The Perfect Neighborhood
A Novel
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4.2 • 21 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Liz Alterman’s engrossing novel is a thought-provoking read about the dark side of suburbia and the secrets of close-knit communities, perfect for fans of Joshilyn Jackson.
When actress and model Allison Langley leaves her former rockstar husband, Christopher, in the middle of the night, it’s all her Oak Hill neighbors can talk about. The gossip comes to an abrupt halt when five-year-old Billy Barnes goes missing on his walk home from kindergarten.
Billy’s mother, Rachel, blames herself for being at work and letting her only child walk alone. Cassidy, Billy’s teenage babysitter, was also late to arrive on the afternoon he disappeared and blames herself for his disappearance.
As the clock ticks down, police are unable to find any trace of Billy, forcing Rachel to ponder the enemies she’s made in their well-off suburb. Could it be one of her neighbors who stole her son? Would they abduct Billy to hurt her? How easy would it be to take a child while the parents or nannies are distracted?
When another child goes missing, the town is put under a microscope as the police try to get to the bottom of the disappearances. Will they be able to find the two children, or will it be too late? What secrets lie at the heart of this tragedy, and how far will one go to keep those dangerous secrets buried?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
YA author Alterman (He'll Be Waiting) makes her adult debut with a skillful if conventional take on suburban noir. Actor Allison Langley and her former rock star husband, Chris, abandon their fast-paced New York lifestyle for idyllic Oak Hill, N.J., after his band breaks up. When their dreams of raising a family to match this perfect town are quashed by Allison's infertility, the neighborhood is rocked by Allison's leaving Chris and going into hiding. Then five-year-old Billy Barnes disappears while walking home alone from kindergarten. Billy's mother, who has thrown herself into her real estate career to paper over her crumbling marriage, is distraught. Then a second child disappears while she's being watched by the same teenage babysitter who showed up too late the afternoon Billy went missing. The frantic search to find the missing children exposes the ugly underbelly of Oak Hill: the alcoholic crossing guard, the babysitter distracted by an inappropriate relationship, the mommies who bring wine in their water bottles to PTA meetings and pool parties. Much of this is familiar territory, but there are enough fresh twists to keep the reader engaged. Alterman is off to a promising start.
Customer Reviews
Mysterious
I loved how the book was unpredictable. A lot of times I know exactly what’s going to happen, but I loved the turn of events.