The Neighbor's Secret by Alison L. Heller

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 336 pages
Published: October 2021

The Neighbor’s Secret by L. Alison Heller was another Book of the Month Club selection for me. I enjoy a book filled with mystery and suspense, and the synopsis indicated that I would get this. The plot of the book is a group of neighborhood mothers who get together for book club each month … suspense + book club … Sign. Me. Up! Someone ends up dead, and the bulk of the book provides information leading the reader to the victim and murderer. While the center of the book is primarily about the murder, the book itself features a cast of characters, none of whom I would say are primary, but they all work together to create suspicion around local vandalism that is occurring in the neighborhood, an old mystery about what happened to an older neighbor’s husband and estranged daughter and a new resident mom and her son that seems a bit socially awkward in addition to the murder case at hand. All of these red herrings take the reader on several twists and turns before reaching the conclusion of the mystery at the end of the novel. 

I enjoyed this book. It was a fast read, and although some of the themes in the book were heavy, they were handled in such a way that didn’t emotionally burden the reader. Many reviews compare this book to Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies, and I can certainly see where they get that. It’s a mystery that is lightened through quirky characters and periodic comedic relief. Heller did a great job weaving all the characters and subplots together to create a well-rounded mystery that keeps the reader on the hook without being too far-fetched to solve. 

Recommendation: I found this book to be entertaining and engaging. I think it would be a fun read over spring break or maybe even a summer vacation. Everything is tied up nicely in the end, leaving the reader feeling satisfied. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.