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Familien overfor
Selv de mest perfekte familier kan gemme på de frygteligste hemmeligheder.
Hvor godt kender du dem, der bor inde ved siden af ...?
Man ville aldrig gætte, hvilke hemmeligheder huset på Hogarth Street gemmer på – hvad der sker i dette øjeblik bag den lukkede dør.
En smaragdgrøn græsplæne. Perfekt klippede hække. En havelåge omkranset af efeu og en duft af kaprifolier. I forhaven ligger to løbehjul, et blåt, et neonpink. De tilhører et sæt 5-årige tvillinger.
Men hvis man kigger nærmere efter, vil man se, at gardinerne er trukket for, selvom det er årets varmeste dag.
Hvis man lytter opmærksomt, kan man høre lyden af en mor, der forsikrer sine højtelskede børn – den søn og den datter, som hun vil gøre alt for – at det nok skal gå. Det er okay. Mor er her.
Hvis det lykkedes at komme gennem den låste dør, vil man finde hende i færd med at bebrejde sig selv. For de fejl, som hun har begået. De valg, der har ledt op til dette øjeblik. At hun har stolet på den forkerte person.
Inde i dette smukke hus på en ellers stille gade tager en mor nogle desperate valg. For der er nogen, der truer det liv, hun har opbygget, og de børn, hun forguder. Det er op til hende at beskytte sin familie. Men hvor langt er hun villig til at gå?
Hvor godt kender du dem, der bor inde ved siden af ...?
Man ville aldrig gætte, hvilke hemmeligheder huset på Hogarth Street gemmer på – hvad der sker i dette øjeblik bag den lukkede dør.
En smaragdgrøn græsplæne. Perfekt klippede hække. En havelåge omkranset af efeu og en duft af kaprifolier. I forhaven ligger to løbehjul, et blåt, et neonpink. De tilhører et sæt 5-årige tvillinger.
Men hvis man kigger nærmere efter, vil man se, at gardinerne er trukket for, selvom det er årets varmeste dag.
Hvis man lytter opmærksomt, kan man høre lyden af en mor, der forsikrer sine højtelskede børn – den søn og den datter, som hun vil gøre alt for – at det nok skal gå. Det er okay. Mor er her.
Hvis det lykkedes at komme gennem den låste dør, vil man finde hende i færd med at bebrejde sig selv. For de fejl, som hun har begået. De valg, der har ledt op til dette øjeblik. At hun har stolet på den forkerte person.
Inde i dette smukke hus på en ellers stille gade tager en mor nogle desperate valg. For der er nogen, der truer det liv, hun har opbygget, og de børn, hun forguder. Det er op til hende at beskytte sin familie. Men hvor langt er hun villig til at gå?
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2021
15088 people are currently reading
42175 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Trope
43 books1,917 followersNicole Trope writes psychological thrillers about families in crisis and the secrets we keep from ourselves and others. She has always been fascinated by the stories behind the headlines and published her first novel in 2012. In 2026 she will publish her 20th novel with Bookouture. She is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS, Canada and Germany. Her books have been translated into German, Italian, Polish, Hungarian and French and Japanese.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children
Current Publication: The Therapist-July 31st 2025
Next Publication: What Have You Done?-October 17th 2025
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children
Current Publication: The Therapist-July 31st 2025
Next Publication: What Have You Done?-October 17th 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,957 reviews
August 6, 2021
“ SOMETIMES THE NICEST HOUSES BELONGING TO PEOPLE WITH THE WIDEST SMILES CONCEAL THE WORST HORRORS”
Terrifying, Nail biting, and Fast-paced, this story opens when THREE gunshots are heard from the home of John and Katherine West, where they live with their 5 year old twins, George and Sophie-a family of FOUR.
Has someone broken into the home? Or could this be another inexplainable murder-suicide?!
This story FELT authentic from the first sentences and could have been ripped from the headlines.
After the opening chapter, the story will rewind 8 hours, and be told from four EQUALLY compelling POV’s .
Two are from outside the home, where we hear from their concerned next door neighbor Gladys, and a courier named Logan who sensed that something was not right, when he attempted to deliver a package that had to be signed for. Both grapple with deciding if they should intervene. There is a fine line between what is considered to be “too interfering” and what is considered as being “too disinterested” when it comes to neighbors or strangers.
A NEWS BREAK will flash across television screens about a twenty five year old woman who was attacked in Melbourne two days prior, now in a Coma, and neighbors will admit to hearing arguing, but doing nothing about it.
This will prompt both Gladys and Logan to take additional action.
And, from inside the home, we are told what is actually going on from Katherine, and the “monster” with the gun.
You will get “inside the head” of the person holding the gun..what makes a person feel that they have now reached the point where there is no way back from what they have started?
And, what gives others the courage to face these demons and fight like hell to survive?
All of the characters were well developed, and fleshed out with their own personal stories, giving you additional insight into the choices that they will make.
This was one of my favorite domestic thrillers this year-so GRIPPING and UNPUTDOWNABLE that I read it in a day!! And, you can grab a copy today-it just published!!
The author has a new fan, and I cannot to read some of her earlier titles that I have somehow missed!
Thank You to the wonderful Bookouture for providing a gifted copy through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Terrifying, Nail biting, and Fast-paced, this story opens when THREE gunshots are heard from the home of John and Katherine West, where they live with their 5 year old twins, George and Sophie-a family of FOUR.
Has someone broken into the home? Or could this be another inexplainable murder-suicide?!
This story FELT authentic from the first sentences and could have been ripped from the headlines.
After the opening chapter, the story will rewind 8 hours, and be told from four EQUALLY compelling POV’s .
Two are from outside the home, where we hear from their concerned next door neighbor Gladys, and a courier named Logan who sensed that something was not right, when he attempted to deliver a package that had to be signed for. Both grapple with deciding if they should intervene. There is a fine line between what is considered to be “too interfering” and what is considered as being “too disinterested” when it comes to neighbors or strangers.
A NEWS BREAK will flash across television screens about a twenty five year old woman who was attacked in Melbourne two days prior, now in a Coma, and neighbors will admit to hearing arguing, but doing nothing about it.
This will prompt both Gladys and Logan to take additional action.
And, from inside the home, we are told what is actually going on from Katherine, and the “monster” with the gun.
You will get “inside the head” of the person holding the gun..what makes a person feel that they have now reached the point where there is no way back from what they have started?
And, what gives others the courage to face these demons and fight like hell to survive?
All of the characters were well developed, and fleshed out with their own personal stories, giving you additional insight into the choices that they will make.
This was one of my favorite domestic thrillers this year-so GRIPPING and UNPUTDOWNABLE that I read it in a day!! And, you can grab a copy today-it just published!!
The author has a new fan, and I cannot to read some of her earlier titles that I have somehow missed!
Thank You to the wonderful Bookouture for providing a gifted copy through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
December 1, 2021
Captive
In this tense, gripping novel, Nicole Trope has written a domestic psychological thriller that feels alarmingly authentic and keeps a compelling momentum from the opening scene to the deadly conclusion. Could what happened The Family Across the Street happen to any family across the street?
On Hogarth Street, an affluent area in Sydney, Australia, a few concerned neighbours and a delivery driver are horrified when shots ring out behind the closed doors and blinds of number 24. The husband and wife, John and Katherine West and their 5-year-old twins, George and Sophie, who live there, have endured a terrifying day, and it’s all about to end shortly.
The story then takes a step back in time to earlier that day when a delivery man, Logan, attempts to deliver a package to number 24, but Katherine refuses to open the door and accept the parcel. Unable to deliver the item, Logan returns to his van but is concerned by Katherine’s visible distress and the refusal to accept her package. Logan is a fascinating character dealing with several family issues and being an ex-convict trying to hold down a job from his condescending brother-in-law. Mack is the delivery business owner and takes regular pleasure in denigrating Logan for his criminal appearance with tattoos covering his arms. Logan is also deeply concerned about his sister, Maddy, who is in hospital in Melbourne, having been savagely beaten by her boyfriend.
Gladys is an elderly next-door neighbour and somewhat of a neighbourhood watch. She hasn’t seen the children go to school today, nor John go to work, and the blinds are still drawn. Unfortunately, she has a history of exaggerating neighbourhood issues to the police, so she is hesitant to report more concerns without being completely sure. Nevertheless, Gladys instinctively knows something is wrong with the West family. Dealing with her anxiety and compulsion to investigate, Gladys will explore every possibility to find out more.
The story also covers the POVs of Katherine and one other to create a brilliantly observed plot, with a tense atmosphere and drama. Nicole Trope does a fantastic job of developing the anxiety and the mental turmoil from each of the four main characters. Torn between respecting someone’s privacy and meddling because something doesn’t seem right, challenges Logan’s and Gladys’ conscience, and they return to number 24 several times until we are once again outside the house when the shots ring out.
I felt the authentic and gripping mood of the story the whole way through, until the ending introduced a coincidence that shifted my believability. The Family Across the Street is a great psychological thriller that I would recommend, and thanks to many of my Goodreads friends for putting it on my radar. I want to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in return for an honest review.
In this tense, gripping novel, Nicole Trope has written a domestic psychological thriller that feels alarmingly authentic and keeps a compelling momentum from the opening scene to the deadly conclusion. Could what happened The Family Across the Street happen to any family across the street?
On Hogarth Street, an affluent area in Sydney, Australia, a few concerned neighbours and a delivery driver are horrified when shots ring out behind the closed doors and blinds of number 24. The husband and wife, John and Katherine West and their 5-year-old twins, George and Sophie, who live there, have endured a terrifying day, and it’s all about to end shortly.
The story then takes a step back in time to earlier that day when a delivery man, Logan, attempts to deliver a package to number 24, but Katherine refuses to open the door and accept the parcel. Unable to deliver the item, Logan returns to his van but is concerned by Katherine’s visible distress and the refusal to accept her package. Logan is a fascinating character dealing with several family issues and being an ex-convict trying to hold down a job from his condescending brother-in-law. Mack is the delivery business owner and takes regular pleasure in denigrating Logan for his criminal appearance with tattoos covering his arms. Logan is also deeply concerned about his sister, Maddy, who is in hospital in Melbourne, having been savagely beaten by her boyfriend.
Gladys is an elderly next-door neighbour and somewhat of a neighbourhood watch. She hasn’t seen the children go to school today, nor John go to work, and the blinds are still drawn. Unfortunately, she has a history of exaggerating neighbourhood issues to the police, so she is hesitant to report more concerns without being completely sure. Nevertheless, Gladys instinctively knows something is wrong with the West family. Dealing with her anxiety and compulsion to investigate, Gladys will explore every possibility to find out more.
The story also covers the POVs of Katherine and one other to create a brilliantly observed plot, with a tense atmosphere and drama. Nicole Trope does a fantastic job of developing the anxiety and the mental turmoil from each of the four main characters. Torn between respecting someone’s privacy and meddling because something doesn’t seem right, challenges Logan’s and Gladys’ conscience, and they return to number 24 several times until we are once again outside the house when the shots ring out.
I felt the authentic and gripping mood of the story the whole way through, until the ending introduced a coincidence that shifted my believability. The Family Across the Street is a great psychological thriller that I would recommend, and thanks to many of my Goodreads friends for putting it on my radar. I want to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in return for an honest review.
December 23, 2025
1/5 ★
DNF at 50%. This was not the story I was promised.
In The Family Across the Street, Hogarth Street appears flawless, with white houses, neat lawns, and families who believe they know one another well. When a shocking tragedy breaks the illusion, buried secrets and quiet choices come to light, proving that even the most perfect streets can hide something devastating.
This is what the story is actually about. Not what the book says:
“…The new family, The Wests, are a perfect fit. Katherine and John seem so in love, and their gorgeous five-year-old twins race screeching around their beautiful emerald-green lawn. But soon people start to notice. Why don’t they join backyard barbecues? Why do they brush away offers to babysit? Why, when you knock at the door, do they shut you out, rather than inviting you in?”
In reality, there are no backyard barbecues in this story. There are no offers to babysit. The Wests are not the same people as Katherine and John. Those are just examples meant to show that the neighborhood is “perfect.” Referring to one family by their last name and another by their first names right after isn’t done on purpose for a twist in the story. It’s just confusing.
I was expecting a book told through the perspectives of neighbors trying to welcome a new family that seems increasingly odd for subtle, passive reasons.
What this actually is is a book that opens with gunshots and police sirens coming from one of the houses. The rest of the chapters then move backward in time, starting about seven hours earlier, to show what led up to that moment.
If I had known this going in, I think I could have finished it and maybe even enjoyed it somewhat. The premise promised a completely different story, so I never fully cared about this one. I gave it a fair chance and made it halfway, but it just wasn’t working for me.
The chapters felt drawn out, and the suspicions escalated far too quickly for how little was actually happening on the street.
Almost every perspective, except one, takes place inside the character’s house the entire time. There’s very little development beyond internal thoughts and conversations with those that they live with. When you’re expecting an eerie, neighborhood-focused story, this gets boring very fast.
I’ve heard this does have a great twist, so if the real story sounds interesting to you, I’d still recommend giving it a try.
DNF at 50%. This was not the story I was promised.
In The Family Across the Street, Hogarth Street appears flawless, with white houses, neat lawns, and families who believe they know one another well. When a shocking tragedy breaks the illusion, buried secrets and quiet choices come to light, proving that even the most perfect streets can hide something devastating.
This is what the story is actually about. Not what the book says:
“…The new family, The Wests, are a perfect fit. Katherine and John seem so in love, and their gorgeous five-year-old twins race screeching around their beautiful emerald-green lawn. But soon people start to notice. Why don’t they join backyard barbecues? Why do they brush away offers to babysit? Why, when you knock at the door, do they shut you out, rather than inviting you in?”
In reality, there are no backyard barbecues in this story. There are no offers to babysit. The Wests are not the same people as Katherine and John. Those are just examples meant to show that the neighborhood is “perfect.” Referring to one family by their last name and another by their first names right after isn’t done on purpose for a twist in the story. It’s just confusing.
I was expecting a book told through the perspectives of neighbors trying to welcome a new family that seems increasingly odd for subtle, passive reasons.
What this actually is is a book that opens with gunshots and police sirens coming from one of the houses. The rest of the chapters then move backward in time, starting about seven hours earlier, to show what led up to that moment.
If I had known this going in, I think I could have finished it and maybe even enjoyed it somewhat. The premise promised a completely different story, so I never fully cared about this one. I gave it a fair chance and made it halfway, but it just wasn’t working for me.
The chapters felt drawn out, and the suspicions escalated far too quickly for how little was actually happening on the street.
Almost every perspective, except one, takes place inside the character’s house the entire time. There’s very little development beyond internal thoughts and conversations with those that they live with. When you’re expecting an eerie, neighborhood-focused story, this gets boring very fast.
I’ve heard this does have a great twist, so if the real story sounds interesting to you, I’d still recommend giving it a try.
January 24, 2022
This is a fast paced mystery with an excellent twist.
The book starts with various people in a neighborhood hearing gunshots coming from a house. Then the tale goes back in time eight hours and sets the scene. As I was reading, I thought it was a pretty straightforward book about domestic violence, but when the twist occurred I was surprised and compelled to keep reading. You find out quickly that a woman and her twin children are being held hostage by a man, and through background given by a delivery driver and the family's neighbor, we learn more and more about the unfolding situation.
I hesitate to say more as it would spoil things, but suffice it to say that this is a satisfying mystery/thriller that will keep you reading to find out what is happening and why.
The book starts with various people in a neighborhood hearing gunshots coming from a house. Then the tale goes back in time eight hours and sets the scene. As I was reading, I thought it was a pretty straightforward book about domestic violence, but when the twist occurred I was surprised and compelled to keep reading. You find out quickly that a woman and her twin children are being held hostage by a man, and through background given by a delivery driver and the family's neighbor, we learn more and more about the unfolding situation.
I hesitate to say more as it would spoil things, but suffice it to say that this is a satisfying mystery/thriller that will keep you reading to find out what is happening and why.
March 21, 2022
Katherine thought today was going to be a normal day. Reeling from a fight with her husband, she gets her twins dressed for school. The doorbell rings. A man she knows all too well has a gun and is determined to have his voice heard. As the day plays out, we meet the nosey neighbor and delivery man. Both know something is wrong at Katherine's house.
I really enjoy the plot and twists. The rapid changing character viewpoints made the tension ramp up. The ending was unexpected. Recommend!
I really enjoy the plot and twists. The rapid changing character viewpoints made the tension ramp up. The ending was unexpected. Recommend!
August 1, 2021
It’s 15th December and a very hot day in Australia. At 2.30pm the quiet community of Hogarth Street is shattered by gunshots. The story backtracks seven hours to when Logan tries to deliver a parcel to the home of John and Katherine West and their five year old twins, George and Sophie. Katherine refuses to open the door to accept the parcel and the whole exchange makes Logan feel uneasy. Similarly, Katherine’s neighbour Gladys also feels there’s something wrong. The story is told from several points of view including Katherine, Logan and Gladys.
Wow! This is how you write a psychological thriller! It’s a well written, fast paced, compelling and gripping page turner from beginning to end. The characterisation is outstanding as each of them have really good backstories that makes them feel very authentic. They all have issues or problems in their lives which are conveyed well and you become invested in them as well as the unfolding drama in the West house. Inside their home the external high temperatures are reflected in the heat of the situation there. It’s fraught with unimaginable danger, there’s rage and hatred boiling over into heartbreaking acts of cruelty and callousness. There’s panic, despair and tension that is so taut it’s terrifying. There are also acts of bravery and initiative that fill you with hope. There are some clever twists in the high octane plot and I like how things link and connect together in the breathtaking finale. The novel ends with such huge possibilities of life giving a second chance to those so richly deserving of it and it feels like the right way to finish. One thing is absolutely for sure, life on Hogarth Street will never be the same again.
Overall, a high intensity, heart pounding domestic thriller that at times freezes your blood. It’s an emotional journey through to a satisfying ending. I’ve never read Nicole Trope before and if this is indicative of how she writes I’m kicking myself for not picking up a book by her before. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Wow! This is how you write a psychological thriller! It’s a well written, fast paced, compelling and gripping page turner from beginning to end. The characterisation is outstanding as each of them have really good backstories that makes them feel very authentic. They all have issues or problems in their lives which are conveyed well and you become invested in them as well as the unfolding drama in the West house. Inside their home the external high temperatures are reflected in the heat of the situation there. It’s fraught with unimaginable danger, there’s rage and hatred boiling over into heartbreaking acts of cruelty and callousness. There’s panic, despair and tension that is so taut it’s terrifying. There are also acts of bravery and initiative that fill you with hope. There are some clever twists in the high octane plot and I like how things link and connect together in the breathtaking finale. The novel ends with such huge possibilities of life giving a second chance to those so richly deserving of it and it feels like the right way to finish. One thing is absolutely for sure, life on Hogarth Street will never be the same again.
Overall, a high intensity, heart pounding domestic thriller that at times freezes your blood. It’s an emotional journey through to a satisfying ending. I’ve never read Nicole Trope before and if this is indicative of how she writes I’m kicking myself for not picking up a book by her before. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
March 21, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
An intriguing domestic psychological thriller.
The Family Across the Street is about a manicured neighborhood with beautiful houses and friendly neighbors. One hot summer day, something seems awry in the West household. No one has stepped out of the house all day. The blinds are closed, the mother won’t open the door, and the children haven’t gone to school. Do they simply want privacy or is there something else going on? The neighbor and delivery guy can’t seem to put their finger around it, but as the day goes on more and more suspicious things start happening.
The plot keeps you guessing throughout as you are trying to piece together how the storylines are related. I liked how it all came together. The ending felt satisfying with everything resolved. There was one main twist that was interesting and connected the characters together. However, the reveal was missing that “but wait there’s more” aspect that adds layers.
I liked the writing style and enjoyed reading through the lens of each character. The book was short and fast-paced. Overall, this was a fun and well done mystery thriller.
An intriguing domestic psychological thriller.
The Family Across the Street is about a manicured neighborhood with beautiful houses and friendly neighbors. One hot summer day, something seems awry in the West household. No one has stepped out of the house all day. The blinds are closed, the mother won’t open the door, and the children haven’t gone to school. Do they simply want privacy or is there something else going on? The neighbor and delivery guy can’t seem to put their finger around it, but as the day goes on more and more suspicious things start happening.
The plot keeps you guessing throughout as you are trying to piece together how the storylines are related. I liked how it all came together. The ending felt satisfying with everything resolved. There was one main twist that was interesting and connected the characters together. However, the reveal was missing that “but wait there’s more” aspect that adds layers.
I liked the writing style and enjoyed reading through the lens of each character. The book was short and fast-paced. Overall, this was a fun and well done mystery thriller.
September 12, 2021
Psychology Today.
This book had me off balance for the entirety.
From the beginning, we know we’re on an ominous trajectory, but the uncertainty of what and why is unnerving. Do I need to cover my eyes?
With multiple narrators alternating chapters, we discover the domestic setups and background stories of Katherine, Logan, and Gladys. They each have individual burdens adding more dimension to an already tense scenario.
The writing was exemplary with the drama built between the lines so that I felt the tension rather than reading a description. In addition, I simultaneously experienced empathy for the characters without having it explained to me. I really appreciate a writer that can accomplish this as I’m keen on determining things for myself and thrifty prose.
The author included a thoughtful note at the conclusion which I enjoyed too.
This is my first read by Nicole Trope but it won't be my last.
Soft cover purchased from The Book Depository.
This book had me off balance for the entirety.
From the beginning, we know we’re on an ominous trajectory, but the uncertainty of what and why is unnerving. Do I need to cover my eyes?
With multiple narrators alternating chapters, we discover the domestic setups and background stories of Katherine, Logan, and Gladys. They each have individual burdens adding more dimension to an already tense scenario.
The writing was exemplary with the drama built between the lines so that I felt the tension rather than reading a description. In addition, I simultaneously experienced empathy for the characters without having it explained to me. I really appreciate a writer that can accomplish this as I’m keen on determining things for myself and thrifty prose.
The author included a thoughtful note at the conclusion which I enjoyed too.
This is my first read by Nicole Trope but it won't be my last.
Soft cover purchased from The Book Depository.
January 11, 2022
This fast-paced domestic psychological thriller is heart pounding and full of terror. With 4 POVs, there are so many stories and thoughts you will not be able to put it down. As a family across the street appear oddly out of sync of their normal routine to their neighbor Gladys, she begins to investigate. She finds several reasons to appear at Katherine and John West's doorstep to see if they are okay and each time they are met with "Now is not a good time". Her husband is suffering a progressive illness and accuses her of meddling, but encourages her to go with her instinct. The curiosity gets the best of Gladys when she thinks of all the scenarios that could be played out across the street. She is more concerned for the couple's 5 year old twins. After she sees a child's hand in the window holding a sign "help", she is torn.
The courier Logan is delivering a package to their doorstep, but Katherine will not open the door. Instead, she informs him to leave the package outside. He refuses to be accountable for a laptop on the doorstep without a signature, so he tells her he will drop it at the local post office. The look from the peephole and the terror in her voice sets him on edge to investigate. He has an interesting past he is trying to overcome and recover, so his feelings are played out from what people think about him.
News flash: A woman has been brutally attacked and found unconscious after neighbors hear her arguing with her boyfriend. This sets Logan and Gladys on a heroic mission. Could this happen in this neighborhood? Will they help after hearing several gunshots? It is one of those "Should I help? Will I be endangered if I do?"
There are flashbacks of a not so pleasant childhood that will leave you wondering who is who?? There are so many emotions on line from bravery, cowardly, calm and hysterical in this affluent neighborhood where occurrences as this just don't happen.
Excellent writing skills and edge of the seat thriller from this author!!
The courier Logan is delivering a package to their doorstep, but Katherine will not open the door. Instead, she informs him to leave the package outside. He refuses to be accountable for a laptop on the doorstep without a signature, so he tells her he will drop it at the local post office. The look from the peephole and the terror in her voice sets him on edge to investigate. He has an interesting past he is trying to overcome and recover, so his feelings are played out from what people think about him.
News flash: A woman has been brutally attacked and found unconscious after neighbors hear her arguing with her boyfriend. This sets Logan and Gladys on a heroic mission. Could this happen in this neighborhood? Will they help after hearing several gunshots? It is one of those "Should I help? Will I be endangered if I do?"
There are flashbacks of a not so pleasant childhood that will leave you wondering who is who?? There are so many emotions on line from bravery, cowardly, calm and hysterical in this affluent neighborhood where occurrences as this just don't happen.
Excellent writing skills and edge of the seat thriller from this author!!
March 12, 2022
ME OH MY IS THE SYNOPSIS OF THIS BOOK MISLEADING!!!
This is a book about a HOSTAGE SITUATION. A hostage… situation….
Multiply POVs, nosey neighbors we can do without, italicized writing that made my brain throb, and back stories of characters that were supposed to enrich the story but failed to do so 🥲🥲🥲🥲
In the words of Ariana Grande… THANK U NEXT
This is a book about a HOSTAGE SITUATION. A hostage… situation….
Multiply POVs, nosey neighbors we can do without, italicized writing that made my brain throb, and back stories of characters that were supposed to enrich the story but failed to do so 🥲🥲🥲🥲
In the words of Ariana Grande… THANK U NEXT
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2025
Before I start the review proper, I would like to warn prospective reader to please ignore the synopsis. It is misleading. There are no real mentions that the Wests don’t “join backyard barbecues”, or that they don’t open the door. That’s not mentioned anywhere in this story. In fact, the Wests are portrayed like any normal family. A couple, two kids. And, one day, the day of this story, something goes tremendously wrong and, yes, the door to their house won’t open. But you read the synopsis and you get a whole different idea of what this book is about. And it’s not just about the Wests, as the synopsis hints at. There’s also Gladys, the neighbourhood busybody, who has to deal with her husband’s Parkinson’s disease, and Logan, the delivery man, someone with a violent past.
It was difficult to enjoy the story because what’s happening at the Wests’s is horrible to read and because Trope manipulates the story in such a way that we are lead to think in a certain way, that make the whole thing even worse. The level of manipulation is really high on this one, but I still felt it took a long time to reach the point where we understand what is going on. I was getting upset with what was happening at the West’s house, and I was also a bit lost with Logan’s point of view, as I couldn’t see what could possibly be the connection with everything else. Even Gladys’s POV wasn’t that great; I didn’t like her interactions with her husband Lou.
The fact that we’ve got four different POVs didn’t work that well, as well, in my opinion. Two of them describe what is happening inside the Wests’s house and are full of tension, anger and danger. They’re nerve-wrecking. But the other two, especially in the beginning, are the opposite. So, we jump from a scene filled with tension to one quite sedated in comparison. I thought this was quite tiring, and it made me want to rush through the story.
I was going to rate it 2 stars but the twist was unexpected and I feel I have to admit it: Nicole Trope is strong in the manipulation game. Still, I don’t think this deserves the four stars. For me, the revelation moment wasn’t a jaw-dropping one, and it took me a moment to understand what I was reading, and what that meant to the story, especially considering everything that had happened so far.
Right now, it’s hard to tell if I will pick up another Nicole Trope book. It’s possible I’ll give her another chance in the future.
It was difficult to enjoy the story because what’s happening at the Wests’s is horrible to read and because Trope manipulates the story in such a way that we are lead to think in a certain way, that make the whole thing even worse. The level of manipulation is really high on this one, but I still felt it took a long time to reach the point where we understand what is going on. I was getting upset with what was happening at the West’s house, and I was also a bit lost with Logan’s point of view, as I couldn’t see what could possibly be the connection with everything else. Even Gladys’s POV wasn’t that great; I didn’t like her interactions with her husband Lou.
The fact that we’ve got four different POVs didn’t work that well, as well, in my opinion. Two of them describe what is happening inside the Wests’s house and are full of tension, anger and danger. They’re nerve-wrecking. But the other two, especially in the beginning, are the opposite. So, we jump from a scene filled with tension to one quite sedated in comparison. I thought this was quite tiring, and it made me want to rush through the story.
I was going to rate it 2 stars but the twist was unexpected and I feel I have to admit it: Nicole Trope is strong in the manipulation game. Still, I don’t think this deserves the four stars. For me, the revelation moment wasn’t a jaw-dropping one, and it took me a moment to understand what I was reading, and what that meant to the story, especially considering everything that had happened so far.
Right now, it’s hard to tell if I will pick up another Nicole Trope book. It’s possible I’ll give her another chance in the future.
January 8, 2025
This one had me on my toes!
The novel opens with three gunshots ringing out from Katherine and John West's home. The Wests are a family of four—Katherine, John, and their twin children. Has John gone mad and killed his own family?
The story then rewinds to eight hours earlier.
We’re presented with multiple points of view:
*Katherine is trapped in her home with a monster who wants to harm her and her children.
*Gladys, the curious neighbor, notices that the twins haven’t left for school. Though she may seem meddlesome, she decides to knock on their door to check on Katherine. Katherine assures her everything is fine, but Gladys spots one of the children holding a sign that says "help." She leaves, deeply worried about what’s really happening inside the house.
