I did not finish this book and I will tell you why. The premise seemed interesting, but the style of writing was forced; I felt like I was following someone’s thoughts instead of reading a crafted story. It was starkly different from the level of writing talent I am used to experiencing. I hope the author heavily revises the writing before publishing. I feel bad writing this, but it needs a major overhaul before it is ready for a seasoned reader.

What if someone in your neighborhood threatened to expose the secrets of everyone living on your street!? Would you kill them to keep them quiet? Probably not you, (at least I hope not!) But someone was murdered and everyone in the neighborhood is now a suspect.

It’s been a long while since I’ve picked up a T.R. Ragan book. I enjoyed the first few books of her Jessie Cole series but had never tried one of her stand –alone books.. So when seeing this latest, a neighborhood thriller, (one of my favorite sub genres) I was all in.

Unfortunately this book failed to grab me. I had little connection to the characters and storyline. I always like to get caught up in the drama of the neighborhood…like a fly on the wall. But I just didn’t feel it.🤷🏻‍♀️

Hoping you will have a more positive experience!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer

Scene: 🇺🇸 Set in the Fabulous Forties neighbourhood of Sacramento, California.

Starts off strong with that prologue but dnf at ~20%:
• Handles the cast of characters by listing first and last names, at best some hair colour, but mostly just names we gotta remember. There’s nothing to anchor them in our minds or give us first impressions. [This might only be a mind’s eye reader problem]
• This is made worse by peripheral/seemingly one-off characters being referred to the same way. ___ is ____’s golfing buddy and they met via ____, who’s related to ___. I’m slightly exaggerating, but my character notes were a mess.
• This is made much worse by how the characters all sound the same and feel robotic or stilted in how they speak
• Too much info dumping the plot with little room for intrigue, immersion, or inferring for ourselves. If you like that style or want a basic easy read it could work except that character problem makes it not that.
• I was looking forward to the world building but other than what reads like a list of facts I already Googled, this story could take place anywhere with big houses.
• Instead of the reader being thrown in the story the story is thrown at the reader. ___ does this, then that, then thinks this, that says that.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley

My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

This book by T.R. Ragan is a psychological suspense novel following aspiring investigative journalist Shannon Gibbons as she tries to untangle the web of lies and secrets around her. I have really enjoyed previous books by this author and although I really enjoyed it I feel that it started out a bit slow as it took me a while to truly get engrossed in this book. After the initial impact at the start with a toddler being kidnapped it slowed right down and didn’t really get going and suck me in until the murder. After that I was so engrossed I couldn’t put it down. There are a fair amount of characters in the book and it took me a while to get my head round who everyone was and the parts they played but once I got everyone sorted out in my head it wasn’t an issue at all.

I’m giving Best House on the Block 4 stars because although it started out slow I did really enjoy it.

BEST HOUSE ON THE BLOCK started out strong, with a flashback that promised some intrigue and mystery. However, this one fell short as it was way too character heavy, without enough development done to distinguish them from one another. The various families and storylines blended into each other and was confusing, and the ending didn’t redeem the convoluted path it took to get there.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review BEST HOUSE ON THE BLOCK.

Oh this book was FANTASTIC! It kept me on the edge of my seat from chapter one, and I just could not even get over the ending. Wonderfully done!

This was a middle of the road read for me. Not amazing, but not terrible either. Halfway through starts to get a bit muddied with so many plot lines going on at the same time. I didn't find the characters to be super relatable, believable, or full fleshed out. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to be honest, with so many other more memorable and engaging stories out there. Ultimately, this one falls flat in comparison.

Mystery and twists, my 2 favorite things in a book. I couldn't put this book down, it was soooo good! This truly is the Best House on the Block.

Slow to start but once you get half way through the book gets going. The twist at the end between two of main characters is so good!

What happens when a neighborhood villian,Rosella Marlow, is found deceased in her house? The neighborhood attempts to solve the murder. Rosella went after her neighbors in a completely underhanded and vicious ways. No one in the neighborhood liked her so they are all suspects.

Not a bad read just slow and I had to work hard to finish it.
I am glad I finished the book.

I've discovered T.R. Ragan because of this platform and I've enjoyed all of her books but this one. It was really interesting at the beginning, it's got her signature style, the main character fighting for her sanity despite being gaslit to oblivion but then towards the middle 'til the end it just became woke and weird. I have nothing against woke narratives. It's just that I don't think it pairs well with thrillers.

A who-dun-it with too many whos. Pretty much everyone in this book had motive for the murder. As well as nearly everyone being in or around the house at the time of the murder.

There were so many connections between each person and each time I thought I had something figured out, something new would come up.

I really enjoyed this story. The only minor downside is there are so many characters you have to really pay attention and keep a running list in your head of the characters to keep up with the story. But other than that, it is a very unique, full of secrets, scandals and mystery.

The book starts off with a bang, there's a kidnapping of a toddler who was wandering alone at night.
Then the setting is changed to a posh neighborhood with neighbors who all have secrets. I kept wondering where the kidnapping fit in and which character was involved with that. Many characters, enough to keep me wondering throughout.

Firstly I want to thank T.R. Ragan and the publishers for allowing me to read an early copy of this mystery novel!
I really enjoyed the style of writing and the different characters that we meet throughout the book. There were a few plot twists amongst the main and side characters I was NOT expecting and I really enjoyed that I wasn’t able to call it before it happened. I normally put the puzzle pieces together before the plot is revealed so it’s always refreshing when that doesn’t happen! I was able to really picture the neighbourhood and how close knit they are without being bored by too many filler details. I’d really like this to become a movie or Netflix limited series!

I’d rate this a 4/5 ⭐️

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In the heart of the Fabulous Forties in East Sacramento, where tree-lined streets hide secrets behind white picket fences, aspiring investigative journalist Shannon Gibbons and her family move into a beautiful house. Their new neighbor, renowned journalist Rosella Marlow, seems eager to help Shannon’s career by offering her a personal assistant role on a mysterious project. But appearances can be deceiving.

Rosella is consumed by grief and resentment, determined to wipe the smiles off her seemingly contented neighbors’ faces. She watches closely, ready to expose their darkest secrets. And when a murder occurs, everyone on this quiet block becomes a suspect. Shannon, unwittingly drawn into the intrigue, begins her own investigation into the death of someone she barely knew.

“Best House on the Block” is a gripping psychological suspense novel that combines the intrigue of “Desperate Housewives” with the investigative spirit of “Murder She Wrote.” T.R. Ragan weaves a web of lies, secrets, and unexpected twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The multiple points of view, suburban setting, and well-drawn characters make this a binge-worthy read. 🕵️‍♀️🏡🔍

If you enjoy mysteries with a touch of domestic drama, this book is a must-read. Ragan’s storytelling prowess shines as she unravels the tangled threads of neighborly deception.

The perfect slump book for me. Just what I needed. The perfect mix of suspense and keep you on the edge with page turning and engaging.

It got me hooked on the first page and then slowly lost me through half of the story. Not a bad book by any means, but not captivating or thrilling either. I got tired of the many suspects and didn't care enough. Thank you #netgalley.com for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Best House on the Block" by T.R. Ragan is an intriguing psychological suspense novel following aspiring investigative journalist Shannon Gibbons as she tries to untangle the web of lies and secrets around her. This was my first book by the author, but it will not be my last.

Told in the third person, the book starts with a bang - a kidnapping of a toddler - and then jumps forward four years. Shannon Gibbons is an orphan, a mother, and a housewife who has dabbled in true crime stories online for years. When 65-year-old renowned journalist Rosella Marlow offers to be her mentor, she eagerly agrees and moves with her family to Rosella's neighborhood, the Fab-Forties of East Sacramento.

She quickly befriends her new neighbors and feels at home there, but Rosella is another kettle of fish. Rosella is bitter, resentful, and hated by all, and she is sure someone is after her. She asks for Shannon's help with this. The plot thickens when someone is found murdered, and that's when things get interesting.

The start of the book is very slow, and it took me a while to get into it. Things liven up after the murder, and from that point on, I was engrossed in the book. There are several plotlines woven into a mostly consistent whole. While I guessed early on the identity of the culprit, other twists caught me by surprise. There may have been one or two loose ends, but they weren't significant to the plot.

There is a large cast of characters, but I had no problem differentiating between them or keeping up with the story. With themes of trauma, loneliness, grief, infidelity, and the need for belonging, the author has woven a tale that I enjoyed reading.

I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars due to the slow start and some predictable and far-fetched turns. A tighter edit would have given the book a more polished look, but I still enjoyed it. It is a delightful read with engaging, multifaceted characters that will keep you enthralled. Despite the minor flaws, it is still worth reading. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological suspense novels with a punch and a satisfying conclusion.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Home run! Really tight, tense read. First read from this author but I’ll check out more! Thanks NetGalley for introducing me to new authors all the time!

I really enjoyed this book. There were so many twists and turns at just the right moments. This is one I would recommend.