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The Quiet Neighbor
A heart-stopping tale of family secrets, buried trauma, and the lengths a mother will go to save her child, even when that child might not want to be saved.
Cynthia Burrows thought she’d built the perfect life—successful law career, loving husband, beautiful daughter. But when eighteen-year-old Tori vanishes without a trace, Cynthia’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble.
The school says Tori was excused by family. Security footage shows her leaving with an older man. And the boy she was supposed to date? His name sends chills down Cynthia’s spine—Alexander Beaufort.
That’s impossible. Alexander Beaufort is the serial killer who destroyed Cynthia’s childhood, murdered her best friend, and forced her into witness protection twenty years ago. He’s supposed to be locked away forever.
But someone is playing a deadly game, leaving clues that drag Cynthia back to her darkest memories. With only three days to find her daughter, she must confront the monster from her past and the shocking secrets Tori has been hiding.
In this quiet suburban neighborhood, everyone has something to conceal. And some neighbors are more dangerous than others.
Cynthia Burrows thought she’d built the perfect life—successful law career, loving husband, beautiful daughter. But when eighteen-year-old Tori vanishes without a trace, Cynthia’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble.
The school says Tori was excused by family. Security footage shows her leaving with an older man. And the boy she was supposed to date? His name sends chills down Cynthia’s spine—Alexander Beaufort.
That’s impossible. Alexander Beaufort is the serial killer who destroyed Cynthia’s childhood, murdered her best friend, and forced her into witness protection twenty years ago. He’s supposed to be locked away forever.
But someone is playing a deadly game, leaving clues that drag Cynthia back to her darkest memories. With only three days to find her daughter, she must confront the monster from her past and the shocking secrets Tori has been hiding.
In this quiet suburban neighborhood, everyone has something to conceal. And some neighbors are more dangerous than others.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2026
72 people are currently reading
6831 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Barker
58 books6,969 followersJ.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK series. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
jd
A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
jd
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5⭐️ rounded up.
I’ll start by saying that I’m a huge fan of J.D. Barker and have loved many of his books, but this is the first one I’ve read that he’s co-authored.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Morgan Hallett, whose performance truly brought the story to life.
Cynthia has spent the last twenty years in witness protection after testifying against a serial killer. In spite of her traumatic past, she builds a successful career as a lawyer and appears to be living a near perfect life. But when her eighteen year old daughter Tori goes missing, Cynthia is forced to confront the very past she thought she had escaped.
After finishing the book, I realized the Goodreads synopsis reveals a bit too much and dulls some of the suspense.
While I really loved the premise, the execution didn’t work for me for several reasons. I was able to figure out both major twists far too early, which diminished much of the suspense and made this a less thrilling read. Cynthia was also extremely unlikable, and the fact that she was allowed to freely walk through active crime scenes as the mother of the missing girl felt completely unrealistic. The ending requires a massive suspension of disbelief, if not outright tossing logic aside. Finally, one character’s involvement is brushed over at the end with no real explanation, which was frustrating because it simply made no sense. Unfortunately, I can’t go into detail without spoiling it.
Many readers have enjoyed this one, so it likely just wasn’t the right fit for me. Even so, I’ll gladly pick up whatever he writes next.
Expected pub date 1/27/26. My thanks to RBmedia, Recorded Books via NetGalley for my ALC. 🎧
I’ll start by saying that I’m a huge fan of J.D. Barker and have loved many of his books, but this is the first one I’ve read that he’s co-authored.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Morgan Hallett, whose performance truly brought the story to life.
Cynthia has spent the last twenty years in witness protection after testifying against a serial killer. In spite of her traumatic past, she builds a successful career as a lawyer and appears to be living a near perfect life. But when her eighteen year old daughter Tori goes missing, Cynthia is forced to confront the very past she thought she had escaped.
After finishing the book, I realized the Goodreads synopsis reveals a bit too much and dulls some of the suspense.
While I really loved the premise, the execution didn’t work for me for several reasons. I was able to figure out both major twists far too early, which diminished much of the suspense and made this a less thrilling read. Cynthia was also extremely unlikable, and the fact that she was allowed to freely walk through active crime scenes as the mother of the missing girl felt completely unrealistic. The ending requires a massive suspension of disbelief, if not outright tossing logic aside. Finally, one character’s involvement is brushed over at the end with no real explanation, which was frustrating because it simply made no sense. Unfortunately, I can’t go into detail without spoiling it.
Many readers have enjoyed this one, so it likely just wasn’t the right fit for me. Even so, I’ll gladly pick up whatever he writes next.
Expected pub date 1/27/26. My thanks to RBmedia, Recorded Books via NetGalley for my ALC. 🎧
January 28, 2026
An electric ride of tense cat-and-mouse games, The Quiet Neighbor had me in the palm of its hand from the very first page. Starting off with multiple mysteries and sky high stakes, the foreboding rolled off the pages as my eyes flew over the words. Told from dual POVs as well as journal entries from an anonymous narrator, I was chilled to the bone as the events unfurled at speed. You see, alongside of the spine-tingling dark secrets were plenty of even darker truths. Loaded with dread, suspense, and blood-curdling fear, I couldn’t put this book down until the damning last chapter. That’s right. The last few pages held quite the shocker of a reveal. Complete with a final twist I never saw coming, it ended with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that makes me want to beg for a sequel from this talented writing duo. After all, I need to know what comes next for this evil villain.
All in all, despite a very over-the-top feel at times and a second half that didn’t quite live up to the promise of the beginning, I still couldn’t put this book down and inhaled it over the course of one very late night of reading. Clever, complex, dark, and beyond twisted, it not only kept me on the edge of my seat but also brought up some truly serious themes. Exploring family, lies, trauma, and the desire for retribution, it was a humdinger of a psychological thriller from beginning to end. The best piece of all, though, was easily Cynthia’s characterization. A believable yet somewhat enigmatic persona who pulled at the heartstrings, I was easily rooting for her from the very start despite her flawed ways. So if you love fast-paced reads that are filled with a tangled web of lies, grab this one now. Even though I had to suspend all disbelief, I had a blast. Rating of 3.5 stars (upgraded).
BRIEF BLURB:
Please oh please, go into this one at blind at possible. After all, even the publisher-provided synopsis will ruin the ride just a little. All you need to know is that this book is about a mother whose daughter goes missing. Was she kidnapped by a figure out of the mother’s secret dark past or did her daughter—who has been hiding plenty of secrets of her own—construct it all as a move for attention? All this mother can do is hunt down the truth clue by shocking clue, even if it reveals everything she’s been trying to hide for most of her life. But as a deadly game begins to take place, she starts to realize that her whole life might just have been a pack of lies. Can she find her daughter in time? And will the truth be one she can live with when it all gets revealed? Only time will tell because this game of cat-and-mouse has a huge dose of surprises in store for this seemingly ideal mother and her perhaps less than picture-perfect life.
Thank you J.D. Barker, Adam Roach, and Hampton Creek Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 27, 2026
Content warning: kidnapping, child death, violence, murder, suicide, gun violence, blood, alcoholism, mention of: bullying
All in all, despite a very over-the-top feel at times and a second half that didn’t quite live up to the promise of the beginning, I still couldn’t put this book down and inhaled it over the course of one very late night of reading. Clever, complex, dark, and beyond twisted, it not only kept me on the edge of my seat but also brought up some truly serious themes. Exploring family, lies, trauma, and the desire for retribution, it was a humdinger of a psychological thriller from beginning to end. The best piece of all, though, was easily Cynthia’s characterization. A believable yet somewhat enigmatic persona who pulled at the heartstrings, I was easily rooting for her from the very start despite her flawed ways. So if you love fast-paced reads that are filled with a tangled web of lies, grab this one now. Even though I had to suspend all disbelief, I had a blast. Rating of 3.5 stars (upgraded).
BRIEF BLURB:
Please oh please, go into this one at blind at possible. After all, even the publisher-provided synopsis will ruin the ride just a little. All you need to know is that this book is about a mother whose daughter goes missing. Was she kidnapped by a figure out of the mother’s secret dark past or did her daughter—who has been hiding plenty of secrets of her own—construct it all as a move for attention? All this mother can do is hunt down the truth clue by shocking clue, even if it reveals everything she’s been trying to hide for most of her life. But as a deadly game begins to take place, she starts to realize that her whole life might just have been a pack of lies. Can she find her daughter in time? And will the truth be one she can live with when it all gets revealed? Only time will tell because this game of cat-and-mouse has a huge dose of surprises in store for this seemingly ideal mother and her perhaps less than picture-perfect life.
Thank you J.D. Barker, Adam Roach, and Hampton Creek Press for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 27, 2026
Content warning: kidnapping, child death, violence, murder, suicide, gun violence, blood, alcoholism, mention of: bullying
January 31, 2026
The suspense was good, but I could see early on how it was playing out. I did admire Cynthia's motherly instinct to know Tori was in trouble. The angle of portraying Tori as a druggy and unruly wasn't necessary. Not bad, but not as good as any of Barker's previous books.
October 15, 2025
There’s a would be killer desperate to scratch the itch.
In the present day, Cynthia’s 18-year-old daughter Tori is not in school, she previously announces that later she has a date with ‘Blue Eyes’ from the coffee shop, but he’s not at work either. She does some digging and gets his name and it one heck of a shock….. because it can’t be HIM, can it? After all, he’d be 60 by now wouldn’t he? Has he taken Tori but why hasn’t he taken Cynthia? His name sends shivers down her spine because it’s a ghost from her past. Alexander Beaufort is a serial killer who murders her best friend years ago and sends her into witness protection. Is someone playing a revengeful and deadly game, reviving the past and forcing her to relive her darkest memories?
There’s plenty that I enjoy in this psychological thriller collaboration especially in the first half which positively ripples with tension which almost jumps off the pages. The scenario is a desperate cat/mouse situation with a precious life at stake. It’s very creepy with neighbours past and present that delivers unsettling vibes with the spider senses on full alert. I particularly like the theme of how well do you actually know your own family and there are plenty of shocks here as the plot unfolds.
The narrative is interspersed with extracts from a journal and that is chilling and in addition, has my mind in overdrive trying to figure out the identity of the author. I can’t say it’s a huge surprise when it’s revealed, but thankfully it’s not a left field revelation.
Although overall I do enjoy the book, I don’t think the second half has as much strength as the first. Part of that is I don’t find it particularly believable that the investigative agencies cut Cynthia so much slack… But it is fiction, so hey ho! However, she is almost giving the orders! I don’t know whether to admire her chutzpah or dislike her pushiness. There are aspects to that I guess correctly which I don’t mind at all but is it a bit too easily resolved at the end???
However, it is an immersive read but it is a pity that the quality isn’t maintained throughout although the final journal entry certainly delivers the shivers.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hampton Creek Press/Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
January 27, 2026
Happy Publication Day!! 1/27/26
***10/13/25 update: I am starting to see some other reviews for this book come in, most of them are rated higher than my rating so make sure to check them out!! ***
Thoughts to come…but right now, (although don’t know this for a fact because I don’t see any other reviews for this book) ‘Every party has a pooper that’s why we invited you, party pooper’ is in my head. I have a feeling this will be accurate and I will be on outlier island with this book as more people read it.
4/10: 2⭐️
I think this will be a case of it’s me, not the book.
Short synopsis: Cynthia learns that her daughter Tori is missing when she receives a notice from the school that Tori has been excused by a family member. Neither Cynthia nor her husband gave permission for her to leave and Cynthia is in a panic.
Has a past that Cynthia has kept secret from everyone, even her husband, except for FBI best friend from college Gabby, come back to haunt her? Or is it the secret life her daughter seems to have hidden from her parents that is responsible for her disappearance? That secret life, and oh what a secret life it is, YIKES, comes to light as Cynthia searches for her daughter.
The premise seemed really promising.
This book is done in a Then and Now dual timeline. I appreciate that the authors separated them by chapters. It made it much easier to follow along with. Beyond that, the flow of the book seemed very wobbly to me. I am not sure if this is the way J.D. Barker typically writes or if it’s a collaboration that didn’t mesh well, but something felt very off to me. Like things were left out almost? Little details that would have maybe made the writing seem steadier. Or this is the sometimes annoyingly overcritical me just being overly critical….?
I also struggled with how Cynthia kind of took over the investigation. For some reason rules that would normally apply to civilians didn’t apply here at all, because her best friend was an FBI agent? It seemed odd to me and at times really bothered me. Yes, she had really helpful information for them, but there didn’t seem to be any boundaries for her which made it seem a bit unrealistic to me.
I figured out who did it early on, sometimes that doesn’t bother me, in fact I get a little proud of myself in some instances, but this time, it took away from the story for me. I had a few other things figured out early on as well.
I hope others enjoy this much more than my nit-picky self did. Like I said before, it’s probably a me issue, not the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read the digital arc of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating and original review posted: 10/5/25
Brief update at top of review on other reviews posted: 10/13/25
Reposted for publication day: 1/27/26
***10/13/25 update: I am starting to see some other reviews for this book come in, most of them are rated higher than my rating so make sure to check them out!! ***
Thoughts to come…but right now, (although don’t know this for a fact because I don’t see any other reviews for this book) ‘Every party has a pooper that’s why we invited you, party pooper’ is in my head. I have a feeling this will be accurate and I will be on outlier island with this book as more people read it.
4/10: 2⭐️
I think this will be a case of it’s me, not the book.
Short synopsis: Cynthia learns that her daughter Tori is missing when she receives a notice from the school that Tori has been excused by a family member. Neither Cynthia nor her husband gave permission for her to leave and Cynthia is in a panic.
Has a past that Cynthia has kept secret from everyone, even her husband, except for FBI best friend from college Gabby, come back to haunt her? Or is it the secret life her daughter seems to have hidden from her parents that is responsible for her disappearance? That secret life, and oh what a secret life it is, YIKES, comes to light as Cynthia searches for her daughter.
The premise seemed really promising.
