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Serenity Falls
Not yet published
Expected 10 Sep 26Welcome to Serenity Falls – the most idyllic town in the US and the safest place for families to grow up together, where crime is non-existent. It seems the perfect relocation option for Dan and his daughter Sadie as they move from the UK. A fresh start, thousands of miles from their troubled past.
But their new idyll is shattered when they find a dead body in their swimming pool.
And it turns out that’s just the start of a series of odd discoveries. Abandoned houses where people have seemingly just upped and left. The strange woman Sadie keeps seeing around town putting up ‘missing’ posters for a child who drowned twenty-five years ago. An ice cream van that drives around at night making sure residents are asleep...
As plans gear up to celebrate Serenity Falls’ fiftieth anniversary, something is stirring beneath the surface of the idyllic façade. Is Serenity Falls really the perfect town or is it founded on something far darker? And is someone so desperate to keep its secrets that they’d resort to anything to preserve them?
Welcome to Serenity Falls – the perfect town. For murder.
But their new idyll is shattered when they find a dead body in their swimming pool.
And it turns out that’s just the start of a series of odd discoveries. Abandoned houses where people have seemingly just upped and left. The strange woman Sadie keeps seeing around town putting up ‘missing’ posters for a child who drowned twenty-five years ago. An ice cream van that drives around at night making sure residents are asleep...
As plans gear up to celebrate Serenity Falls’ fiftieth anniversary, something is stirring beneath the surface of the idyllic façade. Is Serenity Falls really the perfect town or is it founded on something far darker? And is someone so desperate to keep its secrets that they’d resort to anything to preserve them?
Welcome to Serenity Falls – the perfect town. For murder.
512 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 10, 2026
About the author
C.J. Tudor
17 books9,020 followersC. J. Tudor was born in Salisbury and grew up in Nottingham, where she still lives with her partner and young daughter.
She left school at sixteen and has had a variety of jobs over the years, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, shop assistant, ad agency copywriter and voiceover.
In the early nineties, she fell into a job as a television presenter for a show on Channel 4 called Moviewatch. Although a terrible presenter, she got to interview acting legends such as Sigourney Weaver, Michael Douglas, Emma Thompson and Robin Williams. She also annoyed Tim Robbins by asking a question about Susan Sarandon’s breasts and was extremely flattered when Robert Downey Junior showed her his chest.
While writing the Chalk Man she ran a dog-walking business, walking over twenty dogs a week as well as looking after her little girl.
She’s been writing since she was a child but only knuckled down to it properly in her thirties. Her English teacher once told her that if she ‘did not become Prime Minister or a best-selling author’ he would be ‘very disappointed.’
The Chalk Man was inspired by a tub of chalks a friend bought for her daughter’s second birthday. One afternoon they drew chalk figures all over the driveway. Later that night she opened the back door to be confronted by weird stick men everywhere. In the dark, they looked incredibly sinister. She called to her partner: ‘These chalk men look really creepy in the dark . . .’
She is never knowingly over-dressed. She has never owned a handbag and the last time she wore heels (twelve years ago) she broke a tooth.
She loves The Killers, Foo Fighters and Frank Turner. Her favourite venue is Rock City.
Her favourite films are Ghostbusters and The Lost Boys. Her favourite authors are Stephen King, Michael Marshall and Harlan Coben.
She is SO glad she was a teenager in the eighties.
She firmly believes that there are no finer meals than takeaway pizza and champagne, or chips with curry sauce after a night out.
Everyone calls her Caz.
She left school at sixteen and has had a variety of jobs over the years, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, shop assistant, ad agency copywriter and voiceover.
In the early nineties, she fell into a job as a television presenter for a show on Channel 4 called Moviewatch. Although a terrible presenter, she got to interview acting legends such as Sigourney Weaver, Michael Douglas, Emma Thompson and Robin Williams. She also annoyed Tim Robbins by asking a question about Susan Sarandon’s breasts and was extremely flattered when Robert Downey Junior showed her his chest.
While writing the Chalk Man she ran a dog-walking business, walking over twenty dogs a week as well as looking after her little girl.
She’s been writing since she was a child but only knuckled down to it properly in her thirties. Her English teacher once told her that if she ‘did not become Prime Minister or a best-selling author’ he would be ‘very disappointed.’
The Chalk Man was inspired by a tub of chalks a friend bought for her daughter’s second birthday. One afternoon they drew chalk figures all over the driveway. Later that night she opened the back door to be confronted by weird stick men everywhere. In the dark, they looked incredibly sinister. She called to her partner: ‘These chalk men look really creepy in the dark . . .’
She is never knowingly over-dressed. She has never owned a handbag and the last time she wore heels (twelve years ago) she broke a tooth.
She loves The Killers, Foo Fighters and Frank Turner. Her favourite venue is Rock City.
Her favourite films are Ghostbusters and The Lost Boys. Her favourite authors are Stephen King, Michael Marshall and Harlan Coben.
She is SO glad she was a teenager in the eighties.
She firmly believes that there are no finer meals than takeaway pizza and champagne, or chips with curry sauce after a night out.
Everyone calls her Caz.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
Want to Read
July 12, 2026Have i read this author before?...NO!
Do i want to read this book solely based on the gorgeous cover... YES!
Roll On September!!
🤍🩷🩷🤍
Do i want to read this book solely based on the gorgeous cover... YES!
Roll On September!!
🤍🩷🩷🤍
June 23, 2026
4 - 5 stars
Serenity Falls, Florida…..
….is the perfect American town, founded and built by the Winsome Group in the 1970s. Perfect people, perfect houses, nothing bad ever happens in.Serenity Falls as there’s no crime – well, that’s a lie for a start. It’s where Dan and his daughter Sadie relocate to after the death of his mother, when they discover she has left him a property in the Floridian development. A fresh start for both of them, far away from their issues in Manchester. However, a number of offkilter, disturbing experiences rattle both of them. As Serenity Falls heads towards its 50th anniversary, it becomes increasingly obvious something very dark lies beneath the glossy surface. How far will some residents go to preserve their image and their secrets?? When you know, you can’t unknow.
I always have a deep suspicion of anything that seems too perfect, I want to rumple it up a bit and that sure applies to Serenity Falls, if you dare, with its appearance belying the reality. At times the plot enters the territory of the surreal, with some of the images being absolutely memorable as well as chilling. It’s very atmospheric, the author perfectly depicts the place and the vibes it exudes and at times it’s very creepy. There’s a bucket load of weird stuff that keeps happening, retaining the suspense my attention is riveted. The vibes are a great mix of Stephen King. + Stepford Wives + CJ Tudor.
The pace is not especially fast but that suits the story the author is telling but my goodness, there are some good twists, one or two are jaw droppers.
The story is told via several points of view and I have no difficulty in distinguishing each of them. I like this approach as it builds the mystique and has me asking a load of questions about the place and what it’s all about. Some aspects seem positively biblical and that all slots into place towards the end and makes me wonder……
The characters are well depicted, the standouts are obviously Dan and Sadie, the latter is fabulous. I love their relationship which is a very close one and there’s plenty of punchy, witty dialogue with some well executed dry humour.
The ending maybe comes a bit thick and fast, but it’s not out of keeping with what’s going on and it is good. The epilogue several years on is very thought-provoking on several fronts. I feel the desire to throw away an item I wear 24/7!!
Overall, in my opinion this is another winner from this very talented author who is an MUST read for me. As for the cover, that certainly captures some of the best moments from the book!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Serenity Falls, Florida…..
….is the perfect American town, founded and built by the Winsome Group in the 1970s. Perfect people, perfect houses, nothing bad ever happens in.Serenity Falls as there’s no crime – well, that’s a lie for a start. It’s where Dan and his daughter Sadie relocate to after the death of his mother, when they discover she has left him a property in the Floridian development. A fresh start for both of them, far away from their issues in Manchester. However, a number of offkilter, disturbing experiences rattle both of them. As Serenity Falls heads towards its 50th anniversary, it becomes increasingly obvious something very dark lies beneath the glossy surface. How far will some residents go to preserve their image and their secrets?? When you know, you can’t unknow.
I always have a deep suspicion of anything that seems too perfect, I want to rumple it up a bit and that sure applies to Serenity Falls, if you dare, with its appearance belying the reality. At times the plot enters the territory of the surreal, with some of the images being absolutely memorable as well as chilling. It’s very atmospheric, the author perfectly depicts the place and the vibes it exudes and at times it’s very creepy. There’s a bucket load of weird stuff that keeps happening, retaining the suspense my attention is riveted. The vibes are a great mix of Stephen King. + Stepford Wives + CJ Tudor.
