The House Across The Street {Book Review}

I was in 2 minds about doing #BookReviewFriday today! I know….. it’s like a tradition here on the blog right???? The reason being is that I have not finished this book yet. I’ve just been so drained at night, and weekends are so busy…that sadly my reading time has gone on the back burner. So now you may ask, how can you review a book if you haven’t finished it Simone? Well I think not finishing it can have it’s pros and cons…. Sometimes I do worry that I am giving away too much of the plot when I have read the book, so this curbs that thought. I have read some of The House Across the Street though, so I have a feel for Lesley’s writing style and also the characters. All is not lost!

What is the book about?

Twenty-three year old Katy Speed is fascinated by the house across the street. The woman who lives there, Gloria, is the most glamorous neighbour on the avenue, owning a fashionable dress shop in Bexhill-on-Sea. But who is the woman who arrives in the black car most Saturdays while Gloria is at work?

Sometimes she brings women to the house, other times they have children. Hilda, Katy’s mother, disapproves of Gloria. She wonders if these mysterious visitors have just been released from prison. Is Gloria secretly bringing criminals, or worse, into the heart of the community?

Then one night, the house burns down. In the wreckage, the bodies of Gloria and her daughter are found. Katy is sure the unexplained visitors must be responsible until her father is arrested and charged with murder. Have the police arrested the correct person? Are the rest of the street safe? Can Katy find the truth before it’s too late?

My thoughts

This book is set in the 1960’s and is a nice escape from the books I’ve read recently. The book starts off just a few hours before the fire and within the first few pages you get an idea of the characters and their personalities. Katy and her brother are close, but both are not close to their mom Hilda at all. Hilda seems like a really cold woman who really needs to allow somebody to give her a hug. I have a feeling we’ll be delving into why she is the way she is. Dad seems like a really good guy. Do good guys get arrested for murder though?

I also have my own theory on the women Gloria is bringing to her home, so I’m keen to see if I’m right. I enjoy Lesley’s writing style….It’s easy to read and she’s very descriptive which I love….. Good story telling to me, is descriptive…where I can imagine the scene and the characters. Also I find I will smirk, laugh out loud…chuckle at something I’ve read. To me that’s a good sign. Even though I haven’t finished it, I am really enjoying it so far. I am quite excited to finish this book!

Have you read anything by Lesley Pearce?

The House Across the Street retails for around R290 and is available at all leading book retailers.