3.3
By now it is clear to me that I don't like PoVs in the first person using the present tense, they sound forced, unnatural. They sound like testimonies given to the reader for no reason.
The suspense was ok, well built imo, but the character who helps the antagonist has no strong motives for doing so, therefore their acts are not convincing to me.

I wish I could give this book a good rating, but it just fell flat for me. It was fine for a book that will occupy you for a day or two, but don’t plan to remember. Characters were pretty boring. Story seemed liked it should have gripped you right from the start, but was confusing. Why start with a missing child when the premise is about a husband’s infidelity? She eventually got it there, and the memories were useful… it just fell dull and flat.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Ehhhhhhh I wanted to love this. I was hooked except the entire time I said to myself, it better not be the baby’s sister. I hate predicting the ending!

The Mistress Next Door by Lesley Sanderson was an intriguing book. The plot points are dynamic and interesting. The middle dragged just a little but the plot points and twist paid off in the end.

I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I know what you did. You destroyed my life. Now I’m going to take everything from you, starting with your husband. I’m your worst nightmare, and I’m closer than you think.

2.5 ⭐

From the cover and the title I expected to get a chill, very middle-of-the-road thriller. A fun afternoon but not more than that.

But even with my expectations not being very high, this book just wasn’t it for me. It failed to intrigue me or to keep my attention. I wouldn’t say it was bad exactly, but there was nothing in it for me.

The whole thing starts when a child goes missing, and soon after the mother gets a threatening note. There’s already a lot of secrets going on around their house, with her husband cheating and her own mistakes from the past.

It sounds like it might be a fun time, but it was really a dull story with lots of repetition. I really wished we got more from the mistress’ perspective, it would have added a certain edge to the whole thing. I also have questions about the ending - certain things didn’t quite add up.

What I liked was that it was a very consumable story, easy to fly through. The book had its good moments, but the bottom line is it wasn't for me.

A huge thank you to Bookouture Audion and NetGalley for the arc copy of The Mistress Next Door
by Lesley Sanderson in exchange for my honest review.

This story is told mostly from Harriet's point of view. The pace is on the slow side, but it still manages to pull you in. I also felt that it took a bit of a dip in the middle.
You will encounter many secrets and twists. There were parts that were quite predictable. Overall, an enjoyable read.

The Mistress Next Door is the first book I’ve read/listened to by Lesley Sanderson. I really enjoyed this one. A slow burn family drama. A huge thank you to Netgalley, and Bookouture for a listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

Let me just say it started with a BANG and kept my attention throughout. I’m a sucker for the I have a secret and I hope no one finds out angle. Also, a gentle reminder that not everyone in your circle is your friend. This was a twisty read and a fun time. I’ve given it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 and I’m so looking forward to reading another Lesley Sanderson novel in the future.

If you love a twisty, keep you on the edge of your seat, page turner read this one is most definitely for you. The writing is easy to navigate and the narration keeps you fully invested, intrigued and guessing throughout. Happy Reading.

What a great thriller. Great narrator really kept you hooked the whole way through. Loved the story and the writing

Overall a good read but it was getting tedious towards the end. There was something in the protagonist's past that was making her doubt herself as a mother. I have no patience for narcissistic husbands/boyfriends with passive-aggressive tendencies.

I kept hoping Hariette would just kick her cheating husband out and go on with her life. Be happy.

I listened as an audiobook and enjoyed it. I would recommend it if you wanted a simple summer read.

I loved this audiobook! Such a great storyline and great plot twist I didn’t see coming!! This is a story I will definitely be reading again when the book comes out!! Looking forward to reading/listening to more books by this author!

Mysteries galore! I loved this book and listened to it in one day! Harriet and Oliver seem like a golden couple but their simmering problems come to light when one of their twins goes missing.
I was guessing up until the end. I'd definitely recommend this (and have already) to anyone who loves a fast-paced mystery thriller.

From the perfect marriage, life and home to despair and desperation in a few days. Little things start to happen, a little girl goes missing and is found unharmed later in the day, secrets are uncovered piece by piece, the clues are there. With a few twists and turns this is a good plot well executed, kept me guessing until the end and although some scenarios were a little far fetched it fitted the plot well. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Leslie Sanderson for an ARC in return for an honest review.

What an absolute rollercoaster. It's dark, thrilling and chaotic. I loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review. The Mistress Next Door has a strong start but becomes a very slow burn. I was intrigued by the title and book description ultimately though I wasn't very thrilled. The story is told over two timelines - now and 2006 - by the main character, Harriet, and the prologue from the point of view of the anonymous mistress.

To say, Harriet has a lot on her plate is an understatement. Threatening notes, a cheating, husband, and suspicious neighbors around every corner. Who is behind the chilling threats? The past has come back with a vengeance threatening to take away all she loves, including her husband. The narration adds an element of mystery and drama to this tale of deception and betrayal. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Prospect close is a small illustrious enclave where Harriet is living with her three daughters. Her husband, Oliver, is an international banker and travels most of the time. She believes that Oliver has been having affairs on her when he is away. On one of those trips one of the girls is briefly kidnapped but later found safe so she choses not to inform Oliver. Shortly after Harriet begins receiving notes that indicate the kidnapper (if it's the same person) knows what she did in the past and may becoming for revenge.

First of this story was not at all what I thought it would be about based on the title. It is told from 2 POVs Harriet's and a mystery woman living on the block known as The Mistress who is intent on breaking up this marriage for some unknown past sin that the wife harbors. The final reveal and tie to each other is boring and contrived. Harriet is an unlikeable character who spends most of the book whining about her husband's infidelity. The premise was there but just didn't deliver. I had the audio version read by Eilidh Beaton who does a good job on the narration.

This was a super slow book for the first half—I got halfway through and felt like…? Is this going anywhere or is it just going to be a guy cheating on his wife. Then it picked up!

The Mistress Next Door is the first book by Lesley Sanderson that I've read.
I liked this book ok, but it wasn't my favorite.
The story centers around a woman with a hidden past that haunts her and a rocky marriage that she spends most of the book questioning. I enjoyed the twists at the end and the flashbacks to when Harriet was 16 and what she's been running away from for all these years.
Thank you Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for my ALC.

This book wasn't my favorite but I did enjoy it. The ending kept me guessing until the last chapter. I would recommend it.

The Mistress Next Door
by Lesley Sanderson
Narrated by Eilidh Beaton

Rating: 4.2/5.0 Stars

The Mistress Next Door is a slow burn. Harriet is a mom of three. After one of her littles goes missing for a short time, she starts receiving threatening notes from someone who seems to know about a horrific event that some blamed her for that happened years ago when she was little more than a child.

Aside from that, her philandering husband is up to old tricks and maybe hitting a little closer to home than usual. Harriet isn't sure who she can trust, and this book revolves around her neighbors and their quaint neighborhood, where it seems someone is always keeping an eye out on the goings-on of everyone...

This was a fun, easy listen that kept my attention to the end. The various neighbors each had their unique motives and characteristics. There was no way of guessing who or why until the reveal, and it was a bit of a letdown when it was revealed. Overall, the book was enjoyable, and I'd listen to or read more by Ms. Sanderson in the future. The narration was well performed and brought life to each unique character.

Thanks to #BookoutureAudio, #NetGalley and the author for the chance to listen to and review this ARC!