If you need a nice easy thriller, this could be the one. I didn't love it but I really didn't hate it. I liked the narrator - she had a really nice listenable tone which is always a win.

I feel like I'm glad I listened to this rather than read it. It was really easy to consume.

The Good Neighbour by R. J. Parker was a brilliant audiobook and the narrator by Rose Robinson was spot on! This was a audio book that had you hooked from the beginning. This is a fast-paced thriller that takes place entirely within a 24 hour period.Leah accidently kills a deer whilst driving in her car and when she checks her phone to get help, she finds her phone battery is dead!!! Leah, gets out of the car to make the area safe and walks up to the nearest house and knocks on the door and ask to use their phone. She meets Martin, who seems to be very handsome, charming and very helpful,

Then, the fun begins.............

Oh boy and what a fast pace and a rollercoaster this book was........I loved it

I highly recommend this book/audio book!

Big Thank you to netgalley, the publisher, HarperCollins UK Audio and author for the ARC in exchange for my fair

An unsettlingly dark thriller that I read in one sitting. Leah Talbot hits a deer with her car on her way home and finds herself knocking on the door of a nearby house and greeted by Matthew Tate who appears to help her out of her situation. Though finding the encounter odd she returns the next day to say thank you. This time she is greeted by the police who have discovered the owner there. An owner who has been murdered and is not Matthew Tate.
Leah finds herself in a disturbing and murderous cat and mouse situation and at the mercy and control of Tate and his obsession with her.
I did find this a good read and kept me gripped to the end. I did just find some of Leah's decisions a little frustrating and some of the police handling a little unbelievable. Still, on the whole, a good and enjoyable thriller.

The audiobook of ‘The good neighbour’ was an enjoyable listen, ticking all main boxes for a decent thriller. It will particularly appeal to readers / listeners who like their fiction fast-paced!

The story starts very promisingly with Leah hitting a deer and knocking on the door of a nearby house, she then shares an intimate moment with the handsome male she meets there. When she goes to thank him for his kindness the next day, she discovers the house has become a crime scene, and quickly learns that rather than being the victim of the crime, the man she met was in fact the perpetrator. A game of ‘cat and mouse’ follows, which constitutes the majority of the book.

I enjoyed listening to this story, however despite a strong start I felt that as it progressed it lacked a little originality. The narrative was strong and easy to listen to.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advanced copy.

The Good Neighbour was just the right kind of thriller to listen to. It had me intrigued right from the start and didn't let up. Leah is driving at night down a country lane when she hits a deer but unfortunately her phone is dead. That leads her to do what I think a lot of people would do in this situation, go to a nearby house and ask them for help calling the police and a recovery truck. Unfortunately for Leah, this is one huge mistake and her life becomes a total mess from that point on. Because Leah had asked for help from and spent time with charming, handsome Martin who answered the door but when she returns to thank him the next day she discovers a crime scene and is told that the female homeowner was brutally murdered the night before!
The concept of having to trust a stranger for help when you are in a difficult situation with no other choice was brilliant and really kept me on edge. It's definitely something I would have done myself and definitely been a part of when someone has trusted me so it had me mulling over how easy it would be for someone to take advantage of people when they are in a vulnerable position. It's quite chilling to think about really.
The short snappy chapters kept the story flowing and kept me wanting to listen to the next bit. And I loved the occasional chapters told from Martin's perspective which gives us a fascinating insight into how his mind works.
The narrator did a really good job and was easy to listen to. I'd highly recommend reading this in audiobook format.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 stars from me!
Thank you so much @netgalley for my copy!
Wow! This book will 100% keep you on the edge of your seat, the entire time! I got pulled on from the start, it goes full speed from the beginning.
There were times i got so frustrated, just when you feel that this it, you get thrown in a different direction. Absolutely brilliant.

This audiobook was a bit too slow for me. What started as a great premise, quickly fell flat and it felt like I was reading a comedic horror by the end, which I'm not entirely sure was the intention. The characters didn't grab me and by the second half of the book I didn't really care what happened to any of them.

The narrator does a great job and didn’t ever annoy me. That’s a definite plus in my view.
I nearly gave up on this book right near the beginning. I hate characters who frustrate me by not going to the police. But I am glad I persevered as the book was really enjoyable despite my constant cries of, “Just tell the bloody police, you stupid woman.” I have to admit I shouted that quite a lot. The neighbours must think I have completely lost the plot.

After a promising and intriguing start, the story became more and more slow, repetitive and so implausible that it was almost grotesque. None of the characters were believable. I struggled to finish it, if I am honest. I listened to this book on audio and the narrator was irritating, especially when doing ‘the baddy’s voice.

