Only Murders in the Building vibes, but without the comedy. I was interested in the story - it was a slow burn, but kept me turning the pages. You find out early on that there is a supernatural aspect to the story, so keep that in mind depending on your reading preferences.

This is my 1st novel by Lisa Unger, but certainly not my last. When a young couple, Rosie & Chad are bequeathed an apartment in a historical building, they think their future is looking up. Weird events begin to unfurl, and the residents are their own set of odd. It quickly becomes known that this building has been the home of many tragedies. Can a building really be haunted? If so, can it be cleansed, and its spirits find closure? Or maybe certain people are behind the mounting number of curious and scary occurrences. Paradise found or doomed? Thanks to Harper Audio & NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest review.

I loved everything about Lisa Unger's latest release, The New Couple in 5B. A building full of secrets, residents who all seem friendly, but also to be hiding something, and a ghost in the basement? Yes, yes, and yes. I loved the dual timelines and how they tied together, all around Apartment 5B. This is my favorite kind of thriller, where there's a realistic, believable plot with real-life characters, but also that element of the paranormal to add in that little spine-tingling chill that is perfectly narrated.

Rosie is a true crime author trying to start a family with her husband, Chad, in New York. Their lives are forever changed when Chad inherits a luxury apartment from his uncle in the historic Windermere. Both Chad and Windermere have tragic pasts and Rosie keeps having visions of more tragedy on the horizon. Are these visions just her overactive imagination or is more death to come?

An absolute page turner with so many twists that I didn't see coming.

I found Lisa Unger's suspense novel, The New Couple in 5-B, very entertaining. The new couple referenced in the book's title are Rosie and Chad Lowan, a promising non-fiction writer with one successful book behind her and Rosie's husband, an aspiring actor. The two, short on cash, but hoping for better, become the unexpected inheritors of Chad's uncle's expensive Manhattan apartment, a place they will have to stretch to afford.
Most of the book's tension - and several unexplained deaths, stem from two facts. Chad's uncle, who Chad and Rosie had attended to in his dying months, bequeathed the apartment to them, rather than his estranged daughter. And the apartment was part of a larger apartment that had been in the family of the long-time residents of Apartment 5, now a subdivided Apartment 5A. The young couple is welcomed to their new apartment by the seemingly friendly and solicitous long-time residents but are unnerved by the ubiquitous presence of the building's elder doorman, who, it appears has unfettered access to their intercom system, a feature of building service that is unnerving to Rosie. The first death, I won't say of who, draws in both Rosie's sister and Rosie's friend and editor, and leads to Rosie's uncomfortable discovery about elements of Chad's past as well as a reckoning with her own tortured past.
The narrator was great and enhanced an already spinetingling adventure.
Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Two thumbs up for this one.

New York City couple Chad (an actor) and Rosie (an author) inherit an historic luxury apartment upon the death of Chad's uncle. At first, the other residents of the building are warm and welcoming. But as time goes on, Rosie becomes suspicious and is determined to learn the truth about the building and its inhabitants.

This has to be my favourite Lisa Unger novel. This one reminded me a little of Riley Sager's "Lock Every Door." This book was fast paced and a lot of fun to read. I loved the main character, Rosie, and how well developed her character was.

Rosie Lowan is surprised to find that her husband's uncle Max has left them his apartment in a Manhattan building. They did help Max in his final few months of life, but everyone assumed he would leave the apartment to his estranged daughter. Rosie's husband Chad is a struggling actor and she is a self-employed writer, so they are thrilled at the sudden upgrade to their lifestyle. Rosie has heard that their new building, the Windermere, has been the location of many strange occurrences over the years, so she decides to investigate its dark history as the basis for her next true crime book. Once they move in, Rosie begins to experience strange events, including some that seem to be supernatural in nature. The neighbors are mostly older and have lived in the building for years and all are welcoming. The long-serving doorman, however, seems to be nearly always on duty and to know more about the comings and goings of the residents than he should. Then several deaths occur and as Rosie delves deeper into those and what happened at the building in the past, she begins to wonder who she can trust.

I enjoyed all of the twists and turns in the story. The narrator did a good job with the voices for the various characters (except for the little sister, whose hillbilly accent was a bit too much of a parody!).

This was the most suspenseful Lisa Unger book I have read so far. I loved the paranormal element and the cast of characters. The duel timeline really added to the mystery, and I thought it was easy to follow. I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense throughout, and this book kept me reading and guessing till the very end. To be honest, the narrator was not my favorite, and I found it difficult to distinguish between her different voices. But the story itself was enough to keep me listening. I do think I would have enjoyed it more while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book was entertaining, but I just couldn't get myself to like the main character, or really any of the characters. That made it hard to get invested in the stakes and there was no real anxiety or stress about their safety and what may be happening. The foreshadowing also led to few surprises in the book and the motivations seemed so small compared to the crimes committed and the lengths they went to. While I didn't love it, it was still interesting and was easy to listen to. The setting was certainly an added character in this book, and gave the creepy, eerie atmosphere to help ratchet up the tension. It wasn't love for me, but it was still good and I'm sure others will find it very entertaining.

I received an advanced copy of this book but DNF. I enjoy Lisa Unger, but this one didn't really appeal to me once I got started. No fault of the author, just not my gig. I think I'm a bit burned out with thrillers about brooding couples and suspicious dwellings

Rosie and Chad Lowan are struggling to make ends meet until they inherit an expensive apartment. Soon after people around them start to die. Surely it couldn't be because their apartment is coveted.

When a couple inherits a wonderful apartment in NYC, they, of course, move in, but even with this good fortune, things start to go wrong - with deaths and disappearances. This haunting thriller is a complete page turner, but I did want to yell at the protagonist by the end of the book for her obtuseness.

Despite its promising premise, 'The Couple in 5B' fails to deliver a compelling narrative or engaging characters. The plot feels predictable, and the characters lack depth, making it difficult for readers to invest in their journey. Overall, a forgettable read that falls short of its potential.

Lisa Unger used to be one of my go to authors. ‘In the Blood’ was fantastic. However, her recent work has left me more than underwhelmed.

Title: The New Couple in 5B
Author: Lisa Unger
Narrator: Vivienne Leheny
Publisher: Harper Audio
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: March 6, 2024
My Rating: 4.5 rounded up
Pages: 401

In this story Rosie is a true crime writer and husband is a struggling actor. They have been financially struggling in NYC waiting for their big break. Chad inherits an apartment from his Uncle Ivan located in the historic Windermere, the Lowan’s are sure their luck has changed! .

But as they settle into their new home, Rosie starts to experience strange things.

It appears some bad things - deaths, suicides etc. have been going on at the Wyndemere for some time So Rosie’s suspicions about something dark happening in the Windermere.is not all that new.

I am good with paranormal so was anxious to meet the Windermere ghosts.
A comment is made that “the Building has power”!
I liked that ghost Willow told Rosie that she was in danger!!!

There is no doubt these characters are interesting. I liked Rosie’s connection with little sister Sarah.
I really enjoyed this audiobook Narrator Vivienne Leheny does a fab job performing the characters and made the story even more enjoyable.
I read this a few months ago and was puzzled by my rating as my review indicated that I liked it. So glad I decided to redo by listening to the audiobook.😍
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I am a Lisa Unger fan and was excited to read her latest novel!

This is my twelfth Lisa Unger novel. I am adding this to my the top of my 'LIKE' list ~other are: [book: Secluded Cabin Sleep Six, Confessions on the 745, Ink and Bone, The Red Hunter, and Darkness, My old Friend].

This audiobook did not include the Author’s Acknowledgments and/or ‘Notes’; which I always enjoying reading however they were included in the eGalley so I am including them.

Ms. Unger usually gives us the inside scoop to her motivation as well as research for her stories in the Author’s Notes and/or Acknowledgements. In this case she tells us that her aunt Phyllis Davidson who lived in a two bedroom apartment at 55 Park Avenue. In fact, Rosie and Chard’s inherit apartment was inspired by her aunt’s place in Murray Hill.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harper Audio and Harlequin Trade Publishing ~ Park Row for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 6, 2024

✨Book Review✨
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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This was a pretty good thriller! If you like creepy building vibes, I would recommend this one. It reminded me a little of the Paris Apartment and Lock Every Door so if you liked either of those I think this one is for you. I read the majority of this book in two days, so the drive to know what is going to happen is strong. And I actually liked the ending, which is not always the case for me. I listened to the audio for most of the book, but I think I preferred the e-book.

The New Couple in 5B will keep you reading or listening well into the night. But, if you have nightmares reading it in the daytime is advised. It is an extremely atmospheric, creepy, spine tingler of a mystery with a supposedly haunted pre-war building in Manhattan, murders, suicides and accidents, a family of ‘healer’s, fortune tellers, and seers’ one of whom is now a true crime novelist who has just moved into 5B with her actor husband, and a host of other characters all with dark secrets. Fans of Riley Sager will love this one.

I really, really wanted to love this audiobook, but unfortunately I think the narrator made it rather slow to get into. It just felt so monotone. Had I read the actual book, I think I would have enjoyed this one more.

Be careful of what you inherit! Author Rosie is a real crime author married to a struggling actor. Finances are tight so when her husband, Chad's uncle leaves them an upscale apartment in one of the buildings that has an usual amount of deaths in its past, this couple can't say no. In true form of books set in questionable buildings nothing and nobody is quite what they seem. A good spooky building thriller where the twists were good but somewhat predictable. The narrator was easy to listen to and did a good job. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free audiocopy for a honest review.

I received this as a digital audiobook. Thank you.
A young couple, a writer and an actor, move into an elite New York apartment and things are too good to be true. things are looking up or are they? Narration well done and Lisa Unger keeps the twists turning in her story. Hard to stop listening to this title.