Louise Candlish is known for her twisty domestic thrillers, and A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder definitely sticks to her signature style. The story takes place in a swanky apartment block where Gwen, a retired woman, finds herself unexpectedly bonding with her much younger new neighbour, Pixie. What starts as a sweet, if odd, friendship slowly turns dark after a crime shakes the building and Gwen starts to take matters into her own hands.

The premise is intriguing and the setting feels very “Rear Window meets Notting Hill,” with lots of nosy neighbours, secrets, and tension. Gwen is an interesting character—lonely, loyal, and just unhinged enough to keep you guessing. Pixie is more of a mystery, which works… to a point.

That said, the pacing felt a bit uneven. Some parts dragged and a few twists didn’t land quite as hard as you’d expect from a Candlish thriller. There were a few characters (Gwen’s daughter seemed to serve no purpose) & relationships that I just couldn’t get my head around. It’s a solid read, but not quite as gripping or satisfying as her earlier hits like Our House.

If you’re a fan of slow-burn psychological dramas with a good dose of suburban snark, this could be your thing. Just don’t expect non-stop thrills.

#ANeighbour'sGuideToMurder #NetGalley
In A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder, Louise Candlish delivers a clever, slow-burning psychological thriller set in the elegant and tightly knit world of Columbia Mansions. It’s a story about secrets, unlikely alliances, and the hidden violence that simmers beneath well-mannered facades.
What I Liked: :-
1 Unlikely Friendship: The relationship between elderly Gwen and young, free-spirited Pixie is beautifully layered and refreshingly different. Their dynamic is the beating heart of the novel.
2 Atmospheric Setting: Columbia Mansions becomes a character in its own right—charming, exclusive, and filled with whispered gossip and quiet tension.
3 Themes of Loyalty and Justice: Gwen’s descent into obsession and moral gray zones raises intriguing questions about revenge, protection, and what we owe to others.
What Could Be Better::-
1 Pacing: The first half leans heavily on character development and may feel slow to readers expecting fast-paced action.
2 Subdued Tension: The murder aspect arrives later than expected, making the early chapters feel more like domestic drama than thriller.
Overall, Louise Candlish delivers a quietly chilling thriller with a fresh twist on the “neighbors with secrets” trope. A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder is less about the act of murder and more about the relationships, secrets, and choices that drive someone to it. Dark, elegant, and emotionally nuanced, this novel will appeal to readers who prefer their thrillers smart, slow-burning, and socially observant.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me an advance copy.

4.5 stars rounded up.

One of my favourite things about a Louise Candlish novel is her characters – they really drive the story, and they’re so well fleshed out that they feel like real people. The way they think and talk and make mistakes – it all feels very real.

In A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder, Louise tackles some very pressing issues – from the renting crisis to media exploitation and loneliness. At the centre of it all is Gwen, a 70-year-old retired mum living in a flat within the desirable Columbia Mansions in London.

When Pixie moves into her neighbour’s spare room and seems open to becoming friends with Gwen, she is thrilled to have someone who needs her and wants her around. But when Pixie confides some troubling news to her, Gwen’s need to protect and be useful send her into overdrive and events begin to escalate.

The story was expertly crafted, with Gwen’s diaries looking back on what happened from the beginning – with frequent allusions to something bad having happened. The story gradually pieces together, building a constant feeling of foreboding which gets more and more stressful as we go along.

I grew to like Gwen so much – even though she made some awful mistakes, you could always understand why she was doing what she did and that it came from a good place! I couldn’t imagine how it was going to end, and it was really very clever and left me musing on it all for a while afterwards!

Another excellent book from Louise Candlish. Like her previous books once I started I couldn't put it down. The story focuses on Gwen who is in her 70's, Alec her neighbour and his tenant Pixie. Full of twists this will hook the reader from the start.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for this ARC.

Gwen, 70 and retired, lives in posh Columbia Mansions, with her adult son Daniel who needs somewhere to stay after his divorce. She also has a daughter called Maya who makes a living as a trad wife influencer. Right next to her lives Alec Pedley, a washed up rockstar in his 50s who brings a young female tenant in under the Rent a Room Scheme. Pixie is a breath of fresh air and Gwen soon starts an intergenerational friendship with her. She is therefore very alarmed when Pixie telly her in confidence that she can't afford her rent but she and Alex have a "sex for rent" agreement. Not under her watch!

The mayhem that follows is not so much a psychological thriller but a domestic drama involving friends, family and neighbours, that has the housing and cost of living crisis at its core. Something happens right at the end that is the reason for Gwen's first or is it second person account of the story, addressing the reader directly. But is she a reliable narrator, and who is telling the truth and who is bending it?

Gwen is an interesting character. It makes no sense for her to be so trusting with a stranger, especially after what had happened with her ex-husband. She meddles without evidence, and it gets her in all kinds of scrapes, especially as she is quite hot-headed. She seems to be deeply lonely, even though her son lives with her. At least she is kind and looking after others, whereas some people in the story are selfish and only ever out for what they can gain from a situation (I'm looking at you, Dee!).

Short chapters make this easily readable but I found this too slow-burn and low on suspense, with the murder happening right at the end. There were some twists but this was more a story about exploitation, deception and the role of social media in news stories. This wasn't quite my cup of tea as I found the story too simple and slow but it's well-written and will surely find its audience.

A tale of revenge and unlikely friendships, but who is getting revenge on whom, and why? For all may not be quite as it seems it the grandly-named Columbia Mansions, where even the Housing Committee can never be entirely sure what's going on behind closed doors.

Long term, somewhat elderly resident Gwen thinks of herself as maybe young at heart, not necessarily another Miss Marple, so when new neighbour Pixie takes the spare room in the flat across the landing, they strike up a rapport. But is one of them using the other for personal gain? There were certainly times when I wanted to step inside the pages and give them a good talking to, as we're warned in the prologue that things maybe won't end well. Gwen's level of friendship towards Pixie verges on the downright meddlesome, with Pixie either leading her on or withdrawing from the fray.

In lesser hands this wouldn't have worked so well, but Louise Candlish has proved herself masterful in the genre and the threads are ironed out relatively satisfactorily - though I did feel that maybe a corner of two were missed towards the end, which felt as if it was wrapped up a little abruptly, but all in all an enjoyable read.

I devoured this book over two days—only slowed down by the demands of real life and the food shop. Truthfully, I could have read it in one sitting. I don’t quite have the words to sum up the emotional rollercoaster Louise Candlish sent me on. Having read many of her books, I dare say this might just be her best yet.

In the iconic Columbia Mansions, retiree Gwen is delighted when Pixie, a charming and lively young woman, moves into a vacant apartment. Their unlikely friendship blossoms, with Gwen finding purpose in assisting Pixie. However, when a crime surfaces, Gwen’s protective instincts intensify, leading her down a path of vengeance that threatens to disrupt the peace of the entire building. As secrets unravel, the residents of Columbia Mansions find themselves entangled in a web of suspicion and danger.

Candlish has masterfully woven a suspenseful, pacey thriller with real-world issues such as the cost-of-living crisis and the UK’s housing struggles at its core. These elements add a rich layer of realism to a tale that is deliciously twisty and utterly unputdownable.

A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder is unpredictable in the most satisfying way—constantly pulling the rug out from under you and not letting you up for air. Louise has her foot on your neck throughout and has you second-guessing everything and everyone until the final act, where the truth unfolds like a beautifully chaotic puzzle.

Louise Candlish once again proves she is a master of the suspense and crime thriller genre. This book is sharp, clever, topical, and compelling—an absolute must-read. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC. A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder publishes on July 17th—mark your calendars.

I have always loved everything by this author but i did struggle with this one.
Some interesting twists but a little slow for me and i had to push myself to finish it.
Sorry to be so negative.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Louise Candlish never fails to produce instantly engaging novels that draw the reader in and provide relatable and charismatic characters. Her ability to take a relevant and topical issue, and create a whole book around it are second to none and along with serious storylines, there is always plenty of humour.
A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder is set in a sought after apartment block in London where strict rules must be adhered to and everyone looks out for each other. When Gwen’s neighbour rents out his spare room to Pixie the two women become good friends but following a disturbing disclosure from Pixie, Gwen feels the need to support this vulnerable young woman. Things quickly get out of hand with quite dramatic consequences.
I was fully invested in this book within the first few pages and found the various characters and their back stories to be fascinating, adding to the narrative and suspense. Can’t wait for the next Louise Candlish novel.

I always feel in safe hands with Louise Candlish and this book didn't let me down. It's a darkly comedic story that also functions as a riveting thriller. I devoured this in a day.
The observations about people and 21st century society are razor sharp. This is a cleverly written and superior thriller.

