**4.5-stars**

The suburban town of Emerson, Massachusetts, seems like the ideal place to live and raise a family, but we all know that a lot drama goes on in such towns. It may hide below the surface, but trust, it's there. In Stephen Amidon's Locust Lane, the death of a young woman, Eden, opens up a crack through which the more unsavory sides of this town can be viewed.

After her body is discovered, it is clear that Eden was a victim of foul play. The police investigation into her death includes three local teens discovered to have been partying with Eden that night, Jack, Hannah and Christopher.

This narrative follows multiple perspectives of the adults in the town tied to Eden's death. These include Jack's Mom, Celia, Hannah's Step-Mom, Alice and Christopher's Father, Michel, as well as Patrick, a man who inadvertently ended up near the crime scene on the night in question. We also get the perspective of Eden's Mom, Danielle.

This might sound like a lot, but it wasn't difficult to follow. I think Amidon did a really great job of presenting all of these different perspectives in a distinct and important way. Each one added to the building-out of this story. Sometimes I feel like, when there are this many perspectives, some are not as important, or interesting as the others, but that wasn't the case here at all. In fact, I can't imagine this story being told any other way.

I found the connections amongst the adults so interesting. Their relationships, whether mere acquaintance, friendship, or something more, had a very tight-web feel. Emerson is a small, wealthy town, and Eden was an unwealthy outsider. She didn't grow up there like the rest of the kids. This definitely had an impact. How could the truth ever come to light with the parents involved to the extent that they were?

The kids felt more like pawns in a game the adults were playing, as the parents scrambled trying to make sure their kids came out of this incident okay. Very little thought was given to the dead girl. Honestly, this felt real as heck.

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. It was so well-done, truly bringing the story to life. I definitely recommend it. The story itself is super intriguing, but I felt the quality of the narration really took it to the next level for me.

The tone and feel of this story reminded me of a gorgeous blend of some of my favorite Crime Thrillers and Domestic Dramas. I'm thinking, for example, of books such as Take It Back by Kia Abdullah, A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson and Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda, to name a few. If you enjoyed any of those novels, you should absolutely have this one on your TBR!!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I was hooked by this story, beginning-to-end. This was my first Amidon novel and I'm looking forward to many more!!

Locust Lane by Stephen Amidon is a literary mystery about a wealthy community in Massachusetts. A young woman is killed and 3 local teens come under suspicion. The story is told from several points of view—a man named Patrick who also lost a daughter years ago, Danielle who is the mom of the woman who got killed, and then the parents of the teens.
This was a heartbreaking story. I love books that do a deep dive into the characters’ lives. There were some charachters I loved and some I hated. This added to the drama of the story. This is a novel I will think about for a long time. I especially was drawn to Patrick and the story of his past relationship with his daughter. I can definitely see this as a movie.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

There are many different layers to this story that is told through different character perspectives which helps to build the suspense for the main layer about who was the one who killed Eden Perry. The characters are all well written and flawed which lends credence to the different theories as to who might be the killer. The feelings that these characters personalities pull out of you as you read range from empathy to pure rage and back again all in the matter of a few pages at times. The theme of what role having money plays in the way people are treated especially when it comes to “buying their way out” of trouble is a constant exploration within the pages of this book which reflects the world we live in and the situations that are seen on a daily basis all over the world which will probably never change. I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.

Title: Locust Lane
Author: Stephen Amidon
Genre: Mystery, Thriller

My Review:

Locust Lane is a mystery/thriller revolving a neighborhood where being elite, rich and successful counts for everything. Set in Massachusetts, this thriller will make you question if you are all the above things and can you get away with anything? And how far will you go to protect someone you love?

Locust Lane has lot of characters. There's the teenagers and then there are the adults. Told in the adults perspective we get to read the current happenings and also their past lives. There's scandal, betrayal and secrets which we can expect from a neighborhood thriller.

I am not sure if I really like this book or dislike this book. The way addiction, self harm, sadism, sexual assault, childhood abuse and several other issues that have been dealt in this book is really disturbing. I read lot of books which deal with disturbing topics but this book is filled with these in each chapter. I am not sure how I feel about that. And what's up with the ending of the novels these days? I cannot reveal too much without giving away spoilers.

One word of caution: Major content warnings with this book. I would not have read this book if I knew there was so much disturbing content in the story.

Thank you Celadon Books and Netgalley.

I enjoyed this murder mystery. Lots of twists and/or red herrings to keep you guessing about what really happened the night Eden was murdered. How far will families go to keep each other safe?
As a mother (and former prosecutor), I found the ending frustrating, albeit realistic.

"On the surface, Emerson, Massachusetts, is just like any other affluent New England suburb. But when a young woman is found dead in the nicest part of town, the powerful neighbors close ranks to keep their families safe. In this searing novel, Eden Perry’s death kicks off an investigation into the three teenagers who were partying with her that night, each a suspect. Hannah, a sweet girl with an unstable history. Jack, the popular kid with a mean streak. Christopher, an outsider desperate to fit in. Their parents, each with motivations of their own, only complicate the picture: they will do anything to protect their children, even at the others’ expense."

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

I did not like this at all. I did not like reading about a dog getting hit by a car, especially in the first few pages. That was enough to turn me off from reading any further.

In an upscale suburb of Massachusetts a young girl, Eden, has been murdered. Families within the town quickly act to shield their children from fault. Three teenagers were at the scene that night. Hannah and Jack, a high school couple and their friend, Christopher are hiding something. Eden’s mother, with the help of the police, is determined to find justice.

A smart story told with twists and suspense that will keep you guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was surprised by the ending. A thriller that’s both intelligent and unpredictable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Smart premise - enjoyed trying to figure out who was the murderer but was just a little too slow for my taste. I ended up not really caring by the end. Amidon is a smart writer and has great attention to detail. Appreciated his character development and storytelling just wish the pace was more steady to keep me invested.

At first blush, “Locust Lane” seemed like my kind of crime thriller. I was excited to read it and tried twice to get into it, but it didn’t hook me. This was a bit of a slow burn and ultimately not for me. I will not be recommending to my followers.

This book needs to come with a beach chair - or a leather chair in a ski lodge. It’s that kind of book - the pages fly by and the characters/plot keep you guessing. I liked the “slow burn”. I liked the over-the-too character backgrounds. It all worked for me. Take with you on a vacation or a plane or a train - somewhere where you can get absorbed and enjoy. Thanks to Celadon for the advanced copy!

Locust Lane by Stephen Amidon ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A big thank you to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the eARC. This one comes out January 17.

This mystery/domestic drama took its time setting everything up. Told from the parents’ perspectives, this story grappled with the question of how much do parents really know their children and at what cost will they go to protect them. This one focused on characterization and building a world for most of the characters. I felt like we got a ton for some and not enough for other. This characterization made the parents’ actions and thoughts feel realistic.

Given that this was mostly characterization, I was hoping for the plot to keep things moving. However, some of the plot points seemed a bit pointless (the dog - it lives!) The plot didn’t get intense until the last 20% of the story. While I found the ending fit, it was one that will be polarizing.

Overall, I liked the multiple POVs and was entertained by the story. This one wasn’t anything new if you’re used to the genre; however, it was well-written. Pick it up for a slow-burn mystery!

3.5/5!

There’s something about a book set in a small town featuring families tied together because of a mysterious circumstance that instantly piques my interest. Locust Lane is told through the narrative voices of 5 main characters, which might seem like a lot, but doesn’t feel that way when you’re reading. Amidon smartly chooses to cluster these narratives together by day instead of simply alternating chapters between the characters. I thought that this structural choice made it very easy to distinguish each character from the other and track their plotline. Naturally, the narrator's lives are all intersecting throughout this story and Amidon does a great job making sure each character shares their viewpoints on the same situations.

The story itself has a bit of a predictable quality to it simply based on the nature of the crime and the setting. I didn’t feel that my ability to correctly guess what might happen next hindered my experience while reading. I found myself embracing and enjoying the way Amidon structured the reveals for twists.

Four teenagers in house. Alone. Bad combination as one of them ends up dead and the mess commences.
This novel includes parents circling the wagons, hidden trysts, lies, cover ups, and avoiding the truth.
The story was super messy but it made the real world go away while I read so I was happy to immerse myself in the problems of Emerson.
I honestly couldn’t detect who was responsible because the story whipped back and forth, keeping me guessing..

I always enjoy when books are set in my home state of Massachusetts, especially when it's a town or city I'm quite familiar with. I was really excited about Locust Lane; the premise sounded like it was right up my alley, I loved the idea of the fictional town of Emerson (I have some ideas of where it's loosely located), and it sounded like it was going to be filled with drama and mystery. Unfortunately for me, it fell flat. While the writing was good and very descriptive, I found there to be too many points of view narrating the story. There were times I really had a hard time keeping it all straight.

