It got me hooked on the first page and then slowly lost me through half of the story. Not a bad book by any means, but not captivating or thrilling either. I got tired of the many suspects and didn't care enough. Thank you #netgalley.com for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Best House on the Block" by T.R. Ragan is an intriguing psychological suspense novel following aspiring investigative journalist Shannon Gibbons as she tries to untangle the web of lies and secrets around her. This was my first book by the author, but it will not be my last.

Told in the third person, the book starts with a bang - a kidnapping of a toddler - and then jumps forward four years. Shannon Gibbons is an orphan, a mother, and a housewife who has dabbled in true crime stories online for years. When 65-year-old renowned journalist Rosella Marlow offers to be her mentor, she eagerly agrees and moves with her family to Rosella's neighborhood, the Fab-Forties of East Sacramento.

She quickly befriends her new neighbors and feels at home there, but Rosella is another kettle of fish. Rosella is bitter, resentful, and hated by all, and she is sure someone is after her. She asks for Shannon's help with this. The plot thickens when someone is found murdered, and that's when things get interesting.

The start of the book is very slow, and it took me a while to get into it. Things liven up after the murder, and from that point on, I was engrossed in the book. There are several plotlines woven into a mostly consistent whole. While I guessed early on the identity of the culprit, other twists caught me by surprise. There may have been one or two loose ends, but they weren't significant to the plot.

There is a large cast of characters, but I had no problem differentiating between them or keeping up with the story. With themes of trauma, loneliness, grief, infidelity, and the need for belonging, the author has woven a tale that I enjoyed reading.

I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars due to the slow start and some predictable and far-fetched turns. A tighter edit would have given the book a more polished look, but I still enjoyed it. It is a delightful read with engaging, multifaceted characters that will keep you enthralled. Despite the minor flaws, it is still worth reading. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological suspense novels with a punch and a satisfying conclusion.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Home run! Really tight, tense read. First read from this author but I’ll check out more! Thanks NetGalley for introducing me to new authors all the time!

I really enjoyed this book. There were so many twists and turns at just the right moments. This is one I would recommend.

This book was so good I had a hard time putting it down. Kidnapping (saving), murder, secrets, lies, twists, it's all packed into this delicious thriller.

It starts out with a man finding and "saving" a child he finds wandering. It then moves ahead four years to a journalist named Shannon moving into a beautiful neighborhood. Here she befriends her neighbor fellow journalist Rosella Marlow who wants to help give Shannon's career a boost. Secretly she is using Shannon to help seek her own retribution against her neighbors. All is not what it seems and soon there is a murder. But who did it? All the neighbors appear to have their own secrets and any one of them could have had a reason to commit the murder.

Full of unsuspecting twists and surprises this was a very devious well thought out plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy

This book was very impossible to put down. Its twisting, thrilling and very interesting until the very end. Who would have guessed the end.

Unfortuntely, this was, to me, one of those "interesting premise but boring execution" cases.
I was curious and kind of excited to read about a young journalist teaming up with an older journalist to help with in investigation. I usually love stories with different generations working together in the same job. But this one just didn't clique with me. And I honestly cannot even pinpoint exactly what's wrong with this book. It just didn't work for me.

This book was a quick read but very thrilling. I liked that the book started off with something important happening so I was immediately drawn. The author did a good job with the plot twists and turns.

This is a fast read with lots of characters. The cover is super eye catching but overall it was just a solid 3 star rating.

Lots of characters to keep up with. Many seemed too shallow to be real. I quit this book about halfway through as the story wasn't quite compelling enough.

It was a fast read and definitely had me guessing! Nothing too out of the norm for a thriller but still a cool concept.

The story kicks off with a thrilling kidnapping, then shifts to a woman moving to a neighborhood where she uncovers a web of secrets and a murder. With each character having a motive and being present during the crime, the plot is full of twists and interconnected relationships. It's a fast-paced and gripping narrative, though keeping track of the numerous characters requires attention. Overall, I found the book unique, engaging, and thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary early read in exchange for an honest review.

One of my fave authors! This one was a real whodunit. I absolutely loved the setting and how well this neighbourhood is brought to life. You are so drawn in you want to live here and become their friends. The story itself is so well written and solid. This didn’t have huge highs lows for me it was a solid steady ready that held me till the last page. There were twists and turns throughout but mostly the focus was on the depth of each character and their secrets. I loved it!

