I really enjoy Kerry Wilkinson's writing. He isn't one for unnecessary waffle and I often find myself smiling at his witty observations. I think I've read all of his stand-alone novels and I did enjoy this one but it was a bit middle of the road.

The positives were that as ever, Kerry was on fine form with his descriptions of the town of Elwood and its inhabitants. Some of the descriptions of Jo had me laughing out loud, especially her mistrust of the police.

I just didn't find the main character or the plot very interesting. We didn't get to know Abi very well and solving the hit and run of a child (who we don't find out much about either) is just a little bit dull. I also couldn't get past the fact that one character had been sent to prison for 15 years for selling stolen televisions. What?!?! I checked with my probation officer husband who clarified that that would never happen and is way outside of any sentencing guidelines!

I'd rate this 3.5 stars rounded up. The writing was fantastic as always but I did find the story lacking. For any new Kerry Wilkinson readers I would recommend The Girl Who Came Back or Two Sisters over this one.

The Child Across the Street by Kerry Wilkinson is yet another gripping and addictive thriller from an author who never fails to deliver. There is just something about Mr Wilkinson's writing that keeps me devouring each and every word. Perhaps it is the lack of superfluous detail that propels me so quickly through the narratives. Or maybe it is the sharp observations and dry wit that keep me coming back time and again.. Whatever the reason, I am always beyond thrilled when one of my favourite authors provides the gift of a new release,

Abi Coyle is returning to her hometown of Elwood to bury her father, and her prevailing sentiment is only to get him into the ground as quickly as possible. Immediately upon arrival, Abi witnesses a hit and run accident. The victim is an eight year old boy who happens to be the son of her childhood friend. As the only witness to the event, Abi is certain that she is being watched, and wonders if the details of her past are coming back to haunt her and, indeed, if returning to Elwood was perhaps one of the worst decisions she has ever made.

Fans of Kerry Wilkinson will not be disappointed in any way by this latest offering. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Returning to her hometown after her abusive father passes away, Abi witnesses the hit and run of a young boy before she's even back into her old house. She only gets a quick glimpse of the car and can't describe it or the driver. The boy turns out to be Ethan, the son of one of her childhood best friends, Jo. He's in intensive care, and through the tragedy, Abi and Jo begin to reconnect, along with another old friend, Holly. Abi remains reluctant to get close to them again, never sure if she will be staying or leaving, yet she never turns down an invite to come to their houses or get together. She continually feels as if someone is watching her, whether she's in her old house or out about their small town of Elwood. Do they think she knows more about the accident than she does? And how do they plan to ensure she stays quiet?

It's a good story but one I wasn't able to get too engrossed in. The main character is hard to root for, as she remains aloof to most everyone yet keeps going through the motions of being their friend. She's more open and honest with her friend's children then with the women themselves and you wonder why they even bother engaging with her. She alludes to her abusive father and absent mother but not how it emotionally impacted her back then other than how it made her want to get away from the town. And apparently everyone knew about it, but it was never talked about and no one offered help. Ok. And when she later discovers more about her mother's life after she left them, Abi barely blinks an eye about actions that should be shattering. She's just like, huh. And we're barely told anything about the 20 year period between when she left and returned. A dismissive line about her job - only job she had or one of several - who knows? No relationship info, nothing about how her early life formed her later life as a person or a professional or anything.

So it is a good read overall, and there's some interesting revelations toward the end. But, like Abi, you might just find it doesn't really affect you one way or other other.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a BIG fan of this author. I pounce on every new publication that comes from him and devour it pretty much straight away. To say he has never let me down would be an understatement, so he has well earned the right to obliterate my tbr and fly to the top of my kindle. He is also one of the few male authors who writes women main characters perfectly.
So Abi has returned home to Elwood after the death of her father to sort out his affairs. She is approaching her house when she hears the screech of brakes and, when she turns, she sees a young boy on the floor, bleeding, having been thrown from his bike by the car. She calls the police. She is then more shocked to find that the boy is the son of one of her best friends from her childhood. One she hasn't seen since she fled from Elwood as soon as she could and had never been back or in touch since. This event pretty much scuppers her initial plan to sort out the house for sale and scarper back to her life. What life she has anyway, but she feels drawn back to where she grew up, closer to the people she left behind. With things as they now are, could she really be home...?
What I really love about this author is his no nonsense attitude to all things written word. There is no superfluous padding, characters are well defined, pacing is perfect and the story that encompasses all these things is interesting, intriguing, and well plotted and executed. The whole shebang pretty much...
But if that wasn't enough... the icing on the cake, and indeed the cherry at the top, has to be his inclusion of the fruits of his life observation skills - always topical - often funny. I lose track of the number of knowing smiles that pass my lips during the reading of one of his books. We also have the same sense of humour and connect on the right wavelength, as I find myself agreeing wholeheartedly with most of what he pontificates throughout with his little asides...
All in all, another winner from one of my top five authors. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I've read a number of Kerry Wilkinson's books and have yet to be disappointed! Her writing is always solid and suspenseful.

Abigail l(Abi) Coyne returns to her hometown of Elwood after leaving 20 years ago. The town seems dirtier and unkempt than since she had remembered it to be. Questioning why she DID come back, she realizes that she has things to do.

Soon, Abi encounters an accident - a boy had been thrown off of his bicycle due to a car out of control. She goes to him and finds he has broken bones and bleeding - yet he still is breathing. Calling 999, the police soon arrive as does the boy's (Ethan's) mother, Jo. Jo and Abi had known each other since they were 12 years old. What is their background together?

Abi walks a couple blocks to the house she remembers that she inherited from her father. She had not seen him in 10 years, nor talked with him in the last 7 months.... Abi enters the house and the story begins to ramp up.

A superb read!

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a truly wonderful read!

Love Kerry Wilkinson books but this one was outstanding by far. Twists and turns and very addictive a real page turner. Definitely recommend if you like psychological books