This was my first read by this author and I am hooked! It’s well-written and kept me turning the pages in anticipation of what would happen next! The characters were interesting and well developed. The storyline was engaging. When I thought I had it figured out, something else happened to make me think a different way. It’s a quick and great read. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to the publishers & Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance!

I couldn’t put this book down, I read it in a day! Each page just wants to keep you reading until there’s no more pages to read!

If you love mystery / thrillers then this book is definitely the one for you.

Once again thank you to NetGalley for choosing me to voice my thoughts on this book!

This is the ninth book about FBI Agent Victoria Heslin, but there’s no need to have read the previous eight. Well, unless you want to know how Victoria met the hunky veterinarian, Ned, who is now her fiancé.

Victoria and Ned are lucky enough to live in an upscale Virginia subdivision (thanks, grandpa!) called Mountain Meadows (which in Utah is a creepy name since there was a massacre named just that). Mountain Meadows is a bit more than a cul-de-sac within a larger HOA, with a newly sold home where the previous owner went suddenly missing 5 years; a loner guy collecting unfinished home-improvement projects; a vicious Karen who is the self-appointed “neighborhood president”; and two or three maybe normal couples. The newcomers (who, my goodness, dared to install colorful bird feeders out front) are not feeling very welcomed. Victoria worries about being a “bad neighbor” since she’s a bit of an introvert and reticent about her well-known FBI reputation, but she and Ned spring into action when they find a pair of wandering dogs without their owner. Their owner, the female half of the new couple, Zoe, has suddenly gone missing, unexpectedly leaving her dogs’ leashes behind on a gazebo near a nasty pond.

I love this series and this one was one of the best! You can always rely on and root for Victoria, there’s usually a few adorable dog moments, and the mystery will keep you guessing. As soon as I finish one of the Victoria Heslin books, I want a new one! 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): SORT OF Author Ruff doesn’t ever have characters with green eyes, but this time there’s a cat!
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): Grace, there was no need to replace the yellow mums for an “autumnal” display! They are autumn flowers. That’s perennial abuse. Also, I totally get the fear of my dogs getting poisoned in a pond without proper maintenance….maybe the HOA should have addressed that sooner (like 5 years ago),

Thank you to Books Go Social/Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

I Wanna thank NetGalley for having this book available to read!

this one was a heck of a page turner! I loved the short chapters which kept me reading faster and faster to get to the end and figure out who did all of this! Some parts in the book were eerie. I loved the feelings when Zoey would be left alone and she would feel that chill down her spine of being watched. That makes me even more interested. With the different point of view chapters made it also interesting and easy to understand everyone. What I didn’t like was the ending.. just felt way to rushed and to predictable! Otherwise a not bad read!

5* Shades of Mercy Kilpatrick. I need more, like yesterday!

Wow, I devoured this book. Like the author says, every one stands on its own, though it's part of a series, and I wasn't lost at all.

It's very reminiscent of the murder-mystery books by Kendra Elliott and Melinda Leigh, with a strong female agent who gets to the bottom of a case, trusting her instincts as well as her solid detection skills.

There's not a ton to the plot - an abducted female - but there are plenty of shady characters and one female who's reminiscent of Delores Umbrage, who really deserves to be taken down a peg or few. At the end, though we don't get to specifically read about it, she's cancelled her cleaner and is having to clear up her own vomit.

I can't wait to read more and am off to check out the author's back catalogue.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Greyt Companion Press for my reading pleasure.

I have read a couple of books by this author. After reading The Bad Neighbor I can't wait to read more.
The characters are fascinating and the plot draws you in. I read this one in less than 24 hours!

I have read this entire series and love Victoria Healing as a character. The story was written in a slightly different style than past books but the storyline as usual was awesome. This is a series to read, but can be read as a stand alone

Review of "The Bad Neighbor" by Jenifer Ruff

◇◇◇/5

"The Bad Neighbor" is an engrossing thriller that perfectly blends suburban tranquility with chilling suspense. Jenifer Ruff expertly crafts a story that peels back the layers of a seemingly idyllic community to reveal a tangled web of secrets, lies, and deadly intentions.

Set in the affluent Mountain Meadows neighborhood, the book opens with the mysterious disappearance of Zoey Hamilton, echoing the unsolved vanishing of a previous homeowner. As FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin takes on the case, readers are drawn into a world where danger lurks not in dark alleys but behind the charming facades of suburban homes.

Ruff's portrayal of Victoria Heslin is a highlight. The agent's relentless determination to uncover the truth drives the narrative forward with an intensity that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Victoria is a compelling protagonist—sharp, intuitive, and unyielding in her pursuit of justice.

The tension in "The Bad Neighbor" builds gradually as Victoria's investigation exposes the rot beneath Mountain Meadows' polished surface. The seemingly perfect lives of its residents are slowly revealed to be anything but, with each new revelation adding another layer of complexity to the story.

What makes this thriller stand out is its keen observation of the dark side of suburban life. Ruff's narrative deftly explores how appearances can be deceiving, and how the most dangerous threats often come from those closest to us. The residents of Mountain Meadows, with their friendly smiles and outwardly perfect lives, become both suspects and victims, making it impossible to predict who can be trusted.

As the ninth installment in the Agent Victoria Thriller Series, "The Bad Neighbor" can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, though fans of the series will appreciate the continuity in Victoria's character development. Ruff’s writing is sharp and engaging, with well-paced plotting that ensures there’s never a dull moment.

Overall, "The Bad Neighbor" is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts. Jenifer Ruff has delivered a suspenseful, well-crafted novel that will leave readers questioning the true nature of the people they think they know. This is a book that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the very end.

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! Great read!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It had great suspense, intriguing, action, mystery, murder, kidnapping, a great who done it and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting and had me glued to my kindle! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Ca faisait tellement longtemps que je n'avais pas été prise comme ça dans une intrigue. de thriller. Et quel bonheur. Je suis tellement fan de cette saga. Chaque tome est unique et incroyable. On est jamais déçu lorsqu'on se lance dans l'un des livres de Jenifer Ruff et quel plaisir !!