A gripping thriller that keeps you guessing all the way through. Lots of interesting characters and twists and turns. Brilliant!

Another Claire Douglas Cracker!

Claire is my absolute favourite author as I've never read a book of hers that I couldn't put down. I think I've read this one in about 4 days.

The writing style of Claire's books make them flow really well and they are a joy to read. The plots are always twisty and full of mystery that keep you wanting more.

This book was so interesting. The main character is much older than me but the way this book is written meant I was able to connect with her instantly. Each character was so well thought out, it was a joy to meet them all. I guessed a couple of smaller mysteries as I was reading but my pulse was still racing trying to get to the end and figure it all out!

I cannot wait for Claire Douglas' new release already!

WOW! I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked from the first page. I could not wait to read the next page. It has you on the edge of your seat throughout the book. I liked that the story alternated between present and past, slowly revealing what had happened. I would definitely recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.

Claire Douglas delivers a compelling domestic thriller with The New Neighbours, a story that blends suspense, secrets, and a touch of paranoia. The novel keeps readers on edge, questioning what’s real and what’s imagined, making it a captivating page-turner.
Lena is a relatable and complex protagonist, and her inner conflict adds depth to the story. Her discovery of the suspicious conversation through the boom microphone is such a simple yet effective premise, pulling readers into her growing obsession with uncovering the truth. The Morgans, seemingly perfect neighbours, are written with just the right amount of mystery to make you second-guess their intentions at every turn.
The strength of this book lies in its layered storytelling. While the central mystery involving the Morgans is compelling, the exploration of Lena’s own dark past adds another dimension. It’s not just about uncovering the truth but also about redemption and how guilt can cloud one’s judgment.
Douglas creates an atmosphere of unease, and the tension builds steadily throughout the novel. The pacing is excellent, with twists and turns that keep you guessing. Even when you think you’ve figured it out, Douglas throws in another curveball that makes you question everything.
The only reason this isn’t a five-star read is that the ending while satisfying, felt slightly rushed. The New Neighbours is a gripping, thought-provoking thriller that will leave you questioning the seemingly normal people around you. It’s perfect for fans of domestic suspense who enjoy twists, secrets, and a protagonist struggling with her own demons.

The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas promised to be another gripping read following the success of The Couple at No. 9, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. The dual timeline structure and the shifting character perspectives were interesting elements, and they did help build some intrigue as the story unfolded. I particularly enjoyed the back-and-forth between past and present.

However, despite these strengths, the plot felt overly far-fetched at times, and I found myself predicting the twists well before they were revealed. For a thriller, this lack of surprise is a bit of a letdown, as the suspense element didn’t pack the punch I was hoping for. While the writing was still solid, the overall narrative didn’t grab me in the same way as her previous book.

Ultimately, The New Neighbours didn’t quite deliver the same level of tension and excitement I had hoped for, leaving me somewhat underwhelmed. Still, it’s an enjoyable enough read if you’re a fan of character-driven mysteries, but it won’t leave you on the edge of your seat.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the ARC

A story about suspicion and discovery while tackling the next stage in life.
The end of the book is fast moving and a couple of twists develop which are exciting and follow up hints in previous chapters.
I found the first half of the book rather predictable and unlikely which was frustrating. The main character takes risks which didn’t seem to be the sort of things she would do! As the story moved towards the end it picked up pace as it approaches the final chapters where the ends are rather too neatly tied up.

Thanks for the opportunity of reading this new book by Claire Douglas. I did enjoy it but found Lena a bit of an irritating busybody. The story was cleverly thought out but was a bit implausible.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin for allowing me to read and review this Arc.

This is my first Claire Douglas book and it certainly won’t be my last. This story focuses on our main character, Lena, who becomes obsessed with the new neighbours after overhearing part of a suspicious conversation they were having. Is it all innocent and she is taking it the wrong way, her imagination running wild? Or are her neighbours up to no good? The more she investigates and obsesses the stranger things become.

This story absolutely gripped me and although it felt like it was a slow burn thriller, I couldn’t put it down; desperate to know what the new neighbours, the Morgans, were actually up to. I did see the ending coming but it didn’t take away from the big reveal. Throughly enjoyed this book and will recommend to all who enjoy a suspense and even those who don’t but need an introduction to the genre.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 ⭐️

When Lena overhears a conversation between her next-door-neighbours she thinks she must have misheard. They’re a kind, retired couple living in a street where nothing happens but it sounded like they were planning a crime. Everyone tells her she’s made a mistake but Lena can’t stop thinking about it. What happens if they’re about to do something terrible? And what if she can prevent it in an attempt to make up for her past?

In the beginning, it did feel like it took a while to get going and to really suck me in but once it began to pick up, I really enjoyed it and found it hard to put down.

I found the characters to be well fleshed out and I loved how complex they were because it truly added to the suspense. Almost like something was brewed underneath the surface - it gave off such a sinister atmosphere, which I loved and fitted the plot well. I do feel like there were parts that were predictable, which I didn’t totally mind but I do almost wish that it kept me on my toes more. I do feel like I was left with some unanswered questions and like the ending was a bit rushed to get everything concluded. Although, I am a massive fan of Claire’s writing and have loved everything that I’ve read of hers so far so I’m excited to see what else she’ll release in the future.

Something to note is there’s an error later on in the book when it says “she was insistent it was theirs while Henry contradicted her”, which wasn’t true. It was the other way around, Henry insisted that the key was theirs, whereas Marielle said that it wasn’t theirs earlier on in the book.

Thank you Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: alcohol use, cursing, abandonment, child snide, imprisonment, medical content, drug use, cheating, death, murder, blood; mentions death, injury detail, infertility, suicide ⚠️

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this.
I’ve rounded up from 3.5 stars to 4 as I did find it to be a page-turner and I ended up reading the whole book very quickly! The narrative moves at pace from the start but although I enjoyed the psychological thriller style, I felt it could have benefitted from slightly more actual action. Overall, a good read in the traditional Douglas style.

I enjoyed The New Neighbours it had me gripped from the start. Lena overhears them planning a crime, maybe a kidnap but what’s going on? How well do we really know our neighbours? This simple concept is definitely enough to keep you up at night. The New Neighbours kept me guessing and wanting to know more. My only problem is that I found the buildup to the end better than the actual ending, which I found a bit anticlimactic. .

There’s a good premise here: Lena overhears her new neighbours say something shocking and takes it upon herself to do all she can to prevent a crime being committed. But, with her own dark past, is she the right person for the task?
This is another fluently written novel from this bestselling author. Ideal for readers who enjoy bundles of suspense, shocks and murderous characters.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
On publication, I will post this review on my blog and on GoodReads.

How well do we really know our neighbours? When Henry and Marielle Morgan move into Lena’s road in a suburb of Bristol she is interested in getting to know them, as most of us would be. On first appearances they seem a nice enough couple. Older than Lena, well to do, friendly(ish!), and their house has been renovated beautifully. What’s not to like? All seems well until snippets of an overheard conversation play on Lena’s mind.

Now I understand the need to know what’s going on around us, but hopefully Lena is in another league to the average next door neighbour! What a snoop! What a gossip! I wouldn’t want to live next door to her. Interfering doesn’t cover it!

A story full of implausible threads, unlikeable characters and a convoluted plot, you would think it wouldn’t work. Surprisingly it sort of does, and is a quick, easy read that keeps the reader engaged, just leave any sense of belief at the first chapter.

I thought the ‘I feel so sorry for me’ attitude of Lena was too much, and repeated too often, making her very irritating, I was definitely team Charlie!

A decent enough read, though most definitely not one of this author’s best.

Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House.

Another great book by Claire Douglas, as always! Fab storyline and interesting characters that keep you guessing. I had guessed the twist but I was invested enough to race to the end! Just brilliant

4.75 stars rounded up. Told mostly from Lena’s POV with occasional chapters from a few others. This is fairly fast paced and with twists and turns that keep you guessing and made it feel like a quick read. I really enjoyed it and while it’s the first I’ve read by Claire, but won’t be the last as she’s a good writer and this was an intricate mystery.

Love, love loved this little gem. Caught me immediately and I read until finished. I was tired but happy. Characters great. I know they are great when I'm going to miss them.

This book had me gripped from the start. How well do we really know our neighbours? This simple concept is definitely enough to keep you up at night. This book kept me guessing and wanting to know more. My only problem is that I found the buildup to the end better than the actual ending, which I found a bit anticlimactic. All in all, a good, fast paced thriller.

Lena, separated from her husband, lives in a quiet neighbourhood of Bristol with her 17 year old son, Rufus. Marielle ad Henry Morgan move in next door and Marielle soon introduces herself though Henry seems more reserved, but all goes well until Lena accidentally overhears a very strange conversation that leaves her concerned that the new residents could be involved in something bad and probably criminal. She cannot help herself and tries to dig deeper - not the sensible thing to do!

She knows that Henry is a retired consultant and her thoughts take her back to when she decided to train as a midwife and was mentored by a fully qualified midwife, Simone. Problems arise and Lena becomes convinced that Simone and one of the senior doctors are involved in some dodgy activities. Did she make a mistake by not reporting her findings to the authorities?

Oe thing leads to another and Lena soon realises that her own life could be in danger - can she survive?

A real psychological thriller

Scheduled for release in March 2025, Claire Douglas’ new psychological thriller, The New Neighbours, seen from the overactive mind of Lena, delves into the lives of her new enigmatic neighbours. Suspicions about their intentions from an overheard conversation leads Lena right into their web of tangled lives. With Lena’s insecurities and self doubt, fuelled by the blurred lines of her own past, Lena learns the intentions behind her new neighbours true intentions.

Fans of this genre will definitely find this novel a compelling addition to the genre.

Huge thanks to #netgalley and @michaeljbooks for granting access to an advanced e-copy of this. Claire is one of my favourite authors so I can't tell you how excited I was to be able to read this early!

The New Neighbours feels a little different from the rest of Claire's books - in a good way. It focuses on Lena, who becomes obsessed with her new next door neighbours after accidentally overhearing part of a suspicious-sounding conversation. Are the Morgans up to something, or is Lena just letting her imagination run away with her? But the more she learns about her neighbours, the stranger things become...

This is a real page-turner, even if for three quarters of the book little happens other than Lena chasing her whims. At times I found myself rolling my eyes, wanting to tell her to just stay out of their business - some of her actions really do cross a line, but thanks to Claire Douglas' effortlessly brilliant writing, I simply couldn't put it down. I HAD to know what the Morgans were hiding... if anything. I think the early parts of the book, although slow, work really well at getting you wondering if Lena is just clutching at straws or if something nefarious really is happening with her neighbours. Throw in a few chapters from new perspectives - the neighbour Henry Morgan and the mysterious Natalie - and you'll be even more gripped as to what on earth is going on.

I didn't see the ending unfolding in quite the way it did, and even if I felt some of it was more far fetched than Claire's usual work, I loved it just as much. Another excellent read that I don't hesitate to recommend. If you've read and enjoyed Claire Douglas before, or you like lighter domestic thrillers, pick this one up!