Going in I had certain expectations about the plot, however it surprised me in a good way. This was a twisty, moody read where multiple storylines of past and present collide and provide a highly satisfying ending.

Read this if you like:
-isolated cult vibes
-multiple POVs
-dual timelines
-complex characters and different storylines that eventually connect
-snippets of magical realism
-many twists and turns
-satisfying ending
-seemingly perfect family that is unveiled to be the opposite of that
-childhood trauma and survival
-multiple characters hiding many secrets and lies

My rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing MIRA for this eARC that will be published August 6 2024.

This moves back and forth in time and between perspectives to tell the story of the death of a young girl on Orcas Island. Hannah has a dark secret in her past, a secret that's going to come out if she continues to look for the answers to the mystery, answers she needs. Her husband Allan has secrets too. This has multiple plot lines, leans into a cult, and has a touch of the paranormal (this was a weak part of the novel IMHO), It can feel confusing but then you'll see where Chance is g0ing. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read.

I enjoyed this one and loved that it contained a storyline that is not completely overdone. It was told in multiple POV and duel timeline (Then and now) which seemed confusing in the beginning, but all came together perfectly. This is a twisty thriller with cult aspects and bits and pieces of magical realism.
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.

The Body Next Door
Maia Chance
Out 7/6

This was a culty little mystery/thriller with multiple perspectives and timelines, and a hint of the supernatural. Unfortunately, due to the shifting perspectives, I was never fully invested in the overall story. I also struggled with believability. But I'm a major outlier on this one as it's getting tons of rabve reviews, so definitely check out some other reviews. ☺️

Thank you HTP for my gifted ARC

I was invited to the blog tour for this book.
My link will be posted on my blog on Pub Day: 08/06/24

The Body Next Door had all the elements that I love in books: domestic suspense, magical realism and cults. I don’t think I’ve ever seen those three genres blended together before.

We follow multiple POVs (another thing that I love!) from past and present. In the present, a body is found next door to a couples home. In the past, we follow a boy as his mom is sucked into a cult. It was fun seeing how the POVs were going to blend together.

I liked this book, I enjoyed the ride. The characters were fun to follow. I didn’t expect magical realism from this book and that part left me wanting more. Something just felt missing when I finished the book but I can’t pinpoint what. I’ll definitely be keeping on eye out for any future thrillers from Maia Chance though!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
3.5 ⭐️

Okay so what did I just read? In a good way! I was not expecting anything to go the way it did during this book! It was crazy! Such a good thriller read! The plot was amazing, and the characters were good and just added to the story

This story begins with Hannah, mother to Oliver and Sibley, and wife to Allan. He is very well off and Hannah leads a privileged life, 180° different from the way she grew up. But when Oliver is suspended from school, the cracks start to show in this façade.
A dead body is found next to their summer house on Orcas Island. Hannah and Allan seem a little bit too interested and a lot of upset. What do they know about this crime?
Told in the past and in the present, we are also given POVs by Caroline, Trey, and Josh. How are all these people related? All will slowly be revealed. There is a lot going on here, even a touch of the supernatural/magical. I don’t want to fall into spoiler territory, but I’m actually not sure exactly what the origins of this magical element was, but it adds an interesting dynamic to the story.
There were quite a few surprises towards the end. While I was hoping for a slightly different ending, that’s not to imply that the wrap up was bad.

If you've followed my reviews for any length of time, you'll know that I really love a thriller that focuses on rich people behaving badly - especially when their past mistakes begin to catch up with them; that's exactly what I got with this one.

This time around, we're taken on a journey through the seemingly perfect life of Hannah McCullough, a young mother with a wealthy husband and a dark secret that threatens to unravel her carefully constructed façade. The 'rich people behaving badly' aspect comes into play as we delve into the moral and ethical dilemmas these characters face, and how their wealth and privilege influence their decisions and actions.

The story kicks off when a body is discovered near the McCulloughs' vacation home on Orcas Island near Seattle, setting off a chain of events that will challenge Hannah and her husband Allan in ways neither saw coming. They're rich, after all, and Allan has always been able to throw money at anything that could work against him or crack his perfect veneer. But, as the police investigation deepens, they find that the victim may have been a member of an apocalyptic cult that lived near the McCullough's vacation home, and Hannah may know more about her than anyone realizes.

I have to give the author kudos for building tension and keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the mystery unravels. There were several times when I thought I had it figured out, and then the story would throw a curveball and put me on a different path, only to jerk the wheel again - all without causing "twistplash". The eerie, remote setting of Orcas Island adds to the atmosphere, making it the perfect backdrop for a story filled with twists and turns; a sense of unease and suspense permeates every page.

The novel is well-paced, and Chance's writing is engaging and accessible. This makes it easy to get lost in the story and lose track of time. I will admit that when I started the book, I had a few concerns, mainly because we flipped between several different characters right off the bat. Usually, when a book alternates between multiple characters, I get annoyed. It ended up not being a problem in the end, primarily due to Chance really knowing her characters and giving each of them a distinct voice and perspective. I never felt lost or confused.

As Hannah's search for answers takes unexpected turns and she crosses paths with strangers harboring their own dark secrets, the stakes only get higher. The tension builds to a gripping climax that will leave readers breathless and satisfied with the resolution. My only problem with this one was the addition of the magical powers of one of the characters. While it was integral to the plot, it felt out of place to me because it seemed to shift the focus from the psychological thriller aspect to a more fantastical one. Usually, I'm okay with magical realism in books, but when it shows up unexpectedly in a thriller or mystery, I have a difficult time getting on board with it.

Overall, I found this novel to be a fast-paced, and fun read. Despite the unexpected introduction of magical elements, which initially caught me off guard, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. The well-crafted cast of characters, each of whom you either love or love to hate really made the book for me. If you are looking for a compelling mystery with a touch of magical realism, I would certainly recommend this one.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Maia Chance’s “The Body Next Door” takes a deliciously twisted turn on the classic thriller. Imagine a seemingly perfect family—wealthy, polished, and living the dream—until secrets start clawing their way to the surface. Add in a body unearthed near their vacation home on picturesque Orcas Island, and you’ve got a recipe for suspense.

Hannah McCollough’s life appears flawless: devoted mother, doting wife, and all the trappings of luxury. But beneath the designer clothes lies a dark secret—one that resurfaces when a construction crew discovers a young girl’s body. As the police investigation deepens, Hannah’s picture-perfect marriage begins to crack. Her desperate hunt for answers leads her to three strangers, each harboring shocking secrets of their own.

“The Body Next Door” is a riveting read. Maia Chance plunges us into cult dynamics, power struggles, and the fragility of the human heart. The setting—Orcas Island—is as gorgeous as it is eerie. Hannah’s journey from façade to truth is both chilling and compelling. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride through betrayal and buried truths.

For fans of moody, character-driven mysteries, this novel delivers. Well-developed characters and satisfying conclusion make it a worthwhile read. Dive in—you won’t be disappointed.

I was excited for the cult. I was excited for the murder, but the book lost me with the magic. I’m down for reading magical books and fantasy, if that is what I choose to read and know it going in, but this book was not touted as such. I did finish reading and enjoyed the cult-y/twisty parts, but the magical part was so much a part of the book that it took away from the parts I liked.

Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

2.5⭐️

So the book held my attention at first, then I took a break from it. I did want to finish to see how everything came together so I picked it up and continued on.

There were sooo many POVs at first and I had no idea who the people were. It was a bit overwhelming. Also the dual timeline added to the confusion.

At the end of the book I was just like wow, what was that? It wasn’t shocking nor climatic but I was happy to see a certain couple reunite. I wouldn’t say this is a suspenseful thriller. More like a mystery.

There was a “magical” element to the story as well so it didn’t seem entirely realistic.

I’m glad to see many people loved this one. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Pub date is 8/6/24

Finally finished this ARC! It had a lot of character’s and their POV, then vs now’s, and twists! I gave it 3.5/5 because I felt like the multiple characters were hard to keep up with in the beginning. I also felt like the touch of magic that was added in threw me for a loop because it was mostly a thriller/mystery. By the time I finished it, I did think it was a decent read and fun. This book comes out in August, so be on the lookout!

This book was so good! There were so many twists and turns! I kept thinking I had it figured out things would switch up on me. I struggled emotionally with a few parts but that’s because I can be sensitive with certain things. I do not want to give away spoilers so just make sure to check TWs.

If you’re looking for a twisty thriller with supernatural elements, then this is for you!

The Body Next Door takes a fun twist on your classic thriller, a rich family that seems to have the perfect life until you start looking deeper. Add in a body being unearthed, a great setting (look up Orcas Island it’s gorgeous), and a CULT? I’m hooked.

We get a large cast off the bat and two different timelines to follow- at first I was apprehensive but Chance does a good job of distinguishing them and keeps the ball rolling.

Some of the formatting felt a bit awkward- in particular some of the chapters were only a single page and while it worked to build up the suspense in the end of the book it felt awkwardly placed in the middle.
There is also a magical aspect that may take some readers out of the story but I don’t have any problems suspending reality so it didn’t bother me.

Overall a very fun and fast read- 3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review of; The Body Next Door, publishing 8/6/2024

This book really will keep you guessing as to who has done what! There are multiple POV’s and multiple timelines (then/now). This is my first Maia Chance book and I will definitely be looking into more of her books. I think she did an excellent job of tying all of the characters,POV’s and timelines together.

The twists when they come are excellent and the way that this author ties all the characters together and weaves the past into the present was great. This book has so many great elements cults, twists you don’t see coming, moody writing with an in depth plot.

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it took me a little while to get into this book due to there being so many POV’s and switching between the 2 timelines that I was confused at the start, but once it picks up it was impossible to put the book down!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion!

Not sure where to start with this review. I got 40% in and just couldn't do it anymore. There are numerous POV's and 2 different timelines which I could mostly handle even though there wasn't anything combining them up to that point. I was expecting a thriller but not ready for the magical realism.

I enjoyed Hannah's storyline and her dealing with an overbearing husband. She obviously has secrets and so does he. But then there is Carolina and Greene.....very weird people who apparently converse with inanimate objects. When young Greene asks his Matchbox car to ride around the room and carries on conversations with said vehicle, I just gave up.

Sorry, not my cup of tea. I've read reviews where people absolutely love the book, glad there are books out there for all of us.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

First this is the first book I have read by Ms. Chance. I was intrigued by this book, and the characters. Hannah McCullough has a great life with her husband and two children. She has a secret past that her husband knows about. He took her in when she needed someone. He was her rock. Now there’s something going on at there vacation home on Orcas Island. Hannah decides she will take the kids Oliver and Sibley for a little break. What she doesn’t expect is the housekeeper, and the landscaper. She learns that Allan hired them.
There is something Hannah learns that points at Allan. She doesn’t know what to do. But she must find the answers about what is going on.

I had my doubts about Allan. He was a dotting husband a good father, but there was something suspicious about him. He was married before, and had a wonderful son named Josh. I liked Josh a lot.

So much more to come. I highly recommend this book. Oh there’s other characters. One who plays a very important role, and his name Greene.

A good amount of twist and turns. I was shocked.

8/10

That was pretty crazy. Like really crazy.

At first, I had a hard time with this book because it introduced so many characters all at once and they didn't have proper introductions or anything. I'm not great with names so I was like huh? Who? And it was all different cities and timelines. But wow, things did make sense and then it clicks. Right into place. Brilliant.

While I do rate this quite high, I do not see myself re-reading. It's so fucked up and disturbing cus of the Farm stuff. I actually don't like cult themes at all and I wasn't aware this book had it, along with superpowers so I was caught off guard but it was good still.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher who sent me an early copy of the book.

This book is the victim of misrepresentative marketing. The cover and the description lead readers to believe they're diving into a domestic thriller, but The Body Next Door is a bizarre foray into a cult, with an unexplainable side trip into the supernatural. I forced myself through this book, and only became interested about 40 percent in, which is when the past and present characters intersect.