Thursday, January 16, 2020

Where Is Your Bookmark? (Featuring The Family Next Door by Fiona Cummins)

I started and finished reading my January TBR List winner, An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris this week, and also have been reading a domestic thriller called The Family Next Door by Fiona Cummins. The Family Next Door is titled The Neighbour in other countries where it has been published. While both titles fit the book, I am not sure why it was necessary to change it just for the American version. Americanizing the spelling of "neighbour" to "neighbor" would have been easier. But what do I know?


For Sale: Lovely family home, ready for your updates. Friendly neighborhood setting close to park; secluded.

If not for the bodies discovered in the woods behind their new home, Garrick and Olivia Lockwood couldn't have afforded to buy number 25 The Avenue. It's the fresh start they and their two children badly need. Soon, these terrible crimes will be solved, they tell themselves, and once Garrick has remodeled, he's confident they'll sell the house for a profit.

But the darkest secrets can reside on quiet, ordinary streets like this--behind the doors of well-kept houses and neighbors' friendly faces. Secrets that can destroy a family, or savagely end a life, and will surface just when they're least expected . . .[Goodreads Summary]

I tend to avoid books involving serial killers these days, but I find it hard to resist a novel involving secrets, especially in the setting of an entire neighborhood. The Family Next Door follows several of the neighborhood characters, and, from what I have read so far, it seems like most have something to hide.


A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

From the Prologue:

Saturday 20th July 1985, 3:00 P.M.
18 The Avenue

GRAND REOPENING
AND 
PUPPET SHOW TODAY
At first, the children were laughing. 
The snap of crocodile teeth. A ballerina in a tutu tripping over her feet. The painted cheeks of a policeman out his breath.
The limbs of the puppets jerked with a peculiar sort of grace, and the Doll & Fancy Dress Emporium echoed with the sound of merry voices and a promise of new beginnings. 

Chapter 1:
Now
Every killing has a taste of its own.

My thoughts: That first sentence in the prologue offers a hint of foreboding before going on to paint a pleasant scene. And then there's the opening of the first chapter, which sends chills down my spine.


A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

"I'm always up for some fun." She cringed inwardly but the reaction from the boys was instantaneous. 
Charlie's face broken open in surprise and he saluted her, a new respect in his eyes. Bailey squeezed her hand, hot breath in her ear, "I knew you were one of us."
Only Marco shook his head slowly, naked disappointment on his face.  [excerpt from 56%]

My thoughts: I am only about 25% into the novel and have not yet reached this point. I can only imagine what trouble these kids are planning. Aster, the "she" in this scene, is the new kid on the block and it is obvious she isn't completely up for whatever Charlie and Bailey have in mind.


Does this sound like something you would enjoy reading?
Which cover do you like better? 


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40 comments:

  1. Sounds like a scary/thrilling read! I hope you enjoy it(:

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    1. Eustacia - It did keep me on the edge of my seat. :-) Thank you for stopping by.

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  2. It does sound like something I would read, though I have been avoiding the domestic thriller a bit after feeling burned out on that theme. I actually like the UK cover better - think it's the blue curtains. Enjoy!

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    1. Kay - I find it best when I spread these types of books out. I like the UK cover and title better myself. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  3. I haven't read any book by Fiona Cummins, but I like the sound of both of these! Right now I'm in the middle of the newest Katie Ruggle. :)

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    1. Lark - This is my first book by her. I enjoyed it! I hope you are enjoying the new Katie Ruggle book! Thank you for stopping by. :-)

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  4. Thank you for providing the first bits from both the prologue and the first chapter. The one from the first chapter does make you shiver. Hope you enjoy it.
    I read some of Harris' early mysteries, but didn't realize she had started a new series. I need to check that out.

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    1. Roberta - I finished it this weekend and enjoyed it.

      I do recommend Harris' Gunnie Rose series if you get a chance to read it. The second book came out this month.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  5. That sounds good. I haven't read anything by this author yet.

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    1. Mary - This was my first by Cummins. I enjoyed it. :-)

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  6. I stopped reading dark books several years ago. Just found myself no longer enjoying them. That being said, if this was a movie, I'd watch it. I'd love for you and your readers to check out mine . . . https://lisaksbookthoughts.blogspot.com/2020/01/its-cozy-food-friday-that-means-its_17.html

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    1. Lisa - I like these types of movies too. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. It sounds like an interesting read. I haven't read many thrillers lately! I definitely like the The Neighbour cover the most.
    Happy reading!

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    1. Maureen - I prefer The Neighbour cover too. And the title. :-) I really don't know why it had to be changed. Thank you for visiting!

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  8. Oh! I am really intrigued by The Neighbour! I love a good thriller. I hope that you love it.

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    1. Lori - This was a good one. Thank you for stopping by!

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    1. Freda - It was! I hope you have a great week. Thank you for visiting!

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  10. Both books look so good...I am a sucker for secrets, too.

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    1. Laurel-Rain - Maybe because any secrets I may have are so boring. LOL I'd rather that though than the secrets these characters are hiding! Thank you for stopping by.

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  11. The blurb for this sounds so dark and ominous. I'm a sucker for secrets, too. The first line of chapter one, though ... chills! I hope you enjoy this.

    Here's my Friday post.

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    1. Sammie - It was quite a dark read. Not many characters worth rooting for. Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. Oh, I love thrillers. This sounds really suspenseful.

    I'm sharing my Friday post here: Brooke Blogs

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  13. These sound pretty good! I'll have to add them to my tbr. :)

    Lauren @ Always Me

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    1. Lauren - I hope you enjoy it if you read it! Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. I was going to say that I try to stay away from serial killers too, but then remembered that I'm watching a show about a serial killer, so that's not true. I really much prefer "The Neighbour" title than the American version - we've had too many The Next Door titles lately.

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    1. Athira - Sometimes they slip through. :-) I agree about your with the title. I think The Neighbour actually fits better now that I've read the book. Thank you for visiting!

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  15. The fact that they have kids might keep me from reading this one but it does sound good. I think I'd be okay with buying a house that had bodies discovered in the woods but the crime would need to be solved first!

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    1. Katherine - Yes, I'd want the crime to be solved first too! Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. I don't like it when they completely change the title for another region. It confuses me! This sounds like a promising book!

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    1. Carole - I don't like it either. And, in a case like this, I really don't understand the purpose behind it. Thank you for visiting!

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  17. It frustrates me to find a book with two different titles. I'd had this experience before and bought two books on different occasions and later realised they're the same book (at that time I thought the author has a new release). That said, this sounds like an intriguing read. :)

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    1. Melody - It can be frustrating, I agree! Thank you for stopping by.

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  18. Sounds like it might be too scary for me! But thanks for posting it on Book Beginnings!

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    1. Gilion - It did keep me on the edge of my seat. Thank you for hosting!

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  19. This book sounds great! I love reading a story that revolves around secrets. I agree that it's weird that they didn't just change the spelling of neighbor, instead of changing the whole title. Thanks for sharing :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. Lindy - Me too! I wish they would have kept the original title. It seems more fitting in a way.

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