This book is done in a Then and Now dual timeline. I appreciate that the authors separated them by chapters. It made it much easier to follow along with. Beyond that, the flow of the book seemed very wobbly to me. I am not sure if this is the way J.D. Barker typically writes or if it’s a collaboration that didn’t mesh well, but something felt very off to me. Like things were left out almost? Little details that would have maybe made the writing seem steadier. Or this is the sometimes annoyingly overcritical me just being overly critical….?
I also struggled with how Cynthia kind of took over the investigation. For some reason rules that would normally apply to civilians didn’t apply here at all, because her best friend was an FBI agent? It seemed odd to me and at times really bothered me. Yes, she had really helpful information for them, but there didn’t seem to be any boundaries for her which made it seem a bit unrealistic to me.
I figured out who did it early on, sometimes that doesn’t bother me, in fact I get a little proud of myself in some instances, but this time, it took away from the story for me. I had a few other things figured out early on as well.
I hope others enjoy this much more than my nit-picky self did. Like I said before, it’s probably a me issue, not the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read the digital arc of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating and original review posted: 10/5/25
Brief update at top of review on other reviews posted: 10/13/25
Reposted for publication day: 1/27/26
December 4, 2025
J.D. is back in action with The Quiet Neighbor! A storyline that hooks the reader and reels you in page by page. An engaging plot about a woman in the Witness Protection Program. She entered the program as a young girl, after testifying against a serial monster. Decades later, married and with a child of her own. She fears that monster has found her and this time is after her child. The reading experience is similar to that of The Coast to Coast Murders and A Caller's Game!
*Thanks to J.D. Barker via NetGalley for the DRC*
*Thanks to J.D. Barker via NetGalley for the DRC*
December 6, 2025
What a tangled web we weave! Gripping, shocking, twist filled, dark, and deadly! J.D. Barker, along with Adam Roach, has delivered once again with The Quiet Neighbor! As the saying goes "It's always the quiet ones" but which quiet ones??? I enjoyed the premise of a mother trying to save her child but had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up this book. Secrets, lies, trauma, and family secrets are the name of the game in The Quiet Neighbor! How well do we know those in our lives? hmmmm......
Cynthia Burrows has a picture-perfect life. She has a job she loves, a wonderful husband and daughter, but everything is shattered in her life when her eighteen-year-old daughter, Tori, vanishes. Her school shows her as being excused but by who? Who was the older man she was seen leaving with? When Cynthia hears the name, Alexander Beaufort, the chills go up and down her spine. She knows that name. It is the name of a serial killer who killed her best friend years ago!!!!!
This book proved to be a fast and intriguing read. I enjoyed the tension, the mounting sense of dread, danger, and suspense. I loved how J.D. Barker slowly unraveled the events of the past while unfolding the chilling events of the present. It becomes a race against time as Cynthia tries to locate her daughter before it's too late!
This book kept me on my toes with many twists and reveals. Cynthia learns some hard truths about her daughter while searching for her. Her husband also learned some hard truths about Cynthia as well. Again, there are a lot of secrets and lies jumping from the pages! There were sometimes I shook my head at some of the things that Cynthia did while searching for her daughter.
Thrilling, chilling, gripping, dark, and full of twists!
**A wonderful witches words buddy read with Carolyn. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on The Quiet Neighbor!
Thank you to J.D. Barker and Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Cynthia Burrows has a picture-perfect life. She has a job she loves, a wonderful husband and daughter, but everything is shattered in her life when her eighteen-year-old daughter, Tori, vanishes. Her school shows her as being excused but by who? Who was the older man she was seen leaving with? When Cynthia hears the name, Alexander Beaufort, the chills go up and down her spine. She knows that name. It is the name of a serial killer who killed her best friend years ago!!!!!
This book proved to be a fast and intriguing read. I enjoyed the tension, the mounting sense of dread, danger, and suspense. I loved how J.D. Barker slowly unraveled the events of the past while unfolding the chilling events of the present. It becomes a race against time as Cynthia tries to locate her daughter before it's too late!
This book kept me on my toes with many twists and reveals. Cynthia learns some hard truths about her daughter while searching for her. Her husband also learned some hard truths about Cynthia as well. Again, there are a lot of secrets and lies jumping from the pages! There were sometimes I shook my head at some of the things that Cynthia did while searching for her daughter.
Thrilling, chilling, gripping, dark, and full of twists!
**A wonderful witches words buddy read with Carolyn. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on The Quiet Neighbor!
Thank you to J.D. Barker and Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
November 3, 2025
I've read quite a few of j.D. Barker books.This one was an okay read, not much excitement for me.Cynthia Burrows works in law her teenage daughter disappeared, has it something to do with her past? a serial killer who killed her best friend was it him as he was meant to be locked away... and many hidden secrets with the neighbours... I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.
February 3, 2026
I wish I could have liked this one more!
2.5 stars
I am a big fan of J.D. Barker and have read a number of his stories. They all had that special kick to them. Unfortunately, I can't say this one did.
One of my dislikes is a long winded descriptions of ordinary things. (like what someone is wearing, what a room looks like etc.) I mean we get it, and can let our ideas swirl around for these common themes. I often find myself wondering if this is just a filler, a type of fluff needed to make a story longer.
At any rate, that aside, the story seemed to be both repetitive and going nowhere on the slow train to China, Cynthia, the mom of the story, is a successful lawyer, a loving wife, a devoted mother but all that goes to Hades when her daughter, Tori goes missing. It turns out Cynthia is in the witness protection system. (to find out why read the book lol)
Tori is seen with an older man, and a game of can you figure out the clues ensues as to Tori being found. ...and Cynthia only has three days to complete her mission.
Meanwhile, she finds some not nice things about Tori, a daughter she thought she knew, but alas she didn't have a clue. (check your kid's room every so often) There is a bit of a surprise at the end, but for me, it was not enough to give this book a glowing review, sadly!
and don't get me started on the school experience!!!!!
2.5 stars
I am a big fan of J.D. Barker and have read a number of his stories. They all had that special kick to them. Unfortunately, I can't say this one did.
One of my dislikes is a long winded descriptions of ordinary things. (like what someone is wearing, what a room looks like etc.) I mean we get it, and can let our ideas swirl around for these common themes. I often find myself wondering if this is just a filler, a type of fluff needed to make a story longer.
At any rate, that aside, the story seemed to be both repetitive and going nowhere on the slow train to China, Cynthia, the mom of the story, is a successful lawyer, a loving wife, a devoted mother but all that goes to Hades when her daughter, Tori goes missing. It turns out Cynthia is in the witness protection system. (to find out why read the book lol)
Tori is seen with an older man, and a game of can you figure out the clues ensues as to Tori being found. ...and Cynthia only has three days to complete her mission.
Meanwhile, she finds some not nice things about Tori, a daughter she thought she knew, but alas she didn't have a clue. (check your kid's room every so often) There is a bit of a surprise at the end, but for me, it was not enough to give this book a glowing review, sadly!
and don't get me started on the school experience!!!!!
October 9, 2025
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Pros: This book did remind me of Freida McFadden books in a good way. Short chapters and in the starting it was fast paced. It really was enjoyable. I had a good time. The book started really strong. Two timelines(Past and Now), also if you love journal entries from characters!!!
HOWEVER,
Cons: This could've been shorter. I think 50 pages can be easily chopped. The middle part dragged for too long without any revelation and not enough hints for the reveal.
Why:
Final Thoughts: But still it was really enjoyable. The Past and Now Timelines. Also journal entries. You can def give it a try.
Thanks to NetGallery for the free ARC in exchange of an honest review.
pre-read:
My first ARC!!!! So far I'm having a good time(40% in)
Pros: This book did remind me of Freida McFadden books in a good way. Short chapters and in the starting it was fast paced. It really was enjoyable. I had a good time. The book started really strong. Two timelines(Past and Now), also if you love journal entries from characters!!!
HOWEVER,
Cons: This could've been shorter. I think 50 pages can be easily chopped. The middle part dragged for too long without any revelation and not enough hints for the reveal.
Why:
Final Thoughts: But still it was really enjoyable. The Past and Now Timelines. Also journal entries. You can def give it a try.
Thanks to NetGallery for the free ARC in exchange of an honest review.
pre-read:
My first ARC!!!! So far I'm having a good time(40% in)
October 16, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for this fun, if slightly silly race against time/serial killer story.
When lawyer Cynthias teenage daughter Tori goes missing from school, she gets flashback to her past and her childhood, to secrets so deep that she hasn’t shared them with anyone apart from her best friend from college and now FBI agent. Is her past finally coming back to haunt her and can she find her daughter before it’s too late?
This one starts off really strong, like it bolts out of the gate and doesn’t break a stride for at least 30% of the book. The first half really is some riveting stuff.
The second half of the book is where it falls apart a little with the obviously distressed and manic Cynthia nearly taking over the investigation, being allowed way too many liberties despite her friend being in the FBI. It grated after a while and took me out of the story because of its lack of connection to reality. Yes this is a work of fiction but you still have to have things at least plausible and this element certainly pushed the envelope.
Also, after most of the set up and leg work has been done (excellently)in the first half of the book we are left with a second half that is mostly a mother chasing around looking for her daughter in a constant state of near breakdown. Like it kind of became repetitive. It is helped with a fun ending though. I just think the second half could have been pared down considerably without losing anything from the story and the book would have been the better for it.
I really like Barker as a writer but some of his collaborations I have found to be really poor. So much so that I’m wary of reading them whereas a book of his own I would jump at.
Happily (for me) this is one of the better collabs he has done. Yes it has its flaws and with a bit more thought and editing could have been even better but I had a really fun time overall reading this and, at the end of the day isn’t that why we read these type of books?
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
When lawyer Cynthias teenage daughter Tori goes missing from school, she gets flashback to her past and her childhood, to secrets so deep that she hasn’t shared them with anyone apart from her best friend from college and now FBI agent. Is her past finally coming back to haunt her and can she find her daughter before it’s too late?
This one starts off really strong, like it bolts out of the gate and doesn’t break a stride for at least 30% of the book. The first half really is some riveting stuff.
The second half of the book is where it falls apart a little with the obviously distressed and manic Cynthia nearly taking over the investigation, being allowed way too many liberties despite her friend being in the FBI. It grated after a while and took me out of the story because of its lack of connection to reality. Yes this is a work of fiction but you still have to have things at least plausible and this element certainly pushed the envelope.
Also, after most of the set up and leg work has been done (excellently)in the first half of the book we are left with a second half that is mostly a mother chasing around looking for her daughter in a constant state of near breakdown. Like it kind of became repetitive. It is helped with a fun ending though. I just think the second half could have been pared down considerably without losing anything from the story and the book would have been the better for it.
I really like Barker as a writer but some of his collaborations I have found to be really poor. So much so that I’m wary of reading them whereas a book of his own I would jump at.
Happily (for me) this is one of the better collabs he has done. Yes it has its flaws and with a bit more thought and editing could have been even better but I had a really fun time overall reading this and, at the end of the day isn’t that why we read these type of books?
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
February 2, 2026
EXCERPT: Cynthia takes a deep breath and turns to Tori. 'Well, since Dad will be gone, how about you and I have a girls' night? We can go shopping, go to dinner, maybe see a movie?'
'That sounds like fun!' David tries to pipe in.
Cynthia gives him a look she knows he'll understand.
Tori says, 'I'd love to, but I won't be home tonight. I have a date.'
'What?!' David says in his most dad-like drawl.
'With who? When did this happen? Where are you going?' Cynthia peppers her. 'Is anyone else going with you?'
Most of the time, Cynthis tries not to let her own past overshadow the present. She knows better than most what is out there. And because Tori is so sweet and trusting, sudden developments like this one force her senses on high alert.
Tori shrugs like it's not that big of a deal. 'God, Mom, calm down. Can you not with the third degree and a million questions? It's just this guy from the coffee shop. He's worked there for a while and we've been talking. When I was there on Friday, he asked me out. I was busy over the weekend, so we agreed to tonight.'
'I wish I was going to be here to grill him. Does he have a name besides Coffee Shop Kid?' David asks.
Tori rolls her eyes. 'It wouldn't matter. He's not picking me up. This isn't the nineties. And everyone just calls him Blue Eyes.'
'Is that because his eyes are blue?' David asks, deadpan.
Tori smirks. 'No, actually they're brown.'
David and Cynthia look at each other, thoroughly confused.
Cynthia moves the frying pan to the sink and runs some water in it, thinking about how she wants to handle this. The only other boy Tori ever dated was from school, and the families had known each other for years before.
This isn't your past, this isn't your past.
She wants to be quiet about this and play it off like a cool mom, but she can't. She won't.
ABOUT 'THE QUIET NEIGHBOR': Cynthia Burrows thought she'd built the perfect life—successful law career, loving husband, beautiful daughter. But when eighteen-year-old Tori vanishes without a trace, Cynthia's carefully constructed world begins to crumble.
The school says Tori was excused by family. Security footage shows her leaving with an older man. And the boy she was supposed to date? His name sends chills down Cynthia's spine—Alexander Beaufort.
That's impossible. Alexander Beaufort is the serial killer who destroyed Cynthia's childhood, murdered her best friend, and forced her into witness protection twenty years ago. He's supposed to be locked away forever.
But someone is playing a deadly game, leaving clues that drag Cynthia back to her darkest memories. With only three days to find her daughter, she must confront the monster from her past and the shocking secrets Tori has been hiding.
In this quiet suburban neighborhood, everyone has something to conceal. And some neighbors are more dangerous than others.
MY THOUGHTS: The Quiet Neighbor is one of the better collaborations J.D. Barker has been involved in, although this is very much a book of two halves.
With a narrative interspersed with extracts from an unknown narrator's journal, The Quiet Neighbor is an at times chilling, thrilling and twisty read, especially in the first half of the book. The second half of the book is focused on Cynthia trying to locate her daughter - she has been given 72 hours by the killer to do so before he kills Tori.
It is really the second half of the book where disbelief has to be suspended. Cynthia's FBI friend involves her in the investigation even to the point of walking through crime scenes and handling evidence. Sometimes it feels like Cynthia is running the investigation, although we all know that in real life she wouldn't be allowed anywhere near it.
There's also a scene near the end when they are discussing what the killer had planned to do that is downright unrealistic unless the killer was trying to be caught. But, believe me, this killer definitely didn't want to get caught!
I can't say I warmed to either Cynthia or Tori. Cynthia is pushy and aggressive and withholds information from the investigators. Tori is . . . well, Tori. I'm not opening that particular box!
Overall, this is a read that kept me both listening and turning the pages throughout. It is tense and twisty with a cliff-hanger ending that makes me wonder if there is a sequel on the horizon.
I was lucky enough to be provided with both the audio and digital editions of The Quiet Neighbor by J.D. Barker and Adam Roach. I enjoyed both versions equally.
⭐⭐⭐.9
#TheQuietNeighbor #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHORS: J.D. BARKER I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
ADAM ROACH Crafting twists and chasing shadows is what I love to do. I started writing in the YA Fantasy realm mainly due to writing a book for my son, which is quite the story in itself. But I've always had a passion for thrillers and twists.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hampton Creek Press/Simon & Schuster and RB Media for providing both the DRC and audio copies of The Quiet Neighbor written by J.D. Barker and Adam Roach and narrated by Morgan Hallett for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
'That sounds like fun!' David tries to pipe in.
Cynthia gives him a look she knows he'll understand.
Tori says, 'I'd love to, but I won't be home tonight. I have a date.'
'What?!' David says in his most dad-like drawl.
'With who? When did this happen? Where are you going?' Cynthia peppers her. 'Is anyone else going with you?'
Most of the time, Cynthis tries not to let her own past overshadow the present. She knows better than most what is out there. And because Tori is so sweet and trusting, sudden developments like this one force her senses on high alert.
Tori shrugs like it's not that big of a deal. 'God, Mom, calm down. Can you not with the third degree and a million questions? It's just this guy from the coffee shop. He's worked there for a while and we've been talking. When I was there on Friday, he asked me out. I was busy over the weekend, so we agreed to tonight.'
'I wish I was going to be here to grill him. Does he have a name besides Coffee Shop Kid?' David asks.
Tori rolls her eyes. 'It wouldn't matter. He's not picking me up. This isn't the nineties. And everyone just calls him Blue Eyes.'
'Is that because his eyes are blue?' David asks, deadpan.
Tori smirks. 'No, actually they're brown.'
David and Cynthia look at each other, thoroughly confused.
Cynthia moves the frying pan to the sink and runs some water in it, thinking about how she wants to handle this. The only other boy Tori ever dated was from school, and the families had known each other for years before.
This isn't your past, this isn't your past.
She wants to be quiet about this and play it off like a cool mom, but she can't. She won't.
ABOUT 'THE QUIET NEIGHBOR': Cynthia Burrows thought she'd built the perfect life—successful law career, loving husband, beautiful daughter. But when eighteen-year-old Tori vanishes without a trace, Cynthia's carefully constructed world begins to crumble.
The school says Tori was excused by family. Security footage shows her leaving with an older man. And the boy she was supposed to date? His name sends chills down Cynthia's spine—Alexander Beaufort.
That's impossible. Alexander Beaufort is the serial killer who destroyed Cynthia's childhood, murdered her best friend, and forced her into witness protection twenty years ago. He's supposed to be locked away forever.
But someone is playing a deadly game, leaving clues that drag Cynthia back to her darkest memories. With only three days to find her daughter, she must confront the monster from her past and the shocking secrets Tori has been hiding.
In this quiet suburban neighborhood, everyone has something to conceal. And some neighbors are more dangerous than others.
MY THOUGHTS: The Quiet Neighbor is one of the better collaborations J.D. Barker has been involved in, although this is very much a book of two halves.
With a narrative interspersed with extracts from an unknown narrator's journal, The Quiet Neighbor is an at times chilling, thrilling and twisty read, especially in the first half of the book. The second half of the book is focused on Cynthia trying to locate her daughter - she has been given 72 hours by the killer to do so before he kills Tori.
It is really the second half of the book where disbelief has to be suspended. Cynthia's FBI friend involves her in the investigation even to the point of walking through crime scenes and handling evidence. Sometimes it feels like Cynthia is running the investigation, although we all know that in real life she wouldn't be allowed anywhere near it.
There's also a scene near the end when they are discussing what the killer had planned to do that is downright unrealistic unless the killer was trying to be caught. But, believe me, this killer definitely didn't want to get caught!
I can't say I warmed to either Cynthia or Tori. Cynthia is pushy and aggressive and withholds information from the investigators. Tori is . . . well, Tori. I'm not opening that particular box!
Overall, this is a read that kept me both listening and turning the pages throughout. It is tense and twisty with a cliff-hanger ending that makes me wonder if there is a sequel on the horizon.
I was lucky enough to be provided with both the audio and digital editions of The Quiet Neighbor by J.D. Barker and Adam Roach. I enjoyed both versions equally.
⭐⭐⭐.9
#TheQuietNeighbor #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHORS: J.D. BARKER I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
ADAM ROACH Crafting twists and chasing shadows is what I love to do. I started writing in the YA Fantasy realm mainly due to writing a book for my son, which is quite the story in itself. But I've always had a passion for thrillers and twists.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hampton Creek Press/Simon & Schuster and RB Media for providing both the DRC and audio copies of The Quiet Neighbor written by J.D. Barker and Adam Roach and narrated by Morgan Hallett for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
November 20, 2025
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, J.D. Barker, Adam Roach, Hampton Creek Press, Simon & Schuster, and Independent Book Publishers Association for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Eager to return to the work of J.D. Barker, I was pleased to access this ARC. Collaborating with Adam Roach, Barker adds another great thriller to keep the reader hooked! Cynthia Burrows has been happy with the life she’s led. She has a great job and a supportive family, including a loving husband and intelligent daughter. Tori is eighteen and dedicated to her schoolwork, but disappears one day when she is to be in class. This commences the destruction of Cynthia’s life, as she tries to piece it all together. School messaging says she was excused by a family member and video footage shows Tori departing with an older man. When Cynthia discovers the boy Tori has been dating, she is horrified. Alexander Beaufort is a serial killer who destroyed Cynthia’s life, killing her childhood friend and sending her into protective custody. Beaufort was to be locked away, but seems to have found Tori for a new form of retribution. With three days to find her daughter, Cynthia will have to face her darkest truths as she fights to save all that is good in her life. Is it enough time? Barker and Roach spin a story that is as addictive as it is well-written.
The story proves to be a stellar thriller that had many sharp edges I enjoy in this genre. J.D.Barker and Adam Roach use a great premise I could follow from the outset, getting more enthralled as I advanced through the novel. The narrative takes the reader in many tense directions, building on one another to ensure the reader is fully committed. With multiple perspectives, all angles are covered. The writers kept things clipping along with short chapters that dangle information and keep the reader pushing on to learn more. There is so much going on, from the race to get answers through to the dark sides that Cynthia Burrows must face to admit the past she tried to erase. I could not have asked for more with this.
Key characters provide some backstories to create a foundation for the reader. While I learned about a few characters, their advancement in this piece created something onto which I could latch with ease. The authors craft themes that are developed by those who grace the pages of this novel. There are some that flavour the story well, while others prove to simply help bridge between two points in the book. Both are essential and work well in this piece!
A few key plot twists used by the authors add to the underlying mystery. I sought something thrilling and was not disappointed. Barker and Roach left me wanting more collaborations, as their surprises kept me on my toes. Barker has always had a way with darker books and his collaborators complement these with their own personal twists.
Kudos, Messrs. Barker and Roach, for a gripping story!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Eager to return to the work of J.D. Barker, I was pleased to access this ARC. Collaborating with Adam Roach, Barker adds another great thriller to keep the reader hooked! Cynthia Burrows has been happy with the life she’s led. She has a great job and a supportive family, including a loving husband and intelligent daughter. Tori is eighteen and dedicated to her schoolwork, but disappears one day when she is to be in class. This commences the destruction of Cynthia’s life, as she tries to piece it all together. School messaging says she was excused by a family member and video footage shows Tori departing with an older man. When Cynthia discovers the boy Tori has been dating, she is horrified. Alexander Beaufort is a serial killer who destroyed Cynthia’s life, killing her childhood friend and sending her into protective custody. Beaufort was to be locked away, but seems to have found Tori for a new form of retribution. With three days to find her daughter, Cynthia will have to face her darkest truths as she fights to save all that is good in her life. Is it enough time? Barker and Roach spin a story that is as addictive as it is well-written.
The story proves to be a stellar thriller that had many sharp edges I enjoy in this genre. J.D.Barker and Adam Roach use a great premise I could follow from the outset, getting more enthralled as I advanced through the novel. The narrative takes the reader in many tense directions, building on one another to ensure the reader is fully committed. With multiple perspectives, all angles are covered. The writers kept things clipping along with short chapters that dangle information and keep the reader pushing on to learn more. There is so much going on, from the race to get answers through to the dark sides that Cynthia Burrows must face to admit the past she tried to erase. I could not have asked for more with this.
Key characters provide some backstories to create a foundation for the reader. While I learned about a few characters, their advancement in this piece created something onto which I could latch with ease. The authors craft themes that are developed by those who grace the pages of this novel. There are some that flavour the story well, while others prove to simply help bridge between two points in the book. Both are essential and work well in this piece!
A few key plot twists used by the authors add to the underlying mystery. I sought something thrilling and was not disappointed. Barker and Roach left me wanting more collaborations, as their surprises kept me on my toes. Barker has always had a way with darker books and his collaborators complement these with their own personal twists.
Kudos, Messrs. Barker and Roach, for a gripping story!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 16, 2026
So close, and yet so far. I want to start with the highlight because it truly deserves it. The audiobook narration by Morgan Hallett was excellent and easily the reason I finished this in two days. Five stars for the performance alone.
As for the story itself, the plot was pretty predictable, with a slow first half and an ending that felt easy to see coming. The frequent reliance on coincidence made me chuckle more than once, and some character choices, particularly from Tori's parents, were difficult for me to buy into fully. That said, this is still a very accessible and easy-to-listen audiobook. I would recommend it to readers who are new to thrillers, and I am fully willing to admit that this one just may not have been for me.
As for the story itself, the plot was pretty predictable, with a slow first half and an ending that felt easy to see coming. The frequent reliance on coincidence made me chuckle more than once, and some character choices, particularly from Tori's parents, were difficult for me to buy into fully. That said, this is still a very accessible and easy-to-listen audiobook. I would recommend it to readers who are new to thrillers, and I am fully willing to admit that this one just may not have been for me.
January 28, 2026
I wanted to read this book because I really enjoyed “A Caller’s Game”. However, this book did not measure up. While this book held my interest I did not find it believable and the twists were too obvious. The blurb gives away too much of the plot. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
October 22, 2025
When Cynthia’s teenage daughter goes missing, she will do everything in her power to find her. Cynthia has been through this before when she was a teenager herself and her best friend went missing.
A tense thriller that kept me engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A tense thriller that kept me engaged.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2025
I am a J.D. Barker fan, and I've really liked most of his books, but this one fell short for me. It is a very intriguing storyline, but not very well executed, and extremely predictable. The twists were way too easy to figure out, it was so obvious that I thought there had to be a better one coming, but it was just what I thought the whole time. This was missed for me, but I'm a fan and will continue to read his books.
Thank you to J. D. Barker and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to J. D. Barker and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 31, 2026
I was on such a good streak, having enjoyed every book I’ve read so far this year. Then this preordered one came along. I knew at once that I didn’t like it, but I thought I’d stick with it. Had I left it, it would have been 2*, since I suffered through all of it, it’s a 1.
I am so relieved it’s over!
The story is preposterous and predictable. We have Cynthia, whose daughter Tori disappears. Cynthia nods a lot. Even during phone conversations. Who does that? Cynthia also traipses in on crime scenes like it’s totally her business. Scenes keep repeating, everyone keeps nodding and the ridiculous plot moves forwards in circles.
We also have a «then» timeline, which explores the serial killer’s first victims.
And some mysterious journal entries.
It’s ridiculously predictable and I saw every twist looming on the horizon despite not paying much attention. When they where finally revealed all I could muster was a sigh of irritation rather than a gasp of surprise.
Unlikable cast of characters, unrealistic events and endless repetitions. There is nothing here to enjoy or be thrilled by. It’s impossible to understand how J.D Barker, author of «the fourth monkey» could possibly have been involved in the process at all.
I am so relieved it’s over!
The story is preposterous and predictable. We have Cynthia, whose daughter Tori disappears. Cynthia nods a lot. Even during phone conversations. Who does that? Cynthia also traipses in on crime scenes like it’s totally her business. Scenes keep repeating, everyone keeps nodding and the ridiculous plot moves forwards in circles.
We also have a «then» timeline, which explores the serial killer’s first victims.
And some mysterious journal entries.
It’s ridiculously predictable and I saw every twist looming on the horizon despite not paying much attention. When they where finally revealed all I could muster was a sigh of irritation rather than a gasp of surprise.
Unlikable cast of characters, unrealistic events and endless repetitions. There is nothing here to enjoy or be thrilled by. It’s impossible to understand how J.D Barker, author of «the fourth monkey» could possibly have been involved in the process at all.
November 13, 2025
Nice use of multiple time lines. Our main character was a bit too whiney but overall great story! Unexpected ending is always fun! 😱
January 16, 2026
The Quiet by J.D. Barker and Adam Roach is a gripping, well-written thriller that keeps you hooked from the very first chapter. The story is told through both past and present timelines, which are expertly woven together and build toward a shocking payoff. Just when you think you have things figured out, the authors throw in another twist. I absolutely loved the ending, and the many unexpected turns made this novel impossible to put down
October 10, 2025
4.5
Nothing like being up until 1 am with your heart pumping to finish a thrilling ARC!
