This was fine. I didn't love the narrator, especially doing kid voices. I thought the twist was pretty predictable and was really hoping I was wrong. While it wasn't my favorite, it was definitely an easy buffer between some heavier books, so it definitely worked for me in that instance.

Imagine you are married to the world’s most condescending man and you have two kids with him. Now imagine he’s like this because his family sucks. Now imagine that he is all you have because of a truly horrible event from your past that he just seems to gloss over like it was a papercut. Then imagine you bought a house in a weird neighborhood and you are so desperate to have a life that you glom onto one neighbor and instantly hate on others for almost no reason. Then throw in the mess of a woman who use to own your house and her trauma. That’s what this mess of a book was to me. I would even ignore the terrible narrator who just screeches through the children’s dialogue. I shouldn’t, but I will.

This was my first read by this author and I listened to the audio version. The narration was easy to listen to and the production did a great job. This story was interesting and had me guessing throughout. Some of the character pov jumps were a bit hard to follow in the audio version before a firm understanding of the characters was grasped. A solid suspense read without being overly gory or graphic. I would suggest reading over Audio

The House on Cold Creek Lane follows Laurel and Rob with children in tow to a new home and neighborhood, where some neighbors can't seem to mind their business.

As a primarily audio-book "reader", the narration of the children's voices had me ready to to DNF this one within the first few chapters. The other characters were well portrayed, but those shrill/whiny children's voices were extremely nauseating.

The characters were written well, and the overall plot was entertaining. Unfortunately, I saw the twist coming from this one and wish there was more to the ending. I thought the ending could have been longer and tied the multiple POVs together better.

When Laurel and Rob West move into their new home, Laurel can't shake her anxiety, especially with a neighbor paying too much attention to their kids. Meanwhile, Corey Sutton, recovering from a loss, seeks answers in her mother's Florida condo. Though they’ve never met, their lives are connected in a dangerous way.
While entertaining, the story was predictable. I identified the culprit early, and nothing changed my guess. The audiobook was underwhelming; the narrator for the young child was shrill and irritating after a point. The twist felt forced, and the plot became repetitive. This domestic suspense, told from two young mothers' perspectives, touches on motherhood, loss, and past trauma. The pacing and some twists kept my interest, but I saw many coming. The last quarter moved quickly, and I correctly guessed the ending. I felt angry for Laurel and frustrated by her husband Rob's undermining behavior. Corey’s grief was palpable, reflecting her immense loss. Despite these elements, the characters were well-developed and easy to relate to, and some were really fun to dislike.

A suspenseful, multiple POV domestic thriller with lots of twists I didn't see coming and a fairly shocking ending. Stay at home mom, Lauren is finding it hard to fit into her new neighborhood especially with a newborn at home, a demanding toddler and a mostly absent husband. When she makes friends with the one woman she thinks she can trust things take a turn for the worse. Great on audio with dual narration and definitely recommended for fans of authors like Shari Lapena or Mary Kubica. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

In her book The House On Cold Creek Lane, Liz Alterman masterfully layered the dark history of a family's new home over the young mother's fears, sprinkled a couple of "are they-are they not" potentially unsavory characters, and topped it off with a not-so-neat closure.
There were characters to like and characters to loathe, characters to suspect one minute and then double back and reconsider the suspicions. The regular everyday family drama is juxtaposed with troubled family histories.
Riveting and slow-building at the same time, it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book.

This was my first time reading a book by Liz Alterman and it won't be my last! What an addictive ride! I really enjoyed the suspense and could not put this down. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

ARC REVIEW❤️

3.5 ⭐️

This was a quick domestic thriller audio listen!
The premise was about loss, grief and about the lengths a mother can go to, to protect her family.
It is dual POV, 2 mothers struggling and dealing with their own issues throughout.

I loved the 2 different stories side by side and having to work out who connected them and what they had both been through.
I have to say I did predict early on who did it, and I was surprised there was no twist to change my mind and make me think someone else which I did find a little frustrating.

The narration by Emily Ellet & Gail Shalan was great. I enjoyed listening to them, they keep me wanting to come back and listen.

Thank you NetGalley, Dream Scape Media and Liz Alterman for the arc.

Thank you Netgalley, Liz Alterman and Dreamscape Media for the auto Arc of The House on Cold Creek Lane.
Narrated by Emily Ellet; Gail Shalan

The House on Cold Creek Lane takes the duel POV of Laurel and Cory. Two seemly unrelated women trying to make sense of their lives. Laurel after finding out that a tragedy happened with the previous owners, starts digging which bring to light suspicious neighbours and an unsupporting husband. Cory, who's grieving her daughter, lost everything.

