When someone from St. Martin's reached out to me about doing a review, I wasn't sure what to expect.
What the Neighbors Saw is an intense thriller, based in a wealthy suburban neighborhood.
Alexis is determined to buy the house on Shadow Rd, knowing that it was in need of repairs, and would put a financial strain on her and her husband, Sam.
Fast forward to moving day, as Alexis, while pregnant and with a toddler, is trying to appease Sam, who in my opinion is a loser from the get go.
Alexis befriends Blair, a neighbor, and soon after odd things begin happening, neighbors openly gossip about each other, and then a sudden death shakes them up.

This story has a lot going on, and while some parts moved slowly, overall I think it's a fantastic book.
It's one I'd read a few times, because there's always a few hints readers miss.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins for selecting me to read this book.

Unfortunately, I agree with other reviewers who felt this plot was too slow. I love when an author writes unlikeable characters who the reader still feels compelled to follow. However, I couldn't connect with any of the characters or their motivations. This book just ultimately was not a strong fit for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Melissa Adelman and the publisher for this e-ARC.

This was a good domestic thriller that kept me interested throughout. It follows a bunch of affluent neighbors who each have dark secrets they're trying to keep hidden while all pretending to like each other. Meanwhile, one of the husbands is murdered and everyone tries to figure out who the murderer is to no avail. After a few twists we find out who committed the crime and why, and the why is very interesting and quite disturbing.

3.8
Despite every single character being just a bit unpleasant, this is surprisingly readable - if a little slow to start.

A thriller that kept me captivated throughout, but got super weird at the end. The twists were certainly unexpected! I sometimes had trouble keeping the 2 main stories separate, but the ending does a good job of explaining everything.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. Will recommend it to everyone I know!

This book was unfortunately was to slow
For my liking. It picked up after 70% but I wanted to give up and stop reading it but kept pushing through. The ending definitely saved it and the reason I’m giving it 3 ⭐️. I wouldn’t say I don’t recommend it but I had a very hard time getting through it.

Theres something so great about a neighborhood thriller! I was hooked from the start and intrigued to learn more. This is one of those books you can read in one sitting and be along for the journey.

Alexis and Sam are a young successful couple who both have law careers. With one toddler, Caleb, and another baby on the way, they decide to find their forever family home to raise their children and find a home in an affluent neighbourhood. The home will need some work and TLC but they figure it is a small price to pay to live in a well to do and safe area.

It isn't long after baby number two Carter is born when the quiet neighbourhood is shaken up with the news, Teddy, father of three and husband of Blair, is found murdered. Perhaps the neighbourhood isn't as safe as they thought. Soon after Teddy's murder, we are introduced to the neighbours and the question on everyone's tongue is "Who killed Teddy?"

The book started out slow for me. Being introduced to all the neighbours took a bit of memory work. I got the key players right away but I really didn't connect or care for any of the characters. Alexis and Sam have a lot of marital issues. I can't stand Alexis for being weak and taking his verbal abuse and I think Sam needs a throat punch. (I said what I said)

After Teddy's death, Alexis forms a friendship with his widow Blair. Blair introduces her to the other wives on the street and it is clear, everyone plays nice in the sandbox but they really do not like each other. As the book progresses, we learn of many dirty little secrets. As the synopsis claims, "Sometimes the darkest acts occur in the most beautiful houses" mmmhmmmm.

The second half of the book picks up at a fast speed and finally, I am in the "cannot turn the page fast enough" phase. Things are starting to come out, accusations are made, secrets come out and the tension is building.

Overall: I loved the dysfunction. The slow build up of the first half tested my impatience but I was rewarded with a majestic roller coaster ride at the end. I had my suspicions how it was going to go down and they were fairly accurate but I did enjoy reading how it all came together.

Four solid stars! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy and allow me to review it!

This was a decent story that was made better by a surprise twist. The story centers on Alexis, who moves to a ritzy suburb outside of Washington DC with her family. Shortly after, a neighbor named Teddy is found dead and it turns out that there are secrets being harbored throughout what seemed like the perfect neighborhood. You also get chapters told from the POV of the dead man’s wife, Blair.

I felt like not a lot happened in the first part of the book beyond Teddy’s death but I think that was so the author could paint the picture of the dynamics between the neighbors. Once Alexis stumbles onto a secret that was worth killing for, the pace picked up. There were a couple of twists, one that was quite unique. I did feel like there were some big things that were not fully explained, though, and wish I wasn’t left with some unanswered questions.

Overall, I liked the book and appreciated the surprises and the fact that the storyline ended up being out of the ordinary. I’d recommend it to those who like domestic suspense and are fascinated by an out of the box storyline. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great thriller with lots of suspense! Really liked this one! Kept me interested and engaged from the very first page.

I was enjoying this but it lost me with the motive of the crime. It was gross in my opinion and even though it was for shock value, I would have liked the book a lot better without it.

Alexis and her husband Sam feel like they have won the lottery when then buy a fixer upper home in a beautiful neighborhood outside of DC. Alexis is pregnant with their second child and Sam is about to make partner at his law firm.. things are definitely going well for the young couple. That is, until one of their new neighbors ,Teddy, is found dead, murdered, on a trail along the Potomac River. Tensions are high and as time passes no suspect has been named. Alexis finds herself drawn to Teddy’s wife Blair and the two begin an unlikely friendship. All of the neighbors are on edge and everyone seems to be hiding secrets. Alexis doesn’t know who to trust, even her husband seems suspicious. This was a great novel and the twist completely shocked me. Loved this novel and gave it a solid 4 stars.

I feel like I was starving and had an absolutely delicious meal but was wasn't satisfied when I finished devouring it. The writing was great as well as the story, the characters had every different personality you could hope for in a book, I was just expecting more at the end. That being said, it was still worth the read and I look forward to reading what this author has in store for us next. Three and a half Stars rounded up.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

I love suburban thrillers, but this was just alright. The plot, while promising at first, developed in ways that I just didn't care about. It did have some good moments, though, and I think certain readers will appreciate this book.

"What the Neighbors Saw" is a good, summer-y thriller; however the major "twist" towards the end of the book really was not to my liking.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of What the Neighbors Saw in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

Desperate Housewives meets The Couple Next Door. I love murder mystery thrillers set in neighborhoods. They are very atmospheric for me!

This story revolves around Alexis & Sam who purchase a “fixer upper” in an exclusive neighborhood in Cape Code. Everything is going great until one of their neighbors is murdered. The neighborhood begins to turn on each other as secrets begin to emerge. Alexis also becomes close with the widow of Teddy (the dead neighbor) and their friendship is tested as everyone gets closer to the truth.

This story is full of lies and deceptions, even from those who were deemed trustworthy. It’s a good example that you never really know someone no matter how much you think you do. This is one of those novels where no one is really innocent, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is a murderer.

Great writing, great pacing, great twists & turns and great writing of the characters. This book was well done and I would definitely recommend giving it a read.

I rated this 4 Stars

Wow. Just wow. Loved this book.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

What the Neighbors Saw is Melissa Adelman’s first novel. Alexis, Sam, 2 kids and nanny move to a fixer-upper house in a very affluent neighborhood. Then we meet Blair and her husband Teddy and a murder occurs there. Who did it? Someone in the neighborhood? Someone passing through? Told in POV’s between Blair and Alexis, this kept me interested from the first page. This reminded me of Desperate Housewives with lots of gossip, secrets, lies, etc. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published June 2023.

Does anyone ever really know their neighbors? What the Neighbors Saw is a twisty book full of lies and deceptions. Everything unfolds in a desirable and wealthy DC community. Split between the POVs of Alexis, and Blair. Alexis a mom of two, and married to her husband Sam move into a fixer upper house in the prominent neighborhood. Blair is their neighbor with three great kids and a perfect husband. But her husband dies one weekend on the neighborhood trail. Question is who did it? Could it be one if the neighbors? What dark secrets are Blair and Alexis hiding?

What I enjoyed:
- none of the characters were likable. But that doesn’t mean they weren’t enjoyable to follow. I honestly didn’t like anyone in this book. But I found myself interested in everyone’s secrets and hidden agendas
- Dual POVs are always my favorite. It is fun seeing things from all different POVs
- This felt like a slow burn. But i was kept interested through out it all. The whodunit was what kept me going
- Multicultural MC and side characters
- The final twists!

I thought this was an interesting debut novel. I liked how easy it was to hate this neighborhood and its occupants. I was on my toes the whole time trying to figure things out. Plus a couple twist had me saying what?! Enjoyable and twisty. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!