once again a excellent read, unputtable down.

characters and plot fantastic.

this is bit different from other books but really enjoyed.

Louise Candlish takes normality and shows how quickly things can spiral out of control .
Pixie moves into Columbia Mansions she rents Alec’s spare room .
Gwen is Alec’s neighbour and takes Pixie under her wing .
Gwen is a curious lady and one day whilst prying where she shouldn't she sees Pixie in a state of undress and adds two and two together and suspects that Pixie and Alec are in a relationship.
Is that the truth or is something else at play?
This chance glimpse of Pixie sets in motion a rollercoaster events which make for a great read .
The book is a slow burn but so worth it .
Louise Candlish does it again
A different read!
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ.

A slow burn but well written.
Gwen recounts the events to the reader, which is a different approach, and I'm not a hundred percent sure I really took to it.
We see it all from her point of view but she may be jumping in with both feet in her desire to help Pixie.

Louise Candlish never disappoints; she is one of the finest components of the psychological thriller. As always, nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors, Colombia mansions is an elegant residence and, when a crime is committed, the facade of decency is shattered and hidden truths are revealed, shattering friendships forever. A real page turner.

I really enjoyed this book full of twists! It had me thinking who was right and who was wrong…

I really think the charecter dynamics is really what makes this a good book and also I can just picture Columbia Gardens And the “board”

I have so many complicated thoughts about Gwen. The way this story goes, written by Gwen about the happenings at Columbia Mansions of which there are many and some of them quite dark. And while I think she has a big heart, a bit nosy, she does care for people in need without hesitation, even when giving money or space leaves her without much. Though her son irked me to no end, bumming off her and not doing anything to help, just taking up space in her apartment. Things get crazy pretty quick with the arrival of Pixie and her rental "arrangement" with Alec for a room in his flat. But who is telling the truth and who is lying? No one is innocent and this is where I feel for Gwen with all the complications as she tries to help and stand up for the ones who deserve it, despite the consequences (she tends to mostly see the best in people, even when they are not deserving of that kindness). Yes, it does deal with pretty dark topics but the thing to remember is that no one is completely innocent and some people can lie to get what they want, whether it is money, attention, or something else. I can honestly say, after all the mess goes down, I do not blame Gwen at all for what she ends up doing.

This was an interesting book with lots of twists, dark times, and it definitely did not turn out like I was expecting. But overall it was good and I enjoyed the journey of Gwen in her memorable times at Columbia Mansions.

Columbia Mansions is an elegant building, full of residents going about their respectable lives. So when one of the residents is found murdered in the building, who is under suspicion.

Is it Pixie, the newest resident? Or Gwen, an elderly resident who is on building committee?

The story reveals secrets and lies, and what led up to the crime that Columbia Mansions never thought it would see.

It took a little while for the characters to bed in for me, but the twists and turns throughout will keep you reading.

The story in emojis: 🏢💵👀

3 things about this book:
•Unreliable Narration
•Mystery Vibes
•Twisty story

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Neighbours Guide to Murder is a Domestic Thriller that makes you realise you have no idea what could be happening next door!

I loved the unreliable narration and how interfering of a person Gwen was! She would be my worst nightmare as a neighbour, but I loved her as a character!

This story was addictive from the beginning and had me constantly wondering what was going to happen/ how the story would develop/ where would this escalate to.

I always love Louise Candlish’s books and this was no exception.

Wealthy Neighborhood + Unreliable Narration = Yes please

A neighbour’s guide to murder…
I have read a few of Louise’s books over the years - but sporadically. She’s is the kind of author that I probably haven’t given as much credit as I should have done as I tend to find I have always really enjoyed her books.
I loved the setting of this story. London, a prestigious converted mansion (now apartment block) and a huge array of characters.
Our narrator is Gwen, an older lady who is a divorced Mum of two, retired and living in with her grown up son. Gwen is well known amongst the other residents of Columbia mansions and proudly sits on the board.
When her neighbour Alec acquires a new lodger in the form of twenty something Pixie - Gwen is sure something isn’t right - and is convinced she knows exactly what that is. Gwen resolves to help Pixie - at any cost.
I couldn’t work out which way this book was going to go and I love that about it.
Gwen was a great character and I really, really enjoyed this book.

Fully involved in pixies plight and curious about her and who was telling the truth
How far would her neighbour go for her new friend
Who can trust who
Very fun easy read of a group of characters who all may have agendas
Well drawn the community and u felt u knew them well but an u trust em

Louise Candlish is one of my go to authors as she always produces books with great characters and believable plots. This latest one was no exception.

Gwen is an elderly lady that previously lived on her own in a grand building converted into flats. Her son has recently moved back in with her whilst he goes through a divorce and she is struggling to cope with the cost and inconvenience his arrival has caused. Her neighbour, Alec, has a new lodger, Pixie, and suddenly Gwen has a new interest. She finds Pixie absolutely adorable and interesting, so much so that they become very good friends. As their friendship deepens Gwen becomes aware that Pixie's tenancy agreement with Alec may not be what it appears to be and Gwen takes it upon her self to protect and save Pixie.

Events start to spiral as Gwen appears to stop at nothing to protect her new friend, but at what cost?

This is a great twisty read with some fabulous characters. A very thought provoking read that will have you turning the pages to find out what will happen in the end.

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Another banger from Louise Candlish. I've been a fan of hers for quite some time, not missing a book. This does not disappoint - it's fast pacing, with fascinating, flawed characters. Really smart writing. A triumph.

I found this tricky to get into as the pacing was off for me and the characters were a little flat. The premise itself is a good one but the story seemed muddled in several places and very slow in others. Not my favourite from an author I usually enjoy reading.

Louise Candlish is one of my favourite authors and I am always interested in reading her books. But unfortunately this one just didn't work for me.
Right from the start I struggled to get into the story. The main reason for this I think was that never once liked the MC Gwen. And as the story is told through her perspective, that made the whole thing a bit of a slog.
I also didn't find the plot to be thrilling, exciting or even that interesting. In fact I thought the whole book was pretty dull and boring.
This is very much a slow burn, that I didn't think, had any pay off by the end. Not a lot actually happens.
However that doesn't mean the writing was bad. I just never connected to the story and I wasn't invested in the characters, which is unusual for me for a book by this author.
The only thing I did like about the story was the setting of Columbia Mansions. In fact I would have liked some of the other characters in the building to play a bigger part in the story. This book I think could have benefitted from multiple POV's.
I do think that this book is definitely more domestic fiction than anything else. It definitely isn't a thriller in my opinion. And I'm sorry to say that I was completely bored throughout.
This wasn't my favourite by this author but I would read from her again.

Whilst this starts with a murder, it's mostly a domestic drama between neighbours, with lots of slowly unravelling secrets and the premise that we never truly know other people. Told by Gwen, who becomes convinced that her neighbour is exploiting his tenant. He denies it but is he lying or is she? Or even Gwen who is certainly an unreliable narrator. She's difficult to like and as her "own worst enemy" an extremely frustrating character. But that's what Louise Candlish is so great at - creating characters who completely unravel as every day situations escalate. This wasn't my favourite by the author, mostly because I disliked everyone and it was fairly slow burn, but it's another unpredictable read that has you changing your mind with every twist and chapter.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

This was a bit of a slow burn for me and I felt it lacked a bit of suspense. I didn’t really like gwen. Not the best book I’ve read by Louise candlish

A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish

Gwen loves her home and has been settled into her apartment after a very difficult divorce. She loves the community feel in the building and is often part of the organisation of events as she’s now on the building’s resident association with her friend Dee. Everything changes when she meets a young girl called Pixie who is hoping to rent a room in the flat opposite Gwen’s. Gwen’s neighbour Alex is a Britpop one hit wonder and Pixie seems like one of life’s waifs and strays. As she moves in next door Gwen decides she will keep an eye on her, recommending she get a job in the local coffee shop and slowly becoming friends. However, Gwen isn’t sure that all is well across the landing. She’s heard a few arguments already and she would hate to think that Alexis bullying Pixie or taking advantage. Yet Gwen isn’t always up to speed with life in the 21st Century or the modern battle of the sexes. When she fears a crime is being committed she’s soon up to her neck in both Pixie and Alex’s private life and a ‘sex for rent’ scandal. Sex for rent is a morally dubious but not illegal practice that is rife in London and other big cities. With social media, investigative podcasts and shifting ideas around morality, this could become the next #MeToo movement with Pixie as its poster child, but what does this all mean for Gwen.

I love Louise Candlish’s domestic thrillers and this has all her usual trademarks; a narrator we’re unsure about, push button issues that are ripe for rage baiting and could become the next moral panic. She’s brilliant at slowly letting the tension rise and rise until someone unexpectedly snaps. I must admit that I did have some sympathy with Gwen, probably because I’m nearer her age than the younger characters in the novel. Although I use social media all the time, I don’t always understand how to use it or know the personalities and posts that my step-daughters take for granted and talk about like my age group did with tv personalities. They’re more likely to watch TikTok or YouTube than tv and then use us to answer questions about the background or history behind issues, especially since we’re Anti-Fascist at home. Having lived in the country my whole life and being lucky enough to own my home when I became a widow, the struggle to find a roof over your head in the bigger cities came a shock. A friend told me she’d been living with five other people in London, all of them in their thirties and working. I’d been on my own or living with a partner since I was 23. I feel increasingly like we’re slipping backwards as a society on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need and in our new found instability we’ve lost compassion for each other. Forty years ago we had Live Aid and the recent showing of concert footage added to my memories of the event are of a country united in shock and a willingness to support. Now we want to shoot refugee boats in the channel. A combination of austerity, COVID, fear of terrorism after 9/11 and access to a social media that’s like the Wild West means we’re bombarded and lied too so often we’ve become apathetic. This is the world this novel comes from, where people are struggling and making choices that seemed unthinkable, just to keep roof over their heads. Where people are finding new ways to make money. Where the lines of what’s legal, ethical or even true have become blurred.

I was fascinated that women seemed to be adapting quickly and taking advantage of new marketplaces and revenue streams. Gwen’s own daughter has gone from staunch feminist to a ‘trad wife’ and an Instagram sensation. She creates content daily for her audience of thousands by dressing in a modest but cutesy way, sharing mum hacks, videos of her beautiful home and ways to keep her man happy. All the while her followers are wishing to live like her, but even she doesn’t live it. It’s a fiction, designed to illicit envy and send followers scurrying to her affiliate links. Yet how much of her new life and views are real. Gwen isn’t sure that her daughter knows and recognises the difference between the image and reality. There’s manipulation of another sort too - the facade of being a decent middle class family, untouched by a scandal they were instrumental in creating. Gwen’s neighbour Dee is the unspoken Queen of the apartments and is always immaculately turned out. Her daughter is an investigative journalist who would love to cover Pixie’s story. Gwen has no idea about the media storm that’s about to hit. She has Pixie living in her flat and relations with her neighbour have gone from frosty to downright hostile, but things are about to explode. Stella manages to get television coverage, no doubt paid very well for her trouble, but is then unable to control the story leading social media content creators, pod casters and news outlets to their door, harassing residents as they come in and out. It isn’t long before they have alex’s name, soon blackening it even further and exploiting the aging pop star angle. Things start to take a very nasty turn and it’s a chaos that Gwen proves unable to negotiate.

I met someone like Pixie and I learned the hard way that they are best avoided and ignored. They are usually life’s survivors and have learned how to get by in the world. I attended a meditation class and got on well with the teacher, so when she moved the class to her own home I didn’t hesitate. There was talk of working together and I wrote a course on authenticity that combined meditation with art and writing therapy. It started successfully, then I found out that she had a class in another town that she claimed was taken away from her by an ex-partner so she was having to start again. She didn’t mention that she’d stolen his car while drunk and crashed it, losing her licence. She hadn’t mentioned being bi-polar either. She disappeared with the keys to the premises we were hiring and wouldn’t divulge where she was. We carried on, but she told everyone we had pushed her out and stolen her idea. The last I heard of her she was in a relationship with a man who was buying her a hotel that she could run as a recovery centre. She’d stolen from members of the group too. I realised that this was a pattern of self-sabotage and lashing out. Pixie felt like a similar character, who landed herself in difficult situations and found people who would rescue her. I worried for Gwen on a number of occasions that she was going to lose a lot in helping this young woman. That she might happy to cause harm to Gwen if it meant she could move on to the next ‘mark’.

I was absolutely gripped by this story and recognised elements of it. I could see that some people would come out of this totally untouched while others would be confused or even culpable. I don’t want to ruin the book by giving you any more details, but it is classic Candlish. Like her last novel that tackled the problem of second homes on the coast, she’s hit the zeitgeist with this one. We’ve all seen how social media has become lawless with different people caught up in a public judge and jury situation. It’s hard to know how a targeted individual copes psychologically when they’re being made out to be something they’re not. How do they keep their self-image intact when the general public have a very different idea of who they are? Everyone in the story, apart from Gwen, have a very fluid set of morals. Even her own children. There’s a lot here that’s totally unfair and it’s no wonder that the atmosphere in the apartments becomes a pressure cooker. I read this in two sittings and I’m sure you will too.

There are just so many good things I could say about this book. I absolutely tore (pun intended) through this read. Everyone needs to go read it.

DNF

I can normally get straight into a Louise Candlish book but I struggled with this one, the voices of the characters felt a bit hard to follow.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review, this is my honest opinion. I'm sure other readers will love it