Leigh made one mistake. She chose the wrong door to knock on. Martin Tate was charming, helpful and thoughtful but he had a secret. One that would ruin Leigh's whole world. This book shows you that you can't trust anyone! Who knows what people are doing behind closed doors?

A very good and creepy listen

The pace was fast and although you knew who the perp was after the initial shock the story kept me entertained to the end. I kept finding myself talking out loud to the main character to tell her not to be stupid and GO TO THE POLICE but she NEVER listened to me!
I will from now also be very wary of going into anyone house if don't know them!
The only thing I would have liked was to have a male narrator for Martin.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion

A good, fast-paced thriller.
I enjoyed the set up of this book and I liked Leah even if I did find myself getting increasingly annoyed with stupid decisions she made.
The book could have done with more depth in certain parts instead of just enough detail to make it make sense.
A good book for fans of quick-read thrillers

The good Neighbour - R.J Parker

Oh, deer! Sorry, someone had to say it. 🤭

Loved the twists in this one, they keep you hooked from the start. This is proof that you shouldn’t trust strangers...Ever!

This is a seriously scary book!

I roared through it, Excellent writing.

It starts quite quietly, the pressure starts to build after a small car accident.

R J Parker then continues ramping the tension and doesn't stop until the very last page.

I will certainly seek out and read all of R J Parkers's back catalogue.

"'Nobody deserves to die like that.'
'You forget. I've seen you with blood on your hands.'"

When Leah Talbot hits a deer on a deserted road near her village she spots a light on in a nearby house and approaches, hoping that someone is home. He is.

Charming, handsome, Martin Tate answers the door to the bedraggled and traumatised Leah, inviting her in. Though she’s not there for long, Leah feels an indescribable pull to the man who has helped in her hour of need. But when she returns the next morning to say thank you, it isn’t Martin who answers the door this time. It’s the police. There’s been a brutal murder and the female homeowner and sole resident is lying dead in a pool of her blood.

There’s no sign of Martin… until he comes looking for Leah.

The beginning very quickly and easily absorbed me into its narrative. I could anticipate the build up to something monumental which piqued my interest.

The author amped the narrative by revisiting scenes from Martin's point of view to reveal his psychology at play in the scheme of things. Nonetheless, the actual chase could not live up to its potential.

The book managed to redeem itself in the end with a finish that was almost as good as one you would find in Keigo Higashino's murder mysteries. Also, Rose Robinson's narration, more specifically her rendition of Martin Tate, was something I enjoyed listening to.

A domestic thriller with short chapters, this is a quick and easy read when you need a palate cleanser between books.

This Audio Review Copy courtesy of NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio.

EXCERPT: 'Come and have a seat. I hope you don’t mind me saying but you’re looking a bit pale.’

‘That’s OK.’ She held up a hand. ‘I’ve disturbed your evening enough.’ Her gaze went to the lit kitchen beyond.

‘It’s no problem. Just me here.’ He’d read her mind.

‘You live here alone?’

‘Put it this way, you’re not disturbing a romantic dinner.’

That wasn’t an answer. Leah heard a small internal alarm bell. Her car was down the road and she hadn’t told Elliot in her message that she was inside a stranger’s house on Plough Lane.

‘Come and sit down while I call the AA.’

Despite feeling light-headed, Leah nodded but didn’t move.

He obviously sensed her unease. ‘Does my cooking smell that bad?’

Leah was about to smile but at that moment a dog came down the stairs. It was a white and brown basset hound and its ears flapped about its head as it descended awkwardly.

‘He doesn’t bite either.’

The animal slid down the last few green stairs on its stomach and made a beeline for Leah.

She bent to pet the dog. ‘What’s his name?’

‘Her. It’s Sheila.’

She tried to pat its head while it snuffled at her jeans. ‘Hi, Sheila.’ Leah held out her hand so Sheila could sniff it, but the dog ignored her. She stood up but felt giddy and staggered back.

‘Whoa.’ Tate caught her firmly by the arm.

He had a very tight grip but as soon as she’d regained her balance, he released her.

‘Sorry.’ He pulled both his arms in as if he shouldn’t have touched her.

‘That’s OK. I think I do need to sit down though, if you wouldn’t mind.’

‘Just in here.’ He immediately turned and led her towards the doorway of the kitchen.

Leah followed and found herself in a very impressive and modern space. More dark slate walls were broken up by bright white splash tiles behind the huge sink and cooking range. In the middle was a long breakfast bar and several stools. A half-eaten meal lay on it with a full bowl-glass of red wine beside it.

Leah’s scalp prickled cold. ‘I’m sorry. I’ve interrupted your dinner.’ Her mouth felt dry.

‘Not at all.’ He pulled out a stool. ‘Sit yourself down.’

But Leah stumbled, fell and blacked out before she reached it.

ABOUT 'THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR': He isn’t who you think he is…
When Leah Talbot hits a deer on a deserted road near her village she spots a light on in a nearby house and approaches, hoping that someone is home.

He is.

Charming, handsome, Martin Tate answers the door to the bedraggled and traumatised Leah, inviting her in. Though she’s not there for long, Leah feels an indescribable pull to the man who has helped in her hour of need.

But when she returns the next morning to say thank you, it isn’t Martin who answers the door this time. It’s the police.

There’s been a brutal murder and the sole female resident is dead.

There’s no sign of Martin…
Until he comes looking for Leah.

MY THOUGHTS: This was a fast-paced, fun read and I am glad I gave this author a second chance after really not liking the only other book I have read by him, While You Slept.

There were not so many characters as to be confusing, and they were each quite distinct from the others. The plot is one I have not come across before, and it is very clever and well thought out.

I became quite involved with the characters, mentally screaming at Leah at times because she made some really dumb decisions. But then, had I been in her place, I may well have made those same decisions, although I would like to think that I wouldn't.

Yes, this was crazy, and in places improbable, but it was also enjoyable. I think that had it gone on any longer it would have been too over the top, but the author wisely knew when to call time.

Narrator Rose Robinson was excellent and used exactly the right tones and inflections in her voice to suit the circumstances. I would listen to more books narrated by her.

And I will definitely be looking for more to read from Mr Parker.

⭐⭐⭐.8

#TheGoodNeighbour #NetGalley #rjparkerauthor #harpercollinsuk

@netgalley @harpercollins

#contemporaryfiction #crime #domesticdrama #psychologicalthriller

THE AUTHOR: R J Parker's creative career began as a TV script writer, script editor and producer. It was this background that fed into a series of cinematic, high-concept thrillers that grabs the reader from the very first page and doesn't release them until the last. R J Parker now lives in Salisbury.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio, One More Chapter, for providing an audio ARC of The Good Neighbour by R.J. Parker for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

Wow, this is a creepy thriller. I wasn't expecting it to be so shocking, but it was. I found it very thrilling, suspenseful and I couldn't stop listening to it. The story was about a woman called Leah who went to a neighbour's house for help after crashing her car and killing a deer. The man who lived there seemed to be nice, but it turned out that he was not and she was then on her guard at all times, waiting to see what he was going to get up to next.

The audiobook narrator did a good job and she was good at changing between Leah's voice and the creepy stalker man's voice. I enjoyed this audiobook and I look forward to reading more of this author's work when it is available.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

What a brilliant concept for a novel! From the start I couldn't put this book down. The idea that on first appearances you can't judge people is awesome, to later find that the man you thought was just a kind stranger is actually a serial killer! Brilliant. I would give the start more than the 5* available, but it trailed off a bit towards the middle/end.
The writing is beautifully done, very descriptive, but I didn't feel invested in the husband's character enough to care if he lived or died. I would have liked more of Leah dealing with the dead bodies, she didn't respond with enough fear or concern and moved on too quickly.
Overall, I'll say 4* for those reasons, but will definitely go back to the author for more books. Great writing style.

This was a fast paced audiobook that really grabbed my attention and had no trouble keeping it. I was done in an afternoon (I listen to books speeded up) and was actually sad when there was no more book left.
Brilliant concept for a story and hugely thought provoking

This is a story which starts really well. It’s seriously creepy and I was listening at night, feeling increasingly uneasy. So the sense of dread and fear was strong and well depicted in the first half. The story centres on Leah who hits a deer and goes to a house late at night for help. The male occupant appears helpful, but the following day when she returns to thank him, she finds the property cordoned off by police tape as the female owner has been murdered. Her knight in white armour was not the man she thought.

The pace is fast throughout but Leah, for me, list some credibility because she made really unlikely decisions. So she became less plausible as a character and the tale list some impact. I was hoping for a few more twists in the latter part. That aside, it’s an engaging story and I finished it. Narration throughout was excellent. I’d try another book by RJ Parker on the strength of how much I enjoyed this. I’m giving it a generous 4 stars as 3 seems mean for a well written plot.

My thanks to the publisher for an audio copy via Netgalley