Goodreads

Release date: February 10, 2026

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

One quiet neighborhood

Three different families

Bound by murder

 Klara never wanted the house with the white picket fence. Troy never wanted anything else.

 Nothing is quite right with this happy couple, but they fit right in. The mother in the blue house, Mary, is cleaning out her son’s old room before she sells, haunted by the mistakes of her past and afraid of what her home has become. Next door, Henry, freshly laid off and back living with his parents, has plenty of time to watch everyone – especially wives. He knows something is wrong. But then then nothing is quite as it seems, and sometimes you miss what is right in front of you. 

 Murder will soon thread its way through this world in ways no one will see coming —unless you’ve been plotting all along.

Review:

Ours Is a Tale of Murder is one of those thrillers that quietly tightens its grip until you suddenly realize you’re holding your breath. Nora Murphy builds tension patiently, letting unease seep in through small details, odd behaviors, and the sense that something is deeply off beneath the surface of this seemingly ordinary neighborhood. The pacing is deliberate but never dull, every chapter adds another layer of discomfort, making it impossible not to keep going.

What really worked for me was how the story follows multiple characters who initially feel separate, even unrelated. Watching their lives slowly intersect—and then collide—in unexpected ways was incredibly satisfying. I love when a book makes you constantly reassess what you think you know, and this one had me guessing and second guessing everyone. No one feels entirely safe from suspicion, and that uncertainty fuels the mounting dread.

This is absolutely a book best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. Letting the story unfold naturally makes the twists hit harder and the revelations feel earned. It’s unsettling, uncomfortable, and steeped in a low level sense of doom that lingers long after you turn the final page, a clever, immersive thriller that rewards patient readers who love psychological tension over shock and awe twists.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.