The Neighbour

by Emma Curtis

An unputdownable domestic suspense thriller from the bestselling, beloved crime author Emma Curtis
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On quiet streets, there are secrets behind every turn...

Ed and Megan have just moved into the house of their dream neighbourhood in east London. They couldn't believe their luck when their offer was accepted. Megan is pregnant. Life couldn't be better.

But as soon as they move in, the problems begin. Their new neighbour is a nightmare, being a constant disturbance and causing damage to their property.

There seems to be no easy solution and when on of their neighbours outbursts endangers Megan's pregnancy, Ed decides he must take action - one way or another...

Genres: Psychological Thriller

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2026

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unassuming property in Forest Fields, an up and coming part of Nottingham, comes up for auction. Perfect, thinks Mia, for her first project as a property developer. Friend Beth is not so sure, she has grave reservations about the neighbours, it’s rundown, neglected, junk in the garden, you can picture the unpretty scene. The day of the auction arrives, she’s bagged a bargain at ten grand less than she expects to pay. Is that a warning sign that Beth’s misgivings about 13 Taverner Street are well placed and intuitive? Welcome to the neighbourhood.

The novel starts well, raising many questions about most of the central protagonists. What is Mia‘s backstory, because it’s obvious there is one? I wonder too about Beth and Mia‘s friendship because there’s more here than meets the eye. When the neighbours on either side of number 13 appear, it gets even more interesting. So far so good. In addition, I love a novel that is set somewhere I know as Nottingham is the town of my birth! I’m a fan of the football team mentioned and I’m also familiar with many of the places and of Goose Fair and as a result, I’m all in with the novel. The first half is enjoyable and entertaining.

However, and unfortunately, I don’t think the promise of the start is maintained. The characters be become increasingly unlikeable, which isn’t a problem in itself but a couple of them change like the wind and I’m left with big question marks and a head in a spin. The pace is not fast because it zips backwards and forwards in time and from narrator to narrator. I don’t feel much tension, and I’m sorry to say,the twists aren’t up to Emma Curtis‘s usual standards. It’s hard to believe this is the author that has given us books such as Invite me In or The Commuter, which I highly rate. Maybe this is an early manuscript??

Overall, it’s not a bad read by any means as the three stars demonstrates. It has some very entertaining sections and it’s easy to read, but in all honesty, I expect more punch and kapow.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books, Corvus for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story involving Mia who buys a house as a ‘dooer upper’,George the next door neighbour and Ryan who lives further down the street

Beth,Mia’s best friend tries to dissuade her and when she first meets George she begins to think Beth was right,rude,canterkerous and vile cover it but also randomly he plays the violin at night..then she falls for Ryan but he has a pocketful of secrets and as the story progresses these past secrets and lies start to become known and Mia really does regret her decision to invest in her house

Great characters to read about, the good and the bad and wonderfully brutal descriptions of various house’s,some of which you would never step foot in

The book also deals with some dark issues and handles them well

A good read that would make anyone thinking of moving check out their new neighbours more before making their final decision….once you are there it’s too late…..

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some really ugly people in that book. I mean not just unhinged but pure ugly. I don't think there was a single character I liked in this book. It's part of its appeal though I guess. Twisted and tense The Neighbour reads really well and I liked it.

[Holly]

After a bad breakup, Mia decides to follow her dream of buying a fixer-upper to renovate and sell. Ignoring her friend Beth’s concerns about the strange and eccentric man living next door, she throws herself into her new project. But
when Beth suddenly disappears, Mia begins to realise there is far more going on in this seemingly ordinary street than she could ever have imagined.

Emma Curtis excels at creating unpredictable storylines and untrustworthy characters, The Neighbour is no exception. I loved never knowing who to trust, and the twists and revelations kept me turning the pages as the tension steadily built.

A gripping thriller, I recommend for fans of clever, character-driven suspense!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emma Curtis and Atlantic Books for giving me the chance to read and review this ARC!

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Atlantic Books UK for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Mia has had a bad breakup and has always wanted to flip houses so she follows her dream and buys a fixer upper. The neighbor, George, appears to be a problem when she is looking at the house, but another neighbor, Ryan, assures her he is ok and she proceeds with the purchase. She then finds that George is in fact a problem and she isn’t sure she can trust Ryan.

I didn’t care for this book and don’t have much positive to say about it. It never really grabbed my interest. Mia was a complete idiot and her decisions concerning friendships and relationships were ridiculous. Everybody else was crooked. The explanations of what happened were convoluted and unrealistic in my opinion and I do understand this genre requires you to accept some farfetched storylines. I know this author can do much better as I have enjoyed several of her books. This was a huge miss. It feels like when an author goes back and releases something they wrote years ago before they got better at writing. Not good at all. 

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mia, looking to start a career as a property developer, buys an auction house on Taverner street, despite her best friend Beth’s warning. Neighbour George seems like a nightmare and soon his behaviour becomes downright threatening. And when her best friend goes missing, Mia fears Beth was right.

I enjoy an Emma Curtis thriller and like premises around houses and bad neighbours, so this sounded like it would be a great read for me. This ended up being a fun, entertaining thriller, with plenty of secrets to discover. The opening page had me really intrigued and I was excited to see how the story would play out. Although there were a good few twists, I didn’t find myself overly surprised at them, but it was still enjoyable getting there, with a dark, unsettling atmosphere.

All of the characters were unlikeable and I particularly found Mia immature and frustrating, however this helped keep the story entertaining. Although the story was repetitive at times, the plot and needing to work out the mystery helped to push it forward. Even though not my favourite thriller by this author, it was still an easy, enjoyable read and I would certainly continue to pick up more by her. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to a NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

[Mona Sami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *The Neighbour* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

*The Neighbour* is a dark and tense domestic thriller about secrets, trust and the people living just on the other side of the wall. Mia is trying to rebuild her life after losing both her job and her relationship, and buying a fixer-upper on Taverner Street feels like the fresh start she desperately needs. Her best friend Beth thinks she is making a terrible mistake, especially because the man living next door, George, already seems difficult and unpredictable.

I liked Mia’s determination to make something of the house despite everything else in her life falling apart. The renovation gives her something to focus on, but almost immediately the street begins to feel unsettling. George’s behaviour goes from irritating to genuinely threatening, while the other neighbours seem to know far more than they are willing to say.

The relationship between Mia and Beth adds another interesting layer because their friendship is already complicated before Beth disappears. There is history, hurt and resentment between them, which made their dynamic much more interesting than a straightforward best-friend relationship. Once Beth goes missing, Mia is left questioning not only what happened to her but how well she really understood the people around her.

The strongest part for me was the atmosphere. There is something especially creepy about feeling unsafe in your own home because the person making you uncomfortable is only a wall away. The story keeps shifting suspicion between the neighbours, and I liked never being completely sure whether certain behaviour was genuinely sinister or whether Mia was interpreting everything through fear.

The pacing is fairly quick and there are plenty of secrets and revelations, although some of the characters are difficult to like and a few of the relationships could have been developed more. There were also moments where certain decisions frustrated me and some later twists required a little suspension of disbelief.

Overall, *The Neighbour* was a creepy and engaging domestic thriller with a strong sense of paranoia and an effective neighbourhood setting. It did not completely blow me away, but I enjoyed the mystery, the shifting suspicions and the increasingly uncomfortable feeling that almost everyone on Taverner Street had something to hide.

3.5 stars

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started off absolutely brilliantly. As someone interested in property renovation and the market, I loved the premise from the off, and I was firmly rooting for Mia as she took on her first flip almost entirely on her own, armed with little more than YouTube tutorials and sheer tenacity. Her determination was admirable, especially in the face of Beth's obvious reluctance once George's overgrown, rubbish-strewn garden and the state of the house next door came into view.

It was clear early on that something wasn't right between Mia and Beth. I never warmed to Beth at all, and honestly couldn't understand why Mia stayed so loyal to her, particularly once it emerged that Beth had slept with Mia's ex-fiancé; if that's not a red flag, I don't know what is! George, meanwhile, could easily have been an ally, and it was frustrating watching how dismissively Mia treated him.

It was around this point that the book started to lose some of its momentum after such a strong opening. Mia's decisions grew increasingly hard to accept, Beth felt scattered rather than purposeful, and I'd have liked far more clarity on what she was actually after, where her loyalties lay, and what was driving her choices. Between that and the pacing swinging about, I found myself growing frustrated with the story as a whole. Thankfully, it picked back up towards the end and clawed back some of that early promise. An enjoyable read overall, if not quite as sharp as I've come to expect from this author.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I spent most of The Neighbour wanting to shake everyone in it!

Emma Curtis has populated Taverner Street with people I'd cross the road to avoid, and I mean that as a compliment to how well they're illustrated, even if I never warmed to any of them.
Mia was the hardest to be patient with. She makes one terrible decision after another, and more than once I read with my hand over my mouth, muttering "don't open the door."

