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Dancing Hills Mystery #1
The Women on Retford Drive
Julia Pritchard, an aging sitcom star making a comeback, and her stepdaughter, Blythe Pritchard, an aspiring attorney, form a pact to start fresh and pursue their dreams. But their plans go awry when Keith Pritchard, Julia’s soon-to-be ex-husband and Blythe’s father, goes missing and is presumed dead, the day they plan to move out of his mansion.
The women are filled with bittersweet emotions when they consider the idea that Keith, a tycoon and functional alcoholic, could be out of their lives for good. Moreover, they fear the police will name them as persons of interest because of the abuse they suffered at Keith’s hands. Julia believes Keith hasn’t met with foul play but orchestrated his own disappearance, hoping the women will be blamed. However, Blythe believes her father is dead. When the police reveal a damning piece of evidence, which could result in one of them being charged with Keith’s possible murder, they join forces to find out what happened to him. Did one of the women go off script and kill Keith, or is another agenda at play, unbeknownst to the women and the police, that’s far more sinister?
The women are filled with bittersweet emotions when they consider the idea that Keith, a tycoon and functional alcoholic, could be out of their lives for good. Moreover, they fear the police will name them as persons of interest because of the abuse they suffered at Keith’s hands. Julia believes Keith hasn’t met with foul play but orchestrated his own disappearance, hoping the women will be blamed. However, Blythe believes her father is dead. When the police reveal a damning piece of evidence, which could result in one of them being charged with Keith’s possible murder, they join forces to find out what happened to him. Did one of the women go off script and kill Keith, or is another agenda at play, unbeknownst to the women and the police, that’s far more sinister?
352 pages, ebook
Published August 7, 2018
571 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Alretha Thomas
18 books224 followersShortly after graduating from USC with a degree in journalism, Alretha soon realized her interest in her major was not heartfelt. Instead of writing news stories, she wanted to write plays and books. Several years later, her church gave her an outlet to fulfill her writing desires through their Liturgical Fine Arts Department wherein Alretha penned twelve theatre pieces—the community response was overwhelming. This led to plays outside of the church, including Alretha’s One Woman, Two Lives, starring Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show), directed by four-time NAACP Image Award Best Director recipient, Denise Dowse. The production garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences.
In between plays, Alretha self-published her first novel, Daughter Denied, in 2008 and has received glowing reviews from readers and book clubs across the country. Representing her book and plays, Alretha has been the guest on many radio shows and television shows including San Francisco Public Affairs show Bay Sunday with Barbara Rodgers on CBS affiliate, KPIX. She was also interviewed by KTLA News Entertainment Reporter, Sam Rubin. In 2011, Alretha self-published her second novel, Dancing Her Dreams Away, and it was also well received. Her third novel, Married in the Nick of Nine, spawned a four-book series that was acquired by Soul Mate Publishing in January 2014. The series has since reverted back to her. In August 2014, Alretha was awarded the Jessie Redmon Fauset Literary Award for her indie novel, Four Ladies Only. In 2016, Alretha created the Detective Rachel Storme Mystery Series: Justice for Jessica, Losing Lauren and A Penny for Her Heart. In 2018 and 2019 Alretha debuted two additional mystery books—
The Women on Retford Drive and The Truth About Gretchen, respectively. Her most recent novel is The Girl in the Blue Blazer.
Alretha is also an actress and can be seen in numerous commercials and television shows. She currently plays Anastasia Devereaux on Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living that airs on BET.
In between plays, Alretha self-published her first novel, Daughter Denied, in 2008 and has received glowing reviews from readers and book clubs across the country. Representing her book and plays, Alretha has been the guest on many radio shows and television shows including San Francisco Public Affairs show Bay Sunday with Barbara Rodgers on CBS affiliate, KPIX. She was also interviewed by KTLA News Entertainment Reporter, Sam Rubin. In 2011, Alretha self-published her second novel, Dancing Her Dreams Away, and it was also well received. Her third novel, Married in the Nick of Nine, spawned a four-book series that was acquired by Soul Mate Publishing in January 2014. The series has since reverted back to her. In August 2014, Alretha was awarded the Jessie Redmon Fauset Literary Award for her indie novel, Four Ladies Only. In 2016, Alretha created the Detective Rachel Storme Mystery Series: Justice for Jessica, Losing Lauren and A Penny for Her Heart. In 2018 and 2019 Alretha debuted two additional mystery books—
The Women on Retford Drive and The Truth About Gretchen, respectively. Her most recent novel is The Girl in the Blue Blazer.
Alretha is also an actress and can be seen in numerous commercials and television shows. She currently plays Anastasia Devereaux on Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living that airs on BET.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
July 21, 2018
Women on Retford Drive is told from several first-person point-of-views in which we experienced the character’s thoughts and feelings. I thought that the main characters, Julia Pritchard and her stepdaughter, Blythe, were likeable characters that I could root for. Several of the secondary characters, including Blythe’s best friend and the Pritchards’ lawyer, Stephen, were likeable as well.
The story left me with a few gripes. Although the reader was treated to the thoughts and feelings of the character speaking in each chapter, sometimes there were gaps. I wouldn’t know what a character was thinking until they said something which I, the reader, wasn’t privy to earlier. I’m not sure if this was a plot device to keep the reader in suspense but it annoyed me a little.
The main characters spent large parts of the book suspecting each other, which I thought was weird, seeing as how they were plotting to get away from Blythe’s father for a year, stockpiling allowances and getting an apartment in order. Also, this was the only mother Blythe had ever known and the only daughter Julia had ever known. The reader is continually reminded how much they loved each other in between suspecting each other.
The main characters suspected so many people, usually based on flimsy evidence that I found myself getting frustrated by how wishy washy their conclusions were. After the author’s continual hints, I guessed who the killer was.
This book was a good book for what it was. It was very dialogue driven light mystery.
I received a copy of an ARC of Women on Retford Drive from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The story left me with a few gripes. Although the reader was treated to the thoughts and feelings of the character speaking in each chapter, sometimes there were gaps. I wouldn’t know what a character was thinking until they said something which I, the reader, wasn’t privy to earlier. I’m not sure if this was a plot device to keep the reader in suspense but it annoyed me a little.
The main characters spent large parts of the book suspecting each other, which I thought was weird, seeing as how they were plotting to get away from Blythe’s father for a year, stockpiling allowances and getting an apartment in order. Also, this was the only mother Blythe had ever known and the only daughter Julia had ever known. The reader is continually reminded how much they loved each other in between suspecting each other.
The main characters suspected so many people, usually based on flimsy evidence that I found myself getting frustrated by how wishy washy their conclusions were. After the author’s continual hints, I guessed who the killer was.
This book was a good book for what it was. It was very dialogue driven light mystery.
I received a copy of an ARC of Women on Retford Drive from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 31, 2020
I enjoyed this read and had fun trying to guess the killer. (I was right.) Everything is a bit spelled out not just once but often times twice because of seeing it in both Blyths and Julia's POV. It's nice having multiple perspectives because you can see the characters' thought processes in trying to guess the killer. However, I would have liked to see more suspect interviews since we were given the detective's POV.
I didn't like the romance side the author tried to add. It seemed rushed and unprofessional.
Overall, the story was good but I believe it would fit a teen audience instead of adults just because of the writing style.
I didn't like the romance side the author tried to add. It seemed rushed and unprofessional.
Overall, the story was good but I believe it would fit a teen audience instead of adults just because of the writing style.
July 20, 2018
This was an excellent read. I loved the bond between mother and step daughter. The domestic abuse in several situations is disturbing, and if that is a difficult personal topic for some, then this isn't your kind of book. An excellent mystery, filled with who did it and IF they did it. I was surprised at the end. I didn't see it coming. #thewomeonretforddrive #netgalley
*I would like to thank the author/ publisher/netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for afair and honest review*
*I would like to thank the author/ publisher/netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for afair and honest review*
November 6, 2019
Good Read
The book was free from Bookbub. The plot was inane which is a shame because this author could have made this a really good read. The main characters were not smart or likable, which is contrary to what the author tried to make them out to be. I gave the author three stars for good grammar.
Thank you, Ms. Thomas, for the read.
The book was free from Bookbub. The plot was inane which is a shame because this author could have made this a really good read. The main characters were not smart or likable, which is contrary to what the author tried to make them out to be. I gave the author three stars for good grammar.
Thank you, Ms. Thomas, for the read.
August 13, 2018
Alretha is a magician of the author world. She always manages to trick, misdirect, and fool all my thoughts as a novice detective when trying to figure out......who did it?
Main characters of the story are Julia and Blythe Pritchard. Julia married Blythe’s father Keith, several years ago and became Blythe’s step-mother after her real mother went missing and was never found. The author names each chapter according to whose perspective the story is coming from which makes it much easier because these two women are very close and could easily get confused, in my opinion, if not known by the chapter name. This time, Blythe’s father goes missing and the women don’t know if he’s just missing or dead. They find out pretty early which happened, but don’t know “who” or “why”. At times, although they’re very close, each suspects the other. Slowly more characters are introduced as they do press conferences, searches etc for Keith Pritchard. Keith has also been abusive to Julia for about 5 years during the marriage which is why Julia filed for divorce and her and Blythe were in process of moving out of the house, when they found out Keith missed a very important flight overseas for his business
Many characters are interviewed by the police to find out where they were, what times, during the window of time that was narrowed down, by last people to have seen him alive. All have pretty good alibis, but not airtight and much suspicion is thrown around by these characters as to who they think may have wanted to harm Keith, especially Keith’s mother, who is crazy like a fox.. She’s not a fan of Julia’s so, of course, that’s who she points the finger at. Keith had a lot of money from his business and his mother thinks Julia did something in hopes of inheriting his money. She’s also in denial that her son was abusive, although his father mentioned the abusive relationship between Keith and his mother.
I don’t want to go into too much detail as I don’t want to accidentally give any spoilers away that would truly ruin a really wonderful, twisty mystery. It’s such a delight to read and try to figure out is he missing or dead?
You will enjoy this book. It’s really a very well written story and at times a nail biter! Put on your best detective hats and skills to see if you are wise enough to figure out the entire mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy for an honest review.
I just reviewed The Women On Retford Drive by Alretha Thomas (Award-Winning Author). #Thewomenonretforddrive #NetGalley
Main characters of the story are Julia and Blythe Pritchard. Julia married Blythe’s father Keith, several years ago and became Blythe’s step-mother after her real mother went missing and was never found. The author names each chapter according to whose perspective the story is coming from which makes it much easier because these two women are very close and could easily get confused, in my opinion, if not known by the chapter name. This time, Blythe’s father goes missing and the women don’t know if he’s just missing or dead. They find out pretty early which happened, but don’t know “who” or “why”. At times, although they’re very close, each suspects the other. Slowly more characters are introduced as they do press conferences, searches etc for Keith Pritchard. Keith has also been abusive to Julia for about 5 years during the marriage which is why Julia filed for divorce and her and Blythe were in process of moving out of the house, when they found out Keith missed a very important flight overseas for his business
Many characters are interviewed by the police to find out where they were, what times, during the window of time that was narrowed down, by last people to have seen him alive. All have pretty good alibis, but not airtight and much suspicion is thrown around by these characters as to who they think may have wanted to harm Keith, especially Keith’s mother, who is crazy like a fox.. She’s not a fan of Julia’s so, of course, that’s who she points the finger at. Keith had a lot of money from his business and his mother thinks Julia did something in hopes of inheriting his money. She’s also in denial that her son was abusive, although his father mentioned the abusive relationship between Keith and his mother.
I don’t want to go into too much detail as I don’t want to accidentally give any spoilers away that would truly ruin a really wonderful, twisty mystery. It’s such a delight to read and try to figure out is he missing or dead?
You will enjoy this book. It’s really a very well written story and at times a nail biter! Put on your best detective hats and skills to see if you are wise enough to figure out the entire mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy for an honest review.
I just reviewed The Women On Retford Drive by Alretha Thomas (Award-Winning Author). #Thewomenonretforddrive #NetGalley
August 15, 2018
Julia Pritchard and her stepdaughter Blythe have finally found the courage to escape the abusive clutches of Keith Pritchard. With divorce proceedings underway the two women pack their things ready to move into their own apartment only to find that the soon to be ex husband and father has disappeared. As their world spirals out of control they soon discover who they can and can't trust and just how easily people can believe only what they want to believe.
I felt the subject of spousal abuse was well considered and didn't seem either exaggerated or minimalised. As the thread which held the story together this was contrasted by characters with kind hearts and the two together gave a good impression of real life even if very few of us are as wealthy as Keith Pritchard.
This is a very easy read, the chapters are short and move the story along from one of four points of view. I loved the mother-in-law she was deliciously deranged and her husband was a sweetheart. That said each of them facilitated the abuse their son dished out to both his wives and their culpability was well explained.
Thanks to Netgalley I was able to read an advanced copy of this book and as it is the first of a series I can look forward to reading more in the future.
I felt the subject of spousal abuse was well considered and didn't seem either exaggerated or minimalised. As the thread which held the story together this was contrasted by characters with kind hearts and the two together gave a good impression of real life even if very few of us are as wealthy as Keith Pritchard.
This is a very easy read, the chapters are short and move the story along from one of four points of view. I loved the mother-in-law she was deliciously deranged and her husband was a sweetheart. That said each of them facilitated the abuse their son dished out to both his wives and their culpability was well explained.
Thanks to Netgalley I was able to read an advanced copy of this book and as it is the first of a series I can look forward to reading more in the future.
August 14, 2018
From the start, I knew that Julia Pritchard wasn't the murder in the story, but somehow as the story progresses, I was less sure. It was pretty convincing in rattling my beliefs, The victim was her husband, someone who on the surface was a good man.
A good mystery is not as straight forward, suffice to say that the story was convoluted enough to inspire a read, but not enough to cry foul over it. For a person who has read a few of her books, The Women on Retford Drive is more complex and more refined.
Definitely a read.
A good mystery is not as straight forward, suffice to say that the story was convoluted enough to inspire a read, but not enough to cry foul over it. For a person who has read a few of her books, The Women on Retford Drive is more complex and more refined.
Definitely a read.
dnf
October 16, 2024I am DNF for language. A character uses the word that describes a cat that begins with the letter P. I don't like that. That character is one of the main characters so, I'm just not going to chance this.
I am getting pickier with what I read. And one of the picky things is certain language.
I am getting pickier with what I read. And one of the picky things is certain language.
July 20, 2018
Women on Retford Drive begins with Julia Pritchard, and her stepdaughter, Blythe, finalizing their move into their own apartment, and leaving the home they’ve shared with Keith Pritchard for years. They are both ready to move on with their lives, away from an abusive husband and father, until they receive a phone call from Keith’s assistant that he’s missed his flight and no one has heard from him. Neither of them thinks much of it. They talk to Martha, the housekeeper, who hasn’t seen Keith since yesterday evening, but things take a sinister turn when Martha discovers a bloody shirt of Keith’s between the washer and dryer. As they all try to decipher what’s happened, things start to happen quickly. The police are called and suspicions are raised. What follows is a series of twists, turns and revelations that will leave you guessing until the very end………….
Women on Retford Drive is a great start to Alretha Thomas’ new series, Dancing Hills Mysteries. Told from several first person POVs, we are privy to the character’s thoughts and feelings. Julia Pritchard was an interesting character. She was a very protective step-mother, a very loyal friend and by all accounts, a loving and supportive wife. She and Blythe were extremely close, but that didn’t stop either of them from suspecting (even just a little) each other. Blythe was a nicely written character as well. Thomas did a great job of writing about her insecurities, as well as her determination to see things through.
The secondary characters were well written as well. We get to know just enough of them to make it interesting, and to also suspect them as you read along. I would know, without a doubt, who the culprit was, until I read the next chapter. Then, I knew again, and again…………… LOL! I did end up figuring it out before the reveal, but not until I’d suspected basically everyone, which for me, is a good thing. It means the author is doing her job. I’m looking forward to getting more glimpses into the workings of Dancing Hills. I’m guessing the detectives we meet in this installment will continue to appear, and I can’t wait to get to know more about them as well. Talk about an odd couple! But, I love them together. Women on Retford Drive is ultimately a story of self-discovery and proof that blood does not make you family. I can’t wait for the next installment. If you’re a fan of mysteries, with a little romance mixed in, you’ll definitely not go wrong with this one. Well done, Alretha Thomas! Very well done!
Women on Retford Drive is a great start to Alretha Thomas’ new series, Dancing Hills Mysteries. Told from several first person POVs, we are privy to the character’s thoughts and feelings. Julia Pritchard was an interesting character. She was a very protective step-mother, a very loyal friend and by all accounts, a loving and supportive wife. She and Blythe were extremely close, but that didn’t stop either of them from suspecting (even just a little) each other. Blythe was a nicely written character as well. Thomas did a great job of writing about her insecurities, as well as her determination to see things through.
The secondary characters were well written as well. We get to know just enough of them to make it interesting, and to also suspect them as you read along. I would know, without a doubt, who the culprit was, until I read the next chapter. Then, I knew again, and again…………… LOL! I did end up figuring it out before the reveal, but not until I’d suspected basically everyone, which for me, is a good thing. It means the author is doing her job. I’m looking forward to getting more glimpses into the workings of Dancing Hills. I’m guessing the detectives we meet in this installment will continue to appear, and I can’t wait to get to know more about them as well. Talk about an odd couple! But, I love them together. Women on Retford Drive is ultimately a story of self-discovery and proof that blood does not make you family. I can’t wait for the next installment. If you’re a fan of mysteries, with a little romance mixed in, you’ll definitely not go wrong with this one. Well done, Alretha Thomas! Very well done!
August 11, 2018
This mystery was told in the first person by multiple characters, so it gave the reader more insight into the characters and helped to form an opinion as to who killed Julia's soon to be ex-husband. The concept was great and the writing was good, but this wasn't as good as some other mysteries I have read recently.
August 6, 2018
This book was excellent. I loved the relationship between the mother Julia and the stepdaughter Blythe because it was real. The women loved each other deeply, but like in all relationships, they had their disagreements, particularly when it came to their theories regarding Keith's disappearance. They struggled with their doubts about each other and this pulled me into the story even more. The novel had more dialogue than what I'm accustomed to, but it rang true and carried the story well.
If you're looking for a good mystery, you won't be disappointed. The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and it was difficult to put this one down. The ending will take your breath away.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you're looking for a good mystery, you won't be disappointed. The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and it was difficult to put this one down. The ending will take your breath away.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2018
Julia is the only mother Blythe has known. Her bio mom went missing when she was six. Now her father is missing. Is it a hoax, a conspiracy or foul play? I found myself up all night trying to get the answer to that question. This is an engaging, page-turning mystery that I just couldn't put down. The writer is a master at using red herrings. Every time I thought I knew who the culprit was I ended up being wrong, wrong, wrong! The characters are relatable and well-developed, people I could hang out with. Surprise ending.
This is an honest review in exchange for an arc copy of the book.
This is an honest review in exchange for an arc copy of the book.
August 6, 2018
The Women on Retford Drive is an excellent kickoff to a new mystery series by Alretha Thomas. An intriguing plot and well defined characters combine to make this a great read. Is Keith dead or is his disappearance an elaborate hoax? If he is dead, who killed him and why? These and other questions spurred on my reading and speculations. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book in this series.
August 6, 2018
This was an enjoyable whodunit in the vein of Gone Girl. But in this case it’s Gone Guy. Keith Pritchard was scheduled to fly out of Los Angeles on his private Jet to New York on a roadshow to take his company public, but he never makes his flight. This startling occurrence sends his soon to be ex-wife Julia into a panic along with his daughter, Blythe, both of whom are leaving him. Julia believes Keith is behind his own disappearance, but Blythe thinks her father’s dead and the police believe the women, who have been abused by Keith, may be guilty. Racing against the clock, Julia and Blythe start their own investigation that leads to a litany of suspects, including each other. I had a difficult time trying to determine what and if anything had happened to Keith. This book kept me on the edge of my seat with my eyes glued to my Kindle.
The characters were thoroughly fleshed out and the writing flowed. The story is told in alternating views—Julia, Blythe, their attorney Stephen, and the lead detective Brian Johnson. There are myriad twists and turns and surprising revelations, the biggest of which comes at the end. I recommend this book.
I’m grateful to the publisher and netgalley for giving me access to this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were thoroughly fleshed out and the writing flowed. The story is told in alternating views—Julia, Blythe, their attorney Stephen, and the lead detective Brian Johnson. There are myriad twists and turns and surprising revelations, the biggest of which comes at the end. I recommend this book.
I’m grateful to the publisher and netgalley for giving me access to this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2018
The Women on Retford Drive is an excellent mystery full of twists and turns that kept me reading well into the wee hours of the morning.
Keith Pritchard, a batterer, has gone missing and is thought to be dead. His wife Julia (soon to be ex) and his daughter Blythe become persons of interests and fearing that they’ll be charged with his murder, they frantically try to find out what happened to him. The story is told in first person alternating POVS. This served the author well. Seeing the story unfold from various points of view made the read engaging and exciting. I found Julia and Blythe very likeable and had empathy for them. There was even a touch of romance with Julia and her attorney Stephen who was also very likeable and relatable.
As the story unfolded, numerous suspects were identified, and I thought I knew who had dunnit, but was wrong several times. There are so many interesting facets to this mystery, many surprises that I didn’t see coming. The writing was seamless with a fair balance of narrative and dialogue. Overall this is a great read.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Keith Pritchard, a batterer, has gone missing and is thought to be dead. His wife Julia (soon to be ex) and his daughter Blythe become persons of interests and fearing that they’ll be charged with his murder, they frantically try to find out what happened to him. The story is told in first person alternating POVS. This served the author well. Seeing the story unfold from various points of view made the read engaging and exciting. I found Julia and Blythe very likeable and had empathy for them. There was even a touch of romance with Julia and her attorney Stephen who was also very likeable and relatable.
As the story unfolded, numerous suspects were identified, and I thought I knew who had dunnit, but was wrong several times. There are so many interesting facets to this mystery, many surprises that I didn’t see coming. The writing was seamless with a fair balance of narrative and dialogue. Overall this is a great read.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2018
The Women on Retford Drive is a first person multiple POV mystery. I tend to lean toward third person stories, but the author was able to write this story seamlessly, pulling me in at page one. Julia and Blythe Pritchard are inseparable and have suffered several years of abuse at the hands of Keith Pritchard, Julia’s husband and Blythe’s father. The story opens on the day they plan to leave Keith’s mansion. It’s the perfect day to make their escape because Keith is on his way to New York. He’s in the process of taking his company public. But all hell breaks loose when the women are notified that Keith missed his flight and cannot be found. The women suspect he’s on his way back to the house to stop them from leaving, but that theory is tossed when the housekeeper discovers Keith’s bloody shirt. Blythe surmises there’s foul play. But where is his body? Is he dead? Julia believes it’s a hoax and that Keith is trying to thwart their plans. I had planned to read the book over several days, but I failed. I read it in one sitting because I had to know what had happened, if anything, and who did it. The writing is excellent, and the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. This is one of the best mysteries I’ve read so far this year.
July 26, 2018
This was an engaging read that sheds light on domestic abuse. Julia and Blythe Pritchard are fed up with their abusive husband and father respectively. The day they plan their escape, he turns up missing. Scheduled to fly to New York to begin an IPO roadshow, he never makes the flight. Where is he? A bloody shirt found in the laundry room of his mansion screams foul play! Are Julia and Blythe responsible for his disappearance or is the maid the culprit? Maybe it’s Keith’s business partner Richard.
The well-developed characters make the narrative captivating with its cliff-hanging plots and shocking revelations. The dialogue is believable and engaging. This nail-biting mystery is a must read. The finale will shock you to the core and will leave you asking the question how well do we really know someone?
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher.
The well-developed characters make the narrative captivating with its cliff-hanging plots and shocking revelations. The dialogue is believable and engaging. This nail-biting mystery is a must read. The finale will shock you to the core and will leave you asking the question how well do we really know someone?
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher.
July 24, 2018
The adage be careful what you wish for came to mind while reading The Women on Retford Drive. Julia and her stepdaughter Blythe longed for the day when they could be free from their abusive husband and father, Keith Pritchard. But did they want their freedom badly enough that they would be willing to commit murder? That’s the lingering question in this ingenious mystery. I immediately connected to Julia and Blythe who alternately tell the story. Their lawyer and the detective on the case also have a few chapters. Once I started reading, it was very difficult to put this book down. I just had to know what had happened to Keith and who did it? Was he dead? Was he going to suddenly make an appearance? It’s a nail-biter. Every time I thought I knew who the culprit was, something else was revealed to discount my theory. The ending is explosive and surprising. This is an excellent mystery. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 31, 2018
This story is amazing. Alretha Thomas has done a superb job of creating another magical whodunit. The female characters are strong and amazing. The villain is portrayed in a way that you almost sympathize with him. I really enjoyed the story.
October 15, 2019
I really wish I could have got into this, but there were so many little things that annoyed me that in the end I couldn't wait to finish and be done with it.
The way the author decided to approach the story telling, with each chapter from the first person perspective of one of the characters was a bold idea. I can see what they were trying to do, but for myself I found it frustrating. Whilst I imagine the idea was the reader would get a glimpse into each character's psyche, actions, motives etc., I found it distracting, I had to keep going back to see which character I had this time, and to be honest it left me feeling unconnected to any of them. I think Ms Thomas tried to jump between too many characters. Perhaps if she had kept this approach for only the main 2 or 3 protagonists it would have worked better.
Talking of the main protagonists, as suggested above, I didn't connect with any of them. I found the "ageing sitcom actress" to mostly be downright annoying. I didn't understand the motive behind a lot of the actions (hiding evidence, lying to your lawyer) and the Nancy Drew style of investigating any possible lead without bothering to inform the police, well it was just silly. As for the wrap up as they discovered the true culprit, talk about jumping to conclusions and making a story fit their own assumptions. Where was the actual evidence for any of this?? I found the big reveal to be ridiculous, as was the confession letter at the end, which felt clunky and very twee. It all felt so contrived it removed any sense of reality, which for me broke any spell the author was trying to weave.
The way the author decided to approach the story telling, with each chapter from the first person perspective of one of the characters was a bold idea. I can see what they were trying to do, but for myself I found it frustrating. Whilst I imagine the idea was the reader would get a glimpse into each character's psyche, actions, motives etc., I found it distracting, I had to keep going back to see which character I had this time, and to be honest it left me feeling unconnected to any of them. I think Ms Thomas tried to jump between too many characters. Perhaps if she had kept this approach for only the main 2 or 3 protagonists it would have worked better.
Talking of the main protagonists, as suggested above, I didn't connect with any of them. I found the "ageing sitcom actress" to mostly be downright annoying. I didn't understand the motive behind a lot of the actions (hiding evidence, lying to your lawyer) and the Nancy Drew style of investigating any possible lead without bothering to inform the police, well it was just silly. As for the wrap up as they discovered the true culprit, talk about jumping to conclusions and making a story fit their own assumptions. Where was the actual evidence for any of this?? I found the big reveal to be ridiculous, as was the confession letter at the end, which felt clunky and very twee. It all felt so contrived it removed any sense of reality, which for me broke any spell the author was trying to weave.
July 23, 2018
This is a riveting mystery. Julia Pritchard and her stepdaughter Blythe are anxious to start their new lives away from their abusive husband and father, Keith Pritchard. Unfortunately, he goes missing the day they make their getaway. When the housekeeper makes a gruesome discovery in the laundry room, the women fear the police will point the finger at them. But was Keith really hurt? Is Keith dead? If so, where is his body and moreover, who did it? This book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride and the reveal in the end was mind-blowing. This is an excellent mystery with relateable characters you can root for. It's the first book in a series. I'm looking forward to reading book #2.
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2018
This held my interest from beginning to end. Lots of twists and a surprise ending. I'd be interested in reading the next book in the series.
July 25, 2018
Fast paced quick read. This book will hold your interest all the way through. There is constant dialogue, chain of thought of each character. Brings to light abusive relationships and why women stay.. Only a few expletives and no steamy sex. A good mystery for a rainy day or an afternoon poolside!
July 26, 2018
Look, I'm just going to cut to the chase - The Women on Retford Drive is bad.
It tells the story of an abusive man, Keith Pritchard, who has gone missing and is presumed dead. His soon to be ex-wife, Julia, and his daughter, Blythe, both become suspects and amateur detectives trying to figure out what happened to him.
The story is told through alternative points of view in each chapter. A lot of times, these alternating perspectives are profoundly useful when unraveling a mystery but they did not work here at all. The biggest reason why this failed is that all of the characters are the same. Seriously. They are all very flat, one dimensional, interchangeable characters. Despite the fact that at least 4 different characters get their own chapters, they all read the same. There is zero character development here. Julia is an actress, Blythe is a law student, Stephen is an attorney and Brian is a detective. That is all we learn about them. There are no nuances to their personalities, quirky traits, growth nothing that makes them stand out from anyone else.
This also bleeds over into my biggest problem with this book. It was very dialogue heavy. The characters narrated literally every single little minute thing that they were doing out loud, which was off-putting, to say the least. And despite the insane MURDER INVESTIGATION that they are all embroiled in, it's all very ho-hum, pass the potatoes kind of dialogue. The author's favorite words/phrases to use were 'anyway,' 'speaking of,' and 'by the way,' which all lead to unintentionally hilarious scenes of dialogue.
Have you guys ever seen the movie, The Room? Because this book reminded me of that. The tone was ALL over the place and things were hysterical that clearly were not meant to be. Needless to say, I won't be continuing this series.
I received this ARC as a courtesy from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It tells the story of an abusive man, Keith Pritchard, who has gone missing and is presumed dead. His soon to be ex-wife, Julia, and his daughter, Blythe, both become suspects and amateur detectives trying to figure out what happened to him.
The story is told through alternative points of view in each chapter. A lot of times, these alternating perspectives are profoundly useful when unraveling a mystery but they did not work here at all. The biggest reason why this failed is that all of the characters are the same. Seriously. They are all very flat, one dimensional, interchangeable characters. Despite the fact that at least 4 different characters get their own chapters, they all read the same. There is zero character development here. Julia is an actress, Blythe is a law student, Stephen is an attorney and Brian is a detective. That is all we learn about them. There are no nuances to their personalities, quirky traits, growth nothing that makes them stand out from anyone else.
This also bleeds over into my biggest problem with this book. It was very dialogue heavy. The characters narrated literally every single little minute thing that they were doing out loud, which was off-putting, to say the least. And despite the insane MURDER INVESTIGATION that they are all embroiled in, it's all very ho-hum, pass the potatoes kind of dialogue. The author's favorite words/phrases to use were 'anyway,' 'speaking of,' and 'by the way,' which all lead to unintentionally hilarious scenes of dialogue.
Have you guys ever seen the movie, The Room? Because this book reminded me of that. The tone was ALL over the place and things were hysterical that clearly were not meant to be. Needless to say, I won't be continuing this series.
I received this ARC as a courtesy from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2019
Rating 3.5 Stars!
I saw this book, The Women on Retford Drive by Alretha Thomas available on NetGalley one evening. It's the first book in the Dancing Hills Mystery series, although I'll admit I've never heard of this author or the series. The synopsis of the book is what got me. I requested the opportunity to review the book and I was approved.
The storyline in The Women on Retford Drive is told from several first person points of view allowing readers to see and feel through the eyes of the characters. The author very nicely names each chapter according to whose perspective the story is coming from too.
The main characters, Julia Pritchard and her stepdaughter, Blythe, were very likable and well-written characters. Some of the other characters that were more secondary to the story were also very likable.
The Women on Retford Drive does contain some domestic abuse situations which are a bit disturbing, so if that's something that is difficult topic for anyone to read, I'd probably tell them to pass on this book. Other than that issue, the story itself was an excellent mystery! I was actually surprised at the end of the story and I really didn't see it coming.
It's super hard to write about the story of a mystery because I don’t want to go into too much detail. I don't want to slip and give a spoiler and possibly ruin the read for any of you. I will say it is an easy read, well written and a great mystery full of twists and turns. I had fun trying to figure out if "he" (I'm not telling you who) is missing or dead.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I saw this book, The Women on Retford Drive by Alretha Thomas available on NetGalley one evening. It's the first book in the Dancing Hills Mystery series, although I'll admit I've never heard of this author or the series. The synopsis of the book is what got me. I requested the opportunity to review the book and I was approved.
The storyline in The Women on Retford Drive is told from several first person points of view allowing readers to see and feel through the eyes of the characters. The author very nicely names each chapter according to whose perspective the story is coming from too.
The main characters, Julia Pritchard and her stepdaughter, Blythe, were very likable and well-written characters. Some of the other characters that were more secondary to the story were also very likable.
The Women on Retford Drive does contain some domestic abuse situations which are a bit disturbing, so if that's something that is difficult topic for anyone to read, I'd probably tell them to pass on this book. Other than that issue, the story itself was an excellent mystery! I was actually surprised at the end of the story and I really didn't see it coming.
It's super hard to write about the story of a mystery because I don’t want to go into too much detail. I don't want to slip and give a spoiler and possibly ruin the read for any of you. I will say it is an easy read, well written and a great mystery full of twists and turns. I had fun trying to figure out if "he" (I'm not telling you who) is missing or dead.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
September 24, 2019
I called time on this in the end as it just didn't seem believable enough to me. Before I downloaded it I hadn't realised I had tried the author before, either. I think her books are more suitable for a YA audience, maybe.
I didn't really understand or believe that Julia and Blythe would both be quite so tearful and sobbing about Keith being missing at the beginning, considering he was such a swine !! It didn't ring true to me and I have to be able to mostly believe in what I'm reading. I didn't understand either how Julia could hear Blythe's personal ringtone when she was calling HER !!! The juncture where I gave in was when Blythe was thinking about not mentioning evidence and considering she wants to be a lawyer, I just couldn't take that on board !
I laughed to myself when they were filling out a missing person's report and one of the questions was 'Does the individual chew gum ?' For real ???
She wrote Gove and not Grove at one point and there was the odd missed word and punctuation mark but it wasn't badly presented at all !! I read 29% so did give it a good go but it just isn't for me.
I didn't really understand or believe that Julia and Blythe would both be quite so tearful and sobbing about Keith being missing at the beginning, considering he was such a swine !! It didn't ring true to me and I have to be able to mostly believe in what I'm reading. I didn't understand either how Julia could hear Blythe's personal ringtone when she was calling HER !!! The juncture where I gave in was when Blythe was thinking about not mentioning evidence and considering she wants to be a lawyer, I just couldn't take that on board !
I laughed to myself when they were filling out a missing person's report and one of the questions was 'Does the individual chew gum ?' For real ???
She wrote Gove and not Grove at one point and there was the odd missed word and punctuation mark but it wasn't badly presented at all !! I read 29% so did give it a good go but it just isn't for me.
October 1, 2019
The boring women on Retford Drive
That's right, they are boring, I barely got through this book, I don't even want to waste my time reviewing it,
That's right, they are boring, I barely got through this book, I don't even want to waste my time reviewing it,
January 21, 2019
I loved the premise of this book, and I wanted to love it but the storyline and characters were ridiculous. As a lawyer, I can tell you that lawyers don't group hug their clients. Things like that in the book had me rolling my eyes the entire time.
September 21, 2018
This is a well-written mystery that keeps you guessing. It tells the story of a missing person, Keith: an obnoxious and mean person that was abusive and manipulative; that the world may be better off without...and as a result there are no shortage of suspects. The book primarily focuses on two main characters, Julia, the soon to be ex-wife, and Blythe, Keith's pre-law school daughter. This book is told entirely in first person, with each chapter changing narrators. Most chapters are either Blythe's perspective or Julia's, but occasionally, we get a chapter told from the viewpoint of the main Detective on the case, or from Julia and Blythe's lawyer. I struggled a bit with the fluctuating first person narratives--If you're inside someone's head, I wanted them to more clearly tell me some things...but this is also a whodunit, and the author wanted to keep you guessing about who was behind Keith's disappearance and possible murder. So while I understood that certain things were left muddy for much of the book, I also got pretty aggravated a few times as it didn't feel truthful or real. There are a lot a flashbacks that lent a lot of depth both to the characters and to their motivations and relationships. I liked that the flashbacks provided clarity about gradual escalations in abusive relationships, and where, sometimes, abusive patterns can originate. And how people hide abuse, sometimes even from themselves. There is an element of romance in the book that while the character certainly deserved to find, felt uncomfortable for me personally. There is a little bit of moral ambiguity addressed which was interesting...if he's a bad guy, is it so bad that he's gone? Also, the power of social media, the mob mentality, the power of the public and/or the media to convict before anyone is ever charged--all of that is very very interesting and handled well. Overall, I liked this book, I felt the author did a fairly good job at misdirection and dropping red herrings so that I suspected a few different people early on. I liked the resolution and that the author addresses what happened with multiple characters, not just the main two, but the door is definitely left open for more in this series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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