Edge-of-your-seat crime thriller (Detective Eden Berrisford crime thriller series) (Volume 1)

This was a very suspenseful book that kept me in its grip from the first page to the last.
I am one of those people who figures out "who done it" very early on.( I've been told its sometimes annoying that I normally figure out the p!ot and the twist early on- can you imagine? )Well, with this novel I had to wait my turn. I had ideas, then new evidence would pop up and send me on another road. Very good story. Entertaining for sure, I really enjoyed it.

I was giving the opportunity to read this book before it was avaliable to the public and was not disappointed and was captured right from the first page.
Found it hard to put down and just couldn't wait to continue from where I had left of.
Mel you have done it again. Amazing book and highly recommend you read it.
Lots of characters all with a connection.

Wow! I think I've now read all of Ms. Sherratt's books (nine so far). And I've pre-ordered the soon out "Don't Look Behind You". I only recently discovered this talented author. I have really looked forward to my nightly mug of hot cocoa and bedtime reading (which sometimes ends up being " all night reading" because I just can't put her books down!) Bravo Ms. Sherratt!!!

This was a good, fast read that made my many plane trips go quickly. I did not quite get the "Edge-of-your-seat" feeling from it, however, I did find that there were times that I had to read just one more chapter to satisfy my itch. Eden is a feisty character and I am happy to hear there will be more of her detective adventures to come. Overall, still a good, enjoyable read with an interesting plot twist.

I have always liked this author. I wouldn't call this book one of her best because there were others I enjoyed more. That said, it is an excellent book. The way in which she related to her subject and to her characters is as good as ever. A spell-binding read that really grips your attention. Maureen rowland-Aitken, johannesburg South Africa

If you don't read anything else this year, read this book! I finished this in 3 sittings. It was so fast-paced and events unfolded so quickly that there was never a good place to stop. I had not read anything by Mel Sherrat before, but you can bet I'll be checking out her prior and future books and adding her as a favorite author.

As usual this is great. You know all the characters their personalities and a story that is heart throbbing. I couldn't put it down. Just like all of her books just a great read In every way. Can't wait till her next book comes out.

This is my first introduction to Mel Sherratt, even though I have already bought her Estate series in the past - just haven't gotten around to reading them yet. This book is really well written and there is always something happening. No dull moments. I really loved it.
I received a copy from NetGalley

I purchased this book from the store when it was on offer recently for 99p. Now I don’t usually read Crime books but I’m not exactly sure why. I love watching crime TV shows. I have or currently do watch Criminal Minds, NCIS (the original along with the LA and New Orleans spin offs), CSI, CSI NY etc. So I was thinking to myself if I watch these shows I can’t think of a reason not to at least try crime books.

So with this mission I decided to start with this book. The second book in this series has recently been published and I saw a lot of chatter on twitter about it and thought I would start at the beginning of the series. Well I have to say I don’t know why I’ve never read crime books before. I struggled to put the book down.

There was quite a lot going on in this book but it all worked together well. At the beginning of this book a teenager is killed by a group of teenagers. The main part of this book is set the weekend before the trial.

The story focuses on Jess and her Aunt Eden. Jess is kidnapped and Detective Eden Berrisford uses the whole force to try to find her. I really felt the emotion coming from Jess and her family while she was kidnapped.

I liked and loathed Jess at times. She is feisty and was definitely going to go down fighting. I liked her determination and spirit. I didn’t like some of the things she has done. I found Eden to be very practical at work. She is good at her job and knows exactly what to say to get the information she needs.

While I had an incline as to where the story was going I could not have predicted who the kidnapper was. I was constantly guessing and I didn’t expect the reason to be what it was.

This was a gripping story that keeps you guessing until all is revealed. I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more in this series.

The Girls Next Door starts off with the murder of a teenager by a group of friends, one innocently involved. All are arrested and charged including the innocent Jess Mountford, sixteen year old niece of our main character in this book, Detective Eden Berrisford.

After the arrests, girls in the community are being attached and warned about keeping quite which leads us to believe that it is all connected to the murder, but all is not as it seems.

Eden investigates both the murder and the attacks on the girls,and what starts off as a seemingly single investigation soon turns out to be two separate cases with the second one closer to home than Eden would like.

This is the first outing for Eden Berrisford and what a breath of fresh air she is. A well written character, a strong female lead with plenty of depth as she works tirelessly to solve the crimes on her patch.

The star of the novel itself is the story. It's a well thought out and beautifully written tale, paced extremely well and just a joy to read. It goes on tangents you don't expect and may end up being a story you didn't expect at the start but it's all the better for it.

My only real criticism would be that there was quite a large cast of characters early in the book, and quite a few of them minor characters which I found hard to keep track of and who was who. It's only a minor gripe though as they were there for a reason and served their purpose.

I really enjoyed this read. I was transported into the world of Stockleigh and it's characters for the duration of this novel and it was a totally believable and real world and story. I really found the pacing of this novel spot on. I spent longer than I had anticipated reading this due to personal circumstances, so I had some large gaps between reading sessions but it's a credit to the author and the story that I just jumped straight back into it. I really hope this is the first in a long series for Detective Eden Berrisford as this one hit the bullseye for me and I want to read more about Eden and her colleagues and family.

I would like to thank Mel Sherratt, Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy of The Giros Next Door in return for an honest and unbiased review.

The blurb of The Girls Next Door had me intrigued right away, and the story had without doubt quite a powerful start. The beginning of this story was just as gripping and edge-of-your-seat as the cover has promised, but unfortunately I don’t think the story was actually able to maintain that level of intensity. I think the main problem was the sheer amount of characters that is introduced throughout the story, which can get quite confusing at times. I personally had a hard time identifying where each character stood in the story, and that made it a little more difficult to enjoy the story. The amount of characters also made their individual stories seem a bit rushed at points. What I did like was the fast pace and the new main character of this series. Eden Berrisford is one of the exceptions to the detective cliche and she doesn’t have a messed up private life distracting from the case. In fact, she doesn’t really play that big of a role in the story… Which makes The Girls Next Door into the first book of a refreshing new detective series I will definitely be keeping in mind despite the few things that bothered me.

