I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Simon Lelic, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

What if your perfect home turned out to be the scene of the perfect crime?

Londoners Jack and Syd moved into the house a year ago. It seemed like their dream home: tons of space, the perfect location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it.

So when they made a grisly discovery in the attic, Jack and Syd chose to ignore it. That was a mistake.

Because someone has just been murdered. Right outside their back door.

And now the police are watching them...

What an original, creepy read! This psychological thriller is dark, twisty, gripping, with an eerie setting, and I read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the writing: it was alluring enough to keep me clinging to my Kindle until the very end. I also enjoyed the mystery interwoven throughout. This one, without a doubt, could become the next Hollywood blockbuster due to both thrilling and original aspects.

I loved this book ! I found so many twist and turns, not to mention heart pounding terror at points ! A tru,y memorizing read, that stayed with me long after I finished a chapter, I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen and how it all finally turned out was just brilliant!!

Genre: Mystery and Thrillers
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Pub. Date: April 10, 2018

Mini Review

Why do I keep accepting Advance Review Copies (ARC) books that I suspect I will not like? I am sure many other readers and reviewers will enjoy this novel. For me, it is a real stinker. Okay, I didn’t think the first half of the book is so terrible. A young couple in their twenties buys a home together. The previous owner leaves them all his belongings. This consists of cheerless junk and his dead stuffed pets, making the house downright creepy. At first, I thought I was reading a haunted house story. The author does a good job of keeping it spooky. I also enjoyed the prose, which is an open journal that the couple is writing for each other. Alternately, one would write a segment on what is happening to him or her in their weird home and then give it to the other to read and reply. It did get a tad confusing; still, it is an interesting format. I often chuckled on how the couple would see the same incident so very differently. Think “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus.”

The reader knows in the first half that the woman has toxic parents. She had a very abusive childhood. In the second half, we learn how and why. She escaped her parents in her teens by running away. Now, in her adult life, the parental abuse begins again. Honestly, the abuse, as an adult, is hard to buy. If I explain more it would be a spoiler. However, you need to know that this reviewer was once a court-appointed Social Worker who helped put abusive parents in jail. I have worked in the trenches with many violent families. I tell you this so you can understand just how illogical and far-fetched the plot became. Additionally, it doesn’t take the reader long to figure out that they are reading a murder mystery. Alas, the “who done it” is also unbelievable with predictable twists. For all these reasons, I cannot recommend this book. Still, you might want to give it a try. As I said, I know many will gobble this one up. Readers seem to love a page-turner that will keep them up all night. I’m guessing the unrealistic feel won’t bother them. Psychological thrillers are not my favorite genre. But, I can enjoy also enjoy a page-turner, only if they are intelligent and taunt unsettling as well as unsettling.

Read under the title of "The New Neighbors"

At first I was really into this book. But I think that's because I assumed it has a paranormal bent to it. The interesting dual character narrators and intro chapters were both certainly creepy. That was backed up by awesome lines like the following (spoken by a man wandering around a creepy old house at night in the dark): "There was nothing on the landing. I mean, there was, but I didn't see it then."

Goosebumps, right?

However, at a certain point, I realized this was going to be a different book entirely. Unfortunately I was not really into that book. I get that real life people can often be scarier than imaginary ghosts and monsters. But that scariness generally comes from getting a peek inside the twisted heads of those real life people. That didn't happen here. Our villain is simply a very bad person inside and out because...well just because. And the villain goes to elaborate lengths to destroy this couple because...well just because. That plot line, plus the twisty ending (which I kind of wasn't buying) were kind of a let down for me personally.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Creepy, disturbing & a great psychological thriller you won’t soon forget!

I love it when I finish a book and can say to myself, “I did not see that coming!” And that’s just the case with this book.

It’s extremely suspenseful, though the story seems pretty straightforward. However, there’s that little niggling voice in the back of your head telling you that you’re missing something in the story. There’s something you aren’t seeing.

And, boy was there!

The author doesn’t cheat. It’s all in there, presented subtly in the voice of our characters and in their backstories. And it’s oh so satisfying when you find out just what’s going on here.

I simply loved it!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

I loved Simon Lelic's other works, so I was excited about this one. It did not disappoint. I loved the twists and turns of it all the way to the ending. I loved the setting, the characters, the plot building...I just loved this. Sure, there were a couple of places where I thought it really wouldn't work that way....but honestly, I didn't care. The book was so good.
I'm so excited to recommend this book to everyone I forced to read his other works.
Definitely one for people who enjoyed reading The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney

O.M.G

I just devoured this gem....

Perfect execution of a psychological thriller right here. I know the release date is a long ways off but I just HAD to dive right in and once I started I couldn't put it down.

The writing is pure genius. SO original, so clever- the way Lelic starts off "telling" the story. You find out more later why it's this way and I loved it even more.

"You see, the thing was, I hadn't touched her. Not when I'd got up, not when I'd come back into the room. Whoever's hand she thought she'd felt-- it wasn't mine."

Right away we're thrown into the telling of the story. It gives off such a creepy, mysterious, ominous vibe. Jack and Syd just moved into their new house but not all is as it seems. A series of events happen that has Jack wondering if he's just paranoid or what's really going on? He warns us early on it's not paranormal, so it's really got you on your toes wondering what this eerie feeling is.

"When you're caught inside a dungeon, even the faintest flicker in the dark is like a promise of daylight. And if it turns out not to be, if it turns out instead to be a burning staircase... Well. You take your chances anyway."

Meanwhile, Syd develops a close relationship with a young troubled girl in the neighborhood. One that she can relate to a lot from her childhood. One that just might get her in trouble herself, or could end up being her saving grace.

Tangled webs are woven.... lies are told... secrets are buried.... When it all comes to light and the truth comes out you will NOT see it coming!

My rating: 5/5 stars
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for allowing me to read this book!

.This book is SOOOO good! I love the way this book is written in a conversational tone which I found very interesting, new and different. Great plot which is riveting and draws you in, along with many unexpected twists along the way. Fast paced and creepy yet suspenseful. Could not put it down!!!