The Apartment Across the Hall

by Jack Dane, Cady Zuckerman (Narrator), Rusty Mewha (Narrator)

They say you can’t pick your neighbors… but can you survive them?

When Salem Ripley moves into her apartment in New York City, she’s disheartened to find it isn’t exactly like the pictures. Still, with her past, she’s lucky to find a place at all.

Her neighbor across the hall is tall, dark and handsome. After seeing his beautiful girlfriend, Salem can’t help but obsess over the couple and their perfect life.

Then Salem sees her neighbor with another girl. And another. And another. The strangest part? She never sees the women leave.

Salem should ignore it… After all, it’s really none of her business. But she can’t shake the strange feeling that something is wrong–and that lives are at stake. She has no choice–she has to find out what’s going on in the apartment across the hall…

Fans of Freida McFadden and Daniel Hurst will love this psychological thriller, filled with twists, turns and an ending so shocking it’ll make you want to listen to the whole book over again.

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

First published January 3, 2025

Reviews

[desiree(finally back) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The prologue definitely got my attention and kept me hooked, but honestly? The first half felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over. For a book just over 200 pages, there was a surprising amount of repetition, which made it feel longer than it really was.

The story gives us two POVs: the fmc obsessively watching her neighbor through a peephole, and a neighbor who constantly shows up with a new girl, always mysteriously covered in blood, brushing it off as a 'nosebleed.'

The premise was intriguing, but the characters… every single one of them annoyed me in some way, and there wasn’t really anyone to root for. But by the last chapter, I did end up liking at least two of them.

I also wished for more depth in Salem’s backstory. While her complicated relationship with her mom and her connection to Derek are mentioned, they feel underdeveloped—more like side stories. These elements seemed important for understanding her motivations but didn’t get the attention they deserved.

The second half was a letdown, especially with the reveal. The buildup was fine, but the twist fell flat and didn’t surprise me. I see what the author was going for, but it could’ve been executed better.

It’s a quick read that you could finish in one sitting. The slow burn at first keeps you intrigued, even if not much happens. While it wasn’t my favorite, I’d still be open to reading more from this author in the future.

[Daniela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This girl and her dang crocs.

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ NYC
Publication date ~ January 3, 2025
Est Page Count ~ 230 (p+ 44 chapters)
Audio length ~ 5 hours 45 minutes
Narrators ~ Cady Zuckerman, Rusty Mewha
POV ~ dual 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ apartment building weirdness

Salem has just moved into a new apartment building with the help of her friend, Derrick. Right off the bat the place and residents give off creepy vibes. The neighbors don't seem too friendly and the one next door is especially making her mad with the tv turned up so loud you can't hear anything else.

Our 2nd narrator is Victor and even though he is a looker he gives off alarming vibes. Why does Salem keep seeing him with blood all over his shirt?

I was like ho hum for most of the book, but then there was a nice twist so I'll round up rating. It was pretty fast paced and suspenseful at times. I'd probably give this author a go again.

Narration notes:
They both did perfectly fine.

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X

[Yamuna (Taylor’s Version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, the story felt completely unrealistic and didn’t work for me!!

[Bobby's Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

DARK and TERRIFYING in this new psychological thriller that comes January 2025! Thank you to Jack Dane for sending me a physical ARC to read and give an honest review. With vibes of Frieda McFadden and Riley Sager, THE APARTMENT ACROSS THE HALL is a mystery to read in 2025! The story follows Salem Ripley moves to a new apartment in New York City, and is skeptical about the place. Her neighbor across the hall is tall, dark, and handsome. He’s hiding a dark secret as Salem see women not leaving his apartment. She tries to ignore it, but can’t. She has no choice to discover the truth of what’s really happening at the apartment across the hall! A fast-paced thriller to read in one-sitting! A must read!

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book in under 24 hours, I was hooked! The vibes were eerie and the suspense was felt from the very beginning. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants a fast paced psychological thriller. I really liked that the twists weren’t something you typically read about. Salem was slightly more intelligent than the typical thriller female main character. I’m not going to say more because I enjoy going into books blind and don’t want to ruin anything for the next person to read The Apartment Across The Hall by Jack Dane. Thank you NetGalley.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I really enjoyed the first half of the book and was thinking this would be a 4 star. A woman moves into a creepy apartment and signs point to the guy across the hall being a serial killer? Right up my alley. But sadly I did not care for the second half of the book at all or the direction this went. It really went off the rails for me and seemed very unbelievable and the dialogue got so cheesy and cliche.

[Kerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like the first 85% of this was really boring and then the last 15% was bananas (but not in a good way lol)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and fast-paced read, centered on Salem, who moves into a new apartment in New York City, only to find out that it’s not what she expected. The neighbors seem really weird and Salem cannot help herself from digging in a little more.

