The Neighbours

by Mary-Rose Hayes

Chetty hated the house in Woodburn Hills the moment she and her parents moved in. There were no other kids to play with, the house smelt and the whole neighbourhood was creepy.

And then when her father left on a business trip and her mother fell mysteriously ill, Chetty began to realise the danger that threatened her.

The sinister old woman in the big house, the uncanny interest the neighbours took in Chetty, the strange forebodings she sensed in those around her -

Chetty knew what was happening, but how could a five-year-old girl control her own stark terror and face the terrible evil of THE NEIGHBOURS?

Genres: Horror

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

I lived in a remote English country rectory during and after World War II with limited radio, obviously no TV, and frequent power outages. Entertainment was story-telling, play-acting, reading aloud. I began to write stories when I was six years old, and never stopped.

My new novel, WHAT SHE HAD TO DO, draws to some extent on this background. It concerns a young woman’s desperate choice in post-war England, and its catastrophic effects through three generations of a family. It was fifteen years in the writing, with several lengthy interruptions including two 'time-outs' for political thrillers written with Senator Barbara Boxer. These 'time-outs', however, proved to be blessings and let in the light. I realized I’d broken a major rule of story-telling and the characters, drawn far too close to real people, seemed lifeless. They are now created from whole cloth and hopefully are credible and sympathetic.

Other matters: I'm married and live in Northern California, love choral singing, theater, off-the-grid travel, and especially sailing in a small boat far from land!

Reviews

[George K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Οι σατανιστές", εκδόσεις Σίμωσι.

Βαθμολογία: 7/10

Χμ, καλούτσικο ήταν αυτό. Βέβαια αρκετά αργό στην εξέλιξη της πλοκής και στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος του έμοιαζε περισσότερο με ένα 70's δράμα των προαστίων της μεσαίας τάξης σε κάποια αμερικάνικη πόλη παρά με μυθιστόρημα τρόμου, αλλά είχε μια αρκετά περίεργη ατμόσφαιρα από τις πρώτες κιόλας σελίδες και διάφορα στοιχεία υπαινικτικού τρόμου που μου κράτησαν το ενδιαφέρον μέχρι το τέλος (που δυστυχώς μου φάνηκε μάλλον μέτριο και βιαστικό). Όσον αφορά τη γραφή, δεν είναι καθόλου άσχημη, ίσως να μην ενθουσιάζει και να ταιριάζει περισσότερο σε κοινωνικά δράματα παρά σε ιστορίες τρόμου, όμως μου φάνηκε συμπαθητική και ευκολοδιάβαστη, σίγουρα δεν με χάλασε. Σαν μυθιστόρημα τρόμου δεν λέει και πάρα πολλά, αλλά θα έλεγα ότι λειτουργεί καλύτερα σαν κοινωνικό-ψυχολογικό θρίλερ με στοιχεία τρόμου.

[Marcus Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

An obscure witchcraft tale from the seventies when such things seemed all the rage, I was taken in by the quite lurid cover of the 1978 New English Library edition of this novel which promised much but was ultimately really boring. A fine paperback to add to my collection due to the cover art, but there’s nothing substantial here to suggest that this is an overlooked gem of the genre.

[mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

my expertise on horror books is rather limited, so i cannot confidently say anything other than "this is a fun read". the characters are messy and they are put in situations that make them profoundly unlikable and exceedingly annoying, specially those that are suposed to play the role of "responsible adults". the plot is interesting enough, without strong twists or unexpected events occurring, but still fast and complex enough to grab you. i must admit, though, that the resolution was pretty underwhelming and rather easy to forget. 

i am still yet a kind of production in which the husband is not a piece of shit to whom half of the stuff could be traced back too, due to his gaslighting and blindsiding.

[Scott Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving to a new house in an affluent suburb, five year old Chetty, with her vast psychic abilities immediately realise something is wrong. Not just with the house, or her mother who seems to be increasingly losing her mind, but with her new neighbours who all seem to be concerned for Chetty.

A good novel about your everyday demon worshipping suburban coven and their plotting

[Alison Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Christmas gift to me one year along with a small ox of chocolates at a time when my parents' working hours were reduced and we had not got very much money. I enjoyed reading the book, at times inexpensive gifts may be remembered more than expensive ones.

[NatalyaVqs · Rating 3 out of 5]

fascinatingly creepy story that could have been developed more; some great characters like Flo and Liam

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off well and then just went downhill from there. Very disappointed.