Ever since her first book Take It Back, I have been a fan of Kia Abdullah’s writing. I love that her thrillers are always thought provoking and involve themes such as class and race. Those People Next Door is no exception and illustrates how a minor disagreement between neighbors can turn into a life-changing event. As the tension builds, the situation is highlighted from all sides and we are challenged to consider who and what is wrong or right.

Overall, I really enjoyed this compelling and excellently written book, although i was not thrilled with the ending. The twist was surprising, but felt a bit inconsistent with the characterisation to me.

Thank you Netgalley & HQ for the ARC!

Once again Kia Abdullah knocks it out of the park. She is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. I have yet to read a book by her that I havent been totally gripped by.

The story of troublesome neighbours as an Asian couple and their son move into a new house, this looks at race and class and how little things can spiral out of control. We have a thriller and a court room drama and its all so believable.

Abdullah again has us in that uncomfortable grey area where things arent black and white. We look at racism and prejudice on all sides, not always the in your face easy to define racism but the subtle prejudices that people hold.

Most of all though this is an absolutely enthralling read. I was totally gripped from start to finish and didnt really want it to end.

A fantastic read that is an easy recommendation from me.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

Rating: 3.2/5

This is my second experience of Kia Abdullah's work, having previously read the very impressive "Next of Kin". I don't give out many 5-star ratings in my book reviews, but I had no option but to award the top mark to that novel. So, I was always going to make sure that I got my hands on this author's next book, full of hope for something just as good - but is it?

Well, "Those People Next Door" is certainly an enjoyable read, but it not up to the same standard as "Next of Kin". This is less of a thriller and more of a domestic drama that focusses heavily on racial prejudice. The issues depicted are well-observed and relatable. The story also demonstrates how tensions of any description can all too easily escalate and get out of hand. Kia Abdullah doesn't side with either of the feuding families - both households are far from perfect and, of the key protagonists, there is really only Jamie who emerges relatively untarnished.

I would describe the narrative as interesting rather than gripping or compelling. The characterisation, while solid enough, did not impress me as much as it did in this author's previous novel. Where Kia Abdullah does, once again, come into her own is in the court scenes. This is clearly where she feels most at home and the depictions are effective and engrossing, with just the right amount of dramatic licence to make for compelling reading, without going over the top and losing credibility.

Overall, an enjoyable read without being an outstanding one, but I am sure I will be back for her next offering.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have read Kia Abdullah previous books which have all been fantastic and this one is know different definitely a great read for thriller book lovers.

Those People Next Door
by Kia Abdullah

"You can choose your house. Not your neighbours."

This is the strapline to Kia Abdullah's latest novel and having fallen into obsession with this author's brand of domestic thriller this year, you can bet that my anticipation was sky high for her treatise on neighbourly misbehaviour.

When Salma, Bilal and their son Zain move to a new house in the hope of bettering their lives they get off on the wrong foot with their white, mixed class neighbours who are at pains to confirm their "tolerance" while dropping clangers that do not substantiate their claim. A series of incidents leave the Khatun's feeling targeted and the Huttons feeling their "tolerance" violated. The mood quickly turns to suspicion, denial, retaliation but what Abdullah does brilliantly here is use the self narrative of the different characters to build enough empathy with each character's position. Until.....

I'm not going to lie, although the pacing is superb, there was a period between 40% - 60% where I was beginning to roll my eyes a little over what was starting to feel like a load of pettiness going nowhere, but I should have trusted this author, who to me is the queen of plotting, to deliver.

This is the story of Othering. What it means, how it feels, how perceptions can blind us to the consequences of words thoughtlessly or carelessly or glibly spoken. How living in a world where you are expected to make yourself smaller to fit can predispose your sensitivity radar, and having the born entitlement to take up whatever room you require can deafen you to your own thoughts, actions and words. It is the story of misinterpretation v denial of prejudice. And it's the story of what happens when justice is thwarted by loyalty, assumptions, complicity, revenge.

