The title and book description held out the promise of a thrilling read.
Recently widowed Clare discovers her husband's secret while clearing out his desk. She is also helping her friend Viv who is leaving her abusive husband. Meanwhile Jed is searching for answers about his father.
The book has 2 plots that never quite came together.
An easy read but not as gripping as I had expected
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I tried to get into this book but could not connect with the story and did not continue with it.

This is a fast paced book with a lot going on. Firstly there is the death of Clare’s husband and when she is moving his desk she finds evidence that he might have fathered a child from another woman. Then neighbour Rob is found murdered and Clare and her children and their partners are all under suspicion of his death. There are some more shocks along the way as when being investigated by the police some skeletons are certainly hiding in the closet. Will the police get to the bottom of this case. Read it to find out.

I’ve read a number of this authors books and this was a little different, more descriptive, less violence, slower paced, definitely more of a family drama - not a bad thing. As always it’s very well written with a good plot, in fact two main plots and a few minor threads, and told from multiple POV’s. Quite an emotional story at times although I thought Clare seems quite a cold unemotional woman despite having a good life and a loving family.

Briefly, following the death of her husband Clare Steen is clearing his study when she finds a secret drawer in his desk; what it contains was a big shock. Her closest friend Vic Dolan lives across the street with her abusive husband and following a physical attack on her she has left him. Returning to pick up more of her belonging she finds him dead. Murdered. The police are investigating but the case is moving slowly and Clare and Vic plus Clare’s children and their partners are all under suspicion.

I thought the inclusion of the death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the explanation about how this affected policing levels, thus impacting the investigation was an excellent ploy. Little red herrings worked to keep you guessing on the killer but as secrets were revealed I found myself changing my mind more than once. A good psychological thriller with a bit of a shock ending.

Fast paced psychological thriller with multiple things happening. Very good book! Thank you for net galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

This is my first book by Anita Waller. I enjoyed reading it. Lots of twists and turns to keep you. guessing.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for my copy of #TheCoupleAcrossTheStreet by #AnitaWaller.
I think this is Anita’s best book yet. I read it in one sitting as I just couldn’t put it down.
Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive.
Secrets always come back to catch us out.

The Couple Across the Street by Anita Waller

Characters: 5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Enjoyment: 5/5
Total stars: 5/5

Waller has taken a great story plot and turned it into an even better book with great characters and a pace that at times felt slow but overall it was a ride that when I finished, I could not stop thinking about.
Clare Steen has lost her husband and instead of dismay she feels relief. While dealing with trying to move forward with her life, her very close friend, Vic comes to her with news that her marriage is in trouble. She is all in with helping Vic leave her husband, Rob but when they enter the home of Vic and Rob they find something shocking. Rob’s body. Someone wanted him dead and it sure looks like on the surface it could have been Vic. But things are not always as they seem. While cleaning out the desk of her husband, Clare finds an envelope with a picture of a child that is not hers but she suspects could be her husbands. Now Clare has two things to contend with, deceit and murder. Who is it that has the axe to grind and could that person be closer to Clare than she suspects?


Definitely, definitely worth the read if you enjoy psychological thrillers and mysteries that are full of twists and turns. I cannot wait to read more by this author nor can I wait for the book to be released.

June 20 2023 is going to be a great day for readers everywhere!

While cleaning out the antique desk of her deceased husband John, Claire Steen stumbles upon a secret compartment she knew nothing about. When she finds a Father’s Day card from 2004 she first thinks it’s from one of their daughters Sarah or Grace but when she opens the card and sees a little boy in front of a birthday cake shaped as a Thor she knows this is an any of her children but she also knows it just may possibly be one of her husbands. Although finding the Card rocks her world she can’t focus on that too much because she is helping her friend Vic get away from her abusive husband Rob. Rob and Vic has been Claire’s neighbors for years and thought Rob was a lovely man or at least she did until recently he has been coming over wanting to know where his wife is at and he doesn’t ask in a friendly tone but with curse words and an intimidating flair.when they go over, thanking he has left for work and want to get the rest of Vic’s things; vic goes in as Claire gets the car ready but quickly rush us out in faints in the driveway. She has found Rob dead in his living room when detective Brett and detective rose show up they focus on a couple of good suspects but who is actually the murderer. While this is gone on Jeb is mourning the loss of his beloved mother Kirstie and lives with his granny Elsie and when he ask her who his father could possibly be but she really has no clue so when she goes away for a couple days he scours the house in search of any information that could help him. Like with all reviews the summary doesn’t tell half the story and I can honestly say Anita Waller is one of my favorite authors and although this didn’t live up to the family at number 12 it is still a really good read and one I would definitely recommend. There is always multiple things going on in her books and although this one has a bittersweet ending the last page leaves you with questions and their questions I hope she answers in a future book. As for this one I would definitely read it if you love women’s Fiction thrillers and or mysteries you not be disappointed with The Family Across The Street by Anitta Waller I received this book from NetGalley and Boldwood books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Page-turning after page-turning, could not put this book down.

Twists and turns abound for this family where everything on the surface looked idyllic. Revenge is sweet they say, but how long down the line before it is delivered?

Easy reading highly enjoyable.

This book will leave you guessing how a murder could happen on a quiet neighbourhood. However it reveals many twists and turns and deceit along the way. Definitely worth a read, you won't regret it.

When Clare becomes a widow, her response is something that shocks her - relief. All she wants to do is move on and figure out how to continue her life, alone, no matter the guilt that brings. So when Vic, her closest friend, comes to her showing signs of trouble in her own marriage, she is more than supportive in helping her leave Rob. But Vic doesn't get the chance to do that, Because as they go over to Vic's house to collect her things, they find a body, Rob's.

