Name of Book: The Neighbors
Author: Carter Wilson
Genre: Sci Fi
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Pub Date: April 5, 2022
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up

Aidan Marlowe 'Marlowe' has been playing the same numbers in the Lottery for fifteen years. On the sad day of his wife’s funeral ~ guess what? He wins thirty million dollars in the lottery!

He decided that he is going to use the money for a new home for himself and his children ~ seven year old twins Bo and Maggs.
He picks a small town named Bury. He chose this city as the day he was burying his wife Holly he got a text message. He was going to ignore but his first reaction was it was a message from Holly. Of course, it wasn’t but it was the biweekly message he got with the winning lottery numbers. He sees this as a message from Holly to use the money and create a new special life. So he moves from Baltimore to Bury, New Hampshire.
His new house has a strange past with the previous owner, his two daughters and grandson ALL missing. Marlowe starts to get letters warning him that “we” are watching! His dark secret about the death of his young brother is haunting him.

This story had a hold on me ~ could NOT put in down.

Personal Note: I know I am the only person in the world who isn’t a fan or uses profanity.
Author Carter Wilson has a great vocabulary and his writing is great. He uses obsolescence in one sentence and then drops an f-bomb or other swearing in the next~ surely he can do better!
I know nasty people talk this way but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.

This was first my Wilson novel!

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this Audiobooks for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 12, 2022.

I'd really like to give this book 4 1/2 stars! It's almost a perfect psychological thriller that kept me engaged, reading long into the night. It is exactly the kind of book I love to read, with twists - some predictable, some not....and some anticipated but didn't come to pass! Some say it was not a believable plot - but isn't that part of what makes a good thriller? Yes, in my opinion. Characters came to life quickly as well as the setting. A quick and compelling read. I'm looking forward to it's official release so I can recommend it to my friends and library patrons.

A solid 3.5 stars.

In addition to a normal domestic thriller this also had a speculative haunted house feel. I enjoyed the characters and concept of this story. But it was a rather small cast of characters so it found it predictable on who was the extortionist was. Overall I would read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audiobook for review.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This was suspenseful and freighting read. It left me on the edge of my seat.

This book definitely had potential. I was super intrigued by the plot and how it basically threw you right in the middle of the story.

The pacing was a bit off. The beginning was great, the middle was slow, the ending dragged. I still really enjoyed the storytelling and the way Carter wrote the story.

I think the ending could have been shortened. I kept waiting like… okay when is it going to end? What more is there to go over?

However, it was a quick read even if the pacing was not the best. Narrator was great BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE UPDATE YOUR SPEED SETTINGS. If you listen past 2 speed, it’s impossible to follow and the robot voice sounds absolutely horrible.

This was my first Carter Wilson book. They always say it's the Luck of the Irish. That pot of gold and that all too famous rainbow at the end. Aidan Marlowe played the same lottery numbers for years without a spark. But it finally hit on the worst day of his life.....the funeral for his beloved wife, Holly. There's not a whimper of joy even though as a Powerball winner it hits at 30 million dollars. His bartending days in his father's pub in Ireland always prepared him for a simple life. That's all he's ever known. Now he’s not sure he can even put one foot in front of the other. The mystery behind the house triggers the dark past and big secret Aidan keeps since his teenage years. It’s about his brother Christopher’s death. The moment he decided to share this secret at the grave of his wife, the lottery winning news intervenes his confession. There is much more to this story than a broken man trying to raise his children alone. The house has a long history, Marlowe himself has a long history, and a mystery begins when vague notes start being left outside the house. Those notes begin as something curious, but soon take a dark turn. The police department in the small town has few resources and little ambition, so it’s up to Marlowe to find out who is threatening his family. Makes for a fun and entertaining character driven suspense thriller. A page turner that I highly recommend for lovers of thriller.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Carter Wilson, and NetGalley for the ARC

I loved the idea behind this book. A man who is faced with the worst and best day of his life. But it had too many detailed back story’s and I got lost. I may not have been in the mood. Will give it another chance maybe in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me listen to this book!

