If you thought The Girl on the Train was a trip, wait until you step foot in Hawthorne Heights with Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy. Murphy takes the classic ‘unreliable narrator’ trope and flips it on its head, delivering a domestic thriller that feels less like a book and more like a ticking time bomb.
4/5 stars ★★★★☆
From the publisher: “A shocking collision made all the more satisfying by Murphy’s brilliant twists…Clear your schedule―you won’t be putting this down until that last, mesmerizing page.” ―Carter Wilson, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of Tell Me What You Did
One quiet neighborhood
Three different families
Bound by murder
Published on: February 10, 2026
Pages: 384
Genre: Psychological Thriller
To read more about the storyline: https://amzn.to/4qpr1Mt
What I Liked About Ours Is a Tale of Murder:
Points of View and Storylines:
We’ve all seen the ‘perfect’ suburban neighborhoods on TV, but that definitely isn’t what’s happening in Hawthorne Heights. I love a book that has different storylines, and you just know it is all going to come together in the end. At first it was a little confusing with the different characters, but stick with it. It’s totally worth it. In this “domestic noir,” you just know that something terrible is lurking around the corner at all times. It’s what makes a reader want to keep reading. Murphy does a wonderful job of weaving different point of views together throughout the story. I’m in awe of how she pulled all of this together.
The Twists:
Let’s just say “whoa.” You’ll know the big one when you read it. It was so unexpected, and it was my favorite part of the whole book.
The Pacing:
It’s a book where you can just feel the dread. The shorter chapters keep the story moving at a breakneck pace, and I wanted to keep reading. It’s isn’t necessarily a “whodunit” story, but the suspense of doom and uneasy feeling is what makes this a good book.
The Characterization:
Murphy provides an interesting look at people that could be living in your neighborhood today. The seemingly perfect young couple, the mother who will do anything for her son, the parents who cherish one child over the next, and then there are the sons who are next-door neighbors, but don’t feel a part of their families. Each of them is smart in their own way. This is one thing that I truly enjoyed about this book.
Where to Buy Ours Is a Tale of Murder and More:
Purchase: https://amzn.to/401burl
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Looking for more book recommendations?
If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other psychological thrillers:
- Cross My Heart by Megan Collins | Buy on Amazon
- The Marriage Rules by Samantha Hayes | Buy on Amazon
- House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen | Buy on Amazon
Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Nora Murphy for providing a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion. To learn more about the author, visit her official website.
Leave a Comment:
This book gave me major The Girl on the Train vibes. What’s the last domestic thriller you read that actually made you double-check the locks on your doors? I need more for my TBR pile! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
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