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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
It’s been a while since I’ve read a Joy Fielding thriller. I remember them being very intense and Cul-de-sac is no exception. This thriller has descriptive scenes of domestic violence and assault that are very disturbing, so it’s not for everyone. The book begins with a prologue that lets the reader know that someone is going to be the victim of a fatal shooting on the Palm Beach Gardens cul-de-sac. The remaining chapters unfold over a few months from May to July in the Florida suburbs and introduce us to the five families who live there, all of them keeping secrets.
The reader gets to know each family from multiple points of view and the book sets up the events that lead to the shooting. Although everyone has access to a gun and there are plenty of motives, I came pretty close to figuring out what would occur. In spite of that and for several unlikable characters, I enjoyed the book. There are a couple characters who are shown early on to be villains in the story, but I’m pleased that most of the characters show growth in the few weeks from the beginning to the end of the book. I also enjoyed the detailed epilogue updating us on the lives of the main characters a year later. Although it doesn’t have the same depth, the book has a few elements that remind me of the popular Big Little Lies. If you liked that book, I think you will enjoy the latest by Fielding.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The book was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
The reader gets to know each family from multiple points of view and the book sets up the events that lead to the shooting. Although everyone has access to a gun and there are plenty of motives, I came pretty close to figuring out what would occur. In spite of that and for several unlikable characters, I enjoyed the book. There are a couple characters who are shown early on to be villains in the story, but I’m pleased that most of the characters show growth in the few weeks from the beginning to the end of the book. I also enjoyed the detailed epilogue updating us on the lives of the main characters a year later. Although it doesn’t have the same depth, the book has a few elements that remind me of the popular Big Little Lies. If you liked that book, I think you will enjoy the latest by Fielding.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The book was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
Not sure what it says about the characters that you'd be happy with quite a few being murdered...but it definitely keeps your attention and was worth the read.
I haven't read a lot of Fielding's novels (though do remember LOVING [b:See Jane Run|253993|See Jane Run|Joy Fielding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441730463l/253993._SY75_.jpg|559710]) and the theme of domestic violence does seem to be a familiar thread.
I haven't read a lot of Fielding's novels (though do remember LOVING [b:See Jane Run|253993|See Jane Run|Joy Fielding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441730463l/253993._SY75_.jpg|559710]) and the theme of domestic violence does seem to be a familiar thread.
I’m going to try to not be too scathing here. Try.
This book was a bundle of tropes:
The abusive husband
The beaten wife who stays
The separated couple
The veteran with PTSD
The overbearing mother in law
The druggie grandson
The woman who has “lost herself and her husband”
The depressed, unemployed man who lies
The rebel teen daughter
The elderly woman whose kid wants to put her in a home
And it’s all mixed in with a heaping helping of gun legislation and a far too long explanation of what a cul-de-sac is.
I’d say it is written at about a Junior high level. But with some hefty adult content. The book spends most of its time developing characters that have already been developed extensively elsewhere - as they are taken directly from stereotype.
I didn’t feel a connection to any character. There was zero mystery and by halfway through, you could pretty much tell who the victim would be because they deserved it most. It wasn’t really a mystery or a thriller. It started with the ending and tried to string an explanation together to reach it.
If you like simple, quick, predictable reads - you’ll like it.
I did not. I only kept going because my book club picked it.
This book was a bundle of tropes:
The abusive husband
The beaten wife who stays
The separated couple
The veteran with PTSD
The overbearing mother in law
The druggie grandson
The woman who has “lost herself and her husband”
The depressed, unemployed man who lies
The rebel teen daughter
The elderly woman whose kid wants to put her in a home
And it’s all mixed in with a heaping helping of gun legislation and a far too long explanation of what a cul-de-sac is.
I’d say it is written at about a Junior high level. But with some hefty adult content. The book spends most of its time developing characters that have already been developed extensively elsewhere - as they are taken directly from stereotype.
I didn’t feel a connection to any character. There was zero mystery and by halfway through, you could pretty much tell who the victim would be because they deserved it most. It wasn’t really a mystery or a thriller. It started with the ending and tried to string an explanation together to reach it.
If you like simple, quick, predictable reads - you’ll like it.
I did not. I only kept going because my book club picked it.
This book was a slow start - I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight, but once you get going you won't want to stop. Appreciated the object as a character spin. Would definitely recommend if you like thrillers.
This is my first Joy Fielding novel, and it was very entertaining. I love a good neighborhood suspense. Each family that lives on this cul-de-sac has secrets, and one of those secrets will be deadly. With Cul-de-sac, you know ahead of time that someone will be shot dead in the middle of the night. Then the book flashes back and introduces you to each family, building up to that deadly night.
There was no shortage of drama because each family is struggling with something different. Some characters were likable, and some… not so much. I enjoyed that the chapters alternated between a different family’s POV, but that they were sometimes intertwined. I was still guessing up until the very end. I really liked that the epilogue flashed forward one year and explained what each of the characters were up to. Cul-de-sac is a scandalous story that will have you questioning which secret is the most deadly.
There was no shortage of drama because each family is struggling with something different. Some characters were likable, and some… not so much. I enjoyed that the chapters alternated between a different family’s POV, but that they were sometimes intertwined. I was still guessing up until the very end. I really liked that the epilogue flashed forward one year and explained what each of the characters were up to. Cul-de-sac is a scandalous story that will have you questioning which secret is the most deadly.
In a quiet, little cul-de-sac in Florida live five families. And in July, someone will be shot. But before that happens, you have to get to know these families. And you'll find that they all have plenty of drama and it's a toss-up to figure out who's going to be on either end of the gun. I haven't read this author before, but I'll sure read more now! I felt like I was right there, living with these families and learning about all their dysfunction and drama!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Love the fast pace and interlocking stories of the neighbors living on the culdesac. They all have secrets and they all have access to guns. You don’t t know who is shot until the very end.
I enjoyed all the different characters and seeing their individual conflicts develop. However, as I got further into the book the ending became more and more predictable. It was still fun, just I knew what was about to happen