The Housewife Next Door

by LynDee Walker

I thought she was perfect. Until her daughter told me about the little girl in the garden…

I was jealous of my perfect new neighbor SarahBeth. Six tow-headed children, blackberry pies bubbling in the oven, married to and still holding hands with her high-school sweetheart Burt. She was the perfect housewife, the best mom.

Until I found out the truth. When tragedy strikes and SarahBeth’s dying daughter tells me about the little girl buried in their garden my heart freezes. Now I understand why SarahBeth has been so unfriendly to me. Why her kids have been kept out of school. Why nobody has seen the family in town for two years.

I must learn the truth, to keep her children safe. But I’ve met people like SarahBeth in my own dark past. I’ve told lies, kept secrets, buried bodies. And I know SarahBeth will do whatever it takes to keep her secret hidden…

A completely addictive and unputdownable read that will have you turning pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose and Gone Girl.

What everyone is saying about LynDee

“EXCUSE MEEEE??????? Absolutely insane in the best way possible… Had me in a chokehold from the very first chapter, I could NOT put it down… My jaw was basically living on the floor the whole time… Brilliant… Unreal.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My brain was spinning… I was left crying ‘what the actual?’ on repeat, right up to the very end… More twists and turns than a bowl of spaghetti, and I ate it right up!… A rollercoaster of a read… I devoured it.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Jaw-dropping… Addictive… My eyes were glued to the pages, until I finished the last word at 5.30 AM (but it was WORTH the lost hours of sleep)!… I LOVED it… Addictive… WOW!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“All I can say is WOW… had me hooked from page one and did not let go… an absolute page-turner… had me second-guessing everyone and devouring chapters late into the night. A must-read.” Reading by the Pool, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“WOW… I honestly could NOT put it down and read it in one evening… Outstanding!!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“SO GOOD!! Twists and turns started being thrown at me, and I couldn't keep up… truly fantastic… I definitely recommend!!” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I am blown away… Turning pages late into the night. I didn’t need sleep, I needed answers.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My jaw dropped so many times reading this, I lost count… so good! Highly recommend!” Sleuthingthroughthestacks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow!… fantastic</

401 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 7, 2026

About the author

LynDee Walker writes about strong women who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Her books have appeared on finalist lists for the Agatha and International Thriller awards—and once, on the weekly Amazon Charts US national bestsellers list smack in between two of her writing heroes.

LynDee is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. Before she started writing fiction, LynDee was an award-winning journalist who covered everything from ribbon cuttings and high school football to capital murder trials and high level police corruption. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the United States. She has written more than 20 novels and feels lucky every day to get to play with her imaginary friends for a living.

LynDee's favorite things are family, hydrangeas, porches, beaches, and books. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she is working on her next novel when she's not juggling laundry, children's sports schedules, and two very happily spoiled rescue dogs.

Reviews

[Tini · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Appearances can be deceiving - especially when your neighbors seem a little too perfect.

When Meg and her her young son move to a plot of land in rural Kansas, she soon meets one of her new neighbors, naïve eighteen-year-old Ainsley, and Ainsley's family, including her mother SarahBeth - picture-perfect, constantly baking, surrounded by six angelic blond children, and still holding hands with her high school sweetheart, Burt. But when tragedy strikes the family, SarahBeth's dying daughter whispers a horrifying secret and Meg begins to realize that the idyllic house next door hides something much darker.

The story in "The Housewife Next Door" doesn't quite unfold the way the blurb suggests. SarahBeth herself is obviously inspired by the viral "tradwife" phenomenon, though she's less divine, and more deranged. But even though she is one of the narrators, LynDee Walker’s latest thriller focuses less on SarahBeth and more on her teenage daughter, Ainsley, and especially on Meg, with the young women's friendship in their isolated environment becoming the novel's emotional and narrative core. The result is a story that’s less about the "perfect housewife" herself and more about the generational fallout of control, secrecy, and performative perfection.

I really enjoy Lyndee Walker's books and her writing style, though with the sometimes outlandish developments in this story that required serious suspension of disbelief, "The Housewife Next Door" is not my favorite. Still, fans of domestic or suburban thrillers - and especially readers who enjoyed Walker's last novel, "The Pastor's Wife" - should definitely pick up her latest thriller, as Walker's writing remains sharp and compulsively readable, with short, punchy chapters and her signature Southern noir tone.

Many thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"The Housewife Next Door" is slated to be released on January 7, 2026.

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book begins with a young woman named Ainsley dying. She’d been having headaches and was hysterical at the end; the doctor said her brain was ravaged by encephalitis caused by the measles she’d had as a child. When Ainsley tells her best friend Meg that she has to get the cold girl who is under the garden, Meg isn’t sure what to think as she watches her friend take her final breath. Is there really a girl buried in the garden, or was this all some kind of dying hallucination?

