The New Neighbour

by Valerie Keogh

A quiet street holds deadly secrets...

Chloe Tomson wants a quiet life. A new home, a new street, and no more drama - she’s had more than her share. But the moment she steps in to help her elderly neighbour during a violent altercation, the peace she craves begins to crumble.

The street seems friendly at first. Until the questions start. Who exactly is Chloe? Why did she move here? And what really happened in the house she lives in before she arrived?

As some neighbours become friends and others become enemies, it isn’t always certain which is which. Because Chloe isn’t the only neighbour keeping secrets…and someone knows the truth about her past. Someone who wants her gone.

But as whispers turn to threats, Chloe realises she’s been here before. And last time, not everyone made it out alive…

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller

268 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 2, 2026

About the author

Valerie started to write several years ago. She self-published eight crime novels and one psychological thriller before signing a two book contract with Bookouture in March 2018. The first of these, Secrets Between Us, is available now and the second is due in Feb 2019. She is a registered nurse with a degree in English and a Masters in American Literature. Recently she has given up nursing to concentrate on her writing career.

Reviews

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Neighbor
By: Valerie Keogh
Pub Date: March 2, 2026
Publisher Boldwood Books

Wanting a fresh start Chloe Tomson moves into a new home and wants to live a peaceful life.

With an altercation in her neighborhood, she steps in to help the elderly neighbor. Now everyone wants to know more about Chloe, and she is not really one to share. Chloe is sharing her past and secrets, but so are her neighbors.

How much do we really know about every neighbor. She will discover someone knows more about her that she had hoped.

The twists are plentiful and make your heart pump! Thank you Boldwood Books and Valerie Keogh for the advanced copy.

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

The New Neighbour is my first read from this author, and it turned out to be an emotional story centred on resilience, healing, and the possibility of second chances. Chloe, the main character, has been carrying the weight of a traumatic event from years ago, an experience that left long-lasting scars and shaped the way she moves through the world. Hoping to rebuild her life somewhere quieter, she takes a leap of faith and settles into a new place, hoping it will finally give her the peace she’s been craving.

While the twists and turns weren’t particularly shocking, Chloe’s personal journey kept me invested. The tension of being tormented by an unknown figure, paired with the unsettling threats she receives, created a steady sense of unease. What really stood out, though, was the warmth she found in two elderly neighbours who slowly became her unexpected support system. Their presence added heart to the story and made the book feel grounded and relatable.

What worked for me:
• The comforting “new beginning” trope
• The genuine bond with her elderly newfound friends
• The first-person narrative, which made Chloe’s emotions feel immediate and real

What didn’t work for me:
• Chloe’s constant suspicion, which felt repetitive across chapters
• Predictable twists that didn’t fully surprise
• Her emotional distance from her family, which could have been explored more

Ratings Breakdown:
• Setting: 3⭐️
• Characters: 3⭐️
• Writing: 3⭐️
• Message: 4⭐️
• Overall: 3⭐️

This story suits readers who enjoy thrillers filled with tension but still rooted in everyday life. The premise is simple and straightforward, making it easy to follow and emotionally relatable.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Valerie Keogh for the advance copy. My thoughts and opinions remain entirely my own.

~ JaNnA ~

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read by Valerie Keogh & the one I’ve found the most enjoyable.

Chloe is attempting to start a new life having just been released from prison for a crime she has no recollection of committing. She is consumed by guilt for the consequences of the crime and also by fear of those potentially seeking revenge against her for it. As disturbing events start to unfold, she is befriended by neighbours Tilda, Lily & Shirley. Is everything as it seems? Or is her past seeking her out?

I felt really invested in Chloe’s new life and loved the characters of Tilda & Lily. I found the whole scenario much more believable than previous books by the author even though parts are pretty unlikely. I enjoy these ‘fun thrillers’ - they’re tongue in cheek and not designed to be taken too seriously. I look upon them as the difference between watching Jaws & Psycho: Jaws is way less stressful & much more fun…

So that was book no. 32 by Keogh- I look forward to no. 33!

Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valerie Keogh is so good at creating mystery and tension and this book is shrouded in secrecy from the start. Just like the lead character Chloe who has moved to a new street to escape a life-altering incident. We know she’s done time in prison, we know she’s anti-social and paranoid and the residents of her new street seem normal…then we find out the house Chloe lives in was the scene of a brutal murder. The plot builds nicely and there are a few twists but I love more than anything how Keogh creates strong female characters. And not guilt can overshadow your life. Tilda and Lily are wonderful. Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood books and the author for this eARC in lieu of an honest review. Denise x

[Helana Starr · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book was extremely slow and repetitive, having to read the same few lines over and over again - about her dreams, being watched and ‘the woman she once was’. The story really doesn’t go anywhere until about 80% into the book and even then, it doesn’t go far. There isn’t really much of a twist, nothing surprising and certainly nothing exciting. Do not recommend.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stopped counting the number of books I've read of Valerie keogh. I absolutely love her writing style. It's not my favourite of hers, but I still really enjoyed it.

This time, the main character made me carry the guilt with her. And while I thought I guessed what happened on that night, I was wrong, as usual.

This book took me through a journey of guilt, of friendship, of sadness, and finally those twists I never saw coming. I couldn't have dreamt of a better ending.

Thanks netgalley and boldwood for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a time when Chloe Tomson was the person who lit up the room when she entered and was the first person everyone put on their invite list.
Now all that is gone.
It has been five years since she lived in London.
We find out bit and pieces of a terrible crash where friends Siki, Deb, and Freda died. It appears she was drinking so was charged with ‘Gross Negligent Manslaughter’ and sent to prison.
Now she describes herself as ‘grey’ no longer the fun person everyone was drawn to. In fact, she chose her new home because of the grey carpet.

Her parents were generous and paid for her new home. They hoped she would move near them but she picked Barnstaple a small town where no one would know her past. She got a job at a small neighborhood grocery story that is walking distance as she lost the privilege to drive however
may apply a year after staying sober.
The street seems friendly at first. One day as she neared home she saw her elderly neighbor being shouted at by a young man. Chloe pretend she is there for a visit and the young man did leave.
The woman lives in the other half of Chloe’s duplex. The woman tells her name is Tilda Lewis and the young man is her grandson Terence. She goes on to day he got involved with the wrong crowd and sent to prison. Chloe wonders if she would be so friendly if she knew that she also had been in prison.
She stays for tea and Tilda tells her how happy she is to have a neighbor as the place has been empty for over a year. It seems there tragic that took place during a nasty heat wave. Everyone was trying to cool off with fans and also had their windows as well as the doors open. One night someone murdered the couple in their bed- thankfully didn’t touch their two year-old twin daughters.
This explains why Chloe’s low offer on the place was accepted with no explanation.
Chloe leave Tilda’s but notices that Terence is watching her- she knows she has made an enemy.

Plus it was only a matter of time for someone to learn truth about her past.
Her past continues to haunt her as she hasn’t forgiven herself so understand the hurt the others feel.

I wasn’t sure where the story was going but Chloe had a hold on me.

This is my Fifteenth Valerie Keogh thriller.
She does not disappoint. I am a fan!

Want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this this great eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 2, 2026.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Neighbour is a gripping, slow‑burn psychological thriller that thrives on unease — the kind that settles into your bones before you realise how tightly you’re holding the book. Valerie Keogh delivers a story full of simmering tension, shifting alliances, and the unnerving truth that the quietest streets often hide the darkest secrets.

Chloe Tomson arrives on her new street craving nothing more than peace. She’s had her share of turmoil, and this move is meant to be a reset. But the moment she steps in to help an elderly neighbour during a violent confrontation, the fragile calm she hoped for begins to unravel. Keogh captures that creeping sense of dread beautifully: the friendly smiles that feel a little too curious, the questions that dig a little too deep, the subtle shift from neighbourly interest to something more intrusive.

Chloe is a compelling protagonist — guarded, wounded, and trying desperately to outrun a past that refuses to stay buried. As the community begins to close in around her, the novel plays cleverly with trust. Some neighbours seem warm, others prickly, but none are entirely what they appear. And Chloe isn’t the only one keeping secrets. The tension builds steadily as whispers turn into threats, and the line between paranoia and genuine danger blurs.

