Book review: The Couple Across the Street by Anita Waller

The Couple Across the Street by Anita Waller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3⭐
Genre ~ domestic drama
Publication date ~ June 20, 2023
Page Count ~ 287
Audio length ~ unknown
Narrator ~ Lesley Harcourt
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ dated chapters, dead husband with secrets, infidelity

The prologue grabbed me right away with a mother and young son both in a coma as a result from an auto accident…but then we don’t hear more about it for quite some time.

Clare is learning to live without her husband, John, after he dies from cancer at 53. She’s cleaning out his desk and finds a hidden compartment (how exciting) with something shocking.

Our other main characters are:
Clare’s daughter and son-in-law, Sara & Greg, Clare’s daughter and future daughter-in-law, Grace & Megan, Clare’s bff, Vic, a grandson and grandmother, Jed & Eliose, & detectives Bren & Rosie.

There are 2 different story-lines going on ~ John’s secret and Vic’s husbands death. Although it’s on the shorter side (under 300 is shorter to me) it moved along at a slow pace because I was waiting ages and ages for them to tie into each other.

I don’t really have many complaints about the characters as they were all just fine. Except what we find out about the dead, Rob, but he doesn’t have too much dialogue, so I don’t consider him a main character even though his death is part of the main story. I was surprised about Greg and wasn’t happy with that bit, which really why did we need that? I enjoyed when the detectives were on page as they seemed like they had a great working relationship. I, also, enjoyed the relationship between Jed and Eliose.

Overall, this was alright, but I might have liked it a smidgen more and would have rounded up if the plots would have come together. (view spoiler) I wish the killer would have spoken up sooner, too. I quite liked the last ding dong at the very end though, but it did leave me wanting more and to see how that would play out.

Side note #1 ~ please don’t come at me my lovely British friends ~ the timeline takes place during Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and there’s a lot of talk about it, which is fine because it takes place in the UK, but was there a real point to it? I know she was a great lady, but I’m not sure the reasoning of why it was repeatedly brought up. Maybe it was to show why the police were slow doing their part because a lot of them were busy with that? Maybe I have to be British to understand. And do I need to be British to have one of these and what do I need to do to have one? ~ “This was a serious tea-drinking session.”

Side note #2 ~ I like the cover, but I think there could have been a better fitting title. I don’t know what it would be, but eh with this one.

*Thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

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Book blurb:

A darkness settles on this supposedly quiet street…

When Clare becomes a widow, her response is something that shocks her – relief. All she wants to do is move on and figure out how to continue her life, alone, no matter the guilt that brings.

So when Vic, her closest friend, comes to her, showing the signs of trouble in her own marriage, she is more than supportive in helping her leave Rob.

But Vic doesn’t get the chance to do that. Because as they go over to Vic’s house to collect her things, they find a body. Rob’s.

It appears someone else had an axe to grind. But for Clare, already reeling from secrets from her own late husband’s dark past, she’s about to find out this murder isn’t as straightforward as it may appear…

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