She Treads Softly: The Mother Next Door

Friday, October 8, 2021

The Mother Next Door

The Mother Next Door by Tara Laskowski
10/12/21; 352 pages
Graydon House Books

The Mother Next Door by Tara Laskowski is a highly recommended novel of domestic suspense.

The neighborhood of Ivy Woods Drive is known for their annual Halloween block party. An exclusionary group of women who call themselves the Ivy Five have been in charge of the event for years, although now there are only four members, with the "Queen Bee" Kendra firmly in charge. When Theresa and Adam, the new high school principal, move into the neighborhood with her teenage daughter, Theresa is anxious to fit in and with Adam's position, she is an obvious choice to be the new fifth member of the group. The previous fifth member left under mysterious circumstances and some dark secret the group holds seems to involve her. As the group gathers to plan their annual event, it seems that secrets they have all been holding may be revealed by someone who is threatening them.

None of the characters are going to win a personality contest for their likeableness or charisma as it is clear they all have secrets and are desperate to either be in charge or at least be a part of the "in" crowd. Theresa, who is needy in her desire to fit in would be the most sympathetic character. The story unfolds through chapters from the point-of-view of Theresa, Kendra, and an unnamed character who seemingly knows one of their secrets and hold nefarious intentions toward the Ivy Five. The focus is on the character development of Theresa and Kendra, rather than all the other characters who are bit players in the drama.

The plot with a ruling group of residents running the neighborhood is a known quantity as it has been used in many novels. The plot is basically the reaction of the inner group of four to the threats via anonymous contact. They are trying to discover who it is, although they suspect the former group member, and there is a lot of talk about keeping their secret. And planning for their large Halloween Block Party. This is not a fast-paced suspense novel, but rather a slow smoldering burn as the count down to the block party occurs, more secrets are revealed, and the unnamed person threatening to reveal their secrets is becoming emboldened. There are several twists near the end. The Mother Next Door is an entertaining seasonal novel.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Graydon House.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.