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

Claire Douglas remains the queen of domestic noir. I loved the creepy premise of The New Neighbours, making the book another unputdownable success. Loved it

such an easy read. love the characters and it was quick paced and thrilling. I enjoyed this book really well.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

I really enjoy books by this author, and this was no exception. You never know what your neighbours are up to! The ending did kind of annoy me though.

#TheNewNeighbours #NetGalley
Lena enjoys a quiet life in suburban Bristol until she overhears her elderly neighbours, the Morgans, discussing what sounds like a crime. At first, she assumes she misheard. After all, they seem like the perfect, kind-hearted retirees. But as she digs deeper, the Morgans’ past starts to seem unsettlingly dark.
Despite warnings from family and friends that she’s being paranoid, Lena can’t shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong. And when she starts to suspect a connection to a secret from her own past, she realizes that if her instincts are correct, she might be the one in danger.
Overall, The New Neighbours is a brilliantly crafted psychological thriller that plays on our fears of the unknown. If you love stories that mix paranoia, secrets, and jaw-dropping twists, this one is a must-read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for giving me an advance copy.

I’m a big fan of Claire Douglas books and this is another brilliant suspenseful read, once I started The New Neighbours it was really difficult to put it down, I highly recommend reading you will not be disappointed.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc of The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas in return for my honest review.

I was hooked from the start! This is a gripping read filled with mystery suspense and ole ty of twists and turns. A great read

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for this eCopy to review

I just finished reading The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas, and I found it to be an engrossing and atmospheric domestic thriller. The story centres on Lena, a determined woman whose life takes an unexpected turn when she helps her teenage son, Rufus, with a media studies project. While they’re out gathering sound recordings for his school assignment, his boom microphone picks up a hushed, mysterious conversation coming from their new neighbours—the seemingly perfect and respected Morgans.

As the plot unfolds, Lena grows increasingly suspicious about the nature of the conversation, convinced that something sinister is afoot. Despite her family and friends dismissing her concerns as mere paranoia, Lena feels compelled to unravel the mystery. Her own dark past further fuels her determination, and soon her protective instincts kick in—not only for herself but also to safeguard Rufus from any potential danger. The narrative expertly blurs the line between reality and paranoia, keeping me on edge and questioning whether Lena’s suspicions are justified or just the result of her troubled history.

What I really appreciated was Douglas’s ability to create a claustrophobic sense of tension and unease right in the heart of suburbia. The subtle interplay between Lena’s internal struggles and the external mysteries of the Morgans adds a rich, psychological depth to the story.

Overall, The New Neighbours stands out as a smart, suspenseful read that explores themes of privacy, trust, and the hidden secrets within the ordinary. It’s a compelling page-turner that left me both satisfied and eager for more—from its chilling mystery to the heartfelt portrayal of a mother’s fierce love for her son.

A gripping read. Lena is a recently single mother of 17 year old Rufus. New neighbours Marielle and Henry move in next door and seem very pleasant. When Lena overhears a srange conversation she becomes suspicious and begins looking into them. Things take a dark turn- nobody is who they seem. Gripping!! #netgalley #thenewneighbours

Claire Douglas has written some great book and this one does not disappoint.
A dark, twisted tale in the world of suburbia.
Neighbours, secrets and misunderstandings are the basis of this story.
Overall a solid psychological thriller I would highly recommend.

I always love Claire Douglas’ books and this one is no exception!! She tells the story in her classic style, keeping me hooked from the first page.
Love a book with some good twists and can’t wait to read more by her in the future!!

This was a great book, I loved it! Suburban noir at its best! Loved how we find out the back story slowly and all the threads are brought together. Plenty of red herrings and twists. A real page turner.

I loved The Girls Who Disappeared so I was excited to have an early read of The New Neighbours—and this was another winner from Claire Douglas that I raced through in a couple of days.

When Lena first meets the new couple who’ve moved in next door, Henry and Marielle seem like the perfect neighbours. Then she overhears a conversation that makes her suspect they could be plotting a crime. But could this friendly, elegant, middle-class couple in their sixties really be hiding dark secrets? Other things about the Morgans don’t add up either so Lena sets out to investigate…

Lena’s teenage son is a media studies student and movie buff so there are references to films like Rear Window and Disturbia throughout, and there was definitely a ‘dark suburbia’ feel to the book too, just like those movies.

The New Neighbours is twisty, tension-filled and addictive, with a likeable main character and plenty of surprising reveals. Set aside some time to read it because once you start, you won’t be able to put it down!

The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas is another excellent psychological thriller by the author. In this book the new neighbours the Morgan’s are not what they appear. Lena records some conversation that she picked up when recording outdoor sounds for her son’s college project and is convinced that the Morgan’s are not the respectable couple that they appear, but her friends and family do not want Lena to get involved with proving they are up to no good.
A storyline full of twists and turns and earlier events that Lena had tried to forget all play a part in this twisted tale.
Highly recommended

One night Lena inadvertently records her new neighbours’ conversation. They are a retired stylish middle-class couple in their early 60s, who have moved into the swanky renovated house next door. She becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea that they are planning something illegal and puts her personal safety in danger trying to find out what. Or does she? Has she got the wrong end of the stick? Lena has her own past experiences of being caught up in something shady, and may be trying to ease her own conscience by preventing something happening.

There are enough characters to keep interest and keep you guessing, but not so many that you have to keep checking back to see who they are, several side plots run alongside the main story and there a fair few red herrings. The New Neighbours is a twisty and gripping psychological thriller. I enjoyed it. If you like books by Gillian McAllister, TM Logan or Claire Macintosh you’ll enjoy The New Neighbours.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.