, but her attraction to Kristin's soon to be ex-husband (and potential suspect in her disappearance) puts her in the middle of neighbors who think he might have had something to do with Kristin's disappearance.

As we get closer to the truth about what happened, author Jessica Strawser does a good job of putting together a slow-burn mystery that pays off with a twist ending that has all the answers we're looking for.

A really great thriller that is like "Big Little Lies" in its central mystery becoming more about the lives of a group of women who discover that they may know less about each other than they thought until Kristin's disappearance forces them to get to know each other better and quickly.

Definitely a Book Club recommendation.

Due March 28th, 2018. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for early access to this title.

This book was interesting but a chapter name to tell us who the narrator of that particular chapter is would be most helpful.

Aside from the rotating character narrations, party of the story didn't fit in with the overall plot; her narration of events could have been left out and everything would have been just fine.

At times the story was a bit wordy, ruining the flow. The overall plot and idea is great but the execution of the story could have been a bit smoother.

This is the 1st book I've read by this author and I truly enjoyed it. Her voice and writing style are incredibly fluid and her characters are richly drawn. This was definitely a slower read than I usually prefer, but it was so well written I didn't mind at all.

I put off reading this book because I didn’t feel that I was in the mood for a suspense novel. How wrong was I? This novel is a page turner! Brilliantly written characters who give me hope for another novel. I felt sure that I had the mystery figured out. Wrong again! A totally unexpected twist sends this book right to the top of my best books ever read list!

4.5 stars. This is the first book I have read by Jessica Strawser, but it won't be the last. It was so enjoyable to read this that I will start looking for anything else by her.

Kristin, perfect mom of twins, wife of a doctor, good friend disappears after a girl's night out that no one saw coming. Was it voluntary? If so, nothing appeared wrong. Was it the hubby who was already living apart? The good doctor that everyone loved? Was it something else?

The neighbors and community have as much trouble understanding this as the police and we are kept guessing until the very end.

Loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story that makes you think. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read way past my bedtime and in every spare moment I had. How well do you really know what is going on with your neighbors? This book explores that and more and it is a book that completely surprised me at the end!!! I loved the relationship between the friends and neighbors and I could see myself living living on their street. I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

This book is reminiscent of Wisteria Lane and the TV show Desperate Housewives, so if you enjoy books about friendships, neighbors, mysterious pasts, and small town life with dark undertones, you will enjoy this one. I definitely related to the characters as friends, wives, sisters, and mothers. This book is about the aftermath of Kristin’s disappearance, and how it shakes up her entire neighborhood. The story centers around the other neighbors living immediately near Kristin – Izzy, Clara & Benny, Randi & Rhoda, Natalie, and young neighbor Hallie. Each neighbor’s past is explained to the reader slowly throughout the book, but it’s obvious that the neighbors aren’t fully aware of each person’s backstory. It reminds me that we only know a person as much as they allow us to, and even if we live only a few feet away as neighbors, it can be worlds apart. I recommend this book for those that enjoyed The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen or Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty. My full review will be posted on my blog per the publisher's instructions: https://readthisnotthat.blog/

Think Big Little Lies meets The Girl on the Train with a sprinkling of The Wife Between Us, and you have Jessica Strawser’s sure-to-be blockbuster, Not That I Could Tell. This story is full of intrigue and will keep you guessing to questions such as: Where the heck is Kristin? Is she alive or dead? Is her soon-to-be-ex-husband a murderer, abuser, or just a world-class jerk? Why can’t any of her friends who were present with her that last night remember just what happened in their last hours? Readers will not be disappointed in this edge-of-your-seat thriller!

This book started off strong, I was really into it, and soon realized that after all the speculation, I got bored quickly. I didn't even finish this one.

"The missing, the hidden, the murdered, and the otherwise lost never get to tell their sides of the story. It's the last and sometimes cruelest injustice."
How does it happen that a whole family simply disappears from a safe and happy neighborhood?
Kristen's estranged husband Paul, no longer lives with Kristen and the twins. He cannot imagine where his family is when he goes to visit one day and sees the window broken, and his family gone.
Or.... does he already know what happened to his family?
This is a well written novel that will keep you wondering right up to the last page. The characters are amazing and you can truly feel their frustration and emotions as this mystery continues.