I almost gave up on this as I found the first part boring and the characters unrealistic. It did improve somewhat, but it really wasn't my cup of tea. Not very thrilling - more domestic drama about arguing neighbours.

I enjoyed listening to this book and thought it was intriguing.

When Salma and her family move to a new house, they soon start to realise that the neighbours are not as friendly as they'd hoped, Tom - next door - in particular. He seems to be on a mission to make Salma feel unwelcome, makes racist comments directly to her face but then claims to not have meant any harm by it. Tom's wife seems equally as strange - one minute friendly, the next awkward.

Salma tries to continue as normally as she can, holding down her job in a secondary school where she goes above and beyond for those who are struggling, particularly those who come from families whose parents can't speak English so it's left for the children to try to fill in complex official forms.

But when the unthinkable happens - Salma's son is found in an unconscious state and neighbour's claim they saw Tom near him, things are suddenly much more serious.

I found the plot to be exciting and tense, the court scenes were powerful and absorbing.

The only negatives I had was that I didn't actually feel like I LIKED any of the characters, even Salma who had some good qualities, I never felt like I truly got to know her and whether she was anti-white like Tom kept trying to convince the jury she was, and this was demonstrated at the end of the book where Salma does the exact same thing that Tom did to her when she first moved in. Because I never fully trusted or liked the main characters it did flaw the story somewhat for me.

I will definitely be reading/listening to more books by Kia Abdullah as I loved her insight and the tense plot.

A great book for a winters evening with lots of twists and turns along the way. The implications of the content were carefully considered and well set down.

Salma & Bill Khatun have just moved to a new neighbourhood with their son Zain. Blenheim is a predominantly white community, so as newcomers they try all they can to fit in. But when Tom who lives opposite, takes down Salma’s banner from their garden and throws it onto the lawn, things begin to escalate. Suspicious occurrences begin to pile up and whilst there are definitely undertones of bigotry throughout their interactions with Tom & Willa, Tom denies any part in the Khatun’s issues except for the removal of the banner. Is he really the culprit behind all of this?

Salma’s fears are undermined as other neighbours imply she is being over the top and minimise their plight. More and more incidents spiral out of control, whilst they try to get to the bottom of why this is happening. A tense and highly believable thriller with some great twists, I found it a little slow to start, but overall a great book.


The narrator was also good.

Those People Next Door is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to in a good while. I love the way Abdullah writes: the dastardly plots, the wild twists and turns. I don’t know how many times I said aloud “I didn’t see that coming!” You can’t second guess this author. The characters so believable and when you just feel you’ve got to know them, they do something so unexpected. It really is a pacy read, with fast changing storylines and breathtaking nuances. One definitely not to be missed.

Kia Abdullah once again provides her readers with a brilliant, thought-provoking novel.

Salma and Bill just moved into a new neighborhood. And what better way to get to know everyone than a back-yard barbecue down the street. Salma, Bill and their son Zain tepidly make their way to the festivities. Introductions are made and immediately tensions begin to rise. And it’s just getting started

Not long after, a 'Black Lives Matter' banner in their front yard is torn down. Adding yet more fuel to the fire.

As communication breaks down between all parties, the neighborhood rapidly turns into a suburban battleground.

“If you don’t stand up to bullies…you get bullied”

You know it’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt. No one can come out of this conflict unscathed. Like a runaway train, there is nothing you can do to stop it.

All my guesses on how this would end were wrong! (love that!) Kia Abdullah is the queen of final twists you never see coming. Yet again she delivered!

This book dives deep into the human condition. Like all the books from this author, it will stay with you long after finishing and keep you thinking…

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio

This was my third book by the author and it surely won’t be the last I will read in the future.
It felt real and all the neighbourhood drama and crossed paths are described so vividly. I felt like everything was happening down my street and I could just open my bedroom window and see all the action.

Salma along with her husband Bil and her son Zain, are looking for a fresh start away from their troublesome past. In the hopes that this new house will bring the peace and acceptance she’s looking for, she’s trying to stay away from too much drama when her neighbour is not looking like he likes them that much.

There’s a lot of talk about racism , indifference from other onlookers and even fights that are ending with the police intervention and in the courtroom.

I was looking forward to see how this will end, because I was curious to see if my theories were good and all I can say is that the ending felt bittersweet.


I’m glad that I read this book. Being an immigrant in the Uk myself, I can understand perfectly what Salma’s family had to endure at times. There’s always frustration on both sides and many times, some feelings aren’t always coming from a good place. Past interactions , misinformation and even educational choices have a big say in the way we see our neighbours, but there’s always space for acceptance and friendship anywhere in the world.
“Live and let live” has always been my go for proverbs.

This is my first Kia Abdullah book and it was feisty from the start! I just couldn’t put it down. I listened to this on audiobook and what a book! Salma Khatun and her husband and teenage son move into Blenheim, a nice housing area but things quickly start to go wrong. This book has it all and there are some subjects that Kia just goes head in on but tackles so well. I love her writing style and how it is so impactful and I really enjoyed this one. The book is narrated by Tania Rodrigues who ramped up the intensity!!! Thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley.

I can see I'm in a minority again so far as this book is concerned. I did finish it, it didn't give me a headache and the narrator was good so I gave it three stars.

However I found the story very repetitive. Most of the characters are completely unlikeable and I would have cheerfully bashed all their heads together. I understand the need for the characters to employ some amount of intolerance but the sheer bloody mindedness made my fingernails dig into my palms. If the aim of the book was to irritate me then I should have given it 5 stars maybe.

The storyline is that an Asian couple move into a predominantly white street. There are so many misunderstandings in the first few months that the tension grows between the Khatuns and the Huttons, despite their kids having a great relationship. Obviously this culminates in tragedy and yet more misunderstandings and lies from both sides.

I think the main irritant was the inability of any of the adults not to repeat everything they'd just been told eg
CHILD: "So I went round to next door"
PARENT: "You went next door?"
CHILD: "To talk to XXX"
PARENT:"To talk to XXX?"

If all this repetition had been taken out (plus the entire legal proceedings simply because it rehashed everything that had happened so far) then this book would have been a hundred pages shorter.

This book simply wasn't for me I'm afraid.

If there is one author who may be too good at what she does, it is Kia Abdullah.

She doesn't spoon-feed or yield anything. Her writing is sharp, fierce, and unflinching. Not one of her books waiver.

And in her best one yet, she doesn't go near a CLEAR message because she leaves it complex and layered enough for each reader to derive it themselves, no matter how uncomfortable it might make them. And it should.

Yes, there are clear themes. But never taken in the obvious tact or tone. There are so many easy ways to write Those People Next Door. Thankfully for all of us, she never takes that easy way out. Because life isn't easy and neither are people.

Oh. And, my bad. This is a psychological thriller. And that is never left out.

I don't know if I've done anything here justice. You can't go wrong with any of her books.

This is my third Kia Abdullah book and from now on I will always be reaching for this authors books.

You know you are in for a major twist when there's still an hour left in your audio book after the story has concluded! Wowser!

Kia Abdullah has done it again. An addictive story about race and prejudice clashing in a domestic setting. Salma and Bill move in next door to Willa and Tom. Noone is prepared for the events which begin and escalate with shocking speed.

Kia Abdullah covers sensitive subjects about covert racism and portrays emotions which make you feel empathetic to both sides. I had no idea what was going to happen.

I'm still reeling from the shock of how this story completely reveresed. A slow beginning but an explosive ending.

Thank you to Netgalley for this Advanced audiobook and well done to Kia Abdullah for an amazing thriller. I can't wait to get hold of a paperback for my bookshelf.

Wow! This is such a shocking book. I felt so frustrated all the way through with nearly all the characters. Only the kids are nice and then not always. These people are so petty and will just not let things go. I also spent the last part of the book feeling snug that I knew the truth and how could the characters be so stupid. I was wrong. So wrong. The end is a twist and a half. Worse still is that last line. What a book!

don’t know if I’ve just read too many thrillers set in small neighbourhoods but this one left me feeling a bit unfulfilled

Read it if: you want to read a thriller that tackles some elements of racism and cancel culture

Don’t read it if: you need a strong plot to carry you to the end.

This is by no means a bad book – I opted for the audiobook version and the narration was excellent. But I just wasn’t interested enough in the characters nor their plight. It’s a typical domestic thriller situation where a mixed race family moves into a slightly snobby new neighbourhood and unfortunately their next door neighbours display bigoted behaviour and are quite unkind to say the least. I was expecting a bit lot twist but to be honest it was all fairly predictable.

I found this a bit slow at the start but really got into it. Enjoyed the narration and the characters. Amazing audiobook.

Salma Khutan has just moved house with her husband Bil and their teenage son Zain. They haven’t moved too far, only a mile or so, but it should be the change they all need and it should give Zain a better chance in life. However days after moving in, Salma spots her neighbour Tom deliberately knocking down her ‘black lives matter’ banner before casually stepping away. She decides to move the banner inside, only to find the window painted over the next day, covering the banner from sight. Salma is understandably upset, and the incident sets in motion a chain of events that will change both families lives forever.

Wow, wow, wow. My second read of 2023 came straight in at five stars and I could not put it down. I’ve not read Kia Abdullah before but I’ve heard very good things and now I can see why.

Those People Next Door is packed full of tension throughout, and the scenes grow more harrowing by the minute. What starts off small becomes all encompassing, as a domino effect ends up costing both families dearly. I have to say I’m surprised at other reviews I’ve read saying their sympathy switched between the two families because I didn’t feel that way at all, I was just so worried for Salma and her family all throughout. There’s a scene where the family dog Molly, an elderly rescue crossbreed, goes missing and I almost put it down, I feared it was going to get really dark. I’m very glad I didn’t though, as although it does become pretty awful, it’s just such an incredible story, and an important and timely one too.

The use of social media and how one comment can cause a big spiral is such an important point to reflect on, as is the casual and insidious racism that still seems to permeate so many areas of our society. I found this a very hard read at times but I was absolutely hooked and flew through it, and I really think it’s a book everyone should read. I expect it to be on English classroom text lists in the not too distant future.

I would 100% recommend this and will be seeking out all of Kia Abdullah’s other books immediately! Also I listened to the audio version, switching between that and the physical book and the narrator was amazing. I give both versions all of the stars! 🤩

Those people next door is an utterly brilliant book that highlights just how quickly a small neighbour dispute can escalate beyond all control. Can damage lives and families, at times irrevocably..
At times I did find some of the thoughts that Salma had quite a challenge. She was imagining all sorts of opinions of her neighbours without actually asking them. She pushed so hard in some situations that she was escalating things and still blaming everyone else. She wanted them to take responsibly for their actions yet would not take responsibility for her own.. When the whole truth is finally revealed her feelings do become completely justified however and she was right to feel how she did. I can't reveal what as that would spoil things but suffice it to say this is a complicated story, involving racism, property damage and huge arguments with not only her neighbours but also her family. Can Salma ever resolve things? has everything gone to far?
This is a truly compelling listen that really opens your eyes to how deeply people can feel about injustice, in whatever form that takes.
Narrator, Tania Rodrigues is spot on with her portrayal of this story. She brings the intensity to life exceptionally well and was definitely the right voice for this audio.

Another great story by Kia Abdullah!
This one makes you wish you were a fly on several walls as there are things afoot that aren’t good!
Several possible culprits, I suspected one and was completely wrong!
Read/listen to it, you won’t be sorry!

The novel is a keen observation of class, race and social interactions; how good intentions can lead to misunderstanding and chaos. When Salma and Bilal move into a housing estate, a series of events lead to catastrophic relations with their new neighbours and things escalate out of control. The book is tense and involving and the narration is clear, expressive and engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for and honest review.

I have only read one other book by this author and it was quite good. I'm happy to say this one was so much better. Nothing is what it seems. The characters are despicable but that is part of it. A great read and definitely a must read author.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

READ IF YOU LIKE:
👩🏻‍⚖️ Legal/courtroom thrillers
💭 Thought provoking plots
🔪 Social/crime issue themes
⏰ Multiple POV
👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏼 Character driven plots
🏠 Domestic thrillers

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦. 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯.

☁️ THOUGHTS:
Ever since I read Abdullah’s NEXT OF KIN I’ve been desperate to read more by her so I couldn’t request this quick enough when I saw it on Netgalley. This was a twisty, gripping and engaging legal thriller that had a big focus on characters (mostly unlikeable), racism, and the power of social media.

I found the first third slower than I was expecting as the characters and their backgrounds are introduced, but the pace soon increased as the mystery and domestic drama began. The court case was brilliantly written, definitely my favourite section and was fun to listen to on audio (especially at 1.8x speed!)

Despite the pettiness of the characters grating on me at times, this was an interesting and thought provoking thriller, incorporating race, identity and class, with a brilliantly disguised twist and was the definition of what can happen when small actions spiral out of control. I’m excited to read more of Abdullah’s books and I’d recommend this and NEXT OF KIN.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 + 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝘼𝙍𝘾, 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 @𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 (𝙄𝙂).