Quirky characters, an historic building named for a poet, a greedy landlord, shenanigans, mystery, alliances, backstories, relationships, good plot-what more could a reader want? I highly recommend this engaging novel.

I was so excited when I saw that Freya Sampson had a new book out - Nosy Neighbors! (Don't you love that cover!)

I love my mystery and thriller reads, but the books that stick with me a bit longer are those that tug at my heart strings. And Freya Sampson's books are at the top of the list.

What will you find inside? A crochety, seventy seven year old woman named Dorothy Darling. She's lived in apartment two in Shelley House for over thirty years. She keeps herself busy by watching out her front window and inside the building, noting things down in her logbook - the repairs needed, when someone comes or goes from the building and much more. The latest tenant is tattooed, pink haired Kat. And the two of them clash immediately.

But, the lives of all the tenants of Shelley House are all going to change when... Yes, I'm stopping there, leaving you to find out what happens next.

Sampson keeps us guessing (and turning pages) as to what the secrets are that Kat and Dorothy have each been hiding for many years.

The characters are all wonderfully drawn and it was easy to create detailed mental images of them all. All good tales have a dog, and in this case it's Reggie - who steals the show more than once.

Uh huh, all the right elements are in place for a 'tug at your heartstrings' read. Love lost, love found, loneliness, friendship, purpose, meaning and connections. What we all need - people, not things.

Nosy Neighbors is another great read from Freya Samson and I will be eagerly awaiting her next book.

In this story we have Dorothy who has been apart of the Shelley House apartment/community for quite sometime. She knows all the comings and going of the building. Oh and she keeps a running diary of all the happening too. Yes, she’s THAT neighbor. Our plot is centered around Dorothy, new comer Kat, and Joseph another longtime resident. When Joseph is attacked one day Dorothy and Kat band together to figure out who attacked him. They must also come together to save the historic Shelley house from being snatched away from the community of residents. Along the way, Kat and Dorothy and the residents form friendships. Some soon become rocky once secrets of Shelley house are trusted and everything becomes chaotic and not just about the attack of Joseph.

I really enjoyed this one. There is mystery, a bit of romance, secrets, and drama. There is also an emotional side to this to story that includes forgiveness of others and self. The author did a great job of telling this story with all the different plot pieces. I listened to the audiobook and I loved Sarah Lambie as the narrator. She did the character of Dorothy so well and made her shine and brought her to life as the 𝑁𝑜𝑠𝑦 𝑁𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑏𝑜𝑟! Pairing the physical and audio made the entire book come to life!

Also, for those that love animals in stories, Joseph’s dog Reggie stole part of the show for me as well.

Nosy Neighbors is a delightful, cozy crime mystery that captivated me from start to finish. The novel follows a duo of mismatched sleuths who ingeniously bring together the wary residents of a London apartment building, creating a heartwarming tale of a found family. Filled with warmth and charm, this story left me eager for more.

****Unpopular opinion*****

I wanted to like this book more than I did but this was a struggle. Dorothy and Kat were mostly unlikeable characters and their interactions felt forced. Dorothy was the more annoying character with her incessant complaining, especially in her diary....

Honestly I skim read most of this. Disappointing.

Cannot recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley, Freya Sampson and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 4/2/2024

4.5⭐

Built in 1891, Shelley House in the village of Chalcot is one of the few historic buildings in the neighborhood that is still standing. The building houses several tenants, some of whom like seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling have called Shelley House their home for over three decades. Besides Dorothy, the other tenants, occupying a total of six flats are – Dorothy’s long-time neighbor Joseph (with whom she has not spoken to in decades) and his Jack Russell Terrier Reggie; recently widowed Omar and his teenage daughter Ayesha; Gloria whose tumultuous love life has led to more than one spectacle in front of her neighbors; Tomasz whose ill-mannered pit bull Princess terrorizes Reggie and Dorothy’s anti-social upstairs neighbor whose constant ruckus and loud music are a constant cause of annoyance. Dorothy is a loner who spends much time keeping an eye on the goings on in the building, diligently noting down her observations, forwarding complaints to the landlord, and calling out her neighbors when she sees them breaking community rules. Needless to say, she isn’t too popular among the residents who consider her a “nosy” old lady who just can't seem to mind her own business. When Joseph illegally sublets one room in his apartment to a young woman with dyed pink hair, Dorothy takes an instant dislike to Kat, a feeling that is reciprocated. Twenty-five-year-old Kat is also wary of her new neighbors and prefers to be left alone. She has her own reasons for being back in Chalcot – painful memories and secrets that have followed her into her adulthood. However, unforeseen events result in Kat being drawn into the ongoing drama in Shelley House after the tenants are served eviction notices. The narrative follows these characters as they are forced to set their differences aside and band together to save Shelley House from the clutches of a greedy real estate developer who could resort to any means to get what he wants.

