In a taut psychological thriller filled with breathtaking twists, Joseph Souza explores the tangle of betrayal and deception between two neighboring couples, and asks how well we can really know others—or ourselves. It all seems so promising at the start . . . When Leah and her husband, Clay, move from Seattle to Maine, she envisions a vibrant new neighborhood packed with families—playmates … neighborhood packed with families—playmates for her twins, new friends she can confide in and bond with. But while Clay works long hours to establish his brewery, Leah is left alone each day in a nearly deserted housing development where the only other occupants are aloof and standoffish.
Bored and adrift, Leah finds herself watching Clarissa and Russell Gaines next door, envying their stylishly decorated home and their university careers. But Leah’s obsession with the intriguing, elegant Clarissa grows until she’s not just spying from afar but sneaking into their house, taking small objects . . . reading Clarissa’s diary. It contains clues to a hidden turmoil Leah never guessed at—and a connection to a local college girl who’s disappeared.
The more Leah learns about Clarissa, the more questions emerge. Because behind every neighbor’s door there are secrets that could shatter lives forever . . .
“The Neighbor is like watching a chain-reaction car wreck happening in slow motion. Scary and disturbing with dark psychological twists and turns, it horrifies while it fascinates. I couldn’t turn away!”
—Lisa Jackson, # 1 New York Times bestselling author
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The Neighbor is like watching a chain-reaction car wreck happening in slow motion. Scary and disturbing with dark psychological twists and turns, it horrifies while it fascinates. I couldn’t turn away!
I really enjoyed “The Neighbor,” as well as many of this author’s books. I agree that the some of the editing could have been better (these errors are pointed out in many of the reviews, so no need to do so again), but this book held my interest in a way that recent others I’ve read have not. What I really liked were the twists and turns, which I found reminiscent of “Gone Girl.” The characters were definitely flawed, but I don’t agree that they were all unlikeable. The protagonist, Leah, is a lonely housewife whose isolated existence and distance from her husband Clay drive her to seek the friendship of her next door neighbor, Clarissa, a Black professor at a local college. Clarissa does not initially reciprocate, which drives Leah to let herself into the neighbor’s house and read Clarissa’s diary. Yes, not entirely believable, but such an interesting premise, and as the story progresses we learn what Leah learns as well as get to know the main characters, their motivations and weaknesses. No spoilers here — but buckle your seat belt before diving in.
A gloriously creepy setting — ghost town suburbia — where seemingly respectable neighbors hide dirty secrets. You’re never quite sure who to believe in this dark, twisted tale.
Fantastic book couldn’t put it down!!!
started off really good, suspenseful, had me on edge of seat. but I feel like it was poorly edited – too long, too long to reach conclusion, middle just too long
The story line is good, but I hated the ending! I don’t like books that leave no specific ending when you get all the way to the end!
A story line that you will ponder long after reading the book. Read it in one night!
Interesting who done it. Not really impressed with the why it was written…
A taut, twisty psychological thriller. Totally riveting.
With its not-so-reliable narrators, brilliant writing and unexpected plot twists, Joseph Souza’s The Neighbor might remind you of Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train, but this deliciously sinister thriller is a total original. You’ll get hooked early on to this addictive page-turner and find yourself reading The Neighbor with the doors double locked and the shades drawn.
With pitch-perfect characters, Joseph Souza peels back the good manners, the good educations, and the good work ethics of suburbia in twisted, fascinating revelations of the darkness that dwells within each of us that, untended, will seethe until it explodes. Unforgettable.
His unreliable narrators weave such a dark, disturbing tale. As the tension builds, twist after twist makes this impossible to put down.
An intriguing, twisty puzzler that will keep you guessing until the very end!
I did not finish this book. I think there is some social allegory that the author was shooting for, but I just found the book and characters odd. I had no interest in finding out how it ended.
I found the characters extremely interesting; however, the ending did not bring closure to the story.
I was torn between one or two stars but went with two because I didn’t give the book the benefit of finishing it. The characters were disgusting (to put it mildly) as were their thoughts and actions… nor morals or scruples at all! As this appeared to be a popular book, I kept persevering but, finally, just had to put it down. It was too much for me! I cannot recommend it.
Kept me interested, but all of the characters got on my nerves!
Sorry, not really very compelling in my opinion. I found it fairly predictable and I disliked all of the characters. The over the top liberal slant was just annoying.
Would recommend. 4 stars.
When Clay decides to move his family east from the west coast, while his wife Leah and twins gets ready to join him so he can open his own brewery. He has an affair and suddenly the woman he is cheating on Leah with disappears. When Leah arrives she doesn’t expect anything but instead gets obsessed with finding this missing woman Micah who disappears from the local college. Not only that but she becomes obsessed with her seemingly perfect neighbors, Russell and Clarissa. She breaks into the house and reads the woman diary and even drinks their wine and takes naps. While reading the diary she finds out it’s not a perfect marriage and Clarissa is being abused both physically and mentally by her husband Russell. Leah’s obsession takes twists and turns and then attempted murder. I was engrossed to see what would happen next. Is Micah found? Will Russell kill Clarissa? Will Leah forgive Clay? It goes to show you, some things are better left alone. In the end you could be left with nothing and some families will.
Thank you Net Gallery and Kensington Books
Cherie’
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