This book was interesting but a chapter name to tell us who the narrator of that particular chapter is would be most helpful.

Aside from the rotating character narrations, party of the story didn't fit in with the overall plot; her narration of events could have been left out and everything would have been just fine.

At times the story was a bit wordy, ruining the flow. The overall plot and idea is great but the execution of the story could have been a bit smoother.

This is the 1st book I've read by this author and I truly enjoyed it. Her voice and writing style are incredibly fluid and her characters are richly drawn. This was definitely a slower read than I usually prefer, but it was so well written I didn't mind at all.

I put off reading this book because I didn’t feel that I was in the mood for a suspense novel. How wrong was I? This novel is a page turner! Brilliantly written characters who give me hope for another novel. I felt sure that I had the mystery figured out. Wrong again! A totally unexpected twist sends this book right to the top of my best books ever read list!

4.5 stars. This is the first book I have read by Jessica Strawser, but it won't be the last. It was so enjoyable to read this that I will start looking for anything else by her.

Kristin, perfect mom of twins, wife of a doctor, good friend disappears after a girl's night out that no one saw coming. Was it voluntary? If so, nothing appeared wrong. Was it the hubby who was already living apart? The good doctor that everyone loved? Was it something else?

The neighbors and community have as much trouble understanding this as the police and we are kept guessing until the very end.

Loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story that makes you think. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read way past my bedtime and in every spare moment I had. How well do you really know what is going on with your neighbors? This book explores that and more and it is a book that completely surprised me at the end!!! I loved the relationship between the friends and neighbors and I could see myself living living on their street. I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

This book is reminiscent of Wisteria Lane and the TV show Desperate Housewives, so if you enjoy books about friendships, neighbors, mysterious pasts, and small town life with dark undertones, you will enjoy this one. I definitely related to the characters as friends, wives, sisters, and mothers. This book is about the aftermath of Kristin’s disappearance, and how it shakes up her entire neighborhood. The story centers around the other neighbors living immediately near Kristin – Izzy, Clara & Benny, Randi & Rhoda, Natalie, and young neighbor Hallie. Each neighbor’s past is explained to the reader slowly throughout the book, but it’s obvious that the neighbors aren’t fully aware of each person’s backstory. It reminds me that we only know a person as much as they allow us to, and even if we live only a few feet away as neighbors, it can be worlds apart. I recommend this book for those that enjoyed The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen or Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty. My full review will be posted on my blog per the publisher's instructions: https://readthisnotthat.blog/

Think Big Little Lies meets The Girl on the Train with a sprinkling of The Wife Between Us, and you have Jessica Strawser’s sure-to-be blockbuster, Not That I Could Tell. This story is full of intrigue and will keep you guessing to questions such as: Where the heck is Kristin? Is she alive or dead? Is her soon-to-be-ex-husband a murderer, abuser, or just a world-class jerk? Why can’t any of her friends who were present with her that last night remember just what happened in their last hours? Readers will not be disappointed in this edge-of-your-seat thriller!

This book started off strong, I was really into it, and soon realized that after all the speculation, I got bored quickly. I didn't even finish this one.

"The missing, the hidden, the murdered, and the otherwise lost never get to tell their sides of the story. It's the last and sometimes cruelest injustice."
How does it happen that a whole family simply disappears from a safe and happy neighborhood?
Kristen's estranged husband Paul, no longer lives with Kristen and the twins. He cannot imagine where his family is when he goes to visit one day and sees the window broken, and his family gone.
Or.... does he already know what happened to his family?
This is a well written novel that will keep you wondering right up to the last page. The characters are amazing and you can truly feel their frustration and emotions as this mystery continues.

I received this book "Not That I Could Tell" from Netgalley for my honest review.

This was a good read. I like the story and trying to guess what would happen next. This was a page turner that kept me interested and I liked the ending.

Kristin and her four year-old twins disappear without a trace from their seemingly perfect lives. Her neighbors are all bewildered. Kristin had been the model mother and neighbor. Sure, she was in the middle of getting a divorce, but even that seemed amicable - or at very least, Kristin didn't reveal anything troubling.

In the days that follow, Kristin's soon to be ex-husband moves back into their home, and neighbors Izzy and Clara try to make sense of the situation. Did Kristin run because she had money from her first husband, and was afraid the divorce settlement would force her to split it with Paul? Did she run for darker reasons? Or did something terrible happen to her and her twins?

I thought this was a very good novel. It's being billed as both a mystery and women's fiction, and often women's fiction gets a bad rap for being "fluffy." This is anything but. The characters are well-developed and nuanced, and the mystery unravels in a satisfying way. I particularly loved the ending.

*Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an ARC*

I absolutely loved Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser. This was so well written. The writing style is both sophisticated and smooth. The author uses the disappearance of Kristen to flesh out her characters, especially Clara and Izzy, giving them depth and inner life.