That’s when the book goes back to two years ago, when Meg and Ainsley met (it does bounce around in time a lot). Meg had recently bought a farm in the literal middle of nowhere, and she lives there with her infant son. While out picking blackberries, she almost steps on a snake, but Ainsley, not knowing anyone had moved into the house, was also there to pick blackberries, and saved her. After accepting an invitation to dinner, they both finally had a friend.

Ainsley lives in a very different family who at first didn’t know what to think of their new neighbor, but soon Meg and her son are always coming and going. The book never explained why (or I missed it), but they live almost like pioneers. Ainsley has five younger siblings, four of them girls, and they and their mother all wear long skirts and sleeves, even in the summer. They don’t have internet, don’t go to school, they make their own bread and churn their own butter, but they aren’t especially religious. Ainsley’s mom was being a Trad Wife before it was cool, I guess!

Meg doesn’t seem to mind, and is happy to have people to teach her about country living. Her sister is dead, as is the father of her child. She was an alcoholic but has been sober for over a year now, and she knows she can stay sober for her son. She’s pretty creeped out by Ainsley’s brother, Alexander, and feels badly about the power dynamics in her new friend’s family. This is all very entertaining, but I kept wondering where it was going…

Then at the end, it hit me - this is a sequel to the author’s book, “The Pastor’s Wife”, which I read this summer. Once I went back and reviewed my notes on that book, everything fell into place, and that made this book a lot better. The first book can of course be read on its own, but I’d recommend reading it before this one. I gave “The Pastor’s Wife” 4.5 stars, but I’m going with 3.5 on this one because of a couple unanswered questions I have. Both are great, and both got their star ratings rounded up!

(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour! “The Housewife Next Door” will be released on January 7, 2026.)

[Heidireadsitall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a true masterpiece of suspense that gripped me from the very first paragraph. Told through the distinct and haunting voices of Meg, Ainsley, and SarahBeth, the story unfolds in perfectly measured layers of mystery and tension. Each woman is complex and deeply human, carrying secrets that unravel in ways I never saw coming. I was completely captivated, racing through the pages as the web of deceit and buried truths tightened around them. It is chilling, emotional, and beautifully written, a powerful blend of heart and psychological intrigue. If you love a story that keeps you guessing until the very end, this is an absolute must-read.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door had all the right ingredients for a suburban thriller, but nothing about it felt particularly new or surprising. It’s a twisty psychological thriller about a woman who suspects her picture-perfect neighbor is hiding dark secrets—especially after the neighbor’s child mentions a buried girl. As she digs deeper, she realizes she has secrets of her own to protect.

This was my first read by LynDee Walker, and I’m happy to have gotten the opportunity to give her a try. This was a familiar premise with common themes and plot twists often seen in the genre, but Walker’s sharp pacing, tense suburban setting, and emotional undercurrent still made it an engaging, fast read. The mix of secrets, guilt, and motherhood kept the story grounded even when the twists felt familiar. Although this book wasn’t a favorite of mine in the psychological suspense-thriller genre, you may like The Housewife Next Door if you enjoy fast-paced, twisty plots and are fans of Freida McFadden and Shari Lapena.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this kept me on edge from the very first chapter, not just with the twists but with the way this author plays with mood. One moment I was settled into the warm, familiar comfort of friendship and the simple happiness of a child’s smile, and the next I felt a shadow slip across the page, secrets lurking right at the edges. The constant shift between light and dark made me second-guess everyone, and I never knew whether the danger was coming from outside the characters or from within. It gave the whole story a deliciously uneasy pulse that kept me glued to the pages.






What struck me the most was how deeply I connected with the characters even as the tension kept rising. The emotional undercurrents, fear, hope, uncertainty, felt so real that every shift in the story landed with extra weight. I liked that the twists didn’t just shock me, they made me rethink the characters themselves. By the end, it felt like I’d taken a full emotional ride right alongside them.

Multi POV
Safety this has just a tad of romance
Triggers miscarriage, child illness, child death, child-related trauma, past child abuse, past neglect, psychological manipulation, violence, grief, emotional trauma

[Kimberly Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this twisty tale set out on the Kansas prairies, seen through the eyes of three very different women.

Ainsley is a young woman, who is painfully naïve and cut off from broader society. She and her large family keep themselves to themselves, tending their farm and dividing work strictly between men and women, to an extent that wouldn’t be out of place back when the Ingalls family lived in these parts. As the oldest sister of a large brood, Ainsley must shoulder a huge burden that keeps her from school and the art classes she loves.

