The Street

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The story is amateur, the writing is amateur, the squabbles are amateur, even the “accidents” are amateur. Susi Holliday takes her readers on an exhausting hike, there are twists that I anticipated, but didn't happen and things that I never imagined that just seemed to come from nowhere. Trust me, don't ever think you've worked this one out, because if you do, I'll be very very surprised. Returning to being a writer, one of the characters comments about the job as being literally being paid to make things up – worse than a tabloid journalist. While these thoughts reflected a moment of self-doubt in the character, the reality is, of course, that the two are worlds apart. While many tabloid journalists may make things up like a novelist, and both may have financial reasons for what they are doing, ultimately novelists, when they are doing their job properly, not only avoid outright lies, they can do a better job at helping us to question society and the way things are. Holliday does this in “The Street”. You can just enjoy the story for what it is. But there are deeper issues underpinning the book – ones which will make you question what you would do in certain situations, and, depending on your answers, have implications for how justice can work.

And I liked this book! I did! All the way up to the ending. I'll admit, I like things to be all wrapped up with a neat bow on top when it comes to endings. I just have too many questions otherwise. And then it bothers me and I have to go Google about it and see if others have the same questions as me. And see if I can find any answers. See if maybe the author answered some pressing questions online. But I just don't like it. I end the book on a deflated note. And just so you know, I'm not talking about little cliffhanger endings. Like, oh every bit of the mystery has been solved and now the characters are talking about life and the aftermath of whatever terrible thing happened to them. And then someone sort of gives a hint that maybe... whatever. Maybe they're going to start their own cult. Maybe they're going to seek revenge. Maybe they're so damaged they want to go on their own murder spree. Those endings are fine because I still get all the answers to the various pieces of the central mystery. As she battles a growing obsession with the mystery, Anna finds herself becoming increasingly paranoid. She thought she’d escaped her own troubled past, but as the truth catches up with her, life starts to unravel. Maybe she’s not the only resident of The Street with something to hide… The Street By Susi Holliday-Review Anna and Peter have moved to a new life in Scotland on a nice but somewhat peculiar new development called The Street and struggle to integrate themselves into the community there. Susi Holliday grew up close to Edinburgh and spent a number of years working in her family’s newsagent and pub before studying statistics and microbiology. She’s worked as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 16 years, however it was on a six month round-the-world-trip that she took with her husband that she refound her passion for writing. Loved the concept of this one, Anna moves to The Street with her husband & is clearly hiding a secret. The first people the meet in the neighborhood go missing & it's a domino effect from there. If I described this book in a sentence it would be 'main character energy goes WILD'. So many good one liners & zingers in this baby. I also really related to Anna (at least until her secrets began unraveling).

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

In fact, none of them really get on with each other. There's a real spark of hate and distrust that flashes throughout the group, often covered by fake smiles and a little compassion, but more often than not, revealing itself in pointed remarks and insults, especially between the two sisters. Not one of these people are likeable, but they are all very well drawn. I'm fond of the obnoxious character and often think that they are far more interesting than the nice guys out there .... well, in fiction anyway! So now we come to the ending of this book. I didn't mind the answers that I got to the questions I had throughout the book. My beef here is that I only got answers to some of my questions. There were a couple of bits that weren't resolved, and that really bothers me. Also, it seemed like our main girl Anna didn't get the resolution that she deserved, and didn't get clued in on everything we, as the reader, knew about. And so, a great story trips at the finish line and falls a bit short. Sigh.

The Last Resort” is the second stand alone novel and was released in 2020. Seven strangers with seven secrets, and a perfect crime. The Street” is the fifth stand alone novel and was released in 2023. Their neighbors welcomed them with open arms. But now they have disappeared without a trace. The one thing that wasn’t inconsistent was the ****** doorbell. How many times did the author bang on about the doorbells on the street?? FIFTEEN. The Hike” is the fourth stand alone novel and was released in 2022. Four hikers go into the mountains, but just two return. However is it tragedy? Or is it treachery?

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Susi cut her teeth on short stories and flash fiction, and was shortlisted for the first CWA Margery Allingham Prize in 2014. A brilliant concept, superbly executed. Susi Holliday is a master of her craft.” —Marion Todd, author of A Blind Eye When only two of the four hikers make it down from the mountain, the police press them for their story—but soon become suspicious when their accounts just don’t add up.