whitneydaniell

by: Jamie Day
published: July 18, 2023
genre: mystery, thriller
384 Pages, E-Book
GoodReads Link

Synopsis

The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandals utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other. On the night of the annual Summer block party, there was 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.

I. Characters

The narrative unfolds through the compelling voices of Alexandra Fox, or Alex as she prefers, and her teenage daughter, Lettie. In this gripping tale, Alex finds herself in the throes of chaos, seeking solace at the bottom of a kiddie pool during their annual Memorial Day block party. Cliché, perhaps, but Alex is grappling with the strains of life and the growing distance in her marriage by drowning her troubles in alcohol. This isn’t just a casual glass or two at dinner—Alex is guzzling whole bottles of wine by the hour, all while concealing it from her husband, Nick, and daughter.

Meet Alex, the Regina Gorge of Alton Road, the linchpin that ties the whole tableau together. Her younger sister, Emily, along with her husband Ken, and their teenage son, Dylan, also call Alton Road home. Emily plays a pivotal role as the neighborhood’s sole real estate agent, instrumental in uniting the community.

Enter Willow and Evan Thompson, along with their daughter Riley, residents of Alton Road. Riley, once best friends with Lettie, has become her sworn enemy. It’s worth noting that Riley and Dylan are dating. Then there’s Brooke Bailey, a widowed neighbor, whose looks are inexplicably overemphasized—#cringe. Rounding out this colorful cast in the cul-de-sac, the newest additions to Alton Road: are Mandy and Samir Kumar, accompanied by their adult son, Jay. They’re the enigmatic couple who seem to stand out as outsiders.

With a multitude of characters in play, I anticipated this would be a breeze. Writers often toss in a bunch of unrelated folks to divert attention from the real story. Each woman harbors her secrets, and any one of them could be capable of murder. The residents of Alton Road are masters of concealment, and revenge is a dish served ice-cold.

II. The Story / Plot

After diving into a few chapters, this story struck me with echoes of “One of Us is Dead” by Jeneva Rose—multiple threads weaving around women who stand at the crossroads of immense gains and minimal losses. While I had hoped for similar endings, no spoilers here.

Now, the story’s engine took some time to rev up. We kick off in the present, then rewind a year, progressing until we’re back in the now. However, the acceleration didn’t hit its stride until I’d devoured about 70% of the narrative. Things finally picked up, unveiling layers of intricacies—some I’d already deduced. Side plots and mischief served as smoke screens, designed to keep you guessing, because, let’s be real, everyone could be a suspect. Toss in snippets from a Facebook group, interrupting the tale with present-day gossip, and you get a mix of neighborhood intrigue that adds flavor to the hunt for the culprit.

The narrative throws in small details that might throw you off or might hold meaning. There’s a bullying story, seemingly glanced over, perhaps meant as an illumination. Opioid use is touched upon, offering a glimpse into an epidemic, yet it’s somewhat pushed to the side. A myriad of topics are touched on but lack substantial exploration.

In the midst of this, there’s an overdose of fluff, with an overwhelming focus on Alex and her struggles with alcohol.

III. The Writing

I have no notes on the writing. The dialogue was perfect. It was not overly wordy where there was no need for it and the scenes were described vividly. Even though I felt like the story had fluff, I don’t think the writing was “fluffy” – every word on each page pushed the story forward; even if it only pushed it an inch for most of the story.

IV. My Final Thoughts

Very predictable.

I’ve got a whirlwind of thoughts swirling around Lettie and her intricate web of relationships. Whether Jamie Day intended to cast Lettie in isolation, showcasing the disintegration of her connections, that’s precisely what unfolded. Throughout a significant portion of the narrative, Lettie purposefully distances herself from family and friends. While her avoidance of Rylie and her tormentor clique is understandable, I’m left perplexed by her oscillation between Jay and Rylie, simultaneously pushing away her theater friends and her parents. The eventual closure of her relationships makes sense, but her fixation on Jay feels peculiar—unless we’re meant to chalk it up to your typical teenage crush?

Lettie is the quiet kid who vocally fights against the “machine,” standing up against injustice. An advocate for the environment who abstains from eating meat, yet finds herself getting drunk at a New Year’s Eve party just to “fit in.” She embarks on a revenge plot against her former best friend a man she barely knows. It left me feeling like every character in this tale could use hours and hours of therapy.

Did I connect the dots and piece together a few things early on? Absolutely. Did I unravel the entire plot by the end? No! The conclusion threw me for a loop, and oddly enough, I wasn’t mad about it. Overall, the story kept me engaged, fueled by its deliberate pace that had me on the edge, wondering when the momentum would kick in. Would I add it to my book collection? Sure. Would I explore other Jamie Day books? Perhaps.