2.5 rounded up to 3

I was expecting so much more from this story. It was...okay I guess, but it wasn't creepy at all and the writing wasn't the best. I kept being told that things were creepy, but the writing wasn't conveying the spooky feelings. It was more telling than feeling. I wanted a creepy atmosphere but every time something was supposed to be it didn't work. Things just happened, the characters were not the best and it was a meh book overall.

Kendall moves to a new neighborhood where her college best friend lives and everyone loves Flip and Blair. Which okay, but it was weird how long it takes for Kendall to question things. I really expected the vitamin water to be a bigger deal, but how they tried to force Kendall to drink alcohol would have been enough to make them people I don't trust at all. You don't do that. There were reveals later in the book about Flip and Blair which I don't know if they were supposed to be shocking, but they came off as just okay and? But that was the whole book basically.

Now eventually Kendall's sister comes to visit and immediately disappears with Flip and Blair and then Kendall is just like I must save her! Which sure, but like have a plan? Especially when you know what is going on with them. How can you save her if you cannot control your actions? Maybe don't just charge in without thinking about it? Ugh. But then again Flip and Blair seem to be inconsistent with their powers.

Like I don't really understand the grumpy neighbors and why they were allowed to be so awful to everyone for so long. Like why didn't Flip and Blair take care of them before? Or mind control them into not being so horrible? I just didn't get it. The grumps come to their parties so they are partaking in all the things so...why were they still grumps? Especially when they complained about Flip and Blair.

The ending of the book was also super eye-rollingly convenient and just wraps up too nicely. Overall not the book for me. I finished it, but I also could have used that time for something else.

This was the 3rd book in the Neighborhood Nightmares series. This was my first book by London Clarke. After this read I would read more of her books.

True crime writer Kendall Casey moves all around chasing her next unsolved story to write about. Her next book brings her to the mountains of North Carolina. The Cove is a community that holds many secrets the neighborhood that looking from the outside you would not know, seeing how everyone is expected to uphold all the HOA rules and keep their property well maintained . Kendall is living down the road from her best friend from college Sam. There has always been a connection but they have remained friends. As Kendall begins to know her other neighbors she begins to see there is more than meets the eye. She has her wild neighbors who throw a big bash every month and then the neighbor across the street who thinks they are the HOA police and they are very angry people. When weird things happen, even some paranormal, Kendall is not sure who to trust. There may be another true crime story in the making that Kendall was not planning on being apart of!

This book was a wild ride! Twist and turns galore! There was humor in the descriptions of the crazy neighbors that we may have all encountered from time to time. But there was also moments that were dark and scary that had me on the edge of my seat, wanting to scream “run” or “don’t do that!” This was a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me an opportunity to read and review this book!

As someone who enjoys supernatural thrillers, I was eager to dive into The Wild Things by London Clarke, and it did not disappoint. The story centers around Kendall Casey, a true crime writer who travels to the secluded community of The Cove in the North Carolina mountains to investigate a long-unsolved disappearance of a young girl. The eerie atmosphere of the neighborhood and the mysterious residents created a constant sense of unease, keeping me hooked from start to finish.

Clarke does a fantastic job blending mystery, psychological tension, and elements of the supernatural. The characters are well-developed, with each one hiding secrets that add layers to the growing mystery. In particular, the Robinettes are both charming and unsettling, leaving me constantly questioning their intentions as the story unfolded.

The pacing of the novel is excellent, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way to the end. Clarke’s descriptive writing painted a vivid picture of The Cove, immersing me in its haunting beauty and hidden darkness. The themes of trust, deception, and the search for truth were explored in ways that added emotional depth to the plot.

Overall, The Wild Things is a gripping and engaging read that masterfully combines horror and mystery. Clarke’s storytelling skills shine through, making this a standout novel in the genre. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys supernatural thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I have loved London Clarke’s work beginning with the first book of hers I ever tried (The Night Singers), and this book is no exception. It is very well written, easy to read, and kept me engaged from start to finish. I definitely would recommend this book to others!

Wow, what a crazy ride!

Kendall is a true crime writer. Her latest book takes her to a new neighbourhood. As Kendall settles in, she realizes it is a pretty strange neighbourhood. There are the Guffs, who complain about everything and are hated by everyone. Then there are the Robinettes, who are essentially royalty in the neighbourhood. Luckily, Kendall finds a familiar face in Sam, her best friend from college. I won't say anything more, as it is best to go in blind.