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson is a beautifully written novel that revolves around themes of home and community, found family and forgiveness with an element of mystery woven into the narrative. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Dorothy and Kat. Both characters have a distinct role to play in this story and I appreciated how the author weaves the backstories of the main characters and several sub-plots revolving around the supporting characters into the primary narrative. The author shines in depicting the interpersonal relationships between the characters and there is never a dull moment in the story. The story emphasizes the need for communication, kindness and empathy for those who might be struggling and how it is often easy to judge people without understanding the reasons why people might behave in a certain way. Both Kat’s and Dorothy’s backstories are heartbreaking, but I am glad that the author chose to end the story on a hopeful and positive note. The novel explores several sensitive topics such as grief, addiction, loneliness and aging, childhood trauma, abusive relationships and neglect, among others, and does so with much compassion and emotional depth. Consistent pacing, realistic and relatable themes, endearing characters and a satisfying ending make for an engaging read. Despite some heavy themes, this is a heartwarming story that will strike a chord in your heart.

This is my third time reading Freya Sampson. I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Chance Library and The Lost Ticket and I can say the same for her latest offering. Read this one with your heart and you won’t be disappointed.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Dorothy Darling (Ms. not Mrs, thank you very much) may be 77 years old, but she keeps herself busy watching over the crumbling Victorian mansion where she has lived in Flat 2 on the ground floor for over 30 years. From her seat behind her net curtain with a clear view of the street, she dutifully notes each infraction in her notebook, such as improper parking or recycling included with the trash, and shares these notes with her neighbors and the owner of the building. Suspicious car parked outside? She’s jotted down the number. Inhabitants of Flat 6 fighting again? She’ll go up and knock on the door. She takes the time to prowl the building every day, just to make sure everything’s in order, putting up aggressive notices about unsafe storage and unclaimed mail. And she’s, well, less than impressed by her newest neighbor, a young woman with pink hair and tattoos who is subletting a room from an elderly man named Joseph in Flat 1.

The feeling is mutual. 25-year-old Kat Bennett isn’t sure what she’s doing back in Chacolet. Her happiest childhood memories are of times spent on her grandfather’s farm on the outskirts of the village, but a childhood spent being dragged from one dangerous living situation to another by her addict mother has left her determined to not trust anyone, and her relationship with her grandfather was destroyed when she was 10. She and Dorothy quickly clash, but she finds herself undermined by her gentle flatmate Joseph and his charming terrier Reggie. Joseph even cooks for her. So when each member of the building gets an eviction notice, she reluctantly joins her neighbors in protesting the destruction of the historic site.

When Joseph is attacked and his apartment ransacked, things begin to heat up. Kat and Dorothy form a most unlikely pair, each of them ready to hurl insults at a moment’s notice and regret in private. Dorothy’s list of potential suspects is quickly about a mile long, and Kat keeps wanting to flee Shelley House as she has every other dwelling. Can they save the now-decrepit mansion, or will it fall to development like everything else?

Stories about quirky people who hurt because they are hurt are hard to get right. They can so easily become sentimental and two-dimensional. But Nosy Neighbors hits the perfect note every time. Yes, gradually Dorothy and Kat become less prickly around each other, but the ending isn’t as nice and neat as you might be expecting. Instead the characters are realistic and have some depth to them. I loved this book and absolutely devoured it. Highly recommended!

Twenty-five year old Kat and 77 year old Dorothy are the unlikeliest of friends, especially since they are guarded and each haunted by secrets from their past. However, the two team up to save their home when the historic Shelley House is threatened to be demolished. As they work to save their home, strange things begin happening and the duo is determined to find justice for their neighbor who was targeted.

While this book has a bit of mystery and romance it is really at its heart a story about community and found family. This book was far more emotional than I initially expected, especially when some of the neighbors' secrets were revealed. Freya Sampson writes characters with so much depth to them and while the characters all seemed to be so different it was heartwarming to see how they ultimately came together.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

“My mum always says a home isn’t about bricks and mortar but the people in it.”