Because we live in the heads of the main characters throughout the book, we get to see all the ugly thoughts, all the ways a person validates their point of view. each new perspective brings a new wave of mitigation, revulsion, doubt. Twist after twist turns this neighbourhood drama into a full blown thriller which gave me "Little Fires Everywhere" vibes when I realised that I was comparing Salma Khartun to Mia Warren.

Publication Date: 19th January 2022
Thanks to #netgalley and #hq for the egalley

4.75⭐️

I love the authors previous books, so I was keen to read this one.

Salma,Bil and their son Zain move into a new house in a new neighbourhood Blenheim a safe suburban development.
However soon an issue starts with a neighbour over a Black Lives Matter banner and things rapidly escalate and deteriorate.

I’ve seen in the news in reality how disputes can spiral way out of control with retaliation, so the plot line felt completely realistic and believable. The last one I saw on the news was over a tree on a boundary, think someone ended up dead over that.

The plot is fast and pacy with plenty going on throughout. Some of the twists and turns I found Sat with me easier than others, but non that totally took me out of my comfort zone. The characters aren’t all likeable. I loved Zain and Jamie’s friendship, I changed my mind quite often over characters as things were revealed. I’d be hopeless in a courtroom.

Another cracking book from one of my favourite authors. I highly recommend these books, they all have a legal element, but they are so much more than that, so much psychological content.

Having read Kia’s previous books I was pleased to get this one to read. The story was very well written and kept me on my toes all the way through. The ending was amazing but no telling tales here. Get out and read this great book. The characters are all believable and easy to relate to others that I knew and the plot was absorbing.

I've loved the author's previous novels so was thrilled to have the opportunity to read Those People Next Door.
Salma and Bil Khatun and their son Zain move to Blenheim , an upmarket housing development, seeking a fresh start for Zain. Almost immediately they are confronted by the prejudiced attitude of their neighbour Tom Hutton who objects to Zain's Black Lives Matter banner in the front garden. Initially Salma and Bil decide not to take things further as they want to settle into their new neighbourhood and get on with their neighbours, however, things quickly escalate between them.
This was another gripping and compelling read by the author. A novel that cleverly and thought provokingly addresses very topical issues and allows the reader to explore their own values and assumptions. It's a well paced and superbly plotted novel with a twist I wasn't expecting. The author really builds up the tension and for parts of the novel I found myself on edge and holding my breath, wondering where the plot was going next. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Kia Abdullah’s books are always so well plotted and compelling, each one making the reader think profoundly about what they have read.. The plots are so clever and often I get so involved that I almost read them in one sitting! This was certainly the case for “Those People Next Door”- what a clever and twisty plot!
When Salma, Bil and their teenage son Zain move to Blenheim for a fresh start in a new house in a nice area they expect life to be better than their previous one in Seven Kings on a housing estate. They are hoping Zain will put his past troubles behind him and matters will improve.
However this is not what transpires- their new neighbours Willa and Tom seem ok on the surface but then Salma sees Tom surreptitiously knocking over their Black Lives Matter banner in the garden. When Salma puts it in the window instead “someone” mysteriously paints over their window. Things escalate from there and Salma and Bil realise that maybe Tom harbours some very unsavoury feelings towards people like them. However things are not always what they seem and the author also generates some sympathy for Willa and her family too, particularly for their son Jamie who is partially deaf.
There is a building tension in the first half of the novel which gradually ratchets up as the book progresses. The reader really feels for Salma and her family who seem to be just getting on with their lives but who are being tormented by their neighbours just because of their background.
When Jamie and Zain strike up a friendship both sets of parents are not happy. Then tragedy strikes……..
The second half of the novel is taken up by a court case and this is just as tense as the first part of the book.
The reader certainly thinks they know what happened but there are still seeds of doubt. The ending is masterful and totally unexpected making this an excellent and extremely thought provoking novel which gets five stars from me. Recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

Kia Abdullah writes such thought provoking, unflinching, tense books, Those People Next Door is no exception.

