The Friendly Neighbor: A Gripping Domestic Thriller

by A.M. Sinclair

She welcomed the perfect neighbor. Now she can’t tell what’s real… or who to trust.

Mara Hayes thought Magnolia Lane would be the perfect place to raise her family. But a year in, she's lonely, adrift, and silently mourning the life she left behind.

Then Abby moves in next door—stylish, warm, and everything Mara needs. Their friendship is instant, intense… and maybe too good to be true.

Because Abby knows things about Mara’s past, her marriage, even her buried regrets. Things Mara never told her.
And as the lines between memory and manipulation blur, Mara begins to question her neighbor’s intentions, her husband's loyalty, even her own mind.

And it’s tied to a tragedy Mara thought she’d left behind.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden and Kiersten Modglin, The Friendly Neighbor is a chilling, page-turning psychological domestic thriller that what if your closest friend is really your worst enemy?

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2025

Reviews

[Kristen C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an overall good book with a decent plot but it just dragged on. I found myself bored and speed reading until I got something important again. I did enjoy the overall story it was just all the extra unneeded information that was repeated multiple times that had me contemplating not even finishing this book.

[Ashley Mertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was everything I crave in a psychological thriller—sharp, suspenseful, and impossible to put down. What starts as a seemingly straightforward story quickly unravels into a layered, mind-bending ride where no one is who they seem and nothing is what it appears.

The brilliance lies in how the protagonist evolves. At first, they seem like just another victim of circumstance—manipulated, outmaneuvered, and barely hanging on. But piece by piece, the mask slips, and you realize: they were never just a pawn in someone else’s game. They were a player all along—strategic, cunning, and quietly in control. That realization lands like a gut punch, transforming the entire story in hindsight.

The psychological tension is relentless. Every chapter peels back another layer of deception, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story takes another sharp turn. The writing is tight, the pacing is perfect, and the ending is as satisfying as it is chilling.

If you love thrillers that make you question every motive and re-evaluate every character, this book will not disappoint. It’s a masterclass in suspense—and a powerful reminder that sometimes the most underestimated person at the table is the one running the whole game.

[karin whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new neighbor. Abigail seems friendly enough, maybe too friendly Mara thinks. A quiet neighborhood, Mara is los lonely, seeking friends. Her husband works late a lot of the time, leaving her to take care of their two kids, She gave up
her small business to be the happy Mom, a happy homemaker. But,,,, not all is what it seems. A fast paced stry line great characters. Twists you don't see coming. A fun read!

[Carol-Anne Poursaied · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes you need to read a book like this just to remind yourself how great good authors really are. Spoiler alert: there is no spoiler, no twist, no payoff. I kept turning the pages, refusing to DNF, thinking surely something clever must be coming. Nope. Just the same beats over and over, wrapped in a story so unlikely it made me wish I had quit earlier. By the last page, I wasn’t surprised, I was just tired and bored.

[Gail Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page turner

I really enjoyed this book. The author brilliantly had me wondering who was the villian. Sometimes people can be so friendly, saying all correct things, and you talk yourself out of seeing the truth. I look forward to more from this author.

[juliejulie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird flow

[Carolyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was way too long and unsatisfying in the end. Very anticlimactic at the end. I actually skipped over a lot of paragraphs because there was so much repetitiveness - the same things over and over. Way too wordy. Very disappointing. Started off good but lost its momentum.