The Women On Retford Drive

This was an excellent read. I loved the bond between mother and step daughter. The domestic abuse in several situations is disturbing, and if that is a difficult personal topic for some, then this isn't your kind of book. An excellent mystery, filled with who did it and IF they did it. I was surprised at the end. I didn't see it coming. #thewomeonretforddrive #netgalley

*I would like to thank the author/ publisher/netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for afair and honest review*

This is a riveting mystery. Julia Pritchard and her stepdaughter Blythe are anxious to start their new lives away from their abusive husband and father, Keith Pritchard. Unfortunately, he goes missing the day they make their getaway. When the housekeeper makes a gruesome discovery in the laundry room, the women fear the police will point the finger at them. But was Keith really hurt? Is Keith dead? If so, where is his body and moreover, who did it? This book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride and the reveal in the end was mind-blowing. This is an excellent mystery with relateable characters you can root for. It's the first book in a series. I'm looking forward to reading book #2.

Gripping storyline. Keeps you guessing the outcome until the very end. Couldn't read it quickly enough.

The adage be careful what you wish for came to mind while reading The Women on Retford Drive. Julia and her stepdaughter Blythe longed for the day when they could be free from their abusive husband and father, Keith Pritchard. But did they want their freedom badly enough that they would be willing to commit murder? That’s the lingering question in this ingenious mystery. I immediately connected to Julia and Blythe who alternately tell the story. Their lawyer and the detective on the case also have a few chapters. Once I started reading, it was very difficult to put this book down. I just had to know what had happened to Keith and who did it? Was he dead? Was he going to suddenly make an appearance? It’s a nail-biter. Every time I thought I knew who the culprit was, something else was revealed to discount my theory. The ending is explosive and surprising. This is an excellent mystery. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

The Women on Retford Drive is a first person multiple POV mystery. I tend to lean toward third person stories, but the author was able to write this story seamlessly, pulling me in at page one. Julia and Blythe Pritchard are inseparable and have suffered several years of abuse at the hands of Keith Pritchard, Julia’s husband and Blythe’s father. The story opens on the day they plan to leave Keith’s mansion. It’s the perfect day to make their escape because Keith is on his way to New York. He’s in the process of taking his company public. But all hell breaks loose when the women are notified that Keith missed his flight and cannot be found. The women suspect he’s on his way back to the house to stop them from leaving, but that theory is tossed when the housekeeper discovers Keith’s bloody shirt. Blythe surmises there’s foul play. But where is his body? Is he dead? Julia believes it’s a hoax and that Keith is trying to thwart their plans. I had planned to read the book over several days, but I failed. I read it in one sitting because I had to know what had happened, if anything, and who did it. The writing is excellent, and the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. This is one of the best mysteries I’ve read so far this year.

Fast paced quick read. This book will hold your interest all the way through. There is constant dialogue, chain of thought of each character. Brings to light abusive relationships and why women stay.. Only a few expletives and no steamy sex. A good mystery for a rainy day or an afternoon poolside!

The Women on Retford Drive is the first book in Alretha Thomas’ Dancing Hills Mystery series. She’s off to a great start. I immediately connected to the two protagonists, Julia Pritchard an aging actress and her stepdaughter Blythe, an aspiring attorney.

The novel opens with the women preparing to leave their abusive husband and father respectively, Keith Pritchard. They’re excited about finally breaking free of the suffocating and destructive grip he has on their lives. But their dream turns into a nightmare when he goes missing the day of their move. There’s a bloody shirt, but no body. There’s an abandoned car with blood in it, but no body. Where is Keith Pritchard and is he dead? Getting the answer to the aforementioned question, coupled with Alretha’s stunning storytelling, had me swiping my phone like a mad person. The writing, a nice balance of dialogue and narrative, is engaging, and it held me from beginning all the way through the shocking end.

If you love mysteries, you won’t want to miss this one.

Many thanks to the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This held my interest from beginning to end. Lots of twists and a surprise ending. I'd be interested in reading the next book in the series.

Where is Keith Pritchard? Is he alive or dead? Is it a hoax? The good people of Dancing Hills believe his soon to be ex-wife, Julia Pritchard and his daughter Blythe have killed him. The police also suspect them, and at times, the women suspect each other.

This effective and twisty mystery is the first in a whodunit series. It’s told from multiple points of view, alternating between Julia and Blythe. Their lawyer, Stephen, and the lead detective on the case, also have a few chapters. The novel offers a gripping story that will have you missing your train stop or bus stop or whatever mode of transportation you’re using to get to and from work. At least that was the case for me.

If you really like good mysteries, you will love this one. I highly recommend The Women on Retford Drive. On a side note, the book touches on domestic abuse.

I’d like to thank the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable whodunit in the vein of Gone Girl. But in this case it’s Gone Guy. Keith Pritchard was scheduled to fly out of Los Angeles on his private Jet to New York on a roadshow to take his company public, but he never makes his flight. This startling occurrence sends his soon to be ex-wife Julia into a panic along with his daughter, Blythe, both of whom are leaving him. Julia believes Keith is behind his own disappearance, but Blythe thinks her father’s dead and the police believe the women, who have been abused by Keith, may be guilty. Racing against the clock, Julia and Blythe start their own investigation that leads to a litany of suspects, including each other. I had a difficult time trying to determine what and if anything had happened to Keith. This book kept me on the edge of my seat with my eyes glued to my Kindle.

