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The Neighborhood
A neighborhood as seen by Abra Ahrens, ahome-care nurse. The action includes an amateur torturer, a girl's disappearance and a gruesome murder. Eventually, the nurse is faced with putting a stop to itherself or becoming the next victim of the people nextdoor. By the author of The Moons of Summer.A nurse tending an eminent citizen, Abra Ahrens identifies the perpetrator of a series of gruesome murders and must stop him before she becomes his next victim
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 11, 2023
Another fun read by Epperson, albeit a pure thriller rather than horror. The entire tale takes place on one street in suburban Wichita, the titular neighborhood, and the cast is of course the people that live there. A suburban neighborhood drama is usually not my cup of tea, but Epperson brings her typical cast of vivid characters along for the ride and introduces numerous twists and turns that made this fun.
Our main protagonist, Abra, is the exception to the rule here as she has been hired as a live in nurse for someone on the street. The director of the the hospital where she works hired her and she could hardly say no; it seems the director's brother is dying and needs hospice care. The Neighborhood starts with a prologue where we know the Director's brother is infected with small pox (some experimental government thing) but he tells Abra he is dying of AIDS. I first thought this would be some epidemic novel or something, but it really plays a side role to the story as a whole.
We are quickly introduced to the folks on the street; Zane, an ex-cop who now makes prosthetic eyes in his home, along with his two sons, an older lady with her retarded son Chance, a strange couple across the street whose husband collects exotic birds, the doctor and his ailing brother, an so forth. The big item of late concerns the disappearance of a young girl who lived just a street away. Epperson takes us effortlessly into the drama-- a series of strange events to say the least-- that happens on the block, but I will stop here to avoid spoilers. While I did not like this as much as her other works I have read, I was still impressed; this type of book would not normally interest me, but once the tale got going, it was hard to put down. 3 strange stars!
Our main protagonist, Abra, is the exception to the rule here as she has been hired as a live in nurse for someone on the street. The director of the the hospital where she works hired her and she could hardly say no; it seems the director's brother is dying and needs hospice care. The Neighborhood starts with a prologue where we know the Director's brother is infected with small pox (some experimental government thing) but he tells Abra he is dying of AIDS. I first thought this would be some epidemic novel or something, but it really plays a side role to the story as a whole.
We are quickly introduced to the folks on the street; Zane, an ex-cop who now makes prosthetic eyes in his home, along with his two sons, an older lady with her retarded son Chance, a strange couple across the street whose husband collects exotic birds, the doctor and his ailing brother, an so forth. The big item of late concerns the disappearance of a young girl who lived just a street away. Epperson takes us effortlessly into the drama-- a series of strange events to say the least-- that happens on the block, but I will stop here to avoid spoilers. While I did not like this as much as her other works I have read, I was still impressed; this type of book would not normally interest me, but once the tale got going, it was hard to put down. 3 strange stars!
November 10, 2020
A nurse is hired to take care of a man she believes to have AIDS. She moves into the house with the man and his doctor brother who hired her to start full time care. It seems like just another quiet neighborhood at first. Strange things start to happen all around her.
This one is full of people that on the surface seem like normal people, but as it unfolds, they become stranger and stranger with odd agendas against each other. When you think you got these characters figured out, the rug gets pulled out from under you. A fun ride with lots of twists.
This one is full of people that on the surface seem like normal people, but as it unfolds, they become stranger and stranger with odd agendas against each other. When you think you got these characters figured out, the rug gets pulled out from under you. A fun ride with lots of twists.
November 22, 2015
These novels by this Author are proving very good reading to me this book was 270 odd pages and it was quite a lively thriller. I found it to be a page turner and look forward to more
April 20, 2016
Very good book from beginning to end. Several twists and turns but you never get lost. Enjoyed the book very much.
February 22, 2017
I just love this author and I'm completely surprised he/she hasn't got a huge following. This is a fab book and I will definitely be reading more of this author's work.
August 9, 2021
Good story, but seems to be a bit much at times. Small pox and multiple murders all at once in the same area, but hey, I guess it could happen.
June 6, 2014
Abra is called upon to take care of a man who is supposedly dying of cancer, by his older brother who is a cold, stern man. He wants things his way and Abra has signed on to do just that.
The idyllic neighborhood she's drafted into has many secrets that will soon come to light.
This was tame in regard to it being a horror title. It was more along a thriller theme of murder, secrets, and lies.
The characters were odd and did some notably weird things or reacted in odd ways that seemed to be okay with the author, but did not sit well with me as being realistic.
Still, I read it all the way through so there was an interesting quality to it, I just can't seem pinpoint it.
www.HorrorAfterDark.com
The idyllic neighborhood she's drafted into has many secrets that will soon come to light.
This was tame in regard to it being a horror title. It was more along a thriller theme of murder, secrets, and lies.
The characters were odd and did some notably weird things or reacted in odd ways that seemed to be okay with the author, but did not sit well with me as being realistic.
Still, I read it all the way through so there was an interesting quality to it, I just can't seem pinpoint it.
www.HorrorAfterDark.com
March 26, 2021
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FUCKING SMALLPOX? WHY MENTION CLYDE IS A PEDO AND THEN DO NOTHING WITH THE INFO? This stew has too many fuckin peas and not enough meat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2015
A small neighborhood can hide many secrets, and Zane finds himself right in the middle of it all.
A missing child, a murdered wife, a case of smallpox and other quirks seem to surround this little community...
A missing child, a murdered wife, a case of smallpox and other quirks seem to surround this little community...
December 5, 2017
Ended too soon
Hope he writes sequel. It was a very good read but could have written a lot more. Thought it ended too soon would have like more on Abra and the cop.
Hope he writes sequel. It was a very good read but could have written a lot more. Thought it ended too soon would have like more on Abra and the cop.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews