It started slow but picked up the pace as the story progressed and had me on the edge of the seat. The story is told in multiple POV's and towards the end we figure out the connection. Even though some of the parts felt a bit farfetched, it didn't bore me off. Also I didn't foresee a twist incoming. As usual Claire excels in writing psychological thrillers . I loved the main lead Lena's character even though I disliked the character in the start, she grew on me as the story moved .Overall its an easy read thriller. I thank netgalley and Michaeljbooks for eARC copy

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Lena is struggling a little with life. Her husband has moved out and seemingly moved on and she’s suffering from anticipatory empty nest at the prospect of her only son going to uni.
When two seemingly lovely neighbours move in next door, she quickly finds herself both intrigued and wary of them.
A twisty tale of secrets, lies and deep seated hurt,

First I want to thank @netgalley, @penguinukbooks and @michaeljbooks for this ebook copy of this book.

This book was fantastic! I finished this in less than a day! I just didn’t want to put it down at all. I was hooked from the beginning through to the end.

This was so fast paced, I just kept turning the pages needing to know more and then I was finished 😂. The twists and turns were just fantastic. I loved everything about this book! The ending was brilliant and I definitely didn’t see it coming.

This is my first book from Claire Douglas and it won’t be my last! The writing, the atmosphere just superb.

Lena is pleased when Henry and Marella move in next door - a settled, older, middle class couple who seem like lovely people….but all is not as it first appears….

I’ve read several of Claire’s books and think is her best one yet. The way the story builds up with layers upon the initial plot, including a back story from Lena’s past, makes for a thrilling and suspenseful read.

Will be highly recommending.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

A solid read, but I found the narrative a bit disjointed hopping between characters and timelines, with a big dollop of coincidence to make the plot work. Not my favourite by this author.

Claire Douglas is one of my all time favourite authors so when I seen this I made sure I had no commitments for the day cause I knew I would not be able to put this down. It definitely did not disappoint it was fantastic I loved everything about it the writing style the character development and the unique story there was so many twists and turns which I did not see coming.

This story focuses on Lena who’s recently separated from her husband and her son is about to fly the nest so she is feeling a bit down and lost with her life. So when new neighbours move in and she overhears part of a suspicious conversation they were having she can’t let it go. Everyone around her tells her they are an old couple nothing to be suspicious about but Lena can’t help but investigate.

Another fantastic thriller by this author which I will be recommending to everyone. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this excellent book.

Thank you for the invite to read and review this story by Claire Douglas. I am fast becoming a big fan! Like her other tales, this is a deep and mysterious story full of intrigue and twists. Well written and cleverly planned, with well conceived characters it leads you on a journey of surprises and unexpected consequences. Lena overhears a shocking conversation and her dilemma which results threatens to open up her dark past and the subsequent consequences. The story centres around the theme people are not always as they seem and appearances can be deceptive. Incredibly tense and twisty a thriller right to the end.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for an advance copy of the book. I really enjoyed this book and sped through the last 20%. There were some parts I found a tad annoying ie. Constant paragraphs about Rufus getting older and ‘flying the nest’. The actual plot was great.

Blinking heck! I could not guess the ending at all! Claire Douglas teases you, making you think you know how it’s going to end, but then throws in a curve ball.
Fast paced and believable characters. I can definitely recommend this book.

I enjoyed this and it was gripping but not fully. It tends to lull and then rage especially the ending, interesting enough to keep me reading.

A gripping thriller that keeps you guessing all the way through. Lots of interesting characters and twists and turns. Brilliant!

Another Claire Douglas Cracker!

Claire is my absolute favourite author as I've never read a book of hers that I couldn't put down. I think I've read this one in about 4 days.

The writing style of Claire's books make them flow really well and they are a joy to read. The plots are always twisty and full of mystery that keep you wanting more.

This book was so interesting. The main character is much older than me but the way this book is written meant I was able to connect with her instantly. Each character was so well thought out, it was a joy to meet them all. I guessed a couple of smaller mysteries as I was reading but my pulse was still racing trying to get to the end and figure it all out!

I cannot wait for Claire Douglas' new release already!

WOW! I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked from the first page. I could not wait to read the next page. It has you on the edge of your seat throughout the book. I liked that the story alternated between present and past, slowly revealing what had happened. I would definitely recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.

