A twisty turny novel about lies, scandals, murder, and all of the betrayals and secrets that a neighborhood could hold.

I couldn’t get into this book at all unfortunately. I found it quite far fetched and the characters were all really unlikeable .

This book had the potential to be an amazing book but the story never really picked up and I found it a bit dull and the characters very one dimensional.

If you love secrets, lies, and drama.. this is your book. Raven Lane is about a culdesac of adults behaving badly.

The street is shook when a resident is arrested for a terrible crime. Everything friends and neighbors thought about each other is turned upside down!

As with most books on NetGalley, this book is a great read. Captivating and intriguing. Thematically beautiful. Gorgeous writing.

I’ve had this one sitting in my kindle for a few months, and I was SO excited to finally read it. From the second I read the plot I knew this was one story that I could really enjoy, but in the end it fell just a little too flat for me.

Esme and Benedict Werner have everything – a great marriage, a wonderful daughter, and an amazing house in the exclusive cul-du-sac of Raven Lane. After a horrible accident leaves one resident dead, the once close-knit community is torn apart after Esme’s husband, Benedict, is arrested for murder. With Benedict on trial, Esme’s friends and neighbours begin to turn, and secrets that were once hidden are revealed.

I thought this book had such potential, but in the end, I felt that the story was honestly a little boring. It took me quite a long time to get into it, and I felt that some of the scenes included were unnecessary. For most of the book, I kept asking myself when it would pick up, and when it finally did…it was the second to last chapter. This story just wasn’t able to grab my attention, and I felt that some of the elements that were meant to be surprising were actually quite predictable.

This one might be a fun read for some, but there are so many good thrillers out there right now, that I would hesitate to recommend it to others.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy of Raven Lane in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting book to say the least. It takes place in a small cul-de-sac in an affluent neighborhood, with a close knit group of neighbors, carefully sorted out to include those with artistic backgrounds, writers, an actress, classical musicians and a successful real estate agent, who basically hand picks the buyers.
Close friendships are threatened, when a tragic accident invades the peaceful coexistence of the neighborhood, as secrets are revealed, relationships are not what they seem and the tragic accident evolves into a murder trial.
Amber Cowie is a skilled writer who develops interesting characters, and in this case, they are pretty unlikable people. I saw my initial perception of close knit neighborhood friends evolve into a lying scheming unlikable group. As friends turn against friends, we see that nothing is ever as it seems. An excellent follow up to Ms Cowies debut novel, Rapid Falls.
My thanks to #LakeUnionPublishing #AmberCowie and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Esme, a former actress who now owns a restaurant, and her husband Benedict, a former model who now runs a modeling agency, live on the exclusive Raven Lane cul-de-sac with their teenage daughter Zoe.
The social clique with their neighbors includes lavish parties and gatherings.
One afternoon Benedict backs out of their road, distracted by Esme, and hits their neighbor Torn, a writer, riding his bicycle. Inexplicably, he is not wearing a helmet.
Torn ends up dying of his injuries.
What first appears to be a tragic accident begins to take on sinister implications as the secrets and lies of the insular community start to fracture relationships.
Though there wasn't much that was likable about these complex characters, this domestic drama fiction kept me very intrigued.
This was billed as a mystery/thriller which seemed to disappoint some readers.
I felt there was a considerable amount of psychological suspense as we learned the motivations behind the characters actions.
Excellent writing from the author captivated me, along with the many twists in the story.
Looking forward to reading Rapid Falls soon.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Welcome to Raven Lane but beware...appearances can be deceiving! Amber Cowie wrote a story of a close-knit neighborhood and the devastating consequences of a tragic death. Turning the pages was like peeling back layers of each character. I have to say I didn't like any of the characters but loved this book! Fans of Little Fires Everywhere and Big Little Lies will enjoy Raven Lane!

A good read for those who enjoy both gossipy and whodunit stories.

The pivotal family consists of Esme , former actress and now restaurant owner, and her husband, Benedict, who is a former model and now is partner in a modeling agency. Their daughter, Zoe, is 17.

There are 5 houses within Raven Lane and the people who live in them intermingle (a bit too much for their own good), Constant boozy parties, dinners and even a few drugs lead to a potential time bomb that may be ticking.

Give this one a try!!!

Many Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a twisty ride!

