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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
This made a wonderful audio read, my jogs just flew by!
There's a mystery at the heart of the story, and the dual narrative, one starting a year before the other, works well to fill in blanks as we go along, but leave some revelations for the last pages.
Anyone who's ever bought a house will surely identify - the thrill of a new home, the worries over payments, fitting in with the neighbours. Kristy and Joe move into Lime Park Avenue, to a property seriously out of their league but somehow just within their means due to a quick sale. They soon discover that the neighbours are more than a little averse to socialising with them, and it has something to do with the previous owner, Amber Fraser and her older, wealthy husband.
The plot thickens as Kirsty digs and discovers more and more about Amber, though not everyone she talks to knows the truth. WIll we ever get the whole story?
Amber tells the story too - from a year in the past, so we learn with Kristy but at times know more than her as well. I really liked the construction of the narrative, it offered morsels to keep you interested and guessing, and set up an interesting tale of life in a small community that held its own secrets and lies.
I won't go into any more detail, as spoilers are hard to avoid. I did guess the main twists, but that didn't dampen my enthusiasm for the book at all, I really enjoyed what was an easy read but a great listen. One voice though didn't always make it clear who was 'talking' as narrator, but their different stories soon made it clear enough.
Key to the whole thing is Amber, and Candlish has given her enough 'light and shade' to be a fully-realised 3D creation, Kristy pales into insignificance next to her, she's just the investigator without much of a story of her own - it all revolves around her predecessor. The men as well aren't central, without Amber there is no story. And she's great - you can't quite get a handle on who she really is, very nicely done.
I really liked the ending, I know many didn't, but I found it appropriate and realistic. I would really like to see this as a film, it would work quite well I think.
A good one for listening to, this kept my attention and I really enjoyed the split (over time) narrative and ultimate arc of the story.
There's a mystery at the heart of the story, and the dual narrative, one starting a year before the other, works well to fill in blanks as we go along, but leave some revelations for the last pages.
Anyone who's ever bought a house will surely identify - the thrill of a new home, the worries over payments, fitting in with the neighbours. Kristy and Joe move into Lime Park Avenue, to a property seriously out of their league but somehow just within their means due to a quick sale. They soon discover that the neighbours are more than a little averse to socialising with them, and it has something to do with the previous owner, Amber Fraser and her older, wealthy husband.
The plot thickens as Kirsty digs and discovers more and more about Amber, though not everyone she talks to knows the truth. WIll we ever get the whole story?
Amber tells the story too - from a year in the past, so we learn with Kristy but at times know more than her as well. I really liked the construction of the narrative, it offered morsels to keep you interested and guessing, and set up an interesting tale of life in a small community that held its own secrets and lies.
I won't go into any more detail, as spoilers are hard to avoid. I did guess the main twists, but that didn't dampen my enthusiasm for the book at all, I really enjoyed what was an easy read but a great listen. One voice though didn't always make it clear who was 'talking' as narrator, but their different stories soon made it clear enough.
Key to the whole thing is Amber, and Candlish has given her enough 'light and shade' to be a fully-realised 3D creation, Kristy pales into insignificance next to her, she's just the investigator without much of a story of her own - it all revolves around her predecessor. The men as well aren't central, without Amber there is no story. And she's great - you can't quite get a handle on who she really is, very nicely done.
I really liked the ending, I know many didn't, but I found it appropriate and realistic. I would really like to see this as a film, it would work quite well I think.
A good one for listening to, this kept my attention and I really enjoyed the split (over time) narrative and ultimate arc of the story.
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
3.0
I'd give The Sudden Departure of the Frasers 3.5 solid stars. This was such a well-written novel. My biggest reason for not giving it more stars was that the length of it was honestly a bit too long. There was a long stretch in the middle that was good, but not a lot was happening or revealed and it could have been shorter. That said, I absolutely loved the book!
Two women, one house, one year apart...
The story centers around a house--or really, it centers around a suburban street. In the best house on the most quaint block, two sets of tenants living their one year apart are mysteriously unsettled... The story changes back and forth in narration between Christy Davenport (the current occupant of the house) and Amber Fraser (the former occupant of the house). Christy and her husband Joe get the deal of a lifetime on a gorgeous row house (the one vacated by the Frasers). Despite the deal, finances are very tight for the pair, but its worth it to have this house in this gorgeous neighborhood.