Seventy-seven year old Dorothy Darling is such a curmudgeon and I just LOVED her! One of my favorite characters I’ve read recently.

4.5 star rounded up! This one started off a little slow but then, as the story starts to unfold, it grips you emotionally and doesn’t let go. This cast of characters have so much heart, soul, and goodness it makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Do they have their demons? Yup. But it’s those demons and the forgiveness and understanding that helps to battle them that makes this book so endearing and compulsively readable.

Weaved throughout this story is a murder mystery, but that truly takes a back seat to these neighbors trying to save their home, the historic Shelley House. The house itself is a character, and a main one at that. I am so pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up loving this book! The audio is great as I could listen to a British accent on a loop. Beautiful accent. Beautiful and emotional narration. I simply loved it!

Thank you @PRHAudio for the complimentary #audiobook and Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for the ARC.

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson

Thank you so much PRH Audio, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for the free audiobook & ebook.

Blurb:
Two neighbors at war band together to stop a dangerous criminal in their midst on this enthralling new novel.

✨ My thoughts:
I can’t remember the last cozy mystery I gave five stars to but this one definitely deserves all of the stars! I started reading this as an ebook but with the busy weekend I knew I needed to request the audiobook… and thank goodness I was approved for it. This is a book you will not want to put down! I loved being able to switch between ebook and audiobook and guess what?! I will be buying a physical copy to keep keep on my shelves forever too! Sarah Lambie narrated the audiobook and she was amazing! I will be recommending every version of this book to friends and family. This book had way more depth than your standard cozy and I’m here for it! Honestly, this book was perfect and it was exactly what I needed. Nosy Neighbors is out tomorrow 4/2/24 and you’ll want to get your hands on it.

Happy reading! 📖

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson is a fun, sweet cozy mystery. When Kat first visits Shelley House, Dorothy does not approve of her as a potential neighbor and nearly chases her away. However, Kat ends up subleasing one of the apartments and she's thrust into an apartment building where all of the neighbors dislike each other. Dorothy has lived in Shelley House almost her entire life. When she learns that there are plans to tear down the building, she agrees to work with her neighbors to save her home.
This had so many incredible, well-written characters and a gentle cozy mystery that kept me engaged. I loved Dorothy and Kat's growth throughout the novel and the way the neighbors banded together.

I walked into Nosy Neighbors expecting a cozy mystery and walked away with some much more! Sampson succeeds in combining all the best elements of a cozy mystery with amateur sleuthing and humor mixed with an emotionally charged plot filled with reflections on guilt and regret.

Our two main characters, Kat and Dorothy, might be opposites on the outside, but when they’re not feuding they actually have a lot more in common than either believes could be true. I loved getting to know them both individually, as well as watching their allegiance to save their building bring them together. In addition to two fantastic main characters, there is a cast of secondary characters that work their way into the reader's hearts. I loved getting to know everyone from the Shelley House!

This book is such a heartwarming breath of fresh air that readers of all genres can find something to enjoy within its pages!

This is the first book I've read by Freya Sampson, and it's nice to know there is some backlist I can get to as this was an enjoyable, charming read. It's very cozy, and while there is a lot of bittersweet in it as well, as the characters have experienced a variety of human tragedies big and small, it feels very hopeful and the found family is absolutely a joy.

Clever writing makes this plot a fun one to read! You get a peek into the daily lives of the residents of the 6 apartments inside the once grand, but now dilapidated Shelly House. One elderly woman, Dorothy, has made it her life's mission to note down everything that happens as she sits at her window watching or patrolling the building for issues. When the landlord suddenly decides all the residents must go and they decide to fight the eviction, strange events start to occur around the building. As the story unfolds, you start to see into Dorothy and Kat's lives more closely and the baggage that they carry with them from their pasts. Can they save the building, but more importantly can they save themselves? The characters are well drawn and created in a way that makes them realistic and flawed, but utterly relatable. I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author!

This book snuck up on me. I went into this expecting a fun, British, cozy mystery. And I got that, complete with an adorable dog. But, I also got a character-driven, poignant, humorous book with themes of forgiveness, healing, and found family. I loved it!

This story is full of interesting, well-developed characters. I enjoyed seeing beautiful generational friendships form among the quirky tenants trying to save the historic home where they live from being torn down by developers. The world-building is also excellent, and the setting, Shelley House, is vividly depicted in all its crumbling former glory.

