This summer, meet your neighbors.

The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other.

On the night of the annual Summer block party, there has been a murder.

But, who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold—discovering that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems.

You know I love a book about suburban scandals, secrets, betrayals, and upper-middle-class families behaving badly – and this book had that in spades.

The book kicks off with a bang: someone has been allegedly murdered at a Memorial Day block party in an upper-crust neighborhood, and this is teased through cryptic posts on an online forum for the neighbors who live a few streets over. From there, the story rewinds a year to uncover the messy lives of Alton Road’s residents and the events that led to the explosive end of an innocent get-together. Beneath the pristine lawns and annual block parties lies a world of infidelity, addiction, bullying, and long-held grudges. There’s a voyeuristic thrill in watching these seemingly perfect lives unravel, and Day ensures that each deserved downfall is as satisfying as it is surprising.

The narrative alternates between two perspectives: Alex, a former lawyer turned divorce mediator battling an alcohol addiction, and her teenage daughter, Lettie, who is grappling with bullying and her own rebellious tendencies. Alex’s chapters are written in the third person, offering a slightly detached yet insightful view of her rocky marriage, her struggle with alcoholism, and her attempts to navigate the complex dynamics of the neighborhood. On the other hand, Lettie’s first-person perspective provides a raw, emotional lens on teenage angst, strained friendships, and the pressures of growing up in such a close-knit – and toxic – community.

The cast of characters is sprawling – there are a lot of rich people on the edge here – but they are well-drawn and contribute to the intrigue and tension that bubbles beneath the surface. Alex’s sister, Emily, lives just down the street with her overly macho husband and their son Dylan, whose relationship with Sydney – Lettie’s ex-best friend – adds another layer of complexity. Sydney’s family, meanwhile, is on the brink of implosion, thanks to her father’s addiction to drugs and sex workers, and her mother’s growing desperation to hold onto her dignity as her marriage crumbles. Then there’s Brooke, the mysterious widow whose husband recently died under suspicious circumstances during a cruise, and the new family on the block, who harbor their own set of secrets.

The author does a great job of weaving these storylines together. What’s refreshing is that the book doesn’t rely on gratuitous twists to keep the reader engaged. Instead, it offers a slow-burn journey filled with subtle revelations that feel earned in the end. The drama unfolds organically, each juicy secret and betrayal adding depth to the story without overshadowing the characters.

The book’s structure – starting with the murder and then rewinding a year – works brilliantly to build tension. As the story progresses, every seemingly innocuous interaction and offhand comment takes on new significance. By the time the narrative catches up to the present, the stage is set for the puzzle pieces to fall into place, and the payoff is immensely satisfying.

If you love stories about flawed, privileged people whose perfect lives are anything but, then this is a book you should have on your radar. It’s not just a thriller; it’s a sharp, witty, and deeply human look at the chaos lurking behind closed doors of the privileged. They say money can’t buy you happiness, and nothing could be closer to the truth for the residents of Alton Road.

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