Rosie and Chad inherit a condo from Chad's uncle Ivan, who disinherits his daughter Dana at the last minute. The condo is in a very expensive NYC neighborhood in a very historic building named the Windermere (it gave me The Dakota vibes). I really liked the setting. The novel actually seemed very similar to Lock Every Door by Riley Sager on the face of it; however, its plot did divert.

Like many thrillers, you're not going to get a ton of character development. There are a lot of characters, though, so I was having a hard time keeping everyone figured out because it was a lot of names with little in the way of personality.

For much of the novel, you're wondering what's really going on because Rosie is a fragile main character, and there is a LOT going on in the periphery. Much of it seemed over the top.

I was taken aback by the acknowledgments because the author did a lot of research for this book. I wish that research permeated the book more because it did feel like a standard thriller with the "is the main character out of her mind or something is legitimately going on?" trope and the high body count.

I was a bit thrown by some things. In a fifth floor walk-up, doesn't that mean it's on the fifth floor so there would be four sets of stairs? It was said twice that a fifth floor walk-up had five sets of stairs, which will hopefully be fixed before the final version. And the timeline on these dates with Charles and Ella and their daughter Lillian a bit far-fetched. The novel is dual timeline, and one of the timelines is in 1963, and the other is present day (2023ish?). That's 60 years in between the two timelines. Charles and Ella have a 7 year old son in the 1963 timeline. Doesn't that mean they have to at least be in their late 20s? So that means they are almost 90 in the present day timeline, but most likely both over 90 in the present day? And their daughter Lillian would be 60ish? There is an allusion to Chad and Lillian, but I think Lillian would be double Chad's age?

The timeline made me really think this book had a completely different bent (not revealing because I don't want to spoil), especially when the same doorman worked there in 1963 and 2023. (I know being a doorman isn't a super high paying job, but wouldn't one aim to retire before age 85?!)

I think my timeline confusion inhibited me enjoying this as much as I wanted to. It did have creepy gothic vibes, so please pick this one up if you like atmospheric vibes.

Wow! What a read!!! At first I was hesitant to read this one because I’m not really a fan of gore/paranormal activity. However, I got so sucked in, that I was able to overlook the paranormal parts. There were so many twists and turns, just when I thought I had things figured out more twists hit me. Very suspenseful!!

NYT bestselling author (a long-time favorite) and the master of suspense, Lisa Unger returns following Christmas Presents, Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six, The Last Girl Ghosted, and Confessions on the 7:45 with her latest smashing nail-biting psychological thriller THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B.

Inspired by the author's late aunt, her love of NYC, the buildings, and Rosemary's Baby, a couple inherits a historical New York apartment and turns into a haunting Gothic-vibe spine-chilling suspense thriller!

Rosie and Chad Lowan barely get by financially in New York City when they receive some grand news. Her book money is running out, and Chad has a low-paying gig in an off-Broadway production. It takes all they have to live here, and their rent just went up in the East Village. They have been married less than a year.

Chad's Uncle, Ivan, whom they had been caring for, has passed and left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. He died penniless, and this is his only asset. They assumed it would go to his daughter Dana.

It has lots of history, pre-war elegance, and a uniformed doorman with Old-world New York charm. However, the building is almost like a character—its history is dark and mysterious.

Rose is an author, estranged from her family, and still riding on her last book when she meets with her editor, Max. Her first book was a true crime about a young Manhattan woman, her fight with justice, and a wrongly convicted man. It has been a year since that book with the paperback about to be released.

She is writing a new book about an iconic Manhattan apartment building on Park Avenue. She is home to famous residents, a bestselling novelist, a celebrated sculptor, and a young stage and screen star.

It has dark secrets, grisly murders, suicides, and terrible accidents. From history, architecture, how it was built on the site of an old church that burned down and, she wants to focus on the crimes, the colorful, diverse cast of characters that reside there, and the stories of the ones who died there, including Chad's Uncle Ivan, a renowned war photographer.

His daughter Dana has not been around or interested in Ivan or his final days. Rose has befriended the doorman, Abi, a wealth of knowledge. He has said some folks do not get to leave the Windermere. He said some were destined to die there.

She needs to focus more on the darkness of the building, its crimes, and the people. Are they cursed or haunted? What about the energy and encouraging the dark happenings? She will rewrite and focus less on the architecture and the building.

