📚 Book Review 📚

I love Claire Douglas and her books so I was so looking forward to reading this one.

The story centres around Lena, a recently separated Mum of a teenage lad and a counsellor for the Citizens Advice Bureau. Lena lives in a lovely part of town and is excited when an older couples moves into the house next door. By chance, she overhears a chilling conversation which sets off a chain of events that results from her own obsessive behaviour.

The story kept me on my toes and there were sections which were brilliant and I just couldn’t stop reading. There was great suspense in some places but for me, the overall story was far fetched and did stretch reality. The pacing slowed down in the middle then picked up towards the end when I couldn’t put it down. I wasn’t as swept up in the characters as I usually am in Claire’s books, Lena explains and repeats herself over and over again and is constantly discussing the fact that her son is going to university. In a year’s time.

The retired couple next door are intriguing but I just don’t think that anyone would break into their neighbours home after hearing a snippet of their conversation, soon after they have moved in. It was however, tense in places and the writing is solid.

I think for me, it didn’t deliver the twists and tension that I was expecting because I love Claire’s previous books. It left me a little underwhelmed if I’m honest. The twist at the end wasn’t really a twist because I knew who would be who. Ultimately though, this is a good story and an enjoyable read if you like mysteries so well worth reading but it didn’t blow me away.

I’d like to thank Penguin Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 13th March 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Don't trust what everyone says in this book, lots of lies and secrets unravel throughout 👀

The short chapters make this book very gripping and make me want to keep reading!! Multiple stories weaved through the book, very suspenseful and I couldn't predict what was going to happen next!!

Lena's moved house and her new neighbours, Marielle and Henry are a bit suspicious. Lena overhears strange late night conversations from them, and discovers some concerning things in their house. Turns out, their secrets are wayyy worse than Lena could have imagined.

There are multiple POVs to follow here, and 8 characters:
Lena - the main character
Rufus - Lena's teenage son
Charlie - Lena's ex husband
Marielle and Henry - the new neighbours
Drew - Lena's work client
Kit - Rufus' guitar teacher
Natalie - 🤫

Tropes:
Multiple POVs
Secrets
Bad neighbours
Unreliable narrator
Dark past
Psychopath

Once again, Claire Douglas does not disappoint. This book held my attention from the first chapter and would not let it go! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and fans of Claire Douglas’s previous work will be thrilled with her latest publication.

Firstly, I’m a big fan of Claire Douglas and the way she writes a story.

I really did enjoy this book and spent many a night up past my bedtime because it had me just so hooked. I enjoyed the twists and turns and putting together the breadcrumbs myself but something just didn’t quite hit the mark for me, unlike the Claire Douglas books I’ve read before.

I think there were little aspects of disbelief running throughout and a few occasions when it felt too much time was given to certain interactions/situations that turned out to be kind of irrelevant. Also, I think as a reader, I was ‘told’ what Lena was thinking or feeling too many times and would have preferred to figure this out myself, which I absolutely would have because the writing and character depth was really good. I also really did enjoy the insight into Lena’s domestic life and her family struggles/worries, it helped make the book more relatable, especially amongst the sometimes crazy goings on!

Do not get me wrong, this was an enjoyable read that had me suitably confused and shocked at times. It’s a plot driven thriller and the narrative is very entertaining, so I would recommend it on the whole to fans of the genre. I just think I liked this one less than her others and that’s ok!

I didn't really take to the character of Lena. She was too needy and nosy, rushing in where angels fear to tread, but having said that as a whole I found the story enjoyable especially as it was mainly set in my home town of Bristol.

I loved this book! After reading my first Claire Douglas book 'the girls who disappeared' in January, I immediately added Claire's blacklist to my TBR list. When I was approved for an ARC of a new release I was really excited.

The book is a real page turner although I did find the main character Lena quite annoying at times and a bit 'woe is me'.

Books that have multi story lines can be quite confusing but this was put together well. I initially thought the connections were far fetched as they involve different geographical locations but I couldn't stop reading once the back stories all started to connect and make more sense.

Definitely a book to recommend.

THE NEW NEIGHBOURS BY CLAIRE DOUGLAS.
Release date set for the 13th of March 2025.
Although I've heard a lot mentioned about this author over the years this is my first book by her.
I thought this was a very gripping thriller.
Multiple POVs.
It kept me guessing right up until the very end.

The basic plot of Claire Douglas’ new domestic thriller has, as its’ basic plot, a woman suspecting her neighbours of a crime due to a kink of fate when she overhears snippets of their conversation and investigates further into what it might mean, all the while struggling to get those around to believe her.
It’s a classic plot and whether you find the repeated references to previous variants of the story (Films including Rear Window, Disturbia, Someone’s Watching Me and others are all referenced via the protagonist’s son’s love of film) positive or negative will depend on whether you view them as playful homages or pointers to this basic plot device you’ve seen before. When the protagonist declares watching one of the movies ‘hits a bit too close to home’ you may agree with her or smile at a slightly meta approach. However you feel, in this case the protagonist takes on the role of both James Stewart and Grace Kelly: having the suspicion and doing the snooping around a neighbour’s house thanks to some left keys from the previous owner.
Of course, the author is skilled and experienced enough to put plenty of twists on the basic ‘suspicious neighbour’ concept and the number of five star reviews of the book suggest they work for many, many readers while others may find the levels of coincidence and severe right turns a little bit too much. Like the previous novels of I’ve read from the author, it is undoubtedly a page turner with plenty of twists along the way: whether it’s for you will depend to some degree on how much you’re willing to go with coincidences, how grounded you like your domestic dramas, and how much you engage with the protagonist and the believability of her actions.

A Twisted, Unputdownable Thriller – 5 Stars!

The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas is a superbly gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. It’s the kind of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, second-guessing every character and every detail, and I absolutely loved it.

The story centres around Lena, who overhears something disturbing from her seemingly perfect next-door neighbours, the Morgans. What sounds like a conversation about planning a crime sends Lena into a tailspin, questioning whether she’s misheard or if the couple she’s been friendly with are hiding something far darker. As she becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth, I found myself right there with her, wondering what would happen next.

Lena is a wonderfully complex protagonist, and her own troubled past makes her a particularly unreliable narrator at times, which only adds to the intrigue. Her guilt and the mystery surrounding her past added a layer of depth to the story that I wasn’t expecting, and it really kept me invested in her character arc. I loved how Douglas expertly wove in Lena’s internal conflict, making her decision to get involved in the Morgans' secrets feel both personal and dangerous.

The pacing of the novel is spot on. Each chapter builds tension steadily, and the sense of dread grows with every new piece of information. The story is filled with twists that I didn’t see coming, and just when I thought I had figured it all out, Douglas threw in another curveball. The mystery around the Morgans kept me guessing right until the very end, and the final revelation was absolutely jaw-dropping. It was the kind of twist that made me immediately want to reread the book to see how everything fit together.

What I also loved about The New Neighbours is how Douglas made the small, quiet suburban setting feel so claustrophobic and menacing. The sense of secrecy, paranoia, and fear of what lies behind closed doors was palpable. It was so easy to become immersed in the atmosphere of the story, and I found myself constantly wondering whether anyone could be trusted.

This book is a true page-turner – the kind that you’ll race through, but also regret finishing. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with suspense, secrets, and shocking twists, this is definitely one you don’t want to miss. A solid five stars from me!

This was one brilliant story full of twists and turns. It was quite scary at times with all its twists and turns, Lena was a great character who stuck to her guns believing her neighbours were up to something criminal. A real page turner which was difficult to put down. Claire is a wonderful story teller.

Claire Douglas is firmly on my list of reliable authors. I have never not enjoyed one of her books and this is no exception. The characters were believable and the story gripping, easy to follow and full of plot twists. Easy recommendation from me.

OMG! What have I just read! This book is amazing!!! I loved the storyline, I loved the characters, the good ones & the bad ones. There's so many twists and turns, it's full of drama. This book will have you staying up reading well into the night. I read this in one sitting. 5 stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Helping her son with college work, Lena happens to overhear a rather innocuous conversation from her new next-door neighbours. Hoping she must have misheard, Lena can't help herself going on a deep-dive to convince herself she didn't hear the neighbours plotting a possible crime. What she finds leaves her rather unsettled.

