I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for an advance copy of Suspects, a stand-alone novel set in Cheltenham in 2009.

Conrad and Nina Best move into their first home on the day that a body is found. The subsequent police investigation, which concentrates on the neighbours, uncovers more secrets than the residents want discovered.

I have not read Ms Pearce’s work before, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. What I got was a strangely compulsive novel, strangely because it’s not my usual fare and yet I found myself immersed in the residents’ lives and wanting to know where it was leading. It is what I refer to as an aftermath novel, in that it concentrates on the reverberations of murder and how it affects the people involved. There is a police investigation, but it’s a catalyst for more suspect behaviour rather than the focus of the novel.

I guessed the perpetrator’s identity almost immediately due to the nature of the murder and something off about their behaviour, but that was in no way a dealbreaker because the novel is more about the residents and their secrets. Who knew there could be so much eye popping crime in a quiet suburb? No, it’s not very plausible but it’s engrossing to read.

The novel is strong on characterisation, so the reader gets to know all the residents through their own eyes and the opinions of their neighbours. It is initially quite hard to keep up with them all after the initial introductions, but gradually the reader gets to know them and gets caught up in their dramas. The murder realigns their lives and priorities in both good and bad ways. It is an interesting idea of introducing Conrad and Nina who walk into the situation blind and are able to offer more balanced opinions.

Suspects is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Having read a few previous Lesley Pearse novels which I thoroughly enjoyed, I was looking forward to getting stuck into this one but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. I found the writing style too simplistic and very unlike her previous writing style.

I have read every single Lesley Pearce book and normally can't put them down however, I struggled with this one. Nina and Conrad move into a new home where everyone knows everybody on the street. On their first day there a murder has just happened to a young teenage girl who lives in one of the houses. Every neighbour in the street it viewed as a potential suspect but who did it? The story not only covers the murder but stories about each of the neighbours and the dark secrets they hold or have been hiding. There are lot of characters to keep up with which I think is what made it hard for me

Nina and Conrad Best are so excited to move into their new home on Willow Close a perfect idyllic street, which seemed a friendly place. But even on the first day of moving in, one of the residents a thirteen-year-old girl called Chloe has been murdered and the rest of the street’s inhabitants are all in the frame for her murder.
As the story unfolds, Nina and Conrad find out that the neighbours are not all as they seem. Each have their own secrets and they are not the happy families that they portray. And the others like to stick their noses into the other people’s lives that are unwanted. When the Police come into investigate other things start to happen that hinders the investigation.
This is another great book from Lesley Pearse. It is a bit different to her usual writing style but still enjoyed it all the same. I liked getting to know each resident and their lives and the secrets they had. It did get a little confusing at the end but still enjoyed it regardless. 4 stars from me.

Rating: 0.5/5

Well, what can I say? Reading "Suspects" accounted for several hours of my life that I will never get back. I find it very hard to believe that other reviewers have scored this highly. Perhaps they had read a different book to the one that I have just been tortured by.

The content of this book is frequently more reminiscent of something you might expect to see in a comedy sketch send-up. The narrative is simplistic and cliché-ridden. The dialogue is stilted and unnatural. It beggars belief that this was deemed worthy to be put into print. If you were to remove the instances (which are predominantly clumsily-handled sexual references) that are of an overtly adult nature, then this would read more like the kind of adventure story that might have been penned in the 1930s and read by children of primary school age. The story is set in 2009, but the language, symbolism, attitudes and references contained within the pages of this book are, at best, dated and in many cases entirely inappropriate in a 21st century setting.

The extensive dramatis personae is full of stereotypes. The characters are so wooden that I felt I was in serious danger of getting splinters simply from holding my Kindle.

The plot, such as it is, revolves around the investigation into the murder of a young girl from a small community. However, I would suggest that the real victim of this story is the reader. This really is one to avoid.

As ever, I would still like to convey my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review. It is a pity I was not in a position to pass more favourable comment on this occasion.

Nina and Conrad move into Willow Close around the same time as neighbours find the body of a girl called Chloe who is also from the area.
I really enjoyed the book and thought it slightly different from the authors usual style of writing. It seemed to take you somewhere before a turn and you were taken somewhere else.
I often gauge a book by seeing if I could imagine it being made into a tv programme , and I feel Suspects would certainly easily fill a 6 part series. An excellent read.

When Conrad and Nina move into their first house together in Willow Close police are already in attendance. The body of a 13 yr old girl , Chloe has just been found by neighbours in a field behind the houses. We are then introduced to each person in the close and hear the statements they give to the police. The police are convinced that the murderer is someone who knew Chloe.

I have read every one of Lesley Pearse's book and enjoyed them. This book just didn't seem to be written by her. Far too many characters introduced in first few chapters. From the first few pages the fat shaming women was awful. It seems that someone who weighs 12 st can't walk up a hill without dragging her weight behind her and puffing and panting. I'm afraid she's wrong on that account.
A child in the story is also called up on being fat ,podgy, piggy cheeks.
Women who have out on weight scrape their hair back in a bun, dress dowdy and are boring.
If they are slim they have glossy hair and are lovely.
This put me right off the book and I guessed the murderer the first time they were described.
I was really looking forward to reading this but if you said " April fool, it's not written by Lesley Pearse " I would believe you. What I don't believe is reviews that say they didn't know who did it until the reveal. Really ?

Willow Close is a lovely idyllic place to live where the neighbours get on and mix and spend time together.