A very unique plot that kept me captivated the entire time. It really packed the punch for a psychological thriller, with some horror elements thrown in. There is a creepy overtone from the first page that only ramps up throughout the rest of the novel. I truly had no idea where the author was going to take us, but I loved every bit of it. I haven't read a book like this before (especially in terms of plot) so it really helped to keep things unpredictable. Definitely will need to read more from this author!

Thank you BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was hauntingly suspenseful loved fhe characters and the plotline. It was eerie in that you felt you were really immersed because of the authors way of describing scenarios.

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

London Clarke’s “The Wild Things” is a mind-bending mix of psychological suspense and supernatural horror that keeps you on edge from start to finish, especially if you have ever had any strange neighbors. With a chilling atmosphere, eerie neighborhood dynamics, and an unraveling mystery that dives into cult-like manipulation, human experimentation, and ghostly apparitions, this book is a gripping, entirely unpredictable ride.

The story follows Kendall Casey, a successful true crime writer who moves to The Cove, a seemingly idyllic community in North Carolina, to research her latest book on the disappearance of 10-year-old Eliana Conway. However, The Cove hides sinister secrets, and her new neighbors—particularly the enigmatic Robinettes—seem to be more than they appear. As Kendall digs deeper into the town’s past and her own sister, Holly, falls under the Robinettes’ influence, she begins to experience terrifying visions and unsettling encounters with the paranormal.

One of the book’s highlights is its immersive storytelling. Clarke masterfully builds tension, bringing together a true crime investigation with eerie supernatural elements as you try to figure out how exactly the missing girl ties in to the mystery with the neighbors. The paranormal aspect isn’t just a backdrop; it becomes a crucial part of the mystery, making you question what’s real and what’s imagined just like Kendall is doing throughout the book. The horror elements are subtle but chilling—scenes like the trees with shoes nailed to them linger long after the book is closed.

The characters are another strong point. Kendall is a compelling protagonist, though her work as a true crime writer raises ethical questions—her method of writing from victims’ perspectives feels exploitative at times. Her bond with her best friend, Sam, provides emotional depth, and her relationship with her sister adds another layer of conflict. The Robinettes and other neighbors are delightfully unsettling, their behavior growing increasingly bizarre as the story progresses. Clarke does a fantastic job of making every character feel distinct and complex, keeping readers guessing about their true motives.

As the mystery unfolds, the book takes a turn into some truly wild territory—mind control, cult-like behavior, and deeply disturbing revelations. While the final act is intense and unpredictable, I did find the resolution a bit too abrupt and convenient. However, the story’s core message—about the dangers of unchecked power and the consequences of “playing God”—resonates powerfully.

For fans of thrillers with a supernatural twist, “The Wild Things” is a binge-worthy, spine-chilling read that will keep you hooked until the final page. Clarke’s shocking writing creates a standout novel that lingers in the mind long after you’ve finished.

This was like two different books in one. The neighbors and the true crime. There was no reason to have both. The neighbors were enough of a book without a quick wrap-up at the end of the missing child. I really struggled with this book. I didn't like the main character and I hated that she gave in to peer pressure. BUT overall, wowza - the neighbor part of the book was pretty darn good! It kept me guessing and wondering.

The Wild Things by London Clarke.
This is a supernatural/paranormal thriller about a true crime writer called Kendall Casey who moves to a small neighbourhood to write her next true crime novel only to be thrown into her own terrifying nightmare.
I thought the writing was brilliant and I am a huge fan of short chapters, so this ticked boxes for me early on. I thought the world building was brilliant, and it really pulls you into what it would be like living in a small tight knit community where everyone knows everyone and their secrets.
I really enjoyed the idea of this story and thought the execution was good but something seemed off, there were times when I felt there was a lot going on in a very short space of time and it made me lose focus. I’d say by 50% of the book not a lot had happened and then it suddenly picks up from there.

This book flew by for me! True crime meets paranormal, mlm culty I couldn’t put it down. Kendall (Ken) is a true crime writer who moved to the Appalachias to get closer to the subject of her next true crime book, a young girl who had disappeared over a decade ago never to be seen or heard from again. She buys a house in the same neighborhood as her bff from college Sam and immediately started meeting all the quirky neighbors, one of whom owns a mlm selling vitamin drinks. I don’t want to put ANY spoilers so I will stop here but this was a fun read. Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review. Go read it!!

