One of Us
Kylie Kaden
Panterra Press Aus
ISBN:9780648677093
Description:
Behind the tall hedges of the affluent, gated community of Apple Tree Creek, not all is as it seems …
Out of the blue, Gertie’s husband decides they need a break and he’s leaving her with their three children. Two streets east and three gardens down, successful businesswoman Rachael discovers her husband has cheated on her – again – even though she’s pregnant with his third child. Thrown together by a chance encounter, the two women bond over the shared disaster that is their marriages.
But did one husband push his wife too far?
When the ambulance sirens cut through the serenity of Apple Tree Creek, the small community is shocked at the violence that’s played out in their midst. CCTV reveals no outsiders visited the estate that night, confirming that the assailant must have been one of their own. Is the culprit still living among them? And why didn’t any of the cameras, designed to keep them all safe, catch anything?
As the web of neighbourly relationships unravels and the workings of their inner lives are exposed, questions will be asked, but not everyone wants to learn the answers.
You can only push people so far.
My View:
A dramatic opening scene – a body…police, traumatised family close by. Who did it? And so the story begins.
We look back to reveal the culprit. We learn about the daily lives and grind of the families living in a gated, secure community. So many secrets. You really cannot judge people by their appearances, who knows what is going on behind the public facade. And can I say upfront – the death- couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person 🙂 I really disliked all the male characters in this book.
For me this had a touch of the Stepford Wives, I dont really know why I felt this commonality, perhaps the neat and tidy outer appearances, the messy reality behind the scenes? Its a “feeling” that has lingered with me long since I read this book.
If you are looking for a character driven mystery with a touch of “fly on the wall” knowledge of the lives behind the gates, then this one if for you. And I bet you wont guess “who dunnit” 🙂 I didn’t.
Reading, Writing and Riesling 
Those ‘perfect façade that hides secrets’ stories can be really engaging, Carol. And it’s so interesting how often people want to cover up the messiness of life like that. It makes for an interesting plot device, doesn’t it? And it sounds as though there are some interesting charaters here!
And Margot when you take a strong dislike to characters the author has done a great job🙂
There seems to be quite a few new books out right now that use the setting of a close knit community with dark secrets. I’m referring to Megan Miranda’s Such a Quiet Place & L. Alison Heller’s The Neighbor’s Secret. I enjoyed both of these, probably because I didn’t dislike all of the characters 😊
It’s a good setting to explore. Lots happening behind these doors