Laurel and Rob West and their small children are moving into their new home in New Jersey, but it isn’t the idyllic suburban dream Laurel thought it would be. One elderly neighbor seems like a sweet grandmotherly type, but her comments to Laurel are always double-edged. Single mom Zoey seems a little too flirty with Rob for Laurel’s taste. At least Laurel’s got one friend in her next-door neighbor Addie to share snark and cocktails with.

We also get the POV of another woman named Corey. Corey is living with her mother in a retirement community in Florida, recently divorced and mired in grief. What happened to her is a bit of a mystery… does she have a connection to Cold Creek Lane?

Liz Alterman came onto my radar with Perfect Neighborhood and it’s clear she’s one to watch when it comes to neighborhood noir! The House on Cold Creek Lane is not only suspenseful but filled with razor-sharp insight about new motherhood, which is a favorite domestic suspense theme of mine. This book was such a great read – full of mystery, misdirection, and gaslighting. There’s a palpable undercurrent of darkness running just below the surface of the plot that fed my anxiety and kept me hooked throughout. The big reveal was a surprise and the conclusion was so satisfying! No wonder all of us at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse are raving about this one!

When Laurel and Rob move into their new home on Cold Creek Lane with their two young children, they have high hopes of creating beautiful memories there. However, Rob found the house without Laurel’s input and they had no idea about the tragic loss that the previous owners experienced while living in the home. Shortly after moving in and meeting the neighbors, Laurel experiences some strange things and Rob continuously dismisses her concerns as paranoia.

Meanwhile, Corey, the previous resident of the home, is grieving the loss of her young daughter, Frankie. She is struggling to cope and is determined to prove that her daughter’s death was no accident. When she realizes that there are new owners living in her old house, she struggles with what to do about it. Should she warn them?

I really enjoyed this book! I loved how it was told through dual points of view with Laurel and Corey’s stories ultimately colliding and making for one crazy and unexpected ending! I figured out the main twist but it didn’t matter because the way everything played out was definitely a surprise and the final few twists had my jaw on the floor. I know it’s a good book when I find myself mentally yelling at the characters because it’s just one bad decision after the next!
This book has made me a fan of Liz Alterman and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

4.5 Stars Rounded Up

his book is twisty, tragic, and shocking. You follow Laurel and Corey, two women who are bound to cross paths (and the suspense is brutal! I loved it!) I just could not figure out how these two were going to connect in the end. I found Laurel to be entitled and insufferable. My reading buddy, Amber, disliked Rob.

The ending is something that will stick with you. It's one of those "Did that really happen?!" Endings, and I EAT THOSE UP.

Please check the triggers on this one. I know a lot of people struggle when children are involved, so please be mindful of that going in. It can get a little intense at times, but the author truly did a fantastic job writing the difficult parts so they didn't feel so heavy. There is a scene that is so well written, that as a mother, I was crying like a fool. I highly recommend this fantastic book when it's released in August!

Wow! What a roller coaster from Liz Alterman! I loved A Perfect Neighborhood, so I was eager to read her latest, due out this August. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Laurel and Rob West and their toddler and newborn move to a new home in New Jersey — a home they were able to snap up even in a tough real estate market. Rob is eager for Laurel to make friends and create a suburban social life for them — but Laurel is an introvert by nature and is exhausted caring for two young children. And as she gets to know her neighbors, there are definitely some that make her uncomfortable. Meanwhile, in Florida, Corey Sutton is living with her widowed mother in a senior complex, working a dead end job and drinking herself to sleep in the wake of a terrible tragedy. Although Laurel and Corey have never met, they have something in common…

I love domestic suspense and the concept of all the secrets behind closed doors in superficially quiet suburban neighborhoods, and Alterman is a master at the genre. I couldn’t stop turning pages, and while some of my suspicions were correct, I loved the way the story spun out. It was perfectly paced, and definitely held some big surprises. Highly recommend!

This was such a fast paced read, with multiple POVs that made this read even more enjoyable. I couldn’t put this one down at all and so many times I really wanted to strangle Rob!!! This was my first book of Liz Alterman and it was really good! Most definitely, must add this one to your TBR!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the advanced reader copy!

It’s my first book by Liz Alterman, and I am not disappointed. Great book, kept me intrigued throughout! Plenty of suspense and dry humor… I would recommend for any psychological fiction fan, and I will be reading more from this author.