The pace is not especially fast but that suits the story the author is telling but my goodness, there are some good twists, one or two are jaw droppers.
The story is told via several points of view and I have no difficulty in distinguishing each of them. I like this approach as it builds the mystique and has me asking a load of questions about the place and what it’s all about. Some aspects seem positively biblical and that all slots into place towards the end and makes me wonder……
The characters are well depicted, the standouts are obviously Dan and Sadie, the latter is fabulous. I love their relationship which is a very close one and there’s plenty of punchy, witty dialogue with some well executed dry humour.
The ending maybe comes a bit thick and fast, but it’s not out of keeping with what’s going on and it is good. The epilogue several years on is very thought-provoking on several fronts. I feel the desire to throw away an item I wear 24/7!!
Overall, in my opinion this is another winner from this very talented author who is an MUST read for me. As for the cover, that certainly captures some of the best moments from the book!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Want to Read
April 30, 2026New C.J. Tudor AND nostalgic eighties font?
Say. No. More.
😍
Say. No. More.
😍
June 22, 2026
I really wish I hadn’t picked this book up when I had so many plans because MAN, I just wanted to be reading this all the time. It took me 10 days to get through which is unheard of for me, and though I managed a good chunk of pages every night, I wish I had been able to dedicate a day or so to it fully with no distractions!!!!!
It has absolutely everything you need for a slow burn, suburban horror and I already know this will be on everyone’s October TBR this year. It’s unsettling in the best way, you immediately sense something’s not right about this town where everyone just seems a little too perfect and of course, as soon as our main characters go to see their *inherited* new home for the first time - there’s a dead body floating in the pool.
What follows next is a series of disturbing discoveries and soon that fresh start turns into a terrifying nightmare. I don’t think I’ll ever look at an ice cream van the same way again LOL. I enjoyed this book thoroughly but just feel like something was missing from the ending. It felt a little rushed compared to the pace overall but if you enjoy creeping dread and heavy, atmospheric suspense - definitely check this one out!
It has absolutely everything you need for a slow burn, suburban horror and I already know this will be on everyone’s October TBR this year. It’s unsettling in the best way, you immediately sense something’s not right about this town where everyone just seems a little too perfect and of course, as soon as our main characters go to see their *inherited* new home for the first time - there’s a dead body floating in the pool.
What follows next is a series of disturbing discoveries and soon that fresh start turns into a terrifying nightmare. I don’t think I’ll ever look at an ice cream van the same way again LOL. I enjoyed this book thoroughly but just feel like something was missing from the ending. It felt a little rushed compared to the pace overall but if you enjoy creeping dread and heavy, atmospheric suspense - definitely check this one out!
June 5, 2026
Serenity Falls is a paradise, praised for its safety and crime free status. A perfect place with everything you need, you’ll never want to leave. When Dan and his daughter Sadie move from the UK to the US it seems like a fresh start, but the dead body in their pool the day they arrive hints at dark secrets in this idyllic town. As the strange events mount up maybe Serenity Falls is not all it seems.
One of my most anticipated reads of the year and as usual CJ does not disappoint. The characters are wonderful, a mix of ordinary, quirky and creepy. The atmosphere is unsettling and weird. The dialogue is fantastic especially Dan and Sadie. The perfection feels unnerving, we know nothing is perfect and the facade here is full of flaws no matter how the residents try to ignore it.
Told from several points of view, including deceased residents, the story comes together and paints a black hearted picture of this perfect town. Encouraged to never leave the gated community, supplied with everything they could ever need, it feels claustrophobic and suffocating. It is soaked in paranoia and an underlying terror of not following the rules.
It is such a compelling read, I devoured it in an afternoon, the story unwinds and you are desperate to know what happened, what comes next, spectacular!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy, views are my own.
One of my most anticipated reads of the year and as usual CJ does not disappoint. The characters are wonderful, a mix of ordinary, quirky and creepy. The atmosphere is unsettling and weird. The dialogue is fantastic especially Dan and Sadie. The perfection feels unnerving, we know nothing is perfect and the facade here is full of flaws no matter how the residents try to ignore it.
Told from several points of view, including deceased residents, the story comes together and paints a black hearted picture of this perfect town. Encouraged to never leave the gated community, supplied with everything they could ever need, it feels claustrophobic and suffocating. It is soaked in paranoia and an underlying terror of not following the rules.
It is such a compelling read, I devoured it in an afternoon, the story unwinds and you are desperate to know what happened, what comes next, spectacular!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy, views are my own.
June 7, 2026
This is by far my favourite read from this author. What an absolute fab read this was. I was immediately hooked in and I could t put this one down. I loved every second of it. Also can we appreciate how stunning the cover is 🤩
July 18, 2026
3.5⭐️ A perfect small town in Florida welcomes Dan and Sadie from the uk after they inherited a property. Spooky events start to happen and not knowing who to trust makes things even harder. Enjoyable book which I read really quickly. Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc
June 22, 2026
3.75⭐️
First of all, I would just like to thank C.J. Tudor, Michael Joseph & Netgalley for an ARC of ‘Serenity Falls’ in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVE C.J. Tudor’s books, so as you can imagine, I was unbelievably excited to be approved for this one and started it pretty much as soon as it arrived on my kindle.
Serenity Falls definitely did not disappoint. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t my favourite of hers, I would have liked some more horror elements, but I still really enjoyed it.
The pacing was steady and the constant cliffhangers at the end of every chapter had me hooked. I loved Dan and Sadie’s relationship, and the cynical British humour they brought with them to America.
The actual town of Serenity Falls was crafted really well, in my opinion. It was a character in itself. You get a sense of the place almost immediately and I think that’s down to a mixture of brilliant description and imagery, but also the wonderful eeriness that follows you throughout every page.
I LOVED the fact that we have multiple perspectives told from *past* (cough cough) Serenity Falls residents to help build the foundation and gradually unveil the mystery. I’ve never come across anything like that in a book before, and I think it worked excellently.
This is one of those books where, despite the somewhat predictable twists and the rather unrealistic ending, it doesn’t take away from your enjoyment of the book in the slightest.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and definitely recommend! I can’t wait to see what C.J. Tudor brings us next!
First of all, I would just like to thank C.J. Tudor, Michael Joseph & Netgalley for an ARC of ‘Serenity Falls’ in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVE C.J. Tudor’s books, so as you can imagine, I was unbelievably excited to be approved for this one and started it pretty much as soon as it arrived on my kindle.
Serenity Falls definitely did not disappoint. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t my favourite of hers, I would have liked some more horror elements, but I still really enjoyed it.
The pacing was steady and the constant cliffhangers at the end of every chapter had me hooked. I loved Dan and Sadie’s relationship, and the cynical British humour they brought with them to America.
The actual town of Serenity Falls was crafted really well, in my opinion. It was a character in itself. You get a sense of the place almost immediately and I think that’s down to a mixture of brilliant description and imagery, but also the wonderful eeriness that follows you throughout every page.
I LOVED the fact that we have multiple perspectives told from *past* (cough cough) Serenity Falls residents to help build the foundation and gradually unveil the mystery. I’ve never come across anything like that in a book before, and I think it worked excellently.
This is one of those books where, despite the somewhat predictable twists and the rather unrealistic ending, it doesn’t take away from your enjoyment of the book in the slightest.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and definitely recommend! I can’t wait to see what C.J. Tudor brings us next!
June 8, 2026
‘𝙀𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙧. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠’ ☠️
Sadie and her father move to Serenity Falls after inheriting a house from her grandmother. Everything seems too good to be true; that is, until they find a dead body in their pool. The ‘perfect’ town soon turns out to be anything but..
This book really is perfect for Stephen King fans (I absolutely love that CJ had lots of nods to his books in this novel). ‘Serenity Falls’ gave me an insane combination of vibes from ‘Pleasantville’ to ‘The Stepford Wives’. Think Uncanny Valley as an entire town.
The plot definitely leaves a feeling of dread in the reader, and it’s safe to say I never want to see or hear an ice cream van ever again after reading this; it gives me the creeps just to think about it. I sometimes struggle with multi POV books, however this read so seamlessly that I didn’t find I was confused at any point.
Definitely a book to pick up if you love horrors/thrillers that leave you feeling uneasy!
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗝 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.
Sadie and her father move to Serenity Falls after inheriting a house from her grandmother. Everything seems too good to be true; that is, until they find a dead body in their pool. The ‘perfect’ town soon turns out to be anything but..
This book really is perfect for Stephen King fans (I absolutely love that CJ had lots of nods to his books in this novel). ‘Serenity Falls’ gave me an insane combination of vibes from ‘Pleasantville’ to ‘The Stepford Wives’. Think Uncanny Valley as an entire town.
The plot definitely leaves a feeling of dread in the reader, and it’s safe to say I never want to see or hear an ice cream van ever again after reading this; it gives me the creeps just to think about it. I sometimes struggle with multi POV books, however this read so seamlessly that I didn’t find I was confused at any point.
Definitely a book to pick up if you love horrors/thrillers that leave you feeling uneasy!
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗝 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.
June 29, 2026
This was my first C.J. Tudor book and omg it did not disappoint!
Serenity falls follows Dan and his daughter Sadie who have just found out after dans mother’s passing that she owned a house in serenity falls, a gated community in the US that boosts the perfect place to raise your family with no crime. The only catch Dan can’t sell without living there for 5 years it comes at a time were Dan doesn’t have any many other options and so off they go to live out the dream in America. Only just in the door and things start to take a slight disturbing turn.
I absolutely loved serenity falls it was fast paced, tense creepy at times and a wild ride in terms of not knowing what was going on. Sadie and Dan were fantastic characters that I instantly connected to and I felt like C.J Tudor really knew her characters well and fleshed them out so good I was routing for them the whole book.
I loved all the chapters from the other residents as well as it added more tension to the mix. Serena being a favourite, you’ll route for her too just as much as I did.
And then there’s serenity falls which felt like its own character along with all the residents. It just all feels slightly sinister like stepford wives meets the hush episode from buffy there’s definitely a moment in here that gave me the creeps and had me holding my breath.
If you like fast paced books with weird residents and unsettling towns with gator swamps and fairground vibes then serenity falls is definitely one to put on your radar.
Thank you so much to the publisher via netgally for a review copy.
Serenity falls follows Dan and his daughter Sadie who have just found out after dans mother’s passing that she owned a house in serenity falls, a gated community in the US that boosts the perfect place to raise your family with no crime. The only catch Dan can’t sell without living there for 5 years it comes at a time were Dan doesn’t have any many other options and so off they go to live out the dream in America. Only just in the door and things start to take a slight disturbing turn.
I absolutely loved serenity falls it was fast paced, tense creepy at times and a wild ride in terms of not knowing what was going on. Sadie and Dan were fantastic characters that I instantly connected to and I felt like C.J Tudor really knew her characters well and fleshed them out so good I was routing for them the whole book.
I loved all the chapters from the other residents as well as it added more tension to the mix. Serena being a favourite, you’ll route for her too just as much as I did.
And then there’s serenity falls which felt like its own character along with all the residents. It just all feels slightly sinister like stepford wives meets the hush episode from buffy there’s definitely a moment in here that gave me the creeps and had me holding my breath.
If you like fast paced books with weird residents and unsettling towns with gator swamps and fairground vibes then serenity falls is definitely one to put on your radar.
Thank you so much to the publisher via netgally for a review copy.
July 11, 2026
3.5 stars
This was highly entertaining and a very enjoyable read (if enjoyable is the right word). I loved our protagonists, a traumatised dad trying to do his best, and a rebellious daughter always seeking to do what’s right. The integrated chapters from previous residents at Serenity Falls was a propulsive and intriguing way of developing the story that kept me hooked. I loved slowly unravelling the mysteries, but did find that I guessed “the big twist” almost immediately. There were several other twists that made me guffaw and gasp, though. I will definitely be recommending this. As someone who doesn’t read crime, this had enough of the horror element to keep me reading, and a premise I genuinely cared about.
This was highly entertaining and a very enjoyable read (if enjoyable is the right word). I loved our protagonists, a traumatised dad trying to do his best, and a rebellious daughter always seeking to do what’s right. The integrated chapters from previous residents at Serenity Falls was a propulsive and intriguing way of developing the story that kept me hooked. I loved slowly unravelling the mysteries, but did find that I guessed “the big twist” almost immediately. There were several other twists that made me guffaw and gasp, though. I will definitely be recommending this. As someone who doesn’t read crime, this had enough of the horror element to keep me reading, and a premise I genuinely cared about.
July 18, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book in return for my honest opinion .
This book tells the story of Dan and Sadie who move from the UK to a small American town which from the outside looks perfect but all is not as it seems . This book was quite fast paced and it was easy to get into . Some of the twists were a bit predictable but it was still an enjoyable read . 3.5⭐️
This book tells the story of Dan and Sadie who move from the UK to a small American town which from the outside looks perfect but all is not as it seems . This book was quite fast paced and it was easy to get into . Some of the twists were a bit predictable but it was still an enjoyable read . 3.5⭐️
July 25, 2026
*3.5 rounded down*
I was so bloody excited when I seen j got accepted for this on netgalley as I’ve read quite of few of Tudors books and have loved them!!
Although I loved the vibes of what this book is I don’t know there could have been so much more than what it is.
I enjoyed the twists & the different POVS and thought the characters were greatly written
But for the overall story I was a little disappointed 🥲
I was so bloody excited when I seen j got accepted for this on netgalley as I’ve read quite of few of Tudors books and have loved them!!
Although I loved the vibes of what this book is I don’t know there could have been so much more than what it is.
I enjoyed the twists & the different POVS and thought the characters were greatly written
But for the overall story I was a little disappointed 🥲
July 22, 2026
Welcome to Serenity Falls - the most idyllic, and safest, town in the US - a place to grow up, grow your family and grow old together…
Welcome to Serenity Falls.
Once you’re here, you’re here to stay.
This was a highly anticipated read for me and OMG I wasn’t disappointed, it was absolutely brilliant!
I liked how this book was written, how there was always something happening but you didn’t quite know what exactly.
The sense of unease about the whole thing and the underlying character flashbacks which mean more than you realise.
I give it all the stars !!⭐️
Huge thanks to @netgalley and @michaeljbooks for the ARC.
Welcome to Serenity Falls.
Once you’re here, you’re here to stay.
This was a highly anticipated read for me and OMG I wasn’t disappointed, it was absolutely brilliant!
I liked how this book was written, how there was always something happening but you didn’t quite know what exactly.
The sense of unease about the whole thing and the underlying character flashbacks which mean more than you realise.
I give it all the stars !!⭐️
Huge thanks to @netgalley and @michaeljbooks for the ARC.
July 20, 2026
Amazing. Stayed up late just to finish it! Great concept of the plot and book too. Honestly love it 😍🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual Rating: 3.5
An idyllic town hiding a layer of rot beneath its picture perfect facade. 'Serenity Falls' is the perfect setting for an unsettling horror narrative that is likely to leave you craving more. Filled with mysterious disappearances, gruesome accidents and some rather bizarre features it's a memorable tale that is all too easy to lose yourself within.
Straight away I can say that the setting of 'Serenity Falls' is both a highlight for me personally and a likely point of interest for many other readers too. It's a rather elite feeling gated community where the appearance of perfection is everything (they even have people who go around making sure that vacant properties are maintained, including giving them the appearance of life by drawing curtains and illuminating lights at intervals). It's selective about who it lets in but surprisingly tricky to get out of too, giving off the first glimmer of unease. It has some bizarre quirks but perhaps that's to be expected when the town was founded by the owner of a major theme park franchise. But dig a little bit deeper and the cracks start to show.
I don't want to go into details of just what lurks beneath the surface of 'Serenity Falls' as uncovering the truth is part of the fun of the novel. When you start discovering some of the gruesome freak accidents within the town and realise just how many people seem to have left without warning you get a real sense of darkness beneath the veneer of perfection. It's a cloying contrast that makes 'Serenity Falls' feels somewhat like a mash up of 'Stepford Wives', 'Desperate Housewives' and 'It'; the last of which is especially fitting as Stephen King is referenced on a couple of occasions.
The narrative style used in 'Serenity Falls' is also one that I really enjoyed. The bulk of the story flits between the perspectives of two new arrivals in town; Sadie and her father, a generational mix that helps you uncover the oddness of the setting in a more rounded way. What I especially loved in terms of narration were the additional perspectives that were dotted throughout, those of people who had fallen victim to whatever lurks beneath the town's rosy veneer. They added to the suspense and unease of everything and definitely helped keep me turning pages to discover just how everything would come together.
For the bulk of the novel I was leaning towards the same kind of rating that I've gone for here, but rounded upwards rather than down. There were a couple of times when sections of speech made me stumble somewhat but other than that it was a rather compelling read on the whole. Yet for me personally the ending felt rather rushed and I came away from 'Serenity Falls' wanting a little bit more clarity. Everything felt very hastily drawn to a close and I'm left with more questions than I'd have anticipated. If you're a fan of thrillers the drama at the end may well hit in a more satisfying manner though. And I did appreciate one element of uncertainty that the reader was left with. I just wish more explanation had been given to various things like the hazmat suits.
