Scheduled for release in March 2025, Claire Douglas’ new psychological thriller, The New Neighbours, seen from the overactive mind of Lena, delves into the lives of her new enigmatic neighbours. Suspicions about their intentions from an overheard conversation leads Lena right into their web of tangled lives. With Lena’s insecurities and self doubt, fuelled by the blurred lines of her own past, Lena learns the intentions behind her new neighbours true intentions.

Fans of this genre will definitely find this novel a compelling addition to the genre.

Huge thanks to #netgalley and @michaeljbooks for granting access to an advanced e-copy of this. Claire is one of my favourite authors so I can't tell you how excited I was to be able to read this early!

The New Neighbours feels a little different from the rest of Claire's books - in a good way. It focuses on Lena, who becomes obsessed with her new next door neighbours after accidentally overhearing part of a suspicious-sounding conversation. Are the Morgans up to something, or is Lena just letting her imagination run away with her? But the more she learns about her neighbours, the stranger things become...

This is a real page-turner, even if for three quarters of the book little happens other than Lena chasing her whims. At times I found myself rolling my eyes, wanting to tell her to just stay out of their business - some of her actions really do cross a line, but thanks to Claire Douglas' effortlessly brilliant writing, I simply couldn't put it down. I HAD to know what the Morgans were hiding... if anything. I think the early parts of the book, although slow, work really well at getting you wondering if Lena is just clutching at straws or if something nefarious really is happening with her neighbours. Throw in a few chapters from new perspectives - the neighbour Henry Morgan and the mysterious Natalie - and you'll be even more gripped as to what on earth is going on.

I didn't see the ending unfolding in quite the way it did, and even if I felt some of it was more far fetched than Claire's usual work, I loved it just as much. Another excellent read that I don't hesitate to recommend. If you've read and enjoyed Claire Douglas before, or you like lighter domestic thrillers, pick this one up!

Eavesdropping, even accidentally, can lead to trouble, as Lena, while trying to record some night sounds, has just discovered. She was just being helpful, getting a few hours of random sounds for her seventeen year old son, Rufus, to use in his final year school project. He lives with her but also spends time with his father, a middle aged Rock drummer, after his parents’ recent separation. What she has just overheard is a conversation between her new neighbours which could be completely innocent, but could instead be evidence that they are plotting a kidnapping. Lena works three days a week so has time on her hands, worries too much about Rufus, and is frustrated and regretful that she gave up her career as a midwife because of a disturbing incident. The new neighbours, Henry and Marielle, are an elderly couple, who seem pleasant enough, but Lena can’t shake off her suspicions and begins to investigate, with potentially disastrous consequences.
This is a mystery story, at a pinch it could be described as a psychological thriller, though it isn’t a great fit for either of these descriptions. It is written mainly from Lena’s point of view, with flashbacks to her earlier life, but we also get Henry and Marielle’s backstory interspersed, and some scenes featuring other characters. It is well written and well constructed, with lots of misdirection along the way. However, I have a problem with the overall plot. Coincidences are expected in such stories, but here they are too prevalent; I count at least three implausible examples. I also didn’t like any of the characters, but that doesn’t affect the story. It’s better than 3 stars because of the writing, but not really 4. However, I always round up so 4 it is.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I love Claire Douglas books and as expected this was another great read with suspense and twists. I found myself getting annoyed with Lena though, she just wasn’t realistic enough to me. I’ve been through the empty nest thing she had impending and could relate to that. But her actions regarding new neighbours seemed very far fetched.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Gripping page turning read. A book you do not want to put down.

How difficult can it be to keep secrets from your neighbours, what have they heard, or thought they had heard? A couples desperate desire to have a baby goes slightly off track. How many years have they been living in this dream world?

Not to be missed.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Claire Douglas will never let you down if you're looking for an addictive read. This one is no exception and the twists were great shockers!

Lena lives alone with her son Rufus and when new neighbours move in, they seem like the perfect, respectable couple. What follows is a twisty tale with shock after shock, leading Lena on a trail that puts her in danger, and not knowing who she can trust. With flashbacks that pad out the present events, this kept me hooked from the first page to the last.

Just be careful next time you have new neighbours. I've enjoyed every Claire Douglas book that I've read. She is a safe pair of hands and is rapidly reaching my top three all-time authors.

With thanks to Netgalley, Michael Joseph and the author for a preview copy.

My first Claire Douglas book and I couldn’t put it down. That said I found it rushed at the end and a little far fetched at times, I did enjoy it though so 3 stars from me! I have the couple at number 9 on my bookshelf to read soon and this has made me bump it up my list

Another superb offering from Claire Douglas who never disappoints.
Told from multiple POV's this domestic psychological thriller grips you from the start. Lena thinks there is more to the retired professional couple who have moved in next door than they present and takes matters into her own hands to delve into what their story really is. Little does she know how she is connected to them and how dark things will become.
Lots of suspense, a few twists and turns and strong supporting characters make this a great read.
I am grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book and will be recommending it highly on publication.

