Lisa Unger has been one of my first and favorite authors since deciding to read out of my romance comfort zone and give thrillers a try.

THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B was such a great read, with suspense that kept me on edge, and a captivating storyline that drew me in right away. Once again, I was pulled into Unger’s layered and atmospheric writing, and loved the NYC setting.

*many thanks to Park Row books and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Atmospheric and creepy, this book is set in an historic New York Apartment Building and focuses on a young couple. When an Uncle dies and leaves his apartment to them, they feel very lucky to move in. Then odd things start happening and people start dying. Rosie Lowan starts seeing ghosts, is not comfortable with the buildings intercom system that always seems to listening and she begins to wonder who to trust. There are plenty of twists and turns that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat and turning pages.

I finished this book in one day. I really wanted to know what was up with this dang building. I enjoyed the human and paranormal aspects of this story.

I received this digital ARC free from NetGalley. This read combines thriller and horror all in one. It’s fast moving and creepy leaving you wanting move. If you like thrillers, being held in suspense, and are ready for a good read, this one is for you.

I have read other Lisa Unger books and this one was unfortunately a disappointment. The supernatural aspect of the story was the only part that I did enjoy, but it played a minor role. The main character's point of view was tedious in the description of her slow boring thoughts. The police involvement was impractical. I finished the story to the end, but even the ending was not great.

4 stars

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger - Oh dang. This was good. I took a little bit off because the beginning was kind of a slog, but the rest of the book was fast-paced and very entertaining. I do think I would have liked to know more about the door man and his feelings after the woman died and maybe a bit more about Chad's past but otherwise, I'm happy with what I read. Freaking old rich people and the stuff they would do to upkeep their appearance/status.

This audiobook is narrated by Vivienne Leheny

•Thank you to @harperaudio & @parkrowbooks

This gripping gothic narrative will have you captivated from the first few pages with its creepy and cramped style; but, don't expect it to seem realistic.

This was an atmospheric, layered mystery, with lots of death by many different means. It reminded me of a darker, eerier "Only Murders in the Building." It was a bit slow at times, but it did keep me guessing and interested. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator, Vivienne Leheny, was first rate. Many thanks to Harper Audio/Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for an audio e-ARC of this book.

What can I say, I’m a big fan of Lisa Unger and she did it again. It was twisty, suspenseful, creepy and unputdowable.
It kept me guessing, by the end everyone was a suspect and I just needed to know what was going on behind everything. A fantastic read.

Thank you @harlequin_audio and @netgalley for this gifted audiobook.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝟱𝗕 by @launger released March 5, 2024.

This story takes the reader on a ride, in the dark and you feel like you are blindfolded. Trying the solve the mystery won't be easy as you certainly are missing pieces to this puzzle until the end. Overall, a good read and a unique story.

There are times in a b0ok like this where the twists seem contrived, and while this seemed a little in the machinations surrounding the apartment, I appreciated the understanding that the main character has for her past, and how it influences her present and her decision making. The way that her past is worked into the story, and her talents are exposed and discussed in the book are really clever. I liked the characters so much, I was disappointed at the husband by the end of the book, but overall this was a good, fascinating tale that kept me interested and enjoying this title until the end.

Thank you #NetGalley, and #HarperAudio for granting me access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a good thriller. I gave it 3 stars, but it should be more like 3.5. The story had all of the elements a thriller should have, but the ending was more of a head tilt than a twist. Regardless, it was enjoyable.

This title contains plot lines related to and descriptions of the following: mental illness, gaslighting, religious abuse, suicide, death (including that of a child), pregnancy, infertility, and miscarriages.

After providing that disclaimer, it feels weird to say this book is fun, but it actually is! I flew through The New Couple in 5B and was desperate to find out what would happen next. I loved the flashbacks and dual timelines. Perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Rosemary’s Baby! The narrator was wonderful and paired very well with the story.

This was a fantastic thriller! I liked how it was mostly set in the present time but would also occasionally go back into the past. I thought Rosie and Chad were really compelling and complicated characters. The twists & turns were also really well done. The audiobook narrator was really fantastic. The tonal changes during the exciting scenes really worked well for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Unger & Harper Audio for an audio ARC of The New Couple in 5B in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa Unger can be hit or miss with me, but when she hits, she does so very well. So, I’m always going to read her books. Luckily, this one was a hit!

I have described this book to friends as Lock Every Door meets The Nestlings.

This story was VERY atmospheric from the start, which I absolutely LOVED!

The doorman is creepy AF and the reader learns pretty quickly that not all of the neighbors are what they seem; and the ones who are, don’t stick around very long.

After inheriting a luxury apartment from his late uncle, Chad & his wife Rosie move into their seemingly dream home at the Windemere, but soon after moving in, Rosie begins to see creepy ghosts and encounters strange neighbors & literally no one will answer her questions, especially the doorman. What exactly is going on at the Windemere & why has it been so plagued with crime over the years?

This was a solid 4.5/5 Stars that I am happy to recommend.

I found that the New Couple in 5B was very predictable. The twists were obvious early on in the book. I am growing bored with the mystery / thriller genre as a whole because it largely features white women who question their own sanity and/or others do as well. The thick Southern accent for the young sister to be too harsh, off-putting and somewhat infantilizing to her character.

I was really wanting to like this book but it was like I have read/heard this story before. I was hoping that there was something more to the story than the typical Park Avenue haunted house story (there’s a few books and TV shows that oddly/eerily are very similar to this book). I was hoping then for a clever twist at the end, which there was, but sadly I definitely saw it coming. I was also a little saddened by the fact that everyone is “gaslighting” the main protagonist Rosie kind of due to her gender. Disappointing as the author is female and is perpetuating that stereotypical trope.

I was a little confused when I first started listening to this audiobook as my brain could not figure out the different characters and their storylines. Once I figured that out, the story was great and moved along at a quick pace. I loved the hints of paranormal activity and that Lisa Unger brings us back to the necklaces and the group that wears them throughout the story. Looking forward to Lisa's next book.

Vivienne Leheny did a great job narrating this story and i look forward to listening to more books narrated by Vivienne in the future.

This book constantly had me trying to keep up and get to the bottom of what was happening. There were several elements of mystery and intrigue, but at times it was slow moving and there were so many characters that I felt like I was ping ponging around trying to keep up with everyone.

Thanks so much to Lisa Unger and NetGalley for the advanced audio of this story.
Rosie and Chad inherit a luxury apartment in the historic swanky Windermere. Rosie, an author, and Chad an aspiring actor can't believe their luck. The elegant building comes with its very own doorman, security, and new friends. The Windermere's dark and haunted past begins to rear its ugly head and a shadow is cast upon Rosie and Chad and soon people begin to die.
As Rosie and Chad settle into their new home, we begin to see things are not always what they seem, and the dead have never left the Windermere.
A great mystery/thriller by L. Unger. A great combination of spooky and mystery.