Wow, this is one to get your heart racing! The Girls Next Door is described as “a gripping, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller” and as far as I'm concerned this is spot on! The first page draws you in and the short chapters, each one of which ends in a way that makes you need to read the next, makes it a fast-paced and engaging read. A teenage girl has been abducted. Four more teenagers are being tried for murder. One detective is looking for a connection.
Local teenager, Deanna, was fatally stabbed 6 months before and her murder case is coming up soon. Detective Eden Berrisford is a feisty character who is obviously very good at her job. Her colleagues have a lot of respect for her and she has strong family values which shine throughout this story.
This story is told from multiple character's points of view. It showcases a dynamic that would not be possible if seen only through the eyes of the investigators. This is a story about how far reaching an unintentional wrong decision can be and the destruction that follows in its wake.

This was the first in a new series featuring Detective Sergeant Eden Berrisford who ends up involved in her niece's kidnapping and other situations affecting teens in Stockleigh. The plot unfolds after one of the girls, Katie Trent, is incarcerated in a detention center after being onsite of the murder of another teen girl. Her trial is approaching and other things start happening to her friends as the date looms closer and tensions mount. The dead girl's brothers want revenge for their sister's death, but they aren't entirely blameless as they've been engaged in some illegal activities. Eden's niece, Jess, is kidnapped and held for reasons that are eventually clear and not related to the random acts of assault that occur with the other girls.

I don't know, this one just didn't do it for me. Never really engaged with the characters -- way too much angst and internal dialog that went nowhere and got old fast. Eden was OK, but didn't really have any depth -- a typical female DS who wasn't all that interesting. The story moved slowly and I never felt tension or suspense as it meandered toward a lackluster conclusion. Would not really call this a thriller. Rather disappointing given the cover and the blurb. I do have the second one in the series and will probably eventually get around to it, but not feeling compelled at the moment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to review.

3.5 Stars

Three teenage boys and a teenage girl are hanging out in a park. The boys spy someone they know ..someone that needs taken down. The boys rush the hooded person and one of the boys winds up stabbing the person. As the girl reaches them, she starts screaming ..they have just killed another teenage girl ... not their target at all.

Six months later, those 4 teens are in jail, waiting to go to court.

There begins attacks and assaults on three girls. One has paint thrown all over her. One has her beautiful long hair cut off. One girl is abandoned miles from home without her pants or coat. They all were told .... Don't Tell Or We'll Hurt You ...

And then one girl is kidnapped and it becomes personal for Detective Berrisford ... the victim is her niece, Jess Mountford.

Who are attacking these girls? Who kidnapped Jess? The same people .. or is there something more sinister going on?

This books introduces the reader to the detective and her team of crime fighters. Eden is an interesting character, as she is a single mom of a teenage girl. Her husband disappeared 2 years ago and only she knows the real reason why. I'm hoping to see more character development as books are added to this series.

There is not a lot of suspense, no twists or turns, nor any major surprise. As a reader, I was expecting a lot more action, it just wasn't there.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley who provided a digital copy of this novel. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.

Have you ever considered how different your life would be if you happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? Teenager Katie Trent ends up in the wrong place. One moment life is normal, the next she’s witnessing her boyfriend stab another teen. Shock makes Katie react slowly but she manages to be with Deanna, the victim, as she takes her last breath. Then she runs, runs home and hides from her family, hides her blood stained clothes. But the attack has been captured on CCTV and Katie, the killer and another two boys are arrested. Katie’s best friend, Jess is devastated; the girls being more like sisters than best friends. Six months down the line and several local teens become the victims of savage and cruel attacks. Are the attacks connected to the murder? Are the Barker family finally seeking revenge? DS Eden Berrisford and her team are on the case. Except things are about to get personal for Eden. Her niece, Jess has gone missing. Eden watches the CCTV footage as Jess is punched in the face and bundled into a van. Can Eden crack the case and save Jess before it’s too late…?

This (I’m ashamed to say) is my first Mel Sherratt read and I can safely say that I was not disappointed. The opening chapters immediately pull you into the story – they’re shocking and unexpected, your heart goes out to the characters involved. It was very easy to like the teenage characters as they’re brilliantly written but I was surprised by how much I liked them. The attacks on the female characters are all very humiliating and I really felt for them (maybe it’s that mothering instinct within me).

I really liked Eden Berrisford but found her a little too polished (with her 60s styled clothes and mini with the black and white checkered roof). Eden’s history with her husband does provide that much needed ‘rough edge’ but I wanted something….more, something darker. She wasn’t what I expected but, if you read my blog regularly, you’ll know that I love a dark, grumpy detective. The grumpier and more damaged, the better. One thing’s for sure, I want to know more about her and eagerly wait for the next instalment.

The plot was interesting and kept my attention from start to finish. I found the attacks on the teenagers quite harrowing, almost stomach churning but that was where the terror ended for me. Jess’s kidnap ordeal was well written but I never really felt she was in real danger. Saying that, I’ve read several fabulous reviews of this book and they all say the opposite to me; they felt really scared for Jess. (Maybe that’s the result of too much crime fiction over the years, I’ve become numb to terror! Uh oh..)

Would I recommend this book? I certainly would. I can’t remember the last crime thriller I read that had this much emotion in it. Yes, it’s a gripping crime thriller but it’s got bags of heart too. Very enjoyable, particularly the sections written from Katie and Jess’ standpoint. Bring on the next Eden Berrisford novel please, Mel Sherratt.

Four out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an ARC of The Girls Next Door.

I loved the start to this novel. It just grabbed me straight from the off and didn’t let me go.

I am a huge fan of this authors The Estate series, so I absolutely loved that this new crime series is set on an estate with a totally believable storyline.

Through circumstances, poor Kate is basically in the wrong place at the wrong time. Un fortunately for her and her family, what happens that evening is something that will change their lives for ever. Through Kate’s character I could really feel the emotions that she was going through. I felt just as scared and frightened as she did when she gets sent to prison to await trial for a murder that she didn’t really have any part in.