Such a great book! Could not out this one down! Even when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it!

While thankful for the chance to read this book, it took me 3 weeks to finish it. If it had started out as good as it ended, I'd have finished it in days, not weeks. The beginning felt a little repetitive. I didn't like reading the constant gaslighting of each other. The ending, however, was great. I finished the last 20% in one setting. I couldn't put it down and needed to finish it. For that reason, I give this book 3.5 stars. I'd still recommend it to others, because the ending pulled this book together and gave it what was needed to keep the reader's interest. I will be posting a review shortly to my IG and FB.

Honestly I’d give this 3.5 stars but rounded up. I really liked the overall plot, but some of the characters were so damn unlikable that it made me not want to read the dang book! I also had the ending pinned from about halfway through, but that’s on me for reading way too many thrillers; I swear nothing surprises me anymore. Overall it was a decent read.

Laurel and Rob move with their two young children to a new home. Laurel immediately feels put off by their nosy neighbour. She feels anxious. She keeps making mistakes and feels like her husband isn't supporting her. And what happened in their new home that caused the old owners to suddenly leave?

Corey is trying to start fresh. She recently suffered a terrible loss. Corey is determined to find answers and will stop at nothing. Corey and Laurel have never met before, but it seems the two women have something in common...

Overall, a pretty average read. I wouldn't really classify this is a thriller, which is the main reason for my three star rating. This is more like a domestic drama. I kept waiting for some twists and suspense, but nothing really happened.

This is a dual perspective story, told from Laurel and Corey. I found Corey's chapters really boring, until almost the end. They really dragged on. I didn't care to read about her work or day to day life. There was absolutely no suspense. I found myself skimming Corey's chapters. Laurel's chapters were pretty good and more in line with some thrillers. However, the story was super predictable.

It was also really frustrating reading the exchanges between Laurel and her husband, Rob. He treated her terribly - constantly gaslighting and belittling her.

On a positive note, the writing and character development were both excellent.

I think this book could have been executed a lot better. There was a lot of potential to make this a great novel. The premise and description characterize this book as a thriller, but it simply is not.

Thank you Severn House and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A solid 4 stars. This book holds you from the moment you pick it up. It is a bit predictable I must say.
But it is does give a good glimpse into motherhood. It’s does make you realize that suburbia isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. You never know what really happens behind closed doors and ppl aren’t always who you expect them to be. If you want a quick read that will keep your attention this is definitely a great book for you.

Two woman with families. One house. I see nothing wrong happening….what a whirlwind of a story. I gobbled this up like it was my favorite meal! The story line had me engaged and wanting more. Some twists I guessed but others had me shocked. This has got to be one of my top reads for the summer!

𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒇 𝑹𝒐𝒃 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒆--𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆'𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒕--𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓? 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅, 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍?

The lives of two women converge in this explosive domestic thriller that centers around the fierce bonds of motherhood.

Laurel and Rob have just moved into their new home on Cold Creek Lane. Because she was recovering from a C-section, Laurel only saw the house through a screen. She's kept busy with a newborn and a four-year-old, but she's never recovered from losing her mother suddenly at the age of 12. Her husband definitely did not endear himself to me at all as he seemed nonchalant about his wife's tragic loss and how it's affecting her still today. He grew up privileged with doting parents and is worlds away from Laurel's childhood.

Laurel feels completely bulldozed by everyone in her life, including her new neighbor Marian, who makes snide remarks about her parenting. So when another neighbor, Addie, offers friendship and an understanding ear, Laurel jumps at the chance to be someone other than wife and mom, and she becomes content with her tribe of one.

Meanwhile Corey is drifting. Recently divorced and struggling with a tragic loss, she is living in her mother's retirement condo until a resident balks. Lost, with no support and no friends, Corey is determined to seek out the source of her loss. And she knows exactly where to find it.

This was an absolutely stunning portrayal of the ups and downs of motherhood; its bleakest moments spilled out onto the pages with no filters or apologies, and mixed with the ferocity of a mother protecting her young, all culminated into one explosive climax that will have you seized by the throat until the very last word.

I'm thrilled to promote this book as a member of Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse. This title will release August 6, 2024.

