“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.”
“Not that I could tell” by Jessica Strawser reminded me a lot of “Big Little Lies.”
It was a good mystery, easily readable, and I enjoyed the characters. Looking forward to more of her books...

Not That I Could Tell may appeal to fans of Lynne Moriarty and Kristin Hannah. I found it entertaining, yet very predictable. Jessica Strawser offers us a good look at the secrets and lies of suburbia through our time in the lives of several neighbors. One of their own goes missing and the observations, examinations and finger pointing become rampant. I thought the character profiles were strong. I just cant call this a thriller, it was just too predictable, and I would put it in the category of women's fiction.

A group of neighborhood women gather round the back yard firepit with glasses of wine in hand. By morning one of the women is gone. What is interesting is that the story doesn’t center so much on where she went but why she went.

Not That I Could Tell is a little like Desperate Housewives without quite as much of the drama. I think it’s important that readers understand this is not a thriller, a suspense, or a police procedural. It’s been a little mis-sold with the use of words like ‘shocking turn’ and ‘page-turner’ and ‘twisty’. It really isn’t any of those things, as there’s no question who the ‘baddie’ is, no twisty turns, and no sense of mystery really about what happened to the missing woman.

What it IS is a beautifully written women’s fiction novel centering on relationships with the strong theme of domestic violence woven in. It is very much character-driven with the main characters having such strong and solid internal motivations I completely understood why they made the choices that they did. Fans of Liane Moriarty would enjoy this multi-layered, character-driven novel.

A disturbing read about a group of young moms in a neighborhood and how they react to the sudden disappearance of one of their peers, who seems to have taken off, small children in tow, with no explanation. The resulting media circus seems to point to Kristin's estranged husband, and others in the neighborhood must deal with their own crises. I'm not entirely sure the surprise ending works.

Just how much do you know about your neighbors? I found myself caught up in the drama of Kristin and Paul and their neighborhood in this novel. I had originally thought this was a suspenseful novel but as I read, I realized it was more drama than anything. The novel started and ended well but, in the middle, I felt the novel dragged and was going nowhere. I felt like quitting yet I wanted to know what happened to Kristin and her children.

The women had gathered, the wine had been poured and the conversation flowed. The wine had flowed too easily that evening and, in the morning, the women in this neighborhood were feeling its effect. On Monday, one of these women was reported missing. Her children were gone also. I think it was the immediate reactions of the women in her neighborhood that got my attention. They were coming up with some interesting theories and her husband, I couldn’t tell if he was in shock or denial. I kept wondering if perhaps the night that they had dinner together and the wine was flowing freely, these women had an interesting conversation that provoked Kristin. Did someone say something? Did anyone hear it or did they not even comprehend what was being said? I was hoping someone would address that night again and see if something was said about Kristin.

There has to be a reasonable explanation on why Kristin is gone and why her children are gone also. What things are missing and how frantic does the situation look? I felt like I was solving this mystery on my own.

The ending was good and I liked how the pieces came together. It was an okay novel.

I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Not that I could tell is a book about a small neighborhood turned upside down when one mother up and leaves with her twin daughters. Her estranged husband shows up and leaves the neighborhood questioning who he is as a person and what happened. Some of the neighbors are not so judgmental and willing to give the estranged husband a chance. However, the cookie cutter perfection of the estranged husband becomes one who is not quite what he seems.

Filled with a good dose of suspense, the novel leaves the reader wondering. However, I felt the book did leave some loose ends and could have used a better ending and explanation. Regardless it was a nice summer read.

Loved this book! Really keeps you guessing up until the end. I'm loving all the neighborhood dramas I have been reading lately and this one did not disappoint!

This was a fun mystery type book. Liked the neighborhood dynamics . Kept you guessing but enjoyable to read. Liked this book.

This is the first book I've read by Jessica Strawser and I will definitely read more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters were down to earth and well written and the storyline is really good. I felt for Clara throughout the book. I was surprised at the ending, which is just the way I like it. I'm generally into thrillers and psychological suspense, I would call this more women's fiction but I would definitely recommend it.

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser was such a fun read. It reminded me a bit of Big Little Lies. I loved the multiple perspectives, and the character development was great; I love the fact that the characters were relatable but flawed, and the plot kept me guessing. I highly recommend this novel!

It seems that I’ve read a few ‘neighborhood drama’ books lately, but what set Not That I Could Tell apart from the others is the mystery involved.

A group of ladies in the neighborhood get together one night to sit around the fire and drink a few glasses of wine. I can relate, I’ve been there and the excitement to talk to adults without kids! As the wine flows, inhibitions are let down and secrets start to be told. This is good stuff! As the evening comes to a close, feeling tipsy and a new sense of closeness to their neighbors, they call it a night and go home. They wake up the next day in a fog and to the news that Kristin and her children have disappeared. Each wonders how much wine they had and retraces their conversations for possible clues given by Kristin.

They all have their theories and center around her estranged husband. But how well do they really know him or her for that matter? The story explores these theories at the same time elaborating on each of the women and their personal stories and how they all eventually intersect.

I loved the idea of these women coming together one night to relax and unwind and share parts of their lives with each other. It is very relatable, but then the disappearance set this story in motion. The unraveling toward the end left me with my mouth agape. Well done, Jessica Strawser!