Best House on the Block begins with a child kidnapping. Fast forward four years later, and Shannon, an aspiring journalist, has moved to a very exclusive neighborhood with her husband and daughter. Famous journalist Rosella Marlow has gone out of her way to pave the way for Shannon, feeling secure that she will help Rosella on a pet project about the neighborhood. Diminished by grief at losing her husband and son in an accident, Rosella is determined to learn every secret about her neighbors, spying on them yet believing someone is out to get her as well. When there is a murder in the neighborhood the claws come out. Every family is surrounded by mysteries and unknowns in their past, which the author eases out in a story packed with atmosphere and tension. And don’t forget that kidnapping! Be prepared to read the unbelievable at times, in this fast moving book. With thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Rosella is a bitter journalist who keeps close tabs on her neighbours who all seem to be happy, with perfect lives.
She arranges for Shannon to move to the area to learn what she can to become a journalist. Shannon feels uncomfortable at the first meeting.
Shannon meets the neighbours and feels a connection with Chloe.
When Rosella is murdered, Shannon and Chloe join forces to find out if the murderer was one of the neighbours. The more they investigate, the more they realise every person had a reason to kill Rosella.

Wow, I really enjoyed this novel. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but I somehow managed!
I liked Shannon and Chloe, their friendship seemed genuine, and their investigation really ruffled a lot of feathers.
It seemed to me that the police were only interested in making an arrest, without proper investigating, which was a pity.

I definitely can recommend this book, it had mystery, thrills, intrigue and the bringing together of a community.
A 4/5 stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this book.

📖 Review:
T.R. Ragan’s Best House on the Block is a pulse-pounding thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat! If you love psychological suspense with twists and turns aplenty, this book is a must-read! 📚💥

Shannon Gibbons, an aspiring investigative journalist, moves with her family to the Fabulous Forties of East Sacramento, only to find herself entangled in a web of secrets and deceit. Her seemingly friendly neighbor, Rosella Marlow, offers Shannon a chance to assist in a new project, but beneath the surface lies bitterness and grief that drive Rosella’s dark obsessions. 💔🕵️‍♀️

As Shannon delves deeper into her neighbor’s world, she unwittingly becomes a pawn in Rosella’s dangerous game of uncovering and exposing the secrets of their tranquil neighborhood. But when a murder shakes their community, suspicions run high and everyone becomes a potential suspect. The tension escalates as neighbor turns against neighbor, revealing hidden motives and chilling revelations. 🔍👥

Ragan masterfully builds suspense, keeping readers guessing with each twist and revelation. The characters are richly developed, each with their own motivations and secrets that add layers of complexity to the plot. Shannon’s determination to uncover the truth, despite the risks, makes her a compelling protagonist. 🌟👩‍💼

The pacing is relentless, driving the narrative forward towards a gripping and satisfying conclusion. Ragan’s skillful storytelling and knack for creating atmospheric tension make Best House on the Block a standout thriller in the genre. Prepare for a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue that will leave you breathless! 🎢🔥

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

I was drawn in from the first two chapters of this book. The first starting off with a kidnapping and then the second ending with a neighbor who is hell bent on getting “justice” by spying on her neighbors and revealing all their secrets. Since Rosella had lost her husband and her son in a freak car accident. She is determined to shake up her neighborhood because of her grief. I found Rosella to be funny, irrational, paranoid, and just plain rude. Her character had me engaged in the first chapters.

The book had a lot of potential but fell kind of flat for me. The characters were not developed and I found myself excited for the story to end.

I wasn’t able to guess the killer but I guess justice was served after all.

Starting off with a kidnapping I see 😳

I love a good murder mystery where everyone in the neighborhood is a suspect. This honestly felt like one giant game of clue.

This moved at a bit of a slower pace, but I liked how everything came back full circle in the end. The twist/reveal was great!

3.5 stars rounding down.

The cover of the book drew me in, and the introduction did not disappoint. There are quite a few characters to keep track of. This book was a bit difficult to pick up and put down. It took some time going back to figure out who was who and which children belonged to which couple after putting the book down for a few days. It would be best read as a cover to cover book in a sitting or two. Overall, it's a good story, lots of suspected suspects with plenty of unlikeable characters to draw your attention.

Suburban mystery/thriller with a neighborhood of suspicious characters. Decent pool or beach read but does’t break any new ground.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209609630