The mystery is interesting and keeps you guessing, and while it is the driving force behind the events, the characters are truly what kept me turning the page. The little twist at the end was done well, and I was glad for the closure. I was genuinely surprised to find that I read it in 4 hours, but it was such a fast read. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

https://thebookobserver.blogspot.com/2017/09/drinks-in-hand-group-of-neighborhood.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2134699561

A group of neighborhood friends gathered around the fire pit at Clara's house for a night of relaxation. The next morning, one of the women has disappeared. The details of the night are a bit foggy because the women were tipsy from a few too many drinks but all of the women swear that, aside from a few embarrassing secrets that were shared, it was a normal night and nothing in particular stands out as wrong. As days pass and there is no sign of the missing friend, the police and the neighborhood women try to piece together the mystery of why she went missing and where she could be.

I would categorize this as a mystery but certainly not as a thriller or even a suspense novel. It has elements of women's literature - relationship trouble, parenting issues, local gossip, etc. In this respect, it wasn't quite what I expected. The description and the reviews made it seem much more sinister. It was still a good read and totally worthwhile so I do recommend it. I also think the cover is perfect for the story and for drawing the attention of readers!

I received this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to St. Martin's Press, and to Jessica Strawser.

This book is a great summertime read, neighbors, bonfires, and then someone goes missing. The book grabs you right from the beginning, and keeps you interested till the end.

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser was a wonderful read! Perfect for a book club or for a shared read between friends. I would and will suggest this to current book clubs I'm in and will be purchasing the paperback for a few friends once published!

I had not read one of Jessica Strawser’s novels before and I was not disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed the drama that a book only centered on women could only provide.

In a small neighborhood of families who barely have time to get to know one another, Clara makes an effort to turn acquaintances into friends. There’s Kristin Kirkland, the well put together doctor’s wife, who is a working mother with twins whose skills would make Martha Stewart envious. Izzy, youngest and probably the most vulnerable of the bunch who recently took a job with a radio station far from her family, her newly married sister in particular. Natalie is a bit frazzled as a currently single parent, taking classes while her military husband works overseas. Rhoda and Randi, are a couple raising their newborn while running their local fair trade business. And don’t forget Clara, who dearly loves her handsome Benny and two children, especially after the events she witnessed years ago. They gather in Clara’s backyard enjoying sitting around her new firepit with their baby monitors in tow. And as they enjoy many adult beverages private secrets are shared…

Kristin and the twins go missing. Detective Bryant interviews all the neighbors, particularly the women. They quickly realize they know little about Kristin as her current situation comes to light. Did her soon-to-be ex-husband, Paul have something to do with their disappearances? Did Kristen pack up her children and flee so she wouldn’t have to split her assets? Is someone else involved?

It’s a page turner for sure. I loved the mystery and that I didn’t know what was going to happen until the very end. I was on team Kristen. And then team Paul. And then I just couldn’t decide. Jessica Strawser gives us a bird’s eye view of what’s happening with the investigation and what has happened within these women’s lives. Sometimes their perspectives cloud their judgment or lead them to astray. It was an exciting read. I love not being able to figure out the end!

I received an advance review copy of this book from Great Thoughts Ninjas. All opinions are my own.

So....wow. I started this book not knowing what to expect. I didn't read the blurb that gives an overview--I knew I liked the author, the opportunity presented itself, and I jumped on it. I am so glad I trusted my instincts. This book was awesome(insert cool fire emoji).

I liked that we figured out the story through the perspective of two characters, but there was also a lot of other enjoyable characters sprinkled in. The mini chapters from a third POV were just enough to give you chills and they kept the story moving--you had to know what happened to this woman! During a really dramatic, chilling part, I came back to reality finding that I was sitting in a tub that had NO water--it had drained during the action and I didn't even realize.

The characters were likable, easy to relate to, and at time a little infuriating. This book scores a big 5 stars for me--frankly I wish there were more stars available.

I received this book via the Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team!

I loved her first novel so I knew this one would be good and it did not disappoint! When friends have a "girls' night" at one of their homes, they have no idea that by the next morning one of them will have disappeared with her twins. Because she's going through a divorce, there is speculation about what could possibly have happened and suspicion initially turns to her doctor husband, but with no leads the investigation eventually meets a dead-end. But the novel focuses on her friends and how they react to her disappearance. Dealing with themes of family, friendship, love, betrayal, and domestic violence, this novel reveals relationships at their best (and worst) but is well-written and deeply satisfying!

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I loved it. The mystery kept me wondering until the last chapter. Very well written

WOW. I enjoyed the authors debut novel but this one is above par!! It's such a breath of fresh air to find an author like this who I know I can depend on to always give me a gripping read. I can't wait to see what she writes in the future because she is always going to be on my watch list.

If you like a tense read, this is the book for you! I was hanging by the edge of my seat almost the whole way through.