An Australian author who made her mark here with The Secrets of Midwives, Hepworth introduces us to small-town Essie, forever anxious because she once nearly abandoned her sleeping baby. She becomes friendly with the new next door neighbor, a single woman who's regarded suspiciously by the townsfolk. Soon, Essie recognizes that Isabelle has moved there with a purpose. Look for a national tour.

Couples Fran and Nigel, Essie and Ben, and Ange and Lucas seem to have it all together. Happy marriages, thriving children, and as neighbors, they are the best of friends. But each family harbors its own secrets, which come to light when new neighbor Isabelle, who's single, shows up on the quiet cul-de-sac, bringing with her an air of mystery and intrigue. Isabelle takes a particular liking to Essie and the two quickly become best friends. Meanwhile, Fran is literally running herself into the ground, taking multiple runs daily. Ange is faced with a decision that no wife or mother wants to believe as her marriage to Lucas is put to the test. Hepworth (The Mother's Promise) pens a work full of searing secrets and riveting realizations. Readers will be sucked in from the first page, as this fast-paced and alternating point-of-view chapters make it hard to put down. With jaw-dropping discoveries, and realistic consequences, this novel is not to be missed. VERDICT Perfect for lovers of Desperate Housewives and Big Little Lies, with a dash of Single White Female, this novel will stick with readers for a long time. [See Prepub Alert, 10/9/17.]—Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN