Simon Lelic | THE NEW NEIGHBORS

Plot (via Goodreads):

The Girl Before meets The Couple Next Door in a Hitchcockian thriller about a couple who moves into their dream neighborhood only to discover nothing is as it seems...

The perfect couple. The perfect house. The perfect crime.

Londoners Jack and Syd found their dream home: lots of space, a great location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it. 

Everything is exactly what they hoped for when they move in--except Jack makes a disturbing discovery in the attic, and Syd begins to wonder about the girl next door. And they each keep the other in the dark.

A mistake.

Because someone has just been killed outside their back door, and now the police are watching them. 

This is their chance to prove they're innocent--or to get away with murder. 

Whose story do you believe?

Review:

When Berkley Pub approached me to join this blog tour for THE NEW NEIGHBORS by Simon Lelic, I was immediately intrigued. Between the plot to this novel and that gorgeous cover, I knew I had to jump onboard and I am so glad I did. This novel is dark, brutally morose, and masked with an electrifying intensity. I love a psychological suspense novel and this one does not hold back.

The plot to this novel is not only terrifying and chilling, but effectively maneuvers around some rather intense social issues that are sprinkled throughout this novel. I found the alternating chapters between Jack and Sydney not only brilliantly effective to the novel, but the short chapters really kept me interested and before I knew it, this novel was flying by and I couldn't get enough. Not only are the twists and turns in this novel unremarkable, but they fly at you before you can even begin to wrap your mind around what is happening. The pacing with this novel is done so well, light and a bit comedic between Jack and Sydney in the beginning and then the eerie factor slowly and surely settles itself into the novel and does not hold off until the brutal ending that left my jaw hanging in shock and petrification.

Without giving away too much, this is the novel that has it all. An ominous and haunting plot, phenomenal characterization, and twists and turns that grab you and refuse to let go until you rapidly approach the chilling conclusion that leaves this novel in destruction and its characters in the aftermath. Such a fun and quick read, this is a perfect binge read for a rainy day...and by day, I mean in one sitting because you won't want to put this one down. Get your caffeine, a warm blanket, and lock the doors.

Special thanks to Berkley Pub for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5