If anything this whole storyline as a parent really made me worry about what can happen when your children get in with the wrong crowd. It’s frightening to think what they could easily get mixed up in and what the consequences could be.

I had so much empathy for Kate’s mum as well as Jess’s. Being a parent can be hard work but being a parent to a teen can be even harder. To these two women, their girls are still very much their babies and the worry and concerns they have about them is totally relatable.

Eden I really liked. The fact that it is her niece that has been kidnapped, makes the case even more emotionally harder for her. She does her best to remain focused though and to ensure she returns her niece back home safe and well.

The Girls Next Door is a gripping and chilling read. As a parent it will make you want to lock your teens up and keep them safe from the outside world. There is plenty of twists that just added to the whole build up of the story and I literally daren’t breath until I saw how it was going to end. Fantastic start to another new crime series.

My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Sherratt wastes no time and immediately jumps straight into the action with this one. A teenage girl, Deanna is murdered one evening in a park. Her killers? Other teenagers. Just typing that out gave me the chills. Now six months have passed and the teens involved are being held until their trial. But other local kids are suddenly and swiftly being terrorized and humiliated days before the trial is to begin. One even goes missing, is there a connection between all of these events? It’s up to Eden Berrishford to figure it all out.

This is the first book in a new series featuring Eden and I’m already fascinated by her character. She’s a single mom with a teenaged daughter, Casey. She’s not your typical detective character, she’s very family oriented and really cares about her community, she has a vested interest. Her ex husband Danny isn’t in the picture anymore, but there is definitely a big story there and one that I’m hoping Sherratt explores as this series continues. Eden has a sister, Laura, who also has a teenage daughter named Jess. She’s a widow and also has another older daughter, Sarah. When Jess goes missing, Eden is bound and determined to stop at nothing in order to bring her back home safe and sound.

This one is definitely more thriller than mystery, however I was still dying to know what would happen next. Will Eden find Jess before it’s too late? Is this case too personal for her to keep a clear and objective head? You get many various perspectives here, from Eden and Laura to Jess and more. The scenes with Jess during her ordeal were full of tension and anticipation and I felt like I was right next to her cheering her on and hoping she would stay safe. I really couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, I was utterly absorbed.

As I don’t want to discuss the plot too much, I’ll say that this is an excellent start to what I hope is a long series. I love the feeling I get after reading the first book in a truly enthralling new series and I felt it in spades here. Eden is such a relatable character, yes she’s a cop but she’s also a mom, sister and aunt just trying to do right by her family. Her and Laura are very close and their sisterly relationship was very honest and identifiable. I loved the relationships between her and her coworkers, they have a great and engaging rapport.

I really cannot wait to see where Sherratt takes this series next, there are so many possibilities here and so much to delve into. This is definitely a series with substance that you can sink your teeth into and the brisk pace coupled with the elaborate and well written plot make for one hell of a read.

Well OMFG #bookjunkies!! Mel Sherratt has done it again! The Girls Next Door is the perfect recipe for an exquisite crime thriller: a dash of the Estate series, a dollop of DS Allie Shenton with a sprinkle of Marcie Steele! A new series full of grit, emotion and the raw realism I adore from this author! But there was never any doubt this would be the case!

Set in Stockleigh, a fictional city found within the West Midlands (or at least it did not come up when I googled to check! ?) the reader will find themselves caught up in revenge; family/complicated relationships; bullying; death; kidnap; difficult choices and facing consequences; domestic violence and a whole string of other threads.

This book was a freakin’ page-turner for me! I consumed this book (not in the literal sense of course!) within a matter of hours and I when finished, I was hungry for more! What I loved about this book, all of Mel Sherratt’s books in fact, is the way she reels you in right from the start and you just never know where you will end up!

Characters are my bag. I adore them and they can make or break a story for me. Whether that is right or wrong, if I cannot connect on any level with a character, I can struggle with the whole book. That was not a problem with this book! Mel has a way of making the reader feel her characters are every day people – those we could bump into on our day-to-day travels. I love that!

DS Eden Berrisford has taken a secondment to the Community Intelligence Team and is a strong leader for her team of officers. I like that she also thinks outside the box and is almost fearless in her pursuit to find the baddies. Another character or pair of characters I was drawn to were Cayden Blackwell and Jess Mountford. I started off believing one thing about this couple, only for the author to come out and kick the feet from under me! Katie Trent – oh wow! I was in two minds about Katie too! But she was vulnerable, almost stoic in a sense and her experience seemed to add years to her youthful mind. This one pulled on my emotions and gave them a wee twist! There were, of course, more characters which I could include – especially one in particular that I actually EEEEEK’d when the name popped up – but *no spoilers* …I want the die hard Mel fans to Eeeek too!

Is it any wonder that Mel’s latest offering gets a bloody Hell Yeah recommendation from me!? Of course not- this author delivers every-single-time! Emotional, gritty and full of some OMFG twists, I dare you NOT to want to read this book!

Opening the book you are grabbed and dragged straight into the main plot - the murder of Deanna Barker who has been brutally stabbed to death. The pace just picks up more speed from there as you are propelled forward 6 months just days before the trial of the accused...as well as the heightened tension in the community around the forthcoming trial there is a real sense of disquiet as local teenage girls are being abducted and left humilated with warnings to keep their mouths shut! Are these abductions linked to the trial or is there something else going on? When Jess goes missing the initial thoughts are that she too will come home humiliated but it is soon clear that she is not going to be returning anytime soon. This makes the case personal for Eden as she battles to find her niece before it's too late. We are then taken into the twists and turns of the plotlines going on, including gang involvement, teenage bullying and suicide and the far reaching impact these all have.

I actually found myself taking a real dislike to Jess, even during the ordeal she was facing; I think there is more trouble to be found attached to her as the series goes on; she struck me as selfish and completely without insight into the world and her impact on it; I got the feeling she would say what she thought was wanted to try and pull the wool over people's eyes.

Eden - I loved her character - I found her fiesty and determined and with an intriguing background story - she is going to be an interesting character to watch develop over a series. Looking forward to seeing how her relationships with her colleagues develops. So different from Laura (her sister and Jess's mum) yet you can see that there is a bond there that will be difficult to break - will be interesting to see how things develop with Eden on the side of the law if Jess doesn't toe the line!