Raven Lane
by Amber Cowie

Kindle Edition, 288 pages
Published November 12th 2019 by Lake Union Publishing




Goodreads synopsis:
The truth can bring out the worst in the best of friends.

Esme and Benedict Werner have an idyllic life in a tight-knit community until an accident in their cul-de-sac ends in the tragic sudden death of one of their dearest neighbors. After vindicating eyewitness accounts morph into contradictory memories, suspicion, and unaccountable accusations, Benedict is arrested. Esme’s life, too, is changed forever.

As the neighborhood largely turns against her and her family, Esme has time to think about her past and what to do next. Then her fellow residents start looking deeper, questioning one another, and themselves, about hidden lies and betrayals.

Esme has more than her share of secrets. And the consequences of what happened on that fateful late-summer evening on Raven Lane are far from over. When the mask of civility slips, can friends and neighbors recover from seeing the monstrous truths beneath?


***

3.5 Stars

I guess I would call this a thriller. Raven Lane is a sort of exclusive community where you have to be somebody to get to live there. Esme and Benedict are both from the movie/acting area. Esme had a tragic experience with a producer taking advantage of her and thus decided to not continue with her acting career. She is now a restaurant chef. When her husband leaves one day backing out of the driveway, he runs over the neighbor man, best selling author, Torn. This leaves the man injured but once he gets to the hospital he is DOA.

At first it seems like a simple accident and as they investigate more and more details of their past comes out and Benedict is charged with murder.

I really wanted to love this but I felt it was pretty slow. It took awhile to get past the accidental killing to the “maybe it was murder” decision. The ending was nice but I still had questions and I am not sure the idea of whodunit was ever really explained. I left with a question mark above my head.

I think the author could have taken out fifty pages of the first half and added the 50 pages in details to the last half. Great story. I was intrigued but I am not sure everyone will stick it out past the slow beginning. If you are reading this, don’t stop. Finish it. Don’t let the slow start keep you from experiencing the much more exciting ending.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Wow, what a ride.
Raven Lane by Amber Cowie is a full length, standalone romance novel with major twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to the end.
Raven Lane in Fraser City is a tight knit community. At the first look all residents are friends or friendly acquaintances. But behind the walls are currents , rivalries and in the end nothing is as it seems, literally nothing.
The story starts with an accident and turns into a masterfully crafted mindgame that I really didn't expect. Because nothing is as it seems, nothing.Secrets are revealed and the only truth is: monsters are real and living amongst us.
Like I already said, the author masterfully crafted an addicting story, oustanding and captivating from page one. Raven Lane is one of my favorite reads in 2019. I recommend the book and give 5 stars.

This is more me than the book, but I am over and done with books about cheating spouses and stupid bad “normal” people doing stupid bad things. Moving on!

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for a free digital galley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After reading <a href="http://cmashlovestoread.com/2019/01/17/review-rapid-falls-by-amber-cowie/"></em>Rapid Falls</em></a> and seeing so much buzz about <i>Raven Lane</i>, I knew I had to get my hands on it and was excited when I was approved via NetGalley.

Raven Lane, a cul de sac consisting of 5 neighbors that are, or have had artistic and famous pasts, that enjoy the company of this friendly group and often socialize with each other having parties. However, each house is hiding secrets and their parties often consist of an abundance of alcohol, drugs and even sex.

Then one fateful day, as Benedict Werner is pulling out of his driveway, after a few drinks, and hits his neighbor, international author Torn Grace, which ends up being fatal. Was it an accident or murder, as the police suspect after finding damning evidence in Benedict's SUV. Can this little community come together in a time of crisis or do they turn on each other?

I found the first 1/3 of the book to be mainly character development with hints of each of their pasts. After that, let me tell you, the suspense picked up and I had to keep turning the pages to find out what really was going on. And then the last sentence had my jaw hitting the ground!!!!

After closing the book, I can honestly say, that for the remainder of the day I kept going over in my mind this story. A bit of a book hangover!!

A thrilling read with many twists and turns that eventually came to a conclusion that I didn't see coming!!!!

***A review was previously sent, which was not by me.
Posted to GR on 11/16/19
To blog 11/21/19

Raven Lane is a delightful domestic suspense. I haven't read any other books by Amber Cowie, but I think it's time to get them on order. This is a book about family and friendship and how hiding our past can have ramifications on our present. The deep dark secret is slowly unraveled which made it a book that was difficult to put down.

Raven Lane is a cul-de-sac in a town in the Pacific Northwest with five detached homes arranged in a U shape, tucked into an area just two blocks away from one of the busiest commercial areas. It's a very exclusive area and the real estate agent who sold all of the houses and lives there herself only sold to select people - actors, models, writers. All of the neighbors were very friendly with each other and had parties on a regular basis.

In the beginning, the people who lived on Raven Lane all appeared to be best friends who loved to spend time with each other. After the accident, Esme and Benedict learned who their real friends were as some of their neighbors turned against them. As the skeletons in the closet came to light, they had even more friends turn their backs on them. When the mask of civility slips, can friends and neighbors recover from seeing the monstrous truths beneath?

I liked this book. There were enough good things about it to keep me reading until the end. Although, I do wish that the "intensity" level was higher. The people of Raven Lane did have many secrets. They are not the "perfect" neighbors that they want you to think they are.

Example is Esme and Benedict. They may seem like they are a good couple but when Benedict is arrested for murder; their world comes crumbling down around them including their skeletons in the closet.

As the story progresses; the secrets are revealed. While, I did like this book and the characters were fine; as I stated before the "intensity" level is what I found lacking. There was not enough to make me "gasp" in shock. As you might expect from a thriller. As I got to know the neighbors, I really would not want to be their friends. The conclusion to this book was a bit of a letdown.

A domestic suspense novel, Amber Cowie’s RAVEN LANE lends itself to the question, “How well do you know your friends/neighbors?” Set on a small cul-de-sac on the Pacific Northwest, the residents are almost all “artistic” types: former actress, model, author, etc. with the unofficial head being Kitty, the realtor. She has made it her job to screen new residents to be sure they will fit the neighborhood. With weekly dinners and parties that everyone is expected to attend, they are close, for the most part. When a horribly tragic accident occurs, the secrets and lies start to unravel. At the center are Esme and Benedict. Esme is the main character, and events are told from her perspective switching from the present fallout, to the past leading up to the accident. Interspersed are parts of the best-selling novel by the author in the group. The novel is disturbing, as are the events leading up to the accident, especially in hindsight after the accident.
Esme made mistakes, big ones, but Benedict was no saint, not even close. I admit, I wanted to shake her, more than once. There were a few unexpected twists to close out the novel, and they did serve to make me re-think the some of the earlier events.
This is definitely domestic drama and reminded me of a nighttime soap opera. I enjoyed the writing, and the characters were all flawed and that made them interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
#RavenLane #AmberCowie #LakeUnionPublishing

I have to say I was a bit disappointed in this book. I definitely would not consider it a thriller. It took me awhile to read this one as it just didn't hold my attention like I had wished. The execution just wasn't there all the way for me.

I will say this, I think the writing is pretty good and I enjoyed the diverse set of characters. When the book first started I was intrigued but that eventually wore down to being more annoyed than anything. The neighborhood seems to be full of secrets but I felt like some of them and even some events were more for shock factor than anything.

All in all it wasn't a terrible book but it isn't something I'd probably recommend to my friends.

Superb Sophomore Outing. In Amber Cowie's much anticipated sophomore effort following her debut, Rapid Falls, nearly one year ago, she becomes even more ambitious - and gives the reader even more value for their money. The overall story here is perhaps a *slight* slump from her stunning debut, and yet even that speaks to how amazing her debut truly was, as this is a truly strong book in its own right and has explosive revelations very nearly as deep as that one did. But what makes this book truly stand out is the novella effectively buried within it - and which would be classified in an entirely different genre of its own. Readers of my other reviews will know that I often proclaim Jeremy Robinson the Modern Day Master of Science Fiction and I have my reasons for doing that. The novella Cowie embedded within this book? It alone could give Robinson a run for his money, and if expanded into a book of its own could be one of the most compelling science fiction thrillers of whatever year it is released. Truly amazing work, and very much recommended.

Happy publication day Raven Lane! Thank you Lake Union Authors and Netgalley for a copy in exchange of an honest review.

Raven Lane was such a different book from Amber Cowie’s first book that it took me a minute to get into this domestic drama. I ended up really shocked by what was going on in the seemingly nice neighborhood!
Esme and Benedict are definitely not like anyone I know and it was a great escape read. Fast plot but some trigger warnings for drug and alcohol use and a few others as well.