5 out of 5 stars
Suspenseful and exciting
Another brilliant book by this talented author. Just when you think you know where the story is going another twist appears!
I feel the characters were all so real and could picture them immediately which is a fine skill!

Lena is busy coming to terms with her son growing up while her ex husband moves on without her too.
Friendly retired couple, the Morgans move in next door but Lena thinks they aren't all that they seem.
No one believes her when she tries to tell her friends and family about her fears but the more she digs into things the more serious she realises things are. Someone is in serious danger!

Claire Douglas really writes an amazing page turner. I just love how not a character is wasted and she can tie everything together so perfectly!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another thrilling read by Claire Douglas. Lena lives a quiet life with her teenage son Rufus, until the Morgan’s move in next door. She knows there’s something off with them but until she goes snooping in their house under the guise of cat-sitting she doesn’t know exactly what.

Claire Douglas creates stories that twist and turn, tons of suspense and generally likeable characters keep you entertained throughout. Probably not my favourite of hers so far but I’ve a few more of her books in my to be read pile and I’ll certainly be keeping my eye out for any new ones.

Thanks to Netgalley for auto selecting me for this ARC.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Publishers for a copy of “ The New Neighbours” for an honest review.

I love anew book by Claire Douglas! I settled down in the in the garden in the sunshine and read it in a couple of sessions.
As always the characters were well written and the storyline was really suspenseful.I had so many ideas of what was happening as I read the book , that I think I’d suspected everyone at some point !
I was happy that all the loose ends were tied up at the end and this made for a very satisfying read

Wow wow - looking for a book that will keep you gripped and perfect to read by the side of the beach. Look no further! This little gem - I’ll be keeping an eye out for her next book!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Lena lives with her teenage son, Rufus, after she and her husband decided to split up. Lena gets new neighbours, who are an older couple, and seem pleasant enough. Rufus is at college and leaves his microphone outside to pick up noises to support his coursework. When Lena listens back on the recordings, she picks up a conversation between her new neighbours which sounds a bit dodgy, and Lena cant stop thinking about it, and then her neighbours behaviour gets stranger and stranger.

This was quite a well written story, and does show that you never really know people. The characters were well written, although Lena was fairly irritating in places and became obsessive very quickly, although this was supportive to the story. The story was compelling, atmospheric, and tense, which are the perfect ingredients for a page turning thriller. I was absolutely glued to this story, and the ending was a little twist I didnt see coming. Great and I would recommend.

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