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17 days and 18:09:47
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Cult-de-sac
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
17 days and 18:09:47
10 copies available
U.S. only
All is well on Spring Street, but not for long...
When new neighbors move into a close-knit, cul-de-sac community, they are welcomed into the fold. Julianna, a nervous newlywed, does her best to fit in among the established clutch. Wearing the perfect outfit to holiday gatherings. Bringing the perfect gift to children’s birthday parties. And making the perfect appetizer for barbecues. Perfect, perfect, perfect. But her neighbors soon learn that Julianna’s perfection is an illusion, a painfully sought façade. There is darkness beneath her glossy surface for she was raised in a dangerous cult she escaped from as a teenager.
When a neighbor turns up dead on Julianna’s back patio, it is deemed an unfortunate accident. While the community is still grieving their loss, another family is touched by that darkness that seemed to sweep in with the arrival of the new neighbors. A pregnant, young mother on the street goes missing. And with this second tragedy, all who had their doubts about the first ‘accident’ are convinced more than ever that it was not just fate that claimed one of their own but something much more sinister; trusting the old saying that lightning never strikes in the same place twice.
When new neighbors move into a close-knit, cul-de-sac community, they are welcomed into the fold. Julianna, a nervous newlywed, does her best to fit in among the established clutch. Wearing the perfect outfit to holiday gatherings. Bringing the perfect gift to children’s birthday parties. And making the perfect appetizer for barbecues. Perfect, perfect, perfect. But her neighbors soon learn that Julianna’s perfection is an illusion, a painfully sought façade. There is darkness beneath her glossy surface for she was raised in a dangerous cult she escaped from as a teenager.
When a neighbor turns up dead on Julianna’s back patio, it is deemed an unfortunate accident. While the community is still grieving their loss, another family is touched by that darkness that seemed to sweep in with the arrival of the new neighbors. A pregnant, young mother on the street goes missing. And with this second tragedy, all who had their doubts about the first ‘accident’ are convinced more than ever that it was not just fate that claimed one of their own but something much more sinister; trusting the old saying that lightning never strikes in the same place twice.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2025
About the author
Jude Nichols
6 books33 followersJude Nichols is a writer and mother, who has worked in non-profits such as WGBH and The Boston Adult Literacy Fund. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two young sons, and Labrador Retriever, Bagel. Jude is a fan of and writer of dark(ish) domestic suspense. Jude truly appreciates each and every reader who takes a little break from their world to join one of her twisty, topsy-turvy fictional worlds.
Books Available on Kindle Unlimited, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble
Audiobooks Available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes
Books Available on Kindle Unlimited, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble
Audiobooks Available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 29, 2026
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
“Yes, Grief is a bitch with no mercy. She’ll slap you right in the face at any given moment. The sting of that slap brought tears to May’s eyes, but she’d be damned if she let her win. Grief would just love that, wouldn’t she?”
“The woods speak to those who listen.”
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
This book is packed with drama, grief, and edge-of-your-seat moments (don’t drop my Kindle) and had me swiping through it way too fast!
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
We’re dropped into a small New England cul-de-sac where everyone is suspicious of the new couple on the street (as one does). When Julianna, her husband Randall, and their daughter move in, the whole neighborhood shifts into a blur of side-eyes, whispered theories, and everyone trying to figure out if they can trust them without actually saying it out loud. And just when things feel tense enough, someone turns up dead, and another person goes missing—possibly dead too—sending everything spiraling.
At the center are three women: Avery, a mom of two trying to hold it all together; Julianna, a mom of one who moves in and instantly sets off everyone’s internal “hmm…” alarms; and May, living her best life with her husband Walter.
May and Walter are honestly the MVP’s of the neighborhood, and are the best parts of the book.
Dorothy was honestly adorable beyond belief. She’s one of those minor characters who shows up and somehow steals every scene she’s in without even trying. I found myself getting just as excited to see her pop in as I did for the main twists. Total side character, but definitely a scene stealer!
Reggie was also a total showstopper. Anytime an adorable, loving animal shows up in a book, they instantly steal my heart, and he was no exception.
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
What I love most is how the writer Jude manages to write a thriller that still feels emotionally raw. These aren’t just characters running through plot twists, they felt real. You see how grief reshapes people, how it sneaks in and rearranges everything. And how far we’ll go for family, neighbors, and friends— even when we probably should mind our own business.
This book is totally messy, it’s real, emotional, and damn if her endings don’t come full circle. I love when the ending makes sense and it’s not forced.
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
Content Warnings:
Grief and loss
Death (including emotionally heavy aftermath)
Suspicion, paranoia, and neighborhood tension
Marital strain
Relationship conflict
Family conflict
Psychological tension
Anxiety-inducing situations
Small-town gossip and social pressure
Trauma and past secrets
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
“Yes, Grief is a bitch with no mercy. She’ll slap you right in the face at any given moment. The sting of that slap brought tears to May’s eyes, but she’d be damned if she let her win. Grief would just love that, wouldn’t she?”
“The woods speak to those who listen.”
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
This book is packed with drama, grief, and edge-of-your-seat moments (don’t drop my Kindle) and had me swiping through it way too fast!
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
We’re dropped into a small New England cul-de-sac where everyone is suspicious of the new couple on the street (as one does). When Julianna, her husband Randall, and their daughter move in, the whole neighborhood shifts into a blur of side-eyes, whispered theories, and everyone trying to figure out if they can trust them without actually saying it out loud. And just when things feel tense enough, someone turns up dead, and another person goes missing—possibly dead too—sending everything spiraling.
At the center are three women: Avery, a mom of two trying to hold it all together; Julianna, a mom of one who moves in and instantly sets off everyone’s internal “hmm…” alarms; and May, living her best life with her husband Walter.
May and Walter are honestly the MVP’s of the neighborhood, and are the best parts of the book.
Dorothy was honestly adorable beyond belief. She’s one of those minor characters who shows up and somehow steals every scene she’s in without even trying. I found myself getting just as excited to see her pop in as I did for the main twists. Total side character, but definitely a scene stealer!
Reggie was also a total showstopper. Anytime an adorable, loving animal shows up in a book, they instantly steal my heart, and he was no exception.
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
What I love most is how the writer Jude manages to write a thriller that still feels emotionally raw. These aren’t just characters running through plot twists, they felt real. You see how grief reshapes people, how it sneaks in and rearranges everything. And how far we’ll go for family, neighbors, and friends— even when we probably should mind our own business.
This book is totally messy, it’s real, emotional, and damn if her endings don’t come full circle. I love when the ending makes sense and it’s not forced.
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
Content Warnings:
Grief and loss
Death (including emotionally heavy aftermath)
Suspicion, paranoia, and neighborhood tension
Marital strain
Relationship conflict
Family conflict
Psychological tension
Anxiety-inducing situations
Small-town gossip and social pressure
Trauma and past secrets
•─────⊰⋅☽⊱✦⊰☽⋅⊰─────•
May 12, 2026
Really good book! So many twists and turns! 💜
July 9, 2025
I loved this book. Characters were well developed, and plot was interesting although far fetched. Worth the read.
February 1, 2026
I loved this book. Well thought out characters ans plot.
A perfect mix of suspense and cozy relationships.
A perfect mix of suspense and cozy relationships.
March 4, 2026
This one had a charm to it that I wasn't expecting. The writing style of witty commentary from the unseen narrator kept me engaged. I quickly fell in love with the quirky characters so I didn't mind when things got fairly "day in the life"
I'm not sure what genre this one really fit into. Contemporary fiction with neighborhood drama and a dash of mystery. The plot really only reveals itself about 80% in. I would love another book with this cast of characters.
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, you'll be disappointed. But if you're into books such as "One of Us Is Dead" by Jeneva Rose or "You Killed Me First" by John Marrs, give this one a fair shot.
I'm not sure what genre this one really fit into. Contemporary fiction with neighborhood drama and a dash of mystery. The plot really only reveals itself about 80% in. I would love another book with this cast of characters.
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, you'll be disappointed. But if you're into books such as "One of Us Is Dead" by Jeneva Rose or "You Killed Me First" by John Marrs, give this one a fair shot.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews