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Love Thy Neighbor
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
Clark Hayden is a graduate student trying to help his mother navigate through the loss of his father while she continues to live in their house near Washington DC. With his mother’s diminishing mental capacity becoming the norm, Clark expects a certain amount of craziness as he heads home for the holidays. What he couldn’t possibly anticipate, though, is that he would find himself catapulted into the middle of the terrorist operation. As the holiday festivities reach a crescendo, a terrorist cell – which happens to be across the street – is activated. Suddenly Clark is discovering things he never knew about deadly chemicals, secret government operations, suspiciously missing neighbors, and the intentions of a gorgeous IRS auditor. Clark’s quiet suburban neighborhood is about to become one of the most deadly places on the planet, and it’s up to Clark to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives in the nation’s capital.
Fast, acerbic, wise and endlessly exciting, LOVE THY NEIGHBOR marks the unforgettable debut of a startling new voice in suspense fiction.
A 2014 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE BOOK AWARD WINNER
Clark Hayden is a graduate student trying to help his mother navigate through the loss of his father while she continues to live in their house near Washington DC. With his mother’s diminishing mental capacity becoming the norm, Clark expects a certain amount of craziness as he heads home for the holidays. What he couldn’t possibly anticipate, though, is that he would find himself catapulted into the middle of the terrorist operation. As the holiday festivities reach a crescendo, a terrorist cell – which happens to be across the street – is activated. Suddenly Clark is discovering things he never knew about deadly chemicals, secret government operations, suspiciously missing neighbors, and the intentions of a gorgeous IRS auditor. Clark’s quiet suburban neighborhood is about to become one of the most deadly places on the planet, and it’s up to Clark to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives in the nation’s capital.
Fast, acerbic, wise and endlessly exciting, LOVE THY NEIGHBOR marks the unforgettable debut of a startling new voice in suspense fiction.
A 2014 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE BOOK AWARD WINNER
438 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
90 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
October 11, 2013
My Thoughts: I need to start right off by saying I am more than a bit confused by something – and I apologize that this is a bit of a spoiler, but it occurs very early in the book and there are plenty of other surprises to be seen – but I’m very surprised that a woman is put in charge of an Islamic terrorist cell. Women are treated as second-class citizens by most Islamic fundamentalists, from my understanding, even if that is not what the Koran teaches, and it doesn’t make any sense to me that a bunch of radical Muslim men would take orders from a woman for any reason. From that point the whole house of cards sort of falls apart unless you are very much willing to suspend disbelief. Also, her daughter just disappears with absolutely no explanation as to where she went or how. While not insurmountable, these issues raised enough questions to leave me a bit unsettled.
However, as the plot progressed, I found myself caught up in the story. Switching back and forth between a terrorist cell and the prosaic life of Clark and his elderly mother, the story flows smoothly and quickly. While I frequently found myself upset, mostly because I just can’t fathom the mindset of people involved in terrorism of this sort, it is generally a good sign when a book is able to elicit those sorts of emotional responses. I don’t know exactly how this writer got so far into the minds of the terrorists – it’s a little scary, actually – but he did a good job of it.
Oh, by the way, she was a minor character and toward the end of the book, but I loved Mrs. Crowley. She would have made a good match for Clark’s randy old WWII vet neighbor, Mr. Stanley. I also enjoyed Clark’s mother, crazy as she was.
It is true that this is a galley, so hopefully the typos will be fixed – there are a lot of problems with using the wrong homonym. It gets worse as the book progresses, as if whomever did the initial proofreading lost focus. This happens, unfortunately – even I’m guilty of that when I’m editing.
So, a mixed bag. There are some plot issues that might make reading this more of an exercise in suspension of disbelief than the average reader will find easy, but the story itself is fast-paced, well-developed and suspenseful, with plenty of twists and turns. Recommended for fans of suspense and thrillers.
Disclosure: I received a free eGalley eBook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Clark Hayden is a graduate student trying to help his mother navigate through the loss of his father while she continues to live in their house near Washington DC. With his mother’s diminishing mental capacity becoming the norm, Clark expects a certain amount of craziness as he heads home for the holidays. What he couldn’t possibly anticipate, though, is that he would find himself catapulted into the middle of a terrorist operation. As the holiday festivities reach a crescendo, a terrorist cell – which happens to be across the street – is activated. Suddenly Clark is discovering things he never knew about deadly chemicals, secret government operations, suspiciously missing neighbors, and the intentions of a gorgeous IRS auditor. Clark’s quiet suburban neighborhood is about to become one of the most deadly places on the planet, and it’s up to Clark to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives in the nation’s capital.
Fast, acerbic, wise and endlessly exciting, Love Thy Neighbor marks the unforgettable debut of a startling new voice in suspense fiction.
However, as the plot progressed, I found myself caught up in the story. Switching back and forth between a terrorist cell and the prosaic life of Clark and his elderly mother, the story flows smoothly and quickly. While I frequently found myself upset, mostly because I just can’t fathom the mindset of people involved in terrorism of this sort, it is generally a good sign when a book is able to elicit those sorts of emotional responses. I don’t know exactly how this writer got so far into the minds of the terrorists – it’s a little scary, actually – but he did a good job of it.
Oh, by the way, she was a minor character and toward the end of the book, but I loved Mrs. Crowley. She would have made a good match for Clark’s randy old WWII vet neighbor, Mr. Stanley. I also enjoyed Clark’s mother, crazy as she was.
It is true that this is a galley, so hopefully the typos will be fixed – there are a lot of problems with using the wrong homonym. It gets worse as the book progresses, as if whomever did the initial proofreading lost focus. This happens, unfortunately – even I’m guilty of that when I’m editing.