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this title.

I originally requested this book because of the cover. I am a sucker for a creepy cover. This book follows Kendall who is a true crime author. She moves into a new neighborhood outside of Asheville NC to research the mystery of her latest book. Throughout this story, she realizes that she has moved into a neighborhood that she has no chance of getting away from. This book has great culty vibes with a touch of paranoia. It reminded me a bit of the Netflix series "The Watcher". Readers who enjoy a great mystery/thriller will enjoy this one. I will add that it is the third in a series but I read it without reading the first two. The ending was very satisfying.

This was a gripping thriller with all the right eerie elements: creepy neighbours, hallucinations, and an investigation full of twists and suspense. The atmosphere was wonderfully unsettling, strange and laced with paranoia.

There is definitely a lot happening at the same time in the story, and while the writing felt a bit off at first, it became less noticeable as the story unfolded.

I must admit, I somehow missed the paranormal aspect when picking this up, expecting a straightforward thriller. But the creepy atmosphere was spot on, and the supernatural elements made it all the more unsettling and intriguing.

I really enjoyed discovering this author ! And a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC of this book. Can’t believe I’m just getting around to reading it. It was so good, kept me so intrigued and interested in what was going to happen. Definitely going to be reading more from this author soon!

{Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC}
this was genuinely so good, i was hooked from the first page. there was a lot going on throughout the whole book but not in a way that was overwhelming or confusing, it felt like a never ending roller coaster. i do think the “twist” was super predictable but i liked how the end wrapped up the loose ends. all in all, a super quick, spooky, fun read!

The Wild Things by London Clarke
Kendall Casey is a true crime author who has moved to the Blue Ridge mountains to write a book about Eliana Conway. Eliana is a young girl who vanished from the area. While trying to settle in, she meets her neighbors in The Cove. The neighborhood is a mixture of characters. Some likeable and some not so much. Kendall’s best friend, Sam Walsh, from college also lives there.
Kendall is on deadline, but she struggles to stay focused. She starts thinking something isn’t right in the neighborhood. Although the neighbors seem friendly, she notices an underlying current of friction. The Robinette’s seemed to be the cool neighbors who always have the parties. The Guff’s are the neighbors to avoid. They complain about everything.
Kendall begins to feel uncomfortable in her home after she frequently sees a young girl outside in her night clothes, barefooted in December. No one else mentions seeing the girl and Kendall suspects she’s seen a ghost but who is she? At first, she thought it was Eliana.
The story had a little Stepford Wives vibes for me and I noticed a few logic flaws in the story. When Kendall suspects the Robinette’s (The Wild Things) of being up to something evil, Kendall continues to consume the Eau de Lune drinks they gave her. She continued even after she became sick. It took her too long to catch that it might be something to avoid.
I think this story had the potential of being much better and I was disappointed. I liked the premise of her writing the story about Eliana but there was very little of that in the book. Instead, the author focused on the neighborhood. It would have been more believable for me if Eliana had been a prisoner and Kendall discovered that while researching and saved her. I think the story would have been better by eliminating Holly and making that victim Eliana.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I would be willing to read another either new or backlist sometime, but I rated this one lower because it didn’t work for me.

True crime writer Kendall Casey moves to a seemingly peaceful neighbourhood in North Carolina to write about a girl who went missing in the area thirteen years ago. While living in her new home, things get weird and her neighbours turn out to be more ominous than anyone could have thought.

I don’t really know how I actually feel about this book. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. The writing style was very easy to consume, and the premise of the story definitely kept me reading. I do think it was a bit all over the place and I sometimes lost focus.

Okay, so The Wild Things by London Clarke is a wild ride (pun fully intended). There’s a lot to unpack here, and while some of it really worked for me, other parts felt like the book couldn’t decide which kind of horror story it wanted to be.

First off, the character work is fantastic. I was especially drawn to the relationship between Sam and Kendall - it’s layered, tense, and genuinely compelling. Their dynamic grounds the story when everything else starts to spiral, and I found myself wishing the book had spent more time deepening that connection instead of throwing in another subplot.

