What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
6 days and 16:34:36
25 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
The Neighbors Are Watching
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
6 days and 16:34:36
25 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
From the "master of suburban scandal" (Samantha M. Bailey) comes a scandalous suburban thriller about privilege, unlikely friendships, and the lengths we go to protect our family.
Just outside Washington D.C. sits Eastbrook, Bethesda — a leafy suburb with top schools, manicured lawns, and friendly neighbors. It’s not the kind of place where nannies are shot during robberies gone wrong. But like any picture-perfect neighborhood, it’s been easy to cover up the shadows and move on.
A year after the unsolved neighborhood murder, Caren, nearing fifty and staring down an empty nest, has one too many drinks at a graduation party and blacks out on her way home. At least, that’s what everyone says happened. Caren suspects she was drugged by someone. But who?
When Caren teams up with a new neighbor who is desperate to figure out who murdered his best friend last year, they start to uncover what Eastbrook has tried to forget. But in a place where appearances are everything, their search for the truth means not only shattering carefully built façades — but putting themselves squarely in the crosshairs of a killer.
Just outside Washington D.C. sits Eastbrook, Bethesda — a leafy suburb with top schools, manicured lawns, and friendly neighbors. It’s not the kind of place where nannies are shot during robberies gone wrong. But like any picture-perfect neighborhood, it’s been easy to cover up the shadows and move on.
A year after the unsolved neighborhood murder, Caren, nearing fifty and staring down an empty nest, has one too many drinks at a graduation party and blacks out on her way home. At least, that’s what everyone says happened. Caren suspects she was drugged by someone. But who?
When Caren teams up with a new neighbor who is desperate to figure out who murdered his best friend last year, they start to uncover what Eastbrook has tried to forget. But in a place where appearances are everything, their search for the truth means not only shattering carefully built façades — but putting themselves squarely in the crosshairs of a killer.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 30, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
February 24, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
In Bethesda, Maryland, an affluent suburb of DC, sits the (fictional) neighborhood Eastbook.
Eastbrook is a place with top schools, parents who work as professionals, and spoiled teenagers, whose only responsibility is to get into an Ivy League school.
Crime here is rare, although one evening a nanny is murdered and the entire neighborhood is in shock.
“Things like that just don’t happen here”, all of the neighbors said to each other.
One night our protagonist, Caren, leaves a party at a neighbor’s house, falls, and blacks out.
Everyone tells her that at nearly 50, she just can’t handle her alcohol the way she could when she was younger.
They all insist that she was drunk when she left.
But was that really the case?
Gaslighting is definitely one of the major themes in this book.
Although I found parts of this book to be fairly predictable, I still really enjoyed the story.
It’s pretty much a given that I’m going to enjoy any neighborhood mystery or thriller that takes place in the suburbs.
I also kind of laughed because Caren would always remind people “it’s Caren with a C”.
The biggest way to tick her off would be to make a “Karen joke” towards her.
Constructive Criticism:
-This book was 400 pages long. I think that it could have been written in 350 pages and would have been just as enjoyable.
-Because this was written in Multiple POV, I would have liked it if the character’s name appeared on the first page of each chapter, like a lot of books in this format are.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this eARC to review!
Pub Date: June 30, 2026
In Bethesda, Maryland, an affluent suburb of DC, sits the (fictional) neighborhood Eastbook.
Eastbrook is a place with top schools, parents who work as professionals, and spoiled teenagers, whose only responsibility is to get into an Ivy League school.
Crime here is rare, although one evening a nanny is murdered and the entire neighborhood is in shock.
“Things like that just don’t happen here”, all of the neighbors said to each other.
One night our protagonist, Caren, leaves a party at a neighbor’s house, falls, and blacks out.
Everyone tells her that at nearly 50, she just can’t handle her alcohol the way she could when she was younger.
They all insist that she was drunk when she left.
But was that really the case?
Gaslighting is definitely one of the major themes in this book.
Although I found parts of this book to be fairly predictable, I still really enjoyed the story.
It’s pretty much a given that I’m going to enjoy any neighborhood mystery or thriller that takes place in the suburbs.
I also kind of laughed because Caren would always remind people “it’s Caren with a C”.
The biggest way to tick her off would be to make a “Karen joke” towards her.
Constructive Criticism:
-This book was 400 pages long. I think that it could have been written in 350 pages and would have been just as enjoyable.
-Because this was written in Multiple POV, I would have liked it if the character’s name appeared on the first page of each chapter, like a lot of books in this format are.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this eARC to review!
Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Want to Read
August 18, 2025I loved
'You Deserve to Know'!
I cant wait for this one to be released!
🤍🤍🤍
I cant wait for this one to be released!
🤍🤍🤍
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved You Deserve To Know so I was very excited to get an ARC of The Neighbors Are Watching.
This book is set in the suburbs of Bethesda, outside of Washington, D.C. It centers around the Eastbrook neighborhood, where everyone is family focused. After a graduation party, Caren has a fall and is unable to remember what happened to her. As she tries to piece that night together, she realizes that her neighborhood friends and her husband all doubt her story or what she believes has happened to her. They believe she over-indulged and fell.
This isn't the first bad thing that has happened in Eastbrook. One year ago, a nanny was shot and killed in a robbery. As Caren tries to figure out what happened to her, she can't help but think the two incidents could have something to do with each other.
There are twists and turns along the way and this is a neighborhood full of secrets. This was a fast paced and fun thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is set in the suburbs of Bethesda, outside of Washington, D.C. It centers around the Eastbrook neighborhood, where everyone is family focused. After a graduation party, Caren has a fall and is unable to remember what happened to her. As she tries to piece that night together, she realizes that her neighborhood friends and her husband all doubt her story or what she believes has happened to her. They believe she over-indulged and fell.
This isn't the first bad thing that has happened in Eastbrook. One year ago, a nanny was shot and killed in a robbery. As Caren tries to figure out what happened to her, she can't help but think the two incidents could have something to do with each other.
There are twists and turns along the way and this is a neighborhood full of secrets. This was a fast paced and fun thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2026
~Netgalley ARC, thank you!~
3.5 stars- rounded up!
This is my first novel by Aggie Blum Thompson and I enjoyed her writing style. The plot is engaging and I loved the nonstop twists down to the very last page. The twists reminded me of Freida McFadden, so if you like her books this is definitely one to add to the TBR. Where the book lost a star for me was the believability of the conflict resolution. Just a personal preference, some parts seemed a little "silly" or corny, but it didn't deter me from finishing.
3.5 stars- rounded up!
This is my first novel by Aggie Blum Thompson and I enjoyed her writing style. The plot is engaging and I loved the nonstop twists down to the very last page. The twists reminded me of Freida McFadden, so if you like her books this is definitely one to add to the TBR. Where the book lost a star for me was the believability of the conflict resolution. Just a personal preference, some parts seemed a little "silly" or corny, but it didn't deter me from finishing.
March 1, 2026
It looks like a picture perfect suburban neighborhood from the outside, but everyone is harboring secrets! This is not the kind of place where your nanny is murdered during a robbery. Yet we find ourselves immersed in this story where parents will go to any lengths to protect their children.
This was a very quick read with a lot of action! I enjoyed this one so don’t miss out!
This was a very quick read with a lot of action! I enjoyed this one so don’t miss out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I rounded up to four stars. I really enjoyed this book.
I THINK this is the first time I read a book by Aggie Blum Thompson. I'm definitely interested in reading more.
The story follows a woman who gets knocked out and then is gaslit by her entire neighborhood: best friends and husband included. I loved the plot line, and it was what initially drew me in. I could tell immediately that Miguel was going to be a character I despised.
I enjoyed Finn and Caren's characters [and Paula]. Finn believing Caren mattered. Sometimes that kind of support is all someone needs, and it grounded the story emotionally. I also liked that the sleuthing stayed believable. Conversations felt natural, and even moments of snooping were handled with logic instead of convenience. Even at one point, the author wrote Finn having common sense in the fact that there was no way to bring up casually that he was snooping. He didn't. I really loved this. Logic!