Narrated by Emily Ellet; Gail Shalan, they both did a great job with the pacing of this book and the MC first person POV. I did find the child's voice a bit grating but in reality most 3 yr olds have a vey high pitched irritating voice so I get it.

Even though Its a medium paced dark thriller, I did struggle in some parts and is felt a little slow but was still engaging enough to take me through them and still enjoyed it.

3.5 stars for Storygraph, 4 stars for Netgalley, Amazon and Goodreads.

Excellent book, loved the atmospheric descriptions, the real world problems and the decent into madness.

Laurel and Rob West have just moved into their dream home, but Laurel doesn’t know about the tragedy that happened there with the previous owners. She doesn’t have a good feeling about things and she’s suspicious of some of the neighbors. Corey Sutton used to live in the house on Cold Creek Lane until her daughter drowned in the creek and her marriage imploded. Lost and grieving, Corey decides she won’t let the same thing happen to the new residents that happened to her.

This domestic thriller was gripping and suspenseful and I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the writing and the dual perspectives of Laurel and Corey. None of the characters were particularly likable, but I still wanted to know how things would turn out. There were times that I wanted to shake Laurel and tell her to get a spine. Her husband, Rob, was awful. Just awful. And the neighbors were just a bit much for me to deal with at times.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Emily Ellet and Gail Shalan did a great job narrating this story. They each did amazing with telling their character’s story and were the perfect choices for this audiobook.

This book was a bit of a slow burn, and although I was able to figure out some of the major twists, it was an enjoyable thriller that had me hooked. It’s no wonder everyone at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse has been raving about it!

Thank you Severn House, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I highly enjoyed both female narrators that read this book! They were clear and concise and really helped bring the story to life. I’ve read a lot of books in this genre so I have high expectations, most of which I felt were met with this story. A family moves into a new house with secrets to discover around every corner, the neighbors having the most to hide. If you like psychological thrillers and neighbor drama, check this book out!

This book was not great. The narrator was especially bad the kids voice did me in. I could not take it

Fantastic! It was like a car accident happening in front of you. You can’t help but watch. It kept me listening. The end was not at all what I was expecting.

The only negative to the audiobook was the narration of the child’s voice. That was like listening to nails on a chalkboard.

Do you really know who your neighbors are? Ugh this book had me so mad for Laurel and her unsupportive husband Rob. And grieving for Corey and her loss … this book is a “dark” thriller, and some parts were hard to read. It’s told in a dual POV, which I really like. My anxiety was at like 1000 and I couldn’t get through the story fast enough. The husband was unbearable, how he kept dismissing Laurels feelings and needs. The son was whiny and grated on my nerves (but he’s like 3 so I get it), I needed Rob to step up and help, which he never did. The neighbors were odd and gave me the creeps. One too intrusive and the other too helpful. Overall I did really enjoy the story, I felt the writing was excellent. The characters were well developed, easy to relate to (unfortunately in some instances), and some were really fun to see develop. Although I read some people say they saw the twist at the end coming, I didn’t.

Liz Alterman's latest, THE HOUSE ON COLD CREEK LANE, will keep you on the edge of your seat to the explosive finale! In this twisty, unpredictable, must-read domestic, suburban thriller, the lives of two women converge—from motherhood to grief, secrets, obsession, marriage, vengeance, and murder!

The author keeps readers riveted as they follow the unraveling of the lives of two women in this web of deceit and lies, with unexpected twists that will keep you guessing.

About...

Laurel and Rob West are moving into their new home on Cold Creek Lane in New Jersey. Rob is moving ahead with the logistics due to Laurel's pregnancy. He also hides the facts about the house's history.

Dealing with the new baby, Poppy, a C-section, and her lively four-year-old toddler son, Jasper, she finds she dislikes the neighbors. They seem suspicious and nosy. However, one neighbor seems nice that she confides in, but is she just putting on a front?

Rob is not a lot of help with all the kids or the nighttime feedings. He is also not sensitive about her past trauma.

Marian, the older lady, seems very judgmental about Laurel's motherhood skills. Laurel is sensitive and insecure. Addie, her neighbor seems like she has it together, but is something going on with her and Rob? Is she malicious and calculating?

Laurel had a rough, sad childhood, and Rob uses this trauma to his advantage with forms of gaslighting. His entire family is entitled and selfish.

Corey Sutton is another POV. She is recently divorced having experienced a significant loss of her daughter. She moves into her widowed mother's retirement condo in Florida.

Corey becomes obsessed with the events and people she suspects were involved in her daughter's death. She is watching a waiting for revenge. She attends grief group due to terrible loss, but she cannot go on until she holds someone she suspects accountable. She is driven by the anger.

When the paths of the two mothers, Laurel and Corey (who have never met), collide, they may have more in common than they know. This unexpected connection adds a layer of intrigue to the story, keeping readers engaged until the explosive ending.

My thoughts...

THE HOUSE ON COLD CREEK LANE was spectacular! This was my first book by the author, and I was blown away. I will be checking out her backlist and adding her to my favorite author list. I just purchased the audio, The Perfect Neighborhood. I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Told from alternating POVs, Laurel (NJ) and Corey (FL), these two mothers—women will connect in unexpected ways. Two women are drawn together into a mysterious web of secrets in this twisty whodunit, which will have you guessing until the explosive ending. Laurel's husband was horrible, so you know I loved the ending.

It's a page-turning spine-chilling whodunit, but it's also a moving and emotional account of grief and motherhood. You'll find yourself rooting for Corey and her determination to uncover the lies that surrounded her.

Totally absorbing, intense, and unpredictable. Brilliantly told a tale of deception and dark secrets in suburbia. The author cleverly designs her characters and many are pure evil and manipulative. I loved the dark humor, the twists, and parts by the boy Jasper were laugh out loud. (especially the audiobook).

From topics of mother-child relationships, motherhood, trauma, and unfaithful husbands. You will be rooting for both Laurel and Corey to the end. A riveting tale about marriage, trust, and dark secrets.

The Audiobook...

The audiobook was spectacular, narrated by the talented Emily Ellet and Gail Shalan. Their performances brought the characters to life, especially Jasper's voice, and added depth to the portrayal of the other evil characters, enhancing the overall listening experience.

Recs...

For fans of domestic, suburban thrillers, particularly those who enjoy the works of authors Mary Kubica, B.A. Paris, and Kimberly Belle, THE HOUSE ON COLD CREEK LANE is a must-read. It shares the same intense and suspenseful storytelling style, making it a perfect choice for fans of these authors.

Thanks to Severn House and Dreamscape Media for a gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 6, 2024
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2.5 ⭐️ Told from two mother’s perspectives, this is a story of love and the worst kind of loss; the death of a child and the trauma of losing a mother

Laurel moves into a new home with her husband and two young children. Having lost her mother to a shooting, she’s struggles to cope

Her husband Rob jovially dismisses her fears and constantly contradicts her. She’s clearly unhappy about the move, her neighbors and pretty much everything… although I found her paranoia exasperating, Rob was just awful the worst

Meanwhile, Corey has moved back to Florida after a tragic lose. I liked Corey, she’s angry and doesn’t like rules. She handles loss completely differently to Laurel - fast and pissed

The audiobook was well narrated. I thought casting was great and really bought both women to life

Unfortunately I found the twist obvious and wished someone would just hurry up and die. It was very slowly paced and although shit eventually hit the fan, I had to wait until the final few chapters

For reference, I found the pace of The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon slow. I also struggled with the gaslighting in Don’t Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders. If you enjoyed those books, then this may be for you

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review

4⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ New Jersey & Florida
Publication date ~ August 6, 2024
Publisher ~ Dreamscape Media
Est Page Count ~ 346 (34 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 30 minutes
Narrator ~ Emily Ellet & Gail Shalan
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ gaslighting, death of a child

Laurel & Rob have just moved into the house on Cold Creek Lane in New Jersey with their toddler, Jasper, and newborn baby, Poppy. There are a few neighbors we meet, who don’t give off a likable vibe, and neither does Rob. What a right douche he was, and it apparently runs in the family since his sister was not any better.

Corey is in Florida and we slowly learn how she’s connected to Cold Creek Lane and it’s heartbreaking. I really liked her no nonsense ways and how her part in the story played out.

Even though I totally had the culprit pegged, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The pace was steady and the conclusion was satisfying. Also, I liked the quick nod to a character in Liz’s last book The Perfect Neighborhood, which I don’t think I would have caught if I hadn’t just read it recently.

Narration notes:
Not sure which one is Laurel’s narrator, but oof with her kid voice, a bit grating on the ears. She did fine for all other voices. Corey’s sounded perfect for how her character seemed, which was just over it and mad at the world.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this story. We start out with Lauren, a wife and mother to two young children moving into a steal of a house in a suburban neighborhood. She is easy to empathize with- staying home with young children isn’t easy especially for an introvert that has some trust issues after losing her mom at a young age. She befriends the single woman and at the same time feels judged and becomes afraid of the other neighbor, a grandmotherly type that her husband and young son adore.

At the same time we get a back story of another character who is interesting and has a tragic past as well, suffering from the loss of her daughter and the end of her marriage.

As the story continues the plot weaves together and we see how similar the two ladies are. The ending was excellent with just enough mystery kept throughout the book.

My only complaint is the narration of the young son. While I enjoyed the main characters he spoke in this incredibly loud whiny voice that made me physically cringe in his speaking parts. I nearly closed the book a few times because of it, but the story was too great.