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Neighbourly Mischief
In this peculiar story, we follow the lives of a few distinctive individuals living in an old apartment building, ranging from angsty youth to middle-aged couples and senior citizens. Sorrows, insecurities, longings, frustrations, and, above all, secrets are concealed within each of these characters in an intricate maze of dysfunctional yet humorous relationships.
The intrusion of an outsider on a serene night unexpectedly impacts the building and its inhabitants, forever altering their lives and strangely mending some of their inner wounds.
Aristotle famously stated that humans are social creatures. The daily interactions among people, intentional or not, play a significant role in shaping their lives. As our characters struggle against it, loneliness becomes the driving force behind the central conflict, acting as the true antagonist.
The intrusion of an outsider on a serene night unexpectedly impacts the building and its inhabitants, forever altering their lives and strangely mending some of their inner wounds.
Aristotle famously stated that humans are social creatures. The daily interactions among people, intentional or not, play a significant role in shaping their lives. As our characters struggle against it, loneliness becomes the driving force behind the central conflict, acting as the true antagonist.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2024
4 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Cristina Mîrzoi
4 books51 followersBachelor’s degree in Communication and an MA in Religious Studies - with a dissertation on Divination in Classical Antiquity.
Grew up reading fairy tales and Greek mythology.
Favorite author - Ray Bradbury.
I began writing in 2019 when I started working on a children’s fantasy novel in Romanian, my native language, "Prințesa și Pricoliciul" (published May 2022).
I continued by writing flash fiction horror pieces in English for US based e-zines - that have been published in Sirens Call Publications.
"The Headsman" is a short story collection in English available on Amazon; 2nd place winner in the Gothic Horror category at The BookFest Awards, and Runner Up in the Horror section at the Indies Today Annual Contest.
"Di Inferi" (short story) was published in Dark Lane Anthology Vol 13 in June 2023.
"Neighbourly Mischief", a dark comedy novella, was published in 2024.
Currently working on a new adult novel in English.
Grew up reading fairy tales and Greek mythology.
Favorite author - Ray Bradbury.
I began writing in 2019 when I started working on a children’s fantasy novel in Romanian, my native language, "Prințesa și Pricoliciul" (published May 2022).
I continued by writing flash fiction horror pieces in English for US based e-zines - that have been published in Sirens Call Publications.
"The Headsman" is a short story collection in English available on Amazon; 2nd place winner in the Gothic Horror category at The BookFest Awards, and Runner Up in the Horror section at the Indies Today Annual Contest.
"Di Inferi" (short story) was published in Dark Lane Anthology Vol 13 in June 2023.
"Neighbourly Mischief", a dark comedy novella, was published in 2024.
Currently working on a new adult novel in English.
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August 15, 2024Neighbourly Mischief, tickled me with its dark humor. If you’re a fan of stories where humor and darkness collide, you have to check out this book!
Neighourly Mischief begins with a police transcript where I met a lot of the characters. The building administrator, Gilbert, has been missing for a few days and the last place that he was seen was at the apartment building. None of the residents have a kind thing to say about the administrator and it becomes clear very quickly that the latest round of grievances involve a recent plumbing job that led to a rat infestation.
The following chapters span 8 days, showing Gilbert’s whereabouts through the interactions with the residents. Cristina Mîrzoi created distinct characters with their unique struggles, motivations, personalities and quirks. There is Dylan, a young unemployed man who worships his beautiful girlfriend and knows he needs to get himself together or she will leave him. Hugh, his neighbor, is a happily married man prone to looking too deeply into things. Jimmy and Norman have lived in the building all their lives and one envies the other. While Jimmy is successful and married, Norman is an odd-ball and as the story progresses, it becomes clear just how different he is from the rest of the residents of the building. Nellie is an old woman who watched the two boys grow up and turns to them in her bad times. Josephine is a widowed woman whose children left her in this apartment building. Prudence is the building manager who takes in all the complaints and tries her best to manage the building, her family and a very disgruntled Gilbert. There are also perspectives from the plumbers. It took me a little while to get used to all the characters but the story is written so well and it was such a page turner that I could not help watching these people’s lives and getting to know them well.
Neighourly Mischief is the portrayal of how strangers’ lives come together in odd ways. It aptly portrays how sometimes, it is easier to turn to your next door neighbor than your wife, particularly when you know how interested she would be in the problem. The neighbours don’t really want to know each other but when circumstances bring some of them together, they learn, in the case of Hugh and Dylan, that they can be friends. They learn about themselves too – when people they see day in and day out annoy them and they suddenly stop, they feel a sense of concern, like in the case of Josepehine and Nellie. In other interactions, it becomes clear that they are very different people and would rather not live in the same building together.
I enjoyed the dark humour of this book and how Gilbert’s disappearance came to be. Dylan is a scatterbrain which endeared him to me. I felt the number of characters was just right – even one more would have been too much and one less might not have shown the variety of relationships that can coexist in one place.
Overall, Neighbourly Mischief is a masterful blend of dark humor and poignant observation, wrapped in a tale of seemingly mundane lives intersecting in unexpected ways. It is indeed a peculiar tale. The disappearance of the much hated building administrator becomes the catalyst for a series of events that are as absurd as they are revealing, exposing the quirks and hidden depths of each character. Cristina Mîrzoi has skillfully woven dark humor throughout the narrative, making me chuckle at the absurdity of the situations while also reflecting on the underlying truths about human nature. In the end, this is a sharp, witty exploration of the odd connections and rivalries that flourish in close quarters.
This review was first posted on my blog. Check out the author interview there. :) Have you read this book or plan to?
Many thanks to the author for providing me a review copy for an honest review. I look forward to reading more by her.
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Neighourly Mischief begins with a police transcript where I met a lot of the characters. The building administrator, Gilbert, has been missing for a few days and the last place that he was seen was at the apartment building. None of the residents have a kind thing to say about the administrator and it becomes clear very quickly that the latest round of grievances involve a recent plumbing job that led to a rat infestation.
The following chapters span 8 days, showing Gilbert’s whereabouts through the interactions with the residents. Cristina Mîrzoi created distinct characters with their unique struggles, motivations, personalities and quirks. There is Dylan, a young unemployed man who worships his beautiful girlfriend and knows he needs to get himself together or she will leave him. Hugh, his neighbor, is a happily married man prone to looking too deeply into things. Jimmy and Norman have lived in the building all their lives and one envies the other. While Jimmy is successful and married, Norman is an odd-ball and as the story progresses, it becomes clear just how different he is from the rest of the residents of the building. Nellie is an old woman who watched the two boys grow up and turns to them in her bad times. Josephine is a widowed woman whose children left her in this apartment building. Prudence is the building manager who takes in all the complaints and tries her best to manage the building, her family and a very disgruntled Gilbert. There are also perspectives from the plumbers. It took me a little while to get used to all the characters but the story is written so well and it was such a page turner that I could not help watching these people’s lives and getting to know them well.
Neighourly Mischief is the portrayal of how strangers’ lives come together in odd ways. It aptly portrays how sometimes, it is easier to turn to your next door neighbor than your wife, particularly when you know how interested she would be in the problem. The neighbours don’t really want to know each other but when circumstances bring some of them together, they learn, in the case of Hugh and Dylan, that they can be friends. They learn about themselves too – when people they see day in and day out annoy them and they suddenly stop, they feel a sense of concern, like in the case of Josepehine and Nellie. In other interactions, it becomes clear that they are very different people and would rather not live in the same building together.
I enjoyed the dark humour of this book and how Gilbert’s disappearance came to be. Dylan is a scatterbrain which endeared him to me. I felt the number of characters was just right – even one more would have been too much and one less might not have shown the variety of relationships that can coexist in one place.
Overall, Neighbourly Mischief is a masterful blend of dark humor and poignant observation, wrapped in a tale of seemingly mundane lives intersecting in unexpected ways. It is indeed a peculiar tale. The disappearance of the much hated building administrator becomes the catalyst for a series of events that are as absurd as they are revealing, exposing the quirks and hidden depths of each character. Cristina Mîrzoi has skillfully woven dark humor throughout the narrative, making me chuckle at the absurdity of the situations while also reflecting on the underlying truths about human nature. In the end, this is a sharp, witty exploration of the odd connections and rivalries that flourish in close quarters.
This review was first posted on my blog. Check out the author interview there. :) Have you read this book or plan to?
Many thanks to the author for providing me a review copy for an honest review. I look forward to reading more by her.
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
August 9, 2024
Not everything in life is easy to classify.
The character development in this novella was strong and entertaining. This was a delightful mixture of folks, from grumpy to eccentric to whimsical among many other options, and sometimes wildly different traits would emerge from the same person depending on the day and their mood. I also enjoyed seeing how various neighbors brought out new aspects of each other’s personalities. Some of them were honestly not great matches for each other due to conflicting interests or preferred communication styles, but that was what made this such a charming read. Of course, not everyone will get along with everyone else or draw out the same reactions from one another! The same thing happens in real life all of the time, after all.
There were a few things about the mystery that I wish had been explained better. For example, when exactly was this tale set? It felt like it was no more recent than the 1970s, but even that was a fuzzy guess due to how little the characters talked about things like technology and current events. The reason why this mattered so much to me as a reader had to do with the development of crime scene investigation over the years. It would be nearly impossible to dispose of a body these days without being caught at some point, but a century ago there were no smartphones, DNA tests, fingerprint readers, or security cameras to provide additional clues about what really happened and who may or may not have been involved. With that being said, this a minor criticism of something I thought was otherwise quite well done.
Some of the most memorable passages were the ones that asked readers to think about the messiness of being human. That is to say, nobody is perfect or irredeemable. Terrible folks can be generous, and even the sweetest person one has ever met might still be harbouring a dark secret or two. The ambiguity of it all made these characters feel real to me. I never quite knew what to expect next, and I was surprised more than once by revelations about characters I thought I’d already figured out.
Neighbourly Mischief was a genuine exploration of what it means to be a good – or a not-so-good – person.
The character development in this novella was strong and entertaining. This was a delightful mixture of folks, from grumpy to eccentric to whimsical among many other options, and sometimes wildly different traits would emerge from the same person depending on the day and their mood. I also enjoyed seeing how various neighbors brought out new aspects of each other’s personalities. Some of them were honestly not great matches for each other due to conflicting interests or preferred communication styles, but that was what made this such a charming read. Of course, not everyone will get along with everyone else or draw out the same reactions from one another! The same thing happens in real life all of the time, after all.
There were a few things about the mystery that I wish had been explained better. For example, when exactly was this tale set? It felt like it was no more recent than the 1970s, but even that was a fuzzy guess due to how little the characters talked about things like technology and current events. The reason why this mattered so much to me as a reader had to do with the development of crime scene investigation over the years. It would be nearly impossible to dispose of a body these days without being caught at some point, but a century ago there were no smartphones, DNA tests, fingerprint readers, or security cameras to provide additional clues about what really happened and who may or may not have been involved. With that being said, this a minor criticism of something I thought was otherwise quite well done.
Some of the most memorable passages were the ones that asked readers to think about the messiness of being human. That is to say, nobody is perfect or irredeemable. Terrible folks can be generous, and even the sweetest person one has ever met might still be harbouring a dark secret or two. The ambiguity of it all made these characters feel real to me. I never quite knew what to expect next, and I was surprised more than once by revelations about characters I thought I’d already figured out.
Neighbourly Mischief was a genuine exploration of what it means to be a good – or a not-so-good – person.
August 5, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Neighbourly Mischief is another masterful weaving of multiple perspectives, something that is seemingly a Mîrzoi specialty. This was reminiscent of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, another stellar read consisting of multiple perspectives within one space. In Mîrzoi's tale we follow the occupants of an apartment building throughout their days, but we are warned from the beginning that there is a murder investigation occurring. Cristina Mîrzoi drew me into her created world again and I will continue to be on the lookout for whatever comes next from her.
August 30, 2025
Cristina Mirzoi’s Neighborly Mischief is a dark comedy, intelligently crafted. When rats infest an old apartment building, the lives of its residents are thrown into disarray. The author observes their behavior through a lens that is both humorous and empathetic.
The story has an Eastern European flavor I recognize, as I’m originally from Romania—the writer’s home country. Mentions of stray dogs barking outside the complex and people drinking and smoking in neighborhood stores bring back vivid memories. Since moving to Canada, I’ve forgotten all about stray dogs and now only occasionally spot coyotes.
The outbreak affects the residents in different ways. Hugh, prone to anxiety, is haunted by giant rats in his nightmares. Norman, a psychopath, sees it as an anatomical learning experience. Mirzoi brings her characters to life with ease and paces the action masterfully, keeping the reader engaged.
Throughout this absurdist ordeal, the residents manage to shed their boredom and apathy, finding ways to fight the infestation as a group. The book is a gray, tragi-comic, postmodernist collage—a grotesquery illuminated here and there by sparks of gentleness and altruism. I will definitely read more books by this insightful author!
The story has an Eastern European flavor I recognize, as I’m originally from Romania—the writer’s home country. Mentions of stray dogs barking outside the complex and people drinking and smoking in neighborhood stores bring back vivid memories. Since moving to Canada, I’ve forgotten all about stray dogs and now only occasionally spot coyotes.
The outbreak affects the residents in different ways. Hugh, prone to anxiety, is haunted by giant rats in his nightmares. Norman, a psychopath, sees it as an anatomical learning experience. Mirzoi brings her characters to life with ease and paces the action masterfully, keeping the reader engaged.
Throughout this absurdist ordeal, the residents manage to shed their boredom and apathy, finding ways to fight the infestation as a group. The book is a gray, tragi-comic, postmodernist collage—a grotesquery illuminated here and there by sparks of gentleness and altruism. I will definitely read more books by this insightful author!
September 7, 2024
Disclaimer: received free copy of this book.
A really fun look into an apartment building and the relationships within it. It read like a play, or stage production which is fun. There was good characterization and drama throughout. Some of it was a bit confusing, I could not tell what time period it was set in and none of the characters were described very well(I was confused between Hugh and Hank a few times). I had some issues with the formatting and writing style (over complicated/archaic word choice), but the overall story was entertaining and I liked the ending! I wish there was an illustration of the apartment. But it was a fun drama nonetheless. Unfortunately it will not stick with me. This author did a terrific job with character building and I enjoyed the ride. It was a fast read, and I would love to see it as a play or limited series for television.
A really fun look into an apartment building and the relationships within it. It read like a play, or stage production which is fun. There was good characterization and drama throughout. Some of it was a bit confusing, I could not tell what time period it was set in and none of the characters were described very well(I was confused between Hugh and Hank a few times). I had some issues with the formatting and writing style (over complicated/archaic word choice), but the overall story was entertaining and I liked the ending! I wish there was an illustration of the apartment. But it was a fun drama nonetheless. Unfortunately it will not stick with me. This author did a terrific job with character building and I enjoyed the ride. It was a fast read, and I would love to see it as a play or limited series for television.
August 10, 2024
Neighbourly Mischief by Cristina Mirzoi
This is a recently published 165 page novella and I'd like to thank @cristina_mirzoi for the eCopy for review.
I'll start by saying that I read the whole book in a day because I was enjoying it so much.
Sitting somewhere within contemporary literature it's not easy to categorise. The story all takes place in an old apartment block. The opening scene gives excerpts from police interviews with various residents following the disappearance of the buildings manager. A man that we quickly realise wasn't liked by anyone.
The narrative then rotates between different residents so we get snapshots of the lives of various neighbours and their relationship or lack of relationships with each other.
The story is quirky, funny and sometimes outlandish with a thread of darkness. I won't spoil the plot but while getting to know the neighbours we find out what happened to the manager as well as having complications from a rat infestation partly caused by an inept plumbing company.
The closest I can compare this to is if you took the episodic 44 Scotland Street novels of Alexander McCall Smith (full of gentle comedy, interactions between neighbours, life insights) and merged them with the film/movie The Ladykillers (comedy crime caper - see the original Alec Guinness version).
Neighbourly Mischief had me reading all evening to find out what happened with some laugh out loud moments, plenty of surprises and some heartfelt and emotional moments as characters connected in unexpected ways.
It cleverly has something to say about how people can live their lives in close proximity to so many others and yet feel incredible isolation and loneliness.
The characters are a diverse bunch, young, old, single, couples, workers and drifters. There's a voyeuristic thrill in seeing what they're all up to as the narrative flits between them. It's life in all of its craziness.
I loved it so I'm giving it ✨✨✨✨✨ 5 stars.
This is a recently published 165 page novella and I'd like to thank @cristina_mirzoi for the eCopy for review.
I'll start by saying that I read the whole book in a day because I was enjoying it so much.
Sitting somewhere within contemporary literature it's not easy to categorise. The story all takes place in an old apartment block. The opening scene gives excerpts from police interviews with various residents following the disappearance of the buildings manager. A man that we quickly realise wasn't liked by anyone.
The narrative then rotates between different residents so we get snapshots of the lives of various neighbours and their relationship or lack of relationships with each other.
The story is quirky, funny and sometimes outlandish with a thread of darkness. I won't spoil the plot but while getting to know the neighbours we find out what happened to the manager as well as having complications from a rat infestation partly caused by an inept plumbing company.
The closest I can compare this to is if you took the episodic 44 Scotland Street novels of Alexander McCall Smith (full of gentle comedy, interactions between neighbours, life insights) and merged them with the film/movie The Ladykillers (comedy crime caper - see the original Alec Guinness version).
Neighbourly Mischief had me reading all evening to find out what happened with some laugh out loud moments, plenty of surprises and some heartfelt and emotional moments as characters connected in unexpected ways.
It cleverly has something to say about how people can live their lives in close proximity to so many others and yet feel incredible isolation and loneliness.
The characters are a diverse bunch, young, old, single, couples, workers and drifters. There's a voyeuristic thrill in seeing what they're all up to as the narrative flits between them. It's life in all of its craziness.
I loved it so I'm giving it ✨✨✨✨✨ 5 stars.
August 20, 2024
I kindly received an arc of this book and am so grateful that Cristina Mîrzoi reached out to me to read her latest book,Neighbourly Mischief,
because it did not disappoint!
This was such a page turning story. It had me feeling as if I was looking into a dollhouse, viewing all of the residents lives individually, as well as how they integrated with one another. Cristina Mîrzoi shows off her skills of being able to shuffle between varying characters and giving them all such depth in a relatively short amount of time. Which was truly impressive!
I had a few minor critiques, but nothing that brought the story down in any way for me. I personally believe that Cristina Mîrzoi is a highly intellectual individual, with an incredible artistic view on the world. One where you have to push your boundaries to be able to see through the lens that she is providing as an author. I loved this book and hope that others find the incredible story telling just as enjoyable as I did!
This was such a page turning story. It had me feeling as if I was looking into a dollhouse, viewing all of the residents lives individually, as well as how they integrated with one another. Cristina Mîrzoi shows off her skills of being able to shuffle between varying characters and giving them all such depth in a relatively short amount of time. Which was truly impressive!
I had a few minor critiques, but nothing that brought the story down in any way for me. I personally believe that Cristina Mîrzoi is a highly intellectual individual, with an incredible artistic view on the world. One where you have to push your boundaries to be able to see through the lens that she is providing as an author. I loved this book and hope that others find the incredible story telling just as enjoyable as I did!
