Unlike other mystery novels you find out around the halfway mark what is truly going on - a point which I truly liked.

Laurie’s soon to be ex husband is found murdered and all the evidence points back to her. With the body count rising and Laurie seeming guilty on all fronts, the detectives must pick up their pace and put the murderer behind bars.

The Couple On Cedar Close is book number two in the Detective Dan Riley series or known as the detective with the kind eyes. Cedar close appears to be the perfect little neighborhood it’s in a nice secluded suburban location. When Robert Mills is found butchered in his former home after visiting his estranged wife Laurie to discuss a divorce, and she’s found covered in his blood unable to remember the previous nights events she’s Detective Dans main suspect! After interviewing neighbors and hearing that Robert is a serial cheater and has many girlfriends on the side and hearing that Laurie threatened to kill him at a neighborhood bbq, after discovering one of his girlfriends for pregnant he thinks maybe there is more to the story he is missing. When he begins to dig into Roberts past he uncovers a truly terrible web of misery and deceit. This book was an easy read for me. Lots of great characters with secrets. Some of the points of view alter from past and present and I loved it! Dan Riley came off as a very efficient detective who was set on finding the truth! Great thriller!

"Cedar Close has always been a nice place to live – a quiet suburban street where everyone looks out for one another and bad things do not happen. Until late one evening, when Robert Mills is found dead in his bedroom…." The story starts with the residents of Cedar Close enjoying a barbecue. Laurie, who has had a traumatic event happen in the past, is a recluse while her husband Robert seems to be outgoing and charismatic. The only friend she has at the Cedar Close is Monica, her best friend, who encouraged her to move to Cedar Close to help her with her past trauma and keep an eye on her. This barbecue is Laurie’s first public outing in long time and the first time the residents of Cedar Close get to meet her. It is also the day Laurie finds out her husband Robert is having an affair. Forward a few days later, Laurie wakes up to find Robert dead in her home and her body covered in blood. She does not remember anything about that evening, but she is sure she did not kill her husband. This book had me hooked from the first chapter. It has everything a psychological thriller should have: suspense, murder, deceit, and betrayal. Although the book alternates between past to present, I did not get that "Gone Girl and Girl on the Train" vibe that has been often used since those books were written. That being said, it is supposed to be a “who-done it” thriller, but I learned early on who the killer was. Although I enjoyed the book, I found my excitement diminish toward the end just knowing how it would end. Overall, it was well written I just wish the ending would have been less predictable.

After enjoying the first book of this detective series Black Heart last year, it was an easy decision whether to continue meeting up with detective Dan Riley. And now that I have gotten the chance to read The Couple On Cedar Close, I definitely don't regret making that decision. There is one thing for sure: this is a very entertaining detective thriller sequel to be starting the year with. Not only is the writing style solid and easy to read, but the plot is filled with plot twists, suspense and a lot of mystery around what really happened that night. The Couple On Cedar Close also has one of the most interesting and well developed unreliable characters I've encountered with in a while. I know this technique might get a bit old, especially combined with an amnesia angle, but trust me: you will forget about your doubts as the story will put you under its spell. There are a lot of twists and turns as well as flashbacks that are ment to help you solve the puzzle as well as keep you guessing. Sadly I was able to guess most of the final reveals quite early on myself, but that might just be me having read so many detective thrillers that I can see through most tricks by now... Anyhow, it didn't mean that I enjoyed the ride because of that tiny speed bump. I did have my doubts about the credibility of certain aspects of the plot and not all characters were exactly likeable. I never like cheating in a story either... But I do think The Couple On Cedar Close shines an important light on the fact that psychological abuse is still abuse and should be treated in the same way. All in all not perfect, but worth your time if you enjoy the genre.

If you enjoy detective thrillers and unreliable characters, you will definitely have a blast with this detective Dan Riley sequel The Couple On Cedar Close. There is a lot of mystery around both Robert and Laurie and their past, adding suspense to the plot and it will keep you entertained as you guess about the details. The flashbacks are interesting as well as you try to fit them into the rest of the story... I did have some issues regarding the credibility of some parts of the plot and wasn't sure about some of the characters, but overall it was still an entertaining ride.

I liked this book a lot, but it didn’t totally blow me away. I figured out the twist pretty early on. The writing was fast paced and it was a page turner. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a fast reading mystery/detective procedural. I wanted to like it but it wasn't my kind of book. I feel like the author was reaching too far for a sensationalized story with really distasteful situations.

The story unfolds through details that happened in the past and the present. Laurie and Robert move to Cedar Close to be close to a friend following Laurie’s involvement in an accident. It is the annual summer bbq and Laurie is braced to meet the neighbours for the first time. Not only is she suffering from PTSD but she discovers that Robert is having an affair and has fathered a child.

Fast forward to present day: Laurie and Robert have separated but he is coming to visit her this evening and she has prepared dinner for him and has high hopes. Predictably Robert is late, and Laurie over-indulges on the alcohol and falls asleep. Sometime later she wakes up in a bedroom, covered in blood and Robert is dead. She has no recollection or knowledge of what happened.

DI Riles is called in to investigate the case but is consistently thwarted by a colleague who is hell-bent on a fast conviction of Laura.

An excellent psychological thriller supported by police procedures. I did guess who the culprit was but I was a fair way through the book before I did. A very satisfactory read. Well done DI Riley.


Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC.

Typically, I am not one for detective novels. I don't do well with the lingo and the perspective of detectives. I've tried, truly I've tried, but I've never been gripped. But I am SO thankful I requested this, even more thankful that I was approved. I almost let myself be swayed by the stereotype of detective novels. But, pardon my thirteen-year-old-girl moment, OH MY GOD. Though this was the second with Detective Dan Riley, I feel like I didn't miss out on a thing. I loved his character. I loved that he was a lovable, cocksure, chivalrous, know-it-all. I grew incredibly attached to him. And this story line! The writing! There is so much, my heart feels so warm and over-flowy. I was riveted from the get go. I devoured it in two sittings and am going back to read the first Detective Dan Riley novel because I loved this one SO much. I highly recommend it.

I figured out the killer early in the novel, which is something I never do. I did not know the reasons behind the murder, but I had my suspicions. While this was an interesting novel, it went on too long. There were a few unnecessary side stories which took away from the plot. Additionally, I had no idea this was the second novel in the Dan Riley series. This has happened to me more than once. I wish NetGalley would make that information more prominent in their synopses.

This is a fast paced dual time line procedural featuring DI Daniel Riley. The basic plot line isn't especially innovative- Laurie wakes up covered in blood and finds her creep of a husband, from whom she is separated, dead upstairs. She's sure she didn't do it. So is Riley, who has a tragic backstory that somehow makes him more soft hearted than his colleagues. Who is the narrator of the story? You, like me, might figure this out early on but that won't make this any less entertaining of a read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A plot driven page turner.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ms. Weatherley introduced us to characters that loved and hated, wanted to succeed and others that we wanted brought to justice.

A tradition on Cedar Close is to have a summer barbecue hosted by a different resident each year. Laurie Mills has not been seen since they moved into this quiet neighbourhood. Dealing with a car accident, the loss of her almost full-term twins, depression, alcohol and drug dependence, she rarely if ever leaves her house. Then we add to this mix overhearing her husband talking to his mistress and finding out that they have a child together. This is more than Laurie can take.

When her husband Robert is found dead in their guest bedroom en suite, the first suspect - and only suspect in the eyes of some members of the police force - is his wife Laurie. She doesn't remember a single thing about the night before as she wakes up covered in blood. One thing she is sure of, is that she did not kill her husband. As more bodies pile turn up, thankfully Laurie has a champion on the police force that is not so quick to jump to conclusions. Sometimes our enemies are closer than we think.

Extremely gripping and suspenseful, hard to put down - just have to keep turning pages to find out what happens. Definitely deserves more than 5 stars. Looking forward to more from this author and soon.

While from the outset this book appeared to be one of the typical kinds of books I like to read, it contained content that made me uncomfortable. It was fast paced and I got through it quickly. I found the book fairly predictable though and worked out the twist early on. I enjoyed the detective aspect of the book and am likely to read other books in this series. I just didn’t like the characters in this particular one.

Laurie Mills has issues, She struggles meeting people and doesn't want to leave her home. Her husband is a cheat and a liar, sending her into a whirlwind of tragic events, that her to become the number one suspect in her husband's murder. She doesn't believe she could have killed her husband, but did she?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it. A great page turner that I devoured over a couple of days. The ending was well executed and brought the book together. I’ll read more from this author in future.

The neighbours are having a summer bbq when they meet their new neighbour Laurie Mills for the first time. When Robert (Laurie's husband) was found dead, Laurie quickly becomes the number 1 suspect. His body was found in her house but he had left Laurie for another woman with whom he had a child with. Laurie and Robert had moved to Cedar Close after Laurie had had an accident so that she could be closer to her best friend, Monica.

This is the perfect mash up of police procedural and a psychological thriller. The story jumps back and forward from the present day to the past. I easily guessed who the culprit was, the reason why I could not predict though. As the story unfolds, there are plenty of twist and turns with some surprises along the way. I like DI Riley and although this is the second book in this series, it can be read as a standalone. I was hooked from the start. I'm looking forward to reading the third book in this fast paced series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Anna-Lou Weatherley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Just Wow! Such a fantastic story sown in so many webs! I loved the kind smart detective that trusted is gut. I enjoyed the banter between detectives trying to solve an unbelievable murder. Little by little the pieces came together and really kept you on the edge of your seat, unable to stop reading. I look forward to finding more stories by this author.

The Couple on Cedar Close by Anna-Lou Weatherley is the second story in the series about Dan Riley. I haven't read Black Heart (the first story) but had no trouble following along. The Couple on Cedar Close gives the reader a mystery to follow with just enough personal information about regulars in the series. I'm looking forward to reading more about Dan Riley. I was given an early copy to review.

The Couple on Cedar Close was more procedural than psychological thriller. It's not a bad thing per se, but I prefer the later genre. The plot was easy to predict and even disclosed around halfway so there was no surprise/twist. Too many POVs and most I didn't care about, think it'd better if it was interchangeable between the DI + culprit only. I kept forgetting that the DI was <i>male</i> because it didn't feel like it. For someone who is the center of the series, DI Dan certainly didn't leave me any good impression. The case took up too much, but if author wrote about Dan and his colleagues or his romance-thing, I didn't buy it.

writing: 2/5
plot: 3/5
characterisation: 3/5
my mood reading this: 2/5

overall: 2.5/5

<i>(I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)</i>

Thanks Netgalley, Booukouture, and the author for the ARC.

I really loved this book. It is a slow burner at the beginning, but soon picks momentum.
There are many surprising twists and turns which kept me hooked and entertained.
I would recommend this book.

This is my first book by this author and I didn’t realise until after I had read it that it is actually book 2 in the series. It can easily be read as a stand-alone but I will definitely read the first book in this series as I liked Dan Riley and hopefully the first book will give a bit of background into him. This book though I really enjoyed, plenty of twists and it hooked me right from the start and I couldn’t put it down. Although I guessed the murderer before the end it didn’t take the enjoyment out of the book. I would definitely recommend this book.