This is just fantastic. You really are invested in the lead character Gwen and what happens to her in this story.
Her vile ex husband and two spoilt children. You want to believe her female friendships are genuine with Pixie and Dee. As always Louise Candlish adds plenty of twists and turns. As for the villain of the story. Well he does get what he deserves. Justice doesn't always prevail. Having worked in media for over 30 years I have met plenty of "Stella's" Anything for the story including embellishing the truth without a duty of care. The sex for rent storyline is powerful and shocking. Really good book. Well done! Thank you for my ARC Louise Candlish and HQ stories. Denise |

A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish is a clever and suspenseful domestic thriller set in the genteel surroundings of Columbia Mansions. When Gwen, a retired resident, welcomes new neighbour Pixie into the building, the pair quickly form an unlikely and heartwarming friendship across a significant age gap.

But beneath the charming exterior of their blossoming bond lies a simmering darkness. When a crime disrupts the tranquillity of the building, Gwen’s need to protect Pixie takes a sinister turn. What starts as kindness spirals into something far more dangerous, and soon Columbia Mansions is hiding secrets that threaten to explode.

Tense, twisty and full of sharp observations about appearances and morality, this is a compelling tale of loyalty, vengeance and the lengths people will go to for the ones they care about.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

The story is told by Gwen, a retired woman who lives in the fancy Columbia Mansion apartments in London. She’s your stereotypical nosy neighbour who believes that her new neighbour, Pixie, who has moved in under a rent-a-room arrangement, is being taken advantage of and is perhaps, a victim of a “sex for rent” situation.

Some parts of the story are slow, but there’s plenty of twists and a surprising ending.
Whilst it is not what you expect from Louise Candlish books, it’s well worth a read and would make a great mini-series!

I've read and loved Louise Candlish's previous novels so was keen to get to this one. I enjoyed reading A Neighbour's Guide to Murder but found it very different to the author's previous novels. It was much slower and it didn't keep me gripped in the way I was expecting. I did find the story intriguing and liked the idea of it being written by a resident of Columbia Mansions, the rather nosey Gwen. She was an interesting character, one who I didn't like and didn't trust but still wanted to know more about. She sticks her nose into people's business and makes her own mind up about what's going on, she's very forthright but she doesn't always listen very well or take in what is being said to her. I didn't expect the novel to go exactly where it did so I did enjoy the ending.

'A Neighbour's Guide to Murder' by Louise Candlish is a very clever, slow-burning psychological thriller. Set in a London mansion block and told from Gwen's point of view we meet some fascinating characters. All through the book the twists and turns keep coming and keep you guessing right until the end. Who's telling the truth? No spoilers from me, just a recommendation that you make time to read this well written novel -one that would be perfect for book groups. Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an arc.

I’ve read quite a few of Louise’s books now and this one felt very different to me as a reader - in a good way of course.

Gwen lives in a recognisable block of flats in London. Her peace and quiet has recently been shattered by the arrival of her adult son after the breakdown of his marriage. She learns that Alex, her next door neighbour, is looking for a lodger, when she encounters Pixie who later becomes the new tenant next door. But is all as it seems?

This book kept me guessing throughout. Would recommend.

I wasn't sure about this in the beginning - the "quirky" voice of Gwen, the cast of characters who take a while to get used to, and a lot of, well, mundane details about rents and rules. But I'm so glad I stuck with it because nothing is without meaning. As we slowly realise what's going on, the reader is well and truly sucked in. Gwen and her actions are really intriguing. She's unreliable as a narrator but also we can see why she gets involved so much with Pixie. A great thriller for fans of the genre. Recommended for your summer holiday reading!

I love Louise Candlish and think she is criminally underrated as an author. Ever since I read [book:Our House|35924499] I have been a massive fan and she has never disappointed.

This was another brilliant read. In this book, we meet Gwen who lives in the beautiful, iconic Columbia Mansions which is every bit as posh as it sounds. Gwen is the typical busybody, always involved, always knows everyone's business and very little ever gets past her.

When young Pixie starts to rent a room in one of her neighbours houses, she strikes up an unlikely age-gap friendship and becomes very protective of her, and when a crime comes to light, Gwen goes into overdrive....