Another masterpiece from Claire Douglas!
Dare I say her best book yet!
A real edge of your seat thriller that is impossible to put down! A brilliant plot with some killer twists!
I’ll be recommending this to everyone I know!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my advanced copy.

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and Penguin for approving my request to read #TheNewNeighbours

I absolutely loved this dark, atmospheric and twisty psychological thriller which had me captivated from beginning to end-I was most reluctant to put it down and devoured each page greedily.

I would highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed especially if you like this particular genre.

Has to be 5 stars from me!

Another brilliant read from this author.

Lena lives in Bristol, in the house that she shared with her husband, Charlie - until they recently split up – and teenage son, Rufus.

New neighbours move in next door, a friendly retired couple called Henry, who was an eminent surgeon, and Marielle. They have a baby grandson who they look after once a week, although Marielle isn’t too keen on people getting a close look into his pram.

Rufus is going out and asks his mum to help with his current school project, which involves recording nighttime nature noises in the garden. Lena does this and then realises that the microphone has picked up snippets of a strange conversation between Henry and Marielle. Lena is then far too nosy and gets involved in a story with lots of twists and turns.

I was gripped and enjoyed every minute.

Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph, and Penguin Random House for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I usually love #ClaireDouglas but sadly #TheNewNeighbours didn't quite live up to my hopes.
I found the thriller very slow to begin with and during the middle I got myself a bit lost with the volume of bit part characters.
I must say that I felt such a connection with the MC Lena who is due to feel the empty nest syndrome, I'm in the same position and it's such a push /pull with your child and truly heartbreaking, described excellently.
The end got quite exciting but just a little too rushed for me.
A great plot and characters but not my favourite.
A 3.5 star rating raised to 4 because of the usual talent of this author, thank you #NetGalley for the arc.

This was a good book overall. It’s not the strongest that I have read by the author and I did find it to be somewhat predictable in parts
However there is no taking away that the author is an amazing domestic thriller writer with so much talent. Despite it feeling predictable at times, there were shocks and twists that I didn’t see coming

Love it!

I am nosy but not this nosy! Everyone is always so excited / nervous to meet new neighbours and this is why!

In-depth, exciting and has you on the edge of your seat

his is a great story about personal growth as well as a good mystery/thriller.

Through our leading lady Lena we learn about regret, how important speaking up is and also about holding grudges. Having read a few books lately from other genres I think my brain was leading me to places it really didn’t need to with this story, there were some really nice oh, maybe that’s coming up moments but didn’t materialise. Just like life does. This was real and raw in places but had some softer edges that pulled you right into the story and made you question everyones motives, actions and history.

For me this a story about loss, growth and learning all wrapped up in a pretty Bristolian suburb.

Claire Douglas stays being a favourite author. Someone I can trust to give me a new favourite book. This is no exception.
I go into Douglas books not knowing what it's about. But I find myself instantly gripped. Wanting to know who is who and what went on.
I had a few theories throughout. But I was still slightly off.
While overall I wasn't shocked by any reveal, the writing is perfectly paced with enough happening throughout its still an enjoyable read, you can get lost in.

Claire Douglas has done it again. She does not disappoint. Was gripped with it.
Lena has some new neighbours, after overhearing a conversation she is convinced something isn't right. Lena takes matters into her own hands to find out what they're hiding.
Would recommend.
Thanks to netgally for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review

Firstly thanks to Net Galley for the advance copy of this book. I was so excited to get it.

Lena overhears a conversation between her new neighbours and becomes fascinated with them and tries to find out more about them. Friends and family try to deter her from this but she carries on and gets herself in too deep to something she doesn't understand.

I have a love / hate relationship with this author. Some of her books blow me away and others leave me frustrated. I'm afraid this was the latter. I did enjoy it, the story was good, the plot was interesting and it is so well written. My frustration lay with the main character Lena. Her silly inner monologues about her marriage, her constant woe is me tale about her son moving away which was not due to happen for a whole year started to grate on me after a while. When writing these anxious characters there is a fine line between interesting and irritating and this was crossed for me one too many times.

That said I would recommend it. The story is really interesting and overall enjoyable.

This was an okay read. I felt it lacked the thriller element that her other books have though. The pace was rather slow. The ending did make up for this. I liked how it all tied up.

An enjoyable book. Lena overhears a conversation between her new neighbours that sounds as though they are going to kill somebody. She then spend a lot of time investigating them even using a key given to her by previous neighbours to enter their house. I did find Lena somewhat obssessive and a bit manic. Although Douglas keeps the story moving, I did find jumping between time periods and characters irritating especially as some of the passages were very short.