I did not enjoy Tori as a character. She just sounded completely unhinged. Many bad choices. And continually proved this point throughout the entire book. But to be honest, there were so many characters to hate. It was nice to spread the anger across so many. I have a love / hate relationship with mental manipulation and gaslighting...in the fact that I LOVE to hate it. And this book immediately had me hating Miguel. Everything out of his mouth made me want to reach in and punch the bejeebus out of him. I have never been so angry of a marriage not falling apart at the end. Which shows really great writing by the author. Because I was lit up!
The twists broke my heart. I was devastated for Caren and Rachel.
It's a plot to me that seems unrealistic because I'm not filthy rich. But I could very much so imagine the 1%'s living a life of lies like this. Especially to protect their children. But I had a lot of issues with Tori's relationship with Van and Eloise's relationship with her brother. I sensed the same thing Yumi said at the end about it. It just seemed off. But again, just made my anger and hatred for the characters.
I was really hoping for a bigger win for Caren. She was just let down by so many people that the ending didn't feel like she got the justice she deserved.
I THINK this is the first time I read a book by Aggie Blum Thompson. I'm definitely interested in reading more.
The story follows a woman who gets knocked out and then is gaslit by her entire neighborhood: best friends and husband included. I loved the plot line, and it was what initially drew me in. I could tell immediately that Miguel was going to be a character I despised.
I enjoyed Finn and Caren's characters [and Paula]. Finn believing Caren mattered. Sometimes that kind of support is all someone needs, and it grounded the story emotionally. I also liked that the sleuthing stayed believable. Conversations felt natural, and even moments of snooping were handled with logic instead of convenience. Even at one point, the author wrote Finn having common sense in the fact that there was no way to bring up casually that he was snooping. He didn't. I really loved this. Logic!
I did not enjoy Tori as a character. She just sounded completely unhinged. Many bad choices. And continually proved this point throughout the entire book. But to be honest, there were so many characters to hate. It was nice to spread the anger across so many. I have a love / hate relationship with mental manipulation and gaslighting...in the fact that I LOVE to hate it. And this book immediately had me hating Miguel. Everything out of his mouth made me want to reach in and punch the bejeebus out of him. I have never been so angry of a marriage not falling apart at the end. Which shows really great writing by the author. Because I was lit up!
The twists broke my heart. I was devastated for Caren and Rachel.
It's a plot to me that seems unrealistic because I'm not filthy rich. But I could very much so imagine the 1%'s living a life of lies like this. Especially to protect their children. But I had a lot of issues with Tori's relationship with Van and Eloise's relationship with her brother. I sensed the same thing Yumi said at the end about it. It just seemed off. But again, just made my anger and hatred for the characters.
I was really hoping for a bigger win for Caren. She was just let down by so many people that the ending didn't feel like she got the justice she deserved.
March 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the advanced copy — all opinions are my own.
In a picture-perfect suburb hiding dark secrets, one woman’s blackout night sparks dangerous questions no one wants answered. As buried truths about a past murder resurface, alliances form, facades crack, & getting close to the truth may make her the next target.
You Deserve to Know is one of my favorite thrillers, so I was super excited to read this one, but ultimately it was just not for me. I did enjoy the dual timeline & the setting, but I felt like it was very long & honestly kind of confusing — I was also completely underwhelmed by the twists & how the story ended. The mentions of AI, covid, etc. were the icing on the cake 🤦🏻♀️ all completely unnecessary to the plot & personally bother me a lot when I’m reading
In a picture-perfect suburb hiding dark secrets, one woman’s blackout night sparks dangerous questions no one wants answered. As buried truths about a past murder resurface, alliances form, facades crack, & getting close to the truth may make her the next target.
You Deserve to Know is one of my favorite thrillers, so I was super excited to read this one, but ultimately it was just not for me. I did enjoy the dual timeline & the setting, but I felt like it was very long & honestly kind of confusing — I was also completely underwhelmed by the twists & how the story ended. The mentions of AI, covid, etc. were the icing on the cake 🤦🏻♀️ all completely unnecessary to the plot & personally bother me a lot when I’m reading
March 11, 2026
I loved Aggie’s previous book, You Deserve To Know and was so excited to get an ARC for her new book. This one delivered with the suburban drama but it took me a while to get through. This was very slow and seemed longer than necessary.
At a neighborhood graduation party Caren ends up passed out after a fall with a concussion and no recollection of what happened. A neighbor who suffered his own loss a year ago finds her coming out of the house his friend was murdered in. Together will they find out what happened to Autumn and who was behind Caren’s accident?
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
At a neighborhood graduation party Caren ends up passed out after a fall with a concussion and no recollection of what happened. A neighbor who suffered his own loss a year ago finds her coming out of the house his friend was murdered in. Together will they find out what happened to Autumn and who was behind Caren’s accident?
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
April 25, 2026
The story takes place in a neighborhood in Bethesda, Maryland where every one knows each other and are friends or were friends. It’s also a neighborhood with families that have money.
A year ago a nanny named Autumn was murdered. The case was never solved. A year later autumn’s best friend Finn still wants to know what happened. He gets a job as a dog walker/sitter for the rich Dalia, her husband and son.
One night Caren attends a graduation party of a girl who used to be friends with her daughter. Caren had some drinks but not enough to get drunk. She walks home, falls and wakes up the next morning, found by Finn and doesn’t remember anything. Everyone believes she was drunk. Caren and Finn help each other to investigate what happened to Autumn and what happened to Caren.
The ending
The woman Autumn was being a nanny for, Tori, was having an affair with Dalia’s son, Van. Tori broke it off with Van who wasn’t happy about it. Van and friends were also breaking into houses and taking items, one of them being a bracelet. The owner of the bracelet wanted it back so to prevent any problems such as an arrest of Van, Dalia and her husband set it up to drug Caren to get into her house to get the bracelet. Carens daughter was involved with Van at one point til he got mean but he gave the daughter the bracelet.
Dalia was the one who fatally shot Autumn by accident because she thought it was Tori who was having a relationship with Van. Autumn was wearing the Tori’s robe. Dalia ends up arrested.
The twist
Dalia wasn’t the one who killed Autumn, it was Dalia’s daughter Eloise but Dalia took the fall.
At the end of the story is a letter written by a neighbor Yumi who has an illness and watches everything from her deck and saw Dalia’s daughter Eloise . Yumi blackmailed Eloise to remain silent.
The story was about a neighborhood with secrets. Everyone knows each other and are friends or were friends yet there’s backstabbing and questioning of who to trust. There are characters to hate. It showed the extent parents will go to protect their children. I felt bad for Caren especially with who to trust and how she was deceived. There were twists and the ending was a surprise.
Thank you Angie Blum Thompson for the ARC
A year ago a nanny named Autumn was murdered. The case was never solved. A year later autumn’s best friend Finn still wants to know what happened. He gets a job as a dog walker/sitter for the rich Dalia, her husband and son.
One night Caren attends a graduation party of a girl who used to be friends with her daughter. Caren had some drinks but not enough to get drunk. She walks home, falls and wakes up the next morning, found by Finn and doesn’t remember anything. Everyone believes she was drunk. Caren and Finn help each other to investigate what happened to Autumn and what happened to Caren.
The ending
The woman Autumn was being a nanny for, Tori, was having an affair with Dalia’s son, Van. Tori broke it off with Van who wasn’t happy about it. Van and friends were also breaking into houses and taking items, one of them being a bracelet. The owner of the bracelet wanted it back so to prevent any problems such as an arrest of Van, Dalia and her husband set it up to drug Caren to get into her house to get the bracelet. Carens daughter was involved with Van at one point til he got mean but he gave the daughter the bracelet.
Dalia was the one who fatally shot Autumn by accident because she thought it was Tori who was having a relationship with Van. Autumn was wearing the Tori’s robe. Dalia ends up arrested.
The twist
Dalia wasn’t the one who killed Autumn, it was Dalia’s daughter Eloise but Dalia took the fall.
At the end of the story is a letter written by a neighbor Yumi who has an illness and watches everything from her deck and saw Dalia’s daughter Eloise . Yumi blackmailed Eloise to remain silent.
The story was about a neighborhood with secrets. Everyone knows each other and are friends or were friends yet there’s backstabbing and questioning of who to trust. There are characters to hate. It showed the extent parents will go to protect their children. I felt bad for Caren especially with who to trust and how she was deceived. There were twists and the ending was a surprise.
Thank you Angie Blum Thompson for the ARC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2026
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
This one definitely fell into the “meh” category for me. It was mildly entertaining, but not a book I can see myself remembering to recommend anytime soon. Since this was my first time reading this author, I didn’t have anything to compare it to which, based on other reviews I’ve seen, may have actually worked in my favor.
I don’t mind when current technology, trends, or modern references are woven into a story, but they need to serve the plot in a meaningful way. Here, a lot of it felt extraneous and had me rolling my eyes more than feeling engaged.
I read this one on audio, and the production itself was solid. Alex Picard once again delivered a stellar performance, and honestly, her vocal acting skills were a big reason I kept going when the story itself started losing me.
That said, I am glad I finished it because I did enjoy how everything was ultimately wrapped up. I still wanted to know what happened and where the characters would end up, and the cheeky little ending definitely raised an eyebrow in a fun way.
This one definitely fell into the “meh” category for me. It was mildly entertaining, but not a book I can see myself remembering to recommend anytime soon. Since this was my first time reading this author, I didn’t have anything to compare it to which, based on other reviews I’ve seen, may have actually worked in my favor.
I don’t mind when current technology, trends, or modern references are woven into a story, but they need to serve the plot in a meaningful way. Here, a lot of it felt extraneous and had me rolling my eyes more than feeling engaged.
I read this one on audio, and the production itself was solid. Alex Picard once again delivered a stellar performance, and honestly, her vocal acting skills were a big reason I kept going when the story itself started losing me.
That said, I am glad I finished it because I did enjoy how everything was ultimately wrapped up. I still wanted to know what happened and where the characters would end up, and the cheeky little ending definitely raised an eyebrow in a fun way.
April 21, 2026
the neighbors are watching
📖 book review
pub date 06.30.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you @minotaur_books for my gifted ARC
aggie blum thompson is now one of my go-to authors for a suburban/neighborhood setting thriller after reading and absolutely loving You Deserve To Know last year. this one was no different, easily bingeable despite being a little longer of a thriller (400 pages) - I love the way she writes a story and how everything comes together so seamlessly in the end. I almost had this figured out but she still got me in the end.
what to expect:
•caren leaves a neighborhood get together woozy
•finn finds her the next morning, but she has no recollection of the night before
•finn’s best friend was murdered last year, and he will stop at nothing to solve it
•caren is riding out her days with amnesia, and nothing makes sense, who did this to her?
•all the neighbors are best friends, yet they tell each other nothing 🤫
📖 book review
pub date 06.30.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you @minotaur_books for my gifted ARC
aggie blum thompson is now one of my go-to authors for a suburban/neighborhood setting thriller after reading and absolutely loving You Deserve To Know last year. this one was no different, easily bingeable despite being a little longer of a thriller (400 pages) - I love the way she writes a story and how everything comes together so seamlessly in the end. I almost had this figured out but she still got me in the end.
what to expect:
•caren leaves a neighborhood get together woozy
•finn finds her the next morning, but she has no recollection of the night before
•finn’s best friend was murdered last year, and he will stop at nothing to solve it
•caren is riding out her days with amnesia, and nothing makes sense, who did this to her?
•all the neighbors are best friends, yet they tell each other nothing 🤫
March 27, 2026
This was a 3.5 star read for me. It was enjoyable but don’t really hold my attention. I wanted to know what was happening but all-in-all it felt a little too mundane for my type of thriller/mystery story. The characters had actions that I felt like weren’t as true as they should be and it’s hard to imagine so many bad people covering up bad deeds for others (even for money). Overall it was a quick read but I don’t think I would recommend to everyone- fun popcorn type thriller but not the best I have ever read.
Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an early egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an early egalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2026
Was so glad to be chosen as an arc reader of this book. Very easy to read and fun story. I truly enjoyed this book. It’s so captivating and intriguing I just wanted to know what’s next. Go grab your copy
May 14, 2026
A fine addition to the neighborhood domestic suspense drama. A woman’s disappearance, a myriad of unsavory characters and a murder propel this excellent thriller. The unsavory characters are exquisitely described and the suspense poignant. For fans of Shari Lapena and Joy Fielding.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Minotaur Books and Aggie Blum Thompson for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Minotaur Books and Aggie Blum Thompson for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 10, 2026
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC***
I was excited to start this book as I have been wanting to read something from this author for a bit but unfortunately this wasn’t what I hoped it would be. This just kind of fell flat for me you could figure out where this was going pretty early granted there was a plot twist at the end but it felt like a gimmicky grab twist with nothing to back it up. Also I felt like the addition of AI chatbot and the trans representation was very random and felt like the author had to fill a quota and was like 🤷🏻♀️ here.
2.75/5
I didn’t feel like this dragged and I was able to finish it quickly but it just felt blah
I was excited to start this book as I have been wanting to read something from this author for a bit but unfortunately this wasn’t what I hoped it would be. This just kind of fell flat for me you could figure out where this was going pretty early granted there was a plot twist at the end but it felt like a gimmicky grab twist with nothing to back it up. Also I felt like the addition of AI chatbot and the trans representation was very random and felt like the author had to fill a quota and was like 🤷🏻♀️ here.
2.75/5
I didn’t feel like this dragged and I was able to finish it quickly but it just felt blah
February 19, 2026
Thank you to @netgalley for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!
Let me first of all just say that I LOVE this Aggie Blum Thompson’s writing — YOU DESERVE TO KNOW was a six-star read for me last year, and I immediately set out to read all of her other books. She does suburban thrillers SO well! So I was really looking forward to this year’s book, THE NEIGHBORS ARE WATCHING, and was SO excited when I was approved for the ARC on Netgalley! However, I do think that this is her weakest book so far. 😩
This was definitely a SLOW burn, and honestly, I think it was TOO slow. I really don’t feel like this “thriller” had any thrill to it whatsoever, to be honest. 🤷🏼♀️ I liked the two main characters, Caron and Finn, and enjoyed the “found family” aspect to their relationship. Almost every other character was absolutely awful…..the gaslighting was off the charts, and these are Caron’s FRIENDS I’m talking about! (May this kind of friendship never find me!) 🙅🏼♀️ I really wanted her to call them out on it, but she just sort of accepted it and forgave them, which annoyed me. But I also feel like when we discover the reason why she was drugged and knocked out at the beginning of the book, it was one of the most anticlimactic moments I’ve ever read…..I just thought it was sort of….silly? And a HUGE overreaction to the situation. And then when it came to the solving of the actual murder, I just felt that it wasn’t that much of a surprise.
So yeah, unfortunately this one just didn’t work for me. 😢 I debated between two or three stars before I ultimately decided on three, just because the epilogue contains one final twist…..so I felt like it deserved to be bumped up to three stars. But I will absolutely continue to read this author’s books, because I’ve liked every other one that she has come out with! 💚
Let me first of all just say that I LOVE this Aggie Blum Thompson’s writing — YOU DESERVE TO KNOW was a six-star read for me last year, and I immediately set out to read all of her other books. She does suburban thrillers SO well! So I was really looking forward to this year’s book, THE NEIGHBORS ARE WATCHING, and was SO excited when I was approved for the ARC on Netgalley! However, I do think that this is her weakest book so far. 😩
This was definitely a SLOW burn, and honestly, I think it was TOO slow. I really don’t feel like this “thriller” had any thrill to it whatsoever, to be honest. 🤷🏼♀️ I liked the two main characters, Caron and Finn, and enjoyed the “found family” aspect to their relationship. Almost every other character was absolutely awful…..the gaslighting was off the charts, and these are Caron’s FRIENDS I’m talking about! (May this kind of friendship never find me!) 🙅🏼♀️ I really wanted her to call them out on it, but she just sort of accepted it and forgave them, which annoyed me. But I also feel like when we discover the reason why she was drugged and knocked out at the beginning of the book, it was one of the most anticlimactic moments I’ve ever read…..I just thought it was sort of….silly? And a HUGE overreaction to the situation. And then when it came to the solving of the actual murder, I just felt that it wasn’t that much of a surprise.
So yeah, unfortunately this one just didn’t work for me. 😢 I debated between two or three stars before I ultimately decided on three, just because the epilogue contains one final twist…..so I felt like it deserved to be bumped up to three stars. But I will absolutely continue to read this author’s books, because I’ve liked every other one that she has come out with! 💚
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Aggie Blum Thompson absolutely understood the assignment when it comes to making suburban paranoia feel feral. Centered on Sophie O’Neill, a woman whose memory fractures after a graduation party night gone wrong, the story leans hard into disorientation, fear, and that gut-level dread of not trusting your own mind. Sophie isn’t reckless—she’s shaken, unsettled, and trying to piece together what happened while everyone around her seems a little too interested in her silence. Enter Dalia, a fellow neighbor who becomes both ally and question mark as they start poking at an unsolved neighborhood murder that everyone else would rather whisper about than confront.
The brilliance is in how Thompson writes these characters: flawed, anxious, reactive, and painfully human. Sophie’s spiraling uncertainty is rendered with razor-sharp precision, while Dalia’s confidence carries just enough edge to keep you uneasy. The surrounding cast of neighbors—watchful, polite, and quietly predatory—turns the DC suburb into a pressure cooker where every interaction feels loaded and every smile feels rehearsed. Trust erodes quickly, motives blur, and the line between concern and obsession disappears entirely.
The writing is tight, controlled, and quietly vicious. Thompson lets tension rot and fester instead of rushing it, making every reveal feel earned and every twist hit with intent. The paranoia escalates until it’s impossible to tell who’s protecting who, and by the end, safety feels like the biggest lie of all. Smart, unsettling, and sharply executed. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own
The brilliance is in how Thompson writes these characters: flawed, anxious, reactive, and painfully human. Sophie’s spiraling uncertainty is rendered with razor-sharp precision, while Dalia’s confidence carries just enough edge to keep you uneasy. The surrounding cast of neighbors—watchful, polite, and quietly predatory—turns the DC suburb into a pressure cooker where every interaction feels loaded and every smile feels rehearsed. Trust erodes quickly, motives blur, and the line between concern and obsession disappears entirely.
The writing is tight, controlled, and quietly vicious. Thompson lets tension rot and fester instead of rushing it, making every reveal feel earned and every twist hit with intent. The paranoia escalates until it’s impossible to tell who’s protecting who, and by the end, safety feels like the biggest lie of all. Smart, unsettling, and sharply executed. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review!
This is my first book by the author Agiie Blum Thompson and it is only the beginning for me, I can't wait to read everything this author has written!!
If you've ever had the pleasure of living in a neighborhood where your neighbors are your closest friends or your parents and your neighbor friends are all friends, and there are always backyard get togethers, then you will relate to this book. I was lucky enough to raise my kids in a neighborhood like this, only thankfully, without murder and lies! Haha!
The story unfolds in Bethesda, Maryland. Where the neighbor kids have all grown up together, now getting ready for college. Told from the pov of Caren with a "C", and don't tell her any Karen jokes with a "K", she won't be laughing. Caren is a middle aged mom, married, but trying to get over recently being forced to retire from her job. She's bored, especially with her daughter away at camp for the summer, and is stuck in a bit of rut, not quite sure what to do with herself. So she keeps herself busy getting ready for the neighborhood yard sale.
One night, Caren attends a grad party for one of the neighbors. Small talk is made and drinks are poured, and then it appears as though Caren may have had too much to drink or did she? She is seen walking home, losing her balance and also slurring her words. The next thing she knows, she wakes up on the sidewalk the next morning in front of her neighbors rental home with a youngman whom she doesn't know trying to help her up. This young man's name is Finn. Finn is a trans man whose best friend in the whole world was murdered in the neighborhood 10 months ago.
From there, Caren and Finn's worlds collide and an immediate friendship begins. Because it seems everyone else in the neighborhood has something to hide or secrets to keep buried. If ever there was a master class on gaslighting, it's in this book!
Finn is obsessed with trying to solve the murder of his best friend even though the detective on the case keeps telling him to stay out of, Finn just can't help himself. Meanwhile, Caren becomes obsessed with trying to find out what happened to her the night she fell, bumped her head, and woke up on the ground outside.
What these two discover together is truly unbelievable!
And there is a quiet, unsung hero in the story that I just loved! But that is all I can say, just read this book!
But, trust NO ONE.
If gossip, lies, and murder peak your interest, then you will really enjoy this book!
I do think it could have been a tad bit shorter than the 400 pages, but it's definitely worth reading and kept my interest the whole time! I had to know what the heck was going on in this neighborhood!!
Thank you to the author, Aggie Blum Thompson, for the gifted copy! I was thrilled to receive this book from you and I look forward to reading everything else you write!! All opinions are my own.
This is my first book by the author Agiie Blum Thompson and it is only the beginning for me, I can't wait to read everything this author has written!!
If you've ever had the pleasure of living in a neighborhood where your neighbors are your closest friends or your parents and your neighbor friends are all friends, and there are always backyard get togethers, then you will relate to this book. I was lucky enough to raise my kids in a neighborhood like this, only thankfully, without murder and lies! Haha!
The story unfolds in Bethesda, Maryland. Where the neighbor kids have all grown up together, now getting ready for college. Told from the pov of Caren with a "C", and don't tell her any Karen jokes with a "K", she won't be laughing. Caren is a middle aged mom, married, but trying to get over recently being forced to retire from her job. She's bored, especially with her daughter away at camp for the summer, and is stuck in a bit of rut, not quite sure what to do with herself. So she keeps herself busy getting ready for the neighborhood yard sale.
One night, Caren attends a grad party for one of the neighbors. Small talk is made and drinks are poured, and then it appears as though Caren may have had too much to drink or did she? She is seen walking home, losing her balance and also slurring her words. The next thing she knows, she wakes up on the sidewalk the next morning in front of her neighbors rental home with a youngman whom she doesn't know trying to help her up. This young man's name is Finn. Finn is a trans man whose best friend in the whole world was murdered in the neighborhood 10 months ago.
From there, Caren and Finn's worlds collide and an immediate friendship begins. Because it seems everyone else in the neighborhood has something to hide or secrets to keep buried. If ever there was a master class on gaslighting, it's in this book!
Finn is obsessed with trying to solve the murder of his best friend even though the detective on the case keeps telling him to stay out of, Finn just can't help himself. Meanwhile, Caren becomes obsessed with trying to find out what happened to her the night she fell, bumped her head, and woke up on the ground outside.
What these two discover together is truly unbelievable!
And there is a quiet, unsung hero in the story that I just loved! But that is all I can say, just read this book!
But, trust NO ONE.
If gossip, lies, and murder peak your interest, then you will really enjoy this book!
I do think it could have been a tad bit shorter than the 400 pages, but it's definitely worth reading and kept my interest the whole time! I had to know what the heck was going on in this neighborhood!!
Thank you to the author, Aggie Blum Thompson, for the gifted copy! I was thrilled to receive this book from you and I look forward to reading everything else you write!! All opinions are my own.
February 19, 2026
3.5 stars for this one!
Another suburban scandal by Aggie - this one was full of untrustworthy, morally grey characters that kept me flipping the pages as fast as possible. The story begins with our main character Caren, who is at a gag-worthy, over the top boujee, high school grad party for Eloïse. She finally makes her Irish goodbye only to wake up the next morning to Finn, helping pick her up after a stumble on the neighbor’s lawn. How did she get there? Why does her head hurt? What happened last night? While Caren works to uncover what happened to her, she begins to unearth some scary truths about her neighbors, all of whom she once considered to be her good friends. As she digs further she crosses paths with our sleuth pal, Finn, who is also boots-on-the-ground-truth-seeking from these same neighbors but for a completely separate mystery: who murdered his BFF Autumn?? As the story unfolds we watch as everything Caren once knew begins to crumble and Finn works to give Autumn the justice she deserves.
While this was an entertaining read I found myself disappointed in a few things which led to my 3.5 star review:
First of all, I’m just going to say it, f**k Miguel. Gaslighting turd. Hated him from the minute he was rude to Finn who was out there doin’ his wife a solid by helping her out of the mud.
Second, I fully acknowledge Tori is a victim but can we not forget she was also a psychopathic predator???