During their lunch discussion, a biker is killed right outside the restaurant window. Is it a dark omen of dark things to come?

Chad lost his parents in a car accident, and now that the Uncle is gone, they are alone. They must make it work. He will get a commercial, and she will rework her book proposal, and Max, her editor, will love it.

They are shocked when they find out Dana did not inherit the apartment. Dana says he was a monster, drunk, and abused her mother. However, the entire world praised him for his art. It turns out Dana gets nothing. Ivan had admitted his failings as a father and husband to them. He was a war photographer with lots of images of mayhem and gore. War criminals.

Rosie and Chad cannot believe their luck. It is worth five million, and what a view! Can they afford the taxes? What if Dana sues? They can always sell, move to the suburbs, and raise a family. A new home and a new book!

With a well-appointed marble lobby infused with rich details. The neighbors, the doorman, the security cameras, the storage units. All looks good in the beginning. UNTIL...

What has taken place between all the horror inside the walls? Soon, Rosie becomes unsettled by everything surrounding her in the building. Everything is chilling and scary: suspicious murders, suicides, the neighbors, the doorman, the cameras, etc.—the secrets of the past and present. CREEPY!

Then, she begins researching the famous yet mysterious people who lived there previously. She is determined to find the truth before she falls under its dangerous spell. Then she sees ghosts...

Wow! THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B is atmospheric, spine-tingling, eerie, intense, tense, twisty, and unsettling! It perfectly blends domestic suspense, Gothic, supernatural, and murder mystery with ghostly, classic horror. With the chapters broken out in Acts, it gives a Shakespearian and Agatha Christie vibe as well.

The dual timelines keep you glued to the pages, and the author carefully peels the layers back, keeping you on the edge of your seat. I particularly enjoyed the timeline of past generations, which was mysterious and intriguing.

I also enjoyed that Rosie was a true crime writer, and I have always been fascinated with haunted buildings with a past and all the lives that have come and gone over the years. I have lived in some high rises similar to this.

If you have been a fan of the author as long as I have, you will enjoy mentions of Beautiful Lies and The Hollows. No one could have written it better. #CoverCrush

Unger fans will devour and also fans of Riley Sager, Jennifer McMahon, Jennifer Hillier, Ruth Ware, and Carol Goodman. Lisa also includes other book titles significant to her research and her inspiration in the Acknowledgements. I LOVED this one, as all her books! Get this one on your TBR list now.

UPCOMING INTERVIEW: Stay tuned for March 5 for my #AuthorElevatorSeries Interview with Lisa, where we go behind the scenes of The New Couple in 5B and this multi-talented author.

Thanks to Park Row Books, the author, and NetGalley for a gifted digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Mar 5, 2024
March 2024 Must-Read Books

Unfortunately the E-ARC file would not load on the Netgalley app, but I look forward to reading this title in the future.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, Netgalley, and Lisa Unger for the ARC!

I’ve never been one for paranormal books, but this book nailed it! I really enjoyed the twists and turns, but I especially enjoyed the creeps and chills I got while reading! Unger did a great job making this story into a suspenseful thriller that kept me wanting more! An absolute page turner!

While our main character seemed a tad whiney and little bit like a push over, she ultimately followed her gut to uncover the secrets of her haunted apartment building. I was able to follow the plot easily and I did not see the ending coming! I love how Unger brought in Rosie’s upbringing with “seeing the future”, tarot cards, and an eccentric father who can heal all people, and tied it into the current plot of the people who reside in the building. The plot flowed really well throughout the story and I found myself absolutely entranced!

Thanks to the publisher for this ARC of The New Couple In 5B through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a suspense thriller with some paranormal throughout. I enjoyed the twists even if I found some things a little too easily wrapped up. The story flows well and easy to keep track of. The mystery makes you turn the pages wanting answers.

Could. Not. Put. It. Down. I love a good thriller- especially one in which the setting is so capturing and descriptive. This is the story of Rosie and Chad, newlyweds in New York City. When they unexpectedly inherit Chad's uncles luxury apartment in an old (and probably haunted) building filled with a murderous past, the story twists and turns. I had no trouble following the plot, but didn't know 'who done it'. It was an exciting read all the way to the end. I loved Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six and was easily transported to the North Georgia Mountains, and once again, I was swept up into the tortured history of one of New York's skyscrapers.

Wow, this was my first Lisa Unger book, and I truly was in for a surprise. I was expecting just your run-of-the-mill domestic thriller, but this was so much more. With paranormal elements, slow-burn mystery, and an additional POV from a character from an earlier time period, this book intrigued me from the get-go, and I never wanted to put it down.

With all the tenets the Windermere has, there was an opportunity for a great group of characters, and I think Unger took great advantage of that. Everyone was just odd enough to add to the creepy factor. Another aspect that I loved was all the descriptions of historic buildings, and I like how she compared them to people, anthropomorphizing them.

Overall, the pace was perfect for this book- it never really slowed for me. And I didn’t actually see the main plot twist coming, so that was an added bonus, too. I can’t wait to read more of Lisa Unger’s books!

The New Couple in 5B is a decent mystery/thriller - everyone is a suspect! It reminded me of Sager’s Lock Every Door and Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby, and it was validating to see in the Acknowledgments at the end of the book that Rosemary’s Baby was an inspiration for Unger.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy!

There is a darkness that runs throughout this story from beginning to end. Starting with the overture and an unnamed person on the ledge, that darkness hooked me. The questions are immediate. Why? There is enough to the beginning to believe this person isn't willingly on the edge. That perhaps they aren't about to commit suicide, but are driven to jump.

Then you have Rosie, who grapples with reality. Who sees ghosts. Who has a troubled past. And Chad, who starts to look like he might not be the knight he first appeared.

I loved the elements of a ghost story. Of an historic building with its own dark past. That the building is so much a character that perhaps Abi does the bidding of what should only be brick and mortar. That the tragic beginning to the building is perhaps the reason for the dark present.

And the ending...

I am a new Lisa Unger fan but think this is one of her best books yet. Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet in New York City when they receive life-changing news. Chad’s late uncle has left them his apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. With its elegance and an uniformed doorman, the building is the epitome of old New York charm. But things are definitely not what they seem.

At first, the building and its tenants couldn’t feel more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie starts to realize there are strange things that are happening. The tenants are very different and the doorman seems to know everything. Rosie decides to write about the dark past of the Windermere, but realizes the danger for her is everywhere. There are accidents and deaths and Rosie knows things are not what they seem. Great book!

This book definitely has a dark side that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. Chad and Rosie are a young married couple who want to have a baby. Chad is an actor and Rosie is a writer so neither have the kind of money they would want to live comfortably in New York City. When Chad inherits an apartment from his deceased uncle, they think all of their problems are solved. However the problems are only just beginning.

Rosie was a great character and I was rooting for her the entire time. She even has an interesting back story that I wanted to explore even more. Within the novel there was a look at a former tenant of 5B, Willa. Her story added more of a mystery and I loved seeing how it was all connected. This was a great thriller that definitely kept me guessing to the end. Lots of action, mystery, and intrigue that you won't want to miss. Lisa Unger is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller writers!

Thank you to Park Row Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

Mystery-Thriller-Ghost story are all something I would typically enjoy but this fell flat. It is more than a little similar to Rosemary's Baby in the first half which always feels like a cheap trick that authors use. All of the reveals at the end were too little too late- I knew how it would end a quarter of the way in. I will say that there was something that I must have liked because I read the whole thing and didn't add it to the DNF pile.

Lisa Unger has done it again! Filled with suspense and the unpredictable characters, The New Couple in 5B will keep you guessing.

A youg couple inherits the apartment of their dreams at a luxury building in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan. But don’t be fooled by the beautiful architectural details and full time doorman, the building has a history of dark events which seem to be affecting the residents.

Unger’s vivid details transport the reader to the halls and apartments of the Windermere. Told in alternate timelines with flashbacks to the 1960s and featuring a storyline about publishing, this novel will appeal to readers who like a mix of mystery, a touch of the supernatural and suspense.

Lisa Unger's "The New Couple in 5B" took me on a pulse-quickening ride filled with suspense and uncertainty, delivering an electrifying thrill that gripped me from the opening pages. The novel masterfully navigated the shadows of its questionable characters and kept me on the edge of my seat with a perfect blend of suspense that left me breathless.

The dual timelines, seamlessly interwoven with excerpts from the past, added a thrilling complexity to the narrative. Surprisingly, the '60s storyline stole the spotlight at times, injecting an extra dose of excitement that surpassed the intensity of the present-day plot. The loose connection between the two timelines only heightened the mystery, making every revelation more tantalizing.

Unger's exploration of the world of writers and publishing was a highlight, creating a deliciously connection with readers who share a passion for the written word. The narrative skillfully peeled back the layers, immersing me in the lives of characters who resonated with the struggles and triumphs of the writing journey.

At the core of the story is Rosie, a true crime writer, and her struggling actor husband, Chad, battling financial woes in the heart of New York City. Their fortunes take an unexpected turn when Chad inherits a luxurious apartment in the historic Windermere. The building's prewar charm and impeccably uniformed doorman belie a dark history that added a spine-chilling layer to the unfolding drama.

Unger's writing style achieved a remarkable feat by not just telling the story but enveloping me in its atmosphere. The vivid descriptions transported me to the eerie corridors of the Windermere, making every twist and turn pulse with a sense of urgency. The historic setting and its enigmatic inhabitants further intensified the novel's gripping allure.

While the connection between the two timelines may have been loosely tethered to the main plot, I found myself relishing every moment of the additional layer it brought to the narrative. Lisa Unger's "The New Couple in 5B" left me yearning for more, marking a spectacular introduction to her work. For those who crave a spine-tingling mix of ghosts, murder mystery, and relentless suspense, this is a literary rollercoaster that guarantees an exhilarating ride until the final page.

This book was delicious!! Dark and layered, emotional and tightly written, this felt very much like the gothic novel brought into present-day New York City. The Windermere is a building with a history of violence, and when our heroine Rosie moves into apartment 5B with her husband after inheriting the place, things get creepy. We meet a doorman who seems to never sleep and neighbors with mysterious agendas. The building's security system is intrusive to say the least. Who's watching? Who's listening? Is something supernatural going on, or is it all in Rosie's head? I loved how Rosie's journey toward discovering the truth about all the Windermere deaths unfolded, and Lisa Unger's deep look into trauma and all the ways that we can't escape our past, because our past lives inside us.
This was my first Lisa Unger book and I am now married to reading everything she writes. Wow.

3.5 ⭐️


Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of The New Couple in 5B.

This is my first book that I have read from Lisa Unger and she did not disappoint me! I really was an emotional wreck while reading the story because I thought I had it figured out so many times when in reality, I never had it figured out. It reminded me a lot of lock every door by Riley sager with a little bit of Only murders in the building.

I come from the same type of family as the main character Rosie does. Believers! I wear the evil eye pendent and read tarot. So that was interesting to read and see what her thoughts were on it as a kid and eventually what they were as she became an adult.

I had a lot of unanswered questions at the end so I couldn’t give it a better score but overall a good book.

This book is the reason that I lost sleep this week. I just had to stay up late and finish it, needing to know what would happen next and how on earth it would end. I was hooked from the start, if only I could get paid to read all day.

The New Couple in 5B was a very different book from Lisa Unger, but I was there for it. It is a thriller with lots is twists and turns as usual, but this book has some spooky, supernatural elements that I just loved. It gave the book another dimension. The setting of an old, infamous building in New York was perfect, and had you on your toes the entire time. What was real and what wasn’t? Where the ghosts of past residents really coming back to warn them?

I also loved that the main character was a true crime writer. Learning about the buildings past and the people who died there was such a fun aspect of this book.

Such a fun read. Thanks so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Highly recommend. Published on March 5th.

This book is unlike any other Lisa Unger book I have previously read. While it is still filled with mystery adding in the idea of the other world and mystical knowledge really adds a different layer to this book. Lisa Unger always does a great job of bringing her readers into a high stakes world where no one quite knows what is going to happen. This book is the same. From the multiple twists and the inclusion of ghosts this story draws the reader in and leads them into a world where the ghosts of the past might be able to save those in the present.
Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

This book had me hooked the entire time....I was so invested in the characters and finding out what will happen next that I could not put it down! The author did an incredible job of introducing all of the characters but with shocking twists at the end of the book that had you thinking what could happen next. There is so much suspense in this book that will have you hooked and addicted to finish reading it just to find out what happens at the end. Overall this book was incredible and I would recommend picking up a copy and reading The New Couple in 5B!