And speaking of subplots, there is just too much happening. We’ve got Kendall’s investigation into a disappearance, the Wild Things controlling the neighborhood, cult-like pyramid schemes, mysterious deaths, mind control, human experiments, kidnapping, slavery, witchcraft, and—oh yeah—a serial killer. It’s a lot. Any one of these elements could have carried the story on its own, but piling them all together made it hard to stay fully invested.

That’s not to say there isn’t potential, because the neighborhood drama setup was brilliant. Clarke nails the eerie, suburban paranoia, and I genuinely think if the story had leaned harder into that tension, it would have been so much stronger. Imagine if we’d stayed with the creeping sense that something’s wrong in this seemingly perfect community, rather than veering into ten other genres. There’s real power in that slow-burn suspense, and I wanted more of it.

Another sticking point for me was the resolution of Eliana’s storyline. Without spoiling too much, it felt rushed and tacked on at the very end, almost like an afterthought. With everything else going on (magic, murder, mind control, oh my!), her arc got lost in the shuffle. It’s frustrating because there’s so much potential for a deeper, more satisfying payoff, but instead, it just …

Bottom line? There’s a great, creepy story buried under all the extra layers. If the book had picked one main horror thread and dug into it fully—especially the unsettling neighborhood drama—it would have been much stronger. As it stands, The Wild Things is an ambitious but overcrowded supernatural thriller with standout character work but a bit too much going on.

Creepy and compelling, but sometimes too wild for its own good.

This book was unlike anything I've ever read! I truly didn’t know what was going to be right around the corner. I loved the story through the perspective of Kendall. She was a strong confident main character and a very reliable narrator. The whole story was so bananas! The entire time I didn’t know if what was happening was human intervention or paranormal intervention it truly messed with my head! Which was so fun! I really didn’t know the whole story until the very end when London Clarke wrapped it all up so nicely and explained everything! I don’t want to go into too much detail because I don’t want to give too much away but trust me if you love small town murder mysteries or paranormal mysteries you’ll absolutely love this! What a great read!

You never know what's going on behind closed doors...

The Wild Things by London Clark

"Sometimes you have to make severe sacrifices to follow your true calling."

Thank you, Netgalley and Carfax Abbey Publishing, for this ARC! There was no point where I really had a grasp on what the hell was happening or where it was going and that is just what I like from my horror/thriller reads.

"Like I said, there's an elixir for everything."

The Wild Things centers on Kendall, a true crime author, who moves to a mountain town as a part of investigating a young girl's disappearance case from a decade prior. Lucky for her, her college bestie and hottie of the neighborhood, Sam, just so happens to be her neighbor. He isn't the only one though -since she lives next door to the most popular people in the neighborhood, Flip and Blair. Everyone loves them so much. They have the best parties, get along with (almost) everyone, and they seem to always get their way. These neighbors give off a massive cult-y vibe, they like to peddle these really weird but also really good vitamin drinks and there is one couple that seems to avoid them like the plague. They call them The Wild Things for a reason. Then... Kendall starts seeing a girl wandering the neighborhood at night in a dirty nightgown. Apparition, hallucination or real? To be fair, she is already paranoid after someone she was investigating tried to hurt her. As it always seems to, shit seemingly starts hitting the fan. Are The Wild Things truly bad or is it just Kendall's alerted mind conjuring up problems that aren't there?

"I know I'm being watched from inside too. The oppressive feeling of surveillance slinks like a snake over my skin."

As I stated before, I never truly had a grasp on this story--but like, in a really good way. The twists and turns kept me on my literal and metaphorical toes the whole time. Every single time I had the thought of understanding or a prediction, Ms. Clarke would throw a twist that made me rethink my whole process. London Clarke is able to blend normal elements of thriller with horror and paranormal aspects for this fully rounded story. There were times where I thought I was crazy and where I fully considered that I could be the bad neighbor (hopefully nothing bad happens to me like some people) and others that made me thankful I don't see the men in the trees. Even the romance plot was something new and refreshing. These people will need a lot of extensive therapy though, just to be fair.

"I know you're there. We can smell you... We've been waiting for you. Come. Join us."

Little did I know... but this is the third installment of a series. So I will just have to jump on in on the rest of Neighborhood Nightmares 1-2 and maybe the Legacy of Darkness series.

I didn't realize this was part of a series. Good characters and goosld story. Looking forward to other books in the series