This was an interesting psychological thriller and I enjoyed trying to figure out what was really going on. The story revolves around Aiden Marlowe as his life changes quite dramatically when he finds out he won the lottery on the day he buries his beloved wife. Struggling to deal with his grief and with his young twins depending on him, things start to happen that don’t make sense. Also, long buried secrets and grief come to surface and he has to confront those feelings as well. Thought the ending was a little anticlimactic, I really did enjoy the story.

Gary Bennett did a great job narrating. His tone and pace really set the mood for some of the more mysterious parts of the story. And he performed each character with a distinguishable voice so it was easy to follow the story.

Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook.

Aidan Marlowe wins the lotto on the worst day of his life, the day he’s burying his wife and the mother of his 7 year old twins. He picks up and moves them all to the ironically named town, Bury, NH. When he starts getting threatening letters, he’s wondering if this was the worst decision he could’ve made. Who is sending Aidan letters and what do they want.

I liked this audiobook thriller. It kept me interested, but it did feel a bit like a mass market crime novel. I liked how Wilson developed Aidan’s internal and outward struggles and also that I didn’t predict the ending.

Pick this one up if you want a thrilling audiobook with an Irish main character for St. Paddy’s day! Slainte!

The New Neighbor……what can I say? This was really twisty and a page turner. It kept me riveted from page two! Awesome read and actually very interesting.

I received this from NetGalley as an audiobook ALC. Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Carter Wilson for the opportunity to review this advanced listening copy.

I plan to review this audiobook with soft spoilers, so read at your own risk. My review style for audiobooks is to rate the book and the narration separately with the average being the final rating (i.e. a 3 star book with a 5 star narration= 4 star overall rating).

The Narration
On initial listen I immediately noted the accent of the narrator Gary Bennett. The main character, Aidan Marlowe, lives in New England (U.S.) but was born and raised in Ireland. While Mr. Bennett does a far better Irish accent than I could ever attempt, it was still apparent that he was not actually Irish himself (as later confirmed via his website). There are numerous UK voice actors who I believe would have done a better job but overall Gary Bennett got the job done well. I would listen to more of his work but prefer him not doing an accent (I listened to samples on his website; lovely narrations). I wish he would have transitioned between accidents better, flipping between Irish and New England depending on who is speaking. That might have helped with making the Irish accent more believable. 3.5/5 stars for narration.

The Book Structure
The chapters are fast moving which helps with progressing the story quickly, even if some of the dialogue falls slightly flat. The longest chapter is 15ish minutes long.
I like how the author will introduce something in passing early on that’s really important to the story. For instance, he mentioned Aidan’s brother fleetingly in the beginning and as the story progresses you realize that his brother is actually part of a major theme of the book, protecting your family and self preservation.
Another theme I enjoyed is that of paranoia. The constant battle of am I just paranoid or is something odd? We have all had those moments so it’s very relatable. The paranoia related to new money is also very strong. Is suddenly being rich really a good thing? Is it a blessing or a curse?
The author also sets this up as a light haunted house story. Aidan often makes comments about his new home being “alive” and having a certain “energy” about it. While it’s not an actual paranormal haunted house story it has their air about it. The way Aidan’s “ghosts” from his past revisit him adds to that aura. 4/5 stars for story.

Overall Opinion
This is not just a neighborhood thriller. It’s a dynamic story about family drama, buried secrets, new money, mental health, and a father’s determination to save his family. Also, the dark web?! Awe hell naw!!!! I ain’t about that life. I’m not afraid of much but the dark web terrifies me. Always someone on the other side of the internet seeing you, knowing you. Nope. 🙅🏼‍♀️
Moral of the story: Someone is always watching.