Lulu - Deanna's mother - although we only got a small glimpse into her life - I warmed to her immediately; I got a real sense of a woman who is up against it - her boys are wild, her daughter was murdered and her husband upped sticks and left her and despite the sympathy from others over Deanna's death you get a sense she is pretty downtrodden and feels she has nowhere to turn to. Mel gives a great portrayal of her as a stereotyped "gansters mum" you know the one - "my boys are good, they are, they are just misunderstood". I hope she features elsewhere in the series and I really hope something positive happens for her!

The letters from Katie to her mum were painfully sad and as a mum of a young teenager I could feel the torment as a mum and imagine Katie's anguish at the situation she found herself in. I was in tears at the Ashleigh storyline as you could not fail to be moved by how the actions of others drove a young woman to take the steps that she did.

I thought the The Girls Next Door perfectly captured estate life and the pressures on young people today; it also highlighted how communities can and do pull together - but also how they can isolate individuals and what impact that has on them - Mel gave an eloquent portrayal of the gritty side of life that does go on, the dialogue was realistic and there was a real sense of community developed within the book.

This was the 2nd book of Mel's that I had read in one week, my first one being Watching Over You. This certainly wasn't as harrowing and disturbing as WOY but what an explosive start to a new series. Mel - consider me a "Sherratt Junkie" :-)

Wow, this is one to get your heart racing!

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Mel's books and The Girls Next Door is right up there with them all. In fact, I think each book is slightly better than the last, if that is at all possible.

I feel like I can't find the right words to properly do this book the justice it deserves, but I'll do my best.....
Detective Eden Berrisford is a new character and one I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know. She's a feisty character who is obviously very good at her job. Her colleagues have a lot of respect for her and she has strong family values which shine throughout this story. She has a good relationship with her teenager daughter and is very close to her sister, Laura, and her niece's, Jess and Sarah.
Eden, her team and the residents of Stockleigh are shocked when local teenagers are subjected to horrific and demoralising attacks. Are they revenge attacks or is there more to it?
Local teenager, Deanna, was fatally stabbed 6 months before and her murder case is coming up soon. I felt so sorry for her mother. Losing a child is every parents worst nightmare, let alone in such horrific circumstances. I also felt for Katie, who had been caught up in the tragedy and was now facing possible charges for a crime she didn't commit. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but they can't send her down when she didn't do it. Can they? I could feel her mothers pain, seeing her daughter locked up for a crime she didn't commit, when she had only been trying to help Deanna. As a parent of teenagers, I worry every day about these sorts of scenarios. It must be terrifying to live it!
Even more terrifying to find your daughter has been kidnapped! I just don't know what I would do. I'd be hysterical so, for me, Laura's reaction is totally believable when Jess is taken and time starts ticking on. Eden's too as she battles to keep her emotions in check, as much as possible, to have the best chance of finding Jess alive.
My heart was racing as the search for Jess picked up pace. Would Eden and her team find her before it was too late?
The Girls Next Door is described as “a gripping, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller” and as far as I'm concerned this is spot on! The first page draws you in and the short chapters, each one of which ends in a way that makes you NEED to read the next, makes it a fast-paced and engaging read.
Just brilliant!
As with all of Mel's books these characters are very real and (mostly) very likeable and I'm sure a lot of readers will relate to them and their stories. I have enjoyed getting to know the new characters as well as catching up with old friends from previous visits to Stockleigh.
I have to say also that although the actions of the kidnapper are horrendous, his story is heart-breaking.

If you've never read any of Mel's books before you honestly don't know what you're missing. Why not give this one a go? I can guarantee you will be buying her others afterwards!

I was feeling like I was heading for a slump, nothing on my kindle was taking my fancy before I even opened the book and read a chapter! Real life has a lot to answer for when it wants attention. What I needed was something I knew I would enjoy and having seen the recent blog tour sentiments, I had a feeling The Girls Next Door would sort me out!

Eden is little firecracker of a detective and love her!! She lives and polices the area she and her family reside. She’s got connections in the community either through her daughter or through her sister. She cares about the community she lives in. She doesn’t always do things by the book but then again what (fictional) police officer does?

I had my suspicions as to who was our nasty culprit! But as always, I was led up the garden path and got it wrong!

I love Mel Sherratt's writing, gritty drama, grown up chick lit (as Marcie Steele) and the genre I first discovered her under, crime thrillers. The Girls Next Door is definitely a gritty crime thriller, with a smidgen of romance, only a smidgen mind you! Mel has managed to draw on all her other books to produce this dark novel.

I loved seeing the references to The Mitchell Estate, tying into the author's successful Estate series. Just to complete things, I would love to see Eden cross paths with Mel's other detective, the tenacious Allie Shenton! Hint hint Mel ? I was very excited to see the recent cover reveal for the second outing for Eden "Don't Look Behind You". Can't wait to read more from this new detective!

Massive thank you to Bookouture for my copy of The Girls Next Door. Looking forward to book 2 already!

Another great book from Bookouture. When a murder occurs and Katie is in the wrong place at the wrong time, she is locked up until trial. The story begins shortly after when a series of assaults happen separately to a group of friends. Jess, who is Katie's best friend, is also kidnapped. Are the beatings and kidnapping related? What is behind all of it?

This is the first book I've read by Mel Sherratt and I was very pleased. It was a little confusing to me at first because there are so many characters. At one point I thought about writing everyone down on a sheet of paper in order to keep them straight. After turning back pages and refreshing my memory, it eventually got better.

She does a great job of keeping you guessing until the very end. It was horrifying in some parts, the thought of having your child (no matter what age) kidnapped is just terrifying. I grew to like Eden, the detective in this first book of the new series. There are some questions I have that I'm hoping the author will address in books to come. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Eden and her sister Laura (Jess' mother). They share a bond and are brutally honest with each other. Laura takes her frustrations out on her at times, which can be interpreted as hurtful and rude, but the bond between them is strong and just makes their relationship that much stronger.

I also really enjoyed the relationships between the mothers/daughters. Dealing with teenagers can be tough, especially when you learn about secrets you may not really want to know. But, the love a mother has for her child is so profound that nothing can break it.

This book is much, much more than a mystery, it is about relationships between family and friends. That's why I enjoyed this book so much.

Having read and really enjoyed Mel's other books. I was keen to see what she could come up with this time. A new series with new characters, can always leave you wondering if it's what people want.

I wasn't disappointed at all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. I especially enjoyed how characters from Mel's other books seemed to pop up. If you have read the Estate series you will remember Josie Mellor as the Housing officer.

This must have been a difficult book to write, It is a great story line, and every parents nightmare of their little cherub getting involved in Crime, or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
​There are a number of characters through out this book, and it doesn't take you long to start realising somewhere how they all become a big part of the story. I liked how the chapters went back and forwards to individual characters, which I found left me wanting to keep reading to see what was happening with each of them

​We are introduced here to Eden. Detective Eden Berrisford. A character I think I'm going to like.
The story kicks off with what appears to be a group of teenagers doing what most teen's do of an evening. Hanging around.
​Things take a dramatic turn when one of the teens stabs another.
​We then forward 6 months and the build up to the trial. This is where I enjoyed how the book went, how it took you back and forward and pieced all the story together as well as introducing you to the characters as it flowed brilliantly.

Things become a little to personal for Eden, when here niece Jess is kidnapped. it seems that this is all linked to the upcoming trial, but is it?

The Girls Next Door (Detective Eden Berrisford, #1) by Mel Sherratt

This psychological thriller was an excellent book and although "The Girl on the Train" and "Gone Girl" are both mentioned as books various characters were reading, this book has Girls in the title, this book succeeds. From the very first page to the very last this author is brilliant. I really loved Detective Eden Berrisford. She is level headed who works well with her colleagues and has all of the best qualities, a person can have. She is someone who if I meet in person I would want her as a friend. She isn't battling any demons like most of the crime procedural damaged detectives that flood publishing these days.

The story is masterfully told and is gripping. i read it in one sitting as it was so compelling and fresh for the genre. The characters are all believable and likable. I am really impressed by this writers talent. If you are going to pick one of these types of books my advice is to read this one.
I am pleasantly surprised that this author whom I never heard of before wrote such taut suspense driven tale. I will definitely keep my eye out for this authors previous or future books. I loved it.

Thank you to Net Galley, the talented Mel Sheratt and Bookouture for providing me with my digital copy for an honest and fair review. .

Since my very first book by this author I have been hooked on her style of writing. Each book I have subsequently read has made me feel the same way.

The realistic approach and the realism of her stories, plots and characters become so insightful and real that it plays out in my minds eye.

This one is of no exception.
This is a fabulous start to a new series. What I also loved was that she drew in The Estate which although isn't a carry on saga it added an indepth meaning because we already learnt about the 'area'.

So between the run down council estate and the 'upper class' [compared] you somehow feel you are in familiar surroundings. I loved that.

Deanna is the girl that was killed.
The wrong person is being detained.

The crimes and events that happen afterwards, are they connected?

The abduction of Jess, the person who did this, the entire character of him was so well portrayed that at the end I almost felt sorry for him. I certainly understood him [if that's not warped of me to say so]

As the author leaks out more and more of what the parents find out about their children is jaw droppingly good!

My favorite books is when there is a lot of dialogue going on as loads of narration seems to make me yawn and skip a few pages, so that is another reason I love books by this author.
The chit chat, the dialogue the intense feelings it brings about within me whilst reading one of Mel Sherratt's books.

I really cannot wait for book 2

Katie Trent holds a dying girl in her hands. She bleeds out. She's gone. Katie runs. She wasn't the one that killed her... but she did run and knows the teenagers that did. The police soon figure out who she is and aren't confident she wasn't in on it. She is forced to wait in a secure unit for a trial that will decide her fate.

Her best friend Jess would usually have been with her that terrible night, but was home sick. She continues with her life, running around with her boyfriend and missing Katie. Until she's taken off the street one night, leaving her family clueless. Luckily, she has an aunt in the police who is determined to find her as quickly as possible. Eden and her daughter are very close to Jess and her mother, who works at a crisis line helping people who have no one to talk to... but can she help her own daughter?

This story follows an awful lot of characters and can get confusing at times, but it's worth keeping up. We must wonder whether Jess will be found and whether any of the teenagers are as innocent as they seem. Eden is an interesting character that I look forward to seeing more from. All of the characters are very well written. No one is perfect here... they are realistically flawed and not even always likeable. They make mistakes, sometimes big ones.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! It's my choice to leave an honest and unbiased review.

It was a pleasure to meet DS Eden Berrisford. I loved her dress sense and style. I was a bit of a mod back in the day myself, so I felt really at home with her. Loved her checkerboard roof Mini.
And I loved the cover, I’ll have to dig out my red mac.
I recognised some of the places in the book from Mel Sherratt’s Estate Series.
Especially the Mitchell Estate.
However, most of the characters in this story were from the nicer part of Stockleigh.
The houses were more upmarket and nicely presented.

I think the story was excellent, and I never guessed how it would go.
There were some vicious attacks on local teenagers.
No-one was sure if it was connected to the incident with Deanna Barker.
Her family are known undesireables, and no strangers to trouble.
When Jess goes missing it gets personal, as she is Eden’s niece.

There is a rollercoaster of emotions, as Eden and her team question the victims and suspects of the assaults.
Are they connected cases? I can’t say….
Eden tries to hold her sister Laura together as she faces the worry of Jess’ disappearance.
It was breath-holding in parts, as false information caused problems.
There were some unexpected twist and turns, and I loved it.

I recommend this book 100%.
Mel Sherratt is one of my favourite authors.
I’ve enjoyed everything she has written and thoroughly recommend her books. There’s no denying that I’m a big fan of Mel Sherratt and her alter-ego Marcie Steele
#TeamSherratt
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought I had the plot figured out while reading this book when everything suddenly takes a turn I did not expect and I was really taken by surprise about the change. That pretty much summons up my feeling about this book. That and that Mel Sherratt really knows how to write an intriguing story which pulls you in right from the start. This is, by the way, the first book I have read by Mel Sherratt and I'm quite looking forward to reading her other books.

The Girls Next Door is a book about women, that's how I feel, sure there are men in the book, both good and bad. But, I strongly felt that this story was about mothers, sisters, cousins, best friends. We have the mother who has lost a daughter, the other mother who is waiting to know the faith of her daughter. The sisters that are joined in heartache when one of their daughters is kidnapped. Cousins that were one's close, but then a secret tore them apart. And we have the two best friends that share secrets and now has to live with the consequences of their actions.

I found this book to be intriguing to read, and I like that not everything is how it seemed and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series to find out more about the characters, and what the actions in this book will do to their lives.

I chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased!!

This is a book with twists and turns throughout. Just when you think you figured it out you realise that the author has very cleverly led you down the wrong path and you need to totally rethink where you thought the story was going.

The story starts with a tragic death, we are thrown into the action almost immediately. This is the catalyst for the events which follow, but not for all of them. The author introduces us to a lot of different characters and it is up to us to work out where they all fit into the bigger picture.

As a police officer, Eden Berrisford is a strong character. She is respected by her peers, and works well with her colleagues. She is willing to risk everything, even her own life, of it means protecting the ones she loves. Eden finds herself embroiled in an investigation which very quickly becomes personal due to her niece Jess going missing. It takes time for the different strands of the investigation to start coming together, but even when they do it is quickly obvious that all is not as simple as it first seemed.

I would compare this story to those of Angela Marsons, an author who is one of my favourite. Given that this is the first crime book by the author I have read, I look forward to seeing what she brings to the characters in the future.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book.

The Girls Next Door is a first fast paced police procedural book in the Detective Eden Berrisford series by author Mel Sherratt.

A teenage girl, Deanna Barker is mistaken for her brother, and murdered. Six months later Katie and three of her friends are in jail waiting the trial for Deanna's murder. As the trial date approaches few of Katie’s friends are attacked and warned to keep quiet. Detective Eden becomes personally involved when her niece and Katie’s best friend Jess is kidnapped. Wil Eden be able to get to Jess in time and what is Jess’s connection with Deanna’s murder?

I liked how The characters were developed in this book and am looking forward to reading more
about Eden and her team. Mel Sherratt portrayed peer pressure and how a bad decision can change your life completely in an instant very well making the book believable. I especially liked the letters Katie wrote to her mom which reflected her emotional state beautifully

Overall an enjoyable read even though I felt the ending was a little rushed
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and fair review.

MoMo’s Book Diary loved Mel Sherratt’s thriller "The Girls Next Door" and highly recommends as a 5 star read.This is one of the best crime thriller books I have read this year!

Mel Sherratt's crime thriller "The Girls Next Door” is a thrilling mystery full of suspense which I was lucky enough to read in one day (as a back-seat passenger on a six-hour journey).

I had not read any of this author’s books previously and found myself captivated by her style of writing. The characters, mostly part of the story from the beginning, are introduced perfectly. This meant there were lots of names and relationships to get to grips with but the author leads you through perfectly.

I especially loved feisty Detective Eden Berrisford and look forward to more of her story in future books.

The author excellently describes the settings and emotions in a way you actually feel you are there in each scene.

Sincere thanks to author, Mel Sherratt, and publisher, Bookouture, for opportunity to read this fantastic book via Netgalley prior to its release date. I am already recommending it to everyone!

Review also published on momobookdiary and goodreads

I was totally mesmerised, Brilliant !
I was really excited about this book , It felt like we were waiting for ages for a new book from Mel and when we got it whaaabam!

Watching Eden Berrisford find her feet was brilliant, she was methodical ,Gritty, thorough and a real detective, looking at every angle , I love her character, some would say a little slow but I feel she is thorough,I definitely would love to see more of her.

After the murder of a local teenager Deanna Miller, savage attacks start to plague the teenagers of the small community of Stockleigh.
Teens going missing and no matter how you think you work out who it is , it isn't , Brilliant ! i love getting caught out !

The characters are sturdy and real, and this all fits with the Estate books and characters , I really do like the weave Ms Sherratt has used with this line. I have read all the Estate books and it is valuable to have done so to learn how the characters behave. Short chapters were a GENIUS idea with this book it kept me reading,"just one more chapter" until i'd finished it.
Just keep reading this book you will feel the panic, the worry and the nervousness of parents and teens. You will feel the hard hitting gritted determination when family becomes the victim and just what you can do when family become involved

A total page turner right from the beginning, a successful stomach churning read , something we all really want .

5* from me all the way,

After thinking about this book I still have mixed feelings. It's a good story but didn't grab me like I thought it would. This is not the first book I've read by this author and I feel that my expectations have been slightly deflated.

This is the first book in a new series, so it's introducing new characters and trying to give the reader a backstory at the same time. I expect that is trying to build a foundation for future stories in the series.

However because there are so many new characters and background thrown in right from the beginning I was left feeling a little confused and dizzy. This is a fairly complex plot anyway.

Once I got into it (about 60%) I started to actually enjoy the plot being revealed. I do feel it all comes together well in the end and will look out for the next book in the series but I can't say this one blew me away.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this which I voluntarily reviewed.
I have been a great fan of Ms Sherratt's since reading The Estate series.
This is the first in what I hope will be a long series featuring Detective Eden Berrisford.
This book has everything you want in a crime thriller. It pulls you along at a cracking pace with great dialogue and a plot that has more twists and turns than a fairground ride. A few red herrings are thrown in to keep you on your toes.
Detective Berrisford is a great character. We see both her strengths and weaknesses, which make her likeable and realistic.
If you're looking for a crime thriller that you won't want to put down then this is for you.
I look forward to reading many more books in this series.

The Girls Next Door is a tightly woven thriller that kept me on edge.

One night at a local park, Katie Trent attempts to intervene in the murder of Deanna Barker. Six months have passed since the crime, and Katie is now awaiting trial for not intervening sooner. As the trial date nears, Katie’s friends are warned to keep their mouth’s shut. Katie’s best friend, Jess, is kidnapped for what appears to be her role in the situation, and her Aunt Eden Berrisford, who is a Detective, investigates her kidnapping.