July 30, 2024
This was a fun, light read, that I needed for a good palette cleanser between genres. All of the characters were fun to see their own unique personalities shine through and what their role was in this story.
The story starts off very intriguing. The police are questioning each resident of the building in search of the buildings manager. Every persons life is altered in some way that live in this building. I can’t divulge too much because I don’t want to spoil for anyone but this was quite the interesting read.
Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for this digital copy!
The story starts off very intriguing. The police are questioning each resident of the building in search of the buildings manager. Every persons life is altered in some way that live in this building. I can’t divulge too much because I don’t want to spoil for anyone but this was quite the interesting read.
Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for this digital copy!
August 10, 2024
It is hard to describe what this novella is “about.” It takes place in an apartment building, and shifts to cover various character’s perspectives. We start off with transcripts of police interviews in relation to a missing person case. From there on, the chapters alternate among the many characters.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of. I almost felt like by the time I had everyone straight, the novella was over. Mirzoi left me wanting more. Each character was well developed by the close of the book, with personalities, backgrounds, and plot lines.
Delightfully quirky, and a quick read, I enjoyed this book. I liked Mirzoi’s style. In addition to the strong character development, the plot was engaging and fun to follow. Overall, I thought this was a great read.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of. I almost felt like by the time I had everyone straight, the novella was over. Mirzoi left me wanting more. Each character was well developed by the close of the book, with personalities, backgrounds, and plot lines.
Delightfully quirky, and a quick read, I enjoyed this book. I liked Mirzoi’s style. In addition to the strong character development, the plot was engaging and fun to follow. Overall, I thought this was a great read.
October 15, 2024
The eccentric characters living in the apartments of one building, make for one interesting story. Most of the neighbours don't get along, some openly hate each other, and relationships are hanging on by a thread. But they all agree that the building manager Gilbert is useless and unreliable. So when Gilbert goes missing just as the building experiences a problem with rats, the tenants believe he is just avoiding them.
This book had elements of dark humour, and some oddball characters. It gave off vibes of Only Murders in the Building. All in all, not a bad book.
This book had elements of dark humour, and some oddball characters. It gave off vibes of Only Murders in the Building. All in all, not a bad book.
October 17, 2024
man i hope to never have neighbors like these folks
even though there were several characters to keep straight, it still felt like we were getting a good look at each of them and none of them felt too similar
even though there were several characters to keep straight, it still felt like we were getting a good look at each of them and none of them felt too similar
August 25, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a funny story, with a unique kind of humor. The characters were entertaining and had a lot of personality. The author wove together the different perspectives of the characters very well.
This was a funny story, with a unique kind of humor. The characters were entertaining and had a lot of personality. The author wove together the different perspectives of the characters very well.
October 25, 2024
Neighbourly Mischief is a quick, weird, funny read. Cristina Mirzoi captures the quirks of a set of apartment residents, creating a cast of characters that are relatable, entertaining, and a bit bizarre. The interactions between the neighbors is what keeps the story going.
The writing is sharp and witty, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The plot unfolds at a quick pace, with just the right amount of conflict and antics to keep readers invested. There are a lot of characters so I would recommend keeping a list so you can keep track of who’s who. Once you get to know the characters, they are all charming in their own little ways. Overall, "Neighborly Mischief" is a fun read that offers a lighthearted escape. I'm just discovering my weird girl litfic era and I'd definitely read more by this author. A well-deserved four stars!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writing is sharp and witty, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The plot unfolds at a quick pace, with just the right amount of conflict and antics to keep readers invested. There are a lot of characters so I would recommend keeping a list so you can keep track of who’s who. Once you get to know the characters, they are all charming in their own little ways. Overall, "Neighborly Mischief" is a fun read that offers a lighthearted escape. I'm just discovering my weird girl litfic era and I'd definitely read more by this author. A well-deserved four stars!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 16, 2024
ARC Book Review Neighbourly Mischief by Cristina Mirzoi
An aging apartment building housing a peculiar and quirky cast of characters is the setting for this novella. It opens with the police conducting inane interviews about the disappearance of the building manager. The story is told in a rotating narrative that gives you a glimpse into their eccentric lives and relationships with each other.
Although professing disdain for each other they are keenly aware of each other’s activities and enjoy keeping tabs on each other so they can complain. When the alcoholic plumbers leave holes in the apartments a rat infestation threatens the building all in the midst of the missing building manager. They surprisingly seek assistance and form alliances with unlikely sources.
If you like a quick read with quirky characters and a strange plot you will enjoy this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An aging apartment building housing a peculiar and quirky cast of characters is the setting for this novella. It opens with the police conducting inane interviews about the disappearance of the building manager. The story is told in a rotating narrative that gives you a glimpse into their eccentric lives and relationships with each other.
Although professing disdain for each other they are keenly aware of each other’s activities and enjoy keeping tabs on each other so they can complain. When the alcoholic plumbers leave holes in the apartments a rat infestation threatens the building all in the midst of the missing building manager. They surprisingly seek assistance and form alliances with unlikely sources.
If you like a quick read with quirky characters and a strange plot you will enjoy this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 12, 2024
The book is intriguing and it has alternating perspectives. Author has done a deep characters analysis and taken us in the lives of each of them. There are distinct individuals living in an old apartment building. They share their stories and unfavourable aspects of life. The characters go through myriad of emotions and unthinkable happens in the book. I particularly like the author’s writing style.
September 3, 2024
I received a copy of this book. It was an easy read but I had difficulty keeping the characters straight.
July 3, 2024
An interesting character study
You can't say life at the old, run down apartment building is dull. The landlord and a briefcase full of cash are missing. Hungry rats are finding ways into the rooms thanks to a bumbling crew of alcoholic plumbers. And some of the tenants are losing their minds.
You can't say life at the old, run down apartment building is dull. The landlord and a briefcase full of cash are missing. Hungry rats are finding ways into the rooms thanks to a bumbling crew of alcoholic plumbers. And some of the tenants are losing their minds.
September 3, 2025
Neighbourly Mischief opens with a police transcript, introducing a large cast of characters right from the start. The building administrator, Gilbert, has been missing for several days, with his last known sighting in the apartment complex. The residents have nothing positive to say about him, and it soon becomes clear that their latest frustration stems from a botched plumbing job, one that has resulted in a full-blown rat infestation.
This dark comedy explores the lives of the building’s residents, each with their own distinct personalities and entangled relationships. The narrative feels almost theatrical, resembling a play or stage production, with sharp dialogue and escalating tensions driving the story forward. The characterization and drama were strong throughout, making the interactions engaging.
However, the sheer number of characters made it a bit difficult to follow, and I struggled to determine the time period in which the story was set. Additionally, many of the characters lacked detailed physical descriptions, which made it harder to visualize them. While the book was well-written, I found certain sections overly detailed, sometimes slowing down the pacing.
That said, the overall story was entertaining, and I really liked the ending! In fact, I think Neighbourly Mischief would translate exceptionally well as a play or a television series. It has the kind of humor and interpersonal chaos that would shine in a visual medium. Though it was sometimes challenging to keep track of the characters, I still enjoyed the novella and appreciated the author’s skillful character-building. Overall, I’d rate it 3.5 out of 5!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this digital copy!
This dark comedy explores the lives of the building’s residents, each with their own distinct personalities and entangled relationships. The narrative feels almost theatrical, resembling a play or stage production, with sharp dialogue and escalating tensions driving the story forward. The characterization and drama were strong throughout, making the interactions engaging.
However, the sheer number of characters made it a bit difficult to follow, and I struggled to determine the time period in which the story was set. Additionally, many of the characters lacked detailed physical descriptions, which made it harder to visualize them. While the book was well-written, I found certain sections overly detailed, sometimes slowing down the pacing.
That said, the overall story was entertaining, and I really liked the ending! In fact, I think Neighbourly Mischief would translate exceptionally well as a play or a television series. It has the kind of humor and interpersonal chaos that would shine in a visual medium. Though it was sometimes challenging to keep track of the characters, I still enjoyed the novella and appreciated the author’s skillful character-building. Overall, I’d rate it 3.5 out of 5!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this digital copy!
August 15, 2024
Thank you, BookSirens, for the opportunity to review this title. Quick read, somewhat entertaining, but the subject matter of rats and murder, not really my thing (the author does outline sensitive subject matter and possible trigger warnings in the beginning, so you've been warned).
August 9, 2024
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book.
Neighbourly Mischief follows the many tenants at an apartment building, delving lightly into their lives and struggles. A common theme throughout their lives is their discontent with the work ethic of their property manager, who has mysteriously disappeared within the building. As the book continues, there is added focus on a rat infestation after a botched plumbing job, and we find out what truly happened to the missing manager.
This book is full of errors, and the formatting is terrible. The cover is boring, the font is huge, and the spacing/indentation/grammar are all an absolute mess. Also, the summary on the back of the book and on Goodreads doesn't really resemble the book itself at all to me. I do like the premise of this book, following each of the many tenants and their lives while focusing on a common event. However, there was not nearly enough time put into developing these characters, and not much happened as far as the event in question. Despite the short amount of time spent on each character, they all have distinct and interesting personalities, and I wish this book actually put attention into rounding their stories out and adding more build-up. Honestly, that goes for more than just the characters. The events feel surface-level and unimpactful as well. I think that, overlooking the desperate need for an editor (or multiple), if this book were 4x as long and took the time to develop characters and make events impactful and detailed, this would be a great story. But as it is now, I just don't understand the point. All in all, this is still a VERY short read, so it's not a huge investment if it sounds like something you might like.
Writing: 2
Characters: 3
Plot: 2
Setting: 3
Enjoyment: 2
Neighbourly Mischief follows the many tenants at an apartment building, delving lightly into their lives and struggles. A common theme throughout their lives is their discontent with the work ethic of their property manager, who has mysteriously disappeared within the building. As the book continues, there is added focus on a rat infestation after a botched plumbing job, and we find out what truly happened to the missing manager.
This book is full of errors, and the formatting is terrible. The cover is boring, the font is huge, and the spacing/indentation/grammar are all an absolute mess. Also, the summary on the back of the book and on Goodreads doesn't really resemble the book itself at all to me. I do like the premise of this book, following each of the many tenants and their lives while focusing on a common event. However, there was not nearly enough time put into developing these characters, and not much happened as far as the event in question. Despite the short amount of time spent on each character, they all have distinct and interesting personalities, and I wish this book actually put attention into rounding their stories out and adding more build-up. Honestly, that goes for more than just the characters. The events feel surface-level and unimpactful as well. I think that, overlooking the desperate need for an editor (or multiple), if this book were 4x as long and took the time to develop characters and make events impactful and detailed, this would be a great story. But as it is now, I just don't understand the point. All in all, this is still a VERY short read, so it's not a huge investment if it sounds like something you might like.
Writing: 2
Characters: 3
Plot: 2
Setting: 3
Enjoyment: 2
February 6, 2025
I honestly have to say that I do not have the foggiest idea how to categorise this book. However, do we need to categorise everything? Put it in little boxes and say ‘there you are! You live here now!’
Definitely not!
And this is one of those books that should be left to ‘just be’
The story revolves around the disappearance of a tenement block’s building manager and how his disappearance came to be. Centring on array of characters, the book seems to be a series of short vignettes about certain time periods of the residents over a period of eight days, loosely tied together by the strange absence of the building manager.
I have to say, I enjoyed this peculiar little book immensely. I don’t think it will be everyone’s cup of tea, but personally I liked this story.
At first, it is difficult to determine where the story goes, but as the story unfolds it’s clear that there is something afoot. Gilbert, the building manager is a bit of a dodgy character and the story leads you in different directions before actually revealing the truth of the matter.
As for the characters, they are realistic facsimiles of people. They are good one moment, but they can equally be angry or experience any other emotions the next.
The story revolves mainly around loneliness and how our lives can intersect with others at any one point, sometimes with disastrous results, sometimes with beneficial results.
If you want something a little different, then I would really recommend this book, it’s full of exceptionally good characters and dark gallows humour.
Definitely not!
And this is one of those books that should be left to ‘just be’
The story revolves around the disappearance of a tenement block’s building manager and how his disappearance came to be. Centring on array of characters, the book seems to be a series of short vignettes about certain time periods of the residents over a period of eight days, loosely tied together by the strange absence of the building manager.
I have to say, I enjoyed this peculiar little book immensely. I don’t think it will be everyone’s cup of tea, but personally I liked this story.
At first, it is difficult to determine where the story goes, but as the story unfolds it’s clear that there is something afoot. Gilbert, the building manager is a bit of a dodgy character and the story leads you in different directions before actually revealing the truth of the matter.
As for the characters, they are realistic facsimiles of people. They are good one moment, but they can equally be angry or experience any other emotions the next.
The story revolves mainly around loneliness and how our lives can intersect with others at any one point, sometimes with disastrous results, sometimes with beneficial results.
If you want something a little different, then I would really recommend this book, it’s full of exceptionally good characters and dark gallows humour.
September 30, 2024
An apartment building with a rat problem.
A building administrator who doesn't seem to care.
A list of quirky residents all clinging to their own secrets.
This novella is a darkly funny look at isolation, loneliness, and the need for connection, even in the most unexpected places.
Some may compare it to a show like Only Murders in the Building, but it felt to me more like a stage production. I can picture a cut through of the stacked apartments, where residents go about their overlapping days. I can see the stairwell where two people meet briefly, say a quick hello, and divide the floors without noticing what the other is holding. I can even see the broken elevator with an Out of Order sign, just enough of a hindrance to push these characters into place.
My one issue is that some characters blurred a bit and I often had to stop to remember who was whom. Sometimes a last name is used, sometimes a first, and the list of characters is long for such a short story, but it didn't slow me down too much. Mîrzoi likes to move along with the story and eventually the reader catches up in time for the next scene.
Overall, I quite liked Neighbourly Mischief. I had the pleasure of also reading Mîrzoi's debut, The Headsman, and her unique writing style is present in both. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for free. I'm happy to share my thoughts in return.
A building administrator who doesn't seem to care.
A list of quirky residents all clinging to their own secrets.
This novella is a darkly funny look at isolation, loneliness, and the need for connection, even in the most unexpected places.
Some may compare it to a show like Only Murders in the Building, but it felt to me more like a stage production. I can picture a cut through of the stacked apartments, where residents go about their overlapping days. I can see the stairwell where two people meet briefly, say a quick hello, and divide the floors without noticing what the other is holding. I can even see the broken elevator with an Out of Order sign, just enough of a hindrance to push these characters into place.
My one issue is that some characters blurred a bit and I often had to stop to remember who was whom. Sometimes a last name is used, sometimes a first, and the list of characters is long for such a short story, but it didn't slow me down too much. Mîrzoi likes to move along with the story and eventually the reader catches up in time for the next scene.
Overall, I quite liked Neighbourly Mischief. I had the pleasure of also reading Mîrzoi's debut, The Headsman, and her unique writing style is present in both. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for free. I'm happy to share my thoughts in return.
June 26, 2024
Need a book that is light, full of intriguing and eccentric characters, and packs a punch in a short amount of pages? This is your book!
The event of one day that brought the police to an apartment building will alter the many lives in that building. I can’t reveal too much about this book without giving it away, but know that there can be so many different circumstances happening with people that we see on a daily basis without us even knowing it.
I absolutely loved the character of Nellie- an older lady who is slowly losing her memory but is trying to just live her life day by day. Dylan, who absolutely loves his girlfriend and has no idea why she is with him, but is doing the best he can since he is out of college and doesn’t have a real job. Then there is Norman- don’t even get me started on that hot mess of an ass 😅😅
Thank you to Cristina for sending me an eread for an honest review! I will admit that I did read this two times in a row because there were some things that I missed the first time and there were more than several characters 😂😂. It was a delight!
The event of one day that brought the police to an apartment building will alter the many lives in that building. I can’t reveal too much about this book without giving it away, but know that there can be so many different circumstances happening with people that we see on a daily basis without us even knowing it.
I absolutely loved the character of Nellie- an older lady who is slowly losing her memory but is trying to just live her life day by day. Dylan, who absolutely loves his girlfriend and has no idea why she is with him, but is doing the best he can since he is out of college and doesn’t have a real job. Then there is Norman- don’t even get me started on that hot mess of an ass 😅😅
Thank you to Cristina for sending me an eread for an honest review! I will admit that I did read this two times in a row because there were some things that I missed the first time and there were more than several characters 😂😂. It was a delight!
September 15, 2024
J'ai reçu ce livre de la part de LIBRARYTHING, dans le cadre du programme "EARLY REVIEWER" contre une critique honnête.
"Méfait de voisinage" invite le lecteur à vivre le déroulement jour après jour de chacun des résidents d'un petit immeuble où un terrible drame vient de se dérouler.
Le suspens est excellent, l'idée née d'un film d'horreur, les personnages bien campés et l'enquête ludique et très amusante. Crescendo, leurs angoisses à tous montent d'un cran, la menace tangible les déstabilisant jour après jour.
Une fantastique exploration au coeur de la psychée humaine quand ses fondations s'écroulent ainsi que toutes ses certitudes, nous conduit à l'analyse jubilatoire de chacun des comportements volontairement exagérés par Cristina Mirzoi.
Lisez-le ! Jubilatoire et insolite !
"Méfait de voisinage" invite le lecteur à vivre le déroulement jour après jour de chacun des résidents d'un petit immeuble où un terrible drame vient de se dérouler.
Le suspens est excellent, l'idée née d'un film d'horreur, les personnages bien campés et l'enquête ludique et très amusante. Crescendo, leurs angoisses à tous montent d'un cran, la menace tangible les déstabilisant jour après jour.
Une fantastique exploration au coeur de la psychée humaine quand ses fondations s'écroulent ainsi que toutes ses certitudes, nous conduit à l'analyse jubilatoire de chacun des comportements volontairement exagérés par Cristina Mirzoi.
Lisez-le ! Jubilatoire et insolite !
November 17, 2024
This is an enjoyable story with a moving rubix cube of characters. An apartment building had some work done and ever since, the residents have been very concerned about rats...
Things, of course, go quite awry for this group of neighbours. A fun read for numerous reasons!
Things, of course, go quite awry for this group of neighbours. A fun read for numerous reasons!
December 24, 2024
A fun premise, following the lives of the residents of an ageing apartment building who suffer from a rat infestation and the aftermath stemming from it. Sorrow, secrets, dysfunction and loneliness.
Having said that, I really struggled with this novella, it took over 2 weeks to read and I stopped quite a few times to give myself a break from it.
Thanks to Book Sirens and the author for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Having said that, I really struggled with this novella, it took over 2 weeks to read and I stopped quite a few times to give myself a break from it.
Thanks to Book Sirens and the author for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
March 12, 2025
Full review at Happy Goat Horror:
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/12/3...
We jump through several character viewpoints as particular events unfold in this story of an apartment building dealing with a rat problem. It's humorous in a dark way, held my interest, and the characters were a real highlight for me. I think the numerous, solid personalities were done so well and it really gave the setting an authentic feel.
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/12/3...
We jump through several character viewpoints as particular events unfold in this story of an apartment building dealing with a rat problem. It's humorous in a dark way, held my interest, and the characters were a real highlight for me. I think the numerous, solid personalities were done so well and it really gave the setting an authentic feel.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews