Ok, this on has got me stumped, it is listed as mystery/thriller, but I am not sure that is appropriate. After reading this novel in its entirety I feel the description of it is very misleading. We read through narratives about the people who live in the cul-de-sac, we see that there are problems, such as secrets, lies, betrayals, things hidden and deceptions weaved, but these are the things that change the lives of the people who live there. The gun-shot is not the catalyst it is said to be, especially since you wait a long time for it to occur. I am trying not to give spoilers here.
I am not sure how I really feel about this one. I liked some of the characters, like the old lady Julia, she was great, interesting and had a head on her shoulders (one of the few that did). But some of the other ones? Like Sean, I could just knock him in the head, the lying snake. And the good doctor, well don't get me started on him or his mealy-mouthed wife. How did the woman survive college is what I am wondering reading some of this.
Sorry this is not one of my favorite of Joy Fielding's and I have read several of her books in the past.
I will give 3 stars because though not thriller material, the stories of the lives and situations of some of the couples of the cul-de-sac were interesting, just not thrilling!
Thank you to Random House publishing group and NetGalley for the free ARC of this novel, I am leaving my honest review in return.

I loved everything about this book. I really enjoyed the character set-up of each neighbor. I wanted to keep reading because every character w had a secret behind closed doors. Waiting for them all to be revealed to one another was page turning fun! I have always been a fan of this author but hadn’t read anything by her in awhile, now I need to run to Amazon and purchase some of her books. Thanks NetGalley and Ballantine books

5 families, each has its own secrets, each has its own dilemmas and each has its own means to deal with them. But only 1 is responsible for the gunshot heard on a July night in the cul-de-sac where they are neighbors. And one of those neighbors is dead.
I loved this story! So many potential villains! I found myself guessing, being wrong, and then guessing Again, trying to figure out who would ultimately commit murder as the final resolution.
I’m a little late to the Joy Fielding party but I’m a fan now after reading this book!

⭐⭐⭐⭐+ Stars
Awww the secrets on Carlyle Terrace a Middle class Florida neighborhood cul-de-sac!
It was amazing to me that such unlikeable, nasty mouth people ended up all in the same cul-de-sac!!!
(Wondered if the realtor sought them out and put them together.)
We have a cul-de-sac at the end of our street and it is great ~ the place for our annual Block Party; typically there is a Halloween Party as well as New Year’s Eve party. No psychos living there ~ well not yet!

There are five house and five families in this cul-de-sac, Note: I was thankful for Kindle notes as at first it was a tad difficult keeping track of who is-who!
There is ~
• Lisa Young who buys a home for her PTSD son Aiden & his wife Heidi;
• Maggie & ex Craig McKay and their two children, Moved from LA as Maggie witnessed a murder and is fearful for her life. Maggie is described as a perfectionist ~ aww yes she is indeed perfect as ‘The Neighborhood Watcher”!
• Olivia & Sean Grant, ~ Sean has been out of work and is a drug user.
• Dani & Nick Wilson and their twin boys. Both the Wilsons are Doctors; Dani a Dentist and Nick-aka the louse- is an oncologist. It is a mystery to the neighbors why they live in this middle class neighborhood as surely they can afford a more upscale area.
• Julie Fisher an 84 year Old Grandma who’s 20 year old grandson Mark comes to live with her to escape his father Norman and his fourth wife Poppy.

We know someone gets shot; all have guns or access to fire arms. I was curious who and fearful that it would happen to one of the few nice, innocent people.

Well! It wasn’t a shock to me who gets shot nor who did the shooting!
What is the shock is that I ended up liking this story! This is the perfect case why one needs to finish a book!

Another real shock to me about this story is this is my first author, Joy Fielding novel but I certainly will read another!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for this early release granted to me for my honest professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 10, 2021.

There's something to be said about name recognition; when I was approved for a Joy Fielding book, I downloaded it right away, before the long list of others. Fielding has 65 or so books already published, many of which have made it to my to-read list, although this is the first to have made it onto my Kindle.

Points for originality - normally in a whodunit, the dunit part - the action - comes first. Here, we know there will be a death by shooting - but when? As it turns out, it comes after we have plenty of time to get to know the characters - and the suspects.

First of all, everyone in this novel has a gun - because, Florida. But who in our sleepy cul-de-sac deserves to be shot the most? And is that the person that takes the bullet?

I enjoyed getting to know and like or loathe some of the characters, rooting for some to make it - and hoping certain ones do not.

Overall, I was happy with my first Fielding and can see why she has dozens published - while I may not race to read them all, I would definitely recommend adding a few to your t0-read list.

You can never really know what goes on in the lives of those around you. Someone in this little neighborhood will be shot. There are multiple people who could do it and maybe even some that deserve it. The book tells the stories of the families who live on this Cul-de-sac in alternating chapters. You get a glimpse into their private lives as well as how they all interact with each other. My one big critique is that this shooting (and maybe a spoiler alert here) doesn't happen until 98% into the book. I spent the whole story waiting for it and it doesn't happen until the end. I get it- you have to build up the backstories and make you wonder who it is going to be but the blurb starts with a shooting. Once I got into the book I didn't want to put it down so it is definitely worth the read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Joy Fielding NEVER disappoints!
This is one you don't want to miss (as all of her other books).
Not many surprises or twists and turns but kept me to the point I stayed up all night to finish this book.
I couldn't put it down as I wanted to see what happened to each family that lived here as everyone had a different difficult situation.

I really enjoyed this novel and the way all the neighbors were connected by their individual stores and how they affected each other. It was a fast read,at times a bit like a romance novel which I would never read. The characters were described so well,I could picture them all easily. I would highly recommend.

I loved everything about this book. I don’t want to give anything away but it’s safe to say that I really enjoyed the character set-up of each neighbor. I wanted to keep reading because every character was intriguing and had a secret behind closed doors. Waiting for them all to be revealed to one another was page turning fun! This was one messed up block of neighbors!
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
5 stars!!

Thank you to Ballantine and Netgalley for letting me read this book early. This one publishes 8/10

This book is quite a ride! I normally hate reading about a million characters because I have a hard time keeping them organized in my head, but Joy Fielding does a wonderful job with making them all different enough to help keep you on track. I was very engrossed with this book and ended up reading it pretty quickly. It was very entertaining and I definitely recommend it but must mention there are a plethora of trigger warnings in this one.

At the beginning of the story you learn someone has just been shot and then we travel backwards and get to know all the neighbors living in this cul-de-sac together before the shooting. A diverse group of neighbors, who all have their fare share of secrets. And all have access to guns.

Cul de Sac is another perfect domestic thriller from Joy Fielding, who makes her mastery of the psychological thriller look deceptively easy and turned her ability to hook her readers from page one into an art form.

She teases your imagination, shatters illusions, and entertains with the “what ifs” as she examines relationships and proves that things are not always what they seem. She also writes characters so well that you can actually visualize the film version as you turn the pages. Now that’s good read.

I haven’t read a Joy Fielding book in a long time, but Cul-De-Sac reminded me how much I enjoy her writing. I loved See Jane Run, Someone Is Watching, and now Cul-De-Sac. The story is about 5 families who live on a cul-de-sac in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Each family has its own issues and secrets. As they get to know each other better, they become more intertwined in each other’s issues and secrets. What goes on behind closed doors is much different than it appears on the surface. The beginning of the book let’s you know that one of the cul-de-sac’s residents has been shot and killed on a July night. As you get to know all of the characters, you learn that they all own guns and any of them could be the person who was killed (for different reasons). You won’t find out who it is until the end of the book. Thanks to #netgalley and #ballantinebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book starts out with a gun shot. The story then goes back and we meet the five families that live on this quiet street. Things are not as they seem, everyone on the street has some secret. There are a lot of characters to keep track of. This is not a true suspense book, it is a slow build up to the ending. This was an OK read, but not one I couldn’t put down. It took me quite awhile to get pulled into the story. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Another solid title from Joy Fielding. Mystery lovers and new to the genre will not disappoint in this multi-family saga.

If you could flip the lid on some of these upscale homes in Cul De Sac, you'd view some mighty strange goings on. People behaving badly. Every day of the week non-stop.

Joy Fielding has taken a slice of Florida life in the heat of July. Fielding has added a lotta lotta characters to keep track of including their various children. Each household has a kettle of questionable behaviors brewing on the back stove burner. And while that is circulating hot steam into the air, a gun shot rings loudly through the neighborhood. Which address can it be traced to?

Palm Beach Gardens seems to be the ideal community especially in regard to a semi-circle of houses situated in proximity to one another. Oddly, the neighbors hardly ever greet one another or raise a hand in recognition. But that's all about to change now. Certain events will cause these individuals to realize that they do need one another. Some more than others. And some will still guard their privacy at all costs.

Fielding has created characters as varied as the flowers in a field. Neighbors range from an elderly widow whose grandson now lives with her to another couple who have just recently separated. There are two married doctors, a former soldier and his wife, and a couple in which the husband lies about the loss of his job. Fielding has packed this one with PTSD, marital trauma, violence, dishonesty, theft, in-law woes, and mega secrets galore. Like Cinderella, you've got to see which fits which household. Oh, and there's got to be fingerprints on that gun. Care to take a guess?

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to RandomHouse (Ballantine Books) and to Joy Fielding for the opportunity.

I really enjoyed this book! Quick, interesting read. This book proves that point that no one’s life is perfect. Throughout this book, we get an in-depth look into several families and their lives; proving once again that you never know what someone else is going through.

I’ve been enjoying Joy Fielding’s books for years now, so I was super excited when I got approved to read review an arc of her newest book, Cul-de-sac!
It’s set around a neighborhood and told from five families/individuals points of view. I love that it’s told from several different perspectives, so you can better know what’s going on and really understand the characters. I found myself very sympathetic with some!
I love the suspense in this book. Keeps you guessing and wanting to keep reading to figure out what happens next! Would definitely recommend this book!

A good read that draws you right in! Very relatable characters, and once you start, you won’t want to stop reading!

I love Joy Fielding's books, so I was so excited to receive this ARC. The story was very engaging and kept you wondering " who was shot?" until the end. I highly recommend this book!

Taking place in Florida, all five families in this cul-de-sac have their share of secrets. At the beginning of the story, someone is shot.
Every home is armed and you are kept guessing who will be killed. Story covers five families and alternates narrators in a seamless way. Highly recommend this domestic suspense novel.