This is told in dual POV of young, untrusting, jaded Kat and cantankerous, nosy, septuagenarian Dorothy. Despite their differences, their relationship takes on unexpected facets once they team up, even though it is not smooth sailing. Sampson's characters are flawed, have compelling backstories, and experience significant growth. They had me wholeheartedly rooting for them.

The secondary characters are also beautifully depicted, and the sense of community forged against the backdrop of a mystery investigation is heartwarming. I was sorry to leave these characters once I turned the final page. Well-written and touching, I was engaged from start to finish. This gem was my first read by Sampson, but it will not be my last.

Fans of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers will enjoy this story as both have characters who initially misjudge one another but form deep relationships and unforgettable senior sleuths.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the free book!

This book was so enjoyable to read and my first Freya Sampson story. It was a mix between cozy mystery and contemporary fiction. I loved the characters, the Shelley House “a dilapidated castle”, Reginald the dog, and the themes of community and found family. This book made me think a lot about my own community.

I have been living in the same neighborhood for about 7ish years and have a neighbor that is pretty tight knit. It didn't start that way but we went through a flood and it brought us closer. I also have a neighbor just like Dorthy. I can’t wait for you to meet Dorothy as well as the rest of the Shelly House tenets. I guarantee they will all remind you of someone you have lived nearby at some point in your life and hopefully provide you with the same nostalgia, giggles, and suspense that they provided me.

Now back to my neighbor and Dorthy. Dorthy is a 77 year old sassy, direct, sometimes Curmudgeonly tenant that feels it is her responsibility to monitor all the comings and goings of her neighbors. She jots it down in a notebook with her daily tea and soap opera. Just like my neighbor she is protecting her home. Just like my neighbor she is looking for connection and just like my neighbor she sure is nosy! You get to hear a lot of the story from her point of view and also from another tenant, Kat.

They initially really do not like one another and I found the way they get to know one another very endearing. It reminded me a bit of the character Ove from “A Man Called Ove” and the way he grows on people. I also really loved the other tenants and how their backstories are explored. I also loved how Sampson explores so many relatable themes!

Sampson really showcases that we never really know what our neighbors might be going through and often we are all looking for connection and someone to care. I loved that there are so many relatable topics explored through the characters, especially regret. I think so many of us have felt regret at some point and this story is reassuring and provides hope. It is a story that will make you laugh, make you try to guess whodunnit, and also feels like a warm hug, which is my favorite kind of story!

I am now going to go see how my neighbors are doing, especially the one like Dorothy, and also check out Sampson’s backlist! I can’t wait to hear what you think of this lovely story!

Centered around an apartment building with eclectic residents, Nosy Neighbors is a feel good story about found family.

The characters are endearing, some a bit cantankerous, others hard on the outside, soft on the inside, I absolutely loved watching the layers peel away.

I really enjoyed this one.

Shelley House has stood in the town for over 100 years. Though it's former glory has diminished, it still provides shelter to residents in six flats. Seventy seven year-old Dorothy Darling has lived in her flat for over 30 years. Joseph, across the hall has been her neighbor for almost as long. Sadly, they are neighbors who haven't spoken to one another in ages. The estrangement is Dorothy's choice. In fact, she rarely speaks to anyone unless absolutely necessary. Instead she spends her days watching the comings and goings of her neighbors and doing a daily inspection of the building. Every infraction is recorded in her notebook. Building issues are reported to the landlord who ignores them.
When notice to leave the building arrives, the renters are shocked and start a campaign to save Shelley House and their home. Dorothy, in denial refuses to join forces with her neighbors until eviction notices arrive. In due course residents move out but Dorothy stays put.
Nosy Neighbor could easily be considered lightweight and predictable but there are surprising plot twists, sad back stories and old secrets. The need for human interaction and personal forgiveness add touching depth to the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Books for the ARC.

I love when a community truly becomes a home and that’s the case in this one. Shelley House may be run down but inside these walls is a true bond between the neighbors especially Kat, and the elderly grumpy resident Dorothy. Of course, it didn’t start that way. Kat and Dorothy started off as enemies until they decided to join forces
and face a mutual enemy together. I love this super sleuth duo. This was a fun one!

Huge thank you to #berkleypub and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This story setting kind of gave me vibes like ‘Other Birds’ from Sarah Addison Allen. I enjoyed the living complex and following along while I put together the relationships between all the residents!

It also gave me a man called Ove Vibes but I wasn’t as into the grumpy characters in this story. It also kind of dragged for me but I enjoyed parts of the books still. I’ll be checking out more by this author ✌️