3.75⭐

I was fortunate to be given a space on the blog tour for this book from @BoldwoodBooks.

First of all, I couldn't get the Neighbours theme tune out of my head every time I saw this book cover 😂

I found this book very evocative and I could almost picture myself on the beach with Nia. I loved all the writing around the sea and could definitely empathise with Ruby. Having said that, I do feel she was pretty reckless wandering around alone (I'm not sure the dog, Romeo would have done much!) in the dark, especially once she knew a woman had been murdered.

I liked how intimate the close felt and how suspicion gradually fell each on them. I didn't guess the murderer at the end.

My favourite quote:
"To me the sea is like family. When you grow up on an island it's never far, it surrounds you."

Good Neighbours is a psychological thriller with a dark mysterious plot. The characters are well developed and intriguing and the story keeps you guessing and turning the pages.

Good Neighbours is the first book by Mary Grand that I have read and it definitely won’t be the last. This was definitely a slow burn that had me hooked from the very first page.

I really like Nia and the fact that she has flaws. She was a very relatable character which I enjoyed. I loved the different relationships that she had with the other characters and I found their interactions to be interesting.

I was convinced that I knew who the killer was and I accused just about every character except the dog but it turns out I was so wrong. I didn’t even accuse this person!!!

I really loved how the book ended because it was the perfect way to wrap everything up.

I really enjoyed this book, it kept me entertained and I read it in a couple of days, it’s certainly one to take with you to the beach this summer

This is the second book I've read and reviewed by this author and I really enjoyed this one.

I was fully invested and was really hooked and its definitely not somewhere I would want to stay though.

I suspected everyone and had no idea how it was going to pan out.

Looking forward to more by Mary Grand.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Being a Caulkhead born and bred it was kinda obvious that reading a book set on my home Island was going to be a winner.

Intricately plotted, so well that even I failed to work out who the killer was. It was exciting, suspenseful and went at the pace of the Island, which if you didn't know is very laid back.

I found all of the characters well developed, credible and extremely good at harbouring secrets. Romeo, Nia's dog was a cute addition to the story.

Obviously I'm going to love the settings and scenery for the book, I lived there for fifty years after all.

A fantastic whodunnit mystery, set on my favourite place, with a touch of black magic and I would highly recommend it.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book has a particularly chilling prologue, lit by black candles, hate-filled and focused on the making of a voodoo doll – I was hooked immediately! We then join Nia as she travels from the mainland, along with her spaniel companion Romeo, to the Isle of Wight to house-sit for her aunt – and having arrived in Harbour Close in Yarmouth she finds herself welcomed and drawn into the close-knit community her absent aunt is very much part of. Nia’s been having a rather difficult time recently, and a little distance from the problems in her marriage and her personal concerns might be just what she needs – but it soon becomes clear that there are secrets behind the smiles and threatening undercurrents beneath the community’s warm welcome. When one of their number – the recipient of that voodoo doll – is found dead on the beach, the police believe it was suicide. But Nia becomes increasingly convinced that it was murder, embarking on her own amateur investigation, uncovering layers of secrets in the process that others would far prefer remained hidden.

There was so much about this book that I enjoyed. The characterisation really is excellent, every single member of the tight community wonderfully drawn and developed along with the growing atmosphere of claustrophobia from the way their lives are entangled. Sisters Jade and Ruby now run a hairdressing salon, but were formerly members of a rather sinister and controlling religious cult; Ruby’s husband Richie is a talented artist with a successful small gallery, but perhaps harbouring a few secrets of his own; the brash and charismatic (but not particularly likeable) Ian and his more fragile wife Lucy are health fanatics on the verge of securing a TV and book deal; Ethan is a vet, considerably more warm and friendly than his marriage-obsessed fiancee Elvira; and then there’s Joe, who runs the brasserie where they all meet up for weekly drinks but turns out to have a bit of a secret life of his own. It becomes amply clear that the murderer must be one of their number, and every interaction becomes loaded with doubt and suspicion. And every single one of them proves to have secrets that they’re hiding – perhaps pointing to their guilt, but sometimes just part of their complexities as individuals.

Nia herself is a particularly well-drawn character too – tentative and uncertain at first, growing in confidence as she deals with the complex baggage of her past, although her dogged determination to uncover the truth puts her in personal danger and alienates many. Although told in the third person, I liked the way we were able to share her thoughts and internal dialogue – spaniel Romeo is a particularly good listener – and I grew to like her more and more as the story progressed and her confidence grew.

The story’s pace is relatively slow, with much of the exposition done through dialogue – something the author really does excel at – and I found that entirely compelling as the finger of suspicion moved from individual to individual, the layers of secrets became exposed and no-one was quite what they seemed. There’s a real sense of claustrophobia about the tight little community, where everyone knows rather too much about everyone else’s business – and the atmosphere of suspicion and threat builds steadily, making it a really gripping read. I also really enjoyed the book’s strong sense of place – it’s not only the small community, but the island itself and its separation and isolation from the mainland, something the author conveys particularly well – along with vivid descriptions of the beautiful scenery and life by the sea. And did I guess the ending? No, I certainly didn’t – like Nia, I suspected everyone in turn, even thought I was a few steps ahead of her at times, but satisfyingly found the author had me looking in entirely the wrong direction.

This really was my kind of thriller – while I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s other two books with Boldwood, I think this was definitely my favourite so far. It certainly kept me reading into the early hours as the tension grew and the pieces began to fall into place – highly recommended, and I’m already looking forward to seeing what Mary Grand does next.

Good Neighbours by Mary Grand
In need of an escape from her failing marriage, Nia agrees to house-sit her aunt's cottage on the Isle of Wight. She feels sure the cosy close in a quaint harbour town will be a safe place to hide and figure out what to do next. But things are not all as they seem in the close, and the neighbours who welcome her with open arms, are keeping secrets. So when Nia finds the body of one of her new friends lying on the beach, she feels sickeningly sure that the killer is dangerously near home.
Who killed her friend, and why did she have to die? And if Nia discovers the answers she's looking for, is she next on their hit list? Good neighbours may become good friends, but they can also make deadly enemies.
Mary Grand is an author whose work I am always happy to read. I have enjoyed all of her previous books and was so glad to receive her latest to read and review. Good Neighbours is a whodunnit murder mystery set on the Isle of Wight. The protagonist, Nia, is a likeable character. With Romeo, her Cocker Spaniel, she takes it upon herself to investigate the murder of her friend. But unfortunately, there is a maze of twists, turns, secrets and lies that Nia needs to unravel before discovering who the murderer is; suspicion falls on virtually everyone.
Good Neighbours is a compelling read and
another intense, polished page-turner by author Mary Grand.

While Nia house sits for her aunt on the small Isle of Wight someone gets murdered in the small tight knit community. It's pretty clear that it must have been someone within that small group of people but who was it? Nia has enough personal problems, which is why she came there but instead decides to try to solve the murder herself. It's not a fast moving story, but it keeps you wondering will Nia figure it out and then of course we all want to know why the murder happened. I liked Nia as a main character and I loved her dog Romeo!

Highlights:
- whodunnit murder mystery
- amateur detective
- lots of mysteries... gentle, no gory details or explicit violence or graphic sex scenes
- solving lots of clues
- a cocker spaniel named Romeo
- set on the Isle of Wight
- hate vs anger!

Blimey what an utterly brilliant read littered with growing tension and fear. Good Neighbours is dramatically written with stunning characters that come alive on the page. For me this is the ultimate “Whodunit” and I was glued to every page. It has one of those plotlines that just keeps you guessing. So many times I thought I had it figured it out, then “Oh no, great twist Mary” Yes I really did have conversations with the author in my head.

Nia was the perfect protagonist and I quickly became invested in her life, both before and after she arrived on the island. I totally disliked her husband Chris. He really needed to get his comeuppance,( no I’m not telling you if he did). Nia and her amateur sleuthing really gets her into trouble within this tight knit community in the close. Are they all as friendly as they seem at first? hmmmm I think not, but what are they hiding? is their friendly exterior slowly slipping? the veneer sliding off?

The theme of hate runs deep in this thriller. Hate works well as a theme and only adds to the brilliant atmospheric witting. I mean words are after all transient, yet “the hate remains” It is a deep and thought provoking emotion that only leads to fear and sinister feelings that someone out there wants to get you. Utterly brilliant writing. I found this a compelling read that had me worried for Nia. Does she ever get close to what is going on? Is the close actually her safe space, her place to recharge? Well there in lies the conundrum and you will have to get a copy of this awesome psychological thriller to find out. Trust me not only is it intriguing with suspicion falling on almost everyone it is also masterfully written in a way that takes you with it right up until the last word. Nothing is as it seems and remember “the hate remains”

EXCERPT: Saturday 18th February 2017

I sat in darkness, my hand shaking as I held out the match and lit the black candle on the altar.

On a piece of paper, I wrote the name 'Ruby Moore, born February 1987' and then pinned it onto the small doll, the voodoo doll.

ABOUT 'GOOD NEIGHBOURS': In need of an escape from her failing marriage, Nia agrees to house-sit her aunt’s cottage on the Isle of Wight. She feels sure the cosy close in a quaint harbour town will be a safe place to hide and figure out what to do next.

But things are not all as they seem in the close, and the neighbours who welcome her with open arms, are keeping secrets. When Nia finds the body of one of her new friends lying on the beach, she feels sickeningly sure that the killer is dangerously near to home.

Who killed her friend and why did she have to die? And if Nia discovers the answers she’s looking for, is she next on their hit list? Good neighbours may become good friends, but they can also make deadly enemies…

MY THOUGHTS: I have to say that I loved the location of this novel, the Isle of Wight, and Mary does a grand job of describing the beaches, walks and scenic delights.

But, if this was meant to be a novel of psychological suspense, it failed dismally for me. It ought to have been creepy. It wasn't. It ought to have been suspenseful. It wasn't. It was far too wordy and overblown to generate either.

I love a slow burn mystery if it is character driven. But the characters in Good Neighbours are all rather flat and I never felt a connection with any of them. Their personalities don't shine through, despite the author giving us quite an amount of information about them; but it wasn't information that built them into rounded characters. The stilted dialogue didn't help any either.

The premise of the novel is good, but the 'witchcraft' aspect didn't fit well and didn't add anything to the storyline. I did enjoy the intrigue around Elvira's character and wish that aspect of the story had been developed more. The police investigation into Ruby's death is laughable.

Another thing that I absolutely detest is the 'leaders' at the end of the characters - e.g. 'What she'd not anticipated was that the discovery she was about to make would be pivotal to her investigation into Ruby's death.' I don't want to be told what's going to happen, I want to experience it. And we are 'told' an awful lot of things in this book.

This wasn't a satisfying reading experience for me and several times I debated not finishing. I doubt that I will read this author again.

⭐⭐.3

#GoodNeighbours #NetGalley

I: @marygrandwriter @bookandtonic

T: @authormaryg @BoldwoodBooks

#contemporaryfiction #murdermystery #smalltownfiction

THE AUTHOR: I grew up in Wales. Later I taught in London and then worked with Deaf Children in Hastings. I now live on the beautiful Isle of Wight with my family.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Good Neighbours by Mary Grand for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

3.5★ rounded

Good Neighbours by Mary Grand is a slow burn puzzle that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Mary Grand’s writing is excellent and the story flows very well.

The plot is unique with its cult-type whodunit. This is a theme I haven’t read much of, so it was very compelling when I read it here. I thought this aspect of the book is really what kept it interesting. I liked how the story had twists that I didn’t see coming and I wasn’t sure, until the reveal, who was the culprit.

The story does start off with a bang but slows down significantly. That did give me a little trouble, as I usually like fast-paced reads. However, the ending is worth the read, so I’m glad I kept going.

If you enjoy cult-type thrillers with excellent characters and a surprising end, you’ll enjoy Good Neighbours.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, Boldwood Books, Netgalley, and the author for the free review copy of this book. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

Good Neighbours was a ride and a half. Many different characters and a storyline filled with twists and turns. No character goes without suspicion as the author provides reasons for everybody to be the killer. Is the big reveal at the end surprising? Well, it depends on what line of suspicion you take.

Some characters I liked in this book, some I didn’t dislike but found them meh. However, I do admire the author’s ability to give them all distinct personalities. I will admit, though, that there were times when I felt the friendship among them all was a bit forced. It seemed a bit sugarcoated at points and some of the dialogue didn’t come across as realistic. I think maybe reducing the length of the book might have helped eliminate anything that felt like filler.

Her failing marriage has Nia wanting time alone,
Time to think, consider and only be contacted by phone.
She travels from Wales to the Isle of Wight
Her aunt's home there is where she'll consider her plight.

She's expecting a place in which she can hide out of sight
But the neighbours welcome her even on her first night.
They seem such a helpful, friendly bunch
And even invite her to join them for lunch!

However there are secrets and surprises in store
When walking her dog along the shore.
A new friend she'd chatted with just last night
Is still there, but dead - not a pretty sight!

Looking carefully at the scene some things feel wrong
What niggles are causing unease all along?
What happened to her friend?
What - or who - caused her sad end?

As the police investigation gets underway
Twists and memories, lies and more come into play.
So many aren't telling the truth it seems to Nia,
She needs to find out what happened, that is clear.

An intriguing psychological thriller
With a possible neighbour as the killer?
Several family dramas involved as well
What will happen, I'll not tell!

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
An intriguing read and this is my honest review.

Who wouldn't be tempted to run away to the safe haven of their favourite aunt's house, nestled among close night community, affording a beautiful blend of peace and huge warm welcome.

Nia does exactly that and appears to have fallen firmly on her feet as the good neighbours on the island rally around to make her feel at home. She soon has offers for lunch, invites to the Friday night gathering and several burgeoning friendships.

It's clear that something happened at home causing her to run away to the island and this side of things is fed slowly throughout the story.

Meanwhile, whereas I'd be curled up with coffee, cake and huge pile of books, Nia finds herself embroiled in a cosy murder mystery - well, I say cosy but it is right on the edge of that and nudging it's way into scary.

Apparently, unable to keep her nose out of anything, and absolutely hell bent on discovering the truth, Nia puts her personal safety to one side as she doggedly sets out to uncover exactly what is going on on the island.

But will she rattle the wrong cage in the process? 

This book is absolutely chock full of red herrings, misdirection and clever little ploys to divert you and make it impossible to predict how the story will conclude. Very clever. This is my first Mary Grand book, it most definitely will not be by last.

My thanks to @rararesources @authormaryg and @BoldwoodBooks for letting me be a part of this blog tour.

Nia escapes her marriage troubles to stay in her aunts house on the Isle of Wight. She befriends the locals and it seems like the perfect escape but then one of them dies and leaves a suggestion of something more macabre.
It was a great read, the island being isolated adds to the tension and makes this a claustrophobic thriller.
I liked the doubts around Nias reliability after recent events it means you never really know where this will lead.
It's an excellent mystery to snuggle up with, I throughly enjoyed reading it.

Set on the Isle of Wight Nia has left her marital home to house sit for her aunt. Her aunt has left a message to keep an eye out for a friend who has been acting strange. When she is found dead on the beech Nia wants answers about who did this in such a close knit community..

This is a slow burn read that explores both the island and characters. It opens with the creation of a voodoo doll so I was invested from the start. I enjoyed the characters and seeing their secrets exposed. I didn't guess who was behind the murder. Very enjoyable and I would read more by this author

🅗🅐🅟🅟🅨 🅟🅤🅑 🅓🅐🅨 🗓
Evening #bookpeeps
🌊⛵
Happy Pub Day to @marygrandwriter for Good Neighbours.
Thank you @netgalley & @bookandtonic for the digital copy. The opinions are my own.
🏖🏡
🅜🅨 🅣🅗🅞🅤🅖🅗🅣🅢.
I dived into this atmospheric thriller, set in the beautiful Island Of Wight, with some great undercurrents of mystery. One has to admire Nina for taking a break from her claustrophobic marriage and settling into a new town. The Close is a great place to live and you can't help but fall for the supporting character's friendliness. However, as rosy and happy as everything looks at the surface, everyone is nursing their own secrets. I wasn't too keen on Chris or Elvira but Jade was sweet.
The mystery element was there but a few loose ends, drawn out and repetitive instances put me off. However, the ending was unpredictable as the author kept throwing me off throughout. At one point, I had everyine down as the culprit.
This book highlights some important issues like gas lighting, toxic partners and mental health. And how important it is to reach out for help when needed. All that glitters is not gold and Good Neighbours certainly attested to that. A good pick for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Good Neighbors by Mary Grand is a cozy mystery, thriller perfect for a Sunday read. The plots picks up with a slight hint of mystery with an some simple characters with a difficult past. The story mainly focusses on relationships and emotions. Nia's character is good, she is not a perfect woman, but tries every bit to remain strong. But its the other tertiary characters who keeps the story entertaining. Especially, Elvira and Chris are perfect mysterious characters. The only glitch that I felt in the plot is that at some places the conversations were too long. But, otherwise, the book is worth a one time read.

I would like to give the book 4 stars. Thanks to Netgalley, Rachel's Random resources and Boldwood Books for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.

The sense of menace is evident at this novel's inception and intensifies with each event in this psychological suspense set on the Isle of Wight. The Close residents initially appear friendly and open, but they all have secrets. Nia is housesitting for a favourite aunt seeking an escape from a controlling marriage. She feels safe in the nice close where she lives, but when someone dies, the accusations start, and the sense of danger is tangible.

It is soon apparent that Nia is initially an unreliable narrator. She is likeable, and her character develops realistically and satisfyingly, becoming more self-aware and sure of herself. Nia realises she has value and can see the truth, something that is necessary for her to move on and solve the murder of her new friend Ruby. Immersive and claustrophobic, this addictive reading.

I like the vividly described island setting, the detailed characterisation and clever plotting that hides as much as it reveals until the satisfying conclusion.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.