The characters were thoroughly fleshed out and the writing flowed. The story is told in alternating views—Julia, Blythe, their attorney Stephen and the lead detective Brian Johnson. There are myriad twists and turns and surprising revelations, the biggest of which comes at the end. I recommend this book.

I’m grateful to the publisher and netgalley for giving me access to this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Women on Retford Drive is an excellent kickoff to a new mystery series by Alretha Thomas. An intriguing plot and well defined characters combine to make this a great read. Is Keith dead or is his disappearance an elaborate hoax? If he is dead, who killed him and why? These and other questions spurred on my reading and speculations. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book in this series.

The Women on Retford Drive was an amazing book. Normally with books that have suspense or mystery, I am able to figure everything out by the middle of the book. Not with this book, this one kept me guessing until the very end. I could not put the book down after I started reading it. You could relate to the characters, they felt real, like they were your friends or someone that you knew. I cannot wait until another book come out from this author, I plan on reading everything, it was that well written.

Julia Pritchard and her stepdaughter Blythe have finally found the courage to escape the abusive clutches of Keith Pritchard. With divorce proceedings underway the two women pack their things ready to move into their own apartment only to find that the soon to be ex husband and father has disappeared. As their world spirals out of control they soon discover who they can and can't trust and just how easily people can believe only what they want to believe.

I felt the subject of spousal abuse was well considered and didn't seem either exaggerated or minimalised. As the thread which held the story together this was contrasted by characters with kind hearts and the two together gave a good impression of real life even if very few of us are as wealthy as Keith Pritchard.

This is a very easy read, the chapters are short and move the story along from one of four points of view. I loved the mother-in-law she was deliciously deranged and her husband was a sweetheart.  That said each of them facilitated the abuse their son dished out to both his wives and their culpability was well explained.

Thanks to Netgalley I was able to read an advanced copy of this book and as it is the first of a series I can look forward to reading more in the future.

This mystery was told in the first person by multiple characters, so it gave the reader more insight into the characters and helped to form an opinion as to who killed Julia's soon to be ex-husband. The concept was great and the writing was good, but this wasn't as good as some other mysteries I have read recently.

An interesting read. It's not The Stepford Wives", for sure. I was given a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.

This book is compelling. A rich man who abuses his wife turns up missing. She is the logical suspect, but she is as clueless as the police. Most of the book is spent with her trying to clear herself. One of the big issues is spousal abuse. With alternating narrators, it is sometimes confusing, so I rate this novel a 4 instead of a 5. I kept reading it and finished it within about 12 hours so I have to say it is a good whodunit. The plot kept twisting and turning until near the end. Is the whole story believable? Maybe.

From the start, I knew that Julia Pritchard wasn't the murder in the story, but somehow as the story progresses, I was less sure. It was pretty convincing in rattling my beliefs, The victim was her husband, someone who on the surface was a good man.
A good mystery is not as straight forward, suffice to say that the story was convoluted enough to inspire a read, but not enough to cry foul over it. For a person who has read a few of her books, The Women on Retford Drive is more complex and more refined.
Definitely a read.

WOW I Loved this book. Julia is a abused rich wife. Her rich hubby goes missing and she is accused of his murder. Her step daughter knows it was not her, With help from lawyer and best friend step daughter Blythe save her from prison and solve case. Great book. Recommend read.

Make sure you set aside a good block of time to read this book….because, once you begin, you won’t want to put this gripping page-turner down until it’s done! I was sorely tempted to peek at the ending to confirm my theory, but resisted, and it turns out I was wrong. I haven’t read any other books by this author, but will definitely check her other offerings. Great read!

I really liked this book. A great whodunit until the very end. It was very hard to put down.!
Loved the relationship between mother and daughter and the conflicting emotions Not the had towards her dad. I could relate with her. Highly recommend.

Very good read. Had a hard time putting it down. will recommend to other readers who enjoy a good suspense book. Can't wait to see what else Alretha brings out next.

I loved this book! I was instantly sucked into a world of wealth, privilege, and mayhem. The characters are extremely well developed and I enjoyed each and every one of them, even Dolores, the deplorable mother-in-law.
I was kept guessing from nearly beginning to end, not sure who had committed the crime, or even if a crime had really been committed. At one point in time or another, I suspected every single character.
While this book had many triggers - most especially domestic violence, I love the fact that Julia not only survived, but overcame and was able to live a fulfilling life.

A gripping tale of the effects of domestic abuse . This has a substantial mystery involved that I will not give away. I am a fan of the author's writing and this book is excellent. It is riveting reading and kept me reading into the night. I appreciate the sensitivity that the author shows to the women victims. A very thought provoking mystery with excellent characterizations. Thank you for the ARC to Net Galley and the publisher. My opinion is my own . i highly recommend this book for your reading enjoyment for all that enjoy a good mystery with a side of revenge.