Usually I am apprehensive about these types of plot because in the past they fall short at the end but this didn't. An epic read.

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 on here and GR).

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Mary Grand and overall I really enjoyed the novel! I thought that she did a great job creating a tense atmosphere of the island, the character development of the MC, Nia, and trying to figure out how all the different pieces fit together. I found Nia difficult to get into at the beginning of the book because she was so very timid and shy and Grand does a great job at showing you how Nia came to be that way and the emotional abuse that she experienced in her marriage. I love how Grand developed her character into one that becomes more secure with herself and standing up for what she believes in.

Additionally, I feel like the book started off with a bang, but then became a really really slow burn of trying to figure out who the murderer is. It was definitely not fast paced at all until the very end and then I feel like there were some places where she was trying to rush the ending and fit everything into the end. Overall, I still enjoyed her writing style and would definitely pick up another book by her in the future!

This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

I loved this book. Fast paced, relatable characters and so many twists and turns that I was utterly swept up in it. I couldn't put it down!

Nia is taking a time out from her life. She is convinced her husband of 20 years is cheating on her (he denies it), and agrees to house sit her aunt's cottage on the Isle of Wight in a close-knit neighborhood. Although she is embraced into the neighborhood and becomes especially friendly with one woman, something is not quite right and there is a sense of uneasiness. Then she discovers her friend dead and begins investigating. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the island, the slow build up of tension, and the character development of Nia, who goes from wishy-washy, unsure-of-herself to a stronger woman who won't be silenced.

This book was sent to me electronically for review by Netgalley. It is a book that is difficult to get into…the stones and spells…not a subject I read about usually…the author has made the characters real…the story is intriguing.

This story started with an ominous bang--a voodoo doll and a curse! I was hooked! Then enter Nia on her way to house sit for her Aunt Gwen for a few weeks. Her house is in a tiny, cozy town
on an island. Almost immediately after arriving, she meets Gwen's friends and is told about the local cult. Yep, totally and completely hooked!

This book was not fast paced. It was a slow burn with puzzle pieces woven in to every character. This was a good whodunit, but I would have liked it a lot more had it been shorter and Now been the woman she was in the second half.

I wanted to like this but this just isn't for me. I really couldn't get into it at all. I normally love this kind of story but I feel like I just didn't care by the middle of the book.

<b>Note:</b> I received an advanced copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley.

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…

At the beginning of the book, I did not really get into Nia's character. She was timid and constantly doubting herself, but that all changed when her friend died and she was able to pull herself up and pursue what she thought to be the right course of action. I liked the forthright Nia and even though she was made to feel insecure and unsure, she was able to have the nerve and strength to stand up for herself and not be manipulated into stopping.

Everything about this book is captivating. This novel is impossible to put down. I downloaded the arc this morning, and by this afternoon, I had finished. The rollercoaster was intense, the twists and turns unexpected, and the element of surprise insane.

Author Mary Grand takes us to the Isle of Wight where good neighbours can become deadly enemies. Fictitious Harbour Close, “the town time forgot,” is perfect for a murder mystery; a small harbour community where residents live in close proximity.

The protagonist, Nia, has left Cardiff and her husband, Chris, of 20 years and is seeking refuge in her Auntie Gwen’s vacant property on the island. It doesn’t take her long to meet everyone and regain a feeling of safety. It’s all shattered when she heads to the beach to walk her dog and discovers that something terrible has happened to one of the neighbours.

From the beginning, readers will notice that something isn’t quite right. They may not be able to put a finger on it, but it’ll keep the pages turning. It won’t take long to notice, too, that Nia isn’t able to relax and feel secure here, either. I won’t give anything away - there’s a voodoo doll, tons of secrets, a reclusive townie and an unsettling religious cult. What I will share with you is that even days later, I haven’t figured out the murderer! I collected ‘evidence’ while reading, but each piece implicates almost everyone in the town! ARGH.

With plenty of atmosphere, tension and suspense, this fantastic whodunit will grab your attention and not let go! The success is partly due to the author living on the island and knowing the pace of life and the idiosyncrasies of living in a small town. It feels authentic. Although I like stories that tie up in a neat bow, this one was so well written, that I’ll not judge it on my inability to solve the mystery. Be advised that this intricately plotted mystery is best enjoyed when you put the business of fast-paced city life in your back pocket and enjoy the slower rhythm of community life reflected in the writing.

