This book was so good I had a hard time putting it down. Kidnapping (saving), murder, secrets, lies, twists, it's all packed into this delicious thriller.

It starts out with a man finding and "saving" a child he finds wandering. It then moves ahead four years to a journalist named Shannon moving into a beautiful neighborhood. Here she befriends her neighbor fellow journalist Rosella Marlow who wants to help give Shannon's career a boost. Secretly she is using Shannon to help seek her own retribution against her neighbors. All is not what it seems and soon there is a murder. But who did it? All the neighbors appear to have their own secrets and any one of them could have had a reason to commit the murder.

Full of unsuspecting twists and surprises this was a very devious well thought out plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy

This book was very impossible to put down. Its twisting, thrilling and very interesting until the very end. Who would have guessed the end.

Unfortuntely, this was, to me, one of those "interesting premise but boring execution" cases.
I was curious and kind of excited to read about a young journalist teaming up with an older journalist to help with in investigation. I usually love stories with different generations working together in the same job. But this one just didn't clique with me. And I honestly cannot even pinpoint exactly what's wrong with this book. It just didn't work for me.

This book was a quick read but very thrilling. I liked that the book started off with something important happening so I was immediately drawn. The author did a good job with the plot twists and turns.

This is a fast read with lots of characters. The cover is super eye catching but overall it was just a solid 3 star rating.

Lots of characters to keep up with. Many seemed too shallow to be real. I quit this book about halfway through as the story wasn't quite compelling enough.

It was a fast read and definitely had me guessing! Nothing too out of the norm for a thriller but still a cool concept.

The story kicks off with a thrilling kidnapping, then shifts to a woman moving to a neighborhood where she uncovers a web of secrets and a murder. With each character having a motive and being present during the crime, the plot is full of twists and interconnected relationships. It's a fast-paced and gripping narrative, though keeping track of the numerous characters requires attention. Overall, I found the book unique, engaging, and thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary early read in exchange for an honest review.

One of my fave authors! This one was a real whodunit. I absolutely loved the setting and how well this neighbourhood is brought to life. You are so drawn in you want to live here and become their friends. The story itself is so well written and solid. This didn’t have huge highs lows for me it was a solid steady ready that held me till the last page. There were twists and turns throughout but mostly the focus was on the depth of each character and their secrets. I loved it!

Best House on the Block begins with a child kidnapping. Fast forward four years later, and Shannon, an aspiring journalist, has moved to a very exclusive neighborhood with her husband and daughter. Famous journalist Rosella Marlow has gone out of her way to pave the way for Shannon, feeling secure that she will help Rosella on a pet project about the neighborhood. Diminished by grief at losing her husband and son in an accident, Rosella is determined to learn every secret about her neighbors, spying on them yet believing someone is out to get her as well. When there is a murder in the neighborhood the claws come out. Every family is surrounded by mysteries and unknowns in their past, which the author eases out in a story packed with atmosphere and tension. And don’t forget that kidnapping! Be prepared to read the unbelievable at times, in this fast moving book. With thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Rosella is a bitter journalist who keeps close tabs on her neighbours who all seem to be happy, with perfect lives.
She arranges for Shannon to move to the area to learn what she can to become a journalist. Shannon feels uncomfortable at the first meeting.
Shannon meets the neighbours and feels a connection with Chloe.
When Rosella is murdered, Shannon and Chloe join forces to find out if the murderer was one of the neighbours. The more they investigate, the more they realise every person had a reason to kill Rosella.

Wow, I really enjoyed this novel. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but I somehow managed!
I liked Shannon and Chloe, their friendship seemed genuine, and their investigation really ruffled a lot of feathers.
It seemed to me that the police were only interested in making an arrest, without proper investigating, which was a pity.

I definitely can recommend this book, it had mystery, thrills, intrigue and the bringing together of a community.
A 4/5 stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this book.

📖 Review:
T.R. Ragan’s Best House on the Block is a pulse-pounding thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat! If you love psychological suspense with twists and turns aplenty, this book is a must-read! 📚💥

Shannon Gibbons, an aspiring investigative journalist, moves with her family to the Fabulous Forties of East Sacramento, only to find herself entangled in a web of secrets and deceit. Her seemingly friendly neighbor, Rosella Marlow, offers Shannon a chance to assist in a new project, but beneath the surface lies bitterness and grief that drive Rosella’s dark obsessions. 💔🕵️‍♀️

As Shannon delves deeper into her neighbor’s world, she unwittingly becomes a pawn in Rosella’s dangerous game of uncovering and exposing the secrets of their tranquil neighborhood. But when a murder shakes their community, suspicions run high and everyone becomes a potential suspect. The tension escalates as neighbor turns against neighbor, revealing hidden motives and chilling revelations. 🔍👥

Ragan masterfully builds suspense, keeping readers guessing with each twist and revelation. The characters are richly developed, each with their own motivations and secrets that add layers of complexity to the plot. Shannon’s determination to uncover the truth, despite the risks, makes her a compelling protagonist. 🌟👩‍💼

The pacing is relentless, driving the narrative forward towards a gripping and satisfying conclusion. Ragan’s skillful storytelling and knack for creating atmospheric tension make Best House on the Block a standout thriller in the genre. Prepare for a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue that will leave you breathless! 🎢🔥

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

I was drawn in from the first two chapters of this book. The first starting off with a kidnapping and then the second ending with a neighbor who is hell bent on getting “justice” by spying on her neighbors and revealing all their secrets. Since Rosella had lost her husband and her son in a freak car accident. She is determined to shake up her neighborhood because of her grief. I found Rosella to be funny, irrational, paranoid, and just plain rude. Her character had me engaged in the first chapters.

The book had a lot of potential but fell kind of flat for me. The characters were not developed and I found myself excited for the story to end.

I wasn’t able to guess the killer but I guess justice was served after all.

Starting off with a kidnapping I see 😳

I love a good murder mystery where everyone in the neighborhood is a suspect. This honestly felt like one giant game of clue.

This moved at a bit of a slower pace, but I liked how everything came back full circle in the end. The twist/reveal was great!

3.5 stars rounding down.

The cover of the book drew me in, and the introduction did not disappoint. There are quite a few characters to keep track of. This book was a bit difficult to pick up and put down. It took some time going back to figure out who was who and which children belonged to which couple after putting the book down for a few days. It would be best read as a cover to cover book in a sitting or two. Overall, it's a good story, lots of suspected suspects with plenty of unlikeable characters to draw your attention.

Suburban mystery/thriller with a neighborhood of suspicious characters. Decent pool or beach read but does’t break any new ground.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209609630

This is one of those books that grabs you right from the start and easily carries you to the end. There are quite a few characters to keep track of and I spent a while going back to figure out who was who and which children belonged to which couple. If you were to sit down and read from cover to cover, it would probably be easier to keep it all straight. I wasn't able to do that, so when I'd jump back in it would take me a while to remember things. But, it's a good story, lots of suspects with plenty of unlikeable characters.

This is a book that will keep you on your toes! Who is the murderer? Everyone had a reason to do that. You will have to keep reading to find out. This book will keep you turning the pages to find out the truth!
This was a good read. Settle in for the weekend and enjoy!

I'm a huge T,R, Ragan fan and was super excited to read this new book. Best House on the Block fell short for me, Definitely not my favorite book by this author but was quick read!

I thought the premise of this book was really interesting and I was very intrigued. Unfortunately it fell flat for me. There were too many things happening and going on that it just did not hold my attention or make me want to pick it back up. I had to DNF.