This book has a great pace. I've never read the author before, so I didn't really know what to expect, but I was pulled in after reading a couple of chapters. There is more than one crime going on in this book. The characters are well rounded. This is a well written whodunit. My first read by the author but it won't be my last.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #AnitaWallen for my ARC of #TheCoupleAcrossTheStreet in exchange for an honest review.

The Couple Across the Street is another hit for Anita Waller! Well told, evenly paced with lots of goings-on to keep you fully engaged to the very end!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC!

I throughly enjoyed this book. I found myself getting a bit confused with there being quite a few characters. That’s more on me though.

It did keep me guessing until the end I have to say.


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The Couple Across The Street
by Anita Waller
Pub Date: 20 Jun 2023

The Couple Across The Street is definitely a page turner at best. This book has two stories going on at the same time that involve the same main characters. If you like stories with murder, revenge, mystery and suspense I highly recommend this. It kept me hooked from start to finish!

Short Synopsis:

When Clare becomes a widow, her response is something that shocks her – relief. All she wants to do is move on and figure out how to continue her life, alone, no matter the guilt that brings.

So when Vic, her closest friend, comes to her, showing the signs of trouble in her own marriage, she is more than supportive in helping her leave Rob.

But Vic doesn’t get the chance to do that. Because as they go over to Vic's house to collect her things, they find a body. Rob’s.

It appears someone else had an axe to grind. But for Clare, already reeling from secrets from her own late husband’s dark past, she’s about to find out this murder isn’t as straightforward as it may appear…

Many thanks to #NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks for the chance to review an ARC of #TheCoupleAcrossTheStreet.

Clare has recently become a widow and she’s learning to live with both her grief and a new way of living .
One of the ways she decides to move forward is rearranging her husbands office in to a sewing room , whilst doing this she finds a card that changes the way she views her marriage and her husband.
Vic lives across the road from Clare and is her closest friend always there to support each other. Vic’s marriage to Rob is not a happy one and she decides to leave him , and then he is found dead in suspicious circumstances.
All of the characters are suspects in Rob’s death .
There are lies and secrets abound in this story and it shows that no one really knows what goes on behind closed doors.
The writing makes it easy to read although I thought the story had a slow start it soon gained pace .
An enjoyable and easy read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

this was such a fun thriller! i'm still somewhat new in adult thrillers but i had so much fun! it kept me on edge wanting more and more! i loved that it was fast paced so there was always something coming and keeping me intrigued. learning more about the secrets that their husbands had had me GASPING.

Thankyou netgalley for allowing me a copy of this arc

I'm afraid it wasn't for me. I didn't find the intro intriguing or interesting so this led to me not being able to continue

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Couple Across the Street by Anita Waller, published by Boldwood Books
I found myself jumping right into this story,it had me from page one. The characters are great, well described and the story is written from different characters perspectives, I would say it's more of a cozy mystery/thriller. I was stumped till the end as to who the guilty party was. And I loved the little added twist at the end.
Clare is the main character, has two daughters and has just lost her husband to cancer, she is doing well at getting on with her life. Her best friend across the street has decided she needs to move out and away from her husband Rob, he has beat her and left bruises on her face. Clare is supporting her 100%. And then a few days later, Vic finds her husband dead in their home. It's clear she hasn't done it, but the investigation starts
I totally recommend this novel, it's great, reads well. I zipped through it in a couple of days. I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author!

Who knows what goes on behind closed doors...?

This is only the second book I've read by this author and I'm still unsure whether it's my cup of tea. I enjoyed the story but it's a kind of mixed bag. The title seems to have nothing really to do with the real story...which I'm still trying to unpick. It begins with a woman becoming a widow and learning to live without her husband to her best friend across the road leaving her own husband to the murder of said husband to the discovery of a secret child!

Clare has just buried husband John after his short battle with cancer. Her description of her husband is somewhat mixed as she attests to having loved him but then says he was a little controlling, preferring her to stay at home to care for him and his daughters. Did he not want her to have an identity or life outside of the home? I don't know. I couldn't get much of a read on him as he was not actually around to assess.

Across the street, Vic and her husband Rob have been having problems and so one day after Rob heads off to work, Vic turns up with the news that she's leaving him...culminating in a bright purple black bruise across her face. Vic has a flat all set across town that not even Clare knows where so she can't be forced to reveal her whereabouts to Rob should he come demanding answers. Which he inevitably does, knowing the two women are best friends.

Clare's daughters are preparing for new lives of their own. Sara and Greg are about to embark on a new chapter in their lives while Grace and Megan have just bought an apartment together...something they felt they couldn't do while Grace's father was still alive as he never really accepted their relationship.

Meanwhile across town a young man, Jed Grantham, has just buried his mother and is now looking for answers that only she could have provided but never did. And his search brings him into the lives of Clare and her extended family, bringing with it a shocking revelation.

Set against the backdrop of the Queen's death and her funeral, I was taken back to that time last year and remembered the emotions I felt too at having lost the only monarch I had ever known. This is the first book I have read with the Queen's death and funeral as a backdrop though it probably won't be the last. It doesn't play a huge part but it is there and serves to remind us.

I really tried to like the story but I really couldn't see the point of all the story threads in one book. It kind of made it a bit of a haphazard mess and I'm still not sure what to think of it. It felt rather disjointed and the characters were hard to connect with. And then another curve ball from ten years previous was thrown in...once that was, it was pretty easy to figure out what happened then.

I would like to thank #AnitaWaller, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheCoupleAcrossTheStreet in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.