I was gifted this advance copy by Mary Grand, Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

As a fan of Mary Grand i couldn't wait to read her latest Good Neighbours.
I was intrigued to find out the back story of the main character and loved the description of the Isle of Wight.
There were a lot of characters to take in and it took me a while to understand who was who.
An enjoyable read but i felt it dragged on a little to long.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy to give my honest review on.

This is the second book that I’ve read by this author, and it was brilliant. I was totally hooked and stayed awake far later than I should’ve done to finish it!

Nia was a hairdresser in Cardiff, married to Chris, and with one daughter, Safi. She arrives on the Isle of Wight to house-sit for her aunt, and something has obviously happened in her personal life to lead to her doing this on her own.

Auntie Gwen lives in a small close of houses with a few businesses, and all the neighbours know each other. They even meet up for weekly drinks at the wine bar. Nia gets to know Ruby, and Ruby tells her that all is not what it seems in the close because someone is full of hatred; they sent Ruby a horrible voodoo doll. Then Ruby’s body is discovered on the beach and Nia is determined to get to the bottom of this and find out who killed her friend.

Plenty of twists and turns, and I suspected every single person but couldn’t decide which of them was the perpetrator. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I rarely DNF books, but this was unfortunately one of those times. The start was slow with a lot of dialogue and people, but not much actually happening. I was hoping the plot would pick up, but what really stopped me from continuing on were the repeated references to Nia's husband and how she made decisions based on his preferences. Everything from her house to her clothes to her makeup was based on what he wanted. I imagine this was intentional, but it wasn't set up in a way that let the reader know this was problematic. Perhaps she changes her perspective down the line, but it got too annoying too quickly to compel me to keep reading.

Nia is staying at her aunt's to house sit and have a break from her life for a while. Her aunt lives on the Isle of Wight in a small close where everyone knows and looks out for each other so she is soon swept into the group who each have their own issues. Nia is not sure if her husband has been having an affair- she has followed and asked him but he says she is getting confused about things and denies any more than a professional relationship with the other woman. Nia is sure of what she thinks but has no way of proving it as things changed in her house. On the Island she meets a young woman Ruby who is rather suspicious of the others in the group as she has received a voodoo doll and is sure it is from one of them. When Nia then finds a body on the beach things take a turn for the worse. Has Ruby killed herself and what are the secrets everyone appears to be hiding?
This is skillfully written and quickly drew me in. There is a good tension of something not quite right which keeps the pages easily turning. I liked Nia even though she was perhaps a little naive in some of her actions- but we all live and learn. I hadn't worked out who the perpetrator was and enjoyed the lead up and surprise. A book to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
#blogtour

I thoroughly enjoyed this hut found it a bit slow paced for me! Initially it's all a bit dragged out with the moving and the neighbours and the weird religion and the secrets and for me, small town murder she wrote type who dun its aren't my genre. If they are though, the you will love this book! It is amazingly well written the characters are realistic and repeatable to. I just prefer more actions and intensity but it was still an enjoyable read

Ooh this book was fantastic and one thing I learned from reading it is if you are in trouble no matter where one goes trouble will always follow that’s for sure and also when one moves to a different neighbourhood that things are never as they seem, read it you won’t be disappointed x

Good book! I did enjoy reading this book, but it seemed to take me forever to finish?! It had suspense, intrigue, action and many twists and turns! And a great who done it! I will recommend reading this book, it was worth reading but not one of my top favorites! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book was very twisty and I was not sure where any of the threads would lead. I don’t know that everything was 100% tied up at the end, but it was satisfactory and passed the time. 3.5 stars rounded up

Good Neighbours by Mary Grand grabbed me right away. Anything that has the word “neighbour” in its title is bound to come pre-loaded with its share of psychopaths.

Whilst house-sitting her aunt’s cottage, Nia, having escaped her failing marriage, thinks she’s found a safe place to hide and to heal. But there are neighbours. Neighbours who appear friendly but who have secrets. Neighbours who kill. Could Nia be next?

A page turning who-dunnit and downright entertaining read. Would highly recommend this book.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Firm Mystery At Heart…
Nia agrees to house sit a cottage on the Isle of Wight for her aunt. She’s in desperate need of an escape, after all, and as a bolt holt this seems like a perfect opportunity. The seemingly cosy neighbourhood in a quaint harbour side town seems ideal. But not everything is quite as it seems and when Nia finds a body she becomes horribly aware that a killer lurks close by. Will she be next? Immersive suspense with a credible cast, a solid narrative and twists aplenty pepper the compelling plot with a firm mystery at heart.