While it is a mystery of sorts, I would say it's more of a drama and a tale of wealth and class, more than anything else. Parts were really good and kept my attention, while other parts felt like they were dragging on. I will say, the ending surprised me and I was glad I stuck it out for that reason.

Overall, it's an okay read. Some people have really loved it, so it could have just been not the book for me.
Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was such a good mystery/thriller. It took me a few chapters to get hooked, but once I was I could not put it down - seriously. The adult characters are actually of much more interest than the three teenagers named in the synopsis. I was desperate to figure out who the killer was right up until the end. It reminded me a lot of Defending Jacob which I also liked.

Emerson, Massachusetts is an idyllic suburban town where the affluent are friends and get together to socialize, pretending to live their perfect lives. And hide their secrets from each other and themselves. When outsider, teen-age Eden, is found murdered those secrets aren't as easy to hide. Maybe they weren't really secrets at all. Centered around three friends who are the last to see Eden, Hannah, Jack and Christopher are each possible suspect. The adults are quick to point their fingers and reveal confidences all in order keep suspicions from their own house. Friends are willing to turn on each other in order to protect their own even when they know deep down something isn't right. The teens seem to know more than they are telling and Jack, especially, seems to allow his privilege to protect him. Told from several point of views, I got a good feel for the characters, and I think there were only two I liked. This is a slow burn type of mystery, but suspenseful and kept me turning that page! I didn't see the ending coming until the very end, and it has left me feeling unsettled - as I'm guessing that was the author's intent.
How far will a parent go to protect their child?
Thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books and Stephen Amidon for my advanced reader's copy.

Locust Lane
Author Stephen Amidon

Thank you @celadonbooks and @netgalley for the e- arc of this gripping suspense novel that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Locust Lane has been compared to Mystic River and Little Fires Everywhere and those are perfect novels to compare to this one as it is set in an idyllic, atmospheric, and suburban town filled with white picket fences and groomed lawns where residents paint fake smiles on their shiny faces as they each resolve to expose only the best versions of their picture- perfect lives.

The dramatic story is told from multiple points- of- view of the parents, which is an interesting twist because the focus is on their children as they make poor decisions through peer pressure, drug use, bullying, and sexual activity, which ends up with a few of them hiding secrets, being accused of a serious crime, and one of them dead.

Eden Perry's death causes the parents of Jack, Hannah, and Christopher to spiral into dark places where betrayals, secrets, and truths from their past surface as they each attempt to protect their children in their own dangerous and deceitful ways. Meanwhile, Eden's mother and an outcast of the community form an unlikely alliance that threatens to learn the real truths behind this once safe and trusted community.

Locust Lane is a slow-burn thrilling and suspenseful read that causes the reader to question many of the character's motives, actions, and truths. It also raises the question of how far would you go to protect your children, and do you really know who your children are? Locust Lane publishes on January 17th, and I am sure it will be one of the best of January!

4.5 stars!

This domestic thriller is an addictive read where every mother questions what they’d do to protect their child. A small wealthy town is rocked when a women in found dead. This young women's mysterious death uncovers secrets long hidden in this suburban neighborhood. A #whodoneit where power and privilege buy your innocence. The ending - I need to discuss.

Thank you Celadon Books for the complimentary copy.

A young woman is murdered in the small town of Emerson, Massachusetts, and it seems that three high schoolers have something to do with it. The book emphasizes family and town dynamics when accusations are thrown. What will parents do to protect their children?

This novel was intriguing and in-depth. The characters are all flawed and very real, which sometimes makes their decisions frustrating. I was captivated throughout the book and unsure of what would happen next. The ending fits well, and I was impressed.

The chapters were lengthy but had breaks as they switched character perspectives. I also appreciated seeing various views throughout the novel, making the plot flow quickly.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for an e-ARC of Locust Lane in exchange for an honest review.

At the beginning of this book, a young woman named Eden is found dead in a prosperous Massachusetts town. The book unfolds from 5 perspectives - Eden’s mom, parents of three high school students who were with Eden the night she died, and a man named Patrick who might have witnessed something that night while out drunkenly driving. It’s part mystery/suspense, part character studies, and part an exploration of how far parents will go to uncover - or cover up - the truth of what their kids were up to.

I know there are a lot of books these days about topics like rich kids behaving badly and the parents who are willing to do anything for them, yet I felt like this book was more original than the description might make you think. I don’t think the publisher’s comparisons to Mystic River or Little Fires Everywhere are particularly apt though. But I found this a very gripping book that I didn’t want to put down, and a compelling mystery as well that kept me guessing.