I’ve loved Louise Candlish’s previous books however I just didn’t love this, I think I found the narrative difficult however I do appreciate why it needed to be told second person rather than first person. It’s quite slowly paced and whilst there are twists and turns along the way especially nearer the end it just didn't feel like a thriller to me. There are some interesting characters and it’s definitely difficult to know who to trust and believe and I did find the central theme eyeopening however this just wasn’t my favourite read.

Another brilliant novel by Louise Candlish! It is addictive from the first page. I was enthralled by it throughout and felt as though I had moved into Columbia Mansions, with Gwen, Dee, Alec and Pixie. The characterisation is strong and Gwen’s narrative pulled me into her life, the decisions she makes (not always wise ones!) and the fallouts with neighbours and family. I couldn’t stop reading! Gwen is one of the most memorable characters in fiction. It’s fascinating to be in her mind. I was on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns. The author’s dialogue is so clever. You read it, then something happens later on to give a new interpretation to a conversation that you thought you’d understood. There’s so much going on in this novel. It’s original and contemporary, highlighting the high rental crisis and how far people will go to find somewhere to live. Once again, a triumph. My favourite Louise Candlish so far.

I just couldn’t get into this book. I really loved one of her books a few years back, but haven’t cared for any of her others.

Louise Candlish's books are always good but I think this is one of her best - it's really compulsive reading! Narrated by seventy-year-old Gwen, it recounts the cautionary tale of how everything starts to go wrong for her when her neighbour in the desirable Columbia Mansions, Alec, rents a room to a young woman, Pixie. Soon, well-meaning Gwen is drawn into Pixie's situation and sides are being taken. It all escalates dramatically.

Twists abound and if you think you know what's going on - or, for that matter, whose side you should be on - you probably don't. I certainly had the rug pulled out from under me. And oh, I certainly did *not* expect that ending.

Fabulous read.

I have enjoyed Louise Candlish books previously but this felt different and I struggled to get into it.
I felt annoyed by the main character’s behaviours.in spite of the obvious lack of engagement from her own children, it seemed unwise to engage so completely with a stranger. The consequences were not a surprise. The final chapters offer interesting twists but I felt i was continually searching for the part where she was more sensible and the story could get going.

I have no idea how she does it but her writing keeps getting better this book is by far one of the best i have read this year. As usual there is topical social issue explored under the backdrop of simmering tension told in the first person can we trust Gwen recount of the goings on you will be right thinking no we can't as usual with her amazing there is a twist to end twist. Up all night reading at is best more than a thriller or domestic noir it's all that with clever slick social observations told with an almost satire tone...marvellous

I was eager to read this as I am a big Louise Candlish fan and the premise sounded intriguing. Upon starting the book, I was a bit unsure as second person narration is my least favourite way of telling a story, but I got used to it quite quickly.

I loved Gwen as a character - sometimes her decision-making was a bit off but her heart was always in the right place and I liked that we got to know her well enough to see why she did the things she did.

The story was interesting to follow and I enjoyed trying to work out who was telling the truth. If I'm being really picky, I did find it a bit slow-going in parts.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, but it isn't quite my favourite by the author.

I’ve absolutely loved all of the author’s thrillers and a Neighbours Guide to Murder was no exception. Louise Candlish continues the theme of psychological thrillers based around a house or housing and here she explores the current issue of the cost of renting for young people while many of the older generation own properties that the younger generation will never be able to afford. It’s set in Columbus Mansions in London where retiree Gwen owns her flat and when twenty something Pixie rents a room in Gwen’s neighbour’s flat they form an unlikely friendship.
This was such a page turner and I raced through it over the course of 24 hours, I loved the cast of interesting characters and the twisty plot that kept me constantly guessing and wondering who to believe.
Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This book was compulsive reading for me. Not the usual thriller, more of a psychological mystery that centres around septuagenarian Gwen and her neighbours, especially her budding age-gap friendship with new arrival, Pixie.

A terrible crime comes to light and with no law in place to protect her friend, Gwen takes matters into her own hands. As always the author takes topical subjects and deals with them deftly.

I had no idea where this was going or how it would end! It was a fast-paced, page-turner that I finished in two days.

Thank you so much to HQ and NetGalley for the ARC.

Warning! This book will demand all your attention, It is gripping, fast paced and brilliant. The characters are all well written and the plot is so exciting and addictive. It is impossible to put down. Cannot recommend this book enough!