I adored this book. Although it appears (and is) a domestic, thriller with many twists and turns, it also speaks to social issues about the housing crisis, men's behaviour, power and many more. Although we probably all know a 'Gwen' (and will usually cross the road to avoid being caught in a conversation with her), I actually felt quite sorry for her. There is a definite sense of loneliness in her and her difficult relationship with her children appears to be why she latches onto Pixie so quickly and so strongly.

I can't say too much more for fear of spoilers however I would definitely recommend to all.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m never sure how Candlish manages to turn a hot button social issue into an unputdownable novel but here we are again!

In NGTM Gwen narrates us through meeting Pixie, a woman hoping to live in Columbia Mansions. Gwen is an active, intelligent woman who has started to relax in to retirement and keeps a busy calendar of Gail’s coffee and older bodies Pilates in the palatial beauty that is Colombia Mansions. Gwen is a member of the resident’s board and clearly fits in perfectly, that all changes when Pixie shows up, to move in with Alec in a room for rent scheme.

In beautifully described detail we learn that Pixie is embroiled in a Sex for Rent scheme and Gwen involves herself so very deeply that Pixie ends up living with her.

I am blessed to be able to write this review, because you simply cannot do spoilers for a Candlish novel, and while all of these things happen, there’s not a chance you will see what’s coming.

The pace in this novel has a slightly sleepy feel, which is completely contrasting to the deep dark grumble of spiralling anxiety that I experienced while reading .

An absolute gem of a novel (as are all her others).

For those that want to experience some startling reality in their thrillers and for those that want to see how you mix injustice, reality and fiction - this is your next read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC, in return for an honest review, which this is.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”.

A call to the emergency services that takes 15 seconds to answer.
Columbia Mansions, a beautifully proportioned building over four floors with mirror image flats.
A potentially sleazy and brash landlord in Alec Pedley who offers a room in the Rent a Room scheme and Pixie, offbeat, beautiful and a bit flaky, who becomes the occupant of the room.
Finally, ‘A Neighbours Guide to Murder’ as told to us by one of the flat owners, Gwen Healey, where she unburdens and tells all. Maybe. So sit back, relax, maybe buckle up as it’s a bit of a bumpy ride.

Full disclosure, I love Louise Candlish’s books and anticipate this one with relish and relish is delivered in multiple tasty morsels. There’s pinpoint characterisation meaning I can picture all the central protagonists as they’re wonderfully depicted by ‘Gwen’. It’s funny in places too as she casts her jaundiced eye on people and proceedings. So, what of our narrator? Caring or a busy body? Good intentions or malicious? One thing is for sure, Gwen makes things worse whether it’s deliberate or inadvertent, the jury is out. Certainly, the more she digs the darker the story gets and it’s not a pretty tale, unlike Pixie who certainly is. However, she’s naive and gullible. Or is she?? As for Alec Pedley, as a villains of pieces go, he’s a clever and a crafty one and definitely unlikeable.

The unsavoury and unlikeable drive this ‘horse’ and oh boy, this ‘horse’ is a thoroughbred as the plot is so well thought out. The deeper it goes into the storytelling it becomes a question of who is telling the truth? Who is the big, fat liar? It twists this way and that way, one minute, I think I know and the next another spanner hits the works with the end result of making it very hard to put this novel down. It’s tense, suspenseful and one enormous puzzle which is very well told. I love the idea of the Neighbours Guide to Murder delivering the events that occur in Columbia Mansions.

As usual in a novel by this author, there’s a lot of substance to it. For instance, there’s rent costs, landlord and tenant rights, the housing crisis, what constitutes justice, the media and this is what an excellent example of a media circus, social media and so on which is all packaged together in one cohesive hole.

Louise Candlish is a master of this genre and has another best seller on her hands. In addition this would make cracking television as well obviously being great reading. I loved it.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into this book, Gwen is not really a likeable character. However, it soon had me gripped! I think it would provide a lot of material for discussion at book clubs, as the way many characters behave could be interpreted differently by different people. It also deals sensitively with with issue of homelessness and lack of affordable housing.

The novel starts with a murder but we’re not sure who or why.
It’s told through Gwen - an older woman who proves to be something of an unreliable narrator. But her voice is humorous and the novel is really well-characterised.
In a nutshell it involves Gwen and a young woman -Pixie- who moves into the flat next door and whom she befriends.
Events start to get murky when it becomes apparent that Pixie is providing sexual favours in lieu of rent..
I won’t give away anymore but do read it. The narrator’s voice is fresh and the novel is well-paced (there is a bit too much plot that happens quickly at the end but it doesn’t detract from the novel).
Recommended: sharp, funny and keeps you guessing along with narrator Gwen!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc
, I loved this gripping and twisty story with its surprising ending.

I am a great fan of Louise Candlish. She has a talent for taking a contemporary issue and turning it into a thrilling and thought-provoking read.
A Neighbour's Guide to Murder shines a light on the rental crisis and the role of the media. All the characters are convincing but Gwen stands out as a kind and compassionate elderly lady who strikes up a friendship with Pixie, her neighbour's young tenant. When she learns of Pixie's situation, Gwen becomes outraged. The issue becomes a media sensation with all the residents of the block and the general public taking sides. Then doubt is cast on Pixie's story and it is unclear who is telling the truth. Events spiral out of control, leading to devastating consequences, including murder.
A 5-star read from a very talented writer.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Wow I'm reeling from this, I did not see a large amount of it coming, nor was I sure how to predict it for the most part. I was completely and utterly hooked and by the last quarter was totally unable to put the book down.

I needed to see how everything would turn out, and in fact just what the truth was.

The book is told in the form of a diary / journal from Gwen's point of view. She is the only head we get to go inside, and she has a wonderful turn of phrase and way of explaining things.

It starts a bit confused, as we get mentions of many characters, but as the people start to develop and we get a gist of the first key pieces of information, it becomes more and more intriguing.

We get to meet her next door neighbour Alec and his new lodger Pixie. And Pixie and Gwen strike up a fast friendship and it's that friendship that is central to everything that occurs.

I've noticed that Louise Candlish has found a niche in writing stories that seem to have properties and possibly crimes involving properties at their heart, and this is no exception. It shed's light on an unsavoury renting practice, that I feel almost certainly catches young women especially out. It's well researched and it's clear the topic has been given a big audience and will get you thinking.

All in all a wonderful drama that I wasn't sure who to believe, and it certainly keeps you guessing. Just fabulous.

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Very different to this author's previous reads and it took me longer to get into the storyline and gel with the characters.

I wouldn't buy this book for myself but would recommend to others as they may like it better than I did.

A gripping read, this is a psychological thriller tackling serious social issues, yet peppered with humour..

This is definitely a departure from Louise Candlish’s style, she’s known for her pacy thriller and i’m not quite sure this change in direction paid off.

We follow Gwen who is investigating her neighbour Alec who she suspects is accepting sex as a payment for rent. The story is set in a posh mansion of flats filled with different types of neighbours.

Gwen is the quintessential elderly nosy neighbour and makes it her mission to find out what’s really going on.

I didn’t mind this book, Gwen was an interesting character and the sex for rent storyline is something i’ve not read about before, however it dragged on quite a lot and just felt quite lacklustre if i’m honest. Not a bad book but not the thriller I was expecting.

This book shines a light in a topic I didn't really know much about. Not one for reading or watching the news I must profess that I had completely missed that this was happening in the world. But the story had me gripped. Yes I understand where people are coming from that it is a bit of a slow burner and the ending does feel a tiny bit rushed. I was completely there with the characters every step of the way. Perhaps a little more eaking out the story for the last few chapters and it would have been amazing. But overall I really enjoyed it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Louise Candlish has done it again - with her trademark cast of characters I’m glad not to meet in real life but about whom I find myself *fascinated* to read.

When pensioner Gwen is selected by new neighbour Pixie as confidante for the unethical way her landlord is collecting her rent, it sets in chain a sequence of events that ultimately leads to murder …

Trigger warnings for coercion and prostitution. It’s a novel about greed, hunger for fame, and the terrible things of which people are capable. And how easy it is to become lonely in our society.