Salma, her husband Bilal, and their son Zain, move to a new house, for a fresh start, after an incident involving Zain. The relationship with their new neighbours, and the reception they receive, is not what any of us would want.

We find two families, both of whom believe they are fully in the right. The sides are entrenched, with the relationship between the neighbours worsening. The increasing anger, and the actions the anger leads to, perpetuate the volatile situation.
Battle lines are firmly drawn. Every action, from both sides, ups the stakes, the consequences grow larger and more serious.

If this book teaches us anything, never forget there is a person behind each assumption; and a recipient of each vitriolic word and act. There is no winner, no moral victory worth these consequences.
The author’s writing and story development, builds the tension to boiling point. So much so, I felt nervous to read what would happen next, wondering how much worse the situation would get. It is a testament to the story that I felt so on edge. I genuinely gasped at certain points while reading.
This book is not comfortable or easy to read. Prejudice and assumptions are rife. The writing is powerful, and pulls no punches.
This 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ complex and challenging book is nothing less than I would expect from Kia Abdullah. For me, she is a go to author.

Timely, gripping with masterful characterisation and stunning prose - Kia has done it again! I adored observing an authentic scenario spin out of control with ordinary people finding themselves forced to do the unthinkable. The race/prejudice angle was spot on - I've never seen it explored this way before...an insight into both sides of the coin. Utterly genius. The only criticism I have is the ending. I found it slightly jarring and unbelievable...I worry it was put in for a shock factor and I found it to be inconsistent with the characterisation. Even so, it didn't take away from all the positives of the novel.

Once again Kia Abdullah writes a staggeringly thought provoking psychological thriller and courtroom drama, jam packed with unbearable levels of tension and suspense, with her trademark twists that appear to come from nowhere. This time the themes are class and race, and their contemporary manifestations in our society, the story illustrating just how shockingly matters can spin out of control and beyond belief between neighbours, exacerbated by the use of social media, the bitterness and rage culminating in horror and a court case. The reader is provided with insights into the believable characters, their actions and thoughts, leaving us shifting from siding with one person but then finding the alternative perspective so understandable. Simultaneously, the novel challenges the reader to inspect their own attitudes and behaviours.

This is an emotional rollercoaster of a read that immerses us into the lives of ordinary people and communities, with their everyday issues of identity, race, history, different intergenerational thinking and being, and the inner need to belong and support those just like us. It all begins when Salma Khatoun, husband Bilal, and teenage son, Zain, move to the suburbs of Blenhem in search of new beginnings from their troubled past, but before they know it, it all turns into a nightmare. When a political anti-racist banner is placed in the garden, the next door neighbour, Tom Hutton, takes it upon himself to remove it. Salma chooses to let this go, instead placing it on their window, only to discover the window painted over. Inexorably things begin to spiral out of control and consequently tip into heartbreaking and tragic territory.

I, probably like so many of us, have had problematic neighbours, and can testify to how quickly intensely dark thoughts can take over your life, thankfully I mostly managed to resist stoking the fires, which I can relate is not easy to do, sometimes the only answer is to move, demonstrating just how easily neighbours can find themselves in a no holds barred war. Abdullah captures the moral complexities of her cast of flawed and human characters, including the impact of parental attitudes and behaviour have on the friendship between Zain and Tom's son, Jamie. This is not a book I will forget in a hurry, the issues reflect the current nature of our society, the compelling courtroom scenes are so gripping, and just when you think you know how it will all end, you get hit by the unexpected twists. Fans of the author are likely to love this, and I can see new readers being captivated by this too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Kia Abdullah has once again written a mind bowing, thought provoking book with ‘Those people next door’. Have read all the authors books and they never disappoint.
Salma Khatun and her husband Bilal has moved from a housing estate a couple of miles away to Blenheim to give their son Zain a better life. Salma is a Geography teacher at the local school and her husband Bilal owns his own restaurant, but now closed after the Pandemic.
They are invited to a Barbecue with all the residents in the street. But Salma can sense tension in the air. So, when Salma puts a Black lives Matter in her garden, she sees her neighbour Tom taking it down and tells Salma that she can’t have it up. So, she puts it in her window instead. When she wakes up the next morning her window is daubed with white paint. This is the first of many incidents that blown up in tremendous portions that ends up with dire consequences.
Thank you, HQ, for a copy of ‘Those people next door’. This is another belter from Kia Abdullah. I love how she pushes the boundaries of every story she writes. This is an excellent and thought provoking read regarding racism and the action from each neighbour takes. It will stay with me for quite a while. I can’t wait for more 5 stars from me.

