I had high hopes for this thriller but it just wasn't my favorite. This seemed less thriller more drama to me. The story line started out very interesting however it just lost it's luster after the first few chapters. This was a hard one to finish. I can't say I would recommend this to a friend.

This is normally the kind of book I love - a good domestic drama with just a little suspense and mystery mixed in. But the characters were so wholly unlikable and dynamic of the street was just too hard to believe. It opens when Benedict accidentally hits their neighbor, the famous author Torn Grace (an awful character name), as he backs out of his driveway. From there things get very messy as he is soon suspected after his wife's Esme's affair with Torn is revealed. Everybody seemed to be in everybody else's business yet nobody knew what was really going on with their spouse or in Kitty's case her child. Kitty was so annoying and domineering - she was worse than an HOA with all her rules for the street. Benedict was a jerk and Esme did not end up being the good person she was made out to be. I was suspicious of Anthony from the beginning - something about him seemed off. I did not like the book within a book feature - it was difficult to tell when Esme was reading Torn's book because there was nothing to distinguish it from the rest of the book like a font change or italics. I also found it unbelievable that Benedict's lawyer were tell them to make up a story about their marriage and lie in court as part of his defense.

There were a little of things mentioned that never really went anywhere - Benedict's business partner, Jose, the red string around Julia's wrist, what really happened to Esme's missing phone.

Book 📖

Raven Lane by Amber Cowie

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Amber Cowie for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Description 🔖

Raven Lane is the type of street whereby all new home owners must be approved, community parties are a-plenty and everyone knows everyone’s business. Esme and Benedict Werner are ingrained into the community until Benedict is involved in a car accident causing the death of their neighbour. From the moment of the accident, everything starts to unravel for the Werners. Lies, secrets and betrayals are dug up from both the distant and near past and the serenity of Raven Lane is well and truly destroyed.

General Thoughts 🤔

I started this book quite some time ago and although the first couple of chapters had me gripped, I lost interest quite quickly and therefore put it down. I came back to it purely because I wanted to finish it. It didn’t pick up for me and I was pretty much just going through the motions in order to get it finished.

There wasn’t really an unravelling of the story, I felt like this big thing happened (the car accident), then some secrets came out, then it was back and forth in a timeline and then another big thing happened at the end. I wanted more build up and more tension building. Without that, I didn’t feel the BAM that I perhaps should have felt.

Characters 👫👭👬

There are quite a few characters in the book. Some of them you kind of do get to know, others are very much on the periphery and I’m not sure add an awful lot. I struggled in the beginning to know who was who, who lived with who, who was who’s kid.

I didn’t make much of a meaningful connection with any of the characters. I had moments of sympathy for Esme as well as Benedict, but it wasn’t deep.

Writing Style ✍🏽

Although I struggled with staying focused on this book, it wasn’t too difficult to pick it back up and know what was going on. I’d compare it to what I call background TV. Shows you can put on in the background and get what’s going on, but still do something else at the same time.

Couple of things to watch out for; the timeline does jump around with no warning or setting of tense, so there is a moment of adjustment. There are also parts that are supposed to be excerpts of another novel which again; weren’t signposted well enough for me.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖

Unfortunately, this book and I just did not get along. It wasn’t spicey enough for me and I didn’t find the drama that I thought the synopsis sold to me. I hate to give a negative review, but it wouldn’t be honest to say otherwise.

I wouldn’t be adverse to giving other books by Amber Cowie a go, but this one unfortunately didn’t float my boat!

😍😍😫😫😫

I really wanted to like this, and in it, there are some things to praise. I could empathise with the characters, but there was a promise in the blurb, and unfortunately, the book fell short.
I read it, with a struggle, which is rare. I didn't want to give in, but I really couldn't fully relax into the story, and found myself trying to skin to finish.
Others may enjoy it more - it just wasn't for me.

Meh! The blurb sounds so much better than the actual story. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I wish I had better things to say, but I just couldn't get into this story.

I really did not like the characters in this book. The premise of the book was interesting but it was having a hard time holding my attention.

I didn't love it though. And I would probably only give it 3 stars. I just wasn't rooting for the characters.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book which offered a lot of options for you so you are second guessing so much and then there is always a curveball

I was given an early copy of Raven Lane in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so strange (IMO). In some ways that made it a interesting read and in some ways it made this book not great for me.

It is more of a domestic thriller based around an awful car accident resulting in the death of a neighbor, causing all the neighbors/friends to re-evaluate their lives and circumstances.

Good premise - not good people at all,
No character was anyone I liked in the least bit. Especially the main couple the story revolves around. One was having an affair with another (gay) neighbor and the other was having an affair with another neighbor’s teenage daughter (who is the same age as and went to school with his own daughter). 🤮🤢

This book was not my thing at all -
But others may really like it. It COULD have been great. It just wasn’t deep enough and the explanations for everyone’s behavior were not good enough to keep me wanting to read more.