✨Spoiler Free Review✨

Title- The House On Cold Creek Lane by @lizalterman
Rating-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@lizalterman new book The House on Cold Creek Lane is a hot topic over here at @thrillerbookloversthepulse. The House on Cold Creek Lane is a haunting thriller that explores the darkest aspects of motherhood, grief, and loss, and the unsettling lengths people will go to protect their own. With a gripping dual narrative, the novel is a true page-turner that will keep readers up at night, eager to uncover the truth.

Synopsis-
When Laurel and Rob West move into their new home in New Jersey, it seems too good to be true. But Laurel can’t shake off her old feelings of anxiety. The neighbour who pays far too much attention to the Wests’ two young children . . . Rob watching her every miss step . . . and there’s something people aren’t telling her about this house . . .

I promised myself I wouldn’t go to that neighborhood again. Not that street. Not so soon. But I couldn’t help it. They made it too easy.

Corey Sutton is trying to outrun her past. Recently divorced and reeling from a devastating loss, she moves into her widowed mother’s retirement condo in Florida. Everyone says she just needs some time to recover and rebuild . . . but is Corey beyond saving? She wants answers. And there’s very little she won’t do to get them.

Though Laurel and Corey have never met, the women have something in common, and if they’re not careful, it may just destroy them both.

That plot twist at the end 👏🏽👏🏽

The countdown begins for the release of this incredible book on August 6, 2024.

Thank you @lizalterman and @severnhouseimprint for this advanced copy✨

Synopsis: Laurel and Rob West have just moved into a house on Cold Creek Lane. It is a beautiful home which had been languishing on the market due to a tragedy that occurred there. But Laurel doesn’t know anything about the history of the house. Corey Sutton used to live on Cold Creek Lane, until she lost her beloved daughter Frankie and her marriage imploded. Corey is still in the throes of deep grief and living in a Florida retirement community with her elderly mother, who wants her to get her life together and move on. If Laurel isn’t careful, history might repeat itself.

Thoughts: This domestic thriller pulled me right in and had me flipping pages like a mad woman! For much of the book, I was cursing Rob and screaming (in my head) at Laurel to grow a spine. When she finally does, the results are catastrophic and yet very satisfying. I appreciated the way the author takes society’s negative assumptions and stereotypes about older women, in the characters of Marian and Helen, and turns them upside down. If you are a fan of domestic thrillers with the trope of damaged and unreliable female characters, then you will love this!

The House on Cold Creek Lane is a dark thriller about motherhood, grief and loss, and the lengths we will go to protect our own. Told in dual points of view, it was a quick read that made my anxiety spike and kept me flipping pages.

I was so angry for Laurel and frustrated that her husband Rob kept undermining and belittling her. So much falls on a mom's shoulders and I could feel Laurel's burdens through the pages. She so desperately wanted to make her family happy and to just be enough and it was at times heartbreaking to read.

Corey's grief also emanated from this novel. I couldn't fathom the loss she had endured and her anger and devastation were palpable.

Though I found the novel fairly predictable, I did really enjoy the story and the writing was excellent. The characters were well developed, easy to relate to, and some were really fun to dislike!

This is a quick read and definitely one I recommend!

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, Severn House, and NetGalley for the copy.

This was my first book from NetGalley. It definitely had a great plot. I was able to figure out some of the twists and turns but that didn't make it any less entertaining. Overall it was a good read and moved quickly.The characters were a little annoying at times. I didn't need to hear about Laurel's breasts leaking every time her baby cried and I totally get it Addie smells like peaches. Those repetitive things were rather irritating. This is my first book by Liz Alterman and I will definitely try a few of her others. Thanks NetGalley and Severn House for giving me the opportunity to read this.

4.5 round up! This book was incredible! I would read it on my kindle during preschool nap time and found myself wanting more after each chapter. Hard to put down! The character development was incredible. The storyline and how it all wraps together is just so so good!! Definitely a top 5 in my book for 2024! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

A good solid novel that I enjoyed.
It did keep me guessing and there were a few clever twists, the characters were well written and some quite likeable, though Laurel annoyed me sometimes.
The setting was eerie in its normalcy and the plot remained at a steady, easy to follow pace throughout.
Worth a read!

This one was fun! I definitely didn't see the big twist coming. Recommended to someone who loves a good ol' "classic" domestic thriller.