3.5/5 rounded up. The New Neighbours tells the story of Lena, a newly separated mother who lives with her teenage son Rufus. New neighbours move into the house next door, a retired professional couple, Marielle and Henry. They seem very pleasant at first but one day Lena overhears them speaking in their garden and becomes suspicious.
She sets out on a mission to find out if there is a secret they are hiding and there’s a series of strange and concerning events. I enjoyed this book for the most part. Like other Claire Douglas novels I have read, it was very engaging and readable. I was interested to know more and learn what the mystery surrounding the neighbours was.
However, as this was finally revealed I just felt the story then got really unbelievably far-fetched and I was actually quite disappointed with it. That’s why I only gave 3.5 stars despite really enjoying the first three-quarters of the book.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an advance copy in return for my honest opinion. I have also published this review on Goodreads and will publish a shorter summary on Amazon.

A retired couple who move in next door to Lena and her son, who has been recording sounds for his college course. One evening his mum helps and over hears the new neighbours in a suspicious conversation. This leads Lena to snoop in their house as she still has a spare key. She discovers odd newspaper cuttings which centre around her time as a trainee midwife, with her mentor and a doctor from the hospital the subject of the cuttings.

Well its a good enough story, it flashes back between the past and present as seen from Lena and Henry's (new neighbour) eyes. It's a bit slow to start off, some of the actions and situations Lena puts herself in are rather silly (think Eastenders plot - bit farcical but they do it anyway) and the end suddenly rushes up to met you!

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

Well written and interesting with a clever twist.

A few annoying characters but overall worth the time spent reading.

I love books by this author and i enjoyed this one.
I wasn't quite sure how it was going to play out, it wasn't obvious and it kept me guessing.
I liked the twist, wasn't expecting it.
Once I got into it I struggled to put it down and raced through it.
I liked the mystery of the characters and at some points my heart was in my mouth.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Straight off the bat, I have to admit that this was not my favourite book of Claire Douglas’ for reasons I will explain but it definitety did have its unique quirks.

Lena and her teenage son Rufus have new neighbours moving in next door: glamorous and polished older couple, The Morgans. Lena unwittingly overhears a conversation between the couple not long after they have moved in and it leaves her questioning who they really are and what they may be up to.

I enjoyed that this book was set in my hometown of Bristol because being able to recognise certain locations and settings while reading a novel gives me a great sense of satisfaction.

The main issue I couldn't seem to get away from was how unbelievable and unlikely a lot of the situations were. I feel like I always have to justify this comment by acknowledging that the book is fictional, but some of the conversations and incidents that occurred just felt entirely unrealistic. Once I became aware of this, I struggled to shake it off throughout the rest of the book.

However, I do enjoy Claire's writing and know this has been a hit with lots of people!

I have mixed feelings about this one. It was a compelling read for the most part, I found the start a bit slow but then the ending happened so quickly. I'd still recommend but it's not my favourite from this author.

I really enjoy Claire’s books and her style of writing, as well as the fact that the locations are always places I know, and this one was no exception. It was well-plotted with lots of layers. The multiple POVs and timelines all come together really well towards the end of the book. We delve into the dark past of some of the characters, including Lena, which all add to the mystery.

To begin with, I was wondering why Lena became so obsessed with something she overheard her neighbours saying, when it could have been something so small and misunderstood, but it all makes sense for the plot and the direction the book goes in. I did spend a lot of time wanting to scream at Lena and tell her to stop getting so involved though!

As always with Claire’s books, there are some great twists and some red herrings along the way. It was such a page-turner, particularly when the pace really picked up in the last quarter. The ending was exciting and satisfying which is what you want in a thriller!

This is another brilliant Claire Douglas book and I highly recommend you giving it a read if you’ve enjoyed her previous books or love a page-turning domestic thriller.

4.5⭐️

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Another fantastic psychological thriller from Claire Douglas .
Lena is separated from her husband Charlie , and is starting to navigate life again .
She lives with her son Rufus and works part time at the citizens advice bureau.
Lena cares sometimes too much!
She began training as a midwife before she met and married Charlie and had their son .
She left before she completed her training due to being disillusioned with a couple of the staff around her .
New neighbours move in at the side of Lena and seem a very respectable couple .
Although , things quickly change when Lena hears a conversation which has a sinister meaning to it , or could Lena be mistaken?
This story has so many twists and turns , the pages turned themselves.
I consider Claire Douglas to be one of the best if not the best author in this genre .
An intriguing and gripping read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph , Penguin Random House .

This wasn’t my favourite Claire Douglas book. Overall the book was good but not one I would recommend. I thought it had quite a slow start and the main character annoyed me a bit. Spoiler ahead!! You just wouldn’t enter the property, twice?! And the ending, no ambulance being called and leaving Kit to deal with it. Just a bit of an odd ending.

Lena is estranged from her husband and worried about her son's imminent departure from the family home. When she meets her new neighbours, they seem welcoming and unremarkable, but that soon changes. They have dark secrets, or so Lena believes, but she is an unreliable narrator, prone to impulsive actions, so are they hiding something? The plot is dark and twisty, both in the present and past. The connections are gradually revealed, each impactful and drawing Lena into greater danger. I enjoyed this immersive story with its disturbing undertones and complex, often unlikeable characters. It's an absorbing read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The New Neighbours is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The novel weaves a compelling tale of secrets, paranoia, and the complexities of human nature, all wrapped in a suspenseful narrative full of unexpected twists.

Set in a seemingly quiet suburban neighbourhood, the story follows the arrival of new neighbours who quickly stir up intrigue and tension. The protagonist, who becomes increasingly suspicious of the newcomers, is drawn into a web of secrets that threaten to unravel everything.

What makes The New Neighbours particularly engaging is the author’s mastery of misdirection. There are plenty of red herrings throughout the book—each new detail pointing in a different direction, leading the reader to question their own assumptions. Just when you think you’ve figured out the mystery, the plot takes another turn that leaves you second-guessing your theories.

The suspense is palpable, with the pacing carefully constructed to ramp up the tension chapter by chapter. The deeper you dive into the characters’ psyches, the more uncertain you become about whom to trust. The author does an excellent job of exploring themes like obsession, trust, and betrayal, creating a chilling atmosphere that will linger long after you turn the final page.

In conclusion, The New Neighbours is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking psychological thriller. If you enjoy a story that keeps you guessing until the very end, filled with suspense and unexpected twists, this book will not disappoint.

I have enjoyed several of Claire Douglas' books now and this one is another great, suspenseful thriller. The New Neighbours follows Lena as she overhears something suspicious from her neighbours and she becomes obsessed with uncovering what was meant by it. There are plenty of twists and turns and even a few red herrings that keep this book interesting and suspenseful. The pacing was well done and the plot flowed nicely to connect several characters and timelines in a twisty suburban thriller. Highly recommend!

Lena is recently separated from her husband, works part time In Citizens Advice Bureau and lives in her family home with her son Rufus in Bristol..

One evening when she is helping her son with his music / electronic project, she accidentally overhears her neighbours, Mr and Mrs Morgan's partial conversations.

This is where this twisty suburban noir (Ms Douglas is good at these) tale really starts. Have the Morgans got a baby? Are they really friendly with Lena?

A good read although Lena seems to be naive at times? I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Nothing is quite as it seems in this really good read

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC from Claire Douglas.
As soon as I see a book by Claire I know I have to read it and this one didn't disappoint.
I read Claire's last book and didn't like it but I feel like this is the Claire we all know and love.
Such a good read and keeps you intrigued. The only reason I dropped a star is because at 1 or 2 points I felt myself rolling my eyes thinking 'really!?'
Overall a great read and glad to start 2025 off with a 4* book

Love reading books by Claire Douglas, where you know you are guaranteed a fabulously twisted read!

This one took me a while to get to grips with the many characters and the unspoken issues from their pasts. That led to a slower burn start.

The story has a few timelines as well, the neighbours when they were younger (1986), Lena training as a nurse and then present day. There is also a recurring character who is obviously trying to hide and I was fascinated trying to place her role within the main story structure.

There was some really tense action that kept me on edge, made more effective by being set in a ‘normal’ suburban residential area, with plenty of unexplained incidents adding to the unnerving feelings.

There are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing as to where the story is going. Of course there are clues and, whilst I could work out some of the plot, a couple of the twists really surprised me.

As always, a great read, with a slow burn that builds pace dramatically to draw to a tense conclusion.

The New Neighbours is a fab and absorbing psychological thriller, with a clever and exciting plot and some interesting and complex characters.
I started reading it in January, life sadly took over, and just finished it over two afternoons sat in the garden. Appreciated all of the twists right up until the end.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, which did not influence my unbiased and honest review of the book.

Claire Douglas is one of the Queens of psychological thrillers, and The New Neighbours is another brilliant example of her fantastic writing and storytelling.
It's a well crafted slow burn to begin with, but as you get further into the book, the tension mounts up and becomes unpalpable at times. My heart was in my mouth at certain points.
The story is told through multiple points of view, which then twist back together to reach a very satisfying conclusion.
Tense, engrossing and completely gripping, I would definitely recommend this one.

This was a good read with a twist ending!

I’m giving this a 4 star from me. Only because I found it hard to gel with some of the characters . That’s just my thought though,


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Gripping story full of suspension and paranoid thinking. Not a book y o I can put down easily. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy