I read a Shari Lapena novel recently Karen, The Couple Next Door, which I think is her fourth book. It too, had a few problems with it that made it seem like a very amateur first novel. It was very predictable, the characters were very stereotyped, and it was easy to figure out the ending after only less than a quarter of the book. I was thinking about whether to try another of her books, but after reading your review I don't think I'll bother.