This book was really well written. It had me engaged and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend to a friend.

The Bad Neighbor by Jennifer Ruff is definitely a must read! It is the ninth book in the Agent Victoria Heslin Series. If you haven’t read this series yet, never fear. Each of the books in her series read as standalones. That is really nice. In fact I started the series on book 3 and own one and two. I hope to find time this winter to go back and read them. The perk of reading them in order is that you learn Victoria’s past and get to know her as she excels with her career with the FBI.

I have to say that out of the seven books I’ve read of this particular series, I’ve enjoyed every one of them. The cases are all so different and they hold your interest from the very first page. I love a book that grabs your interest and won’t let you go. Don’t you?

This book was very different because it takes place in her own exclusive neighborhood. She doesn’t often spend a lot of time at home. She is on the road a lot solving cases and looking for criminals. Consequently she doesn’t know her neighbors that well. A new couple moved in down the street recently and the wife went missing. Victoria is on vacation and immediately lends a hand in the search. All of the neighbors and even the husband are looked at as the culprit.

I have to say she kept me guessing. I had a hint of where she might be and I also thought it might be the teenage son of one couple. She kept me reading and I had a hard time putting this page-turner down. I even dreamed of this book at night. That is always a good indication to me that this is an exceptional book. I don’t dream about every book that I read. It has to be one my mind is working on in the background.

If you love a good mystery and one that just happens to include an old murder that was thought to be a disappearance then this book should be your next engrossing read. It certainly needs to be on your nightstand. I highly recommend this book for your reading pleasure. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the #Jenifer Ruff. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Bad Neighbor by Jennifer Ruff is definitely a must read! It is the ninth book in the Agent Victoria Heslin Series. If you haven’t read this series yet, never fear. Each of the books in her series read as standalones. That is really nice. In fact I started the series on book 3 and own one and two. I hope to find time this winter to go back and read them. The perk of reading them in order is that you learn Victoria’s past and get to know her as she excels with her career with the FBI.

I have to say that out of the seven books I’ve read of this particular series, I’ve enjoyed every one of them. The cases are all so different and they hold your interest from the very first page. I love a book that grabs your interest and won’t let you go. Don’t you?

This book was very different because it takes place in her own exclusive neighborhood. She doesn’t often spend a lot of time at home. She is on the road a lot solving cases and looking for criminals. Consequently she doesn’t know her neighbors that well. A new couple moved in down the street recently and the wife went missing. Victoria is on vacation and immediately lends a hand in the search. All of the neighbors and even the husband are looked at as the culprit.

I have to say she kept me guessing. I had a hint of where she might be and I also thought it might be the teenage son of one couple. She kept me reading and I had a hard time putting this page-turner down. I even dreamed of this book at night. That is always a good indication to me that this is an exceptional book. I don’t dream about every book that I read. It has to be one my mind is working on in the background.

If you love a good mystery and one that just happens to include an old murder that was thought to be a disappearance then this book should be your next engrossing read. It certainly needs to be on your nightstand. I highly recommend this book for your reading pleasure. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the #Jenifer Ruff. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I loved the 9th novel in the Victoria Heslin series, The Bad Neighbor. In this book, we find Victoria and Ned helping to investigate what happened to one of their missing neighbors. The story was full of twists and surprises. Also, one neighbor is a perfect villain and I’m so glad none of my neighbors are like her (hmmm…Grace, girl, I’m talking about you). I did not guess the ending of this one either.

Like the rest of Jenifer’s books, I highly recommend reading this book especially if you like dark crime novels with a strong female protagonist.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website).

Author name: Jenifer Ruff @author.jenifer.ruff
Book name: The Bad Neighbor (Agent Victoria Heslin Series Book 9)
Publisher: Greyt Companion Press
Pub date: October 1, 2024
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Summary:
In the idyllic Mountain Meadows neighborhood, a fresh start can quickly become a fatal ending.
For newcomers Chris and Zoey Hamilton, the affluent community seems like the perfect location to build a life together. Instead, history repeats itself when Zoey vanishes without a trace—just like the previous homeowner five years ago.
Enter FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin, known for her relentless pursuit of the truth. Her investigation uncovers a history of lies and betrayal festering beneath manicured gardens and picture-perfect smiles.

The more Victoria digs, the clearer it becomes: the secrets in Mountain Meadows run deep, and the greatest threats aren’t lurking in the shadows...they’re hosting dinner parties, attending parent-teacher conferences, going to yoga, and waving hello from behind their perfectly trimmed hedges. One of those polite, smiling individuals will stop at nothing to keep the past buried.

My thoughts:
Thank you, @NetGally for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

My October started with a BAM!!! I found a new author to crush on again, and Jenifer Ruff didn’t disappoint! The Bad Neighbor is gripping and so interesting that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the first page until the very last.

A missing case in the perfect neighborhood, and FBI Agent Victoria Heslin is on the hunt for the truth. Everyone in the neighborhood is suspicious, including Zoey’s husband. The deeper the investigation goes, the more layers of betrayal and lies are uncovered—leading back to past secrets that refuse to stay hidden.

This book is a feast for crime thrillers and mystery lovers. It’s nail-biting suspense with so many twists, it’ll have you guessing until the end. I absolutely loved the strength of Victoria as a detective, and characters like Ned and Sullivan added so much to the plot.

This is a must-read for crime, thriller, and suspense fans! Trust me, it’s totally worth it.

Book released today—go get it!
#NetGalley #TheBadNeighbor

Thanks to Net galley for making this available. This is the first book I've read by Jennifer Ruff and I will definitely be checking out more of her books. I really liked most of the characters and thought this was a really good read. I wish it gave me the option to leave 4-1/2 stars because I would definitely give it that.

Loved this book. It’s about the inner politics of an affluent neighborhood. The resident FBI agent fights time to save a new neighbor and to solve the 5 year old mystery of another neighbor. It gripped me by the hand and I didn’t put it down until the last page. Recommend!

I didn’t realize this was part of a series but I wasn’t lost at all. I’ll definitely be going back to read the other 8 books. I couldn’t put this book down, I read it in a day! Each page just wants to keep you reading until you finished.

Thanks to NetGalley for having this available to read!

I really liked this! It was my first book from this series and it was a really easy, fun read. The characters were all so well-developed, even the minor ones. Some plot points, at first, didn't seem like they'd end up being all that relevant and I thought they were mentioned to throw the reader off, but then everything came together so thoughtfully. I definitely plan to check out more of this series next time I need a quick thriller read.

Another addition of one of my favorite thriller series! Jenifer's writing style and character development are unmatched. I hope she continues this series for a long time.

Full of suspense and so thrilling! Every time I thought I knew what was happening, I was shocked. I can’t wait to read more from Jenifer Ruff!

The Bad Neighbor by Jenifer Ruff is a highly recommended investigative thriller. This is the ninth book in the series featuring FBI Agent Victoria Heslin but can easily be read as a standalone novel.

Chris and Zoey Hamilton have just moved from California into their dream home, a fixer-upper in the affluent Virginia community of Mountain Meadows. The house was the home of a notorious embezzler Steve Johnson who disappeared without a trace five years and his wife decided to sell it. The two are trying to fix it up while building a new life together when Zoey suddenly disappears.

FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin and her fiancé veterinarian Ned Patterson also live in Mountain Meadows. When out running early one morning they discover two dogs running free without an owner around. The dogs belonged to Zoey and while returning them Victoria learns that Zoey is missing. She and Ned help look for her on the trails and then Chris contacts the police. It appears that something happened to Zoey, leaving her dogs to run loose. Since Victoria and Ned were taking the week off, they become involved in the search for Zoey.

This is a nightmare neighborhood full of people who are potential suspects, with the exception of Victoria and Ned. The narrative moves back and forth in time through mainly three different viewpoints, with a fourth added later. Chapters follow Zoey's story leading up to her disappearance, the opinions of a snobbish neighbor named Grace, and Victoria in the present day investigation. All of the characters are delineated as individuals and it is easy to distinguish between them.

The investigation moves a quick pace with short chapters alternating the points-of-view and time periods. This choice helps keep interest high as clues are discovered in both timelines and it introduces all the suspicious neighbors. The pages flew by quickly as both timelines are equally compelling. Thanks to BooksGoSocial for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

The Bad Neighbor: Agent Victoria Heslin Series Book 9 by Jenifer Ruff delivers a compelling mystery with credible characters and an atmospheric locale. I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the setting, which made me feel like I was really there. The plot was well-written.

Overall, I would rate The Bad Neighbor 4 out of 5 for its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and skillful writing that kept me hooked throughout the book.

#TheBadNeighbor #NetGalley

I finished this last night - happy me. It's an easy read. Got two timelines - now and then.

I'm not a person who likes detective concept books but surprisingly I love this book. The chapters were nice and short. Fast-paced. Keeps me guessing who the bad guy is until the culprit appears. Unpredictable.

4.5 ⭐️ for me and definitely will read more from this author.

Thank you @netgalley and @booksgosocialgroup and the author for this eARC.

Pub date: 1st October 2024

4.5 ⭐️s

When I saw the opportunity to read this book, I ran to read what it was about and immediately knew that I needed to read it ASAP! And thankfully I was given that chance because it was so good.

I really love discovering new authors and getting the chance to brag about them and their work. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends.

It was thrilling and kept me guessing the entire time. I would have never guessed how it was going to end.

Such a good fast paced thriller! My first book by this author. Will be going back to read the others in this series. I was happy that I didn’t miss a beat bumping right in with book 9. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this before release date on Oct 1, 2024.

I was captivated within the first few pages! I found myself unable to put it down. This book can be read as a stand alone, but it's actually book 9 in a series. The Bad Neighbor is my first read from this author and I will definitely be reading more.

The book has multiple points of view as well as going between the past and present.
This is definitely not a cozy mystery but for me, it read like one.

It was a real "who dunnit" mystery with multiple people looking guilty. I figured it out before the reveal but the author had me second guessing myself a few times.

I received an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

I rarely give 5 stars (even my favorite book is only 4 stars for me because of excessive foul language), but I truly enjoyed this book and the writing style.

This was my first book from the Agent Victoria Heslin series and I enjoyed it so much, I will be picking up the previous books. The Bad Neighbor is book 9 in the series and can easily be read as a standalone. In this story, Agent Heslin helps to find her missing neighbor, Zoey. Zoey and Chris have recently moved into an affluent community. Zoey finds the move cross country difficult and has mixed feelings about her new home, especially knowing it’s history. When she goes missing, everyone in the neighborhood becomes a suspect. Is Zoey’s disappearance connected to the previous crimes committed in the small community or did she leave on her own, unhappy with her new living arrangement? I enjoyed the authors quick paced writing style. With so many possible suspects, I was kept guessing til the end. Small references the previous novels has me intrigued on how Agent Heslin ended up living in the neighborhood. The Bad Neighbor was a good afternoon read for fans of psychological thrillers.

I really enjoyed this suspenseful read! The setting of Mountain Meadows adds a perfect layer of eerie contrast to the unfolding mystery. The disappearance of Zoey Hamilton and the connection to the previous homeowner's vanishing set up a compelling mystery. FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin’s investigation reveals how the seemingly perfect neighborhood hides a web of deceit and danger. The way the story portrays the “perfect” neighbors as potential threats is both chilling and engrossing. It’s a gripping thriller that keeps you guessing about who might be hiding the darkest secrets.

I thought this was okay. and kept me guessing, but it didn't really grab me, and it is difficult to say why it didn't .I don't think there was anything wrong with it ,maybe it was just me but I didn't find it very exciting .Hope other readers enjoy it more.

When a new neighbor vanishes without trace in her neighborhood Veronica uses her skills as an FBI agent during a planned vacation to help locate her. Is this new case commented to a prior missing persons case from the same neighborhood (and home owner, too)?!

I really loved this well written suspenseful story! It’s always exciting when thrillers or mysteries don’t have the same ole format and plot and this book did not disappoint! I HAD to know what happened and was determined to finish the story ASAP to find out!

A great read and definitely worth a recommendation if you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest opinion!