Third note that ties the first two together - there were so many sub-plots playing in to this one, some of the connection points seemed to be reaching. It also felt like some of the characters were undeveloped so maybe Caren & Finn’s strong-quick bond wasn’t unusual but it felt like we didn’t get to know Caren that well so it just didn’t seem to be a friendship that clicked. Then we’ve got Tori out there blazing some sort of trail of insanity “my morals took a holiday” (her words, not mine lol) and Miguel’s only purpose in the entire book is to continue dismissing his wife every other page. And then to wrap it all up the grand finale honestly gave me the ick. Justice was never achieved for anyone. No loose ends tied up.
You Deserve To Know was spectacular and the ending had my jaw on the floor so I had high expectations for this one and I’m bummed to say they weren’t met… BUT I would still recommend this book to anyone who loves suburban neighborhood themed dRaMa ‘cause it did serve up some good tea.
Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
— Emily After Dark 🖤
Another suburban scandal by Aggie - this one was full of untrustworthy, morally grey characters that kept me flipping the pages as fast as possible. The story begins with our main character Caren, who is at a gag-worthy, over the top boujee, high school grad party for Eloïse. She finally makes her Irish goodbye only to wake up the next morning to Finn, helping pick her up after a stumble on the neighbor’s lawn. How did she get there? Why does her head hurt? What happened last night? While Caren works to uncover what happened to her, she begins to unearth some scary truths about her neighbors, all of whom she once considered to be her good friends. As she digs further she crosses paths with our sleuth pal, Finn, who is also boots-on-the-ground-truth-seeking from these same neighbors but for a completely separate mystery: who murdered his BFF Autumn?? As the story unfolds we watch as everything Caren once knew begins to crumble and Finn works to give Autumn the justice she deserves.
While this was an entertaining read I found myself disappointed in a few things which led to my 3.5 star review:
First of all, I’m just going to say it, f**k Miguel. Gaslighting turd. Hated him from the minute he was rude to Finn who was out there doin’ his wife a solid by helping her out of the mud.
Second, I fully acknowledge Tori is a victim but can we not forget she was also a psychopathic predator???
Third note that ties the first two together - there were so many sub-plots playing in to this one, some of the connection points seemed to be reaching. It also felt like some of the characters were undeveloped so maybe Caren & Finn’s strong-quick bond wasn’t unusual but it felt like we didn’t get to know Caren that well so it just didn’t seem to be a friendship that clicked. Then we’ve got Tori out there blazing some sort of trail of insanity “my morals took a holiday” (her words, not mine lol) and Miguel’s only purpose in the entire book is to continue dismissing his wife every other page. And then to wrap it all up the grand finale honestly gave me the ick. Justice was never achieved for anyone. No loose ends tied up.
You Deserve To Know was spectacular and the ending had my jaw on the floor so I had high expectations for this one and I’m bummed to say they weren’t met… BUT I would still recommend this book to anyone who loves suburban neighborhood themed dRaMa ‘cause it did serve up some good tea.
Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
— Emily After Dark 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I ended up quite enjoying this upcoming release, but I’m not lying when I say it took more than a bit of time to get me interested. Like nearly a week! If you know me you know I used to read a book almost every day. Those times appear to be long gone, but it still doesn’t usually take me more than 3 or 4. I wasn’t even through a third of this one after a week and I blame the dump of unnecessary crap at the beginning that stopped me from becoming invested as the problem.
The story here is about Caren (with a C and don’t you forget it because she’s not a “Karen”) who goes to a neighborhood party and is found the next morning wandering home with an apparent head wound. Caren has no recollection of what happened and is confirmed at the hospital to have suffered some form of trauma induced amnesia from what might have been a simple fall or what could have maybe even been an attack. Now all that is fine and dandy until this doctor starts rambling on about how she should file a police report despite having no clue of what happened and offering up suggestions for a support group for this memory loss that could easily resolve itself in a short time. I hope they trim some of this fat before final pub day because it was so unnecessary. Oh, and this trip to the ER also provided a chance to talk about how Caren has a history of more than dabbling in the drink to which I say . . . .
I am soooooooooooooooooo tired of the drunken unreliable female lead. It’s just lazy writing. There were other issues as well (SPOILER AHEAD SO DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW) .
Yesterday after the gold medal hockey match (USA! USA! USA!), I finally decided to just buckle down and slog through this. And like I said above, I ended up having a pretty good time. I love rich people behaving badly and neighborhood drama to begin with and really dug the whodunit and the motive (and the epilogue was delightful!). Hopefully things get tightened up before release date with one final edit, but I don’t know the process of ARCs or if that is even possible. I guess we’ll see as more readers start adding their rating.
3.5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
The story here is about Caren (with a C and don’t you forget it because she’s not a “Karen”) who goes to a neighborhood party and is found the next morning wandering home with an apparent head wound. Caren has no recollection of what happened and is confirmed at the hospital to have suffered some form of trauma induced amnesia from what might have been a simple fall or what could have maybe even been an attack. Now all that is fine and dandy until this doctor starts rambling on about how she should file a police report despite having no clue of what happened and offering up suggestions for a support group for this memory loss that could easily resolve itself in a short time. I hope they trim some of this fat before final pub day because it was so unnecessary. Oh, and this trip to the ER also provided a chance to talk about how Caren has a history of more than dabbling in the drink to which I say . . . .
I am soooooooooooooooooo tired of the drunken unreliable female lead. It’s just lazy writing. There were other issues as well (SPOILER AHEAD SO DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW) .
Yesterday after the gold medal hockey match (USA! USA! USA!), I finally decided to just buckle down and slog through this. And like I said above, I ended up having a pretty good time. I love rich people behaving badly and neighborhood drama to begin with and really dug the whodunit and the motive (and the epilogue was delightful!). Hopefully things get tightened up before release date with one final edit, but I don’t know the process of ARCs or if that is even possible. I guess we’ll see as more readers start adding their rating.
3.5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is my first time reading an Aggie Thompson book! I found that the author does a really good job of pulling you in because I was completely immersed in the story and curious about where it was headed. That said, it felt super slow at times, and I wish the pacing had been a bit quicker, which is why it’s a 3.5/5 for me.
The book is set in the suburbs of Bethesda, just outside of Washington, D.C. a suburb that, from the outside, seems picture-perfect, with friendly neighbours, picturesque houses and lawns, and schools that are considered the best. Caren, the main character, blacks out after a graduation party, but she doesn’t believe it, even though that’s what everyone says happened. She suspects she was drugged, but by who? And why? Still believing she was drugged, Caren teams up with her new neighbour, Finn, who has been trying to figure out who murdered his best friend last year, a murder that many people seem to want to forget, possibly on purpose. The neighbourhood is a place that cares deeply about appearances, so their investigation into what really happened only threatens the carefully built image many want to keep intact, especially the killer. Does the unsolved murder have anything to do with Caren being drugged? Who knows?
The description honestly got me hooked, especially since suburbs are always a little suspicious. The neighbours are expert gaslighters, it’s crazy that it’s technically Caren’s own friends who are gaslighting her. I really liked the relationship between Caren and Finn (the new neighbour). It was interesting and well-developed, but I do think the pacing should have been quicker and that Caren should have had more opportunities to stand up to the gaslighters she literally sees almost every day in the suburbs. The author did give a twist at the end so the rating went to 3.5/5 instead of 3/5! I will probably look at her other books as the plot was pretty good for this book!
It also took me a while to adjust to reading Karen as Caren, because Caren with a “C” is such a wild way to spell that name. It was a bit funny that the character always had to always introduce herself "It's Caren. Caren with a "C."
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me early access to The Neighbors Are Watching! Publication Date is June 30th, 2026!
The book is set in the suburbs of Bethesda, just outside of Washington, D.C. a suburb that, from the outside, seems picture-perfect, with friendly neighbours, picturesque houses and lawns, and schools that are considered the best. Caren, the main character, blacks out after a graduation party, but she doesn’t believe it, even though that’s what everyone says happened. She suspects she was drugged, but by who? And why? Still believing she was drugged, Caren teams up with her new neighbour, Finn, who has been trying to figure out who murdered his best friend last year, a murder that many people seem to want to forget, possibly on purpose. The neighbourhood is a place that cares deeply about appearances, so their investigation into what really happened only threatens the carefully built image many want to keep intact, especially the killer. Does the unsolved murder have anything to do with Caren being drugged? Who knows?