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Jessica Strawser for the opportunity to read the arc.

I have a weakness for stories about neighborhood drama. While I did find some characters (Izzy) really annoying, overall I enjoyed the time I spent with these complex, interesting women.

Not That I Could Tell packs a punch. This cast of characters will leave you questioning everything. I lost count at how many theories I came up with only to find another twist or a sharp turn. Strawser does a fantastic job of portraying the many faucets of life in suburbia. This tale is gripping and does not shy away from hard topics. I couldn’t put it down. For most of the book I felt like a character in the book, silently watching, waiting, peering out the window and eavesdropping for just a hint of what had happened to Kristin and the twins.

Not That I Could Tell is packed with secrets, lies and hard truths. It asks many important questions and the answers will surprise you. I highly recommend reading this page-turner. Take a trip to Yellow Springs, Ohio and see what it takes to really know your neighbors.
4.5

It all started with the fire pit. The women in the neighborhood out on Clara's new installation, celebrating, gossiping. A little too much wine. Foggy memories.

The next day one of them--Kristin--is gone. Vanished with her two small children. Her soon-to-be-ex Paul, a respected doctor in the community, moves back into their house, where he says he will stay until Kristin and the twins (hers from a previous marriage) will stay until his wife returns.

And then the troubles start. Paul is not widely by the neighborhood women, who see him as the probable cause of Kristin's disappearance. For one thing, Kristin has money. For another...well, you know. This is lost on Izzy, who has newly relocated to the street following a bad breakup. She is still hurting from the fact that the love of her life married her sister. She feels betrayed, resentful, and not quite herself.

When Paul focus's his attention on Izzy, she is flattered. She feels her neighbors are not treating him fairly. A precocious 12-year-old starts a neighborhood newspaper and prints a damning assessment of Paul as a possible abuser. And the disappearance causes Clara to revisit her own demons.

Suffice it to say, this upper middle class neighborhood in Yellow Springs, Ohio finds itself in an uproar.. And then the media circus arrives.

Not That I Could Tell walks a fine line between chick-lit and thriller, and succeeds at both. How could Kristin vanish so completely? Where are the bodies buried. And when will Izzy ever stop beating the dead horse that is Josh? This is a wonderful vacation read--not too hot, not too cold. Just right.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

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.- Goodreads

Jumping right into this. I wasn't too happy with this read but it isn't for what you think. If this was the first book I had read that involved suspected neighbors, mysterious pasts, possible murders but ultimate who done what and when, then I would have loved it. But the author didn't really being anything new to the table for me. Clara's triggers and where they were leading were extremely obvious. 

I did appreciate and enjoy the different perspectives and voices within the story. The author was able to tie each person's personal story to the main story flawlessly. I didn't feel as if the voices were too much or getting too crowded; each person had a place in Kristin's story. 

However, the author takes a lot of time to build the world you would not want to live in. Although it leaves you with that taste, "you never know what is happening behind closed doors," there is a lot of downtime, a lot of do you know where I am going with this vibe. If this was not my first go around, with this type of mystery, thriller then I wouldn't have an issue with this. All of these ladies have a lot going and with not knowing what has happened to Kristin, their issue push very forward. 

The pace of the novel was slow. As previously mentioned, there was a lot of build up and that took away for me wanting to actually continue the story. But I pushed through and I was impressed with the ending, even though there was a lot of predictability in the book.

Overall, I would recommend this to someone who is either completely in love with this style of book or is looking for a book that will get them into the adult mystery/thriller genre.

2 Pickles

Very good book with interesting layered characters . Each character deals with kristins experience in their own way. I was thinking throughout the book who I would identify with the most I think Izzy. Enjoyable read overall and a satisfying ending.

I'm not sure readers will find the "twist" that satisfying, but Strawser captures the suburban/small town setting well, with its characters and cliques. There are some interesting observations about motherhood here (... and not being a mother, for that matter), and the charactertization is spot-on.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

it took me a LONG time to get past 20% in this book. i just didn't connect or care. once i got over that hump though, i was super into it and wanted to know what happened. i had an inkling about one thing (the drugging of everyone the night before) but no idea about anything else. i liked the characters (though i wanted more for Izzy!)

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser.

It was a lovely Saturday night of drinking and sharing around the fire for five women. But just a few days later one of them, and her twin children turn up missing. Her things have been packed, but otherwise there is no trace, or sign of fowl play. Where did she go, and more importantly, why did she go?

We read as two of her closest friends work to discover the secrets of her friend, her deceased first husband and her second, soon-to-be-ex husband. We also learn more about the women closest to her, and their own secrets that they keep.

I don't want to give too much away, except to say that this was a bit disappointing. The writing and character development was great, but meh. I was expecting a lot more.

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser is an interesting story, one that will have you wondering what happened. A group of neighborhood women get together on a Saturday evening to drink some wine and visit with each other around the fire pit, all without kids (baby monitors) or husbands. On Monday, it is discovered that one of the woman and her twins are missing. The story explores the women and their relationships. Throughout the story, the reader gets to know all of the women and their own personal issues quite well. In fact, I would say this book is more about relationships than the mystery of what happened to Kristen.