If you read and loved Sally Hepworth's The Family Next Door, you won't want to miss Not That I Could Tell, the latest novel from Jessica Strawser. The two books, while not identical, share similar themes, and neither one was at all easy to put down.

Five neighborhood women gather around a backyard fire pit one evening, thrilled to be free of the responsibilities of their homes and families. They spend the night sharing wine and conversation, and by the time they stumble back home, each woman knows something very personal about the other women in the group. But then, one of them – Kristin - goes missing, taking her two young children with her, and the police begin asking uncomfortable questions about that conversation, causing each of the remaining women to wonder how well she really knows her friends.

Kristin, a friendly mother of twins , was always happy to give a struggling fellow mother a bit of helpful advice. Everyone agrees she had a ready smile and a warm greeting for everyone, but no one can admit to really knowing her well. She was the kind of person who learned a lot about her friends while revealing very little about her private life.

When Clara - who happens to be Kristin's closest neighbour - learns of the other woman's disappearance, she's understandably stunned. She is determined to tell the police everything she knows, but it soon becomes obvious she knows practically nothing. She's aware that Kristin and her husband Paul are in the midst of divorce proceedings, but she's unable to say what caused them to separate. She's pretty sure no one was threatening Kristin, but when pressed, she's unable to say why she feels this way. Suddenly, Clara is forced to call into question everything she thought she knew about Kristin and her family, even if doing so brings up terrible memories of a traumatic incident she's worked hard to put behind her.

Izzy is new to the neighborhood. She moved in after a personal tragedy that we learn about in bits and pieces as the story progresses. It's pretty clear she's in love with her sister's husband, but there's a lot more to Izzy's story that you'll have to read in order to figure out. All Izzy wants is a fresh start away from her family and the pressure they're putting on her to make nice with her sister and her husband. Maybe in a new place she'll be able to make some friends and finally move on, but Kristin's disappearance brings Izzy to the attention of Kristin's soon-to-be ex husband Paul, and she suddenly finds herself far more involved in the investigation than she wants to be.

The neighborhood as a whole seems certain that Paul had something to do with whatever happened to Kristin and the twins, but Izzy is determined to keep an open mind. There's something about Paul that calls to her, and she doesn't want to make judgements without having all the pertinent information. She and Paul begin spending time together, and, as time passes and the investigation goes nowhere, Izzy begins to think everyone has jumped to the wrong conclusion. What if Paul is really the loving husband and father he claims to be, and what if Clara and the rest of Kristin's friends, not to mention the police, are turning him into a kind of scapegoat? Izzy doesn't know anything for sure, but she decides to stand by Paul until actual evidence proves him to be the villain everyone seems all too willing to make him out to be.

If you pick this book up expecting a super intense psychological thriller, you’ll probably be disappointed. Kristin's disappearance is the catalyst around which the story is centered, but it's far from the sole focus of the book. We do eventually learn the truth about what actually happened to her, but we also see how her disappearance changes the lives of Clara and Izzy, and I'd say that's what Ms. Strawser seems to want readers to pay attention to. Even so, Not That I Could Tell is quite a bit darker than many of the women's fiction books I've read, something potential readers should be aware of.

The town of Yellow Springs, where the story takes place, is quite quirky and fun. It's the kind of place many of us secretly dream of living, a place where people aren't afraid to be themselves. People of different races, sexual orientations, and spiritual beliefs mix and mingle without the kind of hate and discrimination that plague so many people in real life. Sure, bad things happen there, but they're definitely more the exception than the rule.

I love the way the author chooses to develop the backstories for the main characters. We learn things a little at a time, and this works well given the focus on the secrets people keep from those they love. I didn't find any of the characters to be all good or all bad. Instead, Ms. Strawser has created a group of people who fit somewhere in that gray area most real people inhabit.

I loved pretty much everything about Not That I Could Tell, and I hope many of you will pick it up and love it as much as I did. It's not necessarily action-packed, but I was okay with that. It's a deftly plotted story of friendship and family that is sure to keep you reading late into the night and part of what made it so incredibly good is the slow unfolding of events that grabbed me and refused to let me go. Go ahead and give it a try. I'm pretty sure you won't regret it.

