Locust Lane

By Stephen Amidon

Book Overview

For fans of Mystic River by Dennis Lehane and Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, Stephen Amidon's Locust Lane is a taut and utterly propulsive story about the search for justice and the fault lines of power and influence in a seemingly idyllic town. Can anyone be trusted? On the surface, Emerson, Massachusetts, is just like any other affluent New England suburb. But when a young woman is found dead in the nicest part of town, the powerful neighbors close ranks to keep their families safe. In this searing novel, Eden Perry's death kicks off an investigation into the three teenagers who were partying with her that night, each a suspect. Hannah, a sweet girl with an unstable history. Jack, the popular kid with a mean streak. Christopher, an outsider desperate to fit in. Their parents, each with motivations of their own, only complicate the picture: they will do anything to protect their children, even at the others' expense. With a brilliantly woven, intricately crafted plot that gathers momentum on every page, this is superb storytelling told in terse prose--a dynamic read that is both intensely gripping and deeply affecting.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250844231
• ISBN13: 9781250844231
• Release Date: January 2023
• Publisher: Celadon Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Skillfully woven neighborhood thriller

A young woman, Eden Perry, is murdered in Emerson, an affluent Massachusetts suburb. An investigation is launched, and it is discovered that three local teenagers were with her the night of her death, all claiming to have left when she was alive. The story alternates between multiple points of view which really enhanced plot development and built tension. The skillfully woven plot made for a book that was gripping and impossible to put down. The characters were realistic, well-developed and in some cases highly sympathetic. Prejudices are revealed, hidden motives and dark secrets come to light. The themes explored were of privilege, wealth, influence, racism, social media, grief, addiction and misogyny. This fast-paced thriller is well written and has a lot of depth and insight. I absolutely devoured it but felt that the ending was abrupt and needed more elaboration. Thank you to Celadon Books for a copy to review. @CeladonBooks #CeladonReads #LocustLaneBook #partner