Brilliant take on the genre that pulls it bang into context - no spoilers! Would definitely recommend.

Loved loved this one! I am a huge fan of Kia's writing and read all of their books, this one was exciting and fast paced and deals with cultural differemces well.

The Khatun’s have moved to the suburbs for a fresh start, but when their son’s Black Lives Matter banner is vandalised by their neighbour Tom, it sets in motion a series of events which neither of them could have predicted…

My goodness this was tense! You could see how things were escalating between the two families, and that their tit for tat antics were slowly spiralling out of control.

I especially enjoyed the court room scenes and imagining what decision I would be making if I were on the jury, and that twist! 🤯 However this was more than just a thriller … it addresses the perils of social media, unconscious bias and misunderstandings

As always, Kia's books make us think and challenge our prejudices and pre-conceptions.

Salma and her family are forced to move to a new area due to finances, but not long after arriving their neighbour tears down her son's black lives matter poster. This feels like a challenge and a threat and things escalate in a way neither family could have predicted, especially when their sons' are trying to form a friendship.

My favourite quote:

"It occurred to her than men locked doors to shield their belongings while women locked doors to protect their bodies."

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This book is described as a legal thriller / courtroom drama. I read half of the book and there was no sign of going to court, just more and more depressing detail about nasty characters. I believe that the overall agenda is to highlight racism and it's effects but I thought the stereotyping of characters (Willa and her friends obsessed by appearance) and heaping troubles upon one family detracted from the subject. Clearly some reviewers think this is a good book, I did not, despite the fact that it is well-written.

This story although fictional could be real. The language and characters are typical of any street. The story deals with hard complex issuses such as knife crime, racism intolerance and drug addiction. It does a fab job of questioning stereotypical views against a modern backdrop.
In essence it's about how simple acts can be misinterpreted and how things can quickly escalate as people do anything to protect those they love.
This was a 5 star read for me perfect for anyone who enjoys a good donestic thriller. Thank you netgallery and publisher and author

This is brilliantly written. The characterisation is excellent. Some are likeable and some are unlikeable. It is a fast paced read. It is a great domestic thriller with many twists

A very well written read with a huge amount of genuine tension. The characters are very well developed too. It's a slow burner that builds and builds.

Those People Next Door was a thrilling book. It started when the couple moved into a new house and into a new community. A few days after moving in, Salma witnesses Tom destroying their poster. She then moved the poster inside in her window, the next day the window was smeared with white paint. Things begin to escalate between the neighbours and it’s clear that something bad is going to happen.

The story is spoken in the perspective of the 2 couples and I will admit I got a little confused at first but I got used to the characters quickly. Throughout the book I was trying to work out what actually happened, but it was impossible for me to guess. The ending had me shocked and I liked how the book was left somewhat open ended for the reader to think about everything that happened.

This book was written well and I enjoyed the concept. I was hooked from when the first incident happened. I found the book to be thought provoking with the theme of racism in the book. The story flowed perfectly and the pace was good.

Prepare for an electrifying experience as you navigate through this gripping thriller, where the atmosphere is so tense that I found myself holding my breath.

Those People Next Door is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out Those People Next Door asap.

My first 5 star read of 2023 and possibly will be one of my favourites of the year.
I love this author's books. I rarely read the blurb for this author's books and up to date they have never disappointed. Once again it is a sensitive and topical issue in the plotline, which in my opinion, is done extremely well.
They are part psychological thriller, suspense, drama and legal thriller.
Those People Next Door is is a must read

Thank you Netgalley and HQ for the advanced copy of this book.

I really like the way Kia writes and this was a slow builder until it boils over and the storyline really makes you think.
This is a complex storyline dealing with racism so itsn't for everyone. However this was thought provoking and a book I would definitely recommend.

This is a complex story covering the difficult subject of racism. Thought provoking and a book I highly recommend . Another great book from this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

I love Kia Abdullah's writing so was so keen to read her latest and I'm so pleased to say that it didn't disappoint. This novel follows a family who move to a new neighbourhood but immediately encounter racist micro-agrressions from some of their new neighbours. At first they shake it off as a possible miscommunication but suspicion between two sets of neighbours grows. This novel has a slowly building tension that simmers away to the boiling point that leads to the horrifying final act. This book makes you think whilst also being a gripping novel that keeps you intrigued and engrossed throughout. I recommend it!

A complex and gripping legal thriller that deals with issue like racism and how it can be hard to live next to some people.
It's not one of those book that makes you root for one of the part: I found them quite unlikeable even if the racism is worse than being unlikeable.
The plot is fast paced and the books becomes unputdownable when the legal part starts.
Kia Abdullah writes another winner that kept me hooked and guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I always know I'll be extremely satisfied when I read a Kia Abdullah novel.

Those People Next Door follows The Khatun's, Salma, Bilal and their son Zain who move to Blenheim, a suburban development in the hopes that it will impact teenage Zain in a positive way. He had begun falling in with the wrong crowd.

They are instantly welcomed to Blenheim at a barbecue and get to know their next door neighbours Tom and Willa Hutton. Zain becomes friends with the Hutton's son, Jamie, when they meet across their balconies. Jamie is deaf and Zain is great when it comes to tech and coding so they quickly hit it off and decide to create an app to help those who are deaf or hard of hearing. I loved what we saw of their friendship and thought Jamie was a great supporting character.

When Salma hangs a Black Lives Matter flag in her garden and sees Tom knock it down, she gives him the benefit of the doubt. When she moves it into the window and her window pane is then covered in paint, she begins to think Tom has something against them.

Abdullah is a wonderful storyteller and although I felt like this was a slow burner, I was kept fully invested. The things Tom did towards the Khatun's, how he tried to justify it then when we got to the crux of the novel, and what I think Abdullah does best, those court scenes - *chefs kiss*!

It was such an interesting take on the subject of race. If you have never read a book by Kia Abdullah, do it now!

I have loved a couple of this authors previous books, so I was keen to read this one.
Thought provoking and uncomfortable reading at times, powerful writing that pulled no punches, nothing less than you'd expect from Kia Abdullah.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Brilliantly written, Kia Abdullah pulled me in from the beginning and kept me firmly on the edge of my seat until the very end.

The characterisation is excellent with a mix of likeable and downright detestable characters. I raced through the chapters, desperately wanting to know what was going to happen next. I felt so much anger and frustration towards some of the characters and their behaviour — my blood boiled when Molly (Salma and Bil’s dog) became involved in the fallout from the feud — the tension was palpable and I could almost cut the atmosphere oozing from the pages with a knife.

Those People Next Door is a fabulous domestic thriller, with twists and turns aplenty and a few stinky red herrings — I thought I had the ending all sussed, but I was (happily) completely wrong.

A brilliant, emotive read.

I did enjoy this book, I just didn’t to enjoy it as much as the authors previous books. However, this would’ve been hard as both of these have been some of my most loved books ever. I don’t know why maybe I just didn’t warm to the characters. It was extremely well written as usual and the court scenes were absolutely fantastic as usual. I am gutted that I didn’t enjoy it as much as some people, it must be me!! With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.