Buy it at: Amazon/Barnes & Noble/iBooks/Kobo

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser was my March BOTM pick. This mystery novel follows a group of neighborly friends who have a backyard get together on Saturday night, but come Monday morning, one of them goes missing. No one can make sense of the disappearance. As the police are investigating the case, the neighbors are forced to realize how well they know each other as well as face their own issues. I felt that the book was a bit too slow at first and I was having difficulty maintaining interest. After half way through the book, it started to pick up a bit and the ending was interesting though not as suspenseful as I thought it would be. The novel is told by third person narration but through multiple perspectives. My favorite character is Izzy. I genuinely felt bad for the situation she was in and liked how realistic she resolved her situation in the end. One character I didn’t care for at all is Clara, which is unfortunate since she is an important main character. She felt so bland and didn’t really add anything extra to the story. The story kind of reminded me of Desperate Housewives. It wasn’t as heavy or suspenseful as I anticipated it to be. Overall, I would recommend this book if you’re looking for something in between a contemporary and light mystery. The book releases on Tue 3/27/18.

Book Info
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: March 27th 2018 by St. Martin's Press
ISBN 1250107881 (ISBN13: 9781250107886)
Other Editions (4)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB


When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal.

By Monday morning, one of them is gone.

Everyone knows something about everyone else in the quirky small Ohio town of Yellow Springs, but no one can make sense of the disappearance. Kristin was a sociable twin mom, college administrator, and doctor’s wife who didn’t seem all that bothered by her impending divorce—and the investigation turns up more questions than answers, with her husband, Paul, at the center. For her closest neighbor, Clara, the incident triggers memories she thought she’d put behind her—and when she’s unable to extract herself from the widening circle of scrutiny, her own suspicions quickly grow. But the neighborhood’s newest addition, Izzy, is determined not to jump to any conclusions—especially since she’s dealing with a crisis of her own.

As the police investigation goes from a media circus to a cold case, the neighbors are forced to reexamine what’s going on behind their own closed doors—and to ask how well anyone really knows anyone else.

My Thoughts


Kristin's disappearance was the impetus for the women in her neighborhood to examine the person she seemed to be with the person she turned out to be when the story ended.

In the beginning the story plot was not exactly clear to me but as it moved on and developed more fully it became easier to see where things were going. Until it took some unexpected turns that kind of muddied the water for me a bit and then things came back into focus for the rest of the book.

Further into what became not only a mystery to solve but also a chance for change and personal growth for the characters we actually anticipate what happens next prior to it taking place. In some instances my suppositions were correct and in others not so much.

I will go so far as to say the very predictability of the plot lent itself to becoming less so than expected and more then hoped for when started the book.

A tale of friendships, forced deceptions and new beginnings this was one of those books you just have to finish once you start. Sadly when it is over it comes to a close too quickly.

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Really enjoyed this novel - had the same vibe of little big lies but it felt more relatable. At first I felt like I was thrown into this book with characters I couldn’t keep up with but the author really made you grow to love and root for them.

I honestly didn't love this book. I was a little bored with the story and I thought it was pretty obvious where it was going. I thought through a couple of options that might have given this story a big twist on it, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. It almost felt like a let down. It was well written and the characters were nicely developed. The story just left me wanting more.

Thank you for the ARC.

This book had a touch of Big Little Lies in it, and a touch of Karin Slaughter's suspense, adding up to the perfect book club book.

Izzy is new to Yellow Springs and trying to start a new life after some heartbreak. The neighborhood seems welcoming, and the women on the block take her in, but after a bonfire one night, Izzy finds herself in the middle of a mystery.

Kristin has disappeared, along with her twins. And Izzy and her mom friends are the last people to se her, but no one has much memory of the night. I'm not much of a drinker, but doesn't it seem strange that no one remembers anything?

As Kristin's estranged husband begins hanging around their former home, the women have different ideas about his intentions. Izzy fights her attraction to Paul, but should she? Doesn't she deserve to be happy? And doesn't he if his wife ran away with the kids?

A great read that leaves you wondering how much any of us really know our neighbors and how much are women willing to do to each other in the quest to not end up alone?

Easy to read - smooth flow. Characters are completely believable and varied. Loved that the suspense was maintained until the very end. Will read more of this author's books.

There seem to be quite a few books out recently about people not knowing when their neighbors are up to no good. This is one of those books, but it does have a few extra unexpected twists to it. Also, Ithe characters were better developed and more likable than in some other books similar to this one.

Good quick read. I was hoping that the book would have more of a twist, but it sadly did not. It was still good though!

I could not enjoy this book. The pace was extremely slow and the book began to bore me. Not a book that I would recommend.

I wanted to love this. Something had told me not to pick it for my book of the month and I didn't. But then when I saw it on Netgalley available to review I decided I had to!

