Cul-de-sac

Cul-de-sac

  • Downloads:8566
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-08-24 09:52:09
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Joy Fielding
  • ISBN:1984820257
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

A shooting lays bare the secrets harbored by five families in a sleepy suburban cul-de-sac in this riveting psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of All the Wrong Places。

Someone on this quiet, unassuming cul-de-sac will be shot dead in the middle of a sultry July night。

Will it be Maggie, the perfectionist wife, or Craig, the husband who can’t quite live up to her expectations? They’ve packed up their two children and fled their life in California, hoping for a fresh start in Florida, only to find the demons of the past hovering on their doorstep。

Maybe it will be Nick, a highly respected oncologist, or his wife, Dani, a successful dentist, both with well-kept secrets of their own。

Or Julia, an elderly widow, whose troubled grandson has recently moved in with her, introducing unsavory habits and even more unsavory acquaintances into her formerly quiet existence。

Then there’s Olivia and her husband, Sean。 Having lost his job at a prestigious advertising agency, Sean is depressed, resentful of his working wife, and drinking heavily。 He is also prone to increasingly violent fantasies。

And what of the newlyweds, Aiden and Heidi, whose marriage is already on the rocks, due to Aiden’s reluctance to stand up to his intrusive mother? Matters aren’t helped when Heidi befriends Julia’s grandson, setting the stage for a major blowup。

A diverse group of neighbors, to be sure。 Yet all harbor secrets。 All bear scars。 And all have access to guns。

Not all will survive the night。

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Reviews

Ruth Ann

Not as bad as I thought it would be after a slow, sad start。 I was feeling very ambivalent about the characters and it seemed this book would be one where I didn’t care for the characters。 I was wrong。

Tammy Dodge

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 I have to say this book had me grasping at the seat of my chair。 Every neighbor in the cul-de-sac had some type of issue。 Sure no family is perfect but wow!! Some had sensitive subjects such as physical abuse which no one should endure。 But with some humor and sarcasm with some of these neighbors it was pretty good。 So grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable。

Nancy Smith

Cul-de-Sac is a good solid read - a mix of characters - a single mother of two; an elderly woman being pressured to sell and move while giving her grandson a place to stay while he figures out what it is he wants to do in life; a young couple and a couple who live what most call the 'good life' but like everyone have dark secrets。 They interact mostly through Maggie - a separated woman overcoming her own fears。 And while the 'ending' is reveled at the beginning it is the journey that is the poin Cul-de-Sac is a good solid read - a mix of characters - a single mother of two; an elderly woman being pressured to sell and move while giving her grandson a place to stay while he figures out what it is he wants to do in life; a young couple and a couple who live what most call the 'good life' but like everyone have dark secrets。 They interact mostly through Maggie - a separated woman overcoming her own fears。 And while the 'ending' is reveled at the beginning it is the journey that is the point。 While I enjoyed it I felt that Fielding could have added more 'meat' to the story。 。。。more

Yvonne

Really good read!!

Becky

Kept my interest to the end

Joanne

Quite a cul de sac。 Good story

-ˏˋ raissa ˊˎ-

amo essa vibe de vizinhança cheia de segredos e vários personagens/pontos de vista que vão se conectando。。。 sei que vai chegar o dia em que eu finalmente vou cansar de domestic thrillers mas esse dia não é hoje (nem tão cedo) 🤍

Carole McGraw

This book grabbed me from the start。 Probably Fielding's best book ever。 I did not want it to end。 You know from the start that someone will be shot, but seeing most of the characters have a gum, the question is "who"? The characters were easy to relate to, ordinary people with a variety of problems。 Well worth reading。 This book grabbed me from the start。 Probably Fielding's best book ever。 I did not want it to end。 You know from the start that someone will be shot, but seeing most of the characters have a gum, the question is "who"? The characters were easy to relate to, ordinary people with a variety of problems。 Well worth reading。 。。。more

Ann Margolis

Review byAnn M, LibrarianLast updated on 27 Jun 2021My Recommendation I really enjoyed this novel and the way all the neighbors were connected by their individual stores and how they affected each other。 It was a fast read,at times a bit like a romance novel which I would never read。 The characters were described so well,I could picture them all easily。 I would highly recommend。

Tim

Wife beater。 Rape。 Surly teen。 Cowering victim。 Powerless women。 Is there anything more despicable? Sure。 All Scum and this is right there with em。 0 of 10 stars

Jen Bradbury

A quick read that blurs the line between family drama and thriller。

Virginia Winfield

This book really shows some great family dynamics within a small area。 Each house in the cul-de-sac contains a family that are all quite different from each other。 This shows what others might think of you even if you are quite different from what they think。 This book will keep you wondering till the end what each of these family members are really like and what they might actually do in the end。 I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own f This book really shows some great family dynamics within a small area。 Each house in the cul-de-sac contains a family that are all quite different from each other。 This shows what others might think of you even if you are quite different from what they think。 This book will keep you wondering till the end what each of these family members are really like and what they might actually do in the end。 I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will。 。。。more

Caroline Whitley

Dysfunction Junction。 My loathing of Nick Wilson was palpable。

Betsy

This is about the furthest thing from great literature, but for a light August read, it's absolutely perfect。 (Though someone should educate Ms。 Fielding about plural possessives, because phrases like "the Wilson's house" is quite a big middle school English failure (and she did it more than once)。 This is about the furthest thing from great literature, but for a light August read, it's absolutely perfect。 (Though someone should educate Ms。 Fielding about plural possessives, because phrases like "the Wilson's house" is quite a big middle school English failure (and she did it more than once)。 。。。more

Ranie Elias

Oh my God, I love this book, it was absolutely phenomenal。 This story was suspenful, intense, heart pounding, and eyes spinning great。 This author capative my attention from the very first sentence to the very last word in this book。。。the climax was unexpectedly shocking!I love everyone of the main characters, Maggie, Erin, Leo and Craig McKay; Hedi and Sean Young; Julia, Mark and Norman Fisher; and Dani, Ben and Tyler Wilson。。。。(Extremely dislike Lisa Young and Nick Wilson)。。。I felt this story Oh my God, I love this book, it was absolutely phenomenal。 This story was suspenful, intense, heart pounding, and eyes spinning great。 This author capative my attention from the very first sentence to the very last word in this book。。。the climax was unexpectedly shocking!I love everyone of the main characters, Maggie, Erin, Leo and Craig McKay; Hedi and Sean Young; Julia, Mark and Norman Fisher; and Dani, Ben and Tyler Wilson。。。。(Extremely dislike Lisa Young and Nick Wilson)。。。I felt this story is so realistic as if I know each person on a personal level。。。。Thank you, Ms。 Fielding for writing an emotional, enjoyable and compassionate story that we can all relate to。。。Highly recommended。。。。 。。。more

Terri

Yet another 'one-never-knows-what-goes-on-behind-closed-doors' novel and, in my opinion, not a particularly good one。 There are SO many stereotypes among the varied characters; there is nothing fresh or new here。 Yet another 'one-never-knows-what-goes-on-behind-closed-doors' novel and, in my opinion, not a particularly good one。 There are SO many stereotypes among the varied characters; there is nothing fresh or new here。 。。。more

Brandy Forward

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 When I won this giveaway, I was extremely excited。 This was one I REALLY wanted to win! It was described as a psychological thriller。 I personally wouldn't put it in that category。 It was definitely more suspenseful than psychological thriller。 This is the first book by Joy Fielding I have read, but I can definitely promise that it won't be my last。 I truly injoyed this book from the very beginning。 I could picture myself in a lot of the characters。 Especially that of Dani Wilson, as I'm sure ma When I won this giveaway, I was extremely excited。 This was one I REALLY wanted to win! It was described as a psychological thriller。 I personally wouldn't put it in that category。 It was definitely more suspenseful than psychological thriller。 This is the first book by Joy Fielding I have read, but I can definitely promise that it won't be my last。 I truly injoyed this book from the very beginning。 I could picture myself in a lot of the characters。 Especially that of Dani Wilson, as I'm sure many woman with a history of abusive relationships do。 I definitely wish there was a warning to the abuse before I started reading to prepare me, which is why I'm giving this "spoiler" here with my review, so others have that warning。 But, if future readers of this book are anything like me, they won't read the reviews anyway。 But at least it's here, just in case。As I stated, this book had me hooked from the very first page。 I wanted to know more every time I was forced to put it down。 I wanted to know what was happening with Sean and Olivia。 I wanted to know if Maggie would get herself back。 I wanted to know if Mark would sabotage his relationship with Julia。 I wanted to know if Aiden would make the right choice。 And I wanted to know if Heidi was going to stand her ground。 Every time I was forced to put the book down, I couldn't wait to pick it back up again。I haven't been this invested in a book in a very long time。 It was a very welcomed response。 。。。more

Debbie

Great summer read, fast-paced whodunnit。

Liz

Enjoyable read。 For me, the ending was a little anti-climatic。

Carol

Great read l。 Enjoyed this book。 Don’t want to give anything away, but did not surprise me。

Lisa Leone-campbell

Hooked from the first page, this incredibly intense story begins with a description of a group of families who all live in houses on a cul-de-sac discussing the shots fired and the death which occurred the night before。The story then moves backwards and explains the varied lives and relationships of the families living on the street and their interactions and secrets with each other up until the sudden gunshot from the early morning hours before。First we have Nick, a highly respected doctor and Hooked from the first page, this incredibly intense story begins with a description of a group of families who all live in houses on a cul-de-sac discussing the shots fired and the death which occurred the night before。The story then moves backwards and explains the varied lives and relationships of the families living on the street and their interactions and secrets with each other up until the sudden gunshot from the early morning hours before。First we have Nick, a highly respected doctor and his wife Dani, a southern belle who is a dentist。 Nick has a tendency to pick at his wife’s pronunciation feeling her southern slang is tacky。 They have two young children, both boys。 From the outside looking in they seem to be the all-American family, but when the doors close, they are anything but。 Nick, by the way has a gun collection。Sean and Olivia are next。 Sean is a miserable stay at home dad。 He was laid off from his executive position over a year ago and has been unable to find work。 Olivia, his wife, was fortunately able to get her lucrative job back at the advertising firm she worked at prior to having their children。 Sean has become extremely depressed and is secretly drinking and lying to Olivia about finding work。 As his anger towards everything and everyone escalates, he considers buying a gun。Julia is an elderly widow whose husband died of cancer。 Nick was his doctor。 She is incredibly indebted to him。 Her relationship with her only son is a bit strained, as is his son’s relationship with his own son, Mark, a man in his early twenties who would rather steal from wallets and pawn jewelry for drugs rather than get a job。 Julia takes Mark in as he has nowhere to go。 While rifling through old things, Mark finds his late grandfather’s gun。Craig and Maggie found themselves living on the cul-de-sac after an incident occurred with Maggie and the family was being harassed。 They were so affected they moved to another state。 But Maggie’s personality changed because of what happened。 She has become fearful and paranoid of everything and everyone, to the point where Craig has moved out, unable to live with her anymore。 They have two children, a rebellious teenager and a young boy。 Maggie secretly carries a gun in her purse everywhere she goes and keeps it by her bedside at night。Finally, newlyweds Heidi and Aiden are happily in love, except for the fact that Aiden’s mother dislikes Heidi and is super rich and has basically bought them everything they own, even the house where they are living。 This has put incredible pressure on the couple who both work at the mall and without her help could barely make ends meet。 To add to their stress, Aiden sees a therapist for PSTD from what he saw during combat in the war。 As his stress increases, it seems so do his flashbacks。So here are the cast of characters who live on this beautiful street, some of whom have unbearable deep rooted secrets。 As they begin to interact and get to know each other, some of the secrets begin to fall out of the houses and into the streets where others can see。 So which of these neighbors will finally snap? And who is the victim?Cul-De-Sac reads like an updated version of Peyton Place or Knot’s Landing, where the dark secrets run deep and the gossip flows like good wine! Quite the page turner!Thank you #NetGalley #BallentineBooks #Cul-De-Sac #JoyFielding for the advanced copy。 。。。more

Cathy

The 3rd book I've read about nice neighbors gone bad:Such A Quiet PlaceThe Therapist The 3rd book I've read about nice neighbors gone bad:Such A Quiet PlaceThe Therapist 。。。more

Medha Upadhyay

This was a really interesting read with a great amount of suspense and some killer plot twists! The secrets pile on slowly, and it's fun to see how everything plays out。The only thing is, once you find out everyone's secrets, it seems pretty obvious who the shooting situation will most likely be centered around。 This was a really interesting read with a great amount of suspense and some killer plot twists! The secrets pile on slowly, and it's fun to see how everything plays out。The only thing is, once you find out everyone's secrets, it seems pretty obvious who the shooting situation will most likely be centered around。 。。。more

Jennie

This book falls into my top 10 books I’ve read this year。 Five families live on a quiet cul-de-sac and the reader becomes acquainted with each family。 From the prologue you know someone will die at the end of the story。 By the end of the story, you aren’t sure who will die, but there are several possibilities。 Favorite characters were Maggie and the older woman, Julie。

Debbie

Carlyle Terrace - a quiet street in Florida with five houses。 But those five houses hold many secrets。The residents are varied - a women running from a traumatic experience and estranged from her husband and trying to move on with and raise her children; the doctor and his dentist wife with two small children, what appears to be an amazing life and many secrets behind their doors; a couple struggling after the husband loses his job and weaves a web of lies he can't seem to get out of; an elderly Carlyle Terrace - a quiet street in Florida with five houses。 But those five houses hold many secrets。The residents are varied - a women running from a traumatic experience and estranged from her husband and trying to move on with and raise her children; the doctor and his dentist wife with two small children, what appears to be an amazing life and many secrets behind their doors; a couple struggling after the husband loses his job and weaves a web of lies he can't seem to get out of; an elderly woman whose somewhat troubled grandson moves in and might be more than she bargained for; and the newlyweds with the meddling mother in law who only adds to their problems。Then there's a gunshot and someone is dead。 But who? And why? As the story unravels you realize it could be any number of people and the reason are plentiful。The characters and their secrets were well told。 The multiple point of view, I believe, only added to the depth。 I really liked some of the characters, while others I grew to despise。Lost of twist and turns in this page turner and it will keep you on your toes until the very end。Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Lisa

review coming soon

Christina

While this is not the first book to plumb the depths of the dark secrets your neighbors may be keeping, it is definitely a standout。 Expertly written, nuanced characters and a carefully interwoven plot about several families in a well-to-do cul-de-sac come together beautifully with a suspenseful tone to make this book a great read。Joy Fielding does a fantastic job of demonstrating the tension bubbling and brewing under the surface of numerous happy-looking families, making it possible that any o While this is not the first book to plumb the depths of the dark secrets your neighbors may be keeping, it is definitely a standout。 Expertly written, nuanced characters and a carefully interwoven plot about several families in a well-to-do cul-de-sac come together beautifully with a suspenseful tone to make this book a great read。Joy Fielding does a fantastic job of demonstrating the tension bubbling and brewing under the surface of numerous happy-looking families, making it possible that any of these houses might be the one on the cul-de-sac that has a murder。 She builds suspense expertly in each family’s story。 There’s the well-respected doctor who may be horrible to his wife behind closed doors…。the grandma who’s being robbed by her grandson and urged into assisted living by her selfish kids…the recently laid-off VP who can’t stand his wife being the breadwinner…。the recently separated wife on the run from a motorcycle gang (yes, really!) and more! I was really impressed by the way Fielding drew all the characters。 She made me care about all of them, and made me switch my opinion of which family would end up resorting to violence several times throughout。 She also did a great job of joining some of the characters’ stories together。 Though the real “action” does not take place until the end of the novel, the suspense and thrills throughout are very satisfying。 I am always pleased to find a thriller author with writing chops like these, and I will definitely be jumping on Joy Fielding’s next read! Page-turning, suspenseful and thought-provoking。 Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC! 4+ shiny stars! 。。。more

Carol Custer

A slow beginning for me on this book because there were so many characters and I was having a hard time keeping everyone straight。 Gradually, though, I got to know everyone thanks to the excellent character descriptions and development。 We know from the beginning that someone is going to get shot and I admit to hoping it would be one of two detestable people!The characters are believable, and so is the story。 We never know what goes on behind the doors of our neighbors' homes! I enjoyed getting A slow beginning for me on this book because there were so many characters and I was having a hard time keeping everyone straight。 Gradually, though, I got to know everyone thanks to the excellent character descriptions and development。 We know from the beginning that someone is going to get shot and I admit to hoping it would be one of two detestable people!The characters are believable, and so is the story。 We never know what goes on behind the doors of our neighbors' homes! I enjoyed getting to know the various characters and watching the changes in their lives。Best of all, was the ending! I was also glad for the epilogue so we could see how everyone had handled the events of that evening。I've read Joy Fielding books for years and was glad to see she's still great! 。。。more

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