The description honestly got me hooked, especially since suburbs are always a little suspicious. The neighbours are expert gaslighters, it’s crazy that it’s technically Caren’s own friends who are gaslighting her. I really liked the relationship between Caren and Finn (the new neighbour). It was interesting and well-developed, but I do think the pacing should have been quicker and that Caren should have had more opportunities to stand up to the gaslighters she literally sees almost every day in the suburbs. The author did give a twist at the end so the rating went to 3.5/5 instead of 3/5! I will probably look at her other books as the plot was pretty good for this book!
It also took me a while to adjust to reading Karen as Caren, because Caren with a “C” is such a wild way to spell that name. It was a bit funny that the character always had to always introduce herself "It's Caren. Caren with a "C."
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me early access to The Neighbors Are Watching! Publication Date is June 30th, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
Folks who enjoy peeping into the secret lives of suburban wives - and their kids, spouses, neighbors, collaborators in affairs, dog walkers, and partners in literal and figural crime - will enjoy this sinister peak behind the perfect facade.
Caren's life is mostly in place, but since she's a lead in a mystery/thriller, of course there are some mysterious things afoot for her. She begins to realize things are not as they seem when she finds herself awakening from a graduation party with a head wound! All signs point to her having had too good of a time, getting home, partying even harder, and then injuring herself, and even though all of these folks she trusts promote this scenario and really do their best to gaslight her in the process, Caren still has warranted concerns and trust issues.
As Caren tries to unravel her truth, a new neighbor, Finn, who works mutliple jobs including as a librarian at the local public library and a dog walker for the neighbors, has one main goal: finding out who murdered his best friend last year. Finn's and Caren's worlds overlap, and eventually, their goals seem complementary, too. It's fun following these characters as they search for answers.
I really enjoyed the pacing, the rep (an unexpected bonus in this case), and the general plotting. Is this the most shocking and unpredictable read? Not really. Is it still a great time? Yes.
Wild side note: I typically recommend audiobook versions when and where accessible. I want to amplify that note here, but with a special audience in mind. Folks who are OG RHONY fans will explode as soon as they recognize...Alex McCord as the narrator of the audiobook. The Bravo-related memories will be flowing (some with some pretty disturbing associations) for those with familiarity here. I have to say that this incoming awareness of McCord totally influenced my understanding of these characters in ways that made me enjoy the listen even more. Suburban thrillers on a whole new level...!
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Folks who enjoy peeping into the secret lives of suburban wives - and their kids, spouses, neighbors, collaborators in affairs, dog walkers, and partners in literal and figural crime - will enjoy this sinister peak behind the perfect facade.
Caren's life is mostly in place, but since she's a lead in a mystery/thriller, of course there are some mysterious things afoot for her. She begins to realize things are not as they seem when she finds herself awakening from a graduation party with a head wound! All signs point to her having had too good of a time, getting home, partying even harder, and then injuring herself, and even though all of these folks she trusts promote this scenario and really do their best to gaslight her in the process, Caren still has warranted concerns and trust issues.
As Caren tries to unravel her truth, a new neighbor, Finn, who works mutliple jobs including as a librarian at the local public library and a dog walker for the neighbors, has one main goal: finding out who murdered his best friend last year. Finn's and Caren's worlds overlap, and eventually, their goals seem complementary, too. It's fun following these characters as they search for answers.
I really enjoyed the pacing, the rep (an unexpected bonus in this case), and the general plotting. Is this the most shocking and unpredictable read? Not really. Is it still a great time? Yes.
Wild side note: I typically recommend audiobook versions when and where accessible. I want to amplify that note here, but with a special audience in mind. Folks who are OG RHONY fans will explode as soon as they recognize...Alex McCord as the narrator of the audiobook. The Bravo-related memories will be flowing (some with some pretty disturbing associations) for those with familiarity here. I have to say that this incoming awareness of McCord totally influenced my understanding of these characters in ways that made me enjoy the listen even more. Suburban thrillers on a whole new level...!
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“DO YOU KNOW WHO KILLED ME?”
Just outside Washington D.C. sits the leafy suburb of Eastbrook, Bethesda. It’s not the kind of place where you would typically hear about a nanny getting shot during a robbery but that is what Police are saying happened fifteen months ago, in Tori Price’s rental home.
Residents just want to forget.
But, Finn, continues to remind them by hanging flyers of his friend Autumn, asking for answers about who killed her.
Meanwhile, almost 50 year old, Caren with a “C” has one too many drinks at a graduation party and blacks out on her way home. At least, that’s what her “friends” say happened. And, again-Police seem to agree.
But, she suspects that she was drugged by someone.
She was found by Finn, early on the Sunday morning following the party, stumbling out of the vacant house where his friend Autumn had been murdered, a gash on the back of her head.
What was she doing there?
Could this crime be related to the murder?
THE NEIGHBORS ARE DOING MUCH MORE THAN WATCHING in this suburb. In fact, NOTHING seems to be off limits when it comes to getting what they want, or protecting their own.
NOTHING.
But, Finn believes Caren and the two decide to do a little digging of their own in search of the answers that they are seeking. Can they trust anyone else besides one another?
Aggie Blum Thompson has penned another entertaining “neighborhood” story for fans of domestic suspense, with short, punchy chapters to keep the pages turning.
It just might make you think twice about getting too friendly with your neighbors this Summer.
Available June 30, 2026.
Be sure to watch for reviews from DeAnn, Marilyn and Mary Beth to see what they thought about the outrageous behavior of these neighbors!
Thank You to Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Just outside Washington D.C. sits the leafy suburb of Eastbrook, Bethesda. It’s not the kind of place where you would typically hear about a nanny getting shot during a robbery but that is what Police are saying happened fifteen months ago, in Tori Price’s rental home.
Residents just want to forget.
But, Finn, continues to remind them by hanging flyers of his friend Autumn, asking for answers about who killed her.
Meanwhile, almost 50 year old, Caren with a “C” has one too many drinks at a graduation party and blacks out on her way home. At least, that’s what her “friends” say happened. And, again-Police seem to agree.
But, she suspects that she was drugged by someone.
She was found by Finn, early on the Sunday morning following the party, stumbling out of the vacant house where his friend Autumn had been murdered, a gash on the back of her head.
What was she doing there?
Could this crime be related to the murder?
THE NEIGHBORS ARE DOING MUCH MORE THAN WATCHING in this suburb. In fact, NOTHING seems to be off limits when it comes to getting what they want, or protecting their own.
NOTHING.
But, Finn believes Caren and the two decide to do a little digging of their own in search of the answers that they are seeking. Can they trust anyone else besides one another?
Aggie Blum Thompson has penned another entertaining “neighborhood” story for fans of domestic suspense, with short, punchy chapters to keep the pages turning.
It just might make you think twice about getting too friendly with your neighbors this Summer.
Available June 30, 2026.
Be sure to watch for reviews from DeAnn, Marilyn and Mary Beth to see what they thought about the outrageous behavior of these neighbors!
Thank You to Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
May 14, 2026
A twisty, voyeuristic suburban thriller elevated by a strong audiobook performance. The narrator captures the tension, secrets, and shifting suspicions with crisp pacing and distinct character voices. Perfect for listeners who love neighborhood drama with a dark edge. A solid, bingeable listen.
The Neighbors Are Watching is a deliciously tense suburban thriller that leans into the idea that the people living closest to us often know far more than they should — and sometimes far less. The audiobook format enhances that creeping sense of being observed, thanks to a narrator who balances drama, suspicion, and emotional nuance without ever tipping into melodrama.
Narration & Performance
The narrator is the real standout here.
Character voices are distinct enough to track easily, especially during tense group scenes.
Tone and pacing shift smoothly as the story moves from everyday neighborhood chatter to deeper, darker revelations.
Emotional beats land well — especially moments of guilt, fear, and confrontation.
The performance adds a layer of intimacy that fits the story’s themes of secrecy and surveillance.
Story & Themes
The plot blends domestic suspense with a slow‑building mystery, weaving together multiple perspectives and neighborhood dynamics. Themes of privacy, judgment, and the masks people wear play out in satisfying ways. The pacing is steady, with a few well‑timed twists that feel earned rather than forced.
What Worked Well
Strong, immersive narration
A compelling mix of character drama and mystery
Atmosphere that builds steadily without dragging
A finale that ties threads together in a satisfying way.
This is a well‑performed, engaging audiobook perfect for fans of neighborhood suspense, character‑driven mysteries, and stories where everyone has something to hide. If you enjoy thrillers that blend interpersonal drama with creeping dread, this one is worth adding to your listening queue.
The Neighbors Are Watching is a deliciously tense suburban thriller that leans into the idea that the people living closest to us often know far more than they should — and sometimes far less. The audiobook format enhances that creeping sense of being observed, thanks to a narrator who balances drama, suspicion, and emotional nuance without ever tipping into melodrama.
Narration & Performance
The narrator is the real standout here.
Character voices are distinct enough to track easily, especially during tense group scenes.
Tone and pacing shift smoothly as the story moves from everyday neighborhood chatter to deeper, darker revelations.
Emotional beats land well — especially moments of guilt, fear, and confrontation.
The performance adds a layer of intimacy that fits the story’s themes of secrecy and surveillance.
Story & Themes
The plot blends domestic suspense with a slow‑building mystery, weaving together multiple perspectives and neighborhood dynamics. Themes of privacy, judgment, and the masks people wear play out in satisfying ways. The pacing is steady, with a few well‑timed twists that feel earned rather than forced.
What Worked Well
Strong, immersive narration
A compelling mix of character drama and mystery
Atmosphere that builds steadily without dragging
A finale that ties threads together in a satisfying way.
This is a well‑performed, engaging audiobook perfect for fans of neighborhood suspense, character‑driven mysteries, and stories where everyone has something to hide. If you enjoy thrillers that blend interpersonal drama with creeping dread, this one is worth adding to your listening queue.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 ⭐️
Few authors make messy suburban drama feel as addictive and believable as Aggie Blum Thompson does. The Neighbors Are Watching pulled me in with its polished suburban setting, buried tensions, and that underlying feeling that everyone is hiding something behind perfectly curated lives.
I can’t help but be impressed by how Thompson’s writing effortlessly hooks me early on without relying on over-the-top drama. Her stories feel believable, which is one of the reasons they work so well for me. The characters feel like people you could actually know, flawed, messy, image-conscious, and quietly unraveling beneath the surface. The mystery itself also felt grounded, which made the tension hit even harder because it never drifted into unrealistic territory.
I also appreciated how sharply she captures suburban dynamics, the gossip, friendships, quiet judgment, and the desperation people have to protect the version of themselves they present to the world. It gave the story a simmering domestic suspense feel that I always enjoy from her books.
I listened to the audiobook and thought Alex Picard was a solid fit for the story. I especially liked the subtle shifts in tone and cadence she used between characters because it helped distinguish everyone naturally without feeling exaggerated. While she may not become one of my standout favorite narrators, her performance matched the atmosphere of the book well and kept me engaged.
At this point, Aggie Blum Thompson has become one of those authors I automatically gravitate toward because she consistently delivers entertaining, character-driven domestic thrillers that are incredibly easy to get absorbed in. I’m already curious to see what suburban secrets she dives into next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.
Few authors make messy suburban drama feel as addictive and believable as Aggie Blum Thompson does. The Neighbors Are Watching pulled me in with its polished suburban setting, buried tensions, and that underlying feeling that everyone is hiding something behind perfectly curated lives.
I can’t help but be impressed by how Thompson’s writing effortlessly hooks me early on without relying on over-the-top drama. Her stories feel believable, which is one of the reasons they work so well for me. The characters feel like people you could actually know, flawed, messy, image-conscious, and quietly unraveling beneath the surface. The mystery itself also felt grounded, which made the tension hit even harder because it never drifted into unrealistic territory.
I also appreciated how sharply she captures suburban dynamics, the gossip, friendships, quiet judgment, and the desperation people have to protect the version of themselves they present to the world. It gave the story a simmering domestic suspense feel that I always enjoy from her books.
I listened to the audiobook and thought Alex Picard was a solid fit for the story. I especially liked the subtle shifts in tone and cadence she used between characters because it helped distinguish everyone naturally without feeling exaggerated. While she may not become one of my standout favorite narrators, her performance matched the atmosphere of the book well and kept me engaged.
At this point, Aggie Blum Thompson has become one of those authors I automatically gravitate toward because she consistently delivers entertaining, character-driven domestic thrillers that are incredibly easy to get absorbed in. I’m already curious to see what suburban secrets she dives into next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the ARC.
I really struggled with this one and found myself almost putting it down several times. I usually love domestic thrillers built around a neighborhood scandal, so I went in with high hopes, but this story didn’t quite deliver what I was looking for.
The premise is great - Caren has a few drinks at a graduation party, blacks out, and wakes up the next morning outside in front of a house that isn’t hers with no recollection of how she got there. She’s discovered by Finn, a newer neighbor who moved into the area to investigate the unsolved murder of his best friend. As the two start comparing notes, they begin to believe Caren’s blackout incident might somehow connect to the tragedy Finn has been trying to understand, and from there, the story branches in multiple directions.
For me, this is where things became difficult. Somehow the book manages to feel both very slow and at the same time packed with so many different threads that it was hard to keep track of everything. With all the intersecting plotlines, I kept waiting for something to truly grab me, but the momentum never quite built. When the twist finally arrived, it didn’t land the way I hoped. After following so many moving pieces for so long, the reveal felt surprisingly muted. I even caught myself saying, “that's it?” simply because I expected more payoff after everything that came before it.
Overall, the concept had a lot of potential, and readers who enjoy slow‑burn neighborhood dramas may connect with it more than I did. But personally, I found the pacing, the number of storylines, and the understated twist made it a tough read for me.
I really struggled with this one and found myself almost putting it down several times. I usually love domestic thrillers built around a neighborhood scandal, so I went in with high hopes, but this story didn’t quite deliver what I was looking for.
The premise is great - Caren has a few drinks at a graduation party, blacks out, and wakes up the next morning outside in front of a house that isn’t hers with no recollection of how she got there. She’s discovered by Finn, a newer neighbor who moved into the area to investigate the unsolved murder of his best friend. As the two start comparing notes, they begin to believe Caren’s blackout incident might somehow connect to the tragedy Finn has been trying to understand, and from there, the story branches in multiple directions.
For me, this is where things became difficult. Somehow the book manages to feel both very slow and at the same time packed with so many different threads that it was hard to keep track of everything. With all the intersecting plotlines, I kept waiting for something to truly grab me, but the momentum never quite built. When the twist finally arrived, it didn’t land the way I hoped. After following so many moving pieces for so long, the reveal felt surprisingly muted. I even caught myself saying, “that's it?” simply because I expected more payoff after everything that came before it.
Overall, the concept had a lot of potential, and readers who enjoy slow‑burn neighborhood dramas may connect with it more than I did. But personally, I found the pacing, the number of storylines, and the understated twist made it a tough read for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Neighbors Are Watching by Aggie Blum Thompson
The biggest house in the very wealthy suburb in Eastbrook, Bethesda is rental. It's a cold, sterile looking place and a babysitter was murdered there the year before. The renter has moved on, the babysitter is dead and buried, and the neighbors aren't pleased with the posters that someone keeps putting up in the neighborhood. The posters show the face of the murdered girl in an effort to garner information that could lead to who murdered her. Can't people just move on! That's old news, the residents have all put that incident behind them and they certainly don't want these posters cluttering up the neighborhood.
Something disturbing happens to Caren, a wife and a mother of a son in college and a daughter heading to college. After leaving a neighborhood party (her husband is out of town) Caren blacks out. She hadn't had that much to drink and Caren suspects she was drugged but no one believes her, everyone brushes her off. Too many things don't make sense to Caren and she and a twentysomething neighbor, Finn, start digging into what might be going on in the neighborhood. Finn was best friends with the babysitter and is the one putting up the posters. Now the two, can make pests of themselves together.