So, a mixed bag. There are some plot issues that might make reading this more of an exercise in suspension of disbelief than the average reader will find easy, but the story itself is fast-paced, well-developed and suspenseful, with plenty of twists and turns. Recommended for fans of suspense and thrillers.
Disclosure: I received a free eGalley eBook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Clark Hayden is a graduate student trying to help his mother navigate through the loss of his father while she continues to live in their house near Washington DC. With his mother’s diminishing mental capacity becoming the norm, Clark expects a certain amount of craziness as he heads home for the holidays. What he couldn’t possibly anticipate, though, is that he would find himself catapulted into the middle of a terrorist operation. As the holiday festivities reach a crescendo, a terrorist cell – which happens to be across the street – is activated. Suddenly Clark is discovering things he never knew about deadly chemicals, secret government operations, suspiciously missing neighbors, and the intentions of a gorgeous IRS auditor. Clark’s quiet suburban neighborhood is about to become one of the most deadly places on the planet, and it’s up to Clark to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives in the nation’s capital.
Fast, acerbic, wise and endlessly exciting, Love Thy Neighbor marks the unforgettable debut of a startling new voice in suspense fiction.
February 17, 2012
What a wild ride. So many characters. So much interaction. Good guys who are bad. Bad guys who are good. Young ones taking care of their elders who are in turn showing the way. I recommend this to everyone who wants a thriller that pushes the reader to think and challenge stereotypes.
February 12, 2012
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR by Mark Gilleo
Published by The Story Plant
ISBN-10: 1611880343
ISBN-13: 978-1611880342
At the request of The Story Plant, an ARC digital edition was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (from the publisher): Clark Hayden is a graduate student trying to help his mother navigate through the loss of his father while she continues to live in their house near Washington DC. With his mother’s diminishing mental capacity becoming the norm, Clark expects a certain amount of craziness as he heads home for the holidays. What he couldn’t possibly anticipate, though, is that he would find himself catapulted into the middle of a terrorist operation. As the holiday festivities reach a crescendo, a terrorist cell – which happens to be across the street – is activated. Suddenly Clark is discovering things he never knew about deadly chemicals, secret government operations, suspiciously missing neighbors, and the intentions of a gorgeous IRS auditor. Clark’s quiet suburban neighborhood is about to become one of the most deadly places on the planet, and it’s up to Clark to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives in the nation’s capital.
Fast, acerbic, wise and endlessly exciting, LOVE THY NEIGHBOR marks the unforgettable debut of a startling new voice in suspense fiction.
My Thoughts and Opinion: Where do I begin? OK..let's start by me proving myself wrong again with first impressions. I'm thinking another government spy book (not high up on my favorite read lists), 438 pages (great, this will take me weeks to read, going to seem like a lot more because of what I just mentioned) and it's a debut novel. Let's get this read.
The novel starts off with an Author's Note that states It's True. And I am hooked!! This debut author has me, but now comes the story, will he hold my attention for 438 pages? As I continue to read, his writing style is so graphic in detail that I actually had the ability to create a clear and vivid imagery in my mind, almost like I am watching a movie, which continues throughout the book. He has the same ability of bringing the cast of characters to life and the settings of the scenes as if the reader was present. Throughout the book there were multiple twists and turns and chapters with mini cliff hangers that made this reader have to "read just one more chapter" but then realizing I was ten chapters later. The suspense was non stop, a definite page turner. There were also a couple of scenes (do not want to include spoilers) that I found myself laughing out loud.
I found myself thinking several things when I finished this novel. Yes, I was wrong. I could not put this book down, all 438 pages of it. What I thought was going to take me weeks to read, took me a matter of a couple of days because it was so engrossing. Mr. Gilleo is a fantastic writer who made me stop and think from some of the incidents he wrote about, could this really happen?, how much does our government keep us in the dark?, it really frightened me. I also thought that this novel would make for a great movie. And most importantly, this is an author to put on your radar. His writing is that of a seasoned author. I say Bravo Mr. Gilleo!!!
My Rating: 5
August 19, 2015
Mark Gilleo does an outstanding job on his debut novel, Love Thy Neighbor. The prologue is a true and frightening account of his mother calling the CIA because of suspicious activity in her neighbor’s house. Because she suffered from dementia the authorities ignored her only to discover after 9/11 that one of the terrorist cells did, in fact, spend time in the house next door.
The author has rewritten this event with an abundance of poetic license and weaves a remarkable version of nonstop action and political scandal. This believable story will chill you to the bone!
The author has rewritten this event with an abundance of poetic license and weaves a remarkable version of nonstop action and political scandal. This believable story will chill you to the bone!
January 3, 2018
Great first novel by Mark Gilleo. I especially enjoyed all the accurate references to the DC area. Suspenseful and smart book.
April 1, 2012
My review:
Love thy Neighbor caught me by surprise. When I got the invitation to participate on the blog tour, I hesitated. The reason behind my hesitation was simply that the book was almost 500 pages and it seemed like a political thriller/suspense to me. As soon as I read the author's note that the book is based on what could look like a true story, I gave it a chance. I am glad that I did.
Love thy Neighbor started out slowly for my taste, but later in the book you understand the need for lot of explanations and scenes you read previously. At the end, Love thy Neighbor was a book which was captivating and interesting and had many different narratives built into each other. Plotting of the book was very good and I would definitely keep an eye of Mark Gilleo's upcoming books.
Regarding the plot:
Clark Hayden is a young man who is coming to spend time with his mother who has some mental issues after the death of her husband. When Maria Hayden is making a phone call to police and suggesting that there are terrorists living in the neighborhood, police does not take that seriously and more or less ignores her phone call by stamping her being crazy.
Clark's curiosity is leading him to the middle of international terrorism, CIA plotting and other deadly plans.
What I really liked about the plot was that it seemed so real and it could actually happen in reality. That was definitely fascinating and the second thing which was very unconventional what Mark Gilleo did: a woman is leading the terrorist cell and that is quite unheard in the Islam as far as I know.
The author also shows the narrative from both perspectives, also from the side of terrorists. There are characters who seem bad, but turning out to be good and visa verse, so the book keeps surprising you.
Mark Gilleo's writing is something I would like to point out. It is very visual writing he is using. The descriptions he is using are very graphic and while you read you get the pictures running in your head, so the author used all possible senses by writing and I loved that! It would be a good book for movie script.
Besides that, Mark Gilleo has a very good sense of humor.
Regarding the characters:
There were many characters in the book and they all had one thing in common: they were well-written! In the beginning and in the middle of the book I thought that are all these characters really necessary, but as you read further, you realize that they all have a role to play in the story.
My favorite character was not the protagonist Clark, but his mother. I found myself thinking several times: is this woman really crazy or not? The author puts enough second thoughts into the reader's head to find out more about her. She is crazy, but very lovable character.
Generally:
Love thy Neighbor is a very good book and would highly recommend it to suspense lovers! It is well written and has plenty of intriguing questions which you will continue thinking about after you have finished reading the book.
5 stars.
Love thy Neighbor caught me by surprise. When I got the invitation to participate on the blog tour, I hesitated. The reason behind my hesitation was simply that the book was almost 500 pages and it seemed like a political thriller/suspense to me. As soon as I read the author's note that the book is based on what could look like a true story, I gave it a chance. I am glad that I did.
Love thy Neighbor started out slowly for my taste, but later in the book you understand the need for lot of explanations and scenes you read previously. At the end, Love thy Neighbor was a book which was captivating and interesting and had many different narratives built into each other. Plotting of the book was very good and I would definitely keep an eye of Mark Gilleo's upcoming books.
Regarding the plot:
Clark Hayden is a young man who is coming to spend time with his mother who has some mental issues after the death of her husband. When Maria Hayden is making a phone call to police and suggesting that there are terrorists living in the neighborhood, police does not take that seriously and more or less ignores her phone call by stamping her being crazy.
Clark's curiosity is leading him to the middle of international terrorism, CIA plotting and other deadly plans.
What I really liked about the plot was that it seemed so real and it could actually happen in reality. That was definitely fascinating and the second thing which was very unconventional what Mark Gilleo did: a woman is leading the terrorist cell and that is quite unheard in the Islam as far as I know.
The author also shows the narrative from both perspectives, also from the side of terrorists. There are characters who seem bad, but turning out to be good and visa verse, so the book keeps surprising you.
Mark Gilleo's writing is something I would like to point out. It is very visual writing he is using. The descriptions he is using are very graphic and while you read you get the pictures running in your head, so the author used all possible senses by writing and I loved that! It would be a good book for movie script.
Besides that, Mark Gilleo has a very good sense of humor.
Regarding the characters:
There were many characters in the book and they all had one thing in common: they were well-written! In the beginning and in the middle of the book I thought that are all these characters really necessary, but as you read further, you realize that they all have a role to play in the story.
My favorite character was not the protagonist Clark, but his mother. I found myself thinking several times: is this woman really crazy or not? The author puts enough second thoughts into the reader's head to find out more about her. She is crazy, but very lovable character.
Generally:
Love thy Neighbor is a very good book and would highly recommend it to suspense lovers! It is well written and has plenty of intriguing questions which you will continue thinking about after you have finished reading the book.
5 stars.
April 12, 2012
Clark, a tech student, returns home in order to take care of his frail mother. Age and recent loss of her husband was taking its toll on Maria’s health. So he had decided to come back home to take care of her, attend classes remotely and write his thesis. Well, that was his plan. He had realized that this was going to bring some changes in his life, but what he didn’t realize was how big a change was in store for him. Maria throws caution to the winds by reporting terrorist activities in her neighborhood to the authorities. Unfortunately, nobody believes her. Besides his mother’s condition, he also gets involved in an IRS investigation centered around his parents, death and suspicious activities also catch his attention. Soon Clark gets too involved in everything around him to back out and get some sanity back into his life.
There are so many characters in the book that at times it got difficult to keep a track of them. However, none of them are any less important to the story. Each character, however small & insignificant they seem, has their own roles to play. But I loved Mr.Stanley. Ariana has a strong character. And finally our protagonist – he is no ‘Clark Kent’ – because there is no Kryptonite to stop Clark Hayden when he gets going!
This is another work where facts and fiction have been interlaced beautifully. The plot is gripping and engrossing. It has so many twists and turns that it will keep you hooked and guessing. Mark Gilleo has paid attention to details and his narration style is very graphic. I still cannot believe that this is the debut novel of the author because his writing style is likes of very seasoned authors.
There are so many characters in the book that at times it got difficult to keep a track of them. However, none of them are any less important to the story. Each character, however small & insignificant they seem, has their own roles to play. But I loved Mr.Stanley. Ariana has a strong character. And finally our protagonist – he is no ‘Clark Kent’ – because there is no Kryptonite to stop Clark Hayden when he gets going!
This is another work where facts and fiction have been interlaced beautifully. The plot is gripping and engrossing. It has so many twists and turns that it will keep you hooked and guessing. Mark Gilleo has paid attention to details and his narration style is very graphic. I still cannot believe that this is the debut novel of the author because his writing style is likes of very seasoned authors.
May 3, 2012
BOOK REVIEW: Love Thy Neighbor by Mark Gilleo
Review by Ryder Islington
High praise for the plot of Love Thy Neighbor. Clark Hayden is a graduate student who returns home to stay with his mother, Maria, a victim of dementia. Strange things start happening in the neighborhood, including a visit to Maria’s house in the middle of the night by three Middle-Eastern looking men. Enter the FBI. Followed by the DC Police. And the CIA. And then there is the IRS agent who is auditing Maria and her deceased husbands’ taxes for several years.
Mr. Gilleo is very good at planting seeds of information in the beginning that make sense and become important later. The characters and dialogue are strong and real. Overall, the book is good, filled with mystery and believable circumstances of the modern world, feeling so true it gives the reader the willies. This is a fascinating look at our American culture. I hope it doesn’t scare good people so much that they become cynical and suspicious of good, G-d fearing American Muslims.
Now for the unfortunate news. Despite Mr. Gilleo’s talent, his habit of head-hopping with different points-of-view is disruptive. There are several incidences of improper point-of-view construction that allows one character to enter the head of another. Without this problem, I would give the book five stars, and readers who aren’t bothered by this kind of issue will really enjoy it. For me it was as much work as enjoyment. I truly hope Mr. Gilleo finds a good editor who will help him hone his next book into something spectacular.
Review by Ryder Islington
High praise for the plot of Love Thy Neighbor. Clark Hayden is a graduate student who returns home to stay with his mother, Maria, a victim of dementia. Strange things start happening in the neighborhood, including a visit to Maria’s house in the middle of the night by three Middle-Eastern looking men. Enter the FBI. Followed by the DC Police. And the CIA. And then there is the IRS agent who is auditing Maria and her deceased husbands’ taxes for several years.
Mr. Gilleo is very good at planting seeds of information in the beginning that make sense and become important later. The characters and dialogue are strong and real. Overall, the book is good, filled with mystery and believable circumstances of the modern world, feeling so true it gives the reader the willies. This is a fascinating look at our American culture. I hope it doesn’t scare good people so much that they become cynical and suspicious of good, G-d fearing American Muslims.
Now for the unfortunate news. Despite Mr. Gilleo’s talent, his habit of head-hopping with different points-of-view is disruptive. There are several incidences of improper point-of-view construction that allows one character to enter the head of another. Without this problem, I would give the book five stars, and readers who aren’t bothered by this kind of issue will really enjoy it. For me it was as much work as enjoyment. I truly hope Mr. Gilleo finds a good editor who will help him hone his next book into something spectacular.
January 29, 2014
So how well do you know your neighbors? Me, I lived in same home for 9 years and can only name a handful and can only tell you when I see them moving in. This for most of us, is the reality. As for this book,a young man comes home to take care of his elderly mother. He thinks he knows them all, but becomes a bit of what we would think as a nosy neighbor. By doing this, he uncovers a few new murders, and a family gone missing that actually is a terrorist. He, his new girlfriend from the IRS, and a police officer decide to pursue the clues and take this terrorist with big plans down, because The CIA and FBI don't want to mess with it, should it be false and then make them look bad. So, how many of us would try to take on a terrorist neighbor without professional help? As far as the government goes, makes you feel confident that they are protecting us right? Despite my last 2 comments, I found the book to be a page turner, and also found the ending to be a bit chilling. Can't give that reason away though. But, makes me think how right after 9/11 we were all on alert looking at each other at airports, trains, etc.. Now it has been how many years with no real attacks, so how much really are we looking at each other now? I don't think I would go as far as the main character in the book for what he did, but I'm glad I know my neighbors enough to know they aren't terrorists. Well written book!
April 10, 2012
My Opinion:
I enjoyed the story a lot. I certainly felt that this could happen in my neighborhood, right under my nose and I would never know. Clark moves back home to live with his mother, who is going crazy if that is what you want to call it. We are told the background on his mom and basically she is old and just lost her husband and Clark feels it’s his duty to take care of her now. I agree. Then we get started on this tale of terrorism and government operations. There is a lot of POV switching back and forth between the characters and introduction of new characters thrown in at you. I felt a little lost at some points as the view would switch and then we would get a detailed description of the next persons view. Which is not a bad thing, it just kept throwing me for a loop. I like that the book had some comical moments in it. You even get in the minds of the terrorists and get their POV. This book had a ton of twists and turns in it. I especially loved Mr. Stanley. He was funny and he was suspicious all along. I enjoyed his and Clark’s banter. I enjoyed him in the story tremendously. All in all the book was good. I do think it’s a thrilling read. Lots of mystery and suspense all along in the story. It will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens. I know I sure did.
I give Love Thy Neighbor by Mark Gilleo 4 of 5 stars.
I enjoyed the story a lot. I certainly felt that this could happen in my neighborhood, right under my nose and I would never know. Clark moves back home to live with his mother, who is going crazy if that is what you want to call it. We are told the background on his mom and basically she is old and just lost her husband and Clark feels it’s his duty to take care of her now. I agree. Then we get started on this tale of terrorism and government operations. There is a lot of POV switching back and forth between the characters and introduction of new characters thrown in at you. I felt a little lost at some points as the view would switch and then we would get a detailed description of the next persons view. Which is not a bad thing, it just kept throwing me for a loop. I like that the book had some comical moments in it. You even get in the minds of the terrorists and get their POV. This book had a ton of twists and turns in it. I especially loved Mr. Stanley. He was funny and he was suspicious all along. I enjoyed his and Clark’s banter. I enjoyed him in the story tremendously. All in all the book was good. I do think it’s a thrilling read. Lots of mystery and suspense all along in the story. It will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens. I know I sure did.
I give Love Thy Neighbor by Mark Gilleo 4 of 5 stars.
October 3, 2016
Clark Hayden is a graduate student who decides to go back home and help his ailing mother, who has some age-related mental capacity reduction. His neighbors are a Muslim family who were very nice to his mother while he was away. Without ever imagining it, he is soon caught in the middle of a terrorist operation. He feels that the police are not moving sufficiently fast and he decides to get involved with his own investigation. The book is full of twists and turns and with so detailed that we learn the inner workings of terrorist cells and how their branches start infiltrating in the least imaginable places and people. It portrays how we are living in times where the society lives in fear as a result of the recent violent acts and killings suffered throughout the world. It is really terrifying learning how sophisticated all these criminals are.
January 29, 2014
Most books that I read don't get five stars--in fact many lately have only been rated three stars. This is a real stunner. Almost college graduate Clark comes home from Virginia Tech and the Robotics competition in Japan to take care of his mother, who is having mental problems. Strange things start happening in the neighborhood--people disappearing, two deaths and a house burning down. It turns out that the Pakistani woman is a terrorist who enlists the help of some others in a plot to kill people in DC.
March 23, 2012
Love thy Neighbour is an exciting read from start to finish. Mark Gilleo shows a talent for creating suspense as he unfolds a story all too relevant to events that have taken place in the real world over recent years.
I highly recommend this book and I'll definitely be on the look out for more titles by this author.
I highly recommend this book and I'll definitely be on the look out for more titles by this author.
June 6, 2022
Love Thy Neighbor by Mark Gilleo
Clark was attending VA Polytech, which my real uncle taught at and lived in Blacksburg, VA.
He has to go back home and really tend to his mother after his trip to Japan for robot show.
Story also follows other neighbors, one who is from Pakistan and he's there to help out with her daughter and husband who's a mechanic. They must rush back home as her father is gravely ill.
That's not exactly where she goes...Really interesting story surrounding terrorists that is a true crime story.
So many details and it seems nothing is forgotten. She really knows how to put a plan together.
Other events occur and you don't see the connections til later but you don't forget them.
Many other neighbors also come into play...Love the very detailed plans and things Clark remembers to take down the terrorists.
Such knowledge of signals he recalls from his father that is the final connection...
Never saw this really happening but it's real and I think of the harm if not been caught in time.
Can't wait to read more from this author. Descriptions are so detailed, I felt as if I was there witnessing it all.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.
December 25, 2021
The premise behind this book was promising, but the author’s writing style didn’t impress me. The book rambled on and on. I was just about to give up on the book, when it picked up a bit at around 50%, but dragged again after that. I figured out who the CIA operative was fairly early on, despite an attempt at diversion, and my suspicion was confirmed.
I usually like books based in the DC Metro area, and specifically Northern Virginia, as it gives more perspective for me, but this one just didn’t do it for me.
I usually like books based in the DC Metro area, and specifically Northern Virginia, as it gives more perspective for me, but this one just didn’t do it for me.
October 16, 2020
Really frightening to think how much of this might be true -- happening behind the scenes and we, the public, never hear about it. In some places, I felt the author got a bit too technical and those parts lagged. But overall it was an interesting story, if somewhat unbelievable that a regular Joe Schmoe off the street helped foil a terrorist plot. But who knows?
January 27, 2021
Really enjoyed this book, it is a thriller about a DC Islamic terrorist cell and an unconventional cast that sets out to solve riddles that lead up to a big reveal. Some of the relationships and side stories seemed a bit forced but it did not get in the way of the narrative. Very well developed characters and a good plot. Very well written.
August 30, 2018
Page Turned
Excellently paced storytelling with good balance between detailed technical information , character development and plot structure. Riveting and lighthearted at times .
Excellently paced storytelling with good balance between detailed technical information , character development and plot structure. Riveting and lighthearted at times .
October 14, 2018
Ariana. Amin.
Slow start but the pace accelerated increasingly toward the end of the book. Liked that there were some I.D. surprises as well. Bad guys were really one dimensional; whereas the good guys had more complexity.
Slow start but the pace accelerated increasingly toward the end of the book. Liked that there were some I.D. surprises as well. Bad guys were really one dimensional; whereas the good guys had more complexity.
January 28, 2022
Female terrorist vs. next door neighbor
Good book for domestic terrorist thriller readers. Interesting strong female character with males following in supporting roles. I enjoyed it as a quick, "relaxing" escape.
Good book for domestic terrorist thriller readers. Interesting strong female character with males following in supporting roles. I enjoyed it as a quick, "relaxing" escape.
July 12, 2017
A good summer read. Kept you on edge until the end.
March 2, 2018
Kindle Purchase
January 4, 2019
Detail for detail
This story has tons of detail and believable characters navigating an intricate plot. It would make a great film. Bravo!
This story has tons of detail and believable characters navigating an intricate plot. It would make a great film. Bravo!
August 13, 2021
Almost put down. Wasn't sure I wanted to read what it had to say. After a while I couldn't put it down. An eye opener.
April 11, 2023
I downloaded this ebook to my Nook library when Barnes and Noble offered it for free in January 2014.
I enjoyed the suspense-filled entertainment.
I enjoyed the suspense-filled entertainment.
May 11, 2012
Neighbors ... do you ever really KNOW them and all their activities that occur right under your nose?
Clark Hayden is a twenty-five year old graduate student at Virginia Tech, who moves back home to Arlington, VA to take care of his elderly mother who has a diminished mental capacity, and is still grieving the death of her husband from two years ago. Clark comes home over the Christmas holiday expecting some craziness from his mom, but he did not expect to find out that she is being audited by the IRS. There is also suspicious activity in the neighborhood: missing neighbors, another neighbor dies, chemical use, and a terrorist cell is in place getting ready to strike. With the IRS, FBI, CIA, local police, a terrorist cell, and an elderly mom ... there goes the neighborhood ... and Clark is caught in the middle of the craziness!
Love Thy Neighbor is a fast-paced spine chilling suspense thriller that will keep the reader sitting on the edge of their seat. The storyline is a well written and intriguing look into terrorism and covert governmental operations. The story is told within alternating narrative chapters from the viewpoint of the two main characters: Clark and Ariana. The author's attention to detail is superb, he provides fascinating and well thought out descriptions of the inner workings of terrorist cells and covert governmental operations. The author takes the reader on a journey as the story unfolds, one that is filled with a lot of suspenseful twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing and provides a lot of food for thought. There are a lot of characters in the story, but the author does a great job of intertwining them in a cohesive manner that makes them fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The characters are realistic and believable, each of them has their role to play. I loved the exchanges that Clark had with his crotchety elderly neighbor, Mr. Stanley and with the lovely IRS Auditor, Lisa Prescott. Their humorous exchanges provided a great balance to the suspense and drama.
I couldn't help but get caught up in the complexities of Clark and Ariana, and the realism that we really never know our neighbors is made crystal clear.
Love Thy Neighbor is the debut novel for author Mark Gilleo, but his imaginative and thought provoking writing style proves that he has what it takes to make him a seasoned writer. Suspense thriller fans, this is a story that will make you sit up and think about the realistic possibilities of what could happen within the inner workings of terrorist plots and covert governmental activities. This is one novel that you need to put on your reading list, you won't be disappointed!
*As a side note: I found the Author's Note (a true story) to be a jaw dropping, chilling and stunning account. I ran through a gamut of emotions, and all I could think about after I read his account was: if only his mother's information had been taken seriously and followed up on, the events of 9/11 may have been averted, and our world may not have been turned upside down and sadly changed forever. What a sad commentary of how the inner workings of our governmental agencies really work. *sigh*
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author and/or publisher - The Story Plant in exchange for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour promoted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Clark Hayden is a twenty-five year old graduate student at Virginia Tech, who moves back home to Arlington, VA to take care of his elderly mother who has a diminished mental capacity, and is still grieving the death of her husband from two years ago. Clark comes home over the Christmas holiday expecting some craziness from his mom, but he did not expect to find out that she is being audited by the IRS. There is also suspicious activity in the neighborhood: missing neighbors, another neighbor dies, chemical use, and a terrorist cell is in place getting ready to strike. With the IRS, FBI, CIA, local police, a terrorist cell, and an elderly mom ... there goes the neighborhood ... and Clark is caught in the middle of the craziness!
Love Thy Neighbor is a fast-paced spine chilling suspense thriller that will keep the reader sitting on the edge of their seat. The storyline is a well written and intriguing look into terrorism and covert governmental operations. The story is told within alternating narrative chapters from the viewpoint of the two main characters: Clark and Ariana. The author's attention to detail is superb, he provides fascinating and well thought out descriptions of the inner workings of terrorist cells and covert governmental operations. The author takes the reader on a journey as the story unfolds, one that is filled with a lot of suspenseful twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing and provides a lot of food for thought. There are a lot of characters in the story, but the author does a great job of intertwining them in a cohesive manner that makes them fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The characters are realistic and believable, each of them has their role to play. I loved the exchanges that Clark had with his crotchety elderly neighbor, Mr. Stanley and with the lovely IRS Auditor, Lisa Prescott. Their humorous exchanges provided a great balance to the suspense and drama.
I couldn't help but get caught up in the complexities of Clark and Ariana, and the realism that we really never know our neighbors is made crystal clear.
Love Thy Neighbor is the debut novel for author Mark Gilleo, but his imaginative and thought provoking writing style proves that he has what it takes to make him a seasoned writer. Suspense thriller fans, this is a story that will make you sit up and think about the realistic possibilities of what could happen within the inner workings of terrorist plots and covert governmental activities. This is one novel that you need to put on your reading list, you won't be disappointed!
*As a side note: I found the Author's Note (a true story) to be a jaw dropping, chilling and stunning account. I ran through a gamut of emotions, and all I could think about after I read his account was: if only his mother's information had been taken seriously and followed up on, the events of 9/11 may have been averted, and our world may not have been turned upside down and sadly changed forever. What a sad commentary of how the inner workings of our governmental agencies really work. *sigh*
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author and/or publisher - The Story Plant in exchange for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour promoted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
March 23, 2012
Clark Hayden is a very bright graduate student doing specialized work in robotics. But for now he has decided to move back in with his mother who is slowly beginning to demonstrate diminished ability to remember and often breaks out in strange behavior. But she's also taking multiple medications that could have the same effect on a personality, so what is one to think when she sees some strange gentlemen whom she believes to be terrorists? Even more, how is that when she calls the CIA, they really don't take her concern seriously, just as someone missed the connection before 9/11? At first Clark believes his mother is just hallucinating, but soon...
What is one to make of a Pakistani couple with a young daughter suddenly calling Clark to tell him they must return to the Middle East to take care of a dying family member? And what about the overweight neighbor who sees too much and has a very sudden heart attack, to which no one pays much attention as the man was grossly overweight to start? And what about the exploding house with flying pieces that almost hit Clark who is plant-sitting for the absent neighbors?
These acts plus many other clues lead Clark and his new found IRS Agent Liz to do more than speculate. When they find a poison substance and begin to research the disappearance of the Arab couple, everything begins to make sense far too quickly. And what can anyone really do to stop a terrorist act? Many die trying or for just being in the path of the demonic process quietly and calmly leading to an American disaster beyond one's comprehension.
Meanwhile a carefully devised plot to carry out a dire act that will make 9/11 look like a picnic is proceeding. All are obedient to the central leader and those who aren't don't even get a chance to ponder their errors! Add to that the finding of a poison substance and the race is on for Mark and his girlfriend to find the would-be perpetrators and stop the traitorous deed planned for years and now soon to happen.
Mark Gilleo has his finger on the pulse of the two extremes of those pondering terrorism, denial or total immersion in the irrational and emotionally drastic acts stemming from those with a deliberate motivation and skills to carry out such a tragic act. Will these men and one woman be stopped in time to save mankind from one's own worst fears?
Love Thy Neighbor is an interesting, unfortunately dire story about the terrorism working to fulfill its highest goals - to kill, kill and kill some more. Important and well done, indeed, Mr. Gilleo!
What is one to make of a Pakistani couple with a young daughter suddenly calling Clark to tell him they must return to the Middle East to take care of a dying family member? And what about the overweight neighbor who sees too much and has a very sudden heart attack, to which no one pays much attention as the man was grossly overweight to start? And what about the exploding house with flying pieces that almost hit Clark who is plant-sitting for the absent neighbors?
These acts plus many other clues lead Clark and his new found IRS Agent Liz to do more than speculate. When they find a poison substance and begin to research the disappearance of the Arab couple, everything begins to make sense far too quickly. And what can anyone really do to stop a terrorist act? Many die trying or for just being in the path of the demonic process quietly and calmly leading to an American disaster beyond one's comprehension.
Meanwhile a carefully devised plot to carry out a dire act that will make 9/11 look like a picnic is proceeding. All are obedient to the central leader and those who aren't don't even get a chance to ponder their errors! Add to that the finding of a poison substance and the race is on for Mark and his girlfriend to find the would-be perpetrators and stop the traitorous deed planned for years and now soon to happen.
Mark Gilleo has his finger on the pulse of the two extremes of those pondering terrorism, denial or total immersion in the irrational and emotionally drastic acts stemming from those with a deliberate motivation and skills to carry out such a tragic act. Will these men and one woman be stopped in time to save mankind from one's own worst fears?
Love Thy Neighbor is an interesting, unfortunately dire story about the terrorism working to fulfill its highest goals - to kill, kill and kill some more. Important and well done, indeed, Mr. Gilleo!
July 14, 2017
I had a feeling about this book from the moment I read the author’s introduction, that I was going to like it.
Clark Hayden is a student returning home, to look after his mother while he finishes his studies, his mum’s mental state is deteriorating and his father passed away some time before. It’s not long before Clark is embroiled in an IRS investigation into his parent’s affairs, and suspicious goings on in the neighbourhood, with a terror cell getting ready to strike.
The story is very well structured and the narrative rattles along at a fair pace, each scene reveals a little more of what is going on, introducing new characters when appropriate, but leaving the reader in a perpetual state of suspense as to what will actually happen, and whether justice will prevail or will the terrorists see their Jihad.
The plotting is very clever, and the book conveys a sense of an author who has spent time thinking out exactly how the story will unfold and how each part will interact with what came before and what is coming next. I always had a sense that the author was leading me on the journey he wanted to take me on, but I never felt bored or wanted to skip on a few pages, or to the end.
A level of realism exists that really makes you think the author knows what he’s talking about or has done his research well. Each chapter is believable, and doesn’t leave you with any doubts as to whether what is being described would ever really happen that way.
The characters are simple in their brilliance, there is a clear picture of each one, and yet where there are those that have a hidden intention or motive, you would never be able to tell until this is revealed. When you think you have something worked out the author is able to surprise you with what he intends for the character, not what you thought was going to happen.
This is no all action thriller though, if you’re looking for a “Clancyesque” shoot-em-up spy story, you’re going to be disappointed, this tale is more cerebral than that, and it keeps you guessing until the end. I won’t spoil it, but I was never completely sure what was going to happen until I got there.
As an afterthought, I’ve read a few books now published by The Story Plant, and I can safely say that they really know how to pick their books, they’ve definitely got an eye. If you’re looking for a good book to read, then I recommend this one, once you’ve read it, check out others published by The Story Plant. You won’t go far wrong.
Clark Hayden is a student returning home, to look after his mother while he finishes his studies, his mum’s mental state is deteriorating and his father passed away some time before. It’s not long before Clark is embroiled in an IRS investigation into his parent’s affairs, and suspicious goings on in the neighbourhood, with a terror cell getting ready to strike.
The story is very well structured and the narrative rattles along at a fair pace, each scene reveals a little more of what is going on, introducing new characters when appropriate, but leaving the reader in a perpetual state of suspense as to what will actually happen, and whether justice will prevail or will the terrorists see their Jihad.
The plotting is very clever, and the book conveys a sense of an author who has spent time thinking out exactly how the story will unfold and how each part will interact with what came before and what is coming next. I always had a sense that the author was leading me on the journey he wanted to take me on, but I never felt bored or wanted to skip on a few pages, or to the end.
A level of realism exists that really makes you think the author knows what he’s talking about or has done his research well. Each chapter is believable, and doesn’t leave you with any doubts as to whether what is being described would ever really happen that way.
The characters are simple in their brilliance, there is a clear picture of each one, and yet where there are those that have a hidden intention or motive, you would never be able to tell until this is revealed. When you think you have something worked out the author is able to surprise you with what he intends for the character, not what you thought was going to happen.
This is no all action thriller though, if you’re looking for a “Clancyesque” shoot-em-up spy story, you’re going to be disappointed, this tale is more cerebral than that, and it keeps you guessing until the end. I won’t spoil it, but I was never completely sure what was going to happen until I got there.
As an afterthought, I’ve read a few books now published by The Story Plant, and I can safely say that they really know how to pick their books, they’ve definitely got an eye. If you’re looking for a good book to read, then I recommend this one, once you’ve read it, check out others published by The Story Plant. You won’t go far wrong.
April 20, 2012
How well do you know your neighbors?
Clark Hayden, a graduate student, moves home to try to help his mother get through the loss of his father. The neighbors have been doing their best looking out for and taking care of her but her diminished mental status seems to be escalating. He knows it is time to come home. He gets there just in time for her holiday party and gets to thank the neighbors for what they have done. He also arrives home just in time to find out his mother is being audited by the IRS!
As the holidays wind down things turn dicey as neighbors go missing, some are found dead and Clark is learning way to much about secret government operations, deadly chemicals and terrorist cells. This is not the neighborhood Clark grew up in and he may hold the key that could save hundreds of thousands of lives in the nation’s capital.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is a very well written story for a debut novel and it has an extremely complex plot with several characters. While quick paced it is not a book you can read quickly. It needs to be savored so you can catch all of the nuances to the characters and the settings. At times the dialogue becomes so graphic it shines in your mind’s eye like a movie.
In the world today, post 9/11, this story could actually happen, which makes it all the more enticing. There is one twist with a character that was extremely unexpected due to what we have learned about about Middle Eastern culture, but I can tell that the author has done extensive research for this novel and that makes the twist very credible in my eyes.
If you enjoy a good mystery I can promise you will enjoy this book. It will keep you guessing until the very end and will stick with you long after you have read the last word. Mark Gilleo is an author to watch, quality this good in a debut novel is no fluke, I can’t wait for his next suspenseful tale.
Clark Hayden, a graduate student, moves home to try to help his mother get through the loss of his father. The neighbors have been doing their best looking out for and taking care of her but her diminished mental status seems to be escalating. He knows it is time to come home. He gets there just in time for her holiday party and gets to thank the neighbors for what they have done. He also arrives home just in time to find out his mother is being audited by the IRS!
As the holidays wind down things turn dicey as neighbors go missing, some are found dead and Clark is learning way to much about secret government operations, deadly chemicals and terrorist cells. This is not the neighborhood Clark grew up in and he may hold the key that could save hundreds of thousands of lives in the nation’s capital.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is a very well written story for a debut novel and it has an extremely complex plot with several characters. While quick paced it is not a book you can read quickly. It needs to be savored so you can catch all of the nuances to the characters and the settings. At times the dialogue becomes so graphic it shines in your mind’s eye like a movie.
In the world today, post 9/11, this story could actually happen, which makes it all the more enticing. There is one twist with a character that was extremely unexpected due to what we have learned about about Middle Eastern culture, but I can tell that the author has done extensive research for this novel and that makes the twist very credible in my eyes.
If you enjoy a good mystery I can promise you will enjoy this book. It will keep you guessing until the very end and will stick with you long after you have read the last word. Mark Gilleo is an author to watch, quality this good in a debut novel is no fluke, I can’t wait for his next suspenseful tale.
March 26, 2012
Love Thy Neighbour follows the lives of two neighbours. One is Clark Hayden who has returned from university to look after his mother who is rapidly sucumbing to dementia in the wake of her husbands recent death. The other is the polite subserviant Pakistani wife, Ariana Amin.
Maria Hayden throws the neighbourly trust into disarray when she informs the authorities that she believes three terrorists turned up on her doorstep.Police officers make a half-hearted enquiry and infer that Maria’s mental capacity renders the information unreliable. Clark’s curiosity is piqued however and inadvertently begins his own private investigation of the quiet neighbours over the road. Clark is dragged into international terrorism, CIA cover-ups and a deadly plan that no one else seems wise to.
Mark Gilleo builds the story through layers of interweaving narratives giving every possible perspective in a short time frame. Although the pace is slow to begin with each scene is key to the finale. Even the characters that join the plot at a late stage are as well formed and memorable as those that dominated the beginning.
Gilleo gives the reader both the terrorists’ perspective and those against them without leading the reader to empathise with either party. Each individual’s arc through the novel seems as worthy and dramatic as the next.
Due to the thriller-nature of the novel the slow set up may put off some readers. However the more patient reader will be rewarded with a tense, climatic finish neatly rounding up all of the loose ends.
Gilleo is an exciting new voice in the market bringing together intelligent plots and memorable characters. His next novel Sweat is due to be published this year.
Maria Hayden throws the neighbourly trust into disarray when she informs the authorities that she believes three terrorists turned up on her doorstep.Police officers make a half-hearted enquiry and infer that Maria’s mental capacity renders the information unreliable. Clark’s curiosity is piqued however and inadvertently begins his own private investigation of the quiet neighbours over the road. Clark is dragged into international terrorism, CIA cover-ups and a deadly plan that no one else seems wise to.
Mark Gilleo builds the story through layers of interweaving narratives giving every possible perspective in a short time frame. Although the pace is slow to begin with each scene is key to the finale. Even the characters that join the plot at a late stage are as well formed and memorable as those that dominated the beginning.
Gilleo gives the reader both the terrorists’ perspective and those against them without leading the reader to empathise with either party. Each individual’s arc through the novel seems as worthy and dramatic as the next.
Due to the thriller-nature of the novel the slow set up may put off some readers. However the more patient reader will be rewarded with a tense, climatic finish neatly rounding up all of the loose ends.
Gilleo is an exciting new voice in the market bringing together intelligent plots and memorable characters. His next novel Sweat is due to be published this year.
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