However, from the moment they buy the home, something seems off...
The Frasers vacated the home quickly and rather suddenly, so much so that their mail still hasn't been properly forwarded. However, Christy is unable to get a forwarding address from the solicitor. It seems that wherever the Frasers went, they don't want to be found. Christy also finds it strange that the neighbors avoid her. They hurry away when she speaks to them, and decline all invites to socialize or discuss the Frasers. Something isn't right about the departure of the Frasers from Lime Park, but Christy doesn't know how to begin to find out what happened.
Amber has a story to tell as well...
Amber narrates shorter chapters in between Christy's narrative. Amber is telling the story of her own year living in the house on Lime Park Road. As Amber states, you'll think of her as a loving wife and kind neighbor, but those are lies. Amber will tell the real story of what happened in Lime Park, and reveal how little her neighbors really knew what happened on their own street at all...
The Verdict
One thing that is really lovely about this book is that Amber's story and Christy's investigation often align in the narrative. So as Christy finds a clue or a thread to follow, Amber will then reveal an alternate understanding of the information through her own story. At other times, Amber may reveal something first, and then we follow along with Christy as she stumbles towards the truth.
I also enjoyed the characters on the block. They felt so authentic to a suburban street, and it made me wonder about the dramas unfolding on blocks just like Lime Park Road all over the world. The other housewives do a wonderful job of illustrating Amber's magnetism. Amber seems to have a light surrounding her that others flock to be close to. But at the same time, we have Amber's narrative, and Amber is not the person her neighbors see. Amber is calculating and intelligent, emotional and vulnerable, predatory and dark.
At its core, its a story about secrets and lies. The book explores the age old questions... How much do we truly know our neighbors
Two women, one house, one year apart...
The story centers around a house--or really, it centers around a suburban street. In the best house on the most quaint block, two sets of tenants living their one year apart are mysteriously unsettled... The story changes back and forth in narration between Christy Davenport (the current occupant of the house) and Amber Fraser (the former occupant of the house). Christy and her husband Joe get the deal of a lifetime on a gorgeous row house (the one vacated by the Frasers). Despite the deal, finances are very tight for the pair, but its worth it to have this house in this gorgeous neighborhood.
However, from the moment they buy the home, something seems off...
The Frasers vacated the home quickly and rather suddenly, so much so that their mail still hasn't been properly forwarded. However, Christy is unable to get a forwarding address from the solicitor. It seems that wherever the Frasers went, they don't want to be found. Christy also finds it strange that the neighbors avoid her. They hurry away when she speaks to them, and decline all invites to socialize or discuss the Frasers. Something isn't right about the departure of the Frasers from Lime Park, but Christy doesn't know how to begin to find out what happened.
Amber has a story to tell as well...
Amber narrates shorter chapters in between Christy's narrative. Amber is telling the story of her own year living in the house on Lime Park Road. As Amber states, you'll think of her as a loving wife and kind neighbor, but those are lies. Amber will tell the real story of what happened in Lime Park, and reveal how little her neighbors really knew what happened on their own street at all...
The Verdict
One thing that is really lovely about this book is that Amber's story and Christy's investigation often align in the narrative. So as Christy finds a clue or a thread to follow, Amber will then reveal an alternate understanding of the information through her own story. At other times, Amber may reveal something first, and then we follow along with Christy as she stumbles towards the truth.
I also enjoyed the characters on the block. They felt so authentic to a suburban street, and it made me wonder about the dramas unfolding on blocks just like Lime Park Road all over the world. The other housewives do a wonderful job of illustrating Amber's magnetism. Amber seems to have a light surrounding her that others flock to be close to. But at the same time, we have Amber's narrative, and Amber is not the person her neighbors see. Amber is calculating and intelligent, emotional and vulnerable, predatory and dark.
At its core, its a story about secrets and lies. The book explores the age old questions... How much do we truly know our neighbors
suzid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Most of the characters are very irritating so I guess that is a sign of good writing as it really worked. It's a slow build up to what happened to Amber and keeps you guessing till the end.
aislinn_mac2's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
5.0
Man, can Louise Candlish weave a tangled web of a tale! This was riveting and scary in equal measures.
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. A little bit Liane Moriarty, a little bit Gillian Flynn, it's a cleverly composed story that reveals its secrets gradually. It wouldn't surprise me to see this in the next batch of Richard & Judy recommendations: it's right up their street.
The story is about a couple who buy their dream home in an upscale London suburb. Christy and Joe have had to stretch themselves financially to buy it but even so they know that they paid well under market value. The previous owners, Amber and Jeremy Fraser, had completed a spare-no-expenses renovation and then abruptly moved out only four months later, leaving without a word goodbye to their friends or neighbours. It is clear to Christy that there are deep divisions within the street but none of her actively unfriendly neighbours will talk to her about what happened.
The chapters alternate between Christy's story and Amber telling us her story from when she moved in 12 months earlier. At some stage it emerges that Amber is writing her account as part of a counselling process, but why?
I was completely hooked into this book and as intrigued with the charismatic Amber as everyone else in the street is. The way that it's written means that the reader knows more than Christy does, but sometimes Christy stumbles onto clues that don't sit with the story that we are being told. At one point I did feel that the story was being dragged out a little too long, but maybe that's just a reflection of how my curiousity kept building and building. This is a fantastic holiday read.
The story is about a couple who buy their dream home in an upscale London suburb. Christy and Joe have had to stretch themselves financially to buy it but even so they know that they paid well under market value. The previous owners, Amber and Jeremy Fraser, had completed a spare-no-expenses renovation and then abruptly moved out only four months later, leaving without a word goodbye to their friends or neighbours. It is clear to Christy that there are deep divisions within the street but none of her actively unfriendly neighbours will talk to her about what happened.
The chapters alternate between Christy's story and Amber telling us her story from when she moved in 12 months earlier. At some stage it emerges that Amber is writing her account as part of a counselling process, but why?
I was completely hooked into this book and as intrigued with the charismatic Amber as everyone else in the street is. The way that it's written means that the reader knows more than Christy does, but sometimes Christy stumbles onto clues that don't sit with the story that we are being told. At one point I did feel that the story was being dragged out a little too long, but maybe that's just a reflection of how my curiousity kept building and building. This is a fantastic holiday read.
kamillebee's review against another edition
3.0
I want to like this book.
I was more intrigued by Amber than Christy. As a matter of fact, I didn’t very much like Christy.
The ending was a let down.
I found that parts of the book dragged on for no apparent reason. Certain parts of the story were not needed and led to the book being a much longer read than it needed to be.
I was more intrigued by Amber than Christy. As a matter of fact, I didn’t very much like Christy.
The ending was a let down.
I found that parts of the book dragged on for no apparent reason. Certain parts of the story were not needed and led to the book being a much longer read than it needed to be.
meganlee3001's review against another edition
5.0
As with Candlish's last book, I absolutely loved this one. The story was interesting and the drama and mystery begin straight away and your left guessing until the end. Well written with well developed characters.
delslibrary1313's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
triciafee's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I should give this four or five stars considering I raced through it in a couple of days. It's definitely a gripping read and keeps you interested. It just seems there was no great payoff in the end.
For instance, I would have liked to see the Davenport's marriage explored further since there were (I thought) real issues raised throughout the book that were never mentioned again. Also, the big "mystery" that kept me reading until well into the night turned out to be (spoiler alert?) exactly what I would have thought everyone expected all along.
I probably shouldn't complain about the ending since the journey there was an enjoyable read, and it's certainly a bigger achievement for the writer to have you really gripped throughout and a little bit let down at the end than bored throughout most of the book and finally rewarded with a satisfying twist in the last pages.
So, I would definitely recommend this as summer reading but I only give 4 or 5 stars to books that stay with me in some way, and I don't think this one will.
For instance, I would have liked to see the Davenport's marriage explored further since there were (I thought) real issues raised throughout the book that were never mentioned again. Also, the big "mystery" that kept me reading until well into the night turned out to be (spoiler alert?) exactly what I would have thought everyone expected all along.
I probably shouldn't complain about the ending since the journey there was an enjoyable read, and it's certainly a bigger achievement for the writer to have you really gripped throughout and a little bit let down at the end than bored throughout most of the book and finally rewarded with a satisfying twist in the last pages.
So, I would definitely recommend this as summer reading but I only give 4 or 5 stars to books that stay with me in some way, and I don't think this one will.