This book was thrilling and heart wrenching at the same time. I couldn’t stop listening and needed to know what was going on. I needed answers and this book delivered! The twists and turns on this book were insane. When scarlet finds the stolen passport I thought I knew what had happened but when that wasn’t the final reveal of the story I was absolutely shocked. And the narrator was incredible

I received this book through audiobook and it was a little difficult understanding POV. The narrator did her best to try play all the parts but at times it was hard to understand whose POV.

The story started out really good then just fell off for me. Some of the dialogue was very YA as well.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC,

This audiobook was exciting, and I really enjoyed the storyline, plot, and characters. The narrator’s voice was lovely and not one bit annoying or anything, so kudos to this.
In the story, a mother goes missing, and the chapters are filled with different timeframes and perspectives of people now, and different times in the past. The story comes together and the end with some really wild twists, which I enjoyed.
All of that being said, I actually had a hard time following this story while listening to it. I’m thinking maybe this wouldn’t have been the case if I was reading the actual book. Here are some possible suggestions for improvement for the audiobook, since I got to listen to and ARC of the audiobook, thanks to NetGalley and the author and publisher:
1. Maybe use a different voice for the characters in their chapters (possibly even a male for Alex
2. Maybe preface EVERY chapter with the character’s name (as it seems was done with Scarlet only
3. Maybe also preface each chapter with the year it was happening

I really did enjoy the story, plot, twists, etc., but I really started out many chapters wondering what was going on, who was “talking”, and when it was happening.
Overall, I’m going to give the book 4 stars, and I would recommend the physical book to everyone who likes psych thrillers. The audioboook I may preface with “If you can really concentrate and thoroughly think each new chapter through for awhile, this book may be for you.”

I know some people have been a bit critical of this story but, quite frankly, I enjoyed it!

There were twists and turns and the multiple timelines, while a bit confusing in the audiobook, worked well.

I did predict part of the reveal but I won't spoil it here.

Everything comes together well to leave you with a satisfying ending.

The twists and turns in the book were so good. The different perspectives were great. Being able to see what Joanna, Scarlett, and the killer was thinking was so good. Definitely pay attention to all the names because they definitely come up multiple times and help you piece things together.

5 stars

🎧4.5⭐️

I loved 99 Red Ballon’s, so I thought I’d try the latest release, a dark psychological thriller.

I had the audiobook narrated by Sarah Durham who really acts the parts well with good distinct voices, adding feeling, tension and atmosphere. I think it would have been even better with a male narrator for Alex.


There are multiple PoV and moves between the past and the present. I found it easy to keep track of the time frames, and the characters.

The story follows Joanna and her family, husband James, and daughter Scarlett. In the past it is the story of Alex. All I can say is life seems pretty perfect for the family on Smith street, but that veneer of perfection is soon blown wide open. The blurb gives more detail, but I think it’s better going in without reading it.

There are both likeable and horrible characters, they all felt believable, as did the plot.

It’s quite dark, I found the storyline a bit different, it went in a direction that I wasn’t expecting. It has a good pace and lots of interest throughout. It really kept my interest well as there’s a good level of tension. I think the narration added to the experience for me. It’s one I’d recommend especially in the audiobook format.

4/5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the chance to review this book. I really enjoyed this dark and twisty story.

The Family on Smith Street flips back and forth from present day, where housewife Joanna is missing and her husband James and daughter Scarlett are left reeling, to the past, following troubled teen Alex as he shows increasingly dark behavior. As the story progresses, Scarlett becomes frantic, James proves to have secrets of his own, and Alex’s violent past escalates. Their stories converge as Joanna’s fate hangs in the balance, and nothing (and no one) is as it seems.

I really enjoyed this audiobook - and while I figured out the major twist before it was revealed, the trail was complicated enough that I second-guessed myself along the way. And there certainly were details I didn’t expect!

3.5⭐️

<i> My husband James and I love living on Smith Street, with its neat houses and friendly family barbecues. Our daughter Scarlett grew up playing outside with the other local kids – it’s somewhere nothing bad could ever happen. Or so I thought…

Because when I wake terrified, head pounding, in a cramped windowless room, I realise I was entirely wrong. As my eyes adjust to the dark, I see creased pictures of missing local people I vaguely recognise from the news covering the walls. Then my skin turns ice-cold when I notice the newest pictures are of me, of James, of Scarlett…

A terrified sob catches in my throat. It seems there’s been a killer hiding in our neighbourhood for years. And I’m their next victim.

I stare at the photos in horror. Because if they’ve got me, they could also have James or, worst of all, my precious daughter Scarlett... In that moment, I know I’ll do anything, everything, to save my family. Especially because, deep down, I know this is all my fault… </i>

The Family on Smith Street is a light summer read for when you’re in the mood for suspense but not *too much* suspense. There were some twists and turns but not anything too terribly surprising, just enough to keep me listening through to the story’s resolution, but nothing that sticks with me long afterwards. A good way to enjoy a summer’s afternoon when you don’t want anything too heavy.

Thank you Elisabeth Carpenter, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book had a lot going on! Murder, lies, betrayal, the whole nine yards. I thought I had it figured out pretty early on but there was a twist at the end that really shook things up. I did find it kind of hard to track at times, since there are multiple points of view and timelines. Overall it was a good boon and worth the read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced electronic copy of this audiobook. I was not compensated for this review, nor was I required to leave a review about this audiobook.

I read a lot of psychological thrillers, and can typically guess what is going to happen by the end of the book. This one kept me guessing for pretty long— especially with the mystery behind the mom’s past. I thought it was a great read, and I enjoyed trying to figure out how to connect all the details together!

Three cheers for the author because they have done it again… I opened this book and I was lost straight away… brilliant story… fast-paced… I just love this author… 5 stars, of course.

The Family on Smith Street by Elisabeth Carpenter
Narrated by Sarah Durham

We have the present timeline and we have a timeline that starts long ago and the timelines are intermingled in a way that really worked to increase my confusion. I'd think I knew what was going on but it was so hard to be sure. Someone is not who we think they are and that someone will kill to keep secrets. Actually, that someone will kill because they like to kill.

The audiobook narration is very good. Without much change in the voicing of the characters, each person seemed like an individual. This story has a huge cast of characters but I never had trouble keeping track of them except when I was supposed to have trouble keeping track of them. We are being toyed with here, in more ways than one, and even when I thought I knew what was going on, I didn't care, I wanted to find out all the details.

Poor Scarlet, the seventeen year old girl whose mom goes missing. She is a big part of this story and I think my favorite parts of the book were when she and her friends were together. Her mom has gone missing and her dad is acting weird. You know you can't trust some people and you feel like you can't trust anyone. There are some really scary parts here and I never felt like I could relax as I listened to this book.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

This story is told through a couple very distinctive periods in our main characters lives. It’s fascinating how the characters related into each storyline as the climax of the story comes to a head. This was an unexpected delight with great narration

This was my first book by Elizabeth Carpenter and I don’t think it will be my last! Overall, I enjoyed it. The novel was full of a ton of twists and turns, some predictable whereas others weren’t.

The book was told through alternating timelines. Joanna and her daughter Scarlett after Joanna has been kidnapped, and in the 80s & 90s from Alex who is a serial killer in the making.

I really struggled to connect with these characters. I did enjoy listening to Alex’s point of view more and found it so interesting to see Alex’s chapters turn into present day and everything mesh together.

Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

What a freaking ride! This was full of twists and turns. I couldn’t put it down! It’ll have you thinking one thing, then second guessing it! Very good read!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was wild! The multiple perspectives really made the book crazy and kept me guessing. Having the perspective of the killer without that person being named added a lot of mystery and intrigue into the book and his voice was so creepy. This was a great thriller.

I was unable to connect with the characters in this book. It is good thriller with multiple POVs and I was slightly confused. I listened to the audiobook, so it might have very well been contributed to the narrator. I would have loved for a different voice to have been used for Alex's POV. I did truly enjoy Alex's POV. I appreciated the character development and background knowledge given in regards to Alex. There were good twists and turns provided, but again, there were many names used that slightly had me confused. I think I would've faired better reading the book. I Reilly enjoyed the ending! I will definitely give this author another shot.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Kept me reading with twists and turns and a touch of creepiness. Things are not always what they seem, and this kept my interest.

Oh my gosh all the twists and the ending, whoa!
This book had all the perfect twists and turns and more twists that you want in a mystery.
The ending was so unexpected that my jaw literally dropped because I did not see that coming.
If you love a good mystery, this book will not disappoint.
Enjoy!

This was a gripping and page turning thriller! I really enjoyed this audiobook and couldn’t stop listening until the very end! I couldn’t believe the twists and turns it took you through!!