The story was definitely creepy and the author did a great job at painting a picture of what Salem was experiencing. While I figured out a couple of the twists there were more that I certainly did not see coming. Salem drove me insane for the first half of the book, as I felt like she made risky decisions that no real person would actually make. By the second half of the book, I grew to appreciate her gumption more. While the story veered into not being all that realistic, I still appreciated the way it all came together. I liked the ending and felt that it worked well with the rest of the story.

Overall, this was a fun and fast-paced read- it took me just a few hours to finish. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Stef · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely horrible. I never write reviews but this was so bad I had to say something. There’s one sick twist in the end. Its just overall baddddddddd

[Sandy Goguen-Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a true psychological thriller. From the start, I could not put the book down and finished it the same day. There are so many twists and surprises near the end.

I'm so glad I received this through Book Sirens for a voluntary review.

[Lindsay Douglass · Rating 2 out of 5]

Airport read that I kind of couldn’t wait to end… a bad ripoff of the classic Housemaid plot but at least it was fast. Also, kinda didn’t care if the protagonist was murdered or not, and I think that’s a bad sign.

[Susan Belman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you hear the phrase “Nothing is as it seems” this book should come to mind. What a different concept for a story, it was unique and kept me turning pages late into the night. Loved the short chapters, and the multiple POV. The twist had me gasping, I didn’t see it coming. I had all the feelings while I was reading. Fantastic

[Stacey Reads It All · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fine 3 star book for me. It kept my interest through most of it, although I found the character development to be too flat to elevate the book into 4 star territory. It was a quick, easy read.

[Diane Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a weird, crazy, twisty terrific book!!! No idea where this was going but yes it surprised me.. loved it.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book

[Joy Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that grabs you from the very beginning and keeps you reading until the end. This was my first book by this author and I can’t wait to read more of his work.

[Kathy Brackin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect this book to be so good !!! So many unexpected turn 😮 amazing!

[Carrey 🍓 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Apartment Across the Hall by Jack Dane was an unexpected delight. I don’t usually have high hopes for thrillers, but this one genuinely surprised me.

The story follows Salem Ripley, a young woman with a troubled past who struggles to find an apartment in New York City. She settles for a less than ideal unit, found by her friend Derek; only to discover her neighbors are anything but friendly. With little to no options, she has no other choice but to stay.

One evening in the building’s laundry room, Salem meets Victor, the man who lives across the hall and catches him washing a blood stained shirt. He insists it’s just from a nosebleed, but Salem becomes convinced he’s a killer and can’t let the suspicion go. Especially with some odd comings and going’s from Victor’s apartment.

I won’t spoil the details, but the mystery is what kept me turning the pages. The characters themselves weren’t especially likable. Salem can be grating (and yes, she mentions her Crocs a lot, a lot!), Derek is kind of a creep, and Victor feels flat; but the suspense more than makes up for it.

The ending twist completely blindsided me, which is exactly what I want from a thriller. It isn’t perfect, but it’s an engaging, twisty read that exceeded my expectations.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❌/5.

[Brittney Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book & leaving a review voluntarily .

Now that that is out of the way, what did I just really read? It was such a buildup to one of the biggest letdowns. Granted, the twist I absolutely did not see coming but the twist could’ve been better.

The blurb is what got me, because I love a good thriller. Salem moves into a new apartment & her neighbor seems like a huge playboy. She sees different girls entering his apartment almost every night but never sees or hears them leave. Meanwhile, her other neighbor seems like a night owl who keeps their tv way too loud.

The first time we meet Salem’s neighbor, Victor, he’s washing blood out of his clothes; he’s also the playboy she sees with different girls almost every night. Is he a psychopathic serial killer ? A vampire ? What could it be ? (After reading tons of thrillers I have a big imagination) & then all of the residents in the building are super rude to her and she feels so alone.

I get what the author tried to do, and I appreciate the story. However, the twist could’ve been so much better.
I honestly was going to DNF this book about 80% in but I figured I’m almost done, mind as well see how it ends.

This is also a super quick read because of the buildup. It’s a slow burn but you are intrigued. I just did not care for the twist.


Thank you Booksirens for my ARC!

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5.

We follow Salem, who recently moves to a New York City apartment, and becomes entangled in a disturbing situation (to say the least) involving her new secretive neighbour, Victor.
 
Dane's writing is engaging and does a good job at creating a sense of unease within the walls of Salem’s new living situation, with tension gradually building throughout the first half of the book as Salem notices some clues that eventually lead her to start investigating what’s going on with Victor and her attempts to warn others. 
The plot, though suspenseful, goes into a bit of OTT territory, and some things were not entirely believable.
 
