Title: THE COUPLE ON CEDAR CLOSE
Author: Anna-Lou Weatherley
Narrator: James Lailey
ISBN: 978 0751 5798 02
Publisher: Sphere
Duration: 10 hours, 51 minutes
Pages: 346
Source: Audible
One sunny August afternoon, the residents of Cedar Close throw their annual summer barbecue. Children play in the cherry-tree lined street, tables are laden with food, and the wine is flowing. For Laurie Mills, it’s her first time meeting the neighbours. And it’s the first time she discovers her husband Robert is having an affair.
Cedar Close has always been a nice place to live – a quiet suburban street where everyone looks out for one another and bad things don’t happen.
Until late one evening, when Robert Mills is found dead in his bedroom.
Downstairs, in their beautiful kitchen, his wife Laurie sits alone in the dark with her head in her hands.
She can’t remember the last few hours, but she knows she didn’t kill Robert.
The trouble is, no-one believes her…
Official Summary
25 August 2023
I have seen this book feathered by various bloggers, so when I came across it on Audible, I could not pass it by. This book quickly grabbed my attention and I was completely engrossed right to the end. I am new to this series and this author, but I will be adding more of these books to my TBR soon.
This author writes a gripping story that is full of twists and keeps you glued to the pages. I loved the surprises along the way and found myself completely engrossed. I could not drag myself away. I loved Laurie’s confusion about events and found myself eager for her to discover the truth. The author did a brilliant job of bringing this woman to life and leaving the reader to share her emotions.
Laurie Mills has suffered a traumatic accident that left her keeping to her house. When she finally ventures out for the Annual Cedar Close Barbeque and meets her new neighbours for the first time – she also finds out that her husband Robert Mills, has been having an affair and that his mistress had a baby. She thought her life could not get any worse. However, when she discovers Robert’s body in the guest bedroom and herself covered in blood, she has no idea what happened. She is sure she didn’t kill Robert, but no-one believes her.
This book kept me completely engrossed. I found myself sharing Laurie’s emotions and could not help but hope she would be proven innocent. She is so vulnerable, I didn’t want her to be found guilty.
The author did a brilliant job with Laurie Mills. The woman is meek and mild. As her story unfolds you understand why she is in such a mess and your heart breaks for her. You cannot help but root for her, even if maybe she did kill Robert.
I enjoyed the time I spend with this book. The audiobook narrator, James Lailey did a brilliant job in keeping me entertained while making it easy to picture the various characters. I am looking forward to reading more of the books in this series.
If you enjoy a crime thriller that is full of twists, then you will love this book.
Also by Anna-Lou Weatherley
Black Heart
There’s a letter on the floor covered with blood next to a heart-shaped box of chocolates. The note says: ‘My beautiful darling, I’m sorry, please forgive me.’
When the body of a man is found with his wrists slashed in a London hotel room, it appears at first to be a tragic suicide. But Detective Dan Riley suspects there is more to this case than meets the eye and the pathology report confirms his worst fears – the victim was poisoned and suddenly Dan is dealing with a murder inquiry.
Then he makes a disturbing discovery, uncovering links between the victim and a woman calling herself Goldilocks on an online dating site. Is she seeking revenge or something more?
Still grieving the devastating loss of his girlfriend and unborn child in a car accident two years ago, Dan throws everything he has into the investigation. Yet just as Dan begins to piece together the clues of this complex case, the body of a woman is found in her bed with identical wounds.
Dan is on the trail of a twisted individual who is much closer than he realises. Can he overcome his own demons and stop the killer before it’s too late?
Anna-Lou Weatherley was born in Hampshire and grew up in London where she still lives with her partner and two children. An award-winning journalist and women’s lifestyle writer for over fifteen years, she is the former editor and acting editor of J-17 and Smash Hits respectively and has written for all the major glossies including, Grazia, More, Company and Marie Claire among others.
As always, thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. Your support is deeply appreciated. Have you been following the Dan Riley series? What is your favourite book? Leave a comment below.
