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Busybodies Collection #4
The Nosy Neighbor
57 minutes
Meddlesome Marge keeps too close a watch on her neighbor’s house across the street in this twisty short story from Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.
For decades, Marge has been spying on her neighbors Doris and Bob, reporting every sordid thing she sees to her husband, Harold. Flamboyant Doris and boring Bob are an odd couple, but as Marge watches their comings and goings, she starts to wonder if there’s more than meets the eye. Is Doris’s latest hobby—flamenco dancing, of all things—an attempt to spice things up, or is there something more sinister going on in the house across the street? Soon enough, Marge learns that digging into her suspicions means digging herself into a very deep hole.
Nita Prose’s The Nosy Neighbor is part of Busybodies, a collection of quirky mysteries featuring amateur gumshoes who stumble upon peculiar cases. Calling all snoops! Read or listen to each arresting story in a single sitting.
Meddlesome Marge keeps too close a watch on her neighbor’s house across the street in this twisty short story from Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.
For decades, Marge has been spying on her neighbors Doris and Bob, reporting every sordid thing she sees to her husband, Harold. Flamboyant Doris and boring Bob are an odd couple, but as Marge watches their comings and goings, she starts to wonder if there’s more than meets the eye. Is Doris’s latest hobby—flamenco dancing, of all things—an attempt to spice things up, or is there something more sinister going on in the house across the street? Soon enough, Marge learns that digging into her suspicions means digging herself into a very deep hole.
Nita Prose’s The Nosy Neighbor is part of Busybodies, a collection of quirky mysteries featuring amateur gumshoes who stumble upon peculiar cases. Calling all snoops! Read or listen to each arresting story in a single sitting.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2024
648 people are currently reading
2354 people want to read
About the author
Nita Prose
26 books8,165 followersNITA PROSE is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery Guest and The Maid, which has sold more than two million copies worldwide. A Good Morning America Book Club pick, The Maid won the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction, the Fingerprint Award for Debut Book of the Year, the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and the Barry Award for Best First Mystery. The Maid was also an Edgar Award finalist for Best Novel. Visit Nita at nitaprose.com or on Instagram and X @NitaProse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 638 reviews
October 23, 2024
If you're into witty banter and sarcastic neighbour vibes, this book is your jam! I mean, who doesn't love watching old ladies dish out humor like pros? "Live It or Lose It." This book is an absolute hoot from start to finish. Nita? Oh, she's on fire! She delivers exactly what you'd hope for—fun, sass, and so many laugh-out-loud moments. Grab this one if you need a pick-me-up!
November 18, 2024
3.5★
“The thing about Doris is she’s a busybody with her nose up in everyone else’s business. You know the type—the first to offer advice, the last to take it?”
Typical of us nosy busybodies, isn’t it? This entry in the #Busybodies collection really is about a busybody. It’s also about a lonely old lady, Marge, who watches her neighbours all day. Fifty years ago, Marge and Harold watched through their big picture window as Doris and Bob moved in across the street.
“Doris stepped out of the driver’s seat wearing a yellow poodle skirt, red pumps, Jackie O cat-eye glasses, and a checkered kerchief over her bottle blond bouffant. Bob emerged from the convertible next, wearing thick glasses, beige slacks, and a plain golf shirt.”
A live wire with a pleasant, quiet husband. All these years later, Doris is telling Marge she must get out and about, and get away from the picture window and stop watching her and Bob. Marge is not impressed.
“Doris has taken up hobby after new hobby in her dotage, claiming she’s on the hunt for “inspiration.” First, it was tai chi—private lessons in her living room with a strapping young man called Master Tim. But when she learned the master had a boyfriend, she quit tai chi instantly.”
When Doris asks Marge to water her plants while she and Bob holiday in Spain, the story takes a rather dark turn which becomes first one twist and then another.
I had read Nita Prose’s book, The Maid, and hoped I’d enjoy this too. I'm happy to say I did.
It’s the fourth of the six stories in the Amazon Original Stories #Busybodies collection. Thanks to #NetGalley and Amazon for a copy for review.
These are my reviews of the others.
My review of Staged by Elle Cosimano
My review of The Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto
My review of Crime of Fashion
My review of One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett
My review of A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson
“The thing about Doris is she’s a busybody with her nose up in everyone else’s business. You know the type—the first to offer advice, the last to take it?”
Typical of us nosy busybodies, isn’t it? This entry in the #Busybodies collection really is about a busybody. It’s also about a lonely old lady, Marge, who watches her neighbours all day. Fifty years ago, Marge and Harold watched through their big picture window as Doris and Bob moved in across the street.
“Doris stepped out of the driver’s seat wearing a yellow poodle skirt, red pumps, Jackie O cat-eye glasses, and a checkered kerchief over her bottle blond bouffant. Bob emerged from the convertible next, wearing thick glasses, beige slacks, and a plain golf shirt.”
A live wire with a pleasant, quiet husband. All these years later, Doris is telling Marge she must get out and about, and get away from the picture window and stop watching her and Bob. Marge is not impressed.
“Doris has taken up hobby after new hobby in her dotage, claiming she’s on the hunt for “inspiration.” First, it was tai chi—private lessons in her living room with a strapping young man called Master Tim. But when she learned the master had a boyfriend, she quit tai chi instantly.”
When Doris asks Marge to water her plants while she and Bob holiday in Spain, the story takes a rather dark turn which becomes first one twist and then another.
I had read Nita Prose’s book, The Maid, and hoped I’d enjoy this too. I'm happy to say I did.
It’s the fourth of the six stories in the Amazon Original Stories #Busybodies collection. Thanks to #NetGalley and Amazon for a copy for review.
These are my reviews of the others.
My review of Staged by Elle Cosimano
My review of The Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto
My review of Crime of Fashion
My review of One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett
My review of A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson
November 3, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Nita Prose (of Molly the Maid fame) penned #4 in the Busybodies collection.
For decades, meddlesome Marge has been spying on her neighbors and she takes pride in always knowing the “real story” so she can set the neighborhood gossips straight. 😉
She has been watching Doris and Bob, for years and reporting everything she sees to her husband, Harold.
And when Doris asks Marge to watch the house and water the plants, while she and Bob go on a Flamenco dancing trip to Spain, Marge stumbles upon the biggest secret yet.
But who would believe her?
Similar to some other stories that I have read, so I wasn’t too surprised but enjoyable nonetheless.
Busybodies, is described as a collection of quirky mysteries featuring amateur gumshoes who stumble upon peculiar cases. Read or listen to each cozy story in a single sitting. AVAILABLE NOW for free on Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited.
Nita Prose (of Molly the Maid fame) penned #4 in the Busybodies collection.
For decades, meddlesome Marge has been spying on her neighbors and she takes pride in always knowing the “real story” so she can set the neighborhood gossips straight. 😉
She has been watching Doris and Bob, for years and reporting everything she sees to her husband, Harold.
And when Doris asks Marge to watch the house and water the plants, while she and Bob go on a Flamenco dancing trip to Spain, Marge stumbles upon the biggest secret yet.
But who would believe her?
Similar to some other stories that I have read, so I wasn’t too surprised but enjoyable nonetheless.
Busybodies, is described as a collection of quirky mysteries featuring amateur gumshoes who stumble upon peculiar cases. Read or listen to each cozy story in a single sitting. AVAILABLE NOW for free on Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited.
February 10, 2025
Great fun! A delightful short story! Nita Prose never disappoints. I look forward to the other stories in the Busybodies Collection. I expect it'll be a great introduction to authors new to me.
December 5, 2024
The Nosy Neighbor felt a little like something out of an episode of Desperate Housewives.
Two long time neighbors. One with a secret and one who will stop at nothing to find it out. Marge's big bay window is the perfect spot to sit and watch all the comings and goings of her neighbor Doris. For fifty years she has kept up with her life from afar and knows every little detail there is to know about her. Or so she thinks. When Doris decides to take a vacation she enlists Marge to water her flowers and watch her house. Seems like the perfect gig, until an up close and personal look at Doris's life opens Pandora's box and one of their lives comes crashing down.
This was short, twisty, and fun.
4 stars
Two long time neighbors. One with a secret and one who will stop at nothing to find it out. Marge's big bay window is the perfect spot to sit and watch all the comings and goings of her neighbor Doris. For fifty years she has kept up with her life from afar and knows every little detail there is to know about her. Or so she thinks. When Doris decides to take a vacation she enlists Marge to water her flowers and watch her house. Seems like the perfect gig, until an up close and personal look at Doris's life opens Pandora's box and one of their lives comes crashing down.
This was short, twisty, and fun.
4 stars
November 5, 2024
the setup…
Marge remembers the day when the “flamboyant” Doris and her husband Bob moved into the neighborhood almost fifty years ago. She’s been snooping on her, reporting what she sees to her husband Harold regularly. But lately Marge is beginning to think that Doris is planning to get rid of Bob and doesn’t think he’ll be returning from their trip to Spain.
the heart of the story…
It’s all Marge as she justifies her role as the proverbial nosy neighbor as just looking out for everybody. Well, when you start digging deeper, be careful what you find. Think Gladys from the old show Bewitched.
the narration …
If I had to imagine what the ideal voice would sound like to depict a nosy neighbor it would definitely be Sherri Slater. She nailed Marge as well as Doris.
the bottom line…
This was another funny little mystery that fits well into this busybody collection. I had several laugh-out-loud moments and the little twist at the end brought a couple of surprises. Short but clever. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)
Marge remembers the day when the “flamboyant” Doris and her husband Bob moved into the neighborhood almost fifty years ago. She’s been snooping on her, reporting what she sees to her husband Harold regularly. But lately Marge is beginning to think that Doris is planning to get rid of Bob and doesn’t think he’ll be returning from their trip to Spain.
the heart of the story…
It’s all Marge as she justifies her role as the proverbial nosy neighbor as just looking out for everybody. Well, when you start digging deeper, be careful what you find. Think Gladys from the old show Bewitched.
the narration …
If I had to imagine what the ideal voice would sound like to depict a nosy neighbor it would definitely be Sherri Slater. She nailed Marge as well as Doris.
the bottom line…
This was another funny little mystery that fits well into this busybody collection. I had several laugh-out-loud moments and the little twist at the end brought a couple of surprises. Short but clever. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)
January 7, 2025
The story had me from the start.. But by the end I was so over it.. Couldn’t wait until the end…Well written just not an interesting ending.. 2.5 🌟
October 16, 2024
The story was interesting but the ending just didn't work. It just left things unfinished and I honestly thought that maybe there were more pages to come. Just the 1st okish story in the collection. Honestly pretty reminiscent of Prose's latest "Maid" story with an ending that just leaves you wondering "huh."
"The Nosy Neighbor" follows 70 year old Marge. Marge is focused on her neighbor across the street, Doris and spends her time judging Doris and her marriage to her long-suffering husband, Bob. When Doris declares she's going to take her husband to flamenco classes in Spain, she asks Marge to water her plants and toss out some trash for her. But Marge starts to realize something is afoot and realizes that Doris may be up to something drastic.
Honestly, this book felt a bit like "A Man Called Ove" though you end up not really liking Marge or Doris. You also start to realize that both women are "nosy neighbors" and that Doris for all of her faults (and there's a lot) at least clearly sees Marge, though Marge never sees her clearly until the very end.
And the ending, eh it didn't work at all. I thought that Prose should have finished things off so to speak if she was going that route, but we are just left with a reveal and cliffhanger.
"The Nosy Neighbor" follows 70 year old Marge. Marge is focused on her neighbor across the street, Doris and spends her time judging Doris and her marriage to her long-suffering husband, Bob. When Doris declares she's going to take her husband to flamenco classes in Spain, she asks Marge to water her plants and toss out some trash for her. But Marge starts to realize something is afoot and realizes that Doris may be up to something drastic.
Honestly, this book felt a bit like "A Man Called Ove" though you end up not really liking Marge or Doris. You also start to realize that both women are "nosy neighbors" and that Doris for all of her faults (and there's a lot) at least clearly sees Marge, though Marge never sees her clearly until the very end.
And the ending, eh it didn't work at all. I thought that Prose should have finished things off so to speak if she was going that route, but we are just left with a reveal and cliffhanger.
November 3, 2024
Made me laugh!!
December 22, 2024
What an absurd, sad and incomplete short story!
December 28, 2024
Nita Prose has solidified a spot as one of my favorite cozy mystery writers! I am a huge fan of the Molly The Maid series and The Nosy Neighbor is clever short story!
Meddlesome Marge, the nosy neighbor next door, has been spying on Doris and Harold for years. After witnessing Marge treat her boring husband Bob terribly, Doris comes to the conclusion that she has murdered him. Through some amateur snooping, she becomes convinced that he is buried in the backyard. But who is the real nosy neighbor? And who is outsmarting who?
Another winner in the Amazon Originals Busybodies collection of short stories! I think the fantastic audiobook really helps to sell this one. Don’t miss out on Sherri Slater’s wonderful narration!
4/5 stars
Meddlesome Marge, the nosy neighbor next door, has been spying on Doris and Harold for years. After witnessing Marge treat her boring husband Bob terribly, Doris comes to the conclusion that she has murdered him. Through some amateur snooping, she becomes convinced that he is buried in the backyard. But who is the real nosy neighbor? And who is outsmarting who?
Another winner in the Amazon Originals Busybodies collection of short stories! I think the fantastic audiobook really helps to sell this one. Don’t miss out on Sherri Slater’s wonderful narration!