Her naivety was maddening, but it made sense to me. She's raw from a recent breakup, and that kind of hurt makes you want to believe the best of people and ignore the warnings, including the ones from her 'best friend' Beth. I came to see her blind spots as part of her pain, which made her easier to forgive.

Where Curtis really won me over was the atmosphere. Sharing a wall with someone you can't read, hearing him through the plaster and wondering what he's up to, is the sort of unease that follows you to bed. The tension builds steadily, and when Beth disappears it tightens another notch.

The last third dragged a little for me, with some points repeated that I'd already picked up on. It's a small flaw in an otherwise enjoyable read, and one I'd happily overlook for the ride.

If you like domestic thrillers where you can't trust anyone, this one's worth picking up. A solid 3.5 stars from me.

My thanks to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for the ARC. All views are my own.

[Britney Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is impeccably crafted, moving at such a relentless, fast-paced rhythm that I devoured it in a single day. It is filled with suspense and layered with mystery, forcing you to constantly question the motives of every character and leaving you on edge about the next twist.

The story taps into the universal dread of any homeowner / house-flipper, the nightmare neighbor and in this instance, the neighbour begins acting erratically and suspiciously during the dead of night, the tension becomes palpable, driving the protagonist, Mia, to the brink of insanity.

The narrative masterfully threads a sense of unease throughout, posing the chilling questions: Was she warned? And more importantly, who exactly was she warned about?

A love interest, a not so stable best friend and other characters give this book a very mysterious storyline and in-depth character developement that leads to very satisfying ending.

This is an utterly unputdownable suspense thriller, packed with breathless, edge-of-your-seat moments that make it impossible to set aside.

It is, without question, a five-star read. My thanks go to Emma Curtis and Atlantic Books for the opportunity to read an early advanced copy.

#emmacurtis #atlanticbooks

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

After losing her job and her boyfriend, Mia is determined to turn her life around by focusing on her plans to fix up a property she has recently purchased. Her friend Beth warns her against it, but might not be the best person to take advice from given that she slept with Mia's fiance, contributing to the aforementioned breakup!

But between the eccentric neighbour on one side - who swiftly degenerates into an abusive threat to her sanity - and the other neighbour with whom she begins a confusing, complicated relationship, Mia begins to find herself increasingly tested. And then Beth disappears...

I have enjoyed all the previous books by Emma Curtis, and this one does keep the reader engaged, but I found Beth's character really obnoxious as a best friend, and Mia's willingness to forgive her for her many trespasses down right inexplicable. Nevertheless, the story is dark, creepy, and compelling reading.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Neighbour by Emma Curtis is a dark domestic drama centred on secrets, trust and the people we think we know.

When Mia buys a house to renovate she quickly falls for her neighbour, Ryan. Yet the house, the street and its inhabitants all have secrets to hide.

I enjoyed this overall. One of the most intriguing elements was the backstory and the disconcerting relationship between Emma and Beth. I also liked the shifting narrators. The themes of unreliability and trust underpin the novel and are handled particularly well. Nobody in the book is particularly likeable.

The book is fast paced with a constant sense of tension, playing on the fear that those around you may have hidden sides. I did feel that some of the wider relationships were underdeveloped which made the final reveals less impactful than they could have been, as I had not formed a strong enough connection with some of the characters.

Overall, an interesting read with a strong pace and an unsettling atmosphere. I would give this 3.5 stars on balance.

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another engaging psychological thriller from Emma Curtis, with plenty of lies, secrets and twists to keep you wondering what is really going on. The characters are certainly not the most likeable bunch, which added to the tension as I wasn’t sure who could be trusted.

There were plenty of twists and turns and I enjoyed watching the story unfold, but if I’m being completely honest, there was just something missing for me this time. It wasn’t a bad read at all, and it kept me interested, but I didn’t connect with it in quite the same way as I have with Emma’s previous books.

I think that’s probably why I’m finding it harder to give this one the same praise. I’ve enjoyed her other books so much that I was expecting that same feeling from this one. Sadly, it just didn’t quite get there for me.

Still an enjoyable psychological read with plenty of secrets and twists, but not one of my favourites from Emma Curtis. I’ll definitely be picking up her next book though.

[Suzanne O’Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars

When Mia buys a fixer-upper, she quickly finds herself falling for her next-door neighbour. But there are secrets buried in these houses, and the past is catching up with the residents, old and new. 👀

I really enjoyed this one! It gave me major Lisa Jewell vibes, with multiple storylines slowly unfolding and eventually tying together. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way, and I was definitely kept interested trying to work out how everything connected.

My biggest problem? THE WOMEN. 😂😂

Honestly, I don’t think I understood what any of them were thinking half the time. The decisions they made had me sitting there like WHY?! and it did start to irritate me 😂

That said, it was still a great story with lots going on, plenty of secrets and some really interesting characters… just maybe not the female ones! 🤣

A solid 3.5 stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

[bookloversclub2023 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was an okay one from me. There were a few twists but I found most of the story was in the beginning anyway and could guess who the murderer was.

I found Beth insufferable and the way she walked over Mia but Mia seemed to have no backbone and let her get away with everything.

It kept me engaged while reading it and is well paced. A few little twists in there mixed in which kept my interest, but there was no out there twist which some thrillers have.

Overall it was an easy read and I did enjoy most of the story just some of the characters grated on me slightly but then they were probably written that way to do exactly that and some of the plot was a little out there. Overall I had mixed feelings on it.

[Louise Ridout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an arc of this in exchange for my honest views.

For me this was a real slow burner, and I’ll be honest and say I almost DNF’d it around 20% in but I’m glad I didn’t as it got so much better after the halfway point and had me hooked.

The main reason I almost stopped reading was because both Mia and Beth were pretty insufferable as main characters, making stupid decisions, Mia in particular being a walkover, and I just didn’t believe their friendship was a believable one especially after some of the revelations. But putting that aside, once more characters were introduced and we explored further storylines, I was able to move past that and enjoy the story for what it was. The ending had some good twists, and overall I really enjoyed it.

[Kate Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐½ 3.5 Stars
The Neighbour by Emma Curtis was a solid thriller with everything I want from the genre — death, betrayal, lies and plenty of secrets.
Some parts of the storyline were a little predictable, and I did find myself guessing where certain elements were heading. However, there were also moments that genuinely caught me off guard, which kept me interested and wanting to see how everything would unfold.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and easy-to-read thriller. It may not have completely blown me away, but it kept me entertained and delivered plenty of twists and secrets along the way.

[Turning Pages Turning Heads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a true page turner! I haven't read a thriller for a while and this was the perfect book to pick up. The story has lots of twists and turns right until the end, difficult to comment on the story itself without giving away any spoilers. There are points in this book that are really creepy and I was able to fully visualise the scenes which is great but a little scary!

A well paced thriller book that I would recommend to thriller fans and those just starting out with the genre. This is my first read from Emma Curtis but would most definitely read another of her novels.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really like this author and I absolutely loved The Commuter, but this one fell a little flat for me. The relationship between Mia and Ryan felt a bit forced and Mia seemed like a pushover. Why would you remain friends with someone who had slept with your future husband?! This one was a so-so read for me, sadly.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story starts with Mia who has just purchased her first home as a renovation project, the house next door is a concern and her friend Beth tells her to be wary but Mia doesn’t listen.

The book starts off great but I struggled with some of the twists and tbh I didn’t warm to the characters. The book missed the mark for me but was an easy read

Thank you netgalley for the early release

[Kuichaila · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Felt very creepy reading a domestic thriller set where I live AND during the the season we're currently in (impending autumn/winter). Twisty, turny and lots of authentic Nottingham treats. It felt like the book was happening around me in Sherwood / Mapperley / Forest Fields / Woodthorpe! 100% recommend for any local ducks.

[Chinprai]

Hgfcfg hunk bunk vkgkg

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Melanie Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creepy domestic thriller.

When Mia purchases a house to renovate to kick start a new career the last thing she needs is a nightmare neighbour, cue George.

Mia is worried that George’s house and garden will be off putting to buyers and the noise at night through the walls is keeping her awake.
When her best friend Beth goes missing, Mia is convinced George is to blame.

There was a lot going on in the plot so it kept it interesting and kept me wanting to read to the reveal.

Thanks to NetGalley and Corvus for the advanced copy.

[Maddison Amber · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.
The majority of this book was 5 stars for me. I flew through it and was absolutely taken in by Mia, Beth & Ryan. Every time I thought I’d worked it out something new was flung at me and my mind would go in a different direction. The last 7% of the book for me however let it down. I felt it was a bit rushed and just fell a bit flat. A dramatic scene with a not so dramatic outcome.

Thank you to NetGalley & Atlantic Books for the ARC in return for my honest review