Another tremendous thriller from the excellent Kia Abdullah, well written, contentious and contemporary in feel. Those People Next Door are a family who move into an established neighbourhood and change the dynamic. Relationships are strained and accusations fly. The book is essentially a novel of two halves, the second of which describes proceedings in court, which are brilliantly handled by the author. Superb!

Kia Abdullah's books really do hit the mark. They are sparky, original and utterly compelling and they make you think! Those People Next Door is if you can believe it, even better than her previous three novels.

Salma Khatun, her husband and teenaged son are moving up in the world to Blenheim, a suburban neighbourhood a couple of miles away from their previous address. They are invited to the neighbourhood barbecue but soon after their neighbour Tom Hutton knocks on the door pointing out that they have parked the car in his 'spot.' Sadly, that is the start of deteriorating relations between the couples, but what about their two sons?

I couldn't stop reading this book in part, because despite the speed of the escalation, it all felt so believable!

Kia Abdullah talks about the issues that matter in the UK allowing her readers to think about them whilst providing five star reading entertainment.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Salma and Bil move from their housing estate to Blenheim, a quiet residential area, with their son. Everything seems great until someone moves their Black Lives Matter banner. And the upset soon spirals, and all out war begins.

I’ve read all this authors work and they are always brilliantly written with relatability and tact. The storyline is always current and deals with real life issues and situations. This story is character driven and a real page turner. I always assumed the story was cut and dried until a new twist came. An excellent read that I’d highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I have read and enjoyed previous publication from Ms Abdullah and this one is no exception to that, in fact I would go as far as to say that this is my favourite.
Without giving away too much of the storyline, let me just say that it really does set you thinking about how actions have consequences and can set off a chain of events that can very quickly spiral out of control.
An excellent tale and five stars

Another 5 star read from Kia Abdullah! I can never put her books down and Those People Next Door is no exception!

Arguing with neighbours is everyone's worst nightmare isn't it? When Salma, Bilal and Zain move into Blenheim, a newish build housing estate, they have high hopes of a fresh start for their family and some breathing space for their 18 year old son Zain.

But their next door neighbour Tom knocks a Black Lives Matter sign out of their plant pot as a protest disguised as following the estates rules, and slowly a full scale war begins.

This book is so gripping. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. The plot is so twisty and there is tons of drama and action to keep the pace going.

Alongside an exciting yet thought provoking plot, the characters are well formed and real feeling with strong personalities. I loved Salma and Zain, how they were willing to stand up for themselves in the face of racism.

This book raises some interesting points such as the impact when we post things on social media, and it regularly goes into grey areas, you'd think there would.be a clear right and wrong here but it's interesting to see all sides of the story and particularly the impact on the two sons, Zain and Jamie's friendship.

Abdullah's books always make you think a bit about the wider world, repercussions of your actions and the justice system in general and this book is no exception. If you haven't read anything by this author yet this is a great place to start!

I’ve loved all of Kia’s previous books but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. I found the characters loathsome & whilst the premise was promising, I just didn’t enjoy the story.

Thanks to the publishers & NetGalley for the preview copy.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be a fast paced and gripping read that literally had me struggling for breath.