4/5 stars
December 14, 2024
No way did I just finish this in 10 minutes 😱🤯 I ate this story UP‼️‼️ no crumbs left… tbh a good read, best one out of the series 👏🏽
October 21, 2024
Wow, short but definitely wasn't expecting that.
October 15, 2024
Marge is the meddlesome neighbor spying on all around her. When Marge’s long-time neighbor Doris takes up a new hobby, Marge grows concerned something far more sinister afoot.
Coming in at around 30 pages, this short story packs a mighty powerful punch! While Prose usually writes cozy mysteries, this had a little more of a thriller/Hitchcock vibe that worked so perfectly in this story. The characters were insanely well developed for a short story and the ending was chef’s kiss. Definitely give this one a listen!
Read if you like:
▪️cozy mysteries with a thriller edge
▪️short story anthologies
▪️domestic suspense
▪️quirky characters
▪️well developed short stories
Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the advanced copy.
Coming in at around 30 pages, this short story packs a mighty powerful punch! While Prose usually writes cozy mysteries, this had a little more of a thriller/Hitchcock vibe that worked so perfectly in this story. The characters were insanely well developed for a short story and the ending was chef’s kiss. Definitely give this one a listen!
Read if you like:
▪️cozy mysteries with a thriller edge
▪️short story anthologies
▪️domestic suspense
▪️quirky characters
▪️well developed short stories
Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the advanced copy.
January 15, 2025
2.5 stars
For a short story, this was interesting.
For a short story, this was interesting.
October 16, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is definitely the best one so far! Amazing and fast, I had never read anything by this author, but I think I'll have to catch up!
This is definitely the best one so far! Amazing and fast, I had never read anything by this author, but I think I'll have to catch up!
August 3, 2025
Una locura de libro! Me gustó mucho pero me molesta que no tendrá justicia.
October 20, 2024
Wow so Doris is a psychopath.
Read
May 29, 2025I love this author so when I saw she had a short story out I knew I wanted to read it! I enjoyed the dark humor with the dash of mystery.
April 21, 2025
I love Nita Prose! & old sassy wine involved in murder is always the best lol
February 4, 2025
For such a short story it is really entairtening and engaging. I only read this from the Busybodies Collection but maybe I should try some more as they are super short..
October 10, 2024
*Audiobook
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This is classic busy body behavior. Always watching out the window, always speculating. Fits perfectly in this series. It was narrated by Sherri Slater but I swear I thought it was Sally Field at times.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This is classic busy body behavior. Always watching out the window, always speculating. Fits perfectly in this series. It was narrated by Sherri Slater but I swear I thought it was Sally Field at times.
October 27, 2024
A Nosy Neighbor is the very first 5 stars rating I gave to Busybodies collection because oh well, I didn’t expect the ending! 😱😱
When it towards near the end, when I thought the story would finally reach conclusion, there’s twist that I didn’t anticipated 😱😱
So, so, gewd!! Less than 30-min but successfully made me stare in awe and couldn’t believe what I have read.
A Nosy Neighbor reminds me with Sophie Hannah’s Octopus Nest. What a great story 👏👏
When it towards near the end, when I thought the story would finally reach conclusion, there’s twist that I didn’t anticipated 😱😱
So, so, gewd!! Less than 30-min but successfully made me stare in awe and couldn’t believe what I have read.
A Nosy Neighbor reminds me with Sophie Hannah’s Octopus Nest. What a great story 👏👏
October 16, 2024
Not my favorite from the collection but still interesting. Feisty 70-something year old drama with this one. Not so much a mystery as an interesting story about a truly nosy neighbor. Not a huge fan of the ending, but still flew thru the story.
November 4, 2024
3.5 stars. Enjoyable. Nothing amazing but still engaging. Nita Prose knows how to write inquisitive characters whose pereceptions you can't take for granted :).
May 16, 2025
I can't believe I actually wasted 20 or so minutes on this silly very short story. Maybe if the ending was at least more complete, but I was like, huh??
November 25, 2024
4⭐️ok why are all these so fun though!!
October 30, 2024
Very short story and very predictable. Wasn’t great
November 24, 2024
This was such a fun read!! 4.5 ⭐
April 12, 2025
Not bad for a short story, and I love Nita Prose!!
The way Doris treated Marge would make anyone feel crazy, she’s such a passive aggressive narcissist! I instantly couldn’t stand her!
The way Doris treated Marge would make anyone feel crazy, she’s such a passive aggressive narcissist! I instantly couldn’t stand her!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 638 reviews