Review of "Home Is Where The Lies Live: A Novel of Suspense" by Kerry Wilkinson

Heidi and Freddie Potter, married nine years, just moved to Huntington Grove for Freddie's new employment opportunity.



Heidi gave up her office manager job to relocate, but hopes to find something new. Having made the sacrifice, Heidi is perplexed by Freddie's behavior.



Freddie insists on keeping one room in the new house locked, which he calls his study - insisting he needs privacy to test out new ideas for his marketing manager job.



On the day they move in, Heidi and Freddie meet the family across the street. These neighbors are Willow - a mature university student;



Willow's husband Gabe - a businessman who likes to drink beer and play video games in his spare time;



and Willow's almost 18-year-old daughter Isabella (from a previous marriage).



Willow and Isabella are at odds over the teenager's future: Isabella wants to demonstrate her crafting projects on TikTok and Willow wants the girl to go to university, for increased opportunities. This difference of opinion leads to constant arguments between mother and daughter, and creates a tense atmosphere in the house.

Soon after Willow meets the Potters, she realizes she went to high school with Freddie two decades ago. Willow and Freddie even kissed during a game of spin the bottle. Willow would love to reminisce about 'the good old days' with Freddie, but Freddie's reluctant, and makes it his business to avoid Willow as much as possible.



Other residents of the street are Dylan and Allison.

Dylan is the single father of 7-year-old Orla. Dylan's wife was murdered three years ago, the killer was never caught, and Dylan is having trouble coping. Despite this, Dylan is a nurturing father, and Orla is a happy child. Unfortunately, Orla is having trouble with a bully, and this turns out to be important to the story.



Allison is gregarious and a natural born manager. Allison is organizing a block party to honor the town's founding 1400 years ago, and she prods and cajoles the neighbors into helping. Thus Isabella is making bunting; Dylan agrees to pick up supplies; and so on.



Allison is married, but her husband Kenneth, who works in Hong Kong, is almost never around. So Allison (purportedly) lives alone, but sounds of arguing often emanate from her house.

*****

Chapters about the lives of the Huntingdon Grove residents alternate with sections set 'in the future', when police detectives interview one person after another. It's clear a serious incident occurred in the neighborhood, which is revealed little by little.



As the story unfolds, we learn that several characters have deep dark secrets. Some of this skullduggery isn't quite credible, but that doesn't spoil the novel.

The book's domestic dramas, along with the aura of mystery, will appeal to many fans of suspense novels.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Matthew Spencer, Rebecca Lee, and Julia Barrie, who do a fine job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kerry Wilkinson, and Bookouture Audio for a copy of the book.

 Rating: 3 stars