The Cul-de-sac

Author: Christopher Null
Genre: Suspense
390 pages
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, 2025

Synopsis
Veteran serial killer Klaus Fischer is determined that his most recent murder will be his last, but like many retirements, this one isn’t sticking. No one has come close to suspecting he’s buried the victims on his quiet suburban California cul-de-sac property—but he’s feeling the urge to kill again, and this time he’s set his sights on a target dangerously close to home.

Widowed Peg Jurgensen has lived on the cul-de-sac for the past fifteen years, and she’s ready to shed her doldrums and re-enter the world around her. And where better to start than with mothering the curious young teen Eliza van Damal, whose family just moved to the cul-de-sac in order to expose their daughter to a better life.

Eliza, however, prefers to coerce the enigmatic hermit next door, Alex, into helping her pass math. Alex wishes the lot of them would disappear.

The closer these misfits become, the more danger even the most ordinary conversations invite. As the body count rises, can these residents trust anyone hiding behind their doors on this street?

My review
The Cul-de-sac was my first read by Christopher Null, and the premise of this domestic suspense novel immediately grabbed my attention. I was excited to dive in and discover a new author. While the story kept my interest, and I loved the dark, claustrophobic atmosphere, it didn’t completely hit the mark for me.

The story begins by introducing all the neighbors, giving us a quick glimpse into who they are. Null did a good job developing his characters, and each POV felt distinct, giving insight into their personalities. The multiple perspectives were easy to follow, and new characters were introduced in a way that made it easy to keep track of everyone. There was just enough detail at the start to set the stage without feeling overwhelming. This cul-de-sac might seem peaceful and quiet from the outside, but behind closed doors, there’s a whole lot more going on!

While I enjoyed many aspects of the book, I found the pacing uneven, and I didn’t feel as much tension as I had hoped. A few of the subplots didn’t seem to tie into the main storyline, and I was expecting more connections to come together by the end. With multiple POVs, I usually love seeing how everything weaves into a web of intrigue, but in this case, some of the side stories didn’t add much to the character arcs or overall plot.

The Cul-de-sac had an intriguing premise, and while I was engaged throughout, it didn’t quite have the cohesion and tension I look for in a thriller. In the end, it was just an okay read for me.

Many thanks to indie publisher Tule Publishing and author Christopher Null for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

My recommendation: interesting premise, average read