But that all changes when a young girls body is found??? When D.I Marshall starts to investigate the neighbours clam up and lots of the stories don't ring true and the albis arent so forth coming?? Why does it feel like he is not being told the truth, what do these people have to hide??

This is a good story with a mix of characters and side stories that blend into the story really well. With lots of mystery and intrigue that keeps you guessing.

Well written story with lots of plots and twists.

A really good read..When Conrad and Nina move to Willow close which consists of only ten houses a terrible tragedy occurs and suddenly a series of events take place in which many of the residents are involved leading to suspicion, violence and troubled behaviour. There is a great mix of interesting characters and many questions that need answering before the suspect of a terrible crime is finally revealed. I really loved the story

Oh my goodness I would never have known this was written by Lesley Pearse, so very different from all her previous books which I have read and loved them all. It was just like reading an Agatha Christie murder from the very beginning.

I enjoyed reading about all the characters and their back stories even though I did get a bit confused with who was who but that was just me, it didn't deter from the excellent story line which was extremely well written and kept me wanting to read more.

I can thoroughly recommend this book just don't think it will be like L.P's usual style of writing, well done Lesley on trying something different.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin (Michael Joseph) Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book

Lesley Pearce is back with yet another gripping tale with her new book - Suspects.

When Nina and Conran move into their first home, they are shocked to learn about the murder of a 13yr old neighbour just the night before. During the following couple of weeks there is one drama after another on the street, until the murderer is finally caught. Everyone is a suspect, and there are plenty of twists and turns. Nobody can imagine who the culprit is, thats the biggest shock of all.

I love Lesley Pearce, so maybe I'm a tad biased, but honestly she gets better and better. This book had me gripped from the start. You are quickly invested in the characters both good and bad, and really feel for young Amy, who lost her best friend.

The pace is perfect, with each new mystery building the overall plot.

Honestly I can't think of anything bad to say, highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a good crime mystery.

Lesley Pearce sure knows how to weave a dramatic story, where everyone is a suspect and the quietest of places hide the darkest truths! An absolutely spellbinding read!

Unputdownable novel! A young girl is found murdered and the reader is kept guessing from first to last page! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller, mystery and Lesley Pearse never fails to please.

Full of hope for their future, Nina and Conrad Best move into their new home in Willow Close. On moving day, they discover that a murder has just taken place. The police interview each of the residents of the close, but one of them isn’t telling the truth.

As the book progresses, we learn the back story of each of the residents of Willow Close, as well as the secrets they’ve been keeping. The neighbours start to suspect each other with the atmosphere in the close soon becoming hostile and starting to spiral out of control, leading to the reveal of the killer.

I am a massive Lesley Pearse fan and have loved every book of hers that I have read. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t do it for me and left me rather underwhelmed. I found it slow and with no high points to the book, including the revealing of the killer. There were too many characters in the book and I easily lost track and couldn’t keep my interest in the story. I much prefer this authors earlier work.

I was looking forward to this new Lesley Pearse book and it didn’t disappoint.

The day Conrad and Nina move into their dream home in Willow Close, 13 year old Chloe is discovered murdered. As all the neighbours come under suspicion, tempers fray, accusations fly and secrets are revealed. As the police begin their investigations, can they discover who killed Chloe and why?

A suspenseful domestic drama. An excellent story from start to finish.

Really enjoyed this Lesley Pearse book about the residents of Willow Close who are all suspects following the murder of a teenage girl. Lots of different characters and very interesting read that focuses on each inhabitant, their relationships and issues - I loved the fact that it kept you guessing as to who the murderer was. Great conclusion and would recommend.

Love all Lesley Pearces’ book's this one wasn't any different as soon as I started reading it it caught my attention good story but a bit sad.
I liked the way she got the new neighbors included even at the beginning.it made me wonder if there are actually placed like that but glad l don't live there. Good read really enjoyed it

Welcome to Willow Close, where everyone is a suspect . . .

How nice to be moving in to your new home, knowing you have a happy future, new neighbours to get to know and think you have found the perfect little street to live in.

That is until you arrive at Willow Close.

It's the day Nina and Conrad Best have been waiting for, today they move into their new home in picture-perfect Willow Close where a body is discovered near by.
Each of the neighbours have to give an interview to the police, each one has to say where they were at the time of the killing. Each of them telling their stories, but which one is not telling the truth.

I have to admit when I first saw this book I thought it was going to be a bit of a woman's fiction, romance type book. How wrong was I. This is one of the best books that I had no anticipation about, that I've read in ages. What a real treat this turned in to.

Neighbours suddenly start to suspect others, people they have known and thought they liked are suddenly suspects. We never know what goes on behind closed doors and in this quite close, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Great characters have been made in this book and you yourself can't help having idea's about each one. There are secrets being hidden in this close but they can't keep secrets for ever.

Thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for a review.
This is my first book by Lesley Pearce so really was not sure what to expect.
I struggled to start with as lots of characters were introduced very quickly and I lost my way a couple of times.
A youngster is murdered in a small close and the story unravels. I was drawn to the character of Conrad.

I have read and love all Lesley's books so I was excited to be able to read this one early.
It didnt disappoint, I couldn't put it down and read it in pretty much one sitting, was just sorry when it ended !
A 13 year old is murdered and all the residents in the close where she lived are suspicious of each other, plenty secrets come out which have been hidden for years and fingers are pointed uñtil the real killer is found