Ultimately I recommend giving 'Serenity Falls' a try if you're intrigued by the premise as it's a compelling read that's easy to get pulled into. When it comes to small town horror settings this one is superb with the kind of setting that is all too easy to want more of. For me personally the ending felt rushed but I found the unravelling of the town's secrets fascinating enough not to be too disheartened by this fact, plus it's the kind of ending that I can see working better for thriller fans. I'd definitely be curious to try more by the author as their ideas are chilling to say the least.
An idyllic town hiding a layer of rot beneath its picture perfect facade. 'Serenity Falls' is the perfect setting for an unsettling horror narrative that is likely to leave you craving more. Filled with mysterious disappearances, gruesome accidents and some rather bizarre features it's a memorable tale that is all too easy to lose yourself within.
Straight away I can say that the setting of 'Serenity Falls' is both a highlight for me personally and a likely point of interest for many other readers too. It's a rather elite feeling gated community where the appearance of perfection is everything (they even have people who go around making sure that vacant properties are maintained, including giving them the appearance of life by drawing curtains and illuminating lights at intervals). It's selective about who it lets in but surprisingly tricky to get out of too, giving off the first glimmer of unease. It has some bizarre quirks but perhaps that's to be expected when the town was founded by the owner of a major theme park franchise. But dig a little bit deeper and the cracks start to show.
I don't want to go into details of just what lurks beneath the surface of 'Serenity Falls' as uncovering the truth is part of the fun of the novel. When you start discovering some of the gruesome freak accidents within the town and realise just how many people seem to have left without warning you get a real sense of darkness beneath the veneer of perfection. It's a cloying contrast that makes 'Serenity Falls' feels somewhat like a mash up of 'Stepford Wives', 'Desperate Housewives' and 'It'; the last of which is especially fitting as Stephen King is referenced on a couple of occasions.
The narrative style used in 'Serenity Falls' is also one that I really enjoyed. The bulk of the story flits between the perspectives of two new arrivals in town; Sadie and her father, a generational mix that helps you uncover the oddness of the setting in a more rounded way. What I especially loved in terms of narration were the additional perspectives that were dotted throughout, those of people who had fallen victim to whatever lurks beneath the town's rosy veneer. They added to the suspense and unease of everything and definitely helped keep me turning pages to discover just how everything would come together.
For the bulk of the novel I was leaning towards the same kind of rating that I've gone for here, but rounded upwards rather than down. There were a couple of times when sections of speech made me stumble somewhat but other than that it was a rather compelling read on the whole. Yet for me personally the ending felt rather rushed and I came away from 'Serenity Falls' wanting a little bit more clarity. Everything felt very hastily drawn to a close and I'm left with more questions than I'd have anticipated. If you're a fan of thrillers the drama at the end may well hit in a more satisfying manner though. And I did appreciate one element of uncertainty that the reader was left with. I just wish more explanation had been given to various things like the hazmat suits.
Ultimately I recommend giving 'Serenity Falls' a try if you're intrigued by the premise as it's a compelling read that's easy to get pulled into. When it comes to small town horror settings this one is superb with the kind of setting that is all too easy to want more of. For me personally the ending felt rushed but I found the unravelling of the town's secrets fascinating enough not to be too disheartened by this fact, plus it's the kind of ending that I can see working better for thriller fans. I'd definitely be curious to try more by the author as their ideas are chilling to say the least.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I am not a horror person. I don't like scary films or books. But for some reason, I can always read a CJ Tudor book. She's got the right level of scary but with deeply explored characters and an exciting story.
This one starts a little simpler, a little quieter. Which sounds odd when it essentially starts with a dead body (no spoilers - it's in the synopsis) but in relation to some of her other books, a dead body in the pool is the least of your problems.
I need to know how her brain works. I mean, I can come up with story ideas, in fact I've got so many I don't know where to start. But her stories are so wonderfully weird and chaotic and scary and addictive and memorable. I've never forgotten a Tudor book I've read - which is saying something as my memory is shocking.
It has this creepy, everything's a bit too perfect, too shiny, too good to be true kind of vibe. Like The American Dream kind of thing. It just feels a bit too slimy.
It's a slower paced book which you don't normally get in thrillers, normally they're really fast paced, and I actually think it works in this case because it adds to that creepy eerie sense that the story needs.
There are quite a lot of characters with a main cast of about half a dozen and several POVs. This had the potential to be confusing and I admit, as someone who is terrible with names, it did take me a wee while to get on top of them. But all the characters were great. Not in character as such, some of them were definitely villains, but in terms of writing style and depth I think they're great and so endearing.
It flits from POV to POV and it didn't always specify whose POV it was, but the voices are so distinct that I almost immediately knew who we were with. It's like we had this main story, and then about three or four other stories, and they all worked so well together.
There's so much going on in this book - characters, history, backstories, subplots - but they're all so masterfully woven together and I had no idea where it was going. She's such an intelligent storyteller.
I've always found ice cream vans a bit creepy and I've always said there's nothing creepier than an ice cream van playing music in the middle of the night, and whilst I won't spoil it here, my concerns were founded.
I read it at the height of the July heatwave but I think this will be a fantastic autumnal read, perfect for that October, spooky, Halloweeny atmosphere.
It was a little long for my taste but that's not a negative on the book itself, just my personal preference, but there isn't a wasted moment, everything has its place. I thought it would take me quite a while to read due to the page length but I finished it in less than a day because every time I put it down to do something else, I would be back to it almost immediately, wanting to know what happened next.
Normally with thrillers and (the very few) horror books I read, I normally have an idea of where it's going. I mean, I almost never get it right, but I have my suspicions. But I had absolutely zero idea with this, it's so cleverly written.
Is it my favourite of her books? No. That honour still lies with The Gathering, but this is close, it's still a five star, accomplished piece of writing and I don't think the comparisons to Stephen King are exaggerated.
I am not a horror person. I don't like scary films or books. But for some reason, I can always read a CJ Tudor book. She's got the right level of scary but with deeply explored characters and an exciting story.
This one starts a little simpler, a little quieter. Which sounds odd when it essentially starts with a dead body (no spoilers - it's in the synopsis) but in relation to some of her other books, a dead body in the pool is the least of your problems.
I need to know how her brain works. I mean, I can come up with story ideas, in fact I've got so many I don't know where to start. But her stories are so wonderfully weird and chaotic and scary and addictive and memorable. I've never forgotten a Tudor book I've read - which is saying something as my memory is shocking.
It has this creepy, everything's a bit too perfect, too shiny, too good to be true kind of vibe. Like The American Dream kind of thing. It just feels a bit too slimy.
It's a slower paced book which you don't normally get in thrillers, normally they're really fast paced, and I actually think it works in this case because it adds to that creepy eerie sense that the story needs.
There are quite a lot of characters with a main cast of about half a dozen and several POVs. This had the potential to be confusing and I admit, as someone who is terrible with names, it did take me a wee while to get on top of them. But all the characters were great. Not in character as such, some of them were definitely villains, but in terms of writing style and depth I think they're great and so endearing.
It flits from POV to POV and it didn't always specify whose POV it was, but the voices are so distinct that I almost immediately knew who we were with. It's like we had this main story, and then about three or four other stories, and they all worked so well together.
There's so much going on in this book - characters, history, backstories, subplots - but they're all so masterfully woven together and I had no idea where it was going. She's such an intelligent storyteller.
I've always found ice cream vans a bit creepy and I've always said there's nothing creepier than an ice cream van playing music in the middle of the night, and whilst I won't spoil it here, my concerns were founded.
I read it at the height of the July heatwave but I think this will be a fantastic autumnal read, perfect for that October, spooky, Halloweeny atmosphere.
It was a little long for my taste but that's not a negative on the book itself, just my personal preference, but there isn't a wasted moment, everything has its place. I thought it would take me quite a while to read due to the page length but I finished it in less than a day because every time I put it down to do something else, I would be back to it almost immediately, wanting to know what happened next.
Normally with thrillers and (the very few) horror books I read, I normally have an idea of where it's going. I mean, I almost never get it right, but I have my suspicions. But I had absolutely zero idea with this, it's so cleverly written.
Is it my favourite of her books? No. That honour still lies with The Gathering, but this is close, it's still a five star, accomplished piece of writing and I don't think the comparisons to Stephen King are exaggerated.
July 12, 2026
Serenity Falls, is the latest novel by C.J. Tudor. A slow-burn psychological thriller that takes a sledgehammer to the myth of suburban paradise. A dream town where everything appears perfect and the streets are entirely crime-free, and the secrets are buried alive.