After meeting the neighbors and their kids, I think I'd want to start drinking if I couldn't move from the neighborhood. What a bunch of snobs, thinking they are so much better than everyone else, even those who are supposed to be their friends. It's a dog eat dog atmosphere in this neighborhood and what you know about someone else just might make good fodder for climbing a ladder, or else, at least kicking someone else down the ladder.
No rest for the weary, the wealthy, or the wicked. Caren has this neighborhood and her own husband to fight in her quest to figure out what is going on. Why does it feel like people are keeping secrets from her? Stories like this allow me to feel all smug in my simple little world where no one is trying to step on my head (or body) to climb higher on some ladder of importance. The story is intriguing and twisty, all the way to the end. I read and discussed this story with DeAnn, Jayme and Mary Beth so check out their thoughts on the book, too.
Expected publication June 30, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers. and NetGalley for this ARC.
The biggest house in the very wealthy suburb in Eastbrook, Bethesda is rental. It's a cold, sterile looking place and a babysitter was murdered there the year before. The renter has moved on, the babysitter is dead and buried, and the neighbors aren't pleased with the posters that someone keeps putting up in the neighborhood. The posters show the face of the murdered girl in an effort to garner information that could lead to who murdered her. Can't people just move on! That's old news, the residents have all put that incident behind them and they certainly don't want these posters cluttering up the neighborhood.
Something disturbing happens to Caren, a wife and a mother of a son in college and a daughter heading to college. After leaving a neighborhood party (her husband is out of town) Caren blacks out. She hadn't had that much to drink and Caren suspects she was drugged but no one believes her, everyone brushes her off. Too many things don't make sense to Caren and she and a twentysomething neighbor, Finn, start digging into what might be going on in the neighborhood. Finn was best friends with the babysitter and is the one putting up the posters. Now the two, can make pests of themselves together.
After meeting the neighbors and their kids, I think I'd want to start drinking if I couldn't move from the neighborhood. What a bunch of snobs, thinking they are so much better than everyone else, even those who are supposed to be their friends. It's a dog eat dog atmosphere in this neighborhood and what you know about someone else just might make good fodder for climbing a ladder, or else, at least kicking someone else down the ladder.
No rest for the weary, the wealthy, or the wicked. Caren has this neighborhood and her own husband to fight in her quest to figure out what is going on. Why does it feel like people are keeping secrets from her? Stories like this allow me to feel all smug in my simple little world where no one is trying to step on my head (or body) to climb higher on some ladder of importance. The story is intriguing and twisty, all the way to the end. I read and discussed this story with DeAnn, Jayme and Mary Beth so check out their thoughts on the book, too.
Expected publication June 30, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers. and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Neighbors Are Watching is a suburban thriller set in the seemingly perfect neighborhood of Eastbrook, just outside Washington, DC. A year after a nanny is killed during what was supposed to be a robbery gone wrong, the case is still unsolved. When Caren, a long-time resident facing an empty nest, blacks out after a graduation party and begins to suspect she may have been drugged, she starts to wonder what really happened that night, and what her neighbors might be hiding. When she teams up with her new neighbor Finn, whose best friend was the murder victim, they begin digging into the past and quickly realize this neighborhood is full of secrets.
This book started out a bit slow for me, but once I got to know the characters and the dynamics of the neighborhood, the story picked up. The book is told from three points of view, Caren, Finn, and Tori, with Tori’s chapters taking place in the past, about a year earlier, slowly revealing what led up to the murder.
Caren and Finn were the most likeable characters. Most of the other neighbors were very self-entitled and obsessed with keeping up appearances, which made them frustrating at times, but that was clearly the point. This book really leans into the idea that behind perfect houses and perfect lawns, everyone is hiding something.
There’s a lot of gossip, secrets, and gaslighting throughout the story, and as more truths come out, the tension builds toward the final twist.
Overall, this was an okay read for me. If you enjoy suburban thrillers full of neighborhood drama, messy secrets, and multiple points of view, this is one you might enjoy.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the book.
This book started out a bit slow for me, but once I got to know the characters and the dynamics of the neighborhood, the story picked up. The book is told from three points of view, Caren, Finn, and Tori, with Tori’s chapters taking place in the past, about a year earlier, slowly revealing what led up to the murder.
Caren and Finn were the most likeable characters. Most of the other neighbors were very self-entitled and obsessed with keeping up appearances, which made them frustrating at times, but that was clearly the point. This book really leans into the idea that behind perfect houses and perfect lawns, everyone is hiding something.
There’s a lot of gossip, secrets, and gaslighting throughout the story, and as more truths come out, the tension builds toward the final twist.
Overall, this was an okay read for me. If you enjoy suburban thrillers full of neighborhood drama, messy secrets, and multiple points of view, this is one you might enjoy.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In Caren Costa’s affluent Bethesda neighborhood, image is everything. The morning after her neighbor’s party, she wakes up with a concussion and no recollection of what happened after she left the party. Everyone assumes she got blackout drunk, but Caren is determined to clear her name and figure out why someone would want to hurt her.
Finn is a basement apartment tenant in the same neighborhood. A year ago, his best friend Autumn was shot and killed in the house where she was a live-in nanny. Autum’s employer is a divorcee renter and a bit of a pariah. It’s no coincidence that her landlords are the same people who hosted the party where Caren was allegedly drugged. When people are desperate enough to protect their reputations and their kids’ futures, ruthlessness is the name of the game.
This was a super fun, well-paced read. It wasn’t exactly a domestic thriller; it was more of a suburban drama with an unsolved murder subplot. The characters and their voices felt authentic, the dialogue was well-written, and the overall plot didn’t feel contrived. I liked how Caren and Finn connected and supported each other. I actually enjoyed the petty backstabbing, it was done in a way that didn’t seem tacky. When you have money to solve your problems, it’s easy to make Caren think she’s losing her mind. Good stuff!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
Finn is a basement apartment tenant in the same neighborhood. A year ago, his best friend Autumn was shot and killed in the house where she was a live-in nanny. Autum’s employer is a divorcee renter and a bit of a pariah. It’s no coincidence that her landlords are the same people who hosted the party where Caren was allegedly drugged. When people are desperate enough to protect their reputations and their kids’ futures, ruthlessness is the name of the game.
This was a super fun, well-paced read. It wasn’t exactly a domestic thriller; it was more of a suburban drama with an unsolved murder subplot. The characters and their voices felt authentic, the dialogue was well-written, and the overall plot didn’t feel contrived. I liked how Caren and Finn connected and supported each other. I actually enjoyed the petty backstabbing, it was done in a way that didn’t seem tacky. When you have money to solve your problems, it’s easy to make Caren think she’s losing her mind. Good stuff!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thought this was a good book that held my interest throughout and made it hard to guess who the "bad guys" were. It centers on Caren, who allegedly blacks out after too many drinks at a party but feels there is something fishy going on; and Finn, who is trying to solve the murder of his best friend from the previous summer. The chapters alternate between the POVs of these 2 characters. as well as a couple other characters who get a chapter here and there.
I liked the alternating POVs as well a the alternating timeline- it was interesting to learn what was related and what was not as the storylines converged. Both Caren and Finn were likable characters, though many of the folks who surrounded them were not. I also enjoyed that it took place in Bethesda, MD, which is near where I grew up. Both mysteries were sound, and the author did a good job of providing believable red herrings that kept me guessing throughout. I felt sad when the truth was revealed, as there were so many things that could have been done to avoid this tragedy, but that is not a complaint, as I want to walk away with all the feels after finishing a book. The ending did a great job of tying up all the loose ends and I wasn't left with any other lingering questions.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to those who enjoy the domestic suspense genre. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the alternating POVs as well a the alternating timeline- it was interesting to learn what was related and what was not as the storylines converged. Both Caren and Finn were likable characters, though many of the folks who surrounded them were not. I also enjoyed that it took place in Bethesda, MD, which is near where I grew up. Both mysteries were sound, and the author did a good job of providing believable red herrings that kept me guessing throughout. I felt sad when the truth was revealed, as there were so many things that could have been done to avoid this tragedy, but that is not a complaint, as I want to walk away with all the feels after finishing a book. The ending did a great job of tying up all the loose ends and I wasn't left with any other lingering questions.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to those who enjoy the domestic suspense genre. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews