Recently divorced Francine sets to go visit her sister in a quiet Illinois neighborhood called Hawthorn Woods. But this place turns out to not be so quiet and strange things occur. I LOVED this book! Soo much mystery and secrets that I loved trying to figure out what the heck was going on.

The writing style in this book is so easy to follow and the characters are likeable. I just didn't relate to the story at all which is a shame.

When I first stumbled across this title, I wanted to read it just because some of our best friends live in Hawthorn Woods - but now that we live here, too, I just had to read it - and it sure added to the fun! I really had fun with this mystery set in 1989 just down the street from my own house. I've read books set in Chicago while we lived there - even a few in our own neighborhood, but somehow this seemed even more personal and close! It all feels very accurate (though I guess this is when sheds were still allowed, as now they can only be grandfathered in).

It opens with Francine, who after the breakup of her marriage, goes to Hawthorn Woods to stay at her sister's house while she takes a long belated honeymoon with her husband. Right from the very first introduction to the neighborhood, Francine gets a drink thrown inexplicably in her face, meets a mysterious stranger and struggles to break free from the bad memories of her marriage. The book is both well-written and well-plotted. It takes some pretty surprising turns (I think everyone hates Illinois Nazis!) and I really had such a fun time reading it in my own backyard! It just never stopped thrilling me to see the name of our town in print! I would definitely read more from Canning in the future!

It seems that lately some big twist that shocks the reader at the end. This is no different, but I confess, caught me surprise.
Our heroine is recovering from betrayal and heartbreak in a nice neighborhood with her sister., She has a few weeks to try to get a break and move forward and falls in with some typical and untypical neighborhood types. Naturally people are not what they seem, and then they are again. Not a fan of anyone who things its ok to be cruel to animals, even as a plot mechanism, so didn't like that part.
As she wraps up the mystery, the big twist- good one.

Moves pretty quickly, fun to read.

Francine is staying in an Illinois neighborhood called Hawthorn Woods, and this is the story of the mysteries she encounters while there. I thought it was well written and enjoyed the way the author set up the story.

Francine is staying with her sister for a few weeks in this suburb when strange things start to happen. There is a drink thrown on her, a neighbor lying about his identity, and a murder. There’s a lot of things going on, and Francine wants to find out what is going on.

The mystery and thrills in the book definitely kept me interested. I would suggest this to anyone who wants a good mystery with a throwback vibe.

I liked this book , particulary because it was from my era. 1989. The book kept my interest the whole time. The author has a great writing style and the characters were easy to connect to.

This was a very intriguing, well written book! The setting was done so well and to me that made the book even better! Full of suspense, chills, thrills, and shocks, but also full of secrets! Love books that make sure many deep, dark secrets come to light? Then grab this one, as it’s sure to bring what you’re looking for and more! Highly recommend!

Will make sure to buzz around and use lower amazon reviewer number!

Quaint Neighborhood, Dark Secrets....
A small and seemingly quaint neighborhood hides dark secrets in this nostalgic suspense set in 1989. Can Francine Haddix, fleeing her life in San Francisco for Hawthorn Woods, uncover those hidden secrets as she discovers her investigative prowess? Laced with dark humour, a of tad of romance and a lively cast of characters.

It’s 1989 and Francine is recovering from a devasting divorce, after a marriage that lasted less than a year. So, when her sister and brother-in-law suggest that she can spend two weeks in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, taking care of their seven-year-old son, while they celebrate their anniversary in Paris, Francine jumps at the chance. It’s just the opportunity she needs to relax and regroup. But, almost before she unpacks her suitcase, she realizes that people in Hawthorn Woods are hiding secrets. As she meets her neighbors and cares for her nephew, Francine channels Nancy Drew, a favorite book character from her childhood, and investigates some of the mysterious activities.

Hawthorn Woods is a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the throw-back to the ‘80s. The dialogue between Francine and her nephew, Charlie, is playful and fun. The characters are varied – some likable and some not so much. Meanwhile, the plot certainly kept me entertained, with its subtle humor and words of wisdom. And, finally, the references to lazy summer activities reminded me of my own adolescence and how summers were always special. Hawthorn Woods is a clever story that is perfect for an afternoon read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

This book was a very nice surprise. I liked the setting of 1989. And the book has some really interesting twists and turns to keep you reading. My only complaint is it ended lol can’t wait to read more by this author. This book gets an A+ from me!

If you are a suspence lover well, then you will love this book. Each character has depth to them and gives you a great description of all the locations. This was the kind of book that when you put it down you can't wait to pick it back up!!

Highly recommend

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of Hawthorn Woods in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this book,.A throwback to 1989;a time that fils me with nostalgia. The storyline was well developed loved the town the characters will be recommending, #netgalley #amazon

Hawthorn Woods is a real town in the far northern suburbs of Chicago. When I saw a book that takes place in a town about 10 minutes from where I live, I knew I wanted to read it. Patrick Canning's novel offers a great story for a variety of readers - it will appeal to fans of thrillers and literary fiction.

Following a horrible breakup of her marriage, Francine leaves her home in California to house-sit and watch her nephew for her sister in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois while her sister is on vacation. This is a new change for Francine - a time to restart her life as a newly divorced woman. But things get off to a rocky start when a neighbor she's never met throws a cocktail in her face. Soon she finds out an attractive man in the neighborhood may have lied to her.

Hawthorn Woods may be a beautiful and ritzy town, but its residents are hiding lots of secrets. One in particular may have deadly consequences.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Francine leaves SanFrancisco after a divorce to visit her sister Ellie in the quiet neighborhood of Hawthorn Woods Illinois. Starting with party shortly after her arrival, strange things start happening. From a glass of wine in the face to a mystery of a beloved farm animal, to a very nice elderly gentleman who may not be what he seems to be. This is the first book I have read by this author, I really enjoyed it. The development of the characters was well written. There were a couple of major twists which definitely surprised me. I throughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading another one of this author’s books. If you like quirky characters and surprising twists then try it, you will like it!

I enjoyed reading about 1989 when a chlld could run out of the house for the day and only come in for meals during the summer months! At first I thought it was written as a mystery to the age group of the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys mystery series that it references but as you continue on to ready it becomes clear what is really happening. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. This was a quick read so escape into Hawthorn Woods, Illinois 1989.

Patrick Canning does a wonderful job of writing a modern day Nancy Drew/Hardy Boy mystery, which turned into a wonderful read for me, since those novels were the first mysteries I grew up on.

I enjoyed the psychological questions at the beginning of the chapter--it helped me relate to the questions in the sense that I tried to figure out which questions applied to which character.

Needless to say, this book had psychological twists that I wasn't expecting, and I'm glad that the two sleuths ended up together at the end.

I hope that Canning continues to write in this series, because I would continue to read and recommend his books!

Looking forward to picking up his next read.

A two week stint house-sitting at her sister’s home in HAWTHORN WOODS Illinois seems like the perfect get-away for California hairdresser Francine, who is desperately trying to escape the trauma of trying to deal with her recent divorce. With her sister and brother-in-law vacationing in Europe this seems to be the ideal setting to rest, relax and re-group but her first foray into the lives of the residents of the Woods results in an unknown woman throwing a drink in her face. Francine is completely baffled by the woman’s actions, not to mention those of some of the other neighbors and decides to do a little investigating. She is particularly intrigued by the mysterious stranger who is temporarily renting one of the neighborhood homes and makes him #1 on her investigative check list.

What she discovers about the neighbors as well as herself provides enough mystery, twists, turns and personal drama to keep the reader breezing through chapters at a pace assuring they will devour the book in one sitting.

A great summer escape - 4 1/2 stars

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning.

Unfortunately this is a DNF for me, I made it about 25%. And it had so much potential!

My biggest criticism is that the relationships and dialogue were just ridiculous. It felt like a bunch of 5th graders playing house. You don't go to a BBQ for your very first time, learn everyone in your neighborhood's name, make an instant best friend to whom you immediately divulge all of your secrets, and have a drink thrown in your face with zero explanation, apology, or police being called. Adults don't freaking act like that, unless they're reenacting a campy telenovela.

The drink in the face had me intrigued, but then when the husband of drink thrower (cop) later apologizes weakly, like, "oh yeah, sorry, my wife, she's a spicy one, heh." I was just done. Again, no! You throw a drink in my face, I'm not going to just be a bit puzzled about it. I'm going to tackle your a$$ down and demand some answers! By that point, I was done. Not to mention, the kid in the story ironically acting way more adult than kids act, but in that obnoxious way. Kids that act too adult in stories are not only hard to believe, but annoying. Nope, can't do it.

Hawthorn Woods is a mystery thriller with some romance and some quirky humour.

The characters blend really well together. I love the mysterious Mr Bruno and Fran. They both have a unique friendship.

Its sort of like a throwback book with it set in 1989.

I adored the throwback theme of this one! In 1989, I was 11 and it was cool to go back to that time period via this twisty thriller.