Let's start with the comparison to Big Little Lies. Yes, and no. Marketing this book this way was a huge let down to me. Big Little Lies was one of my favorites I read last year. This fell really short for me. It had everything to make it good but it didn't work. I think at first it started with the mystery and feels of Big Little Lies but it fell short really quick.

I wasn't quite bought into the characters. I felt that almost 80% of the book was unnecessary talking about every day life that had really nothing to bring to the story. I wish Hallie would have had a larger part. That may have given more to the mystery. And who cares about Penny and Josh? That story line didn't add much to anything.

With all the negatives, I did enjoy the end, kind of. The ending of Izzy's portion left me dissatisfied. I wanted more. BUT the ending with Clara was pretty good and a twist I didn't see coming.

I feel like this story will be enjoyed by many but not just by me. Don't let my review deter you because I noticed that many others have liked the book. I think I was just anticipating more and it never came. I just feel like I got a ton of unnecessary dialogue. I wish I could say more but I can't.

What a book to share how neighbors can be there for each other. I feel into the story and couldn't get out. The characters all worked well together. I would highly recommend this book.


Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a early release of this book

In the small Ohio town of Yellow Springs, everyone is very close-knit and it is a very quiet place. Until the day that a mother and her young twins disappear without a trace. Neighbors are in shock, the husband is a suspect, and the detectives are getting nowhere. With so little to go on, you won't even be able to form your own conclusion.... although you may have some very strong opinions about the husband.
This book is a page-turner. You will not want to put it down until the very end. If you only read one book this year, this is the one to read. I highly recommend this book.

A compelling read that kept me up at night, literally. I'd mull over competing theories on how it would end, but I still didn't guess correctly (which, as a suspense fan, made me very happy). Strawser excels at setting a scene - I could vividly picture the Yellow Springs neighborhood where all the drama occurs. I love how Strawser examines how you can never know what's really going on behind your neighbor's closed doors and how she dismantles the idea of the "perfect" wife and life. Excellent read!

Five females from the neighborhood met in Clare’s back yard no kids or men they woman had baby monitors with them yet still felt free and the drank wine and got a little drunk. Izzy was the newest to the neighborhood. Izzy got toasted and told her neighbors all about Josh who had been her best friend but she fell in love with him but he fell for and married her younger sister. The next morning the women felt the effects of drinking and what they had said while drinking. Then the women learned one of the women who had been with them last night Kristin and her four year old twins had disappeared. Kristin gave no hint of any problems the night before. The knew she was divorcing her husband Paul who was a doctor. Kristin was the type that was on top of everything and had everything handled. When the police searched Kristins computer it did reveal that there were several visits to domestic violence sites. No one had seen Kristin leave but all her personal things were gone as well as the twins favorite toys. Then Paul left the apartment he had lived in and moved back in the house. Clara and Kristin were best friends and Clare had no idea what happened to Kristin. The police’s prime suspect was Paul but they couldn’t find anything so the case went cold.
I enjoyed this book it was a quick easy read. I really liked the fast pace and plot. I liked how as the women got drunk they told things about themselves that they normally would say nothing about or not as much. Then the next day regretted what they had revealed about themselves. I loved the five women so enjoyed their night even if they were only in Claire’s yard. This reminds the readers nobody's perfect no matter how it appeared. I liked the surprise ending. I didn’t want to put this down from the beginning to the end. I really liked how the author had some back story at the beginning of every chapter. The book has: relationships. Neighbors, a drunken night, a missing woman with four year old twins, secrets, betrayal, intrigue, mystery, and suspense, frustration, small town life, drama, and so much way. I really liked the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend it.

I recently read "Almost Missed You" and loved it, so I was excited to see a new book out by the author.

The book centers around a group of neighbors. Izzy, the newest addition to the neighborhood, has issues with her sister and brother-in-law and hates her job at the radio station. Randi and Rhoda have a three month old baby and own a boutique in town. Natalie has a husband deployed oversees and is attending college part-time while raising her precocious twelve year old daughter. Clara is happily married with two young children and experienced a tragic event with a friend/coworker. Then there's Kristin, with the appearance of being the perfect mother of twins and is in the middle of finalizing her divorce to her doctor husband. Everything seems fine in their neighborhood, until the women wake up in the morning after a girls' night around Clara's new fire pit drinking wine, to discover Kristin and her children are missing.

I thought the book was going to be more of a mystery and suspense with twists. I did love reading about the neighbors and getting to know them. Even though the book is about Kristin, I felt like I didn't get to really know her or what exactly was going on with her husband. Izzy's circumstances with her sister, Penny, and brother-in-law, Josh, were confusing. I thought Penny would have some knowledge about Izzy's feelings for Josh, since they were best friends for so long. I wasn't exactly expecting the ending, but I also wasn't surprised.