Claire Douglas delivers a compelling domestic thriller with The New Neighbours, a story that blends suspense, secrets, and a touch of paranoia. The novel keeps readers on edge, questioning what’s real and what’s imagined, making it a captivating page-turner.
Lena is a relatable and complex protagonist, and her inner conflict adds depth to the story. Her discovery of the suspicious conversation through the boom microphone is such a simple yet effective premise, pulling readers into her growing obsession with uncovering the truth. The Morgans, seemingly perfect neighbours, are written with just the right amount of mystery to make you second-guess their intentions at every turn.
The strength of this book lies in its layered storytelling. While the central mystery involving the Morgans is compelling, the exploration of Lena’s own dark past adds another dimension. It’s not just about uncovering the truth but also about redemption and how guilt can cloud one’s judgment.
Douglas creates an atmosphere of unease, and the tension builds steadily throughout the novel. The pacing is excellent, with twists and turns that keep you guessing. Even when you think you’ve figured it out, Douglas throws in another curveball that makes you question everything.
The only reason this isn’t a five-star read is that the ending while satisfying, felt slightly rushed. The New Neighbours is a gripping, thought-provoking thriller that will leave you questioning the seemingly normal people around you. It’s perfect for fans of domestic suspense who enjoy twists, secrets, and a protagonist struggling with her own demons.

The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas promised to be another gripping read following the success of The Couple at No. 9, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. The dual timeline structure and the shifting character perspectives were interesting elements, and they did help build some intrigue as the story unfolded. I particularly enjoyed the back-and-forth between past and present.

However, despite these strengths, the plot felt overly far-fetched at times, and I found myself predicting the twists well before they were revealed. For a thriller, this lack of surprise is a bit of a letdown, as the suspense element didn’t pack the punch I was hoping for. While the writing was still solid, the overall narrative didn’t grab me in the same way as her previous book.

Ultimately, The New Neighbours didn’t quite deliver the same level of tension and excitement I had hoped for, leaving me somewhat underwhelmed. Still, it’s an enjoyable enough read if you’re a fan of character-driven mysteries, but it won’t leave you on the edge of your seat.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC

A story about suspicion and discovery while tackling the next stage in life.
The end of the book is fast moving and a couple of twists develop which are exciting and follow up hints in previous chapters.
I found the first half of the book rather predictable and unlikely which was frustrating. The main character takes risks which didn’t seem to be the sort of things she would do! As the story moved towards the end it picked up pace as it approaches the final chapters where the ends are rather too neatly tied up.

Thanks for the opportunity of reading this new book by Claire Douglas. I did enjoy it but found Lena a bit of an irritating busybody. The story was cleverly thought out but was a bit implausible.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin for allowing me to read and review this Arc.

This is my first Claire Douglas book and it certainly won’t be my last. This story focuses on our main character, Lena, who becomes obsessed with the new neighbours after overhearing part of a suspicious conversation they were having. Is it all innocent and she is taking it the wrong way, her imagination running wild? Or are her neighbours up to no good? The more she investigates and obsesses the stranger things become.

This story absolutely gripped me and although it felt like it was a slow burn thriller, I couldn’t put it down; desperate to know what the new neighbours, the Morgans, were actually up to. I did see the ending coming but it didn’t take away from the big reveal. Throughly enjoyed this book and will recommend to all who enjoy a suspense and even those who don’t but need an introduction to the genre.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 ⭐️

When Lena overhears a conversation between her next-door-neighbours she thinks she must have misheard. They’re a kind, retired couple living in a street where nothing happens but it sounded like they were planning a crime. Everyone tells her she’s made a mistake but Lena can’t stop thinking about it. What happens if they’re about to do something terrible? And what if she can prevent it in an attempt to make up for her past?

In the beginning, it did feel like it took a while to get going and to really suck me in but once it began to pick up, I really enjoyed it and found it hard to put down.

I found the characters to be well fleshed out and I loved how complex they were because it truly added to the suspense. Almost like something was brewed underneath the surface - it gave off such a sinister atmosphere, which I loved and fitted the plot well. I do feel like there were parts that were predictable, which I didn’t totally mind but I do almost wish that it kept me on my toes more. I do feel like I was left with some unanswered questions and like the ending was a bit rushed to get everything concluded. Although, I am a massive fan of Claire’s writing and have loved everything that I’ve read of hers so far so I’m excited to see what else she’ll release in the future.

Something to note is there’s an error later on in the book when it says “she was insistent it was theirs while Henry contradicted her”, which wasn’t true. It was the other way around, Henry insisted that the key was theirs, whereas Marielle said that it wasn’t theirs earlier on in the book.

Thank you Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: alcohol use, cursing, abandonment, child snide, imprisonment, medical content, drug use, cheating, death, murder, blood; mentions death, injury detail, infertility, suicide ⚠️

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this.
I’ve rounded up from 3.5 stars to 4 as I did find it to be a page-turner and I ended up reading the whole book very quickly! The narrative moves at pace from the start but although I enjoyed the psychological thriller style, I felt it could have benefitted from slightly more actual action. Overall, a good read in the traditional Douglas style.