Best House On The Block by TR Ragan, when Shannon gets an opportunity to work with famed journalist Rosalie and just happens to find a home for sale on the coveted fabulous 40s Street in Sacramento she cannot believe her luck. It’s right down the street from Rosalie and the house is lovely Rosalie not so much. The day she moves in she meets some of the ladies in the neighborhood on her way to her appointment with the journalist and it makes her a few minutes late something Rosalie cannot abide but tells her “let’s start over,” and slams the door right in Shannon‘s face, only to open it a second later and tells her” It’s lovely to meet you.” Her strange behavior in no way prepares Shannon for the vitriol and fearfull plees of this obviously not so normal elderly woman. She tells her someone has been watching her even shows her a note saying “I know your secret.” Later that day Chloe takes her out and ask Shannon if she would like to be on the best house on the block committee and shows her around the neighborhood she really likes Chloe and hopes they remain friends. So a couple of days later when she finds Rosella on the verge of death in her study Rosella whisper something to Shannon that she cannot make out an after listening to the elderly woman rant about everyone in the neighborhood and their secrets from Jason and Diane next-door who took her to court over property issues to Callan and Nikola, who Rosella said was hiding something to Holly and Rebecca who is the older woman accused of being obsessed with their children and nonprofit events. It seem no one in the neighborhood was free of Rosellas wrath but that doesn’t mean Shannon wants anyone to get away with her murder. First though she’ll have to get over the shock of finding her. Thankfully close shows up just in the nick of time and although it’s the first but won’t be the last time she is there to save Shannon there’s many suspects and soon Clo and Shannon will be trying to find out which one is guilty of Rosalie‘s murder. I do want to say this book got me out of a big time reading slump it felt like a well-done cozy mystery only set more in reality then the quick investigations of the cozy. I love a book where there’s someone to route four in Shannon and Chloe are definitely those people. Just FYI in the beginning a little boy is kidnapped and although most of the story doesn’t pertain to that it’s still in my opinion was a great opener. I really enjoyed this book and unlike most books read it in one sitting and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.#NetGalley,#ThomasAndMercer, #T.R.Ragan, #BestHouseOnTheBlock,

Behind The Walls In A Beautiful Neighborhood

The novel opens with a flashback. A husband and wife had lost their one-year-old son to leukemia. After trying every assisted pregnancy technique, the results were zero. They were even denied for adoption because he failed to report a bankruptcy on their application. The husband talked about finding a baby. At first, the wife was against it, but eventually, she came around and agreed. He started to eat lunch near schools and park playgrounds but found no opportunities. Eventually, the demands at work stopped his search. One day, he runs an errand when a toddler walks out of a building and into the street in a rundown part of town. He stops and waits, but no one comes to collect the toddler. No one else is around. He seizes the kid, drives off, and takes him home. From this kidnapping, the novel starts four years later.

The main storyline has two threads. The first tells the story of Rosella Marlow, a renowned reporter who hires Shannon Gibbons to assist in researching her new book. During the first meeting, Rosella changes what Shannon is to research. Now, it is her neighbors. There is not a second meeting, as she is murdered. The second thread starts with Shannon Gibbons and a neighbor, Chloe Leavitt, team up to solve who killed Rosella. Two detectives are investigating the murder, but they only are involved in interviewing people and arresting some. This novel is a cozy mystery based on this and other characteristics. The main characters are seven women, two of which are married to each other, five husbands, and their nine children. Much of the novel is spent on Shannon and Chloe interviewing the other characters to determine who has a motive. There is a definite feminine aspect, so I would call this novel women’s literature. Their difficulty in solving the crimes is that everyone seems to be hiding secrets, so they are always not telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Also, on the night of the murder, Rosella’s house seems to be as busy as Grand Central Station, with neighbors entering and exiting. This leads to many twists and turns as each adult and older child is considered. Near the end, what I call a literary grenade surprised me. Tension is maintained as the detectives arrest one neighbor for the murder but must release him. Then, they do it again. This novel captured my attention, but with so many characters, it took me a little longer to finish reading it.

The background for the two main characters, Shannon and Chloe, is quite rich. It is presented quite naturally as a new neighbor talks with another. Since Shannon is new to the neighborhood, her background is provided through her discussions during meetings and interactions with the other residents. As the relationship between Shannon and Chloe develops, Chloe’s background is provided during their discussions. There are many instances in which one helps or stands up for the other. This aspect of the novel enhanced my reading enjoyment.

There are minimal aspects in this novel that can cause some readers to stop reading. There are no intimate scenes, and the amount of objectionable language is also very low. Usually, cozy mysteries do not have violent scenes. One short, violent scene is high-tension but mild compared to what is on primetime TV. This is a stand-alone novel, so there are no issues from previous novels.

The issue with which I had the most problems was the large cast of characters. I had to use my notes capability in my e-reader to keep track of them. This was an issue for me, as I frequently had to stop reading to figure out who was who. This may not be the case for you. While this genre is not one I often read, I enjoyed the extensive discussions and finding the killer when everyone seemed to hate and wanted to make Rosella Marlow’s life miserable. I discovered that there were so many loose ends that significant portions of the last three chapters were devoted to tying up those loose ends. Lastly, I found the ending heartwarming.

I have read two previous standalone novels from this author. She is well settled in my Will-Read category. I have enjoyed reading this and her previous novels so much that I have purchased four others that are on my to-be-read list. If this genre interests you, I do recommend reading it. I’m looking forward to her next novel. I rate this novel with four stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

Best House on the Block is an easy read and it has a lot of mystery as everyone in the neighborhood could have killed the infamous Rosella, and many had reasons to do it. What I found most insteresting is that the author was able to expose human nature in full - when threatened people usually react with violence (physical or verbal) and become irrational. Chloe was so preoccupied with her neighbors (she was really nosy!) that she lost what was happening in her own home. Shannon moved her family to work with Rosella without researching much and discovers that there were many lies within what she was told. Was Rosella having mental health issues or was she just a mean, lonely person? Entertaining!
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

One of the most compelling aspects of Best House on the Block is Ragan's skillful handling of plot twists. Just when you think you have it figured out, the story takes a sharp turn, leaving you questioning everything. This unpredictability keeps the reader engaged and ensures that the novel remains unpredictable until the very end.

In terms of writing style, Ragan balances tension and emotion seamlessly, creating a dark, atmospheric tone that complements the sinister themes of the book. Her descriptive language helps to bring the setting to life, while her ability to create suspense through seemingly mundane situations is what elevates this thriller above others in its genre.

Overall, Best House on the Block is a thrilling, well-paced novel that will keep readers guessing until the final page. For fans of psychological thrillers and domestic suspense, T.R. Ragan delivers a masterful story that is hard to put down.

I found that this book failed to grab me therefore I had little interest in the characters. The story line premise is interesting but I didn’t feel it, I LOVE a messy neighbourhood story but I didn’t care enough.

Rosella is not a nice person. She hires Shannon under the pretense of being her writing mentor but instead plans to use her to get revenge on her neighborhood. Then, as things tend to happen in suspense thrillers, someone dies, lives are in upheaval, secrets are revealed, and Shannon has to use her investigative skills to figure out what is going on in this not so peaceful neighborhood. There's some good suspense as we wait for the secrets to all be revealed.

LOVED! Great characters, unique storyline, soooo many secrets and sooo many twists. Best House on the Block was impossible to put down! T.R. Ragan has done it again!

T.R. Ragan’s Best House on the Block brings a fresh intensity to the “suburban thriller” genre, where perfectly manicured lawns and friendly neighbors often hide a host of dark secrets. The story centers around a seemingly idyllic neighborhood, where the residents appear close-knit and supportive—until a brutal murder disrupts this façade of harmony, unveiling the sinister layers beneath.

The book expertly plays with the idea that “everyone is a suspect,” keeping the reader guessing as tensions rise and carefully concealed secrets start unraveling. Each character, seemingly pleasant on the surface, becomes a suspect as the dark undercurrents of their private lives are exposed. Ragan’s writing skillfully captures the suspense and complexity of suburban dynamics, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

While the “secrets-behind-the-smiles” theme has been explored by many thrillers, Best House on the Block stands out due to its particularly well-crafted twist. Just as the plot nears what feels like a revelation, Ragan manages to deliver a twist that feels both surprising and inevitable—a difficult feat in a genre saturated with unexpected endings. The build-up and payoff make this a standout for fans of domestic suspense.

In Best House on the Block, T.R. Ragan has created a thrilling mystery that keeps readers hooked from the first page to the last. For fans of intense, neighborhood-based thrillers that reveal the dark side of suburbia, this book is a must-read.

A killer secret, lies, twists, and turns set the stage for Best House on the Block! Appearances truly are deceiving and soon after moving to the Fabulous Forties of East Sacramento, Shannon will learn just how deceiving they are!

Shannon Gibbons is an aspiring journalist who has been asked to work as an assistant to journalist, Rosella Marlow. It sounds like a dream job and Shannon is excited until she meets Rosella who is bitter, angry, consumed with grief, and knows quite a few of her neighbor's secrets. She has a keen eye and has been watching them while at the same time, someone was watching her as well.

When a murder occurs, everyone in this picture-perfect neighborhood becomes a suspect! As the police begin to investigate, secrets and lies will be exposed, evidence will be collected, and neighbors shared gossip while wondering who amongst them is a killer!

This book has quite a few characters, but I found it easy to keep track of them. Everyone and their brother appeared to be suspects at one point or another in this book. I did my own super sleuthing and tried my best to solve the case (I was not successful). I enjoyed how relationships were tested as secrets and lies were revealed. This book had drama galore, and I was there for the ride.

This isn’t your ordinary neighborhood drama! In Best House on the Block there’s a secret behind every door of the homes on this beautiful block…but which secret includes murder? This will keep you guessing!

Shannon is so excited to work with her new neighbor, Rosella Marlow, a renowned journalist. Shannon’s family relocated specifically so Shannon could assist her on a big project. But when they finally meet face to face, Rosella isn’t at all what she seemed when they spoke at various times. Shannon begins to see a dark side to the project and neighborhood, then there’s a murder! Shannon is determined to use her sleuthing skills to find out who killed Rosella. Lots of drama unfolds along the way. Very captivating read!

I live near Sacramento and am very familiar with the fab 40s and surrounding area so this was a super fun read to experience from that aspect. The author did a good job building the mystery and suspense as well.

Best House on the Block by T. R. Ragan is a delectable tense psychological thriller about neighbours, loyalty and trust. Do you truly know those who live next door....or in your own home?

Shannon Gibbons is a stay-at-home mom who wishes for more. When infamous and outspoken journalist Rosella Marlow contacts her with a mysterious offer she cannot refuse, Shannon and her family move to an affluent Sacramento neighbourhood. She immediately meets several neighbours including Rosella who makes a spine tingling request which doesn't sit well with Shannon. The aspiring journalist with the curiosity of a sleuth is on high alert when someone on the street is murdered. As police question the long list of suspects, Shannon and a new friend start inveigling on their own. As they peel back the layers, secret after secret after secret is exposed. Everyone has a past, too. Bound by murder yet not necessarily united, one Sacramento street is under the microscope of suspicion.

Ragan's writing is atmospheric and loaded with vitality. Talk about an immersive read! It hit me in the right spots. It will cause you to observe your neighbours a tiny bit more cautiously and also be more mindful of what kind of neighbour you are.

My sincere thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this captivating novel.

Rosella Marlow was a complex character. Was she liked by anyone? Did anything she say was truthful? Did she know everything, or did she just bluff her way through it all? Her home in the Fabulous Forties district was an award winner, but the death of her son and husband, and losing the house crown spiralled her into a very weird and twisted woman, seeking revenge, vindication and existing in a heightened state of paranoia. Of course a menacing note saying “I Know What You Did” with a grisly stick figure would set her over the edge, as Shannon Gibbons found out when she started her new job with Rosella, as her researcher. And what a surprise for Shannon to find Rosella dead the next day, slumped over her desk, stabbed by a letter opener.
There is A LOT of history to cover in this story. There is also a list of characters, all homeowners in the same street that are linked to each other, linked by the past, and linked to everything unfolding as the murder of Rosella is investigated by two apathetic detectives. Chloe and Wesley Leavitt, Jason and Dianne Abbott, Kaylynn and Nicolas Alcozar, Becky and Holly Bateman, and all of the children – there are a lot of characters to get your head around which adds to the mystery elements of this story but if you are not reading carefully you will get lost among them all. There are so many clues along the way, and it was a shame that one of the major clues was revealed so early on because there could have been a few more breadcrumbs before that came to light. Nothing was really a surprise but more of an indepth explanation or reason to why things were happening and being covered up. By the end I could have sworn this was a written storyline for Desperate Housewives. However, what this story did depict well was the power of friendship and how quickly they can dissolve and that sometimes your friends say more about you then you realise.
Rosella puzzled me, even as the end drew near. I was never sure of her motives and when the final reveals happened, I could sort of understand her actions but at the same time, it took a while to get here. Yes, this is a great element for a mystery, buy when there are so many secondary story lines competing it can be hard to give the main one the attention it deserved.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️

While I did find this one entertaining, I also felt it was a bit confusing. There were a lot of characters to keep track of!! 😵‍💫

The prologue definitely started it off with a bang, when a child is kidnapped. But then we don’t get back to the kidnapping until maybe the last quarter of the book.

It also had its twists, though the big twist towards the end had me scratching my head a bit and trying to do math! 😅

Like I said, I did find this entertaining so I do recommend checking it out!! 🤓

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

!! Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review !!
3.5

I don't even know where to start in this book. I didn't see a lot of the twist coming even though it's made a little obvious in the first chapter where the story was going to end up. There were so many twist and I have to admit that I did guess the wrong person at least five times and I am not ashamed to say it.

Also, I should have known the adoption thing was going to be a big deal, it may have been me skipping a few sentences but I had no idea that Blake and Ridley were supposed to be twins, I thought he was a year older than her so that was a little weird. And I wasn't expecting the multi-POV in this book but it was refreshing to see everything going on through the eyes of each character.

I did think this was going a different direction but I can't even be mad at the turn it took. The only sort of gripe I had with it is the weird way that some of the characters talk. It was a little weird how they spoke sometimes like they were reading a script. At one point in time, one of the characters was describing something that happened to another and I didn't realize it was supposed to be in quotes because it sounded like a description paragraph and it was coming from a teenage character no less.

I just thought that was weird, but I liked the ending and the big reveal between Shannon and Chloe, amazing relationship!

2.5 ⭐️

This book had promise, I the prologue hooked me right from the start. Unfortunately, things didn’t progress very quickly and it was a pretty slow burn. I had actually forgotten all about the prologue and didn’t make the connection to the rest of the book until after. I also had a hard time keeping up with all of the characters and found myself not really invested in what happened to them. I was glad I finished it to find out what happened.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, what a fun rollercoaster! I read this book in a day because I quickly got invested in the characters and all of their secrets. I enjoyed Shannon and Chloe and their quest to solve the murder of their extremely unlikable neighbor Rosella and everything they learned about their neighbors and each other along the way. This book really has a lot of surprises!

While I was so invested to read this title from the beginning to halfway, I found it very slow paced and way too many characters for me to keep track who is who and what they actually want in here. It might have been easier with lesser characters and i know some may enjoy it more , but I can’t really say that this is a good game for my reading understanding and enjoyment.

I am a T. R. Ragan fan from previous books. This was a “solid” read. In my opinion, it was a slow burn until the middle of the book where it really started to pick up. My opinion is mine alone. I would encourage everyone to read “The Best House on The Block” for themselves.