The Body Next Door

by Zane Lovitt, Nikos Andronicos (Narrator), Charmian Gradwell (Narrator)

Everybody needs good neighbours…

When Claire Corral goes missing from her home on Carnation Way, her neighbour Jamie isn’t too concerned. He’s busy—caring for his dad, recovering from a broken heart and eating himself into a bigger pair of pants.

Then the police turn up.

Is Claire’s disappearance connected with the body found next door thirteen years ago? Does Jamie’s father, now grappling with dementia, know more about these events than he should? And then there’s Tess, equal parts mysterious and charming, who just moved in at number thirty-five…

As Jamie asks around, an unsettling picture begins to form. Perhaps quiet, respectable Carnation Way is home to the same secrets and heartaches as any other neighbourhood—with a few more murders thrown in.

Zane Lovitt, the Ned Kelly Award-winning author of The Midnight Promise, returns with a gloriously entertaining and compelling suburban mystery-thriller.

‘A crime story with a clear heart of gold and a genuinely enthralling mystery. It’s good-natured, one of the funniest crime books in my recent memory, and occasionally heartbreaking.’ BOOKS+PUBLISHING

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime

Audible Audio

First published March 4, 2025

About the author

Zane Lovitt was a documentary filmmaker before turning his hand to crime fiction. His debut novel, The Midnight Promise, won the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction, and led to Zane being named one of the Best Young Novelists of 2013 by the Sydney Morning Herald. Zane Lovitt lives in Melbourne.

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun murder mystery set on a suburban street in Melbourne. Carnation Way is where the story plays out and is told from the points of view of Jamie and Claire.

Claire Corral disappears one night out of nowhere, Jamie is considered that has something to do with body found next door 13 years before. We hear Claire’s story through her hilarious diary entries. Jamie is going through a tough divorce and has moved home to care for his ailing father

There are many laughs in this book, it was highly entertaining. It is a little bit quirky and very relatable.

Thanks to Text Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to read. Out now.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Text Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
Suburbia is not as sedate as it most would purport it to be.
Behind the neat fences and shiny facades of the homes is where it all happens.
The fractures of family, ghastly crimes and other secrets are hidden by closed doors.
Jamie is an adult that has found his way back to his childhood home to look after his mentally ailing Dad and nursing his own issues.
The disappearance of their neighbour Claire opens up a can of worms that creates a wave of suspicion and the placement of a few sleuthing hats.
As Jamie delves into the truth he unearths that the street has secrets, history and heartache.
Is dementia shielding some truth?
A cosy mystery narrative that captures the essence of Australian suburban culture and what hides behind the fences.
Set in Melbourne, I enjoyed the tour around familiar areas and nuances that make this city great.
Exposing the brutality of dementia was captured so well in a scene where the father reacted badly in a situation and its repercussions were felt by the reader.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great crime mystery in a suburban neighbourhood.

Claire Corral goes missing from her home in Carnation Way. No one thinks much of this until things start to come undone. Was Claire's disappearance connected to the murder that happened in the same street thirteen years ago? Jamie starts asking questions and finds that things in his street aren't as they seem.

The Body Next Door is told in two points of view from both Jamie and Claire. The story flowed well with everything you need in a crime novel. I loved the setting and of course the busybody neighbour that everyone has in the community.

Thank you Text Publishing for sending me a gifted copy for my honest book review.

[Hanna El Shorbagy · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love a good melbourne based book. This was easy and funny and had a cozy suburban feel to it. the mystery was well planned.

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt is a suburban whodunnit set in the Melbourne suburb of St Albans. Recently separated, Jamie is in his mid thirties and has moved back to Carnation Way to look after his Dad who has dementia. Claire is a middle aged woman also living on Carnation Way and when she goes missing, Jamie wonders if her disappearance could be connected to the discovery of a body next door thirteen years ago.

Unfolding in alternating chapters - Jamie's in the present and Claire's thirteen years earlier - the characters were immediately identifiable and the novel contains many enjoyable Australian references. I liked this one from Claire because who doesn't love fresh stationery?

"... and so it was off to Officeworks the very next day. I already had pens and notebooks, but is there anything better than fresh stationery?" Page 15

No there isn't and I was just at Officeworks on the weekend! Back to the book and Lovitt has a great sense of humour that reminded me a little of Benjamin Stevenson's light and relatable writing style. Here, the author is able to strike a surprise sombre note with mention of the late Michael Mosley and then make the reader chuckle immediately afterwards:

"I had a ready line for that, one I'd planned to use with Andrew if I ever did anything clumsy in front of him. I told her that Michael Mosley says balance is an excellent indication of life expectancy, and I said, if that's true, I've been dead for four years." Page 160

As you can see, Claire is a likeable character with a great sense of humour. She's also curious about her surroundings and started a diary the day the body of a teenage male was found underneath the house of one of her neighbours.

Thirteen years later, Claire goes missing and Jamie is determined to find out what happened to her by nosing about, chatting to the neighbours and unearthing all manner of secrets; including some about his Dad. Jamie is also a very likeable character:

"By the time I'd finished my second cup of tea, during which I'd had nothing to do but listen and stress-eat as Tess related her story in detail, we'd made it through a whole pack of Tim Tams and half an Arnott's Tina wafers, though in truth, 'we' implies a degree of participation by Tess not reflected in reality." Page 298

Published today, The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt is a double cozy mystery and Aussie whodunnit that plays out in a very entertaining way and is highly recommended for fans of Benjamin Stevenson and the lighter side of Jack Heath.

* Copy courtesy of Text Publishing *

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

When Claire Corral goes missing from her home on Carnation Way, her neighbour Jamie isn’t too concerned. He’s busy—caring for his dad, recovering from a broken heart and eating himself into a bigger pair of pants. Then the police turn up. Is Claire’s disappearance connected with the body found next door thirteen years ago? And then there’s Tess, equal parts mysterious and charming, who just moved in at number thirty-five…

Oh, this was so much fun! The suburban setting was excellent, the mystery was engaging, and I got hooked in no time.

Claire’s and Jamie’s chapters perfectly showcased their contrasting personalities and outlooks in life. Claire was a free spirit, curious and assertive in life. Jamie was a bit broken, scarred from his life experiences so he became timid and cautious. His relationship (and struggles) with his dad as his dementia loomed in touched my heart.

The romance aspect was just right for me. I wanted Jamie to be happy after his broken marriage, and I thought the meet-cute with Tess was cute indeed. The mystery elements were so good and intricate - I kept trying to guess what had happened, and (delightfully) failing.

This was one of the best cosy mysteries I’d ever read so far. It was intriguing, funny in places with likeable, complex characters and well-written plot. I’d highly recommend this to anyone!

(Thanks to Text Publishing for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

well paced, and it kept me guessing all the way through.
I found it seamlessly flowed from the past to present. One thing is for sure, I don't think I would have liked to live on Carnation Way.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5 Stars⭐️
The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt is a cozy murder mystery with a very Aussie flavour and set in a suburban Melbourne neighbourhood cul de sac. It’s a lighthearted and sometimes witty read that kept me guessing.

Jamie has moved back to the family home in Carnation Way after a marriage split and to care for his father Bruce who is struggling with dementia. Claire is a lively florist also living on the same street and has gone missing.

The street has a bad past, a young boy was found murdered under one of the houses thirteen years earlier. Secrets are unwrapped, is Jamie’s father Bruce hiding something? Jamie is keen to solve the mystery of Claire’s disappearance, is it connected to the boys murder years ago? What do the carnations mean?

I felt heartbroken for Bruce and the way his illness affected him and Jamie.

Publication Day 04 March 2025
Publisher Text Publishing

Thank you to the fabulous team Text Publishing for a copy of the book.

[Sammy thebookninja_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, lighthearted, and highly entertaining read. Lovitt strikes the perfect balance between humor and suspense, keeping me both engaged and constantly guessing. The characters and setting were so vividly drawn that I felt like I was playing detective right alongside Jamie.
The Aussie setting was another highlight—I loved the little nods to Melbourne’s landmarks and public figures, which added an extra layer of familiarity and charm.

But what stood out most was Jamie himself. His personal story was just as compelling as the mystery, struggling with a relationship breakdown while dealing with the emotional weight of caring for a parent. The novel’s exploration of dementia was particularly moving, adding real depth to the story in a way I didn’t expect.

[Laurie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. A book that grabbed me from the first few pages and wouldn’t let go.

An Australian suburban murder mystery. Well written and full of strong Australian vibes, this is a murder mystery that asks a lot of questions. Told uniquely through two voices, one – recently divorced middle-aged Jamie who is now living with his father who has dementia, and the second – Claire – through her diary – written more than 13 years earlier. Both narratives tell the story of the strange murder mystery that once gripped this little “normal” cul-de-sac. The diary describes the mysterious circumstances of a body found beneath a neighbour’s house and the steps Claire took to investigate that mystery. And Jamie, in the present, piecing together the now missing Claire’s history and therefore also investigating the murder of the body found many years earlier. To solve one case is to solve the other. Both narratives unravel the mysteries that grip this seemingly normal little suburban locale. Zane Lovitt does a terrific job with this dual narrative. Both voices are unique and full of life and colour. This book also presents a unique time and place in Australia. (One I’m immensely familiar with given I’m a Melbourne girl myself.) If you enjoy a hearty Aussie mystery – this is a great read.

[Lyn Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie has moved back in with his dad, Bruce to his childhood home on Carnation Way. This move marks the end of his marriage and a change in his relationship with is dad who is now experiencing memory problems. Bruce says Carnation Way is a street for sad sacks and broken hearts. Perhaps he is right as Jamie has denounced the concept of love. Carnation Way has a troubled past with a young boy murdered and found under one of the houses 13 years previously. When Jamie moves in with Bruce strange things begin to unfold on Carnation Way and during brief moments of memory lapse Bruce begins to confess to things.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the pace of the storylines and the characters that we are introduced to along the way and Jamie’s relationship with Bruce unfolds. As the reader you are drawn into red herring clues thinking that this character or another is the guilty party. But as often happens in real life things are more complicated. Lovitt takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and twists and turns until the ultimate end.

Thank you to Good Reading for the opportunity to review this early release.

[Janelle Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whodunnit set in a local suburban street in Melbourne with ordinary everyday neighbours, or are they?
Jamie has returned home to Carnation Way after the end of his marriage and to look after his Dad, Bruce who has the beginnings of dementia.
"You look in the mirror and wish you hadn't, then you zip up your regular person face and stroll out into the world".
Carnation Way is a dead end street, I would call it a cul-de-sac. The people all appear to have ordinary lives but as the story unfolds, the reader is witness to the street's past discovery of a body underneath a neighbourhood house and to the present day disappearance of friendly neighbour Claire Corral.
Jamie's well meaning, sometimes comical sleuthing to find out what happened to Claire may be connected to the mysterious murder thirteen years ago is also told through Claire's journal in alternating chapters.
There are lots of twists and turns, surprises, family secrets and dry humour along the way.
Thank you to Text Publishing and Good Reading for the opportunity to review an Early Bird release of The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The current mystery and present day story is told from the POV of Jamie who grew up on Carnation Way and has moved home to look after his father who has dementia and is also recently divorced. This is interspersed with Claire's POV told thru her diary entries from 13years ago when the body of a teenager was found under an empty house in the street. In Jamie's narration, Claire has recently disappeared after asking questions about the body from 13 yrs ago and Jamie is asking questions himself at first because he wants to distract himself from his own problems, and then because it stirs up some uncomfortable questions about his parents. Claire was the real star though, she was so likeable and I loved being in her thoughts as she navigated loneliness, dating, investigation & wild speculation.

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute banger cozy mystery set in suburban Melbs. MMC Jamie returns to his childhood home to care for his dad with dementia, only to get caught up in the mystery of his older neighbour Claire’s disappearance which might be related to a long-ago murder on their street.

It's alternating POV of 34yo Jamie’s present-day sleuthing and 50 something Claire’s diary from 13 years before. I was amazed someone so young could write two older POVs so believably and sweetly, and about the overwhleming trauma and distress of caring for a parent with dementia while going through an ugly divorce. There are quite a few characters and houses to keep track of, but it all came together in an unexpected but fair solution.

[Sandra Worrall-Hart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jamie's voice was entertaining. I sped through the book when the story was from his point-of-view. But I found the alternate chapters slowed down the narrative to a snail pace. I ended up skimming them. It didn't seem necessary to know what a lovely person Claire was and that it was important to Jamie in the end...which slowed down the final part of the book to a bit of dry summing up.
Dementia is very sad. In the book I think the author presents Bruce in a dignified way. When Bruce is in the present we see the relationship between him and Jamie in an easy bantering sort of way. But when Jamie's father starts to have problems communicating, I am troubled along with Jamie. And I think the message Jamie gives about not arguing with his father at this point is a respectful one.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A suburbia-crime tale, The Body Next Door (2025) by Zane Lovitt takes place in Carnation Way, in Melbourne. Jamie is still grieving his divorce from years ago, as he cares for his elderly father, who suffers from dementia. When the wife of a neighbour takes time away from her husband, the neighbours pay little attention until a body is discovered under one of the houses in the street. Jamie begins to ask questions and wonders whether it is linked to a body similarly discovered thirteen years earlier. An enjoyable crime mystery with a light touch and likeable characters that is a four star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.

[Tracey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an enjoyable read! I went searching for an audiobook to listen to and this one came up. This is an Aussie author and it was a comedy whodunnit kind of book so I thought why not?

Turns out a lot of the book is based near where I live! It was so strange having landmarks like the MCG in a book for me, I don't read much in the way of history or biographies so it felt kind of novel to have this in a thriller/mystery book.

I did not at all guess correctly with working out the guilty parties! Not even close! It had me giggling a lot with some of the situations Jamie found himself in and with the things that Claire found strange about the "aussie" way and words.

Great easy read

[Giovanna Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid read. Set locally, Melbourne, believable characters - on the most part, a mystery, the 2 points of view work - a diary 13 years prior and the current protagonist.

I thought the character Claire comes off older than she is, it did remind me a little of the POV of Richard Osman's characters in their old people home. They are older than Claire here, I think Lovitt should talk to some 'older women' to get a more rounded perspective.

Otherwise enjoyable, and did keep me guessing until the end. I'd read another of his.

[Tianne Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fast read and hard to let go of. Jamie has just gone back to his father after a nasty split up and soon he unpeels the truth of Carnation Way. His elderly retired teacher dad is grappling with things and twists and turns appear in this little street. There was a body found but also a lady missing. Does her old diary hold the information to put the pieces Jamie finds about Claire? So many pathways to explore but such a great read.

[Book My Imagination · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a great and fun read.
So many times I had it all figured out, but then changed my mind.
The way this weaves between truth and misdirection is effortless.
But the actual culprit, well, that was a bloody surprise and a half. Didn't see that coming at all.
🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
I love that about this book. It means that all the way through, I was sucked into the story and didn't read the signs.

[Lakinloveslit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carnation Way is a sleepy cul-de-sac in Melbourne. Jamie is home living with his ailing dad who has dementia after splitting with his wife, and when neighbour Claire goes missing he’s not too concerned at first. That is until he starts asking questions and realises that her disappearance might have something to do with the body that was found under the house next door 13 years ago.

This was a great cosy crime novel. I loved how realistic it felt in terms of living in a sleepy suburban street (although I can’t say there’s ever been any murders on any I’ve lived in!). This is told in alternate chapters via the POV of Jamie today, and Claire 13 years ago via her diary entries. I loved hearing Claire’s voice even if it wasn’t current. The mystery was engaging, and I found myself completely ensconced in the story. I was also intrigued by the idea that perhaps Jamie’s dad knew more than he’d ever let on. Definitely an author I’ll be keeping my eye on for new releases!

[lyny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story that alternated between two voices, and two periods of time, and written with a sit com kind of sensibility – full of amusing observations and turns of phrase that I initially enjoyed but tired of by the end.I also, as a reader in my 70s, wasn’t so amused by the use of the key character’s father’s dementia as a source of ongoing humour. The crime itself was ok but FAQ.

[Tamara Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for a Melbourne based murder mystery

Love love love!!!! Firstly so proud that this is an Australian book, set in my own backyard. Suburbs of Melbourne made a great backdrop.
The storyline had me hooked, with lots of mystery unfolding through the book. There were a few twists and turns which kept the reader interested. Super fun murder myster

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable read! Loved the Aussie references and the character development. The storyline was addictive and the writing was fantastic! Absolutely worth the read if you're after something quick and delightful.

[Lyn Quilty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am halfway through and will give up. Pace is too slow, the flashback sections re Claire’s younger life are becoming tedious, and the character Jamie is too bland.
Not enough tension in the plot to make me want to keep reading.
Disappointing.

[Celia Latty-steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun mystery to enjoy on a hot summer day. Great characters, no gore, enjoyable storyline and it keeps you guessing to the end

[Jessica Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute ripper. Fun, tight, and whip-smart!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining

[Lucinda Mackintosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Elizabeth in Thursday Murder Club you will like Claire very much

[Tearna Lancaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

very aussie :)