I honestly wasn’t sure where The Girls Next Door was going until I was about halfway finished. which I appreciated. It seemed to be going in one direction, but abruptly switched direction and surprised me. Eden is a likable character, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I throughly enjoyed this book. It isn't a mystery, but it is a great character driven thriller with multiple layers. There are different stories going on at the same time but they are connected. My only complaint was that there was too many characters. I got confused at times and couldn't remember who some of them were. I had the main characters down though. Maybe a few less background characters next time. And I do mean next time because there is a sequel that I am definitely reading!

*I requested a copy of this book from Netgalley and have given an honest and unbiased review *

Katie had got involved with a bad crowd. When her boyfriend attacked and stabbed a girl, she stayed to call an ambulance & waited until the paramedics came before running away. However this meant she was put in custody and charged along with the rest with murder. As her trial is due, girls in her circle are attacked. One has paint poured over her, one has her hair chopped, one is stripped & left to walk home half naked and Jess, Katie's best friend is abducted.

The search for Jess and the story behind Katie's arrest is totally engrossing. This is a really gripping page turner and I could not put it down until I found out what was going on. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read and review this five star book.

Well...I absolutely loved this book. I have read all of this author's crime novels and have been captivated by them all but the character of Eden is on a whole new level for me. I love the gritty reality that permeates everything this talented lady writes to the degree that I actually feel like the drama is unfolding before me in my living room. I found qualities in every character that intrigued me and made me want to continue reading and the story line was so tautly written that at times I was holding my breath and didn't even realise it. I was up at 7am this morning to write and made the mistake of reading just another couple of chapters. I tore myself away with about 20% to go which was my second mistake as the story and characters would not leave my mind. So, back I went and didn't come up for air until I'd finished it. This is a definite 5* read for me and I can't wait for Eden's next adventure which I hope is coming soon.

Well. Wow. What can I say? If you are looking for nerve-wracking and nail biting tension then look no further. From the opening chapter, you can tell that ‘The Girls Next Door’ is going to be a brilliant story. As each chapter unfurls you get a gradual building of tension, initially a catch up with the main protagonists and what has been happening in the months since that awful, fatal attack. And at the point at which you are introduced to Cayden Blackwell, the sense of foreboding really picks up, as does the tension. You know that he is up to no good but the level of brutality in the attack upon him seems out of proportion. Until Jess receives a text from his phone asking her to meet him rather than him pick her up. Uh-oh. That’s not good, now is it?

As each individual attack occurs on the girls, Sherratt creates such heart-thumping action and narrative that I’m pretty certain my cat could hear mine beating in my chest. He was certainly giving me funny looks. As each girl is captured and terrorised I was on the edge of my seat. What do they want from the girls? How far will they go? With Jess being abducted, is another one of them about to become a second victim … Well you’ll have to read for yourself, but it’s truly gripping and compelling writing which makes you want to read on and not look away. It was nail biting stuff and Sherratt creates such confusion for both police and reader, tantalising twists in the plot which won’t get straightened out until about two-thirds through.

At this point, when the kidnapper reveals himself to Laura, and what it is that has triggered him becomes a little clearer, I did wonder how, and if, it would be possible to keep up the tension. But Sherratt manages this beautifully. While you know how he has justified the kidnapping to himself, you still don’t know exactly why he did it or what his end game may be. And as Eden and her team follow some false leads, while Laura keep secrets from her sister, secrets that could jeopardise both her and Jess, I was every bit as gripped and engaged as I had been at the start.

The structure of this book is also very clever. Interspersed with the present-day action, which takes place over just a couple of days, are letters from Katie to her mother Maxine, letters in which she talks about what happened on the night that changed her life, and what is happening to her in the secure unit that she has been forced to call home. It all adds to the mystery and makes you question why has Jess been taken, the man blaming ‘her’ for the loss of his precious daughter.

The characters were equally compelling. Both the likeable and the reprehensible because even those who were victims were not entirely innocent. Jess has kept many secrets from her mother, but none of them justify what happens to her. And Eden’s relationship with her daughter, and her reluctance to let go of her ex-husband Danny, is something that I will be interested to see developed in subsequent books as this really feels like a ghost of a relationship which will definitely come back to haunt Eden in time. And the team dynamic among the detectives is great, some fantastic banter between them, but with overwhelming support for each other. And even the perpetrator is not an entirely unsympathetic character. You cannot forgive his actions, but can perhaps understand a little of what drove him to this place.

Full of misdirection, fast paced, short chapters and nail biting action, this was a great start to a new series from Mel Sherratt. She has a very likeable character in Eden Berrisford; a real note of authenticity about her, the single mother juggling work and home to keep her daughter on the right track. She is down to earth with a real community spirit and in somewhere like Stockleigh, this is bound to lead her into many an exciting adventure. I look forward to reading more.

Purchased from the store UK

This is my first crime novel by this author. I have read and enjoyed her books writing as Marcie Steele and I do have her "Estate" series loaded on my Kindle TBR. After reading this one, that series is definitely being bumped up.
Deanna Barker's death was a case of mistaken identity. Four teenagers are charged and are awaiting trial. In the days coming up to the trial there are several assaults made on other teens in the town. Ones that may or may not have connection to the original crime. Det. Eden Berrisford and team are tasked with finding out who is doing this. Soon after starting, she gets a call that her own niece is now missing. Is this potential abduction linked to the assaults and will Eden be able to solve the crime(s) and bring her niece home safely.
I do love a strong woman lead in this genre of book. What used to be a rarity is now quite popular and so competition is high to create a character who stands out. In my opinion, this author has done just that. Eden is strong, feisty, not afraid to go out on a limb, protective over family and friends and, above all, comes across as real. Her relationships are well described especially those with her sister and daughter. Banter and other conversation and interaction were also well drawn and, at times, quite amusing. I do love a bit of good banter in a team.
The story itself flowed well, and at a fair lick too. I do love a book that gets on with itself. The chapters alternate between narration by several different characters and it was easy (even for me) to distinguish who was "talking" in each case. It was also quite high paced throughout making it a very difficult book to put down. In fact I think I read it straight through in less than a day. It's also quite a gritty read. There are several important social issues covered and these are tackled very well and come across as portrayed with reality.
All in all, a cracking read, one that will put the author firmly back on my watchlist for crime fiction. As already mentioned I have her other series to read but am definitely also going to be watching out for more from this one.

