I truly enjoyed this book! It was different and kept my attention with twists and turns. I had to know how it ended. I rated this book a 4.1

In a quiet, perfect Florida cul-de-sac lived five very imperfect families hiding behind smokescreens of living their best lives in the best ways possible. The gunshot rang out, and the families rushed to their front lawns with the illusions of each of their perfect lives shattered. This story follows each of the five families; immediately revealing to the reader the incredible amount of dysfunction in their lives. It tells how each family has access to a gun, and how the gunshot could have come from any of the five houses. The suspense increases as the story speeds up to meet the impending fatality making this a real page-turner.

The book has a 3rd person narrator, and made it read almost like a documentary; I could imagine watching this as a true-crime show. Great for those who like suspense; I would also recommend this book to those who are psychological thriller fans, although it does not have the deviously twisted characters. The characters in this book are - almost sadly - very normal, to the point of making you wonder what types of dysfunction your neighbors and closest workmates are hiding behind the doors of their homes.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Admit it, we all do it. On an evening stroll, we take surreptitious glances in the backlit windows of our neighbors. Except on Carlyle Terrace, you will be getting much more than a glimpse of mundane everyday life.

From the beginning, we know that someone will be shot. But who will it be? Will it be Maggie, the woman who feels the need to carry a gun with her everywhere she goes? Or respectable oncologist Nick and his dentist wife, Dani, who harbor dark secrets of their own? Maybe Sean, who has lost his job, is drinking his way through a mid-life crisis and creating elaborate lies that his wife Olivia believes? Could it be Julia, the 84-year-old widow whose grandson has moved in and owes money to some unsavory characters? Then there’s Aiden, suffering from PTSD, whose mother is the third partner in his marriage to Heidi.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, yet the narrative proceeds from one character to the next seamlessly. It’s definitely a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing and anticipating what the next secret will reveal. I also found it interesting that the cover looks like this might be a cozy mystery, but don’t be fooled. Much like we never know what goes on behind the windows we peek in, this book covers a lot of deep subjects and societal issues.

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At first I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to keep track of all of the characters. Once I got a handle on who belonged with each family and became invested in the characters I really enjoyed the book. There were elements of mystery, romance, and family drama that wound together to create a captivating story.

Good domestic drama. Five families all living on the cul-de-sac hiding secrets behind each door. Who will end up dead is anyone’s guess as each family situation intensifies.

Another winner by Joy Fielding! The story revolves around the five families who live on a cul-de-sac in Florida. Each family is not as happy as they seem to be, and they all have secrets. Each one of these families has access to guns. One of these families will lose a family member by the end of the book. Which one will it be?

What a wild ride! You learn at the beginning that someone was shot and spend the rest of the book trying to figure out who. A quiet cul-de-sac in Florida with five houses, every family with their own secrets and all with guns. Definitely some difficult parts to read-- domestic abuse, suicidal thoughts, gun violence, but realistic. I like how the ending tied up the loose ends.

Cul-de-sac is one of those great novels that works backwards. From the beginning, you know someone will be shot, and the story delves into each of the five families in the cul-de-sac. Each family's story lends itself to a possibility of someone being shot, so you're not sure until the VERY end who it is. The endings for the other families are a bit too tidy...happy endings all around.

Loved every page. Great writing style. Recommend for a book club for women of all ages and races. Thanks for the opportunity to read this.

I loved this book! But then I knew I would because Joy Fielding cannot write anything that is not amazing. Domestic thrillers are my favorite genres and nobody does it better than this author. The characters all live in a cul de sac in Florida and all five families have issues and access to fire power. You know from the beginning someone is going to be shot but it is a coin toss as to who it is going to be. Lots of people to keep up with and they are all interesting to say the least. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre. It's amazing and won't disappoint.

This is Joy Fielding's 29th book, but my first time reading her work. Very well told narrative. Cul-De-Sac takes place, where the name suggests, in a nice upper middle-class Cul-de-Sac street in Florida. The novel builds through the lives of the families who leave in each of the five houses on the street. The neighbor's don't know each other very well although their interactions with each other increase as the story unfolds. Each house has its own issues that build towards a climax and everyone's lives end up changed forever. Some resolve for the better and others will need time to heal. It's a very realistic snapshot of how people aren't the perfect family or the perfect couple next door, but are doing the best they can anyway.
I really ended up connecting with each individual character...or most of them anyway. I ended up rooting for their stories to conclude with the characters in a better place than their struggles have them now.
Thank you to Ballantine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC and I look forward to experiencing more of what Joy Fielding has to offer.

Joy Fielding gives a potpourri of lifestyles in this little cul-de-sac of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Some are abusive, cheaters, liars, thieves, lonesome and some have just giving up on life. There was a constant blend of emotions that left me bitter and unresolved on what to think. You know someone is going to die by a gun in the beginning. It became a board game of Clue deciding which room it would take place in and which character would die or kill someone.

With 5 houses, only one without marital issues and that was due to her being a widow. Maggie & Craig have split up. Their daughter says because she is crazy, which you realize quickly and humorously she talks to herself ....sometimes not realizing aloud in public. Dr. Mick and Dr. Dani have control issues counteracting with abusive behaviors. Olivia and Sean, probably the saddest of the couples because of her denial that anything is wrong...a constant slew of lies brew from his mouth and some weird notions of killing people or himself. Aiden & Heidi have understandable problems because his mother Lisa is the evil puppet master in his marriage and has decided to move in with them.

A quick and fun psychological domestic mystery/thriller which ramps up at the annual neighborhood BBQ, so accept my invitation to join in on this celebration and you decide which one deserves to die...

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group & Ballantine for inviting me to review this book and this is my honest opinion.

Five couples in a cul-de-sac, and one person ends up dead. If this sounds like Big Little Lies, you're right on the money. I love books about suburbia because there are always so many secrets behind those perfectly manicured lawns and high fences. Bonus: this one takes place in my sleepy hometown of Palm Beach Gardens, FL!

Five couples means a lot of characters to keep track of, but I loved getting all of their perspectives and seeing how they interacted with each other. Fielding did a good job of presenting each family's unique problems and secrets - she kept me guessing. I read this book in two sittings, and I imagine a lot of other readers will be glued to the pages as well. If you like domestic suspense/family drama with multiple perspectives, give this one a try!

Thank you to Ballantine Books for my NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review posted to Goodreads 7/10/21, to be posted to Instagram closer to pub date 8/10/21.

Ok, I usually don’t enjoy books that start out slowly but trust me, stick with it—it’s totally worth it by the end! The characters dynamics are the most interesting part of this whole book and that’s saying something because I truly enjoyed this one! Just read it, you won’t be sorry!

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an early copy of Cul-de-sac. It took a little while to get into with all the characters and keeping them straight But then when you did it was AWESOME!!! I never knew who the victim was going to be, they were all a candidate 😁. Very fast reading, felt like I was in the neighborhood with the characters. Loved it!!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an early copy of Cul-de-sac. It took a little while to get into with all the characters and keeping them straight But then when you did it was AWESOME!!! I never knew who the victim was going to be, they were all a candidate 😁. Very fast reading, felt like I was in the neighborhood with the characters. Loved it!!!!

Thrillers about close knit neighborhoods have to be amound my favorite! Probably becaue I live in a close knit neighborhood (town). This was a classic thriller about 5 couples who are all neighbors and live on a Cul-de-sac and all of them have secrets.

One thing that drove me a little bonkers in this book, was trying to keep track of all the characters. There is a lot, 5 couples and then also their children, it was a LOT, and then plus trying to keep track of the secrets and lies that we find out...its alot to digest!

Don't get me wrong. I thought this book was good. It had the right amount of suspense, the characters (once you got the hang of them) were well written and you really got involved with them. All in all a great summer read!

Cul-de-sac is a thriller that will keep you captivated from the first page. Joy Fielding knows exactly how to keep readers from guessing the outcome of the book. Excellent!

This one will appeal to a certain taste but was off the mark for me. The characters were not involved with each other for awhile making me a bit confused when we return to each perspective. Ultimately it came together.

Maggie is the driving force of this book. After an even eluded to throughout the book, Maggie withdrew from her family, the outside world, her marriage, and certainly from herself. Her husband, Craig, walks out, telling Maggie she has lost her spark. Maggie agrees - consciously making an effort. Using her energy to recover, to reconnect, to herself.
And so Maggie starts to connect with her neighbors.
Julia lives alone - much to the concern of her son. They never seemed to connect - but Julia adores her grandson, Mark. He moves in - after yet another argument with his father. Together Julia and Mark figure out their futures.
Heidi and Aiden are newlyweds after a whirlwind romance. Aiden suffers from PTSD - Heidi lending her support. But Aiden's mother is the real issue. Aiden agrees with every recommendation - and Heidi wonders when Aiden will take his wife's side.
Dani and Nick seem to have the best life and relationship. Both professionals with thriving practices, raising two sons - no one can see the darkness consuming their lives.
Sean has been out of work for months. Finally an interview - that is a total fail. But he tells his wife, Olivia, things went well. The lies continue.
Great book - what do we really know about those who leave so close?