The New Neighbors by Simon Lelic

Mary Berkley Trade, Simon Lelic, Suspense, Thriller

Berkley Trade Paperback Original; April 10, 2018; $16

Description:

The Girl Before meets The Couple Next Door in an utterly satisfying Hitchcockian story about a couple who moves into their dream neighborhood only to discover nothing is as it seems…

The perfect couple. The perfect house. The perfect crime.

Londoners Jack and Syd found their dream home: lots of space, a great location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it. 

Everything is exactly what they hoped for when they move in—except Jack makes a disturbing discovery in the attic, and Syd begins to wonder about the girl next door. And they each keep the other in the dark.

A mistake.

Because someone has just been killed outside their back door, and now the police are watching them. 

This is their chance to prove they’re innocent—or to get away with murder. 

Whose story do you believe?  (publisher)

My take: A couple in their late twenties have been saving for a house for a long time and looking for the right house even longer. When their low-ball offer on a house is accepted no one is more surprised than Jack and Syd. They celebrate and move in and begin to make it their own. Soon though things take a strange turn and life spins slowly out of control and their dream house turns into a nightmare.

I don’t want to risk spoilers so I’ll just say if domestic suspense thrillers are your thing you might want to read The New Neighbors. I liked it but have to say I was put off by a couple of characters who did things I abhorred and made me want to put the book down. Still, I read to the end because I needed the resolution.

 

14 thoughts on “The New Neighbors by Simon Lelic”

  1. I do like a domestic suspense thriller. But if you had a few problems with it, then I trust you completely (i.e. I’m always looking for an excuse NOT to have to read another recommendation!).

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  2. I do like domestic thrillers, though I’ve been trying to space them out lately. Too many too close together and I get extremely annoyed with characters. Anyway, I’ve had this one on my list for a bit and I’ll likely read it at some point. For me, it’s the twists and the guessing about the twists. Like a bookish jigsaw puzzle. LOL

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  3. I don’t like it at all when characters do awful things…I can not read anything where animals are hurt…I don’t think I even want to start this one…but that’s ok…I have tons to read…

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  5. I do love this kind of book, and while the abhorrent behavior might give me pause, I will also want to keep reading to find out what happens. I have this one on my Kindle. Soon!

    Great review.

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  12. I do want to give this one a try but, why do authors sometimes make the characters do stuff that makes you cringe? Hope there is no animal abuse.

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  13. If an author can introduce cringeworthy characters that still make you need to carry on reading, because you have to know how it all ends, then I guess they have done their job quite well! Also, any reference or likening to Hitchock simply can’t be ignored!

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I’m sorry that this one wasn’t quite the way you had hoped it would be, but I shall still be wanting to read it for myself 🙂

    Yvonne x

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