I love the symbolisms, though, some examples like:
 
- The numerous layers of paint on the building's doors and walls, representing the hidden history and concealed truths of the apartment.
- The recurring motif of blood as a potent symbol of violence and hidden trauma.

While the story does require some suspension of disbelief, The Apartment Across the Hall is a solid psychological thriller that has great character development that you rarely see in thrillers these days.

[C.A. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Apartment Across the Hall is an absolute page-turner that had me hooked from the start! Jack masterfully spins a web of suspense and intrigue, set in what seems like an ordinary New York City apartment building, but oh, the secrets it holds!

Salem Ripley, our main character, moves into her new place only to find it's not quite what she expected. But her disappointment quickly turns into curiosity as she notices some seriously strange happenings with her neighbor across the hall.

Jack's storytelling is absolutely fantastic! I was completely engrossed in Salem's situation, making it impossible to put the book down. And that twist—oh my goodness! It left me in utter shock, with my jaw on the floor. I never saw it coming!

The mix of suspense, danger, and mystery kept me glued to the pages, eagerly uncovering the secrets lurking within.

Overall, Jack delivers a thrilling read that will leave you wondering who you can really trust and what dark secrets are hiding behind the doors of your own apartment building.

[Yoneidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finished the book a phrase came to mind:nothing is what it seems.

When her friend Derek tells her about a cheap apartment, Salem doesn't hesitate to move in. The place isn't much to look at, but while Salem is deciding what to do with her life and finding a job, she can't be picky either.
The neighbors in her building are a bit peculiar, reserved, not very friendly. One of them doesn't let her sleep because he's always listening to the television at full volume. Another one, Victor, gives her a bit of a bad feeling because she's seen many women frequenting his house, but not leaving. Only one: his girlfriend Claire.
Plus the fact that she saw Victor with his bloody shirt doesn't help. Salem decides to alert Claire but something goes wrong, terribly wrong.

I spent the last part of the book with my mouth open saying this can't be. I love surprises and unexpected twists and this book certainly has them.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the blurb, I was immediately intrigued, but not only that text made me want to dive into this book, it was the combination with the title and the cover as well. When all those three things make a perfect match for me, I am almost for 100%sure the book will enjoy me lots.

And indeed, my intuition did not desert me once again. 

The creepiness starts as soon as you open the book and the story is full of red flags. Of course, a heroin is not a heroin if she does not take any risks, comes to the wrong conclusions every once in a while or reads the red flags the wrong way. Those things are much needed to make a great story.

Trust someone, you might be fooled. Distrust someone, you might be fooled. The thing is to trust the right ones, but who are they...

I had a good time reading this book. It's very entertaining with great characters and an interesting story line. I cannot give it anything less than 5 stars. 

Thank you

[Ashily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded down from 3.5☆

Thank you to the author for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.

This book was a quick read with some twists and turns. If you like thrillers with unlikable characters, nosey neighbors, and mysterious happenings, you may like this book!

It is especially nerve wracking if you (like me) live in an apartment building 😬

I would have liked more background on our FMC's past. I think the relationship with her mother would have been helpful to learn more about. But, overall, it was a good thriller to dive into!

[OutlawPoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is different.

I was very curious about what exactly was happening in this strange apartment building and I very much did not like the answer to it all.

The plot was a little thin, our main character wasn't terribly clever, and the reasons behind everything kind of stretched belief a bit.

That being said, it was definitely suspenseful. It just wasn't quite for me.

[Erica G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a quick read that was spooky and this delivered. I would have rated it higher but something just didn’t land with me here. I don’t know if it was the writing or the ample references to paint (flakes, chips, layers etc). But it served its purpose as I just wanted a little break from Fourth Wing.

[isa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been my 7th thriller,I kind of got the jist and I knew where it was going,even though I didn't properly guess up until the chapter before the plot twist,hence the 4 stars. However,I didn't manage to guess Derek's involvement in the story,which surprised me a bit.Overall a very good read.It's just slow-paced in the beginning,but I doubt you won't enjoy it if you get over that aspect. :)

[Mikayla Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 2.5…. Overall an okay book with some twists I didn’t expect. Definitely a quick read, but it also felt repetitive and rushed. What was the deal with the past with her mom and Dr Deluca??? Also, you’re telling me this man described multiple times as “tall, muscular, strong” couldn’t take down the woman that held him prisoner for years??? Come on.

[Natalia Farnham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummmm what did I just read hehehehhehe. This one is was beyond wild and I’m here for it. Quick read for sure and you will just fly through the pages! Would totally read more from this author.

[Nikki McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has you on the edge of your seat and soon as you think you have it figured out wayyyy wrong!