Although I was given Freya Sampson’s Nosy Neighbors to review as a mystery, there’s very little mystery in this enjoyable novel. It’s set in Chalcot, a small English village, the same setting as Sampson’s The Last Chance Library. I’d recommend it to readers who like village stories or Fredrik Backman’s books, not to mystery readers.

Shelley House, built in 1891, was once a grand, impressive mansion. That’s how Dorothy Darling once viewed it when she first moved in. Now, she’s seventy-seven, considered a nosy woman by the tenants of the other five flats in the building, a building that has seen better days. Dorothy spends time patrolling the building every day, complaining to the landlord about safety conditions and infractions by the others. She says all the uproar over the summer started when the girl with pink hair moved in as an illegal subtenant in Joseph Chambers’ flat.

Kat Bennett doesn’t even know why she returned to Chalcot. She hadn’t been there in fifteen years, but something brought her back. She’s as grumpy as Dorothy Darling, and has no interest in getting to know other residents. She just wants to get a job to support herself, and keep her head down.

When she comes home from work one night, though, she finds neighbors meeting in Joseph’s flat. All of the tenants received eviction notices. The landlord plans to tear down Shelley House and build a modern apartment building. But, only Joseph is willing to stand up to the landlord. And, he makes it his daily job to take his dog and protest in front of the landlord’s offices. That’s before Kat finds Joseph on the floor, knocked out in the flat. Now, who’s going to take on the landlord?

Nosy Neighbors is about secrets, misunderstandings, and forgiveness. It’s about a small group of people, whose only connection was a building, who find a common goal. The characters are well-drawn and interesting. A mystery? No. An enjoyable novel? Yes, definitely.

This was my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. It was such a nice story! The characters were well written as well as the plot. There were so many emotions involved and it made me laugh out loud a couple of times. I really enjoyed this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

According to Dorothy Darling, she is not a nosy neighbor. But she is also not darling. She makes her rounds of Shelley House every day making careful notes of any safety infractions, rules broken, or questionable behaviors. She never socializes with any of her neighbors, but watches their comings and goings from her front window. She sees the pink-haired girl the moment she arrives and decides she is up to no good.

Pink-haired Kat Bennett is 25, tough, unapproachable, and basically homeless. She drives a ramshackle old car that she has christened Marge. She has come to the crumbling old apartment house to sub-let a room from someone at Shelley House. She has no desire to get to know any of her neighbors. She just wants to lay low and to try to get her life back on track.

Kat and Dorothy seem to have nothing in common, but each has a guilty secret from their past that keeps them from living happy, normal lives. These two women and the cast of zany occupants form an unlikely alliance when they find out that Shelley House is set to be demolished. And then, when one of the occupants is brutally attacked and the police drop the case, they become amateur sleuths to find justice. The final outcome is surprising and unexpected. This story shows that sometimes what you see when you look at people is what they want you to see. Or what they see in themselves.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author Freya Sampson for the ARC of this book. I enjoyed reading it.

Such a great mystery! Loved the friendship and connection between characters. Definitely more of a cozy mystery vibe but enjoyable throughout.

Nosy Neighbors is full of lovely characters who are all likeable and annoying in equal measure which is a positive in my opinion.
Freya Sampson has created a cozy mystery which fans of Richard Osman and Robert Thorogood alike are sure to enjoy.

A set of six tenants in an historic building learn they are to be evicted by the greedy landlord who has been allowing the building to decay in myriad, unpleasant ways. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of the ever-watchful, rule-insisting, eponymously nosy Dorothy in flat two and the pink haired, ever-relocating, room sub-letter Kat in flat one. Other characters include Joseph — a kindly man in flat one, Omar and his scowling teenage daughter in flat three, an obnoxious, loud music man in flat four, a tall and ferocious angry dog owning man in flat five, and a woman with terrible taste in leather jacketed men in flat six. Also, a pretty cute dog with personality and an intentionality for good helps to force anti-social types into something close to relationships.

Very much in the style of Fredrik Backman (I thought at first Freya Sampson might be a pseudonym), the book abounds with guilty secrets that fester for lack of airing and kindness, patience, forgiveness, and compassion permeate the story. While the ending is predictably upbeat (and definitely oversimplified), there are plenty of unhappy backstories that get resolution through

A little slow at the start, a satisfying resolution, likable characters.

Fun little mystery with neighbors getting to know each other and work together through their conflicts to save their home. Fans of Thursday Murder Club and Only Murders in the Building will enjoy this story.

I have enjoyed several of author Sampson's previous works & her latest "Nosy Neighbors" is no exception. I really liked this charming & humerous tale of baby-boomer Dorothy & Gen Z'er Kat who team up to save their building. So quirky and sweet! My sincere thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the complimentary DRC, my pleasure to review it!

This is the story of Shelley House and it's inhabitants. The main focus is on Dorothy and Kat. Dorothy hasn't moved past her need to monitor everything going on in Shelley House. Day after day she keeps an eye on all of her neighbors. Kat is a subletting a room and becomes wrapped up in the lives of Dorothy and the other renters of Shelley House. A mystery draws them all together and we find neighbors are sometimes as important as family. This is another winner from Freya Sampson. I will definitely be recommending to all types of readers. I look forward to the next book from Freya Sampson!

A heartwarming read about friendship and community across generations. If you liked Sampson's other books, you'll love this!

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

In Freya Sampson's "Nosy Neighbors," she delivers another emotionally resonant tale that tugs at your heartstrings in the most poignant way. As the characters come together to unravel the mystery surrounding their beloved home, Shelley House, it becomes clear that the real enigma lies in the complex web of life stories that brought them to this moment. Sampson skillfully unwinds these narratives with a deep appreciation for their humanity, infusing charm and warmth into every character. Whether it's the cantankerous but lovable Dorothy, the enigmatic Kat, or the charming Shelley House itself, you can't help but be drawn into their world.

Shelley House is more than just a building; it's a community, a patchwork of lives, and a place where unlikely friendships bloom. Sampson beautifully captures the essence of these vibrant individuals, and you'll find yourself wishing to be a part of this charming but quirky neighborhood, despite its flaws.

The heart of the story is not just about solving a mystery but about forgiveness, redemption, and the power of letting go. It's a story that's not afraid to delve into the intricate web of relationships between its characters, showcasing the depth of Dorothy and Kat's histories. As you follow their journey, you'll become engrossed in their quest to protect Shelley House, but also in their own personal journeys toward self-forgiveness and reconciliation with others.

While the plot follows the residents as they unite to save their historic home, it's the interpersonal connections, laced with humor and tenderness, that take center stage. The delightful relationship between Dorothy and her notebook, as well as the endearing dynamic between Kat, Joseph, and Reggie the Jack Russell, will warm your heart. While some aspects of the plot may be somewhat predictable, the heartwarming bonds between characters and their quest to preserve Shelley House will keep you captivated.

"Nosy Neighbors" is a delightful and heartwarming read that's perfect for those who love feel-good stories with well-developed characters and a touch of mystery. Sampson's ability to intertwine the lives of her characters and deliver satisfying conclusions to their individual journeys makes this novel a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Whether you're already a fan of Sampson's work or new to her writing, this book is a must-read that will remind you of the beauty of community, forgiveness, and embracing life's quirks.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of this book for review.

Freya Sampson never fails to make me cry in the best possible way, and Nosy Neighbors is no exception. While the characters try to solve a mystery in their quest to save their beloved home, it becomes apparent that the real mystery is how they ended up in that situation in the first place--a mystery Sampson slowly unravels with the utmost care for their humanity and abundant charm. It's impossible not to root for Dorothy, Kat, and even Shelley House itself.

3.75 star

I love love love these characters. This book isn’t as heavy on the mystery as I expected, but that’s ok. This is an all around fun book and I hope to see more of these character in the future.

I would like to move in to Shelley House right now, despite and because of its delightful tenants! I guess this is a difficult ask, so I'll have to settle for reading and re-reading this book to pretend that I do, in fact, live there. Sampson gives so much warmth and humanity to every character, even when I'm begging her characters not to do what they're doing. I agree with the other reviewer, this is more in line with Frederick Backman than Richard Osman, but it's infinitely better because it's Freya Sampson.

Nosy Neighbors is not at all what I thought it was going to be. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I was definitely expecting the book to be focused more on finding the criminal who injured Joseph – kind of murder mystery-esque but without an actual murder, I suppose? Instead it's very Fredrik Backman-y – complete with a crotchety old person – and revolves more around the interpersonal relationships between the characters and their quest to save Shelley House. The themes of forgiveness and letting go of the past are also quite prominent.

First of all, I adored the characters in this book. Dorothy and her notebook are so much fun, and Kat and Joseph are fantastic, too. And Reggie the Jack Russell is the best character of them all, because, well, he's a dog and dogs are perfect. I appreciated the depth of both Dorothy and Kat's characters – their histories are well-fleshed out and intriguing, and I enjoyed learning more about their backstories as the book progressed.

The plot itself is well-written and entertaining, if a little predictable. Dorothy and Kat's (somewhat awkward) relationship is endearing, and you can't help but to root for them as they attempt to save Shelley House together ... and as they work toward learning to forgive themselves and others. I'm slightly disappointed about how the business concerning Joseph and his mystery attacker ended, but every other loose end was wrapped up satisfactorily by the end of the novel. And the epilogue is perfect!

Overall, Nosy Neighbors is a delightful and heart-warming read. If you're a fan of feel-good stories, definitely give this one a go. 4 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

The premise is amusing. I stopped after chapter 1 (4%). The writing style didn’t grip me, but it seems like a solid three stars, four for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.