My thanks go to NetGalley and the Publisher for the chance to read an advance copy of this book.

I really loved this book, I found it thoroughly enjoyable and everything from the scene setting, pace of the plot, characters and descriptions were spot on. I had this book to read for a while and when I had the second book lined up to read I picked it up and honestly kicked myself that I hadn't read it sooner. It's one of the best books I've read so far in 2017 and I have already read the best part of 60 books already. Very highly recommended and if, like me you have had it on your 'to read' pile (or mountain in my case) for a while, its definately worth bumping it up to the top - loved it 5 stars!!

Firstly, I should admit to being a HUGE fan of Mel Sherratt's books! From the very first one I ever read, I knew instantly I'd found a rare quality in Mel, knowing I'd enjoy anything she chose to write, and this has proved true enough, whether it be her series with DS Allie Shenton, or The Estates series, I've absolutely adored them all and would happily read them time and time again.

The Girls Next Door has a new female protagonist in Eden, the Dr Marten wearing Detective. Single mum to teenage daughter Casey, she is instantly likeable and obviously well respected amongst her team. We also get introduced to plenty of new characters, including Laura, Eden's sister and her daughters, Sarah and Jess and I hope we will see these again in future books as I have enjoyed the friendship between the sisters.

I'm very aware that this has only just been released, and obviously highly anticipated, so I'm very conscious of spoiling the story for other readers so it wouldn't be too fair to give anything away. If you love settling down with a good, gritty book and getting sucked in, then this is definitely the book for you! Although Eden is the main character, there are others who I hope will appear in future books and it was lovely to see an old favourite, Josie Mellor make an appearance.

It's been far too long since we last had one of Mel's gritty books, so I'm really hoping we won't have to wait so long for the next one!

The Girls Next Door is the first book in a series about Detective Erin Berrisford. Never have I been disappointed with any of Mel Sherratts books and this one was no exception. I absolutely loved it. It is a crime thriller that you will just want to keep reading. I love the way Mel brings her characters to life and the descriptions of the places. A super start to this new series.

Definitely quite the plot twists going on in this book and there was absolutely no way I could put it down. The night of attacks were certainly creative and humiliating to the victims. They were also very creepy and spine tingling.

This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last!

Thanks Bookouture and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Bookouture.

This was my first venture into reading a novel written by Mel Sherratt. I see from checking the author out that there are many more books available, not all in this series. I have to confess to finding this one a very middle-of-the-road reading experience. It certainly wasn't bad, but it also didn't make me eager to get my hands on every book the author has ever written. I doubt that I will be trying any more books written by this author.

The story takes place in a small English city which feels more like a small town because the feeling is that everybody knows each other. There are a group of teens in the fifteen to eighteen range who hang around together, but feel the need to go to the lower economic parts of town to do that. Most of them are doing things they shouldn't be doing with some of the activities much more serious than others. Then one night a murder takes place and everyone is paying the price for what some of them did. As the time approaches for the trials for those involved in the murder very frightening intimidation incidents happen to other members of the group. A police Detective Sergeant is involved in the murder case and now her teenage niece has been kidnapped. She is allowed to stay on the case and investigate.

As I said, not a favorite novel for me because I found that I wasn't having any sympathy or empathy (or even curiosity) for any of the characters I should have cared about. That being said, it doesn't mean that other readers will not find it a much more engaging reading experience than I did.

The first in a new series by British author Mel Sherratt introduces Detective Eden Berrisford who is different from the clichéd police detectives found so often in this genre. A single mother with a teenage daughter, Eden gets on well with her superiors and colleagues and is very family-oriented. The investigation she becomes involved with affects her personally as her teenage niece has disappeared.
This wasn't just a police procedural or a thriller but also crossed into family drama with an emphasis on parent-child relationships and the difficulties faced by teenagers with regards to peer pressure and the consequences of one's actions.
It was a solid and innovative storyline. The character of Eden is interesting and has potential. I liked this, but I can't say that I loved it. I think I was hoping for something more gritty and with a bit more action, but it ended up being quite 'cozy' almost, with a lot of interior monologue and reflection. The regularly changing perspectives also led to some repetition. The story is more or less set over the duration of one weekend, but it dragged in parts. However, the author did a good job of misdirecting the reader initially and it didn't go the way I had expected it to for the first half. I actually failed to feel any empathy for "the girls" and have to admit the only one I felt somewhat sorry for in the end was the perpetrator, which made this into a bit of a strange reading experience for me.
I received an ARC via NetGalley.

Wow! I absolutely loved this pacy, gritty thriller. Eden is quite a character, very real and relatable - I really liked her and was with her every step of the way as she investigated Deanna's murder. Loved this amazing, edge of the seat, intense tale and cannot wait to read more from this incredible author.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a real page turner.The action was relentless, fast and furious,and I liked the main characters. and thought it was a really good entertaining read.Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to have read this book. I love reading crime fiction, and Mel killed it with this offering. The book was entertaining and worth the effort! Now its me and book 2!

This novel just didn't work for me. There was no mystery, everything was laid out as it happened, leaving no suspense. The characters, and there were many, were mostly unlikeable, leaving me with little sympathy for most of them. This book ended up being an average read for me and one that won't be remembered for long.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The start of this book seemed to me a little slow but persevere as it suddenly gets you hooked and just as you think you know where it's going there's a twist, then another leaving you unable to put the book down.

Yet another fabulous book from Mel Sherratt - keep them coming please!

Another great read from Mel Sherratt. I really enjoyed the Estate series and was looking forward to reading this latest book. Kept me reading well into the night, I didn't want to put it down. I would highly recommend this book to fans of crime fiction. Loved it!