📱E-Book Review📱

The People Next Door
Kate Braithwaite

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This was my first read by this author and as much as I didn't knowquite what to expect - I could just tell from the cover, title and tags that this was going to be right up my street!

I love a good psychological thriller and this one had me hooked right from the start!

What looked like the perfect neighbourhood for Jen and her family to move into, soon turned sinister as the story unfolds and they start to uncover the secrets held there.

This is told via many different pov's and across timelines too and it was quite complex to follow.
I think this helped in keeping us confused about who to trust and which stories were reliable.
This definitely kept me guessing throughout and I kept coming up with different theories and suspects - only for more information to be revealed, which had me questioning myself again.

I didn't totally love any of the characters and felt a sense of unease with all of them at different times.
With Jen coming into the neighbourhood with an agenda, that also made me worry about how things might play out over time.

This was a super fast-paced read and I couldn't put this down!
Packed with twists and turns and extra snippets of information coming to light, this held my attention right to the end!

A great first read and I look forward to more in the future.

The People Next Door is a psychological thriller that follows Jen Silver as she moves into a suburban Pennsylvania neighborhood with her partner Dan and her daughter Nina. At first, this new life seems perfect, Jen meets her new neighbors, Nina makes friends with the local kids, and Dan is succeeding at work. However, Jen isn't here to live the idealistic suburban mom life - she wants/needs answers. Jen's sister disappeared years ago. Jen suspects both Dan and a new neighbor of harboring secrets about her sister's disappearance. What is Jen willing to sacrifice to find out the truth!? And what other secrets are being hidden amongst this "close-knit" neighborhood?

I really wanted to enjoy The People Next Door. The premise truly sounded promising. And, there were a few positives - I did finish the book because I really did want to know how everything fit together. With that said, a lot of the twists were quite predictable. While I didn't really like Jen as a character, I did appreciate having chapters from Jocelyn - thought they added to the narrative. My biggest issue with the book was the addition of the animal cruelty by the neighbor's kid. This in no way added to the plot and was extremely upsetting. There was also no conclusion to this storyline. Completely unnecessary! Overall, I just didn't enjoy The People Next Door.

The People Next Door is a gripping psychological thriller that is guaranteed to have you hooked from the first page! This is a very cleverly written story that will leave you questioning everything. This is definitely a fast paced thriller, and I was immersed from the first page! I never wanted to put this book down because I was desperate to work out what really happened, and there was so many plot twists and red herrings along the way!

None of the characters in this book were particularly likeable for me, but I found that really worked for the plot and it kept me intrigued until the very end! This was a definitely a twisty, fun read that I would recommend to thriller fans who are looking for a good mystery!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The People Next Door by Kate Braithwaite is a suspenseful psychological thriller that keeps you on edge from start to finish.
I was captivated right off the bat and needed to know what would happen. Fast-paced, thrilling, full of enticing mystery, and so many great twists I did not see coming.
The People Next Door is an enjoyable, unpredictable thriller that fans of psychological mysteries will definitely enjoy. It's a great choice for those who love a good, twisty tale with plenty of suspense!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. This starts off pretty quick, and you can zoom through it. Although it kind of sounds like alot of other thrillers, this one was different and had twists you can not see coming!

A brilliant storyline which keeps you wanting to read on. Jocelyn and Jen have made a promise to find out what happened to Jen's sister when she was found dead. They never accepted the verdict and knew the truth was out there somewhere. They will stop at nothing to find out even if it affects their own lives forever.
Yet another great read from this author.

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Joffee Books for an advanced copy of The People Next Door.

Jen, her boyfriend Dan, and her daughter Nina have just moved to a lovely neighborhood. She tells everyone that the move was for Dan’s job but in reality it was to be near a specific neighbor who knows about the death of her sister. Jen’s sister went missing years ago and she wants answers and she has it all planned out how she will get them.

This book had way too many characters to keep track of and it jumped all over the place. The plot was very disjointed and was pretty boring.

The People Next Door by Kate Braithwaite is a compelling psychological thriller that explores the themes of guilt, secrets and the intricacies of family.

When Jen moves to an upscale neighborhood in Pennsylvania with her husband Dan and her daughter Nina, she thinks that she has finally found her place. But Jen's motives for moving into this particular neighborhood are not as straightforward as she would like it to seem. That's because she is convinced that someone in her new neighborhood had something to do with her sister's death years ago. She plans to investigate and unmask the perpetrator but what happens if she digs too deep and uncovers a truth that she is not ready to face?

This book was so hard to put down once I started reading it!! So many suspects, secrets, and deceit, I was so invested in trying to figure out the big reveal. The more I read, the more secrets came out that had me second guessing myself. I liked the multiple POVs which gave readers a chance to explore the motivations of the characters. The pacing worked really well with this thriller, more of a slow burn but it was rich with tension and character building. Overall I would definitely recommend this thriller!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Braithwaite, and Joffe Books/ Lume Books for this ARC!! Publication date is April 2nd 2025.