*Logan, a delivery driver trying to leave behind a troubled past, stops by to deliver a laptop to Katherine. When he asks her to come out and sign for it, she tells him it’s not a good time. Logan takes the package back to avoid any suspicion from his boss, but something about Katherine’s tone haunts him for the rest of the day. Should he go back to see if something’s wrong?
Meanwhile, on the TV, news breaks about a man wanted for attacking his girlfriend and leaving her in a coma.
Nicole Trope masterfully weaves these storylines together, building tension and keeping you guessing until the end. I found myself fully invested in the characters' lives, hoping for a good outcome.
My favorite character was Logan. Despite battling his own demons, he showed a genuinely good soul, making his arc particularly compelling.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The novel opens with three gunshots ringing out from Katherine and John West's home. The Wests are a family of four—Katherine, John, and their twin children. Has John gone mad and killed his own family?
The story then rewinds to eight hours earlier.
We’re presented with multiple points of view:
*Katherine is trapped in her home with a monster who wants to harm her and her children.
*Gladys, the curious neighbor, notices that the twins haven’t left for school. Though she may seem meddlesome, she decides to knock on their door to check on Katherine. Katherine assures her everything is fine, but Gladys spots one of the children holding a sign that says "help." She leaves, deeply worried about what’s really happening inside the house.
*Logan, a delivery driver trying to leave behind a troubled past, stops by to deliver a laptop to Katherine. When he asks her to come out and sign for it, she tells him it’s not a good time. Logan takes the package back to avoid any suspicion from his boss, but something about Katherine’s tone haunts him for the rest of the day. Should he go back to see if something’s wrong?
Meanwhile, on the TV, news breaks about a man wanted for attacking his girlfriend and leaving her in a coma.
Nicole Trope masterfully weaves these storylines together, building tension and keeping you guessing until the end. I found myself fully invested in the characters' lives, hoping for a good outcome.
My favorite character was Logan. Despite battling his own demons, he showed a genuinely good soul, making his arc particularly compelling.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
August 4, 2021
This was a very tense, claustrophobic, domestic drama. I was never sure how it was going to end except that not everyone would live happily ever after. Apart from some whiny, self serving background from the villain of the story it was mostly told in the present tense, from various third person POVs. Most of the action takes place on one fateful day.
Logan is a delivery driver. He is also an ex convict so has to be very careful around the police. He also struggled to find a job until his wife (Debbie) talked her brother (Mack) into giving him the courier job although Mack still doesn’t trust him fully. His first stop is in a well off area to deliver a computer but the parcel needs to be signed for and the recipient, Katherine West, won’t open the door. She says she can’t open the door. Logan knows he should drop the parcel at the post office for the recipient to collect but he senses something is off about the whole exchange.
Also sensing some offness is Gladys, an elderly woman who lives, with her husband Lou, next door to Katherine. She hasn’t seen the children go to school and the blinds are still all down. She goes next door to see if everything is all right. She has no better luck than Logan. They both return at various stages during the day but the door remains very resolutely shut. Meanwhile Logan is getting ready to dash to Melbourne (from Sydney) where his sister Maddy is in hospital after being brutally bashed, presumably by her boyfriend Patrick. But first he reluctantly reports his concerns to the local police station. On seeing his record he is not taken seriously by the desk officer.
But still, he is drawn back to the West household where he finally meets Gladys outside as concerned as he is. On hearing a scream, he dashes to the back of the house to possibly render assistance. At this point you realise the story is not as simple as it, at first, appeared. The tension inside the house is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Emotions are running high and you wonder if anybody will walk away from this unscathed.
It ended up being very sad. Again a child has been ruined by the actions of one or both parents. It is all too common in real life and I guess this is an all too plausible outcome. The indecision by the concerned Logan and Gladys are very well portrayed. How do you balance neighbourly concern with potentially overstepping? When do you call the police? How do ensure children don’t fall through the cracks to end up repeating the mistakes of their parents? When faced with an impossible situation could you be as brave as Katherine? As a mother myself, I would like to think - yes. But you never know until you are tested.
This was a disturbing, very realistic story. I’ve seen this sort of thing play out in our newspapers and on our television screens time and time again. We should be able to do better! Thanks for the much appreciated ARC from Netgalley and Bookouture which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Logan is a delivery driver. He is also an ex convict so has to be very careful around the police. He also struggled to find a job until his wife (Debbie) talked her brother (Mack) into giving him the courier job although Mack still doesn’t trust him fully. His first stop is in a well off area to deliver a computer but the parcel needs to be signed for and the recipient, Katherine West, won’t open the door. She says she can’t open the door. Logan knows he should drop the parcel at the post office for the recipient to collect but he senses something is off about the whole exchange.
Also sensing some offness is Gladys, an elderly woman who lives, with her husband Lou, next door to Katherine. She hasn’t seen the children go to school and the blinds are still all down. She goes next door to see if everything is all right. She has no better luck than Logan. They both return at various stages during the day but the door remains very resolutely shut. Meanwhile Logan is getting ready to dash to Melbourne (from Sydney) where his sister Maddy is in hospital after being brutally bashed, presumably by her boyfriend Patrick. But first he reluctantly reports his concerns to the local police station. On seeing his record he is not taken seriously by the desk officer.
But still, he is drawn back to the West household where he finally meets Gladys outside as concerned as he is. On hearing a scream, he dashes to the back of the house to possibly render assistance. At this point you realise the story is not as simple as it, at first, appeared. The tension inside the house is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Emotions are running high and you wonder if anybody will walk away from this unscathed.
It ended up being very sad. Again a child has been ruined by the actions of one or both parents. It is all too common in real life and I guess this is an all too plausible outcome. The indecision by the concerned Logan and Gladys are very well portrayed. How do you balance neighbourly concern with potentially overstepping? When do you call the police? How do ensure children don’t fall through the cracks to end up repeating the mistakes of their parents? When faced with an impossible situation could you be as brave as Katherine? As a mother myself, I would like to think - yes. But you never know until you are tested.
This was a disturbing, very realistic story. I’ve seen this sort of thing play out in our newspapers and on our television screens time and time again. We should be able to do better! Thanks for the much appreciated ARC from Netgalley and Bookouture which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
August 10, 2021
Gladys and Lou lived across the street from Katherine and John West and their five-year-old twins George and Sophie. Early one hot summer morning, Gladys noticed the house was still closed up, when Katherine always had the blinds open, with the children getting ready for school, and she started to get a bad feeling. Lou was suffering with Parkinson’s Disease and Gladys cared for him, apart from days Peter, the carer, arrived and Gladys was free to do her usual chores. But Peter hadn’t been able to come that day, leaving Lou in Gladys’ hands.
Logan was a parcel delivery driver and happy to have the job, given to him by his brother-in-law. He had to prove himself – which he was determined to do – but the morning he pulled up in front of Katherine West’s home on Hogarth Street to deliver a computer – which needed a signature – and Katherine wouldn’t open the door, his instincts told him something was very wrong. He continued his deliveries but couldn’t get the house and its residents from his mind.
Gladys was worried – should she call the police? Lou thought she was making a big deal out of nothing: ‘don’t interfere woman’. Logan wondered if he should go to the police, but he wasn’t sure if he was brave enough to enter the station. What would be the outcome for the family across the street?
Set in Sydney, The Family Across the Street (formally named Home Sweet Home pre-publication) by Aussie author Nicole Trope is an intense psychological thriller that I couldn’t put down! I read it in a matter of hours, unable to stop until I’d finished. And the twist near the finish blew me away; I had NOT seen that coming!! One thing though – the blurb is misleading and incorrect in a number of places, which of course I didn’t realise until I had finished, and then read the blurb. But for fans of psychological thrillers, this one is a must! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Logan was a parcel delivery driver and happy to have the job, given to him by his brother-in-law. He had to prove himself – which he was determined to do – but the morning he pulled up in front of Katherine West’s home on Hogarth Street to deliver a computer – which needed a signature – and Katherine wouldn’t open the door, his instincts told him something was very wrong. He continued his deliveries but couldn’t get the house and its residents from his mind.
Gladys was worried – should she call the police? Lou thought she was making a big deal out of nothing: ‘don’t interfere woman’. Logan wondered if he should go to the police, but he wasn’t sure if he was brave enough to enter the station. What would be the outcome for the family across the street?
Set in Sydney, The Family Across the Street (formally named Home Sweet Home pre-publication) by Aussie author Nicole Trope is an intense psychological thriller that I couldn’t put down! I read it in a matter of hours, unable to stop until I’d finished. And the twist near the finish blew me away; I had NOT seen that coming!! One thing though – the blurb is misleading and incorrect in a number of places, which of course I didn’t realise until I had finished, and then read the blurb. But for fans of psychological thrillers, this one is a must! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2021
I feel like this book was very repetitive and went on for far too long. Gladys and Lou really wound me up. I just couldn’t believe what I was reading at times. They frustrated me to death!
I don’t want to give any examples as they might be seen as spoilers. Obviously there are a lot of 5* reviews so it seems to be a book that many have enjoyed. I just found this a bit of a letdown after reading so many great reviews.
I don’t want to give any examples as they might be seen as spoilers. Obviously there are a lot of 5* reviews so it seems to be a book that many have enjoyed. I just found this a bit of a letdown after reading so many great reviews.
July 29, 2021
Home Sweet Home by Nicole Trope is a psychological thriller novel. The story in this one is told from multiple points of view as a hostage situation is unfolding in a quiet neighborhood.
One day on Hogarth Street neighbor Gladys notices that the house next door seems overly quiet. The West family consists of Katherine and John and their five year old twins who are never this quiet in the mornings. Gladys don’t want to interfere but she begins to keep an eye on their house.
Logan is beginning his day as a delivery driver when he pulls up to the quiet home on Hogarth Street. The box Logan takes to the door seems to be a computer and needs to be signed for so he patiently waits an answer at the door. When a lady does answer she refuses to open the door and seems off to Logan so as he goes about the rest of his day he can’t forget the home on Hogarth Street.
I have read a couple of other books by Nicole Trope so I figured once I picked this one up I would have trouble putting it down and sure enough that was the case yet again. This author just has a way of pulling you in and making those pages fly by. It seems though I always find something to nitpick when it comes to her thrillers with this time being that I found some of the twists to be a bit over the top. As much as I love some great twisty endings I don’t want them to be something that seems harder for it to really happen than picking winning lotto numbers. I think this one would probably have been a lot higher than my three and a half stars if only things weren’t forced together a bit too much in my mind.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
One day on Hogarth Street neighbor Gladys notices that the house next door seems overly quiet. The West family consists of Katherine and John and their five year old twins who are never this quiet in the mornings. Gladys don’t want to interfere but she begins to keep an eye on their house.
Logan is beginning his day as a delivery driver when he pulls up to the quiet home on Hogarth Street. The box Logan takes to the door seems to be a computer and needs to be signed for so he patiently waits an answer at the door. When a lady does answer she refuses to open the door and seems off to Logan so as he goes about the rest of his day he can’t forget the home on Hogarth Street.
I have read a couple of other books by Nicole Trope so I figured once I picked this one up I would have trouble putting it down and sure enough that was the case yet again. This author just has a way of pulling you in and making those pages fly by. It seems though I always find something to nitpick when it comes to her thrillers with this time being that I found some of the twists to be a bit over the top. As much as I love some great twisty endings I don’t want them to be something that seems harder for it to really happen than picking winning lotto numbers. I think this one would probably have been a lot higher than my three and a half stars if only things weren’t forced together a bit too much in my mind.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 12, 2024
Nicole Trope has written a book that won’t let you blink because you’ll miss a clue.
It’s hard to say too much without possible spoiling something.
The story is told from multiple points of view but you never quite get the full details until it wraps up.
The reader knows something isn’t right (aside from the obvious glaring issue happening in one of the houses) there is always the feeling that either “this guy” or “that guy” has more to their story you aren’t hearing about.
Definitely a page turner
This psychological/domestic thriller is full of triggers. Be warned if this bothers you, it was tough to read at times (abuse/gun violence).
It’s hard to say too much without possible spoiling something.
The story is told from multiple points of view but you never quite get the full details until it wraps up.
The reader knows something isn’t right (aside from the obvious glaring issue happening in one of the houses) there is always the feeling that either “this guy” or “that guy” has more to their story you aren’t hearing about.
Definitely a page turner
This psychological/domestic thriller is full of triggers. Be warned if this bothers you, it was tough to read at times (abuse/gun violence).
September 21, 2021
“She opened her arms and I showed her the gun. I could have made a different choice. I could have stepped into those arms and changed my life.”
Something is very wrong at 24 Hogarth Street, yet the two people who spot the air of menace and danger have a history with the police and so will they be taken seriously.
Gladys stares at her neighbour’s house, where there is no sign of movement and, the closed blinds look strangely ominous and secretive. Gladys instinctively knows something is wrong, but she has contacted the police 12 times this year already and now they see her as an interfering neighbour.
Logan, a reformed criminal and delivery driver seeks to deliver a computer to the house where Katherine lives with her husband John and five-year-old twins. Yet he has encountered nothing but obstacles in his desire to help whoever the woman inside the house is, and by the time he finds out if something is or is not going on, because she will not open the door, “… he could be back in jail just for daring to exist after a prison sentence”
The story is interspersed with feelings from the man holding Katherine and her two children at gun point. He is going to kill her and will not spare the children, if need be, but it is clear he is harbouring a lot of pain and hurt and believes it may be necessary “…. to blow up everything around you just to prove you’ve been hurt”, because one day you "... realise that the love of your life no longer thinks you’re the love of her life" but really this man is a resentful rage machine and he is prepared to punish her.
This was a pleasant read from the beginning and then the gear changed in the second part of the book, the suspense was at a different level, the anticipation was palatable and when I read through the plot and the twist, I almost wanted to go back to the beginning of the book to grasp what it was I had missed in the first place. A great read and highly recommended.
Something is very wrong at 24 Hogarth Street, yet the two people who spot the air of menace and danger have a history with the police and so will they be taken seriously.
Gladys stares at her neighbour’s house, where there is no sign of movement and, the closed blinds look strangely ominous and secretive. Gladys instinctively knows something is wrong, but she has contacted the police 12 times this year already and now they see her as an interfering neighbour.
Logan, a reformed criminal and delivery driver seeks to deliver a computer to the house where Katherine lives with her husband John and five-year-old twins. Yet he has encountered nothing but obstacles in his desire to help whoever the woman inside the house is, and by the time he finds out if something is or is not going on, because she will not open the door, “… he could be back in jail just for daring to exist after a prison sentence”
The story is interspersed with feelings from the man holding Katherine and her two children at gun point. He is going to kill her and will not spare the children, if need be, but it is clear he is harbouring a lot of pain and hurt and believes it may be necessary “…. to blow up everything around you just to prove you’ve been hurt”, because one day you "... realise that the love of your life no longer thinks you’re the love of her life" but really this man is a resentful rage machine and he is prepared to punish her.
This was a pleasant read from the beginning and then the gear changed in the second part of the book, the suspense was at a different level, the anticipation was palatable and when I read through the plot and the twist, I almost wanted to go back to the beginning of the book to grasp what it was I had missed in the first place. A great read and highly recommended.
July 12, 2021
This was a tense book that I read pretty much in one sitting, and late into the night! The book opens with neighbors hearing gunshots and then works its way back through the rest of the day, from the POV of Katherine, who is being held at gunpoint. as well as nosy neighbor Gladys and delivery person Logan.
I thought the author did a great job of helping the reader get to know each primary character, to the point where I could relate to all of them in one aspect or another. Both Logan and Gladys struggled with how involved they should get and I was able to empathize with the conundrum of trying to determine if there is really a problem or if your imagination is getting away from you. The switches in POVs and short chapters made for a quick and engaging read, and there was no character's voice that I was uninterested in hearing.
I had a inkling as to what the twist was, but didn't have it fully figured out, and the author did a good job at keeping the tension high and then pulling it all together in a way that made sense at the end. When all was said and done. I found the story to be both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.
Overall, this was a fast read that was fraught with tension and I enjoyed it immensely. I was glad to see that there are a lot of other books by this author, though surprised that I had not read one before- I'll be solving that problem soon! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the author did a great job of helping the reader get to know each primary character, to the point where I could relate to all of them in one aspect or another. Both Logan and Gladys struggled with how involved they should get and I was able to empathize with the conundrum of trying to determine if there is really a problem or if your imagination is getting away from you. The switches in POVs and short chapters made for a quick and engaging read, and there was no character's voice that I was uninterested in hearing.
I had a inkling as to what the twist was, but didn't have it fully figured out, and the author did a good job at keeping the tension high and then pulling it all together in a way that made sense at the end. When all was said and done. I found the story to be both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.
Overall, this was a fast read that was fraught with tension and I enjoyed it immensely. I was glad to see that there are a lot of other books by this author, though surprised that I had not read one before- I'll be solving that problem soon! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2021
(3.5 stars). I decided to give this book a try after seeing so many five star reviews. I was also curious because Nicole Trope is a new author for me.
With that being said, I did enjoy this domestic thriller. I probably would have rated this book higher but I felt that there was a bit of redundancy with two of the characters, Gladys and Logan.
All in all, this was a quick page turner, and I plan on reading more from this author. I already have my eye on one of her previous novels, The Boy in the Photo ;)
With that being said, I did enjoy this domestic thriller. I probably would have rated this book higher but I felt that there was a bit of redundancy with two of the characters, Gladys and Logan.
All in all, this was a quick page turner, and I plan on reading more from this author. I already have my eye on one of her previous novels, The Boy in the Photo ;)
August 9, 2021
I don't remember the last time a domestic thriller made me feel hopeful about the universe - but this one changed that. I loved everything about this book! Thank you, Jayme, for putting this one on my radar, as I'm not sure I would have read it otherwise!
If there's a prevailing theme to this book it is that outward appearances can be deceiving and you never know what is happening behind closed doors. Katherine and John West and their five-year-old twins appear to be the perfect family. Until one day when their nosy neighbor, Gladys, feels that something is not right next door - John seemed to leave in a huff and the twins have not left for school at their usual time. Then a delivery driver, Logan, attempts a deliver at the West house, and Katherine refuses the delivery, giving off a disturbing vibe. When the day ends, the quiet friendly neighborhood will never be the same again.
This was an audiobook read for me, and the narrator was excellent! I loved the storyline unfolding through the POVs of Katherine, who is trying to navigate her children's safety; Gladys, the next door busybody neighbor with a penchant for calling the police about little to nothing; Logan, the delivery driver with his own checkered past, and the mystery man with a connection to Katherine. I wasn’t exactly sure how all of these characters were going to connect, especially the storyline of Logan and his younger sister, who is herself a victim of domestic assault, but they did in a clever, satisfying manner. I also thought Trope did a fabulous job with the back stories of each of the four main characters, providing just the right balance of getting to know each of them in a way that makes you empathetic with each of their current situations in some way.
I was wracking my brain throughout the book trying to figure out the connection all the characters had, and I still didn't see it coming at all. What a clever surprise! This book is jam packed with tension and suspense that kept my heart racing. This was my first introduction to Nicole Trope, but it will most definitely not be my last, as she is an amazingly gifted storyteller! All the stars!
If there's a prevailing theme to this book it is that outward appearances can be deceiving and you never know what is happening behind closed doors. Katherine and John West and their five-year-old twins appear to be the perfect family. Until one day when their nosy neighbor, Gladys, feels that something is not right next door - John seemed to leave in a huff and the twins have not left for school at their usual time. Then a delivery driver, Logan, attempts a deliver at the West house, and Katherine refuses the delivery, giving off a disturbing vibe. When the day ends, the quiet friendly neighborhood will never be the same again.
This was an audiobook read for me, and the narrator was excellent! I loved the storyline unfolding through the POVs of Katherine, who is trying to navigate her children's safety; Gladys, the next door busybody neighbor with a penchant for calling the police about little to nothing; Logan, the delivery driver with his own checkered past, and the mystery man with a connection to Katherine. I wasn’t exactly sure how all of these characters were going to connect, especially the storyline of Logan and his younger sister, who is herself a victim of domestic assault, but they did in a clever, satisfying manner. I also thought Trope did a fabulous job with the back stories of each of the four main characters, providing just the right balance of getting to know each of them in a way that makes you empathetic with each of their current situations in some way.
I was wracking my brain throughout the book trying to figure out the connection all the characters had, and I still didn't see it coming at all. What a clever surprise! This book is jam packed with tension and suspense that kept my heart racing. This was my first introduction to Nicole Trope, but it will most definitely not be my last, as she is an amazingly gifted storyteller! All the stars!
September 3, 2023
How do so many people love this book?! It was so tedious. It just went on and on and on. Even the two best characters (Debby and Logan) just started to grate at me with all the “babes” and wishy washiness.
First of all, my sincerest apologies to all my Aussie family but your accent just isn’t as soothing as the Queen’s English. I listened to this on audio and while the narrator could pull off a few of the female characters fine, switching to an older lady, then a 6 year old boy and then a 6 year old girl, throwing in about 4 more male characters to boot, just gave me a terrible headache. That voice just got whinier and whinier. Audio producers really need to think twice about a single voice doing a book with numerous POV’s.
Second, the entire book is basically a family held hostage, all day long, and a few characters just debating what to do the whole time. It was so monotonous. The same sentences just on repeat.
Three, who holds people hostage when the intent is to kill them, all day long and drivel away at them for hours on end? Just do it already or get the hell out.
Four, all the twists and turns, nail biting excitement and unputdownable pages that everyone keeps talking about…what twists? What thrilling excitement? My nails are bitten down just from trying to get this thing over with.
There was one twist and although, it was somewhat predictable, by the time it finally happened, I was so ready for this to be finished that I barely raised a brow.
And fifth, when you can’t wait for a book to finish up and then the author goes on to give every character a chance at the epilogue and again goes on and on, I just wonder why couldn’t 3/4ths of that just have been part of the actual story?
Anyways, not a fan over here. Can you tell?
First of all, my sincerest apologies to all my Aussie family but your accent just isn’t as soothing as the Queen’s English. I listened to this on audio and while the narrator could pull off a few of the female characters fine, switching to an older lady, then a 6 year old boy and then a 6 year old girl, throwing in about 4 more male characters to boot, just gave me a terrible headache. That voice just got whinier and whinier. Audio producers really need to think twice about a single voice doing a book with numerous POV’s.
Second, the entire book is basically a family held hostage, all day long, and a few characters just debating what to do the whole time. It was so monotonous. The same sentences just on repeat.
Three, who holds people hostage when the intent is to kill them, all day long and drivel away at them for hours on end? Just do it already or get the hell out.
Four, all the twists and turns, nail biting excitement and unputdownable pages that everyone keeps talking about…what twists? What thrilling excitement? My nails are bitten down just from trying to get this thing over with.
There was one twist and although, it was somewhat predictable, by the time it finally happened, I was so ready for this to be finished that I barely raised a brow.
And fifth, when you can’t wait for a book to finish up and then the author goes on to give every character a chance at the epilogue and again goes on and on, I just wonder why couldn’t 3/4ths of that just have been part of the actual story?
Anyways, not a fan over here. Can you tell?
September 6, 2021
This one ended up being a big disappointment. It was interesting and well written, telling the story of a day in Sydney from different viewpoints about a home where things just aren't right. It kept my interest even though it dragged through this long hot day, but by the end it became a dogs breakfast.
I do not like books or writers who pride themselves by thinking they are clever and want to surprise their readers with tricks that are unexpected. Just did not work well here at all.
Not my cup of tea, although I realise others liked it.
I do not like books or writers who pride themselves by thinking they are clever and want to surprise their readers with tricks that are unexpected. Just did not work well here at all.
Not my cup of tea, although I realise others liked it.
January 15, 2022
The worst! It was not the suspenseful page-turner it is described as. It was more of a slog that went on and on with one twist but by that time, I didn’t care anymore. It was described as the neighbors that didn’t join the barbecue or answer the door- not true. I was hoping for a good read- what a disappointment!
July 27, 2021
Everybody wants to live on Hogarth Street, the pretty tree-lined avenue with it's white houses. The new family, the Wests, are the perfect fit. Katherine and Josh seem to love their five year old twins race screeching around their beautiful emerald-green lawn. But soon people start to notice: why don't they loin backyard barbeques? Why do they brush away offers to babysit? Why, when you knock at the door, do they shut you out, rather than invite you in? Every family has secrets, and on the hottest day off the year, the truth is about to come out.
Logan has got himself a job as a delivery driver working for his brother-in-law when he has to drop off a computer, his first drop of that morning. But when he knocks on Katherine's door she tells him she can't open the door just now. Logan tells her if it's because she has not dressed he'll wait, but Katherine empathises she can't open the door just now. Something tells him that something is not right, but he carries on with his work. Katherine's nosey neighbour, Gladys, also thinks that something is wrong as the children's blinds aren't open yet. She tells her invalid husband Lou she's going to see if they're needing her help.
The story is told through multiple points of view. What a completely twisted thriller this turned out to be. I loved the authors style in writing this book. Each character had their own issues, some more than others. We are gradually drip fed the information behind this story but not all's as it seems. I was hooked into this story from the first page. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #NicoleTorpe for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Logan has got himself a job as a delivery driver working for his brother-in-law when he has to drop off a computer, his first drop of that morning. But when he knocks on Katherine's door she tells him she can't open the door just now. Logan tells her if it's because she has not dressed he'll wait, but Katherine empathises she can't open the door just now. Something tells him that something is not right, but he carries on with his work. Katherine's nosey neighbour, Gladys, also thinks that something is wrong as the children's blinds aren't open yet. She tells her invalid husband Lou she's going to see if they're needing her help.
The story is told through multiple points of view. What a completely twisted thriller this turned out to be. I loved the authors style in writing this book. Each character had their own issues, some more than others. We are gradually drip fed the information behind this story but not all's as it seems. I was hooked into this story from the first page. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #NicoleTorpe for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2024
Jayme was right, I loved this domestic thriller. 💕🥰 Definitely kept me guessing. Fast-paced with lots of action. I will definitely be reading this author’s back catalogue.
August 6, 2022
It's a psychological thriller...and what a thriller it is. After about 20 pages the reader is caught up in the story hook, line and sinker. The story is told from the perspective of several characters, so be patient. We hear from former bad boy Logan, nosy neighbor, Gladys, and Katherine and her captor. We learn from the prologue that a dangerous situation is taking place in Katherine’s house and then we go back in time over the past few hours to see how events came to unfolded. I was drawn to the characters of Logan and Gladys. Their lives have been full of difficulties which made them intensely vulnerable. Logan’s life has been ruled by his bad choices and a terrible childhood. He is often judged for his criminal background and has feelings of guilt for his previous behavior. Gladys cares for her husband Lou who has Parkinsons. They have no children, and her world revolves around trying to make human connections to combat the loneliness. From Katherine and her captor’s viewpoint show the crisis within their family, with 5-year-old twins in danger which heightens the tension. It's a shocking story of a family being held in acute fear by someone that should love them. Be aware that there are some extremely intense and violent scenes that may greatly impact some readers.
May 13, 2022
3.75 Stars
Told in multiple POV, both in 1st and 3rd person, it can be read as a standalone. The Family Across The Street is my first read by this author and won’t be my last for sure. I really enjoyed it. This story is about a seemingly perfect neighborhood. When a delivery man goes to one of the houses to deliver their laptop, they refuse to open the door and take the parcel. Something has been niggling the delivery man all day about that house and he can’t ignore it anymore…
The story is well-written, it’s thrilling, not twistish and I couldn’t guess the main twist. Isn’t that good?! Haha! This story reminds me again that we don’t know what’s happening behind closed doors, and who we should trust or shouldn’t trust. All the characters are well-developed and it’s a fast-paced story. I think Nicole Trope is a master of manipulation and I liked that. Overall, I had a good time reading it and hope you enjoy it!
Told in multiple POV, both in 1st and 3rd person, it can be read as a standalone. The Family Across The Street is my first read by this author and won’t be my last for sure. I really enjoyed it. This story is about a seemingly perfect neighborhood. When a delivery man goes to one of the houses to deliver their laptop, they refuse to open the door and take the parcel. Something has been niggling the delivery man all day about that house and he can’t ignore it anymore…
The story is well-written, it’s thrilling, not twistish and I couldn’t guess the main twist. Isn’t that good?! Haha! This story reminds me again that we don’t know what’s happening behind closed doors, and who we should trust or shouldn’t trust. All the characters are well-developed and it’s a fast-paced story. I think Nicole Trope is a master of manipulation and I liked that. Overall, I had a good time reading it and hope you enjoy it!
March 29, 2025
Some very good parts and some I didn’t like all that much
December 9, 2022
Nicole Trope is becoming a new favorite author of mine. The Family Across the Street was gripping from the very first page and left you speechless at the end with a huge twist. This one really does make you think what goes on at your neighbor’s house behind closed doors! This is my 3rd book by her and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!!
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