I recommend the book and look forward to reading more by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, Jessica Strawser, for a free electronic ARC of this novel

My favorite lines in Jessica Strawser’s novel “Not That I Could Tell” are: “For once, I just want there to be a story with a happily-ever-after that does not involve ending up with a love interest. Do you think that’s possible?”

Her character, Izzy, a radio show producer struggling with her lack-of-love life, posed this question to her friend and neighbor Clara.

“Absolutely,” responds Clara, a stay-at-home mom of two.

Strawser’s novel, which is what you’d want from a rom-com if it were actually based on real life, is proof of it.

By all means, Strawser’s novel passes the Bechdel test, starring a legion of women — mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and neighbors who genuinely seem to care about each other, and talk to each other about things other than men.

In the span the 336-pages of “Not That I Could Tell,” most of these whispered conversations revolve around women, or rather, one woman in particular: Kristin Kirkland, the mother of two four-year-old twins. The three of them and a million-dollar life insurance payout mysteriously went missing, becoming day-after-day front page coverage in Yellow Springs, Ohio (whose most famous resident includes comedian Dave Chappelle).

The main suspect is a man, Kristin’s estranged soon-to-be ex-husband Dr. Paul Kirkland, an obstetrician-gynecologist who moved back into Kristin’s house after her and her kids’ disappearance. But he’s just a obscure supporting character in Jessica Strawser’s drama.

The leads are all strong and likable female characters from: Izzy and Clara to their neighbors, Natalie; Natalie’s precocious 12-year-old daughter Hallie; and lesbians Randi and Rhonda.

Through Strawser’s words, you come to care for this army of women who don’t blame Kristin for kidnapping her kids or for leaving (if that’s what really happened). They just hope that Kristin and Aaron and Abigail aren’t hurt or dead.*

Their friendships are the reason you should be reading “Not That I Could Tell.” And these women are how happily-ever-afters without love interests are possible.

Now if only we could see more female-dominated narratives like this in films, movies or television shows….

* Since we don’t know if Kristin is dead or injured, “Not That I Could Tell” also passes the Women in Refrigerator test on a technicality.

Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of “Not That I Could Tell” by Jessica Strawser from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

In Not That I Could Tell it is billed as a thriller of sorts. It's about a group of friends who one night are seated by the fire enjoying some friend time and wine and by the next day, one of them is gone. Kristin the friend in question has left with her twins and as take only what was important to her and has left without a trace. As soon as the police get involved we find out all these things about Kristin her marriage, children and her life behind her closed doors.

Little by little we get to know each of the neighbors and how if any they fit into what has happened with Kristin. But her closest friend and neighbor Clara is the one who seems to be under the microscope as far as the cops are concerned and we see why she is so close to this and how her past reflects the present.

While this read is about Kristin and why she left it is also about the friendships. That’s what I took from this the most, the friendships and to what length you go to, to protect them. Even though they realized they really didn’t know each other there was still a connection as friends and wanting to help one another. This was a good read with a good storyline and the characters were well written. While this wasn’t exactly the read I was expecting it was still a really great book one that’s good to the very end.

I really enjoyed the second novel of Jessica Strawser.

Several women meet around the firepit of Clara’s backyard one Saturday night. All of them except Izzy are married with kids. They all have a little too much to drink. By Monday afternoon, the soon-to-be-ex-husband of Kristin flags down Izzy to ask if he’s seen his wife and kids. When the police come to ask questions soon after, the women’s stories of Saturday evening—the last time anyone saw Kristin—are unfortunately a little hazy, but none of them can think of any reason for Kristin’s disappearance—as well as her twin children’s.

Did she go on the run from her almost-ex-husband, Paul, or is he being unfairly blamed (since the husband is always the first suspect in a suspicious case)? Paul is an OB-GYN. His job is to care for women during a turbulent, sometimes scary time in their lives. He works so much, no one on the block knows him very well.

Told from the alternating points of view of Izzy and Clara, the challenges of being single and being a mom are represented with sensitivity and depth. This is a well-paced mystery with likeable, complex characters.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MARCH 27, 2018.

How well do we really know our neighbors? That is the question that is explored in Jessica Strawser’s latest novel. When a group of women got together for a glass of wine around the firepit, none of them could have imagined what would follow. And the answer to the question, how well do we know our neighbors?, may just be, better than we know ourselves.