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Alibis Collection #5
Good Neighbors
Curiosity could get the best of a watchful neighbor in a chilling short story about friendship, secrets, and sneaking suspicions by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Family Money.
Kara will do anything for her best friend and neighbor, Mindy. Especially when she learns that Mindy’s husband might be having an affair. Kara promises to remain vigilant. Maybe she’ll even catch the rat in the act. Then one night when Kara observes someone sneaking into Mindy’s house, she decides to take a closer look. But what’s happening across the street isn’t what Kara expects. And what she sees could get her killed.
Chad Zunker’s Good Neighbors is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.
Kara will do anything for her best friend and neighbor, Mindy. Especially when she learns that Mindy’s husband might be having an affair. Kara promises to remain vigilant. Maybe she’ll even catch the rat in the act. Then one night when Kara observes someone sneaking into Mindy’s house, she decides to take a closer look. But what’s happening across the street isn’t what Kara expects. And what she sees could get her killed.
Chad Zunker’s Good Neighbors is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.
45 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2025
2031 people are currently reading
4371 people want to read
About the author
Chad Zunker
15 books880 followersCHAD ZUNKER is the author of the David Adams legal thriller, An Equal Justice, as well as The Tracker, Shadow Shepherd, and Hunt the Lion in his Sam Callahan series. Chad has worked for some of the country’s most powerful law firms and serves at Community First! Village, a 51-acre master planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. He lives in Austin with his wife, Katie, and their three daughters, and is hard at work on his next novel. For more information visit www.chadzunker.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,045 reviews
July 23, 2025
In a Nutshell: The fifth story in the Alibis collection. Finally a proper pacy thriller in this collection, even though it isn't the most original of plots.
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Plot Preview:
This is the fifth standalone story in the 'Alibis’ series, described on Amazon as “stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with.”
I don’t want to get too much in to the plot and characters as this story has many elements similar to modern-day domestic thrillers and is fairly straightforward. But it does exactly what is promised, and that’s what matters most.
Woohoos:
🥳 The alternating POVs of Kara and Jackson provide an interesting dual view of the unfurling events. Both their personalities come out well.
🥳 Pacing – outstanding. Not once does the plot lose its momentum. I read this 45-page story in fifteen minutes flat.
🥳 Quite a few twists and turns in the plot.
🥳 Quite a lot of action as well, and well-written without feeling shoved in. It’s tougher to make action feel necessary and convincing in a short story.
🥳 No clutter in the writing. We know exactly as much is needed and no extraneous info.
🥳 A good lesson: don’t poke your nose where it doesn’t belong! 😆
IDKs:
😐 Despite all the twists and surprises, most of the reveals didn’t catch me off guard. Then again, all domestic thrillers are fairly formulaic these days, so I guess this cannot be held much against the story.
😐 The ending is a bit too cheesy. I am not used to seeing such finales in domestic thrillers. Not bad, but not expected as well.
All in all, I did have fun while this lasted, even though it was somewhat predictable. It works nicely as a quick and thrilling palate cleanser.
Of the five stories I have read so far in this six-story series, this is the only one where I didn’t pause even once in between the read. I am never on an active lookout for thriller author recs, but I wouldn’t mind reading more by this author when I am looking for a popcorn entertainer.
Recommended to fans of domestic thrillers.
3.75 stars.
This standalone story is a part of the ‘Alibis’ collection, and is currently available free to Amazon Prime subscribers.
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Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
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Plot Preview:
In her new neighbourhood, Kara has just one friend: Mindy. So when Mindy confides to Kara her suspicion that Mindy’s husband might be having an affair, Kara, who stays just across, promises to keep an eye. One night, Kara sees someone sneaking into Mindy’s house, and she does what a good neighbour would: she goes to take a closer look even though her husband Jackson warns her not to meddle. She certainly doesn’t expect to find what she did, and worse, she doesn’t expect to be running for her life.
The story comes to us in the alternating third-person perspectives of Kara and Jackson.
This is the fifth standalone story in the 'Alibis’ series, described on Amazon as “stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with.”
I don’t want to get too much in to the plot and characters as this story has many elements similar to modern-day domestic thrillers and is fairly straightforward. But it does exactly what is promised, and that’s what matters most.
Woohoos:
🥳 The alternating POVs of Kara and Jackson provide an interesting dual view of the unfurling events. Both their personalities come out well.
🥳 Pacing – outstanding. Not once does the plot lose its momentum. I read this 45-page story in fifteen minutes flat.
🥳 Quite a few twists and turns in the plot.
🥳 Quite a lot of action as well, and well-written without feeling shoved in. It’s tougher to make action feel necessary and convincing in a short story.
🥳 No clutter in the writing. We know exactly as much is needed and no extraneous info.
🥳 A good lesson: don’t poke your nose where it doesn’t belong! 😆
IDKs:
😐 Despite all the twists and surprises, most of the reveals didn’t catch me off guard. Then again, all domestic thrillers are fairly formulaic these days, so I guess this cannot be held much against the story.
😐 The ending is a bit too cheesy. I am not used to seeing such finales in domestic thrillers. Not bad, but not expected as well.
All in all, I did have fun while this lasted, even though it was somewhat predictable. It works nicely as a quick and thrilling palate cleanser.
Of the five stories I have read so far in this six-story series, this is the only one where I didn’t pause even once in between the read. I am never on an active lookout for thriller author recs, but I wouldn’t mind reading more by this author when I am looking for a popcorn entertainer.
Recommended to fans of domestic thrillers.
3.75 stars.
This standalone story is a part of the ‘Alibis’ collection, and is currently available free to Amazon Prime subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
August 2, 2025
3.5 stars - an decent enough short story that could have been longer in format. And, YES - sometimes it’s not a good thing to mix with your neighbors, LOL!!
July 15, 2025
4 ⭐
Omg!! This is so far one of my favorite of the short collection. It keeps the tension going throughout, and I loved that plot twist.
Omg!! This is so far one of my favorite of the short collection. It keeps the tension going throughout, and I loved that plot twist.
July 15, 2025
Thoughts
This was absolutely stunning!!! Full of twists till the very end despite how short it was! The writing style is engaging with a gripping plot! Another read I wish was longer and definitely another new author unlocked
Plot Summary
Kara is fiercely loyal to her best friend and neighbor, Mindy. When Mindy suspects her husband is cheating, Kara agrees to keep watch. One night, she sees someone sneaking into Mindy’s house and goes to investigate—ready to catch a cheater --but inside, Kara finds something far more disturbing. What she uncovers isn’t an affair—it’s a deadly secret that could cost her everything.
This was absolutely stunning!!! Full of twists till the very end despite how short it was! The writing style is engaging with a gripping plot! Another read I wish was longer and definitely another new author unlocked
Plot Summary
Kara is fiercely loyal to her best friend and neighbor, Mindy. When Mindy suspects her husband is cheating, Kara agrees to keep watch. One night, she sees someone sneaking into Mindy’s house and goes to investigate—ready to catch a cheater --but inside, Kara finds something far more disturbing. What she uncovers isn’t an affair—it’s a deadly secret that could cost her everything.
June 22, 2025
2.5 stars. I won’t even remember I read this story.
June 2, 2025
This had a lot of action for a short story. I actually wish this was longer. I don’t think I have read many things by this author before, but now I want to.
I am starting to see a theme with these short stories that they are all about women plotting against their husbands.
I am starting to see a theme with these short stories that they are all about women plotting against their husbands.
July 1, 2025
3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my first book by this author and it wasn’t too bad! I think it’s my second favorite in the series so far.
One more to go!
This was my first book by this author and it wasn’t too bad! I think it’s my second favorite in the series so far.
One more to go!
July 31, 2025
the setup…
Kara is new to the neighborhood and has only made friends with her next door neighbor Mindy who shares her fears about her husband’s possible philandering. Kara decides she’ll look out for her whenever she’s away from home. When she sees someone there through the window while Mindy is out, Kara decides to do some closer snooping and gets the surprise of her life.
the heart of the story…
What is it they say about good fences make good neighbors? Definitely something Kara should have kept in mind as things quickly got dangerous. The cat and mouse game that later ensued was filled with tension and surprises. The alibi? Well, that’s a spoiler.
the narration…
Amara Jasper (new to me) was fabulous! She did a great job of storytelling and characterized Kara perfectly. It’s five for five with the narrators in this collection.
the bottom line…
This one is a winner! It grabbed me right away and never let go. And, I couldn’t believe how quickly the time went because I was completely immersed in the story. Well done.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for a copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)
Kara is new to the neighborhood and has only made friends with her next door neighbor Mindy who shares her fears about her husband’s possible philandering. Kara decides she’ll look out for her whenever she’s away from home. When she sees someone there through the window while Mindy is out, Kara decides to do some closer snooping and gets the surprise of her life.
the heart of the story…
What is it they say about good fences make good neighbors? Definitely something Kara should have kept in mind as things quickly got dangerous. The cat and mouse game that later ensued was filled with tension and surprises. The alibi? Well, that’s a spoiler.
the narration…
Amara Jasper (new to me) was fabulous! She did a great job of storytelling and characterized Kara perfectly. It’s five for five with the narrators in this collection.
the bottom line…
This one is a winner! It grabbed me right away and never let go. And, I couldn’t believe how quickly the time went because I was completely immersed in the story. Well done.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for a copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)
June 19, 2025
4 Stars for Good Neighbors: Alibis Collection, book 5 (audiobook) by Chad Zunker read by Amara Jasper.
A wife gets pulled into some family drama when neighbor confesses that she thinks her husband is cheating on her. That little bit of information nearly costs her everything when she can’t help herself from sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.
