CHRISTOPHER NULL

 

"How well do you really know your neighbors?

Klaus Fischer has been murdering women for years, and most of them are buried in his woodsy backyard on a quiet, lonely cul-de-sac in northern California, away from prying eyes. Klaus wants to quit the killing game but is finding it incredibly difficult, and when he finally encounters his neighbor, widow Peg Jurgensen, he decides she’ll be a perfect final victim before he retires for good.

While Klaus circles his prey, the arrival of a new family on the cul-de-sac – the first new residents in years – generates plenty of excitement, particularly from Peg. She's especially enthused about Eliza, the teenage member of the van Damal clan, who's trying to make friends in her new school while struggling with math. On a lark, Eliza turns to another neighbor, the troubled Alex, a shut-in who suffers from a mysterious disability, convincing him to become her math tutor.

It isn't long before it becomes clear that Klaus isn't the only one on the cul-de-sac with secrets he doesn't want revealed, but none of that can stop Klaus's bloodlust from finally boiling over on one fateful night. And that's when things on the cul-de-sac get really weird.

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

* * *

One of "the most anticipated thrillers of 2025." - Sara Bregasi, @saras_mystery_bookclub

"Stop what you’re doing and pick this book up right now! I’m absolutely in love with this book." - @lets_talkbooks

"A wickedly dark and creepy domestic noir! I couldn’t put it down." - @jo_scho_reads

"The Cul-de-Sac announces Christopher Null as a significant voice in psychological suspense. A writer of considerable experience and insight. A searing portrait of isolation hiding in plain sight." - Readers' Corner, @readerslovebook

"Just finished this book and I'm obsessed. Suspenseful, disturbing, and impossible to put down." - Pete's Bookshelf, @petes_bookshelf

"A razor-sharp thriller. Christopher Null constructs an atmosphere of paranoia and unease so vivid you can almost feel it creeping across your lawn. This book is an unmissable addition to the 2025 thriller scene, and one that will keep readers guessing until the final, blood-soaked twist. - Review Tales

"It delivers in every way and I’m loving it.... This is just the perfect book." - Heather Warner, @bookgirlbrown_reviews

"A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suburban suspense!" - @a_doctor_who_reads

"A complete page-turner." - Sam's Fireside

"This book is insane and great." - Sarah Lummus,  @betweenthelinesbookstagram

"If you are looking for dark domestic secrets, complex characters, and looking at human nature in suburbia, The Cul-de-sac is one to put on your TBR!" - @littleairplane6

"I don't think I've read a book that has a premise like this one." - Leafbound Review

"For fans of literary thrillers and character-driven suspense, this is a quiet but unnerving gem." -Teresa Brock, @fullybookedinkentucky

"I thought I knew where this was going and I was WRONG." -@bibliopeeks

"Null beautifully builds suspense, and the final act delivers a chilling conclusion that will stay with you long after you turn the last page." - The Reading Bud

"The genius of this story isn't just in its plot twists (though they're keeping me up at night), but in how it explores isolation, desperation, and the masks we wear to appear 'normal.'" -@readerslovebook

"So unique and not at all what I was expecting. The twist will shock you." - Page Turning Thrills

"The ending was completely unexpected, and I loved the unpredictability of it." - @thrillers_chillers_and_killers

"Is it insulting to say a book about a serial killer made me laugh out loud at times?" -@bookwormbecky1969

"I love and HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller." - Kristen Caldwell, Goodreads

"The twist in the middle of the novel was so unexpected that I still haven’t recovered from the shock." - Deepireads

"It doesn’t rely on cheap thrills or over-the-top twists. Instead, the tension creeps up on you, slow and steady, until you’re completely hooked." - Bookstagirl_sp, Goodreads

"A  quirky, often amusing suburban jaunt that’s a must for fans of domestic suspense." - Henrietta Thornton, FirstClue

"You know that eerie feeling when you drive past a perfectly manicured neighborhood and wonder what's really happening behind those pristine facades? This book is THAT feeling turned up to eleven!" - @readerslovebook

"This book kept me up into the wee hours wanting to know what happens next." - Debra, Goodreads

"Brilliant. I LOVED IT." - Emma Cook, @empalmer09

"I flew through the book... well written, well plotted." - Jackie's Reading Corner

"The Cul-de-sac is one of these enthralling stories where the deeper you dive the more harrowing and crazy it becomes." - Lori Peterson, Goodreads

"I enjoyed this book -- there were nasty people, dark topics, and satire, just the perfect combination." - Lynseygibs, Goodreads

"What a ride! I love this book and could not put it down." - Katy The Sleepy Reader, Goodreads

"Stressful... complex... keeps the reader on edge." - Naushin Moledina, Goodreads

"Null’s masterful pacing keeps readers hooked, gradually unravelling the secrets hidden behind each door." - Bookish Fame

"I'm never moving to a cul-de-sac and that's a fact!" - Vickiec192, Goodreads

"A riveting read filled with suspense and intrigue." - @enthusiastic.reader

Resources

The Cul-de-sac bonus epilogue
The Cul-de-sac at Goodreads
The Cul-de-sac at publisher Tule Mystery
Audio book from Tantor Media (released June 10, 2025)
Audio book preview at Youtube (52 minutes)
Audio book official trailer at Vimeo
The Cul-de-sac large cover image (JPG)
Press release: Announcing The Cul-de-sac (DOC)