Dan and his teenage daughter, Sadie, are eager to move as far away as possible from their troubled past in the UK. Serenity Falls in the United States appears to be the perfect answer. Promising non-existent crime rates and a blissful environment where families can grow old together, it seems like the ultimate sanctuary. But the American Dream quickly morphs into a lucid nightmare. Their pristine new beginning is instantly shattered when Dan and Sadie discover a bloated, dead body floating in their own backyard swimming pool. The corpse in the pool is merely the opening act. As Dan and Sadie attempt to process the horror, they realise that Serenity Falls is operating under a bizarre, deeply Orwellian set of rules. Tudor masterfully layers the town with a series of skin-crawling anomalies: There are areas of perfectly preserved, abandoned houses where entire families have seemingly packed up and vanished into thin air overnight. A frantic, ghostly woman stalking the streets to plaster “missing” posters for a local child who allegedly drowned twenty-five years ago. A deeply eerie ice cream van that slow-cruises through the suburban neighbourhoods late at night, not to sell sweets, but to sinisterly monitor the houses and ensure all residents are sound asleep.
The community is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Serenity Falls but an ancient, toxic truth begins to stir beneath the town’s blissful façade. The celebratory atmosphere only heightens the paranoia. Dan is forced to confront the reality that this town wasn’t a random choice, it is a trap founded on historical rot, and the community’s elite are entirely willing to commit fresh atrocities to preserve their clean record.
This is an atmospheric charged novel full of suspense. The extremes of a family-friendly, crime free world with a chilling, midnight surveillance creates an eerie setting.
As the countdown to the town’s anniversary celebrations ticks away, the tension escalates from a traditional cozy mystery into a high-octane survival horror. “Serenity Falls promised Dan and Sadie a place where crime didn’t exist, but nobody warned them that murder is a well kept secret. I have had mixed views of CJ Tudors previous novels, I loved ‘The Chalk Man’ and ‘The Burning Girls’ while other books left me less satisfied. In my opinion Serenity Falls is back up there with CJ Tudors best novels and possibly the best to date.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Dan and his teenage daughter, Sadie, are eager to move as far away as possible from their troubled past in the UK. Serenity Falls in the United States appears to be the perfect answer. Promising non-existent crime rates and a blissful environment where families can grow old together, it seems like the ultimate sanctuary. But the American Dream quickly morphs into a lucid nightmare. Their pristine new beginning is instantly shattered when Dan and Sadie discover a bloated, dead body floating in their own backyard swimming pool. The corpse in the pool is merely the opening act. As Dan and Sadie attempt to process the horror, they realise that Serenity Falls is operating under a bizarre, deeply Orwellian set of rules. Tudor masterfully layers the town with a series of skin-crawling anomalies: There are areas of perfectly preserved, abandoned houses where entire families have seemingly packed up and vanished into thin air overnight. A frantic, ghostly woman stalking the streets to plaster “missing” posters for a local child who allegedly drowned twenty-five years ago. A deeply eerie ice cream van that slow-cruises through the suburban neighbourhoods late at night, not to sell sweets, but to sinisterly monitor the houses and ensure all residents are sound asleep.
The community is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Serenity Falls but an ancient, toxic truth begins to stir beneath the town’s blissful façade. The celebratory atmosphere only heightens the paranoia. Dan is forced to confront the reality that this town wasn’t a random choice, it is a trap founded on historical rot, and the community’s elite are entirely willing to commit fresh atrocities to preserve their clean record.
This is an atmospheric charged novel full of suspense. The extremes of a family-friendly, crime free world with a chilling, midnight surveillance creates an eerie setting.
As the countdown to the town’s anniversary celebrations ticks away, the tension escalates from a traditional cozy mystery into a high-octane survival horror. “Serenity Falls promised Dan and Sadie a place where crime didn’t exist, but nobody warned them that murder is a well kept secret. I have had mixed views of CJ Tudors previous novels, I loved ‘The Chalk Man’ and ‘The Burning Girls’ while other books left me less satisfied. In my opinion Serenity Falls is back up there with CJ Tudors best novels and possibly the best to date.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars.
Dan and Sadie, a genuinely endearing father-daughter duo, upend their lives in the UK, for an inherited slice of the American Dream within the prosperous gated community of Serenity Falls. But the manufactured postcard-perfect town is quick to let its meticulously curated set dressing slip, revealing an eerie hollowness within, and the sinister lengths taken to preserve its idyllic facade. Everyone knows ‘nothing bad happens in Serenity; not by accident’ anyways.
Serenity Falls follows a multi-pov narrative, altering between present day town newbies, Sadie and Dan, and several other perspectives from the past; with Serena being most prominent. It’s well structured. The mystery is a tangled and knotted ball of yarn, slowly unravelling through revelations in both past and present. Its twisty and twisted, keeping you on your toes, and I was definitely engaged and invested.
The main characters felt authentic and genuine against the backdrop of Serenity and its unsettlingly artificial and performative perfection. Dan and Sadie’s dynamic is especially wholesome; the portrayal of warmth and affection between them felt effortless. I also really enjoyed Serena and Ellen’s perspective (who is heinously petty and I kinda love it!); each pov had their own distinct voice and personality, but it still felt easy to transition and settle into.
For me, I think the ending felt rushed and inconsistent with the steady pace in which the narrative had been unfolding. There were moments that were suitably tense to match this escalating and abrupt change of pace, but I also felt like a lot of loose ends were unexplored in the mad rush to reach the conclusion. As someone who was invested in Serena’s story, I was also left particularly confused and needed more understanding of a particular side characters motivations; who’s actions felt contradictory. It didn’t quite make sense, and I had many questions of: but why? And how? Unfortunately, this is never explained; which is likely intentional but didn’t quite work for me. However, the main storyline is resolved –albeit with some lingering questions, and there is an interesting final revelation that widens the scope.
Overall, this was an intriguing read, and the mystery was quite the page turner. I felt like something about this novel would work so well on screen with its well-timed reveals and interesting fictional setting. This was definitely an enjoyable read, despite my criticism of how some of the storylines ended.
Thanks Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the eARC. What a twisty read!
Dan and Sadie, a genuinely endearing father-daughter duo, upend their lives in the UK, for an inherited slice of the American Dream within the prosperous gated community of Serenity Falls. But the manufactured postcard-perfect town is quick to let its meticulously curated set dressing slip, revealing an eerie hollowness within, and the sinister lengths taken to preserve its idyllic facade. Everyone knows ‘nothing bad happens in Serenity; not by accident’ anyways.
Serenity Falls follows a multi-pov narrative, altering between present day town newbies, Sadie and Dan, and several other perspectives from the past; with Serena being most prominent. It’s well structured. The mystery is a tangled and knotted ball of yarn, slowly unravelling through revelations in both past and present. Its twisty and twisted, keeping you on your toes, and I was definitely engaged and invested.
The main characters felt authentic and genuine against the backdrop of Serenity and its unsettlingly artificial and performative perfection. Dan and Sadie’s dynamic is especially wholesome; the portrayal of warmth and affection between them felt effortless. I also really enjoyed Serena and Ellen’s perspective (who is heinously petty and I kinda love it!); each pov had their own distinct voice and personality, but it still felt easy to transition and settle into.
For me, I think the ending felt rushed and inconsistent with the steady pace in which the narrative had been unfolding. There were moments that were suitably tense to match this escalating and abrupt change of pace, but I also felt like a lot of loose ends were unexplored in the mad rush to reach the conclusion. As someone who was invested in Serena’s story, I was also left particularly confused and needed more understanding of a particular side characters motivations; who’s actions felt contradictory. It didn’t quite make sense, and I had many questions of: but why? And how? Unfortunately, this is never explained; which is likely intentional but didn’t quite work for me. However, the main storyline is resolved –albeit with some lingering questions, and there is an interesting final revelation that widens the scope.
Overall, this was an intriguing read, and the mystery was quite the page turner. I felt like something about this novel would work so well on screen with its well-timed reveals and interesting fictional setting. This was definitely an enjoyable read, despite my criticism of how some of the storylines ended.
Thanks Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the eARC. What a twisty read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 2.80
Tudor really missed the mark for me this time around.
Serenity Falls is a small town in America where everything is perfect. Until it isn't.
Dan and Sadie were decent main characters. I loved the British feel to them as it felt authentic enough, I don't get too much of that it media these days. The plot was very slow paced overall, which considering I started reading this at the end of May, was something I really struggled with. I can make it through a 32o page book in 3 hours so this was quite possibly the biggest slog of the year so far and it genuinely almost pushed me into a reading slump and not in a good way.
It was okay, but the fact that the plot only kicked in around the 72% mark was truly atrocious. I might be being a little dramatic about that. Yes, things did happen. But you have a murder/body found in the first five minutes as it were, so tell me why I felt like the plot didn't get its kick up the ass until that 70% area.
I also find it a little bit frustrating that there were loose ends that didn't get tied up at the end, I mean the plot was interesting enough, but it's really irritating as a reader to have things hinted at when I've read your entire book, unless you're plotting a sequel, I expect you to share you secrets with me in a forthcoming fashion or give me that end-sentence-mouth-hanging-open plot twist. The only reason I stuck around in the first place was because it took so long to get to into the actual plot and I'd already given too much time to it. I think if it had kicked in the plot kicked in about the 40% mark like most thrillers, then I probably would have DNF'd, which is a shame because I really like CJ Tudor's books and I has high hopes/expectations for this one.
It really was a great idea, but just felt lacking compared to her other work. The characters were all good and I was happy to journey alongside them, but in the end, Dan and Sadie just felt like consequence instead of main characters, which I found such a shame.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the arc - I really did appreciate the opportunity to read this ahead of time, I just wish I'd loved it as much as I thought I was going to.
Tudor really missed the mark for me this time around.
Serenity Falls is a small town in America where everything is perfect. Until it isn't.
Dan and Sadie were decent main characters. I loved the British feel to them as it felt authentic enough, I don't get too much of that it media these days. The plot was very slow paced overall, which considering I started reading this at the end of May, was something I really struggled with. I can make it through a 32o page book in 3 hours so this was quite possibly the biggest slog of the year so far and it genuinely almost pushed me into a reading slump and not in a good way.
It was okay, but the fact that the plot only kicked in around the 72% mark was truly atrocious. I might be being a little dramatic about that. Yes, things did happen. But you have a murder/body found in the first five minutes as it were, so tell me why I felt like the plot didn't get its kick up the ass until that 70% area.
I also find it a little bit frustrating that there were loose ends that didn't get tied up at the end, I mean the plot was interesting enough, but it's really irritating as a reader to have things hinted at when I've read your entire book, unless you're plotting a sequel, I expect you to share you secrets with me in a forthcoming fashion or give me that end-sentence-mouth-hanging-open plot twist. The only reason I stuck around in the first place was because it took so long to get to into the actual plot and I'd already given too much time to it. I think if it had kicked in the plot kicked in about the 40% mark like most thrillers, then I probably would have DNF'd, which is a shame because I really like CJ Tudor's books and I has high hopes/expectations for this one.
It really was a great idea, but just felt lacking compared to her other work. The characters were all good and I was happy to journey alongside them, but in the end, Dan and Sadie just felt like consequence instead of main characters, which I found such a shame.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the arc - I really did appreciate the opportunity to read this ahead of time, I just wish I'd loved it as much as I thought I was going to.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
C.J Tudor delivers another atmospheric winner with Serenity Falls, a book that leans heavily into her signature strengths: breakneck speed, razor-sharp dialogue, and a lingering sense of dread that creeps into your bones.
Right from the opening pages, this story had me hooked. Tudor doesn’t waste time on dropping you right into the mystery. When, out of the blue, Dan Barker’s mother leaves him a house in the Floridian town of Serenity Falls, Dan has no reason to stay in the UK and quickly packs up for a new life in the States with his daughter, Sadie.
What follows is a gripping, ghostly thriller than keeps you turning pages. The pacing is relentlessly fast, structured around lean chapters and constant narrative twists that make it nearly impossible to find a natural stopping point.
The exceptional character interactions keep the plot grounded. The dialogue is incredibly punchy – filled with cynical wit, realistic tension, and sharp-tongued banter that brings the characters to life instantly. Tudor knows how to make her characters sound like real-life people dealing with extraordinary stress, using deep impactful exchanges rather than long monologues.
The deliciously creepy undertone that permeates every single scene is what makes this book so gripping. Even during the quieter moments, there is an unsettling, claustrophobic vibe that builds in the background. The flashbacks to the original residents of the town adds another creepy layer into the book.
The only reason it misses out of a full five stars is that the landing feels a bit rushed. A few of the final twists fly by so quickly that they don’t quite have the same impact as some of the earlier ones. It was also very easy to guess the big reveal – I had this spot on about half way into the book. It was still a thrill to have this confirmed though.
Overall, Serenity Falls, is an absolute blast. It’s a slick, spooky, and intensely readable thriller that proves Tudor remains a master of the modern eerie thriller.
If you are looking for a “just one more chapter” kind of read, this is absolutely it.
C.J Tudor delivers another atmospheric winner with Serenity Falls, a book that leans heavily into her signature strengths: breakneck speed, razor-sharp dialogue, and a lingering sense of dread that creeps into your bones.
Right from the opening pages, this story had me hooked. Tudor doesn’t waste time on dropping you right into the mystery. When, out of the blue, Dan Barker’s mother leaves him a house in the Floridian town of Serenity Falls, Dan has no reason to stay in the UK and quickly packs up for a new life in the States with his daughter, Sadie.
What follows is a gripping, ghostly thriller than keeps you turning pages. The pacing is relentlessly fast, structured around lean chapters and constant narrative twists that make it nearly impossible to find a natural stopping point.
The exceptional character interactions keep the plot grounded. The dialogue is incredibly punchy – filled with cynical wit, realistic tension, and sharp-tongued banter that brings the characters to life instantly. Tudor knows how to make her characters sound like real-life people dealing with extraordinary stress, using deep impactful exchanges rather than long monologues.
The deliciously creepy undertone that permeates every single scene is what makes this book so gripping. Even during the quieter moments, there is an unsettling, claustrophobic vibe that builds in the background. The flashbacks to the original residents of the town adds another creepy layer into the book.
The only reason it misses out of a full five stars is that the landing feels a bit rushed. A few of the final twists fly by so quickly that they don’t quite have the same impact as some of the earlier ones. It was also very easy to guess the big reveal – I had this spot on about half way into the book. It was still a thrill to have this confirmed though.
Overall, Serenity Falls, is an absolute blast. It’s a slick, spooky, and intensely readable thriller that proves Tudor remains a master of the modern eerie thriller.
If you are looking for a “just one more chapter” kind of read, this is absolutely it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5
Upon the death of his mother, Dan discovers he's inherited a glamorous house in the picturesque town of Serenity Falls.
There is a catch, of course.
A quick sale is quite impossible when it turns out both he and his daughter, Sadie must inhabit the property for at least five years before it's eligible for the market.
His life in turmoil, and with a job offer on the table as well as the visa arrangements already seen to, it seems like an easy choice to move to the States despite Sadie's reluctance to do so.
Their idyllic life in their perfect new town is immediately thrown into turmoil when a dead body is discovered in their pool in an apparent accident – and nothing bad ever happens in Serenity Falls...not by accident at any rate.
I rather enjoyed this one. Tudor got off to a fantastic start from the first page and as soon as the Stepford-esque, Serenity Falls made its grand debut, the story hit maximum speed. The mood was eerie, the paranoia continued to build with each turn of the page, the sense of claustrophobia juxtaposed perfectly against the picture perfect town of Serenity Falls.
Told from several points of view, from our main characters to deceased citizens of the town, the stories, while seemingly unconnected at first, formed a deeply compelling tapestry of unfortunate events buried deep in the rotten black heart of Serenity.
I also found the supporting characters to be utterly fascinating and distinct. Oddly enough, Dan was relatable in some respects, yet when it came to some of his choices and actions, he left me wanting to reach into the pages and smack him across the head.
Overall, while I'm still contemplating whether the ending worked for me, I think fans of Tudor will be pleased with this one.
With thanks to Penguin Random House for the ARC.
Upon the death of his mother, Dan discovers he's inherited a glamorous house in the picturesque town of Serenity Falls.
There is a catch, of course.
A quick sale is quite impossible when it turns out both he and his daughter, Sadie must inhabit the property for at least five years before it's eligible for the market.
His life in turmoil, and with a job offer on the table as well as the visa arrangements already seen to, it seems like an easy choice to move to the States despite Sadie's reluctance to do so.
Their idyllic life in their perfect new town is immediately thrown into turmoil when a dead body is discovered in their pool in an apparent accident – and nothing bad ever happens in Serenity Falls...not by accident at any rate.
I rather enjoyed this one. Tudor got off to a fantastic start from the first page and as soon as the Stepford-esque, Serenity Falls made its grand debut, the story hit maximum speed. The mood was eerie, the paranoia continued to build with each turn of the page, the sense of claustrophobia juxtaposed perfectly against the picture perfect town of Serenity Falls.
Told from several points of view, from our main characters to deceased citizens of the town, the stories, while seemingly unconnected at first, formed a deeply compelling tapestry of unfortunate events buried deep in the rotten black heart of Serenity.
I also found the supporting characters to be utterly fascinating and distinct. Oddly enough, Dan was relatable in some respects, yet when it came to some of his choices and actions, he left me wanting to reach into the pages and smack him across the head.
Overall, while I'm still contemplating whether the ending worked for me, I think fans of Tudor will be pleased with this one.
With thanks to Penguin Random House for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Nothing bad ever happens in Serenity Falls.” Or so it seems…
When Dan’s mother dies and mysteriously leaves him a house in Florida he has no option but to pack up his fractured life in Manchester and move to Serenity Falls with his teenage daughter, Sadie. Dan’s struggling to cope in the UK after being suspended from his teaching job, so it should have been a no-brainer to have the chance to start again with no worries in a new country; the only catch is a clause in Dan’s mother’s will that states they have to commit to staying in the new house and living in Florida for 5 years before they are allowed to sell up.
However, practically from the moment they arrive in the too-good-to-be-true little town, Dan and Sadie both have serious misgivings. Why have there been no murders in Serenity Falls in the 50 years since it was founded but there have been numerous ‘freak accidents’? Why are there so many ‘ghost houses’ standing empty after their occupants have suddenly departed? Who is controlling the population of Serenity Falls and for what purpose? Who can Dan and Sadie really trust and will finally discovering the truth about the town put them into greater danger than sitting it out and living a lie? And, most of all, how did Dan’s very ordinary Mum manage to get the million dollar luxury house in the first place, and why had she never told him about it?
Serenity Falls is the another massive tour-de-force page turner from C.J. Tudor. Always readable, always enjoyable. Dan and Sadie are a fabulous wise-cracking father and daughter team, who the reader really cares about and the town people are an intriguing mixture of sinister or vulnerable souls, all of whom know more dark secrets than is good for them. It’s just a perfect read. .
Many thanks to everyone concerned for allowing me to read and review this fabulous novel.
When Dan’s mother dies and mysteriously leaves him a house in Florida he has no option but to pack up his fractured life in Manchester and move to Serenity Falls with his teenage daughter, Sadie. Dan’s struggling to cope in the UK after being suspended from his teaching job, so it should have been a no-brainer to have the chance to start again with no worries in a new country; the only catch is a clause in Dan’s mother’s will that states they have to commit to staying in the new house and living in Florida for 5 years before they are allowed to sell up.
However, practically from the moment they arrive in the too-good-to-be-true little town, Dan and Sadie both have serious misgivings. Why have there been no murders in Serenity Falls in the 50 years since it was founded but there have been numerous ‘freak accidents’? Why are there so many ‘ghost houses’ standing empty after their occupants have suddenly departed? Who is controlling the population of Serenity Falls and for what purpose? Who can Dan and Sadie really trust and will finally discovering the truth about the town put them into greater danger than sitting it out and living a lie? And, most of all, how did Dan’s very ordinary Mum manage to get the million dollar luxury house in the first place, and why had she never told him about it?
Serenity Falls is the another massive tour-de-force page turner from C.J. Tudor. Always readable, always enjoyable. Dan and Sadie are a fabulous wise-cracking father and daughter team, who the reader really cares about and the town people are an intriguing mixture of sinister or vulnerable souls, all of whom know more dark secrets than is good for them. It’s just a perfect read. .
Many thanks to everyone concerned for allowing me to read and review this fabulous novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Serenity Falls....Once you're here, you're here to stay...
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, the publisher and everyone else involved, who allowed me the pleasure of an ARC of this book to review.
Well what a ride this was! I loved it.
In this story we meet a father and daughter who have been left a house in his mother's will. A house no one knew anything about, in a town thats "perfect"
The town is owned by a mega corporation that also have a theme park (clearly a nod to a real life mega corp that have their own theme parks, animated characters and are part of movie history 😉)
Pretty much as soon as they arrive strange things start happening...missing posters for long dead children, creepy old ladies, dead people in pools, police that just seem suss. The town just feels wrong.
For me, this story was very reminiscent of the Wayward Pines Trilogy by Blake Crouch, which i loved. The town had a very similar feel and gave me the same creepy vibes which was great.
The story flows really well and I just wanted to carry on reading to find out what was going on. I liked the characters with a nice mix of eccentricity in there to fit with the feel of the town. The book was easy to read and the story easy to follow.
However, I gave this book 4 stars because personally I was slightly disappointed in the ending. Thats not to say its not good because I enjoyed the book as a whole, but for me I was expecting more from the ending.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the authors previous books and enjoyed them and also to anyone who likes a small town creepy mystery thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, the publisher and everyone else involved, who allowed me the pleasure of an ARC of this book to review.
Well what a ride this was! I loved it.
In this story we meet a father and daughter who have been left a house in his mother's will. A house no one knew anything about, in a town thats "perfect"
The town is owned by a mega corporation that also have a theme park (clearly a nod to a real life mega corp that have their own theme parks, animated characters and are part of movie history 😉)
Pretty much as soon as they arrive strange things start happening...missing posters for long dead children, creepy old ladies, dead people in pools, police that just seem suss. The town just feels wrong.
For me, this story was very reminiscent of the Wayward Pines Trilogy by Blake Crouch, which i loved. The town had a very similar feel and gave me the same creepy vibes which was great.
The story flows really well and I just wanted to carry on reading to find out what was going on. I liked the characters with a nice mix of eccentricity in there to fit with the feel of the town. The book was easy to read and the story easy to follow.
However, I gave this book 4 stars because personally I was slightly disappointed in the ending. Thats not to say its not good because I enjoyed the book as a whole, but for me I was expecting more from the ending.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the authors previous books and enjoyed them and also to anyone who likes a small town creepy mystery thriller.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for providing me with the ARC.
Pub Date 10 Sep 2026
Serenity falls is the second book I’ve read from this author. I quite liked The other people and was on board to read another mystery thriller. But unfortunately everything in here felt half-cooked and flat. The story itself is basic, so I expected some good twists and quirky characters. Everything that I suspected was very obvious from the beginning and the events didn’t surprise me one bit. Although being predictable, this book is actually very readable, with short chapters and cliff hangers.
I am not exactly disappointed, because my reading experience was good, but now as I’m writing this review, I see a lot of negatives and missed opportunities. Like the high tech sci-fi element that absolutely went nowhere, the unfinished character of Sadie’s mom, the religious aspects that added sinister vibes, but were underutilized. I also found the first person narrative awkward, because we get pov’s from dead people, talking to us like we’re in an interrogation room. There are good thigs in here, don’t get me wrong, that’s why I would give it a 3 stars – like the sweet father/daughter relationship, the bit of humor at the end. The setting was pretty good, it just was a bit off putting, because it takes place in the USA, but the language is mostly British. Overall, a basic mystery thriller that I would recommend for people who already know the author or need a popcorn read.
Pub Date 10 Sep 2026
Serenity falls is the second book I’ve read from this author. I quite liked The other people and was on board to read another mystery thriller. But unfortunately everything in here felt half-cooked and flat. The story itself is basic, so I expected some good twists and quirky characters. Everything that I suspected was very obvious from the beginning and the events didn’t surprise me one bit. Although being predictable, this book is actually very readable, with short chapters and cliff hangers.
I am not exactly disappointed, because my reading experience was good, but now as I’m writing this review, I see a lot of negatives and missed opportunities. Like the high tech sci-fi element that absolutely went nowhere, the unfinished character of Sadie’s mom, the religious aspects that added sinister vibes, but were underutilized. I also found the first person narrative awkward, because we get pov’s from dead people, talking to us like we’re in an interrogation room. There are good thigs in here, don’t get me wrong, that’s why I would give it a 3 stars – like the sweet father/daughter relationship, the bit of humor at the end. The setting was pretty good, it just was a bit off putting, because it takes place in the USA, but the language is mostly British. Overall, a basic mystery thriller that I would recommend for people who already know the author or need a popcorn read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dan Barker and his teenage daughter, Sadie, are desperate for a fresh start after a difficult time in the UK. When Dan unexpectedly inherits a beautiful house in the seemingly perfect American town of Serenity Falls, it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. But their dream quickly turns into a nightmare when they discover a dead body floating in their new swimming pool. As they settle into the town, they uncover increasingly unsettling mysteries: abandoned homes, strange disappearances, eerie nighttime activity, and residents who seem determined to keep long-buried secrets hidden. As Serenity Falls prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Dan and Sadie begin to realise that the town's picture-perfect image masks something far darker - and that leaving may not be as easy as arriving.
This was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last. What starts as a fresh-start story quickly unravels into a creepy, unsettling mystery packed with twists, secrets, and an ever-growing sense that something is very wrong beneath the surface of this perfect town – where nothing bad ever happens!
I loved the eerie atmosphere throughout the book. Tudor does an excellent job of building tension, making you question every character and keeping you guessing until the end. There were also some pretty surreal and creepy moments at times, which gave me Twin Peaks/Desperate Housewives vibes – a goose or two may be bumped next time I hear an ice-cream van! IYKYK. The blend of psychological suspense, small-town horror, and supernatural mystery worked brilliantly, and the pacing was even; not too fast, not too slow but it worked well and had me hooked from the beginning.
The characters felt believable, and I was completely invested in discovering what was really happening in Serenity Falls. If you enjoy dark mysteries with a sinister edge and a story that keeps you hooked from beginning to end, you’ll love this one. Now I need to go and read everything else this author has written!
PS – can we also all take a moment to celebrate the cover of this book. Absolutely love it and it was one of the reasons it drew my attention! Bravo!
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. Serenity Falls publishes on 10th September.
This was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last. What starts as a fresh-start story quickly unravels into a creepy, unsettling mystery packed with twists, secrets, and an ever-growing sense that something is very wrong beneath the surface of this perfect town – where nothing bad ever happens!
I loved the eerie atmosphere throughout the book. Tudor does an excellent job of building tension, making you question every character and keeping you guessing until the end. There were also some pretty surreal and creepy moments at times, which gave me Twin Peaks/Desperate Housewives vibes – a goose or two may be bumped next time I hear an ice-cream van! IYKYK. The blend of psychological suspense, small-town horror, and supernatural mystery worked brilliantly, and the pacing was even; not too fast, not too slow but it worked well and had me hooked from the beginning.
The characters felt believable, and I was completely invested in discovering what was really happening in Serenity Falls. If you enjoy dark mysteries with a sinister edge and a story that keeps you hooked from beginning to end, you’ll love this one. Now I need to go and read everything else this author has written!
PS – can we also all take a moment to celebrate the cover of this book. Absolutely love it and it was one of the reasons it drew my attention! Bravo!
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. Serenity Falls publishes on 10th September.
June 25, 2026
I think this was a good idea that ended up poorly executed. It was reminiscent of Wayward Pines, just less interesting and more boring. I really loved the most recent book I read by Tudor, so this was disappointing.
My issues are as follows:
There were lots of British turns of phrase used by American characters - e.g. saying shops instead of grocery store, trainers instead of sneakers, form class instead of home room, bin instead of trash. I had the same problem with The Gathering and it seems like both lazy writing AND lazy editing to not even put the effort in to amend these/not write them in the first place.
In terms of the prose, a lot of the phrasing felt clunky and the dialogue unnatural. There was just a lot of bulk; we don’t need to read every single action taken by the characters.
There was a serious issue with over explaining and not trusting the readers to come to their own conclusions. There was a reveal regarding a character called Cash at around the 40% mark and it was just SO over explained.
There also wasn’t any bit of me that cared about the main characters. I didn’t care what happened to them. I also thought they had a very strange relationship; they didn’t act like father and daughter. It barely even seemed like Dan cared about Sadie.
Sadie’s POV was the only one written in third person - this was never referenced or explained and I can’t tell if it was on purpose or not.
Overall, this wasn’t worth my time. I expected to enjoy it, but unfortunately I left disappointed.
My issues are as follows:
There were lots of British turns of phrase used by American characters - e.g. saying shops instead of grocery store, trainers instead of sneakers, form class instead of home room, bin instead of trash. I had the same problem with The Gathering and it seems like both lazy writing AND lazy editing to not even put the effort in to amend these/not write them in the first place.
In terms of the prose, a lot of the phrasing felt clunky and the dialogue unnatural. There was just a lot of bulk; we don’t need to read every single action taken by the characters.
There was a serious issue with over explaining and not trusting the readers to come to their own conclusions. There was a reveal regarding a character called Cash at around the 40% mark and it was just SO over explained.
There also wasn’t any bit of me that cared about the main characters. I didn’t care what happened to them. I also thought they had a very strange relationship; they didn’t act like father and daughter. It barely even seemed like Dan cared about Sadie.
Sadie’s POV was the only one written in third person - this was never referenced or explained and I can’t tell if it was on purpose or not.
Overall, this wasn’t worth my time. I expected to enjoy it, but unfortunately I left disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Stepford Wives meets The Handmaid's Tale.
"Serenity Falls" opens in the present day, when Manchester teacher Dan inherits a fabulous house from his mother. This comes as a complete surprise to Dan since it's located in an idyllic gated complex in America. But it represents a fresh start for Dan and his teenage daughter Sadie, so despite her protestations, they head to their new home. Their arrival isn't great, as they find a dead body in the swimming pool of their new house, and soon they discover other disturbing facts about the seemingly perfect town.
The story slowly develops a deep sense of paranoia, and Dan and Sadie uncover secrets and lies in the town which is about to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. It's difficult not to imagine a Stepford Wives, primary-colours feeling when reading the book - even the characters can be visualised as some three-dimensional cartoon characters, but don't be misled - they all have secrets, and hidden motives, and are certainly not your friend. There's a wonderful casts of characters - suspicious pool men, menacing police, too-nice headmasters, and narky old ladies. Who to trust??
This is another chilling and disturbing tale from CJ Tudor - possibly the best yet in terms of suspense and genuine fear. Serenity Falls itself is wonderful - typical small-town USA in a box. Sadie is excellent - curious, unafraid and determined to uncover the truth.
If you're a fan of CJ Tudor, you won't be disappointed. Highly recommended.
"Serenity Falls" opens in the present day, when Manchester teacher Dan inherits a fabulous house from his mother. This comes as a complete surprise to Dan since it's located in an idyllic gated complex in America. But it represents a fresh start for Dan and his teenage daughter Sadie, so despite her protestations, they head to their new home. Their arrival isn't great, as they find a dead body in the swimming pool of their new house, and soon they discover other disturbing facts about the seemingly perfect town.
The story slowly develops a deep sense of paranoia, and Dan and Sadie uncover secrets and lies in the town which is about to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. It's difficult not to imagine a Stepford Wives, primary-colours feeling when reading the book - even the characters can be visualised as some three-dimensional cartoon characters, but don't be misled - they all have secrets, and hidden motives, and are certainly not your friend. There's a wonderful casts of characters - suspicious pool men, menacing police, too-nice headmasters, and narky old ladies. Who to trust??
This is another chilling and disturbing tale from CJ Tudor - possibly the best yet in terms of suspense and genuine fear. Serenity Falls itself is wonderful - typical small-town USA in a box. Sadie is excellent - curious, unafraid and determined to uncover the truth.
If you're a fan of CJ Tudor, you won't be disappointed. Highly recommended.
June 14, 2026
Don’t even think about letting this book sit on your TBR pile, as soon as you get your hands on a copy you need to read it immediately. This is without a doubt a fantastic read with quirky characters and a death toll the whole of Serenity Falls seems to ignore.
Welcome to Serenity Falls, a whole gated town, inclusive of its own shops, hotel, bars, ever a fairground. Once you arrive you never need to leave. The late Harold Winsom is behind this exclusive town and he wanted to create a self sufficient town with no crime and total happiness.
Daniel and his teenage daughter Sadie have inherited a prestigious home in Serenity Falls Florida, so they leave their lives in Manchester Uk and begin their new life. From the moment they arrive they are confronted with a death in their pool, and the more they learn about Serenity Falls it appears there are many strange happenings going on in this town. But why is everyone turning a blind eye? From the compulsory bracelets they must wear to the creepy ice cream man and the people in hazmat suits it is a very strange place indeed.
The only thing that made me not give this 5 stars was there are a lot of characters, I lost the storyline on some of them at times as there can be big gaps before they are mentioned again, that could just be me though as I’m easily confused so it may not be an issue for other readers.
Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Welcome to Serenity Falls, a whole gated town, inclusive of its own shops, hotel, bars, ever a fairground. Once you arrive you never need to leave. The late Harold Winsom is behind this exclusive town and he wanted to create a self sufficient town with no crime and total happiness.
Daniel and his teenage daughter Sadie have inherited a prestigious home in Serenity Falls Florida, so they leave their lives in Manchester Uk and begin their new life. From the moment they arrive they are confronted with a death in their pool, and the more they learn about Serenity Falls it appears there are many strange happenings going on in this town. But why is everyone turning a blind eye? From the compulsory bracelets they must wear to the creepy ice cream man and the people in hazmat suits it is a very strange place indeed.
The only thing that made me not give this 5 stars was there are a lot of characters, I lost the storyline on some of them at times as there can be big gaps before they are mentioned again, that could just be me though as I’m easily confused so it may not be an issue for other readers.
Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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