I finished it but it hadn’t been in exchange for a review via NetGalley, I may not have.

Three ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ‘S from me and that’s rounding up. I still do think this book will have a lot of appeal for some. Just not me! Always grateful to all involved for the chance to read advanced copies of books!

All opinions are my own. Thanks!

An ex-movie starlet who never got her place to shine married to a former drug addict was lucky enough to buy a house and get accepted into the cul-de-sac, Raven Lane. This was a neighborhood made up of an eclectic group of creative types who have completely different views of the world. And even though they truly live in their own little world, all the secrets Raven Lane had certainly didn’t go unnoticed.

It wasn’t until Raven Lane’s newest couple moved into the neighborhood, Torn and Aaron. Torn was a famous writer while his husband was a doctor working overseas. Raven Lane welcomed them with open arms with one person in particular who took a liking to Torn. The world-famous author was in search of his next novel and he couldn’t possibly have known that the story he was seeking was staring him right in the face. A tragic death happened which brought the community together and at the same time was ripping their close-knit friends apart. Esme’s husband is arrested and soon about to be on trial for second-degree murder. How in the world does this happen? Well, readers, you’ll have to pick up a copy to find out the rest.

I really enjoyed this story, although it was very slow in the beginning. It took a minute for me to warm up to the story line, but once I realized where this story was headed, I couldn’t get enough of it. What I found so interesting about it is how different the story is. It’s not something you read every day and I enjoy taking in a story that has a different voice and vibe. Unfortunately, I’ve read some terrible reviews for this novel, but I think that’s because readers didn’t give it a chance. And trust and believe, I get it. Sometimes stories make me want to give up too, but because I’m writer, I just find that I have to give that respect to the author because sometimes you end up finding a rare jewel, and Raven Lane was that such story. It was pretty damn good once you get past the very beginning. Man, oh man, I couldn’t wait to get a break so I could find out what Esme and Benedict were getting ready to get into.

Overall, this was a really good story. There were so many characters to get into and they were all different and interesting. I highly suggest that you try this book out. Give the author a little time to take you on this journey. Once you venture down the pages a bit, you’re going to soon find out what made Raven Lane such an enjoyable read!

Amber Cowie has constructed a superb thriller with Raven Lane. Definitely worth the read and will keep you engrossed until the final page

An interesting plot about best friends gone wrong, but did not stand out in a world of MANY books like this. It is a quick read however, and maintained some interest.

Title: Raven Lane

Author: Amber Cowie

Published: November 12, 2019 by Lake Union Publishing

Stars: 2

Synopsis: Esme and Benedict Werner have an idyllic life in a tight-knit, upper class community, However, when a tragic death occurs outside their house, the neighbors, and Esme and Benedict, will start to question everything they believe their lives to be. After vindicating eyewitness accounts morph into contradictory memories, suspicion, and unaccountable accusations, Benedict is arrested. Esme’s life as she knows it has been changed.
As the neighborhood starts to turn against Esme and her family, Esme reflects on her past and how her life has been changed for the future. Ultimately, Esme's fellow residents start looking deeper, questioning one another, and themselves, about hidden lies and betrayals.

This book focuses on the consequences of what happened on that fateful late-summer evening on Raven Lane and what happens when the mask of civility slips.

Likes: I enjoyed the start of this book a lot. From the beginning it really grabbed my intention with learning the dynamics between the different neighbors, Esme and Benedict, as well as how situations from their pasts have altered their lives. I was also very intrigued by the big mysterious death. I found myself questioning everything I knew about these characters.

Dislikes: Unfortunately, this just wasn't the book for me. I found myself just not invested in the relationships with the different characters and after the beginning of the story, I just wasn't concerned about what had happened. The writing style just wasn't my personal preference, things felt disjointed in certain areas and Found all of the characters unlikeable which I really struggle with. However, I am very grateful to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Please note that my review does not mean that I would discourage anyone from reading this book. This book is getting some great reviews and will likely be a big hit this Fall. One of the beautiful things about books is that they are unique for everyone and all of us are able to form our own opinions after reading the books. I would highly encourage anyone interested in this book to still give it a try because you may feel differently than I do.

I actually really enjoyed Raven Lane. It is fast Paced and kept me interested the entire time. I will be reading this book again. The only thing that really bothered me was how the police assumed that the main character's husband had a motive for the killing almost as soon as it happened.

This cover is amazing! The story line and plot for good but there was just something I think I was missing. I felt like it was just missing something. I had heard several mixed reviews and wanted to see for myself but in the end It just fell at 3 stars for me. Still not bad but I think I expected so much more. I think I had my expectations up too high.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to netgalley the publishers and the author for this ARC in exchanged for an unbiased review

This book hooked me from the start and i love love love the cover but it did tend to ebb off at the end still a really good read.

Raven Lane is the second domestic suspense by author, Amber Cowie. I loved her first standalone, Rapid Falls and couldn't wait for her next novel. Raven Lane did not disappoint!

Esme and Benedict Werner could live on any upscale cul-de-sac. Their neighbours, seemingly all with secrets of their own, could be my neighbours. Or yours. When what seems like an unfortunate accident kills one of them, slowly but menacingly, the layers of their respective onions, are peeled away.

I loved that this story harkens back to an earlier time but the author never does an info dump; seamlessly, she weaves the past into the current-day, contemporary tale. Just when I thought I had it figured out, a twist came along that turned everything on its head. I also found this author's second book to be more complex and multi-layered. The beautiful writing is often more powerful by its subtlety.

While it doesn't necessarily end happily-ever-after (depending on your point of view), I found it to be a realistic and satisfying ending. I highly recommend this book!

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Sex, lies and secrets are at the root of this novel. It's not a thriller per se, but a closer look at suburban attitudes. Unenjoyable on a whole with terrible story arcs that left me angry.

1 out of 5 stars. Do not recommend.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me engaged the entire time. I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I would highly recommend to all my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!

I went into Raven Lane under the impression it was a thriller. I would not consider this a thriller type read, it is definitely more of a suburban drama read.

The residents of Raven Lane (which is a cul de sac) all live in identically laid out homes, which one of the residents, Kitty, basically hand picking who is allowed to buy a home and live there. She does this as a realtor and by convincing people to sell their homes privately so she screens people. Um, super shady but ok.

Esme is the main character of our story, and she lives on Raven Lane with her husband Benedict and their teenage daughter Zoe. Honestly, I struggled with this book a lot. I would have DNFed it if it weren't for the curiosity to figure out the "twist" at the end. Actually, this book made me upset.

So, throughout the course of the book, we learn that Esme is having an affair with Torn (which is a SUPER weird name and I don't generally get judgmental about names but it just didn't flow well for me to read it in the book). Ok so Esme spends weeks feeling remorse and apologizing for her affair, but really WHY?

Because the "twist" which I assume this is supposed to be the twist? is that Benedict has been having his own affair, with Kitty's teenage daughter. YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT. A TEENAGER. Now, Julia is the same age as Esme and Benedict's teenage daughter Zoe.

Zoe and Julia are starting their senior year of high school as this story starts. So Julia is 17 mayyyyyyybe 18 if she's got a fall birthday like I'm talking within the first week of school starting. WHY IS NO ONE OUTRAGED ABOUT THIS?

Here's my other issue (ok really one of them because I have a lot about this situation). Zoe is described in the book as young, so young. Always her descriptions are about how young she is. But Julia's descriptions give the indication she's much older than she is. The truth is, the girls are maybe a week or two apart in age.

Julia's age isn't given in the book, but I don't care. Can we not normalize relationships between teenagers and middle aged men please? Because NOT ONE CHARACTER in this book went crazy over the fact that a potentially underage girl is having sex with a 40 year old man. NOT ONE.

In fact, Esme knows about Julia and Benedict's sexual encounters BEFORE all this shit goes down and Benedict finds out about his wife's affair. And Esme literally sat on this information for weeks before saying something.

I'd also like to point out that the only reason Esme even knew about Julia and Benedict is because Torn told her because he WITNESSED it. Hello, why is no one freaking out about this? Multiple adults know and no one is acting like this is a big deal. It's even heavily hinted throughout the book that Zoe is aware something is up between her dad and her fellow teenage neighbor.

Ok, all of that issue above aside, the story itself is clunky and was difficult to read. We spend our time going back and forth between past and present a lot. In fact, we spend a good portion of the book in the past reliving past events. And we also spend a chunk of time reading excerpts from Torn's books, which I didn't care for and skimmed mostly.

I hope that the final version is edited, because the excerpts from Torn's book are not italicized or in any way separated font wise to show it's an excerpt. So the first time I got to one of his pieces I was SO confused and had to go back and re-read to figure out we were reading a part of his book.

While I'm on the topic of editing, Esme's chef goes under two names in this book. He's originally introduced as Anthony Cole and then later is referred to as Anthony King.

I had such high hopes for this book but I really can't get past the "affair."

This is a complexly plotted novel with some multi faceted characters who are, at ties, quite difficult to like and empathise with. This makes the novel hard to progress with as it is difficult to be keen on the idea of a positive outcome for some of these people!