Overall rating: 3.75/5 stars

Interesting story with the lottery and definitely kept my attention but the ending was not very satisfying. I saw where it was going and thought there might be another twist but no. It was still enjoyable and I would recommend it. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

I listened to the audio version of this and found the that the narration was fine, but at times I became confused as to what was going on. This book was just so-so for me. I liked the setting, a rambling old house in a small town in New Hampshire. I liked that the protagonist was a single father to twins after losing his wife to illness. There was a weird, supernatural element that did not appeal to me, which also didn’t translate well in the audio version, and I didn’t care for the resolution.

How do you reconcile the fact that the day of your wife’s funeral, arguably the worst day of your life, is also the day that the same numbers you have played in the lottery for years have finally struck gold. Does this make your worst day ever your best day ever? Aidan takes advantage of the windfall by moving to a new home, hoping the change of scenery will be good for both himself and his children. Sadly, the change does not have the desired effect, things may even be worse. Because someone has been watching Aidan and they know all about his past and what he has. As the little family begins to settle into the mansion in Bury, New Hampshire, Aidan’s past comes back to haunt them. A very worthy successor to The Dead Husband

A powerful tale of a house that holds a shocking secret and a new resident with haunting secrets of the past. TENSE AND COMPULSIVE. A whodunnit domestic thriller that will keep you guessing until the final page. I LOVED this book! Wilson nailed it.

Carter Wilson returns to the crime scene (from The Dead Husband to Bury, New Hampshire, with THE NEW NEIGHBOR. An addictive, twisted, witty, and darkly wicked psychological/crime thriller that will have you longing for the next resident of 1734 Rum Hill Road.

INTENSE. RIVETING. ADDICTIVE! Thriller lovers, if you have not read this author, you are missing out.

2018 Baltimore, Maryland: we meet Aidan Marlowe. He is now a thirty-five-year-old widower with seven-year-old twins, Bo and Maggie.

His lovely wife, Holly, has passed an aneurysm at age 34, and he is at the funeral at the graveside. He never told her about his past, and right before they lower the casket into the ground, he tells everyone he needs a minute alone.

Something dark happened back in Ireland that was in the past. However, he never gets the chance to tell her. There is a text from an old childhood friend, which he will reply to later, and THEN he sees an older text that says he is a POWERBALL WINNER! He knows the numbers, the ones he has played for years. Every Wed and Sat.

Winning #s 01-05-08-10-14 PB 22. One Winner. He does not tell her after all his confession. This may be a sign of a new beginning. $30 Million, which will give him a new life. He wants to move somewhere different and start over with his children. He buys a mansion in a nice quiet, upscale neighborhood on impulse. Something he would otherwise not be able to afford on a bartender's salary.

BURY, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Two months later, Aiden and the twins are moving into the mansion at 1734 Rum Hill Road Bury, New Hampshire.

Now you know, if you have read THE DEAD HUSBAND, this is a HOUSE OF HORRORS.

He hears his wise wife's voice speaking to him all the time.
Don't screw up our kids.
Don't let the money change you for the worse.
Make a difference.
Own who you are.
Figure your shit out, Marlow.

A bartender turns a millionaire overnight. He does not want anyone to know this in his prestigious new neighborhood. He just wants a fresh, clean start and a safe community and school for his children.

The minute he steps through the massive castle-like front door, he knows this house has a strange vibe. (You aren't kidding. Man does it ever. ) The mansion is eight thousand square feet, built in the 1980s. Multiple levels. Aidan suddenly desires to know more about the past, which the realtor did not tell him much.

In his seventies, the home formerly belonged to a wealthy investment banker, Logan Yates. Some other family members also went missing (you can read all about it in THE DEAD HUSBAND). He just left the house one day and never came back. The house was already in his son-in-law's name (Peter Ainsworth) since the deed was changed five years earlier.

Not long after moving in, he receives strange and creepy messages. He is distraught and must find out who is sending the threatening letters. A welcome letter and warning signed "WE WHO WATCH."

He decides to host a dinner party and invite the close neighbors so he can do a little sleuthing. Reminiscent of B.A. Paris's The Therapist. If you loved her book (a fav), you must read this one

Aidan spins out of control. He becomes obsessed with their safety and the source of the mysterious letters. He suspects everyone. He even calls in his old attorney friend from Baltimore (Maya) and his dad from Ireland (which owns a bar) to try and help him with his detective work. They all come up with different scenarios, leading to a new search.

He has gone to Police Chief Walter Sike (creepy) without a lot of assistance except to give him the name of a friend, Owen, who owns a security company.

There was an old housekeeper and a gardener. They seem a little strange when he questions them. He knows no one except the realtor who sold him the house and his attorney back in Baltimore.

Soon after a housewarming party, the news comes out that he has won the lottery making it more difficult. The eerie, chilling notes continue arriving mysteriously from WE WHO WATCH, making it clear they want him to stay, and they know about the money.

Each letter is more sinister.

Aidan has a troubled past revolving around the death of his younger brother, Christopher, which haunts him to this date. He met this wife in Dublin at the bar where he worked, and she changed his life, and they later moved to the states.

Bestselling Author and popular podcast host Wilson takes us from Day 1 through Day 97. The notes get more dangerous and sinister each time, sending Aiden into hysterics. He then discovers a secret panel downstairs (or does his daughter). This is the last straw. No one will harm his children. (The daughter reminds me of Kimberly Belle's My Darling Husband.)

Does the person writing the notes know about his past?

Aiden (unreliable narrator) starts hallucinating, drinking more, losing chunks of time, and seeing former people who lived in this house from looking at photos. Is he losing it?

When he heard the tree snapping at the gravesite, was that him snapping? How can he take care of his children in this house of horrors but the note warns him not to leave. He is losing his mind. He is not a good father, and Holly would be so disappointed.

His dad and his attorney, Maya (former psychologist) are trying to help him since they are worried about the children and his sanity. This house. The millions. Why did he choose Bury? Is this his punishment for the sins of his past? Is he sabotaging himself?

The complex maze will have your head spinning with non-stop action and adrenaline-fueled suspense leading to the explosive showdown at 1734 Rum Hill Road. Someone was out to get him and his money.

"Confession is the path to absolution."

Deliciously evil and funny. I have discovered a new FAVORITE author and quickly found myself going back to read The Dead Husband and will be purchasing the remainder of his backlist between new books. Here is hoping for more Rum Hill Road!

I was trying to solve this puzzle and a total wreck on pins and needles. The author cleverly keeps the twists coming into a dark world of madness.

Carter can flat out write. Every time I see his name (which was my name - Judy Collins Carter Wilson) when married and after both divorces went back to my maiden name "Collins." Also English/Irish ancestry. I absolutely DEVOURED this book!

I highly recommend you read The Dead Husband first, but this one can be read as a standalone, but why miss out on all the juicy details and background? Both books are excellent, but I loved THE NEW NEIGHBOR more. This author is on my radar now and cannot wait to read more. I love dark humor and he does it so well!

I am looking forward to my #AuthorElevatorSeries Interview with Carter coming pub date!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Please, Carter, continue the Rum Hill Road by either bringing back the old owners (ones that are not dead) or a new family. Too good to end!

I am getting into all the new thrillers revolving around a house (a haven) like the ones mentioned above and Kaira Rouda's Somebody's Home. Also, you will want to read (moving to a new house to escape past) Samantha Bailey's Watch Out for Her coming April 19th.

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by Gary Bennett for a highly entertaining read!

A very special thank you to Dreamscape, Poisoned Pen & Netgalley for a paperback copy, e-galley, and audio ARC.

Blog Review www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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Pub Date: April 12, 2022

This was the best mystery/thriller book I have read all year. As a single father I could really relate to Aidan Marlowe. A very emotional story with some great character development and insight. Thrilling and insightful. I highly highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media who sent me an ARC audiobook of this title in exchange for my honest review.