The People Next Door by Kate Braithwaite is a gripping psychological thriller that takes the reader on a suspenseful journey through secrets, lies, and hidden pasts. Set in a seemingly idyllic suburban neighborhood, the story centers on Jen Silver, a woman with a painful past and a mission to uncover the truth behind her sister’s mysterious disappearance, which occurred twenty years ago.

Jen has just moved to a picturesque neighborhood in Pennsylvania with her partner, Dan, and their daughter. While the neighbors are warm and welcoming, there's something unsettling beneath the surface. Jen, however, isn’t quite the person they think she is, and neither is her partner, Dan, who has his own connection to the area—one that has been buried for years.

The tension in the story builds as Jen’s pursuit of answers about her sister’s disappearance leads her to unravel long-hidden secrets, some of which involve people she thought she knew intimately. Braithwaite does an excellent job of building suspense, using multiple layers of mystery and misdirection to keep the reader hooked. As Jen pieces together the events of the past, it becomes clear that the truth is much darker and closer to home than she ever imagined.

What makes The People Next Door particularly compelling is how Braithwaite explores the theme of how well we really know those around us—especially the ones we love. As Jen delves deeper into her investigation, she begins to question everything, including her relationship with Dan. The twists and turns keep the narrative fresh, and the tension reaches a boiling point as the past resurfaces in unexpected ways.

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page, as Braithwaite masterfully unravels a tale of betrayal, secrets, and the devastating impact of hidden truths. Fans of psychological thrillers will appreciate its complex characters and intricate plotting.

In conclusion, The People Next Door is an atmospheric, suspense-filled read that will leave you questioning what you know about the people around you. It’s a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers with dark secrets and explosive revelations.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.

At the start of the book, we meet Jen, who has just moved into a new house with her partner, Dan, and daughter Nina.

I found Jen an interesting character from the start, and I was interested in the way she seemed to observe others and noticed little things about them. I found that Jocelyn's narrative sparked my interest too, thinking about the way she expressed herself, and reflected on her past experiences. Dan was another character who intrigued me, maybe because I felt he was guarding a secret from his past, and I wasn't sure if he could be trusted.

It seemed this book followed two ordinary families, going about their everyday life, but I knew there was more to the story than that. I was very interested in the characters, and this book kept me guessing.

Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, Joffe Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Kate Braithwaite’s The People Next Door is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends suburban suspense with a decades-old mystery. With its tense atmosphere, intricate plot, and shocking twists, this novel keeps readers on edge until the very last page.

Jen Silver appears to be just another new neighbor, settling into a picturesque Pennsylvania suburb with her partner, Dan, and their daughter. But behind the friendly smiles and margarita nights, Jen has a hidden agenda—she’s spent years searching for the truth about her sister’s disappearance. And she’s chosen this community for a reason. What starts as a quiet investigation soon turns into a dangerous game, as Jen realizes that someone in the neighborhood will do anything to keep the past buried.

Braithwaite expertly builds tension, weaving together past and present as Jen uncovers dark secrets lurking behind the manicured lawns and perfect facades. The suburban setting adds an eerie contrast to the novel’s underlying sense of danger, making every interaction feel laced with potential deception. The characters are layered and compelling, particularly Jen, whose determination and hidden past make her a fascinating protagonist.

For fans of Big Little Lies and The Girl on the Train, The People Next Door delivers a thrilling, twist-filled ride full of shocking revelations and psychological depth. Braithwaite has crafted a story that proves one terrifying truth—sometimes, the darkest secrets are the ones closest to home.

This book put Kate Braithwaite firmly on my auto read list, even though this is the first book of hers that I have come across!

Jen Silver moves to a upscale Pennsylvania neighbourhood with her daughter Nina and her partner Dan. While this provides her with an opportunity for a picture perfect suburban life, Jen's motives are somewhat more questionable - she plans to use this opportunity to investigate the decades-old mystery of her sister's death and who may have been responsible for it.

Told from multiple points of view, which really enhances the story telling in this case, the novel explores diverse themes of small town secrets, complex family dynamics, guilt, grief, and what we are willing to do for the people we love (or feel obligated to). An absorbing read and one that earns its 4 star rating.

This was a intense and suspensful read immediately, the secrets and lies were very compelling and kept me hooked.

My thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The People Next Door’ written by Kate Braithwaite in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Jen Silver wants to find out what happened to her sister Lynette twenty years ago and has intentionally moved with her daughter Nina and partner Dr Dan Burrows to the neighbourhood where Natasha Preston lives, a woman who was friends with her sister and whom she suspects knew more about her sister’s disappearance than she was saying at the time. As Jen becomes friendly with Natasha she gets her to open up on what happened and reports their conversations back to her mother Jocelyn.

The initial description of ‘The People Next Door’ encouraged me to read it and the plot hasn’t disappointed but at times I thought the pace was too slow. I couldn’t empathise with any of the characters who had their own quirks but especially Joselyn who I thought manipulative. I didn’t know what to make of Jen who was following Jocelyn’s instructions by keeping secrets from her neighbours and her partner too. Although not as gripping as I’d expected and lacking in excitement, it’s a novel that’s worth reading if only to find out more about Lynette and what did happen to her.

The People Next Door by Kate Braithwaite was so addictive I ended up reading it all day it was an excellent psychological thriller with a shocking twist at the end! Superb I did not see that coming! All the characters were very interesting and played a great part within this book which made it so addictive and a great page turner.

I highly recommend this book. Great holiday read.

I love domestic thrillers that deal with suburbia and its hidden dark secrets, and that's exactly what this is. The gradual revelations kept me hooked and guessing at the mystery of who the new neighbors were. Explosive twists and gripping suspense. I gobbled this book up.

Jen Silver just moved in to a new home in a very lovely area outside of Philadelphia with her neurosurgeon boyfriend Dan Burrows and her daughter Nina. Her neighbors are eager to meet her and her family but Jen has her eyes on one particular neighbor, Natalie Eason.

As the story unfolds, you learn that 20 years ago a young woman by the name of Lynette Knox died. The police did not care for this missing woman but her sister, her aunt and her mom never gave up. Back then, Jocelyn, Lynette's aunt had several suspects in mind. But with Jen moving into this new neighborhood, it seems like more suspects are coming up who where involved in Lynette's murder. And one of them may be living in Jen's home

The People Next Door is an exciting thriller with several suspects, liars and possible killers you just don't know who it may be. And wait for the biggest twist at the very end, I just couldn't belive it!
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The People Next Door by Kate Braithwaite is one of those psychological thrillers that gets under your skin and doesn’t let go. From the very first page, I was drawn into the web of secrets and lies surrounding Jen, a woman searching for answers about her sister’s mysterious disappearance two decades ago. As Jen settles into a seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood, Braithwaite masterfully builds an atmosphere of tension and unease, making you question every character and every interaction.

What really stood out to me about this novel was how it kept me constantly second-guessing what was real and what wasn’t. As the story unfolded, I found myself wondering whether I could trust any of the characters, and just when I thought I had a handle on things, the truth turned out to be darker and more twisted than I could have imagined. The way Braithwaite layered the story with clues and misdirection was brilliant, and I loved how every discovery only seemed to raise more questions. There’s a sense of dread that builds as you realize just how deep the deception runs—and how little anyone can be trusted.

The pacing of the novel was perfectly balanced, too. It’s not a fast-paced thriller with constant twists, but rather a slow burn that gradually ramps up the suspense. The steady unfolding of Jen’s investigation, combined with the eerie atmosphere of the small-town setting, created a feeling of claustrophobia that had me turning pages late into the night. I really appreciated how Braithwaite took her time with the character development and the backstory, which made the eventual revelations all the more impactful.

The characters themselves are richly drawn and incredibly complex. Jen, in particular, is a character I won’t forget anytime soon. Her emotional journey felt so real and raw, and I could feel her frustration and determination as she dug deeper into her sister’s disappearance, all while trying to navigate her new life with Dan and their daughter. The relationships between the characters—especially the tension between Jen and Dan—were nuanced and emotionally charged. I found myself rooting for Jen, even as I started to question her actions and motivations.

The book’s exploration of family trauma, especially within the context of a small-town community, was haunting. The sense of everyone knowing everyone else’s business—or pretending they don’t—added a layer of intrigue that kept me hooked. And then there’s the chilling atmosphere. Braithwaite does a fantastic job of creating a psychological thriller that feels ice-cold, even when the sun is shining in this “perfect” neighborhood. The underlying darkness in the community’s seemingly idyllic façade is palpable throughout the story, and I loved how Braithwaite used that to her advantage.

The People Next Door is a twisty, immersive thriller that will keep you on edge from start to finish. It’s a slow-burn mystery that gradually builds suspense, with richly complex characters and a setting that’s as suffocating as it is compelling. If you’re a fan of atmospheric thrillers, emotional complexity, and shocking revelations, this one is definitely worth picking up. It’s a book that lingers long after you’ve finished reading, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

I enjoyed this book, although enjoyed it probably the wrong word. It's well written and the characters are interesting. There's intrigue and twists and turns galore, but the actions of Jen, in particular, aren't that of a devoted mother, and I found it hard to empathise with her situation.

I liked the premise of The People Next Door but wasn't a huge fan of the story. It's told in multiple POVs (which I do love) but it was slow paced through most of the book. I also couldn't connect to the characters.

This isn't a bad book by any means. It's written well and everything. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of The People Next Door in exchange for an honest review.