The Couple on Cedar Close: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller

· Bookouture
4.2
42 reviews
Ebook
350
Pages

About this ebook

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…

An utterly gripping page-turner about the dark secrets that lie behind closed doors. Perfect for fans of JP Delaney’s The Girl Before and Gone GirlThe Couple on Cedar Close will keep you reading late into the night.

Read what everyone is saying about The Couple on Cedar Close:

A.......maz........ing, what a fantastic book, loved every word on every page, a great psychological thriller that held my interest throughout and I didn't want it to end…I could carry on raving about this book but just read it for yourself, I can definitely recommend, you will not be disappointed.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Gripping, page turner, disturbing, just a few words I would use to describe this fantastic read! I loved this book, it reminded me of The Girl on the Train and quickly became one of my new favorites!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

Ten stars for being able to keep me up until 4 a.m. I just HAD to finish this book! I cannot begin to describe how riveting this novel was. Great writing, characterizations, plot, timing, suspense--it has it all. Trust me, you will NOT be able to put it down until you finish reading it. So many mediocre thrillers out there that this one hit me like a ton of bricks. Absolutely SUPERB!’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

What an explosive read...this is a loop the loop rollercoaster of a ride, you better strap in and get ready, your head will be spinning trying to keep up with all the twists, betrayals, friendships, heartache, loss... this book has it all, puts a whole new meaning on the term psychological thriller!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

Flipping heck! It's a while since I've raced through a book like this, so engrossed that I literally did nothing today except read. I was caught from the very first line and it wouldn't let me go…The story is so well written, the characters so fleshed out and real, it was like watching a movie in my mind. excellent stuff!’ Rona Halsall, 5 stars

An awesome mystery that kept me guessing and guessing…The author has the ability to connect the reader with the characters and the story immediately. It's a winner!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

I fell for this book within the first chapter! Anna-Lou Weatherley kept me guessing until the last chapter! …I read it in a few sittings. Highly recommend!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

A fantastic psychological thriller…This book is a gripping page turner, brilliantly written and full of secrets and lies.’ Goodreads Reviewer

I read a lot of thrillers and this was so much more believable than any other thriller I have read this year…I was very intrigued and finished it in one day and could not put it down.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

Reminded me a lot of The Girl on the Train but more disturbingA definite page turner!!’ Goodreads Reviewer

Wow!!! …Trust me, this is one you don't want to miss—it's going to be huge!’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

Ratings and reviews

4.2
42 reviews
A Google user
January 18, 2019
The couple on Cedar close the perfect marriage or the perfect murder... A suburban crime/psychological thriller, think Desperate Housewives meets Broadchurch. Cedar Close where nothing bad ever happens except it has, Robert Mills has been brutally murdered and his wife Laurie has been arrested. We first meet Laurie at the close’s annual summer BBQ, she had promised not to drink and Robert had promised to stay by her side , neither had worked out. Laurie sufferers from depression and PTSD and uses alcohol as her coping mechanism but things had been getting better here a fresh start until she learns that day Roberts been hiding something from her again. Fast forward to present day when Laurie wakes to find herself in the dark her dress soaked in blood and discovers Robert’s body his throat cut and 3 words written on the mirror. Did she kill him? She can’t remember, she was angry furious that after all the work she had done cooking his favourite meal and making herself look nice he had stood her up , it was a last ditch attempt at keeping her husband. She remembers opening the vodka and opening the Prosecco then nothing until she woke covered in blood. Daniel Riley is the investigating officer and the book spends a lot of time following the ins and outs of the investigation , I liked this element . As the next body is discovered it doesn’t look good for Laurie as the evidence is stacking up against her. Wood’s, Daniel’s superior is pleased this is an open and shut case,but Dan’s got that gut feeling that somethings not right and it hasn’t let him down in past and as he delves further into Robert’s past he makes some shocking discoveries.He promises to catch the killer and is true to his word. This is the kind of book I love , one thats written in such a way that I could come home from work and read it without having to think too much the story just flows. It’s definitely a page turner with a few twists along the way. The story portrays how strong women can be trapped in emotional and psychologically abusive relationships and the damage it can cause. This book has it all betrayal, lust,lies, addiction, jealousy.
1 person found this review helpful
brf1948
January 18, 2019
The Couple on Cedar Close is basically the autopsy of a toxic relationship, detailing the fallout affecting the lives of family members and friends of the central couple, and color the hearts and minds of the police. We see the damage inflicted on generations of women throughout the almost 40 year lifespan of Bobby Mills, who is a psychological brute, a covert narcissist who understands all the right moves to keep his women in line and at fault. Our viewpoint is through the eyes of British Homicide Detective Inspector Dan Riley, often assisted by Detective Sergeant Lucy Davis as they follow the trail of broken ladies left behind after the murder of Bobby Mills. Which of his many victims is responsible for the death of Bobby Mills? Are they also involved in the deaths of his many murdered women? This was at times a difficult novel to read, but the need to understand the ripples of destruction trailing the Mills couple kept me reading on. This is a novel I can comfortably recommend to family and friends. Anna-Lou Weatherley is an author I will add to my must read lists. I received a free electronic copy of this British Police Procedural from Netgalley, Anna-Lou Weatherley, and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
8 people found this review helpful
A Google user
January 18, 2019
Laurie and Robert Mills moved to a home on Cedar Close after Laurie had an accident. They live right across the street from her best friend, Monica. Laurie discovers that her husband is having an affair and that he has a daughter from the relationship. Laurie unloads about him and his cheating at the neighborhood barbecue. Shortly after that, Robert is found dead in the guest room and it looks as though Laurie did it, but did she?? As this story unfolds, there are more twists, turns and surprises which makes this a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hated it see it end. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read this thrilling book in exchange for an honest review.
1 person found this review helpful

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