SarahBeth is the matriarch of the large family. She revels in keeping her family self-sufficient, teaching her daughters to be perfect wives and mothers one day who will serve their husbands, and ensuring the family stays entirely loyal and focused on the chores and duties at hand. Those objectives are easier to achieve once she pulls the kids out of school and ensures outsiders never come to their farm.

Meg, a single mother with a young son, is running from something. Buying the Kansas farm seems an easy way to hide away, but when she meets her next door neighbor, Ainsley, an instant friendship blossoms. And it immediately shakes up the dynamics of SarahBeth’s carefully controlled microcosm. The more Meg learns about the family, the more Meg realizes she isn’t the only one protecting dangerous secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was different than I expected. A woman and her baby move in next to the farm of a family that is very old fashioned. Serving the men and wearing skirts and keeping away from other people. The story is told in multiple timelines and the timelines jump around which made it hard to keep up at times. It was a very interesting book but the jumping timelines kept me from enjoying it more.

[Claudia Aikman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow, the last few chapters of this book were amazing!! I really did enjoy this book but I did find it slow at times. I will definitely read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me early access to this book.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25⭐️- review to come

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful read with alot of broken souls in this book trying to do the best they can in the circumstances they are dealt with. As of lately i have read alot of thrillers and i found that the storytelling of this author was mesmerising , it was a deep read with great character development.

There was a big emphasis on heritage, family life and i feel like this is set in a era where family values and loyalty's are the biggest motivator, especially when we meet Sarahbeth. A devoted housewife who has a big family and alot of fierce love in her heart for her family. They keep their heads down and do what they need to do to keep the family farm running. I loved as a reader being part of their daily lives and in comparison in this era its set in is very different to life now.

A new girl called Meg moves into the area and stumbles upon SarahBeths daughter Ainsley where two people strike up a good friendship , they both have their skeltons in the wardrobe and are hiding alot of trauma but trying their best to get on with life . Sometimes they tend to questions each others honestly and sometimes you get a feeling about these characters. Its a little bit odd at times but we do soon see why.

Meg spends time with SarahBeths family and shes notices a few things, she admires the house the running of the family farm but then gets much closer look at SarahBeth. They all welcome Meg and her son, he brightens everyones day and loves to be part of a bigger family.

Meg wanted a fresh start and she doesnt want to get to close to people for her very own reasons but Ainsley has at times provided laughter and fun besides she doesnt have any other friends. Besides its good to be part of something.

SarahBeth is very possessive over her daughter , shes almost over powering but she has her reasons, sometimes people end up in the middle of something when really they shouldnt have been. Ainsley has her own mind and dreams, shes a bright girl and she can see through things very easily. But Ainlsey also knows she doesnt see herself being just a housewife running a farm, she wants something different. I have to respect this character as she is so committed to her mums happiness and puts her wellbeing over her own. She literally lives and breathes her every emotion , to ensure that life runs as it should . Would we question this as normal behaviour in a family ?

A bit emotional at times with this book but it almost makes you want to become all those things you always set out to do, now is the time. Its a deep reminder of how we need to nuture our happiness but also realise the balance and commitment of how we keep others happy too.

A really deep read and alot of twists and turns, at times i couldnt piece it all together but towards the ending it reaches its crescendo , you learn alot of about peoples perspective, behaviours and why they have done things.

Thanks to NetGalley for yet again another great reading experience with this advanced reader copy.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Housewife Next Door
Author: LynDee Walker
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Psychological /Thriller
Pub Date: January 7, 2026
My Rating: 4 Stars the ending was 5!
Pages 410

Story is told from the POV of Meg, Ainsley and SarahBeth.

Story is told in three parts.
Part one – When Meg moves to Kansas
Part Two is Three years before Meg.
Part Three is the uncovering of Secrets (Also where we pick up from the prologue.)


Story begins two years ago when Meg moves to Firefly Grove Kansas to the farm next to the Godfrey s farm. She has an eight month old baby boy Cory who she calls “Little Buddy.”
She meets Ainsley who is the oldest of the Godfrey children when she is picking Blackberries. Ainsley sees her immediately warns her of a snake that is hiding in the blackberry bush waiting for a small animal to catch. Meg, of course, is thankful she was there. Ainsley seems to be perhaps eighteen not that much younger than Meg and they immediately connect.

Story starts out rather slow as it goes deeper into the relationship between Meg, Ainsley as well as Meg connecting to Ainsley’s family.

Meg finds herself jealous of SarahBeth as she seems so perfect.

Ainsley - has dedicated her life to her family. She is also a dreamer and wants to make it big with her art but most of all she is dedicated to protecting her family.

SarahBeth- Is Ainsley’s mother and seems to have been the perfect to Burt and mother of their six children- Francine the youngest, Daisy, Claire, Bethany (Momma’s Mini-me) Ainsley and the only boy Alexander. Although everyone has chores SarahBeth is was always busy with housework but especially enjoys baking and cooking.



I am a big thriller fan so found 2/3 of this story interesting but slow. Part 3 was definitely worth the wait as a lot takes place and the secrets as well as the characters making it clear why the first part was slow.

In ‘”A Letter from LynDee” She tells us about characters developed and how the character changed from her original plan. It was SarahBeth who helped Meg regarding the copperhead and she changed it to Meg who became Meg’s surrogate sister. SarahBeth turned out more sinister - All three had a fear of being like their mother,

I read and enjoyed both The General’s Gold and The Cardinal’s Curse which were both part of The Turner and Mosley Files series- written LynDee Walker and Bruce Robert Coffin/
I loved Ms. Walker. “The Pastor’s Wife- and I have been looking forward to read another story by her!

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this GREAT eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 7, 2026.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door was a book that I could've happily read in one or two sittings if life hadn't gotten in the way. That said, I kept finding myself trying to find time to pick it back up and read another chapter. It's not a particularly fast paced story, but I always wanted to know more.

Meg is a young single mom with a lot of secrets in her past, who moves to a secluded little country home and is happy to live off the grid in privacy with her baby son. That is, until she meets the girl next door, Ainsley, and they strike up a quick friendship. The book actually opens with Ainsley's death, and the shocking secret she shares with Meg, and then goes back a little bit in time to the day the girls met.

It's split into parts - the past, the further back past before Meg came around, and the present, and this works to unfold the story and all of those secrets in the perfect timing. In the past, Ainsley's family seems almost perfect to Meg, living an old fashioned life where the men work the farm all day and the women, led by matriarch SarahBeth, cook and clean and work the farm, too. But she picks up on many secrets they seem to be hiding, some of them quite creepy. In the further back past section, we learn what many of those secrets actually were.

I did figure out some of the secrets or twists, though not all of them, and it was still fun either way to see them all reveal in perfect timing. Some of it was really dark, and there is some animal abuse mentioned, which I would have appreciated a headsup on - mostly just mentioned after the fact, but one scene described more than I would have wanted to read. And I enjoyed Walker's writing style. It's funny, throughout the book, I kept wondering about Meg's past, and when she would reveal those secrets, and even thought that maybe she would write a sequel to delve more into that. And then discovered at the very end of the book in the author's note that in fact, The Housewife Next Door actually IS a sequel to Meg's story. I had no idea about that, but I feel that it did fine as a stand alone. And now I can look for The Pastor's Wife to learn more about Meg's past.

I recommend adding this to your TBR for when it's released in January if you enjoy slow burn, tradwife mysteries with a dark side. 4 stars for this great read, and a huge thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door by LynDee Walker
Narrated by Madeline Pell, Amelia Sciandra, Katie Beudert

Twenty two year old Meg and her young son move into the farm house near the farm of SarahBeth, her husband, and their six kids, so quietly that almost no one knows the two exist. Meg keeps to herself, tries to stay under anyone's radar, and doesn't want people to focus on her at all. She has a past she seems to be running from, bad things that she's done and getting caught would mean losing her beloved son.

But when SarahBeth's oldest child, nineteen year old Ainsley, saves Meg from a snake bite, they soon become fast friends and Meg and her son are mostly welcomed into the family next door. SarahBeth is the hold out though, making it clear she's not happy her daughter is spending time with Meg. For some reason, Ainsley's parents started isolating their family a few years ago and Meg is an unwelcome reminder that there is more to the world than the farm and its chores.

The story starts after Meg has known the family for a couple of years and Ainsley is dying, sweet young Ainsley, Meg's best friend. A sudden illness has struck Ainsley down but right before she dies, Ainsley tells Meg something horrific and the seclusion of this family now seems sinister rather than just strange.

Between Meg's own secrets and the secret that Ainsley tells Meg, it's hard to know what to do to honor what Ainsley told Meg without destroying the life Meg has created for her son. The story has always telegraphed danger from the very first page and it isn't a false message. The three narrators do a good job of making the voices and POVs of SarahBeth, Ainsley, and Meg distinct from each other. Towards the end of this book, I became aware that here is another book before this one, “The Pastor’s Wife”, that might tell us about Meg's life up to this point but I don't feel like I missed anything in this story by not having read the book before this one.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two houses, two families... They prefer to keep to themselves and value their privacy. Their lives would normally never cross paths — except perhaps for a polite, distant greeting. Until two of the women meet and form what seems to be a strong friendship. At least, that’s how it appears. But both soon realize there are many things they don’t talk about — until tragedy strikes, and one of them, Ainsley, confides in the other, Meg...