Holy crap! The back and forth between three narratives/two timelines was somewhat difficult to keep straight but WOW when it all came together?? Floored. Absolutely floored. Very fast read. The writing style is very easy and still interesting, some confusion on characters because you could see the plots coming together from 30 miles away but didn’t know how it would, and did the end leave room for a follow up? Again, wow. The multiple storytelling angles made this difficult to put down and pick back up without being a little confused, so just read it in one sitting! I am hooked for more!
Nothing like being up until 1 am with your heart pumping to finish a thrilling ARC!
Holy crap! The back and forth between three narratives/two timelines was somewhat difficult to keep straight but WOW when it all came together?? Floored. Absolutely floored. Very fast read. The writing style is very easy and still interesting, some confusion on characters because you could see the plots coming together from 30 miles away but didn’t know how it would, and did the end leave room for a follow up? Again, wow. The multiple storytelling angles made this difficult to put down and pick back up without being a little confused, so just read it in one sitting! I am hooked for more!
October 8, 2025
I will read anything Barker writes as he scares me to death but always comes through in the end! Cynthia and David's daughter, Tori has gone missing from school and they worry as she's never done this before. Then there are the journal entries written by an unnamed narrator that are chilling by themselves. When Tori;'s parents discover she may have been kidnapped, it's a race against time as they get odd messages from an unnamed source and aren't sure where to turn. This is one of those novels that will keep you up all night--if you dare--and have you questioning even those closest to you!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
November 17, 2025
This book ticks so many boxes for me. Serial killer, cold case, and a past that won’t stay buried. It’s fast-paced, racing from page one like a car without brakes. The structure is wonderful, weaving the past and present together, slowly reveals the secrets from the older case, shaping the story and holding the tension.
And I have to say I love the sudden contrast point between happy suburban life and intense chilling drama.
Cynthia is the standout character. She's created to make you feel every painful decision. The supporting cast do their jobs well, more so in the past timeline, and this adds to the emotional depth the fast and furious present-day scenes don’t always have time for.
Some of the surprises are visible from a mile away, but they still fit neatly into the story. This books is more about the ride than the reveal anyway. But, there are still some surprises that will knock your socks off! Believe me - this book does get twisty.
The only thing I could say I'd have preferred is for this book to go darker and deeper, but that would impact the pace and make this a longer read. That seems at odds with what many readers want now, shorter books and quick reads. I like commitment in a story, and I know JD Barker can embrace darkness in a book. I’d have loved that extra layer, even if it slowed the pulse a little.
Still, this is a quick, tense, and satisfying read that knows exactly what kind of thriller it wants to be, and I think nailed everything it set out to do.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And I have to say I love the sudden contrast point between happy suburban life and intense chilling drama.
Cynthia is the standout character. She's created to make you feel every painful decision. The supporting cast do their jobs well, more so in the past timeline, and this adds to the emotional depth the fast and furious present-day scenes don’t always have time for.
Some of the surprises are visible from a mile away, but they still fit neatly into the story. This books is more about the ride than the reveal anyway. But, there are still some surprises that will knock your socks off! Believe me - this book does get twisty.
The only thing I could say I'd have preferred is for this book to go darker and deeper, but that would impact the pace and make this a longer read. That seems at odds with what many readers want now, shorter books and quick reads. I like commitment in a story, and I know JD Barker can embrace darkness in a book. I’d have loved that extra layer, even if it slowed the pulse a little.
Still, this is a quick, tense, and satisfying read that knows exactly what kind of thriller it wants to be, and I think nailed everything it set out to do.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2025
The Quiet Neighbor by Kevin wroach and JD Barker, this awesome twisty read has way too much going on in it to give a brief summary just know Cindy’s daughter Tori goes missing and all the clues not only eventually lead to her daughter but absolutely unearth the past she tried to hide for years. it also reveals a side of her daughter Cindy finds hard to grapple with but with her best friend Gabby who works for the FBI Cindy will investigate until it’s over there’s also a POV of a young girl named Sam who’s best friend Vicky went missing and I was shocked when I found out how that tie to the main story there’s many dead bodies and even more twist and turns this is a great book and one I definitely recommend I do want to say I found the whole thing with Maryann strange and couldn’t correlate how she even fit in the story I got it she was Detective Marshalls wife but how did she… You know what I’m saying? Either way a definite recommend from me. #netGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JDBarker, #KevinRoach, #TheQuietNeighbor,
January 30, 2026
This was one of those audiobooks I absolutely flew through. Even when I started to suspect where things were heading, I was still hooked and needed to know how it would all play out.
I’ll be honest the plot felt fairly predictable for me and I never fully connected with any of the main characters. That said, the pacing kept things moving. The tension was steady and I was consistently intrigued enough to keep hitting play.
Huge shoutout to the narrator Morgan Hallett who did a fantastic job and really elevated the listening experience — definitely a highlight for me.
Overall a solid, fast paced listen that kept my attention, even if it didn’t totally surprise me. A great pick if you’re looking for something gripping and easy to get lost in. Thanks NetGalley and RBMedia for the listening copy.
I’ll be honest the plot felt fairly predictable for me and I never fully connected with any of the main characters. That said, the pacing kept things moving. The tension was steady and I was consistently intrigued enough to keep hitting play.
Huge shoutout to the narrator Morgan Hallett who did a fantastic job and really elevated the listening experience — definitely a highlight for me.
Overall a solid, fast paced listen that kept my attention, even if it didn’t totally surprise me. A great pick if you’re looking for something gripping and easy to get lost in. Thanks NetGalley and RBMedia for the listening copy.
November 30, 2025
I am dismayed by this book. There are few things that had me perplexed about my view of the book. Story of Tori and her mother starts off amazingly well. The suspense and mystery behind Tori’s early disappearance brought about so many questions. After the argument with her mother, how did Tori supposedly get to school?
There were a number of things that pointed me right to the killer. Mainly the journal told me everything. I basically put two and two together. The other trifecta that had me perplexed is Gabby’s and Cynthia’s relationship. At a time such as what Cynthia going through over Tori is discussed mainly with the best friends instead of the father.
Earlier in the book Cynthia is desperately trying to reach the father and talks to him, but as soon as he arrives; it’s like he doesn’t even exist to her. Then when Cynthia’s and Gabby are discussing theories over Tori’s disappearance Gabby pours herself and Cynthia wine. Now I do not presume to call myself a member of the law enforcement, but isn’t unwise to have the person that your questioning during an active case drink any type of alcoholic beverage? But hold on the question gets even better! It’s also unwise for said FBI Agent to be drinking alcohol while questioning or providing an inter while questioning all parties of interest?
Well this book had all that and a bag of chips. The plot and the synopsis may sound good, but once you read it I lost all imagination of this plot having any realism to it. Once you lose the reader over the plot, you lose the reader to the connection with the book. And that’s so disappointing to, because this writer is a brilliant writer! A lot of the work from this writer is bloody brilliant.
Until next time my fellow readers. Read on. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
There were a number of things that pointed me right to the killer. Mainly the journal told me everything. I basically put two and two together. The other trifecta that had me perplexed is Gabby’s and Cynthia’s relationship. At a time such as what Cynthia going through over Tori is discussed mainly with the best friends instead of the father.
Earlier in the book Cynthia is desperately trying to reach the father and talks to him, but as soon as he arrives; it’s like he doesn’t even exist to her. Then when Cynthia’s and Gabby are discussing theories over Tori’s disappearance Gabby pours herself and Cynthia wine. Now I do not presume to call myself a member of the law enforcement, but isn’t unwise to have the person that your questioning during an active case drink any type of alcoholic beverage? But hold on the question gets even better! It’s also unwise for said FBI Agent to be drinking alcohol while questioning or providing an inter while questioning all parties of interest?
Well this book had all that and a bag of chips. The plot and the synopsis may sound good, but once you read it I lost all imagination of this plot having any realism to it. Once you lose the reader over the plot, you lose the reader to the connection with the book. And that’s so disappointing to, because this writer is a brilliant writer! A lot of the work from this writer is bloody brilliant.
Until next time my fellow readers. Read on. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2025
Edit: I am raising my review from 3 to 4 stars. One of the authors commented in a FB post about this book that my callout related to the Glock not having a safety will be fixed prior to publication. I appreciate their openness to receiving constructive criticism.
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The first half of this book was a solid 5 star read. At about the 50% point it started to go off the rails. The main character completely lost my empathy with her barging into every crime scene (both with and without her FBI friend Gabby), along with completely leaving her husband in the dust.
I did like the timeline switching, and joining them together at the apex was exciting. There was just too much suspension of belief needed from me to make this a solid 4 or 5 star read.
Also, a Glock 9mm handgun does not have a safety; it has safety features which prevent it from accidentally discharging when dropped, but there is not a safety “switch”, per se, that can be engaged; this bothered me as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read access.
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The first half of this book was a solid 5 star read. At about the 50% point it started to go off the rails. The main character completely lost my empathy with her barging into every crime scene (both with and without her FBI friend Gabby), along with completely leaving her husband in the dust.
I did like the timeline switching, and joining them together at the apex was exciting. There was just too much suspension of belief needed from me to make this a solid 4 or 5 star read.
Also, a Glock 9mm handgun does not have a safety; it has safety features which prevent it from accidentally discharging when dropped, but there is not a safety “switch”, per se, that can be engaged; this bothered me as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read access.
February 2, 2026
Another Just Fair Book Co-Authored By J. D. Barker!
I won’t spend time describing the plot of The Quiet Neighbor J.D. Barker co-authored with Adam Roach as this can be read about in the Amazon or Goodreads book description. Instead, this review focuses on what worked for me and, more often, what didn’t work for me.
On the positive side, I found the premise of a seemingly harmless neighbor with something “off” to be solid and easily understandable; its pacing early-on to move briskly; and the occasional moments when the authors nail the sense of quiet suburban politeness really being masking rot.
However, these positives are notably outweighed by my negative perceptions; specifically, its plot being too predictable; its characterizations too thinly developed; and, while building suspense competently, it’s subpar in delivering a truly satisfying release.
Bottom line: The Quiet Neighbor isn’t a bad book — it’s just too safe, shallow and, sad to say, forgettable. It does enough to keep you reading but not enough to want to recommend it once you’re done.
2 1/2 stars generously rounded up to 3 stars.
#The Quiet Neighbor #NetGalley
I won’t spend time describing the plot of The Quiet Neighbor J.D. Barker co-authored with Adam Roach as this can be read about in the Amazon or Goodreads book description. Instead, this review focuses on what worked for me and, more often, what didn’t work for me.
On the positive side, I found the premise of a seemingly harmless neighbor with something “off” to be solid and easily understandable; its pacing early-on to move briskly; and the occasional moments when the authors nail the sense of quiet suburban politeness really being masking rot.
However, these positives are notably outweighed by my negative perceptions; specifically, its plot being too predictable; its characterizations too thinly developed; and, while building suspense competently, it’s subpar in delivering a truly satisfying release.
Bottom line: The Quiet Neighbor isn’t a bad book — it’s just too safe, shallow and, sad to say, forgettable. It does enough to keep you reading but not enough to want to recommend it once you’re done.
2 1/2 stars generously rounded up to 3 stars.
#The Quiet Neighbor #NetGalley
November 25, 2025
Y’ALL. This book had me pacing my living room like a feral raccoon with anxiety. 😅🔥
Cynthia Burrows thinks she’s living her best suburban life—fresh coffee, steady career, happy family—until her daughter Tori vanishes and every cozy detail turns sinister. The air practically crackles with dread as clues point to the impossible: Alexander Beaufort, the serial killer who destroyed Cynthia’s childhood, might be back. Or someone wants her to think so…
Barker & Roach deliver a taut, sensory-packed thriller—sharp writing, breathless pacing, and a mother on the brink who refuses to break. Cynthia’s fear tastes metallic, her memories hit like blunt-force trauma, and every neighbor suddenly feels like a walking red flag. 🚩
A couple twists went a little wild for me, but honestly? Still devoured it. Fast, dark, emotional, and full of “wait—WHAT?!” energy. If you love thrillers with secrets, trauma, and suburban creepiness turned to eleven, this one delivers the punch. 👀🖤
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press for providing this advance copy via #NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review.#TheQuietNeighbor
Cynthia Burrows thinks she’s living her best suburban life—fresh coffee, steady career, happy family—until her daughter Tori vanishes and every cozy detail turns sinister. The air practically crackles with dread as clues point to the impossible: Alexander Beaufort, the serial killer who destroyed Cynthia’s childhood, might be back. Or someone wants her to think so…
Barker & Roach deliver a taut, sensory-packed thriller—sharp writing, breathless pacing, and a mother on the brink who refuses to break. Cynthia’s fear tastes metallic, her memories hit like blunt-force trauma, and every neighbor suddenly feels like a walking red flag. 🚩
A couple twists went a little wild for me, but honestly? Still devoured it. Fast, dark, emotional, and full of “wait—WHAT?!” energy. If you love thrillers with secrets, trauma, and suburban creepiness turned to eleven, this one delivers the punch. 👀🖤
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press for providing this advance copy via #NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review.#TheQuietNeighbor
October 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC of Quiet Neighbour. I have read JD Barker before so knew I was in for a treat. This was a brilliant, tense and emotional thriller that had me guessing from the first page. Cynthia’s life unravels when her daughter, Tori, disappears. The alternating perspectives of past and present alongside journal entries from an unknown narrator added real depth and intrigue. The plot was really pacy with twists that kept me going back for more.
The characters felt believable, especially Cynthia, whose fear and determination were beautifully written. Barker and Roach have created a dark, riveting story. A superb psychological thriller, I can sense a follow up, and I would be first in the queue.
The characters felt believable, especially Cynthia, whose fear and determination were beautifully written. Barker and Roach have created a dark, riveting story. A superb psychological thriller, I can sense a follow up, and I would be first in the queue.
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