The residents of Willow Close are far from what they initially seem and strange, even dark, things happen behind their closed doors. The truth in places like Willow Close, is that behind the neat gardens and spaciously arranged homes, the owners live very, very different lives. Not only does Chloe’s death shake the complacent, very white, upper middle class enclave, it acts as a catalyst. As police interview witnesses, they soon discover each resident hiding their own secrets. Because few in the Close are exactly who they seem . . . Suspects felt very much like a stage play with each character’s appearance resembling an actor arriving from behind the curtain. With clear descriptions it was easy to work out the personality of each individual. Quite a mixed cast, I have to admit, if I was Nina or Conrad I’d have had a ‘For Sale’ up as soon as possible! Although there were no major surprises in the plot, I did enjoy getting to know the neighbours with all their quirks and foibles. The Police come across as farcical and inept. The characters are two dimensional. There is a preoccupation with writing about everyone's weight and appearance and there are bizarre leaps in thought processes which leave the reader incredulous. The dialogue is stilted and there is way too much explanation rather than hints and establishing connections through what is not written. In fact it is more like a manual or set of instructions and I NEVER read those.

What then followed was not what I expected at all. I ended up getting more enjoyment from the reader’s comments than the actual book. In this exciting and historical city, Belle gradually begins to come into her own. Now of age, she gradually learns how to operate skill fully within her life as a courtesan and even adapts to enjoy it. However, she is always thinking of the home she left behind. Even though she is the golden girl for right now of the prostitution world in this bustling southern city, she knows that she only has so long to dominate this cage before it turns into a prison once more that holds her forever.This is a book to talk about, to drill down into the story and really think about it * Devon Life * So, a pretty THIN blonde girl is killed. She lives in a horseshoe shaped close where all the neighbours know each other. But she finds out about that and death too when one of the girls is murdered and she is witness to it. Belle is taken from her home and sold into prostitution in Paris by the killer. Now her entire world is not her own and when she is to go to New Orleans halfway across the planet, she is going to blossom from a young girl into a young woman that is more in control of her fate than ever. Before the first neighbour can pop around with a welcome gift, before they invited to the neighbourhood watch group, they hit the ground running trying to work out who lives where and who does what.

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I can't even believe it was written by a woman. Full of misogyny, fat shaming and obsessive descriptions of body shape and wardrobe, with stereotypical characters. Women are only good for cooking, cleaning, leading on men and supervising children, whilst men are the Superheroes, especially Conrad. Saint Conrad rescues everyone and dispenses pearls of wisdom, even cutting the grass and scaling a fence after being discharged from hospital with burns. A fast-paced, psychological drama . . . with an enthralling plot, a cast of fascinating characters, and Pearse's addictive storytelling, Suspects will grip from start to finish The Best Life Project Many thanks to Midas PR who invited me on the blogtour, and publishers Michael Joseph books for the gifted review copy of ‘Suspects’, the latest novel from Lesley Pearse which is published on 24th June. Pretty much they all have dodgy stuff going on. Many unhappy marriages (which seems to be because they all married after barely knowing each other).

I am afraid I cannot give a star rating to this book which is unusual given that I am a liberal giver of 4 and 5 stars. I haven't read a Lesley Pearse book before but I vaguely knew she was a big name, so when the chance, courtesy of Pigeonhole, came to read Suspects, I grabbed it. It is there that she meets Etienne, a mysterious man who she first met when she was a child. Belle knows that she still loves her husband but never expected to meet the man who played such an important role in her youth here in Europe. As she continues to talk to him, the young woman and former courtesan finds herself torn when it comes to matters of the heart.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

As events unfold, Nina and Conrad slowly get to know their other neighbours and discover what a motley crew they are. Each day seems to bring another piece of dramatic news and it is as though the dominoes are crashing down in this once peaceful suburb. Nina and Conrad are in disbelief, unable to fully process what is unfolding around them. This was not what they had planned for the start of their new life together. When police start to interview the residents of the Close, they soon discover each neighbour harbours their own secrets. Because everyone on the Close is far from what they seem.