Title: Behind White Picket Fences
Author: Christine Gunderson
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Women's Fiction, Cozy Mystery
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Synopsis
Kiersten Cleaver feels like she's failing at modern motherhood.
Between endless school schedules, extracurricular activities, homework and the pressures of raising a child with dyslexia, she's exhausted by the never-ending race to keep up.
When she befriends her neighbors Rosamund and Piper, the three women decide they've had enough.
Together, they create a homeschooling program designed to give their children a simpler, more meaningful childhood. For a while, everything seems to be working.
Then an old journal is discovered.
Written by a former resident decades earlier, the diary raises unsettling questions about their neighborhood and its history. As the women begin digging into the past, a series of strange incidents and acts of vandalism make it clear that someone doesn't want old secrets brought to light.
My Thoughts
Sometimes a title fits a book so perfectly that by the time you finish reading, you can't imagine it being called anything else.
Behind White Picket Fences was one of those books.
At first glance, Beaverbrook appears to be the kind of neighborhood many people dream about. Families know each other, children play together, and life seems calm and predictable.
But as this story quickly reminds us, appearances can be deceiving.
When Kiersten moves into the neighborhood, she's immediately overwhelmed by the pressures of modern parenting. Between school expectations, activities, schedules, and the constant feeling that she's somehow falling behind, she's struggling to keep everything together.
Fortunately, she finds two kindred spirits in Rosamund and Piper.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the friendship between these three women. Their decision to step away from the educational rat race and create a homeschooling program felt both ambitious and surprisingly relatable. I loved watching them build a small community, support one another, and work together toward a common goal.
The mystery begins when they discover an old journal hidden away in the neighborhood.
What starts as simple curiosity gradually turns into something much larger. The diary raises questions about a former resident, the history of the community, and whether the past is truly as idyllic as everyone wants to believe.
At the same time, strange incidents begin occurring throughout the neighborhood. Acts of vandalism, unsettling encounters, and growing tensions create a sense that something isn't quite right beneath the surface.
While the book leans more toward mystery and suspense than a traditional thriller, I found it incredibly engaging. The diary storyline kept me curious, and I genuinely enjoyed following the women as they attempted to uncover both the identity of the journal's owner and the truth about what happened decades earlier.
What stood out most, however, was the balance between the mystery and the more personal elements of the story.
This isn't simply a book about solving a puzzle or a mystery. It's also about friendship, motherhood, community and the challenges of raising children in a world that often feels overwhelming. The relationships felt authentic, and I appreciated how determined the women were to both uncover the truth and protect their families.
The book is definitely on the longer side, but I never found myself struggling to get through it. The pacing remained steady, the characters were likable, and the mystery unfolded in a way that kept me interested throughout.
Most importantly, it was simply an enjoyable read.
Final Thoughts
Behind White Picket Fences is a compelling blend of mystery, friendship, family drama, and suburban secrets.
If you enjoy stories where ordinary people find themselves unraveling long-buried mysteries while navigating the realities of everyday life, this is definitely worth picking up.
With likable characters, a strong sense of community, and an intriguing mystery at its core, it delivers exactly what it promises: a reminder that sometimes the biggest secrets are hiding right behind those white picket fences.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Disclaimer
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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