Keogh excels at crafting atmosphere. The street feels both cozy and claustrophobic, a place where everyone watches, everyone speculates, and everyone remembers more than they admit. The pacing is tight, the twists well‑timed, and the sense of foreboding grows with every chapter. By the time Chloe realises she’s been in this kind of danger before — and that last time ended in tragedy — the story has its hooks firmly in place.
A taut, absorbing thriller perfect for fans of Freida McFadden and Lisa Jewell. If you enjoy domestic suspense where secrets simmer just beneath the surface and danger hides behind every polite smile, The New Neighbour delivers in spades.

With thanks to Valerie Keogh, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of this authors books and this is one of my favourites. Chloe Tomson works in a supermarket, she is the archetypical Ms. Cellophane. She doesn’t want to be noticed, she doesn’t want friends, she just wants to live her dull, grey quiet life. One terrible unconscionable mistake took away her freedom, her friends, her family and she is worried for her sanity.

Briefly, Chloe has been released from prison after serving five years of her sentence for drunk driving, which resulted in the death of four people, with only herself and her friend Jo surviving the crash. Shortly after moving into her new house in Barnstable Chloe sees a man verbally abusing her elderly next-door neighbour, Tilda, and goes to help. Soon they become friends and when Chloe loses her job, Tilda find her another one working with her friend Lily at the launderette. But life isn’t that simple for Chloe when she starts receiving unpleasant things pushed through her letterbox and notices somebody stalking her. To add to the chaos Chloe finds out that the previous occupants of her home were brutally murdered and the killer has never been found.

I thought the authors depiction of somebody suffering from survivors guilt was really well done. Chloe was convinced she didn’t deserve anything good in her life and that all the bad things that were happening to her were Karma. I didn’t really like Chloe, although I’m sure her experience moulded her character, but I loved Tilda and Lily. They were both wonderful ladies and I adored Lily growing old disgracefully! The book oozes menace and I found it quite a tense read. An excellent absorbing and satisfying psychological thriller.

[P.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chloe has recently been released from prison. She had killed 3 friends and another driver when driving drunk - which is weird because she NEVER drank when she was the sober driver. But they had tested her levels more than once and her BAC was three times the legal limit. Despite doing her time, she has to live with the guilt and has cut off all contact with her family as she doesn't feel that they deserve to be associated with her. She's moved to a small town and just wants to live a small, quiet life. But she steps in to assist her elderly neighbor during an altercation and then starts receiving threatening things through her mail slot.

I kept expecting something more to happen to get Chloe involved with her neighbors. The altercation mentioned in the blurb didn't seem to be particularly violent and I was more disturbed by the deliveries Chloe was receiving. The vibe of the story does a great job of ruminating in Chloe's thoughts, but I never actually felt scared for her. The bigger mystery to me was what happened the night of the accident since she was unable to remember most of it. There were a couple of other things that either didn't materialize or I had figured them out long before they happened that kept me from being totally invested in this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, Valerie Keogh, and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Dori Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Earlier this year I flew through a book by this author — His Other Woman — my first time reading her. It was an easy and fast one-day read, similar to Freida McFadden in a number of ways (I say this so you know what you’re getting into). But like Freida, when you write so many books in such a short time something likely gets sacrificed.

The New Neighbour has a good plot and I ultimately enjoyed where the story went. But the process to get there was mostly filler. And by that I mean the author wrote almost the same few paragraphs many times throughout the book, maybe in slightly different ways but the repetition was out of control. I got bored by reading about the same dream over and over, and I got bored with the constant “someone is watching me” written at the end of almost every chapter. There’s got to be better ways to tell this story, which, again, wasn’t a bad story! I feel like the pressure to bang out so many books meant that the middle was sacrificed just to get this out there.

This is probably the end of my time with this author. But if you enjoy Freida McFadden and books that you can fly through, you might want to give this — and her other books — a try.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Cassie’s Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quiet street. Friendly smiles. Deadly secrets.
This thriller grabs you from page one and never lets go. Chloe Tomson is desperate for a fresh start—new house, new neighbors, no drama. But the moment she steps in to protect her elderly neighbor, the calm façade of the street begins to crack… and what’s underneath is terrifying.
As questions swirl about Chloe’s past and the house she now lives in, the atmosphere turns intensely claustrophobic. Every neighbor feels suspicious. Every interaction carries weight. Friends blur into enemies, and you’re constantly left wondering who can be trusted—and who’s already watching her.
What makes this story so addictive is Chloe herself: layered, guarded, and haunted by a past that refuses to stay buried. The tension escalates steadily, the stakes feel personal, and the sense of danger tightens with every chapter. By the final stretch, I was flying through the pages, heart pounding.
✨ Dark, twisty, and packed with neighborhood paranoia
Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers where secrets are weapons and no one is innocent.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
#Bookstagram #PsychologicalThriller #NeighborhoodSecrets #DomesticThriller #TwistyReads #SuspenseAddict #CantPutItDown

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

First-I have to say I love all the books that I have read from this author. This book was a huge disappointment-I definitely would not call it a psychological thriller. The premise of the book is promising. Chloe is released from prison but continues to live in a prison that she has created from the guilt she has from the death of her friends and the other driver. Her best friend Jo survived but never contacted Chloe after the accident. I liked seeing how Chloe felt and what her life was like living with the guilt of the mistake she made. Unfortunately the book is repetitive chapter after chapter of how she was suffering and her dreams of the people that died are also so repetitive. Each chapter was the same and I struggled to continue with the book. It also had somewhat of a supernatural feel to it. I kept waiting for something to happen-did the murder that happened in her house previous to moving in have anything to do with the story? Same with Tilda’s grandson. Finally, at about 85% in the book a few things start to unravel but it seemed rushed and disjointed. Thank you to NetGalley, Valerie Keogh and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book. I really enjoyed the premise of a young woman trying to find her way after spending 5 years in jail for drunk driving causing the death of 4 people, three of those people being amongst her closest friends and the fourth, a man driving a separate car. I found myself feeling badly for Chloe and the regret she so obviously felt, but I also found her to be somewhat of an annoying character, always trying to push any good away.
I absolutely adored Lily and Tilda. I think that everyone deserves to have people like them in their lives.
The ending wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking. Everything wrapped up nicely, but it just seemed to come on fast after all the buildup of the book. I also found parts to be fairly predictable.
All in all, this book wasn't quite what I was expecting, and if it weren't for Lily and Tilda, I think I would be rating this book lower. I do still recommend this book to others because despite my feelings towards it, others may love it. 3.5 rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Valerie Keogh for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe survived an accident which claimed the lives of three of her friends. She was imprisoned for causing their death as she had been drinking. Her genuine remorse and taking responsibility earned her a shorter sentence but prison understandably changed her. Once out, she bought a small house with money from her parents and was determined to keep her nose down and go unnoticed.

But it didn't take long for neighbours to notice something was amiss with Chloe. Tildy and Lily showed her care and love but other neighbours were downright hostile. Fear added another layer of anxiety when Chloe received "gifts" at her home.

Survivor's guilt is a process and Chloe exhibits the gamut. She suffered from nightmares and paranoia. She punished herself and did not feel worthy of kindness. She survived but did not live. But her character evolved as she allowed others to help her which was encouraging to see.

Valerie Keough is an auto-read author for me and always will be. Her writing is insightful and original. I really enjoyed the gripping tension and uneasy psychological aspects in The New Neighbour.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

After loving my first Valerie Keogh novel, His Other Woman, I went into The New Neighbour with high expectations. While I still enjoyed this one, it didn’t quite reach the same level of entertainment and intrigue for me as His Other Woman. That said, Keogh has a way of pulling you into a story so effortlessly, and I found myself quickly invested in Chloe and her fresh start that clearly wasn’t going to stay peaceful for long.

What really worked for me was how naturally the suspense unfolded. Keogh drops just enough clues to keep you guessing without ever giving too much away, which made it hard to stop reading. I felt connected to Chloe almost immediately, and the tension simmered in a way that kept me leaning forward.

Overall, this still felt very much in line with what I enjoy about Keogh’s writing — twisty and quietly unsettling — even if it didn’t quite match my experience with His Other Woman. Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Elizabeth]

I really enjoyed The New Neighbour (Kindle Edition) a dark psychological thriller by Valerie Keogh.

Chloe moves to Barnstaple from her affluent lifestyle in London, needing to make a fresh start, but the past won't let her be at peace as it invades her dreams.

Chloe flinches at every shadow lurking around walls near to her home. A home that nobody told her had a bloody history before she moved in.

Tilda a neighbour and Lily who runs a launderette, both elderly befriend Chloe and care about her mental and physical being, as Chloe desperately tries to cling on to her sanity due to a horrendous trauma which she felt wholly responsible for and cannot forgive herself.

Chloe will find out the true colours of her neighbours, Shirley and James when they invite her into their home for dinner.

I felt empathy for Chloe as she struggles to make a new life for herself in a new town. She had inner demons to contend with connected to her past life in London. Sleep deprived and running on empty she meets each new day with angst. The past will be knocking on her door by the aggrieved.

[Marie Yarwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping novel by Valerie.

When Chloe is released from a stint in prison after drink driving and killing 4 others one night she moves to Barnstaple hoping for a fresh start and to begin her life as a released criminal. When she moves into a 2bed house with a sinister history behind it and injuries from the accident Chloe feels someone is out to kill her too but who is it?

She thinks she is being followed and someone is putting things through her letter box - starting with excrement, a rat then they tried to put a crow through too but it got as far as only a wing ( Chloe informs her elderly neighbour who has befriended her that a group of crows is called a ‘murder’ ) so she thinks it’s someone who is involved from the accident such as a family member or someone close to them.

Oh how wrong she is….. they say keep your friends close but your enemies closer but the question is, how close is too close???

Will she survive and find out who is the guilty person or will she live in fear forever!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe Tomson has moved to Barnstaple to start a new life. Nobody knows about her past and she wants to keep It that way. 5 years ago, she was involved in a car crash whilst she was drinking driving. But her mates who were with her during a night out died. But she doesn’t remember any of it. She was in Prison for 5 years. But the guilt what happened to her friends haunt her night and day.
After being fired from her job in a supermarket. She befriends her elderly neighbour Tilly who takes her under her wing. She finds her a job in a Laundrette and helps her change her life around. Except she has a nagging feeling someone is watching her, and she start getting nasty things through her door. Is it someone from her past and what do they want?
I have read several books now from Valerie Keogh and I always get excited when a new one comes out. Although I was captivated by the storyline. It was much more of a slow burn than her previous books. I did enjoy it except I felt the ending was a bit disappointing. 4 stars from me.

[Jen]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of The New Neighbour by Valerie Keogh.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book started off strong, but then slowed down and lost my interest. I also feel that the talk of ghostly contact at the 3:00 AM hour got me a bit too much. I often turn away from books with supernatural unless it’s a romcom that is a light read. My overactive imagination gets the best of me. The other piece was the repeated talk of Chloe’s accident that brings her to the new neighborhood. Needless to say, I made it about 20% in before I DNF’d. I’m curious as to where the book will go and how Tilda (the neighbor) and her grandson (Terence) play into the story but I just couldn’t keep hanging through this. Maybe on a summer vacation when I’m the days are longer I can come back to this one.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a lot of novels recently by Valerie Keogh and was looking forward to this latest book. The New Neighbour is a domestic thriller that although I enjoyed, I didn’t feel it reached the dizzy heights of some of her other novels.

Chloe Tomson has moved into her new home, and is looking for a fresh start and a quiet life. With no one aware of her past she is happy to start again. But very quickly the apparently friendly neighbourhood changes and suspicions raised. Neighbours are asking awkward questions, Who is she? Why is she really here? And what happened in her house before she moved in?

Chloe isn’t the only one in the neighbourhood with secrets. The novel has tension, suspicion, interesting characters and was set up well, but didn’t quite have that extra gear to make it an outstanding read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Boldwood Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Cin (cinsnextchapter) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The New Neighbour starts off with Chloe moving to a new neighborhood and feeling some anxiety as she tries to settle in, especially after learning something terrible once happened in her new home. Soon she’s hearing and seeing things she can’t explain — is it all in her head, or is someone keeping tabs on her?👀

I was questioning EVERYTHING right along with Chloe! Just like her, I didn’t know what was real or who to trust. The tension climbed right along with the mounting unease, and the increasingly creepy vibe was unsettling. The pacing is fast, and before I even realized it, I was already halfway through the book!

This was my first time reading Valerie Keogh, but it definitely won’t be my last! The New Neighbour is full of secrets and suspense, with a story of friendship woven throughout. Twisty, unpredictable, and kept me totally drawn in from cover to cover!

[A Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Neighbour by Valerie Keogh is a gripping psychological tale filled with suspicion and tension.

Recently released from prison, Chloe struggles to start over. The guilt she carries with her from the accident she caused where four lives were lost, is still front and center in her mind. When she moves into her new home she befriends her new neighbor after coming to her aid. But secrets from the past keep haunting her and refuse to release their grip on her. She learns she is not the only one with secrets. Soon the questions about Chloe and her past begin and she knows it's only a matter of time before her past catches up with her.

As always Keogh's writing is engaging and insightful. This was an enjoyable read that I flew through. The short chapters kept the pages turning quickly.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy

[JAY · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had potential but unfortunately it wasn’t all that for me.

I did enjoy the beginning of the story! Getting to know the reasons why the FMC was where she is now and how she got there. I felt the fear she experienced when she couldn’t tell reality from delusion, thinking of someone constantly lurking in the back or if my mind is playing tricks on me.

It got very repetitive from when the foundation of the story was established — from the reoccurring dream to someone might be watching me. I felt like more than half the book was about her talking about her dreams or her paranoia, it didn’t pick up till the very end. The plot twist wasn’t really twisty enough for me, I felt like it was underwhelming and obvious. Maybe I’ll try out some of her other work


Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood insider, and Valerie Keogh for this ARC in return of my honest review 🫶🏽

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chloe moves to Barnstable after getting out of jail. She feels unworthy of anything good after driving under the influence and having an accident that killed four people.
Then she meets her elderly neighbour and it changes her life.

I did enjoy this book, although in my opinion, it isn't as good as Valerie Keogh's books that I have previously read.

I loved the two elderly characters that befriended Chloe, she was lucky to meet them.

Being in prison totally skewed Chloe's outlook on life, and really changed her personality. She became a better person in a lot of ways. Not so self centred.

The book was twisty and suspenseful, but I can only award 3/5 stars. I liked the book, but didn't love it.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the ARC in exchange for the review

While the author has an expansive oeuvre, this is the first book I have read by Keogh. The summary was intriguing, unfortunately, it all fell a little flat for me.

What she did well was convey the deep remorse and self loathing of the main character. Sadly, it felt very repetitive and a bit too much. Every chapter just continued to be a repeat of the previous chapter until approximately 2/3 of the way into the book.

There were many moments when I felt this might be a DNF, but (as I've mentioned many times) it take a LOT for me to DNF. Thankfully, the ending was enough to raise the star to a 2.5.

Based on other reviews, I do look forward to viewing some of Keogh's other novels!

[Nicole Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a longtime fan of Valerie Keogh’s books, so I went into The New Neighbour with high expectations. The premise hooked me right away and there’s definitely an undercurrent of tension throughout, but overall this one didn’t work for me as well as her previous novels. I am also not really into the 3am witching hour/ghost stuff. The story felt somewhat repetitive and the pacing slowed things down, which took away from the suspense I was hoping for. While it didn’t fully deliver for me, Keogh’s writing style remains engaging and I’ll absolutely continue picking up her future releases.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

[Jennifer TW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe, recently released from prison, moves to a new town to begin her life again. Her next door neighbour, Tilda, is kind & welcoming, and helps Chloe find a new job when she is fired from a supermarket after one late start. Chloe finds unexpected kindness in her new neighbour and her new boss. But she is paranoid that she is being watched. Has her past come back to haunt her?
A story written with great compassion for both victim and perpetrator and exposes the reality faced by those left with the aftermath of tragedy. Recommended. Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Sarah Bloomfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and Boldwood Books for approving my request to read this book.

Chloe is moving on with her life after being released from prison. Her parents have moved to Portugal and her siblings have lives and children of their own so she is staring afresh by moving to Barnstaple where nobody knows about her past. She soon begins to settle and meets her neighbours but are they really as they seem?

I enjoyed this book and liked the characters within in especially Tilda and Lily.

Overall a good, solid psychological thriller that I would recommend to others.

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe Tomson wants a quiet life after the life she’s had. Everyone seems friendly until some don’t. Who can Chloe trust, and who is out to get her?

This is my sixth book by Valerie Keogh, and this one did not disappoint! I loved the way you felt everything Chloe felt trying to get her life back together after a horrible mistake. I especially loved her two older neighbors who took her under their wing when she didn’t think she deserved any love. Some things were predictable, but I still loved the book! Another great one by this author!