Where Is Your Bookmark? (Featuring The Family Next Door by Fiona Cummins)

I started and finished reading my January TBR List winner, An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris this week, and also have been reading a domestic thriller called The Family Next Door by Fiona Cummins. The Family Next Door is titled The Neighbour in other countries where it has been published. While both titles fit the book, I am not sure why it was necessary to change it just for the American version. Americanizing the spelling of "neighbour" to "neighbor" would have been easier. But what do I know?

For Sale: Lovely family home, ready for your updates. Friendly neighborhood setting close to park; secluded.

If not for the bodies discovered in the woods behind their new home, Garrick and Olivia Lockwood couldn't have afforded to buy number 25 The Avenue. It's the fresh start they and their two children badly need. Soon, these terrible crimes will be solved, they tell themselves, and once Garrick has remodeled, he's confident they'll sell the house for a profit.

But the darkest secrets can reside on quiet, ordinary streets like this--behind the doors of well-kept houses and neighbors' friendly faces. Secrets that can destroy a family, or savagely end a life, and will surface just when they're least expected . . .[Goodreads Summary]

I tend to avoid books involving serial killers these days, but I find it hard to resist a novel involving secrets, especially in the setting of an entire neighborhood. The Family Next Door follows several of the neighborhood characters, and, from what I have read so far, it seems like most have something to hide.

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

From the Prologue:

Saturday 20th July 1985, 3:00 P.M.

18 The Avenue

GRAND REOPENING

AND 

PUPPET SHOW TODAY

At first, the children were laughing. 

The snap of crocodile teeth. A ballerina in a tutu tripping over her feet. The painted cheeks of a policeman out his breath.

The limbs of the puppets jerked with a peculiar sort of grace, and the Doll & Fancy Dress Emporium echoed with the sound of merry voices and a promise of new beginnings. 

Chapter 1:

Now

Every killing has a taste of its own.

My thoughts: That first sentence in the prologue offers a hint of foreboding before going on to paint a pleasant scene. And then there's the opening of the first chapter, which sends chills down my spine.

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

"I'm always up for some fun." She cringed inwardly but the reaction from the boys was instantaneous. 

Charlie's face broken open in surprise and he saluted her, a new respect in his eyes. Bailey squeezed her hand, hot breath in her ear, "I knew you were one of us."

Only Marco shook his head slowly, naked disappointment on his face.  [excerpt from 56%]

My thoughts: I am only about 25% into the novel and have not yet reached this point. I can only imagine what trouble these kids are planning. Aster, the "she" in this scene, is the new kid on the block and it is obvious she isn't completely up for whatever Charlie and Bailey have in mind.

Does this sound like something you would enjoy reading?
Which cover do you like better? 

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