Book Review ~ THE CUL-DE-SAC by Christopher Null

The Cul-de-sac
by: Christopher Null
Genre: Thriller
Release Date: February 10, 2025
Publisher: Tule Publishing

How well do you really know your neighbors?

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?

Fans of The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena, The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell and The Good Neighbor by A.J. Banner will love this domestic thriller filled with dark secrets and dangers lurking in a seemingly quiet suburban neighborhood...

The Cul-de-sac was a very interesting novel from start to finish. It had a very diverse cast of characters that not only contributed to the overall storyline but also left you wanting to know more about their own individual lives. Considering the fact that I have read plenty of murder mysteries, this one is in a class all on its own.

The Cul-de-sac is about a serial killer named Klaus Fischer who lives in a very quiet neighborhood. He is so good at what he does that no one has ever even connected his killings together. Klaus’s only struggle is that he wants to stop killing but isn’t sure just how many murders are enough. That struggle ultimately has a very impactful effect on all of the people in the cul-de-sac. Speaking of which, The Cul-de-sac is told from multiple points of view from the residents of the cul-de-sac, including Klaus, widow Peg, recluse Alex, and teenager Eliza. At times this makes it difficult to follow along but it does add another dimension to the plot that I have never seen before. You really get the feeling of being part of this community at its worst. The most intriguing perspectives come from Eliza and her new high school friend, who doesn’t actually live on the street but very much wants to get away from her oppressive life. All of this is just the tip of the iceberg.

It took a while to read The Cul-de-sac because of the different narratives but I did enjoy how it all came together at the end. You will not be prepared for what happens. I would suggest that once you finish reading the book before you throw your reading device or book across the room, you do a search of the book on the publisher’s website, and read the “spoiler” article from the author.

**Received an ARC from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**

Rating: 4

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Christopher Null is an award-winning writer who regularly contributes to Wired magazine and who muses daily about wine and spirits on the website Drinkhacker, where he serves as editor in chief. His first novel, Half Mast, was hailed by critics as “the best of contemporary American fiction.” He currently lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Susanne.

Places to find Christopher Null:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

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