A wife gets pulled into some family drama when neighbor confesses that she thinks her husband is cheating on her. That little bit of information nearly costs her everything when she can’t help herself from sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.
June 19, 2025
A quick one-sit read that had some decent mystery and suspense.
Nosy neighbor meets shouldn’t get involved in this novella. I love listening to these because I can get through them so quickly when I’m doing something else. I enjoy getting through these stories and they are a great pallet cleanser for my longer reads.
A one hour listen and it was pretty enjoyable. I was honestly curious as to what was going on. I hope you enjoy this one if you want a quick read/ listen!
Nosy neighbor meets shouldn’t get involved in this novella. I love listening to these because I can get through them so quickly when I’m doing something else. I enjoy getting through these stories and they are a great pallet cleanser for my longer reads.
A one hour listen and it was pretty enjoyable. I was honestly curious as to what was going on. I hope you enjoy this one if you want a quick read/ listen!
October 2, 2025
Story 3 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Amara Jasper
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Amara Jasper
November 17, 2025
Leave it to Chad Zunker to pull you in this much with a 45 page book!
Being a nosey neighbor can definitely backfire sometimes. This is exactly what happened to Kara. Although not terrible intentions, she definitely bit off more than she could chew. I’m glad Jackson didn’t waver on finding his wife, this was very intense and a good read! I really enjoyed the narration in the audiobook as well.
Being a nosey neighbor can definitely backfire sometimes. This is exactly what happened to Kara. Although not terrible intentions, she definitely bit off more than she could chew. I’m glad Jackson didn’t waver on finding his wife, this was very intense and a good read! I really enjoyed the narration in the audiobook as well.
August 24, 2025
Plot-driven and action-packed, this was an entertaining and suspenseful story in the Amazon Alibis collection. I would be interested in reading more from this author. The Amazon original short stories are a great way to introduce an established author to a new audience.
June 13, 2025
3.5 rounded up m
The best of the collection so far!
The best of the collection so far!
July 12, 2025
What a fabulous short story!
The plotline is amazing, well writen, full of unexpected twists, fast paced, you just can't believe exactly what's happening and how it will end!
A simple peek in the kitchen window of her friend and neighbor, to confirm Mindy's husband is having an affair, puts Kara at risk and sends her running around the neighborhood to escape what might befall on her!
When she thinks she's finally safe it turns out she was wrong. And there she goes again running for her life!!
The plotline is amazing, well writen, full of unexpected twists, fast paced, you just can't believe exactly what's happening and how it will end!
A simple peek in the kitchen window of her friend and neighbor, to confirm Mindy's husband is having an affair, puts Kara at risk and sends her running around the neighborhood to escape what might befall on her!
When she thinks she's finally safe it turns out she was wrong. And there she goes again running for her life!!
August 3, 2025
Kindle Unlimited and Audible audio
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Narration: excellent, she really put you into the story more 👏.
Story was okay, I was hoping for more from it but it was a fun one at least, listened to it on my way to work a bit further away.
Sometimes you just need a popcorn 🍿 book or two to reset 👍🏼.
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Narration: excellent, she really put you into the story more 👏.
Story was okay, I was hoping for more from it but it was a fun one at least, listened to it on my way to work a bit further away.
Sometimes you just need a popcorn 🍿 book or two to reset 👍🏼.
July 31, 2025
Wanting to fill my summer with a mix of novels and short stories, I came upon this collection of short pieces called the Alibi Collection. This short story by Chad Zunker in which a man is shot in his home, while his neighbor sees it all.
Rushing to put things together, Kara tries to determine what’s happened before the shooter can elude the authorities. What she discovers will leave her speechless. Zunker delivers a great story with a twist.
Kara has struggled to make friends since moving with her husband and children out of the big city. Kara makes friends with Mindy and thinks something is going on, as random people are seen sneaking around the side of the house at odd hours. When Kara goes to investigate, she witnesses someone shooting Mindy’s husband and rushes for cover, only to be targeted when she reaches the authorities. After contacting Mindy, Kara learns something about her friend that turns the tides and leaves everyone in shock. Chad Zunker entertains with ease in this piece.
I enjoy short stories with a great plot. Chad Zunker crafts this short story that is sure to impress the attentive reader. Things clip along as the reader learns more about what’s going on, soon to be surprised by how things come to pass. Decent characters and plot points lure the reader in for an action-packed experience and surprises the reader with each page turn. I will definitely look for more by Chad Zunker soon.
Kudos, Mr. Zunker, as you surprise your readers with ease.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Rushing to put things together, Kara tries to determine what’s happened before the shooter can elude the authorities. What she discovers will leave her speechless. Zunker delivers a great story with a twist.
Kara has struggled to make friends since moving with her husband and children out of the big city. Kara makes friends with Mindy and thinks something is going on, as random people are seen sneaking around the side of the house at odd hours. When Kara goes to investigate, she witnesses someone shooting Mindy’s husband and rushes for cover, only to be targeted when she reaches the authorities. After contacting Mindy, Kara learns something about her friend that turns the tides and leaves everyone in shock. Chad Zunker entertains with ease in this piece.
I enjoy short stories with a great plot. Chad Zunker crafts this short story that is sure to impress the attentive reader. Things clip along as the reader learns more about what’s going on, soon to be surprised by how things come to pass. Decent characters and plot points lure the reader in for an action-packed experience and surprises the reader with each page turn. I will definitely look for more by Chad Zunker soon.
Kudos, Mr. Zunker, as you surprise your readers with ease.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 8, 2025
This one was the best so far in the Alibis short story collection.
June 12, 2025
Action packed, intense and scary at the same time. I would've loved a full-blown novel about Kara and her neighborhood.
This is only a short story yet the author managed to keep the suspense and dread until the end and although the twist is obvious, I still enjoyed this one.
Fun!
This is only a short story yet the author managed to keep the suspense and dread until the end and although the twist is obvious, I still enjoyed this one.
Fun!
June 11, 2025
This was suspenseful and would have made a good full sized book. The main takeaway was to mind your business haha this one definitely is a good reminder to not get involved with other people’s domestics.
June 14, 2025
This was a very fast paced and thrilling short story. I raced through the pages.
October 29, 2025
2.5 ✰ || it was good, just nothing special or anything. i think the plot was pretty easy to end up guessing too.
June 29, 2025
Out of all the books in the series, this one is the best so far. It kept me on the edge of my seat, the whole time.
June 3, 2025
3.5 stars
I liked this one quite a bit! I think it took a good story in a short amount of time. There were twists revealed in both POVs (husband and wife), and I think the pacing was really well done. I definitely could read a longer story of this but still felt like I got everything I wanted out of the shorter version.
The plot was interesting enough that I do think I’d try another book from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Originals for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I liked this one quite a bit! I think it took a good story in a short amount of time. There were twists revealed in both POVs (husband and wife), and I think the pacing was really well done. I definitely could read a longer story of this but still felt like I got everything I wanted out of the shorter version.
The plot was interesting enough that I do think I’d try another book from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Originals for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 26, 2025
**🎧**
This one goes in the "read it and immediately forgot it" pile.
This one goes in the "read it and immediately forgot it" pile.
June 23, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
December 10, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
July 22, 2025
Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker is short story number five of six of Alibis, "a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with."
Thrilling, suspenseful and extremely action packed - this was one hell of a ride! It would be incredible to see this story made into a full-length novel, or honestly, on the big screen! I've never read a short story that had so much action in it, holding me to the edge of my seat the entire time!
Amara Jasper performed both the husband's and wife's perspectives with ease for this audiobook! Sounding cautious, fearful and adrenaline-spiked, making for one jam packed audiobook experience!
This series features 60-ish page/1.5 hour-ish long books, and they're just the sort of story to slip into when you've got just a bit of spare time!
Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Amazon Original Stories for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.
Thrilling, suspenseful and extremely action packed - this was one hell of a ride! It would be incredible to see this story made into a full-length novel, or honestly, on the big screen! I've never read a short story that had so much action in it, holding me to the edge of my seat the entire time!
Amara Jasper performed both the husband's and wife's perspectives with ease for this audiobook! Sounding cautious, fearful and adrenaline-spiked, making for one jam packed audiobook experience!
This series features 60-ish page/1.5 hour-ish long books, and they're just the sort of story to slip into when you've got just a bit of spare time!
Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Amazon Original Stories for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.
January 3, 2026
Suspense building was good and fast paced with enough dialogues to keep you hooked.
September 17, 2025
A short story that packed a punch. This would have been a great full length novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,045 reviews