A fast paced, twisty Thriller by one of the queens of suspense. Utterly unpredictable.
I absolutely enjoyed the book and love Claire Douglas's descriptive writing

Well, this book only strengthens my resolve to keep to myself and stay away from any new neighbors! lol. This was a nicely suspenseful thriller with a surprising reveal and nice twists that keep the reader turning the next page frantically. Lena is in the middle of turmoil of her husband and her separating and her son Rufus getting ready to go off to college leaving her house empty and uncertainty of what she will do next. So I guess it is a good thing that new neighbors, Henry and Marielle move in next door. And certainly it leaves Lena with plenty to do when an accidental eavesdropping recording happens and then the odd and creepy things start piling up, along with missing women, and suspicions of drug smuggling and other things. Lots of tenseness and suspense as the chapters go back and forth in time, leading up to a surprising ending (though I had guessed a bit and then discarded the idea) that had me going "Oh My!" Very unexpected and fun to read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this thrilling advanced copy to read and review!

Claire Douglas's The New Neighbours is an engrossing read that hooks you right from the start. The central premise—a casual eavesdropping incident that leads to a chilling suspicion—is undeniably gripping. Lena's discovery sets off a tense sequence of events as she becomes increasingly obsessed with the notion that her well-respected neighbours are plotting something nefarious.

Lena's internal struggle is deftly portrayed, and the novel effectively juxtaposes her present-day paranoia with the shadows of her past. The narrative keeps readers on their toes with plenty of unexpected twists and turns, making it a compelling page-turner.

However, while the book excels in building suspense, it does stretch the limits of believability. The idea of a respectable elderly couple plotting a crime is intriguing but may feel a bit contrived for some readers. This is especially true when Lena's growing conviction isn't always met with logical progression within the story.

Nevertheless, although The New Neighbours is very much a plot-driven thriller, and fans of the genre will likely appreciate the labyrinthine plot and the constant sense of unease, there Lena's life will chime with many readers providing an anchor. The unpredictability of the plot, keeps the narrative entertaining, even if a suspension of disbelief is required on occasion.

A readable book which draws you in from the beginning when a snippet of a conversation is recorded that sounds very suspicious and makes the new neighbours next door appear potentially dangerous. A lot of flashbacks to the past which on occasion becomes confusing. My mind was working overtime trying to second guess what had happened in the past and what the neighbours were planning but nothing prepared me for the final twist which unfortunately seemed a tad unbelievable. Not my favourite book by Claire Douglas.

The story follows Lena, who becomes obsessed with a sinister conversation she overhears between her seemingly sweet, elderly neighbours. What starts as a nagging suspicion soon spirals into an all-consuming need to uncover the truth—especially as it ties into her own troubled past.
The tension builds beautifully, with expertly placed twists that keep you hooked until the very end. The eerie suburban setting adds to the suspense, proving that danger can lurk where you least expect it. The writing is immersive, creating a constant sense of unease while making you question who—if anyone—can be trusted

The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you second-guessing until the final pages. When a young couple moves into their dream home, they quickly realize that something isn’t quite right—not just with the house, but with the people around them. As secrets unravel and paranoia builds, Douglas expertly weaves a story filled with tension, deception, and unexpected twists.

The novel’s greatest strength lies in its atmosphere and character development. The creeping sense of unease is palpable, and the alternating perspectives add layers of mystery that make it difficult to know who to trust. The protagonist’s growing fear is convincingly portrayed, making their descent into doubt and suspicion feel all too real. While some of the twists lean into familiar thriller territory, Douglas keeps the story fresh with well-placed reveals and compelling writing.

The pacing is strong, though the final act feels slightly rushed compared to the slow-burn tension of the earlier chapters. Some loose ends could have been explored further, but overall, the resolution is satisfying and leaves an impact. The New Neighbours is an addictive read with plenty of suspense, making it a solid 4-star thriller—perfect for fans of dark, twisty domestic mysteries.

I found the story to be rather far-fetched sadly. It did pique my interest towards the end and I wasn't totally expecting the outcome but it didn't make up for the slowness of most of the book. My frustrations with the main character, Lena, didn't help.

Hooked from the very start! Lena has some new neighbours and accidentally records their conversation with some equipment her son has brought home for a project. It sounds super suspicious to her and she can't let it go despite everyone else telling her to!