The author lets three of the main characters each tell their part of the story — Meg, the neighbor; Ainsley; and SarahBeth, daughter and mother.

At first, the book moved along rather slowly, and I began to wonder whether it was really a thriller. But patience pays off — as the story progressed, I understood why the author took the time to go into such detail. It was necessary to paint the situation clearly and to make the characters’ motives easier to understand.

This book is a good example of how people can be driven to desperate acts by the behavior of others — and how many get hurt in the process. A little more respect and compassion could have gone a long way, and things might never have escalated the way they did.

It’s not a story filled with action or constant tension; instead, it creates a subtle atmosphere of mystery. Readers who prefer fast-paced thrillers might be tempted to give up, but I can assure them they’d regret it if they did.

It’s a beautiful story — heartbreaking, with an ending that is both tragic and devastating. I’m so glad I kept reading, because otherwise I would have missed out on a truly remarkable book.

I’m also grateful that I didn’t have to grow up in such circumstances, though I know there are many people for whom this is everyday reality. Some might accept it without question, but for those who want to escape, it’s a whole different struggle.

Although I wasn’t sure at first, I had to change my mind as I read on.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. Though it was a slow burn, there was an undertone of something getting ready to happen the entire way through, even in times where nothing big was actually happening- this made the entire read tense and caused me to stay up too late to read it! I didn't think the synopsis really described the book all that well, as the story is primarily told from Meg's POV and not SarahBeth's, though we learn about SarahBeth's secrets along the way. Meg has just moved to a remote area to escape secrets of her own when she befriends SarahBeth's daughter, Ainsley. When tragedy strikes, Meg is committed to solving a mystery surrounding the family next door. The story is told in alternating timeframes between current times, a couple years ago, and couple years before that. The back-and-forth in time wasn't confusing t me at all.

The book did a good job of amping up the suspense by leaving breadcrumbs in things that the characters said and did that alluded to something more sinister at play. I enjoyed that writing style. I thought that Meg and Ainsley were both likable characters, and SarahBeth, while not likable, at least made decisions that were understandable even when I strongly disagreed. There were good twists throughout, some of which I figured out and some that I didn't. The twist that I would consider to be the biggest one completely caught me by surprise, but not in the way of coming entirely from left field- it totally made sense and I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it. The end of the book tied things up really well and fit with the rest of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and couldn't wait to see how it was all going to turn out. Strongly recommend for those who enjoy domestic suspense. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[J Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door by LynDee Walker is the ideal slow burn character driven novel for my taste.

I realize some readers only like the novels that have intense action from start to finish, and they are certainly fun reads. But when I can get to know, or at least think I know, the characters better I can also better appreciate the tension as it builds and when it comes. What I think works very well here is how the reader, starting with the book description and the prologue, begins to see everyone as deceptive and a ne'er-do-well. The more you let your imagination play, the more suspicious possibilities you see. Until, that is, at some point you then start eliminating some of them. But because of the set-up and the superb character-building you're more tense than what might seem necessary. Probably about two-thirds of the way through the book things then really pick up and you're discovering where you made your errors (a lot of them) and where you might have been right to be suspicious. By then, everything is happening more quickly than before and you're swept to the breathless end.

The way we are gradually let into everyone's past and the events that have formed them also allows for a number of themes, both minor and major, to become evident. And because the pacing is steady we have the time to think about them, in relation to our actual world as well as the fictional world we're visiting. Which is to say that this novel gives us space to think about and time to consider ethical and societal issues, positive and negative.

About the only people I wouldn't highly recommend this to are those who mostly want a fast-paced joyride from start to finish, but even with them I would suggest giving it a try, the payoff is well worth the investment.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the author and the publisher via NetGalley.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

LynDee Walker created a riveting psychological thriller with The Housewife Next Door.

This book begins with a new neighbor (along with her baby) moving into a rural backward area and becoming friends with a young woman still living at home with her parents and her siblings. The family is oddly sheltered, with Little House on the Prairie vibes. It took me a few chapters to become emotionally invested, but then I was hooked and I had to learn the explosive secrets hidden in this story. This tale is told from the point of view of the new neighbor, her friend, and her friend's mother. Romantic tension is thrown into the mix, with the handsome and charming local Sheriff.

Regarding the audiobook performance, the match of narrators for this story is perfect (narrated by Madeline Pell, Katie Beudert, Amelia Sciandra).

LynDee Walker’s psychological thriller already thrives on unease—the kind that creeps in through tone, timing, and the things characters don’t say. The audiobook elevates that atmosphere by leaning into the story’s emotional undercurrents rather than simply narrating events. The result is a listening experience that feels intimate, unsettling, and character-driven.

The narrator’s greatest strength is emotional calibration. The narrator doesn’t overplay the suspense; instead, she lets the tension build through subtle shifts in pacing and vocal texture. The performance is less about jump scares and more about the slow erosion of trust, the claustrophobia of rural life, and the fragile line between vulnerability and danger. The narrators understand that—and they deliver a performance that amplifies every layer.

Give it a few chapters to learn the characters, they aren't your standard modern fare - but will be hooked too.

[Aisha Faisal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this gripping story in advance. I’m so glad I got an early look totally worth it!

Wow, this book hooked me from the first page!

The Housewife Next Door is a gripping psychological thriller that lures you in with a picture-perfect suburban setting and then slowly peels back the layers of perfection to reveal the darkness beneath.

The story begins with the arrival of a seemingly flawless neighbour, beautiful, polite, and always smiling. But as the narrator starts to notice small cracks in her neighbour’s perfect life, the tension grows. The real twist comes when the woman’s daughter reveals a chilling secret that changes everything.

Lyndee Walker does a great job creating suspense. Her pacing is tight, and the chapters end with just enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages late into the night. The atmosphere feels tense and domestic, almost claustrophobic, as if danger could be hiding behind any white picket fence.

However, while the story delivers several clever twists, some readers may find the middle pacing uneven and a few characters a bit predictable. The ending, though shocking, feels slightly rushed after such a slow, steady build-up.

Overall, The Housewife Next Door is a fast, addictive read perfect for fans of The Couple Next Door or The Perfect Wife. It explores themes of deception, motherhood, and the secrets people keep behind closed doors, reminding us that appearances can be deadly deceiving.

Best for: Readers who love suburban thrillers, shocking reveals, and domestic mysteries full of dark secrets.

Definitely a five-star read for me, suspenseful, fast-paced, and full of surprises.

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House Wife Next Door is a dark, emotional story full of twisted choices, morally grey characters, and lessons that linger long after the last page. I was drawn into Meg and Ainsley’s complicated friendship, while also getting a glimpse into SarahBeth’s struggles as a wife and mother. The book balances friendship, family, and domestic life with a heavy dose of secrets and betrayal. It’s not a light read as it’s layered, emotional, and full of mixed feelings.

The story unfolds slowly, and it stays that way throughout. At first, I wasn’t sure I’d finish it as I expected a fast-paced “whodunit.” But that’s not what the author intended. Instead, the focus is on building the characters and showing why they make the choices they do. By the time I reached the ending, I realised it was exactly how it needed to be: powerful and fitting.

What I Liked
* The strong bond of sisterly friendship
* The “found family” theme
* Alternating perspectives that kept the story fresh

What Could’ve Been Better
* The human trafficking backstory felt underdeveloped
* Even with the slow burn, some characters were left in the shadows
* One character’s extreme choices to keep the peace felt unsettling

Ratings Breakdown:
❥ Setting: 3⭐️
❥ Character Building: 3⭐️
❥ Writing Style: 3⭐️
❥ Message: 4⭐️
❥ Overall: 3⭐️

Overall, this is a gripping, emotionally charged novel about motherhood, secrets, and betrayal. It’s not about shocking twists. It's about depth, character growth, and the messy realities of life. If you enjoy slow-burn stories with substance, this one is worth your time. Big thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and LynDee Walker for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

~JaNnA~

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around 6 months ago, I read The Pastor's Wife by this author and really enjoyed the twisty storyline and intriguing characters.

It took me a while to remember this, but I felt that this story had a lot of similar vibes which make these thrillers stand out in the crowd.

 

When I started reading this book, I really wasn't sure when this was set given the nature of the very isolated properties of the two main characters.

Set apart from the town and with Ainsley's family keeping themselves to themselves for many years, it was a little jarring to discover that this was indeed set in modern day.

 

Having been so isolated, it's a shock to them all to realise that Meg and her baby have already been living next door for some months but when they meet, I loved how Meg and Ainsley soon became firm friends.

 

Meg comes with her own past demons and although hinted at, we don't really find out too much about her beyond the current events.

But right from the start, we get an odd sense of something being not quite right in the next door household.

 

This kept me hooked from the start and as the story unfolds, we grow closer to all our characters and see all the elements coming together as more and more secrets and lies are revealed.

 

This was packed with twists and turns and I was never quite sure what was waiting for us in the next chapter, but it kept me guessing right to the end and on edge just waiting for something else to happen.

 

I really enjoyed this read and thought it was really well written, cleverly combining present day issues with a sense of living in the past.

A great mystery and I can't wait to read more from this author soon.

 

 

[Megan Reynoso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooooh child this one was WILD. This story is a multi-POV between Ainsley, Meg, and Sarahbeth. Ainsley is a young adult women who’s grown up dedicating her life to her family and farm work. She is a dreamer and wants to take her art to the big city and most of all she is absolutely dedicated to her core to protecting her family. Meg is a brand new neighbor who purchases the land and farm next to Ainsley’s family, she has a little boy and a lot of secrets and doing her darndest to keep them. Last but not least is Mrs SarahBeth, Ainsley’s mother who has raised 6 babies and is married to her high school sweet heart. She keeps her family fed, teaches them to become the proper wives/mothers/providers, but most of all she does any and everything to keep her family together and protected. This story takes place when all the women are placed in each others lives by chance but kept together by loyalty and a friendship like no other. It isn’t until tragedy strikes that all the walls fall and everyone’s secrets and choices are poured to the public. This book is captivating, intriguing, and absolutely twisted. The plot twists hit hard and man are they good. The start was slow but worth the ride once it starts going. I just wish I had a little more time to process at the end lol. Definitely recommend if you’re into psychological thrillers!! It releases January 6, 2026!! Thanks for letting me read an ARC!

[The Chapter Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this one! I’m currently in my trad-wife-thriller era and this scratched every itch in the best way!

Told through the POVs of Meg, Ainsley, and SarahBeth, this story delivers layered characters, slow-building dread, and a whole lot of what is actually happening here?? energy.

Meg is a young single mom who buys a remote farm in the middle of nowhere (already a red flag… girl, why?!). Ainsley, her neighbor, befriends her immediately — warm, open, and maybe a little too eager. And then there’s SarahBeth, Ainsley’s mother: the picture-perfect trad wife with a Stepford-level smile and a lifestyle that’sconfusing in the most deliciously creepy way. Think 1800s homestead vibes but with a TV and a truck — a weird little time-warp hybrid that had me side-eyeing every detail.

From page one, questions start piling up. Why did Meg really move out there? Why does Ainsley’s family live like they’ve been plucked out of another century? How did Ainsley die? And why does every single character feel like they’re hiding something big?

This book is packed with secrets, tension, control, murder, and twisty family dynamics. I felt all the emotions — confusion, dread, sympathy, rage, sadness — and I ate up every single chapter.

If you love thrillers with cult-adjacent vibes, trad wives, dark secrets, and jaw-dropping reveals… add this one to your list immediately!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door is a cleverly constructed, multi-POV story that skillfully weaves together the. perspectives of Meg, Ainsley and SarahBeth while steadily building tension and intrigue. This is also a dual-timeline story that does hit some sensitive subjects. I should also mention that this book is the sequel to The Pastor’s Wife. Both covers to these two books would definitely look great side by side.

The Housewife Next Door has a riveting opening, and this book favors both characterization and atmosphere. Who were Meg, Ainsley and SarahBeth? This book starts off with a bang - the murder of one of the characters that we get to know in the story.

When Meg, a young mother settling into a new neighborhood, meets Ainsley, the two form an easy connection. Meg soon becomes fascinated by Ainsley’s mother, SarahBeth, a woman who appears to be living a flawless life. Yet Meg’s instincts tell her something is off. As she digs deeper, she uncovers troubling secrets tied not only to SarahBeth but also to the house Meg has recently moved into—a home with a dark history of its own. At the same time, Meg is far from blameless, harboring secrets that could unravel everything.

LynDee Walker delivers a tense and compelling story that lingers well after the final page, making this an easy recommendation for fans of suburban psychological thrillers.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gripping psychological thriller peels back the manicured layers of suburban bliss to reveal something far more sinister. At first glance, SarahBeth is the embodiment of domestic perfection—six golden-haired children, a perpetually warm oven, and a marriage that seems untouched by time. But beneath the surface of blackberry pies and hand-holding lies a secret so dark it threatens to unravel everything.

The story unfolds with mounting dread as the narrator, once envious of her idyllic neighbour, becomes entangled in a mystery that begins with a dying confession and ends with a buried truth. The tension is masterfully paced, each revelation more unsettling than the last. The garden, once a symbol of life and beauty, becomes a haunting metaphor for secrets best left unearthed.

What makes this novel truly addictive is its narrator—flawed, haunted, and eerily familiar with the kind of darkness SarahBeth is trying to hide. It’s not just a tale of uncovering someone else’s secrets, but confronting your own.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose, and Gone Girl, this book is a late-night page-turner that lingers long after the final twist. You’ll never look at your neighbour's garden the same way again.

With thanks to LynDee Walker, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Housewife Next-Door by Lynn D Walker, running from her own jaded past Meg and little Cory now lives in the country and live a very isolated life that is until she meets amity who is the daughter of her neighbors. Meg can’t help but the feel happy when she is at Amity‘s house with her mom Sarah Her dad and five siblings. Soon however Meg starts having suspicions about the neighbors, but little does Meg know someone in the big happy family has suspicions about her as well. She learns from a dying amity that there’s a little girl buried in the garden of this family who isn’t so perfect after all. As a matter of fact more than one of them turns out to be the worst kind of neighbor to have. I thought the beginning of this book was a little bit slow but when things started picking up they did like a whirlwind and OMG the ending was so awesome to say I was shocked by some of the revelations because there’s more than one is to understate it. There was one part at the very end that really made me want to shut the book shocked me and just added to the awesome second half of the book. I definitely recommend this book and will put this author on the list of those I follow for new books because that’s how much I enjoy this one. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#LindyWalker, #TheHousewifeNext-door,

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door pulled me in with its layered storytelling and constant suspense. I really enjoyed the three POVs, each told from Meg, Ainsley, and SarahBeth’s point of view, it added depth and kept the tension building as the story unfolded.

Meg, a new mom clearly running from her past, brought an emotional edge that made her chapters especially interesting. Ainsley and her family’s suspicious behaviors, added another layer of complexity to the neighborhood dynamics. And SarahBeth, whew. She had so many secrets, twists and turns that I truly did not see coming.

What stood out most was that everyone had a secret, and just when I thought I had things figured out, the story shifted again. The audiobook narration was solid and engaging, making it easy to keep the momentum in each character’s perspective.

Overall, this was a gripping listen with strong character POVs and satisfying suspense. Thank you Bookoutuere and NetGalley for an advanced listening & reader reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Publication 🗓️ : 01.07.26

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Housewife Next Door
Author: LynDee Walker
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: January 7, 2026

This book could definitely be described as a slow burn. There were definitely some secrets that both families were keeping, but it wasn't obvious what they were. I found it interesting that Meg always referred to her baby in generic terms, never using his first name. None of the characters in the book even asked her what his name was until almost halfway through the book! Halfway through the book is also when other secrets started to be revealed.

Like many psychological thrillers, this story was told from multiple points of view and different time periods. I don't ever mind the multiple points of view, but the different time periods in this book, for some reason, was confusing.

I admit that I was completely shocked about some of the twists, and that rarely ever happens. I do wish the author had spent a bit more time on Meg's background and life. I still had many questions. Maybe the author will write a prequel to this book...

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door by LynDee Walker is a gorgeously-written multiperspective psychological thriller that bent my brain in the best way. Meg and her darling wee son recently moved into a home next to a family with six loving children. By all appearances they had everything. SaraBeth was a devoted wife and mother and a superb baker. Yet she treated Meg with disdain. What really went on behind closed doors? Buried secrets, mental and physical breakdowns, hopes and expectations and heartache are rife. But not just in their household.

Meg and SaraBeth's daughter Ainsley become close friends. Ainsley is intelligent and capable with high aspirations but must give up her dreams. The two young women have a lot in common and lean on each other. When Ainsley mentions the impossible, Meg tries to peel back the layers of deception to their bare bones.

The writing is luscious, the atmosphere is disturbing, the characters are convincing, and the unsettling feeling constantly gnaws at the mind. I felt the tight tension and angst as well as the desperation. The timelines and perspectives were woven meticulously and I got lost in the story.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door by Lyndee Walker

‘An accident? A sister? A murder?’

‘Under the garden, you have to find her, save her. Get her out of the dark’

Meg has a young baby. Who and where is the father? She finds something while digging. Who does it belong to?

Ainsley looks after her mum, her dad works and her siblings go to school. Her dream is to be an artist…..maybe one day.

Ainsley’s mother has secrets. How far will she go to keep those secrets safe? She wants to please her husband. Another baby, could she?

I felt really connected to Ainsley, she loved her parents dearly. Meg was an escape, a realisation that there was another world out there where she could be the artist she wanted to be. Her love and commitment to her mother in particular, was strong.

A great thriller with a touch of emotion and how destructive a mother’s ‘love’ can be.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lyndee Walker for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of #thehousewifenextdoor due for release 7th January 2026

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be a hard review to write. I will explain why in a moment.

First, the “southern” accents of the narrator are a bit overdone and also disappearing (even though it serves a purpose). But the story is well done, and the narration is enjoyable throughout the book.

My issue with the review is that there is at least one previous writing of the author’s that you would need to read first. But to advertise that would be a spoiler of the book. I had never heard of the author and, therefore, had not read any previous work. It gets to a big “shocking” twist and I realized I’m lost. So, then I google it and find out about the previous work. But there is part of the twist that makes me wonder if it is tied to more than one work.

So, yes, you can read this as a stand alone and it is good. However, this big reveal will not have the same impact. But if you are a big fan of LynDee Walker’s work (and I can see why), you will LOVE this ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.