A domestic drama set in a cul-de-sac where a murder has been committed and all the residents are suspects. This isn’t a thriller or mystery in the normal sense of the words but rather a story about what goes on behind closed doors and how not to get on with your neighbours!

I have read a few of Lesley Pearse’s books before and enjoyed them. However, I don’t think Suspects is one of her best. It doesn’t seem to be up to the author’s normal eloquent style of writing. It’s all a little bizarre and the characters are somewhat stereotypical. I’m not going to say much more other than, having said all that, I did find it an easy and entertaining read. It made me chuckle a few times!

If you would like to try an excellent example of this author’s work, I can recommend ‘Remember Me’ about Mary Broad, one of the first convicts to be transported to Australia. ( )

I absolutely love Lesley Pearse's books and have done for many years. I always look forward to picking up her latest book and getting stuck into a really great story. Suspects is, incredibly, her 29th book! It's set around Willow Close, a seemingly quiet, suburban road in Cheltenham. It's Nina and Conrad Best's moving day and they're about to find out that Willow Close might not be the peaceful home they had hoped for.

On the day they move in, one of the residents is found dead in the nearby woods and shockwaves travel around each household. What I loved about this book is that it's not a thriller, despite the murder. It's a story of a group of neighbours and how you never really know what's going on behind closed doors. The action swaps between each set of residents and I was fascinated by what they were all getting up to!

We also follow the police investigation into the murder and get to know the officer in charge pretty well. I really liked how he seemed to become part of Willow Close in his own way. The road is a teeming hotbed of gossip, criminal behaviour, overeating, alcoholism, drink driving, and more. I'm wondering what's going on behind my neighbours' doors now!

Suspects is a great title for this book. I suspected everybody and I think the culprit could have been any of them. I'd probably class this book as a domestic drama. For me there were no big surprises or reveals, but I just found it a really enjoyable and easy read. ( )