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The Neighborhood
It’s not such a beautiful day in the neighborhood ...
From the critically acclaimed author of the Logan West thrillers comes a can’t-miss, brand-new novel that proves Matthew Betley is the modern master of the unputdownable page-turner.
For most of the citizens of Hidden Refuge, it’s an ordinary Friday night in an ordinary American town. But when men claiming to be police officers show up at their doorsteps in the middle of the night, ordering them to evacuate for their own safety, it’s only the beginning of a long, dark night that will prove to be anything but ordinary. Because, unbeknownst to most of its residents, Hidden Refuge contains something that very dangerous men want very, very badly. And those men are more than willing to kill to get what they want.
But Hidden Refuge contains another secret—Zack Chambers, a seemingly unassuming programmer and suburbanite family man who is far more than meets the eye. And while Zack dearly hoped that he’d never again need to use the deadly skills he’d acquired in his former life, when push comes to shove, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect himself and his neighbors. Even if it means taking on a small army of trained killers with only his wits and a ragtag group of allies.
Before the night is over, the blood of the innocent and the guilty alike will be shed, old scores will be settled, and shocking twists will finally be revealed. Propulsive, brilliantly plotted, and packed with Matthew Betley’s trademark blend of gritty realism and edge-of-your-seat action, The Neighborhood is a can’t-miss thriller.
From the critically acclaimed author of the Logan West thrillers comes a can’t-miss, brand-new novel that proves Matthew Betley is the modern master of the unputdownable page-turner.
For most of the citizens of Hidden Refuge, it’s an ordinary Friday night in an ordinary American town. But when men claiming to be police officers show up at their doorsteps in the middle of the night, ordering them to evacuate for their own safety, it’s only the beginning of a long, dark night that will prove to be anything but ordinary. Because, unbeknownst to most of its residents, Hidden Refuge contains something that very dangerous men want very, very badly. And those men are more than willing to kill to get what they want.
But Hidden Refuge contains another secret—Zack Chambers, a seemingly unassuming programmer and suburbanite family man who is far more than meets the eye. And while Zack dearly hoped that he’d never again need to use the deadly skills he’d acquired in his former life, when push comes to shove, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect himself and his neighbors. Even if it means taking on a small army of trained killers with only his wits and a ragtag group of allies.
Before the night is over, the blood of the innocent and the guilty alike will be shed, old scores will be settled, and shocking twists will finally be revealed. Propulsive, brilliantly plotted, and packed with Matthew Betley’s trademark blend of gritty realism and edge-of-your-seat action, The Neighborhood is a can’t-miss thriller.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2022
166 people are currently reading
3583 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Betley
14 books302 followersMatthew Betley grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, which he considers home after his family moved there from New Jersey, where he was born and which also explains his affinity for the New York Yankees. He attended St. Xavier High School and then Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated with a B.A. in psychology and minors in political science and sociology. He also spent the first semester of senior year investigating felony murder cases as an intern investigator in Washington, D.C., for the Public Defender’s Office, a formative experience that provided countless stories that could fill the pages of a non-fiction book. Upon graduation, he worked in corporate America for five years in Cincinnati before joining the Marine Corps in 1999.
Matt spent ten years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His experiences include deployments to Djibouti after 9/11, and Fallujah, Iraq, prior to the surge, both in staff officer support billets.
Finally, and most importantly, Matt is a recovering alcoholic with nearly seven years of sobriety. He credits the Marine Corps with providing a foundation in discipline and personal accountability for his desire to initially seek help. Matt is open and direct about it and has spoken in front of large groups of people with one clear message – if he can get sober, so can anyone. He credits his recovery with providing the authenticity for Logan West’s struggle with his inner demons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
October 13, 2022
3.5⭐
I've been wanting to try Matthew Betley's Logan West series for a while. This standalone just came out so I thought it might be good to try this instead. This was entertaining and has good action.
A secluded gated community "Hidden Refuge" was told by the police to evacuate in the middle of the night after a train carrying toxic chemicals fell off the tracks and leaking. Residents are evacuated in convoys to a school a few miles away in Falling Rock, VA.
No, they are not police. Someone in the community has an item that "the police" want. Cell phone signals are jammed and they are on their own. Fortunately, Zack Chambers, one of the residents is a guy with many skills.
This story is told alternating in the present and six years ago and we get to know Zack's story.
A quick audiobook with a great narrator-George Newbern!
I've been wanting to try Matthew Betley's Logan West series for a while. This standalone just came out so I thought it might be good to try this instead. This was entertaining and has good action.
A secluded gated community "Hidden Refuge" was told by the police to evacuate in the middle of the night after a train carrying toxic chemicals fell off the tracks and leaking. Residents are evacuated in convoys to a school a few miles away in Falling Rock, VA.
No, they are not police. Someone in the community has an item that "the police" want. Cell phone signals are jammed and they are on their own. Fortunately, Zack Chambers, one of the residents is a guy with many skills.
This story is told alternating in the present and six years ago and we get to know Zack's story.
A quick audiobook with a great narrator-George Newbern!
November 5, 2022
This was my introduction to Betley's writing. I found it engaging. I loved the characters he created, especially Sam.
We were given dual timelines in this story, which filled in the background of the main characters. It helped to show how this one day had more history to it than was previously known and showed the true character of the main players.
This was a very action-packed book. There are fight scenes, car chases, hostages, fires... I thought several times while reading it that it would make a great movie. Unfortunately for me, I usually skim over the fight scenes and car chases. I don't really care about the details of who hit who where and when. I just need to know the basics - who was hurt, who won. So, these scenes didn't help move the story along for me. However, the storyline was interesting and I wanted to know what was on the laptop and how it would play out. I hope this one gets optioned. I love to see it in the theater.
I listened to the audio version which was narrated by George Newbern. He did an excellent job portraying Zack Chambers and relaying the story.
3.5★
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a complimentary electronic audio copy of this book.
We were given dual timelines in this story, which filled in the background of the main characters. It helped to show how this one day had more history to it than was previously known and showed the true character of the main players.
This was a very action-packed book. There are fight scenes, car chases, hostages, fires... I thought several times while reading it that it would make a great movie. Unfortunately for me, I usually skim over the fight scenes and car chases. I don't really care about the details of who hit who where and when. I just need to know the basics - who was hurt, who won. So, these scenes didn't help move the story along for me. However, the storyline was interesting and I wanted to know what was on the laptop and how it would play out. I hope this one gets optioned. I love to see it in the theater.
I listened to the audio version which was narrated by George Newbern. He did an excellent job portraying Zack Chambers and relaying the story.
3.5★
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a complimentary electronic audio copy of this book.
February 10, 2022
It's been a few years since we've seen a full-length novel from Matthew Betley, and the wait was well worth it. Known for his action packed Logan West series, Betley used the time to create his best work to date. The Neighborhood encompasses what he is best known for: withering action, multilayered characters and gallows humor that helps cut the tension along with a plot that is original and fresh.
The Neighborhood grips you from the first page and doesn't let go. An affluent, isolated subdivision is attacked by mercenaries because someone in the neighborhood has stolen something that could alter the balance of the world over. The protagonist, Zack Chambers, is known to his neighbors as a software developer but in his previous life he was an elite operator with the CIA's Special Activities Division. It's a life he's left behind but when the police show up to evacuate the neighborhood he senses something isn't right. He takes it upon himself to protect his neighbors and stop the attackers.
The Neighborhood is part cloak and dagger thriller as well as a love story between fathers and sons, brothers and teenage first love. Filled with twists and turns and shocking revelations, The Neighborhood is one you don't want to miss!
My sincere thanks to Matthew Betley, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advance copy of The Neighborhood.
The Neighborhood grips you from the first page and doesn't let go. An affluent, isolated subdivision is attacked by mercenaries because someone in the neighborhood has stolen something that could alter the balance of the world over. The protagonist, Zack Chambers, is known to his neighbors as a software developer but in his previous life he was an elite operator with the CIA's Special Activities Division. It's a life he's left behind but when the police show up to evacuate the neighborhood he senses something isn't right. He takes it upon himself to protect his neighbors and stop the attackers.
The Neighborhood is part cloak and dagger thriller as well as a love story between fathers and sons, brothers and teenage first love. Filled with twists and turns and shocking revelations, The Neighborhood is one you don't want to miss!
My sincere thanks to Matthew Betley, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advance copy of The Neighborhood.
August 11, 2022
Hidden Refuge is your typical American town- until the night it wasn't. Men claiming to be police officers arrive in the neighborhood and tell residents that they need to evacuate for their own safety. They are there because there is something in Hidden Refuge that they want and are willing to kill to get. But there is someone in this neighborhood, Zack Chambers, who has deadly skills and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his family and his neighborhood. Survival is the name of the game in this one especially when an unwelcomed blast from Zach's past is in his neighborhood.
This book/audio moves at a nice pace and there is plenty of action. Readers/listeners are given Zach's backstory through flashbacks which also show the relationship between two characters. I enjoyed the story and thought the narrator did a good job. Plus, Sam was a great character as well. She stole the scenes she was in!
If you enjoy plenty of action with some humor thrown in, this may be the book for you.
#TheNeighborhood #NetGalley
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
This book/audio moves at a nice pace and there is plenty of action. Readers/listeners are given Zach's backstory through flashbacks which also show the relationship between two characters. I enjoyed the story and thought the narrator did a good job. Plus, Sam was a great character as well. She stole the scenes she was in!
If you enjoy plenty of action with some humor thrown in, this may be the book for you.
#TheNeighborhood #NetGalley
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 20, 2022
This probably isn’t a book I’d usually read, because of the “action” aspect, but I was intrigued by the synopsis and decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did! This was quite entertaining … I can see this being a Hollywood blockbuster.
It’s Friday night in Hidden Refuge, a gated neighborhood in Virginia, just outside of D.C. This well-off community is settling in for the weekend, some already in bed, when their worlds were shattered by knocks at the door, telling families to evacuate.
The only problem? Those weren’t the real police, and they jammed cell signals, so there was no way to call for help. I won’t tell much else, it’s your typical “neighborhood gets taken over by rogue men” situation. Except, that usually isn’t a situation; this was such a fresh thriller.
You’ll meet quite a few people, including Nick, Griffin, and Brandon (old CIA/military nemeses), Sam (high school track star and absolute badass), her boyfriend, Ben (nerdy martial artist), and Zack.
Who is Zack? He’s the Bruce Willis. He’s the Liam Neeson. He has a very special set of skills, and as a resident of Hidden Refuge, he’s not letting his neighborhood go down like this. There is also a sub-story about a military(?) experience he had in Malta that changed his life, and it was good.
My only complaint is that it ran on a bit long at the end - there was action throughout, but the end was like a fireworks finale, if the fireworks were gunshots. Since I’m normally not into military/action-heavy thrillers, I think that’s just me though. This was a great book that I see coming to screen eventually. The characters were good, the writing was great, and the ending was pretty decent, too. 4.5 stars.
(Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Matthew Betley, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
It’s Friday night in Hidden Refuge, a gated neighborhood in Virginia, just outside of D.C. This well-off community is settling in for the weekend, some already in bed, when their worlds were shattered by knocks at the door, telling families to evacuate.
The only problem? Those weren’t the real police, and they jammed cell signals, so there was no way to call for help. I won’t tell much else, it’s your typical “neighborhood gets taken over by rogue men” situation. Except, that usually isn’t a situation; this was such a fresh thriller.
You’ll meet quite a few people, including Nick, Griffin, and Brandon (old CIA/military nemeses), Sam (high school track star and absolute badass), her boyfriend, Ben (nerdy martial artist), and Zack.
Who is Zack? He’s the Bruce Willis. He’s the Liam Neeson. He has a very special set of skills, and as a resident of Hidden Refuge, he’s not letting his neighborhood go down like this. There is also a sub-story about a military(?) experience he had in Malta that changed his life, and it was good.
My only complaint is that it ran on a bit long at the end - there was action throughout, but the end was like a fireworks finale, if the fireworks were gunshots. Since I’m normally not into military/action-heavy thrillers, I think that’s just me though. This was a great book that I see coming to screen eventually. The characters were good, the writing was great, and the ending was pretty decent, too. 4.5 stars.
(Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Matthew Betley, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
July 28, 2022
Not gonna lie, I asked to listen to the upcoming audio book release of The Neighborhood by Matthew Betley based only on the name and cover. It looked creepy. The author’s similar name to one of my favorite horror authors, Bentley Little, reinforced the idea this was gonna be a scary book.
Then I started listening.
Then I went and checked the actual description of the book - deadly ex–CIA agent and trained operative Zack Chambers tries to take back his neighborhood from a group of police-impersonating men who have taken over the ‘burb.
Uh oh.
I knew this was not a book for me, and might be my first Netgalley DNF.
So I decided to listen just a little longer to have a valid reason why it was gonna be a DNF. An hour later I was still listening. And two hours…..and then no way was I going to not hear how it ended.
Betley created a personable character with shades of Bruce Willis, Liam Neeson and Jack Ryan. If I was a betting woman, I would lay down a c-note that The Neighborhood will be coming to a movie theater near you sometime soon.
This was a fast paced thriller with enough details to make it seem real. So real, in fact, I checked on the author’s bio to confirm he knew of what he wrote. Check him out and you’ll respect the writing even more.
Chambers is conversational and that’s one of the keys to this being an enjoyable read. I appreciated the quick wit, modern day references (Betly managed to use Finding Nemo, Spiderman’s Uncle and Jack Bauer and make it seem perfectly normal) and the relationship of the upstanding citizens who came together to fight for their neighborhood.
I listened to the audio and kudos to George Newbern. He is a credit to his profession. He voices characters flawlessly and this allows the listener to stay within the story at all times.
I am very happy that I did not DNF this one, but may start reading book descriptions first, lol.
Then I started listening.
Then I went and checked the actual description of the book - deadly ex–CIA agent and trained operative Zack Chambers tries to take back his neighborhood from a group of police-impersonating men who have taken over the ‘burb.
Uh oh.
I knew this was not a book for me, and might be my first Netgalley DNF.
So I decided to listen just a little longer to have a valid reason why it was gonna be a DNF. An hour later I was still listening. And two hours…..and then no way was I going to not hear how it ended.
Betley created a personable character with shades of Bruce Willis, Liam Neeson and Jack Ryan. If I was a betting woman, I would lay down a c-note that The Neighborhood will be coming to a movie theater near you sometime soon.
This was a fast paced thriller with enough details to make it seem real. So real, in fact, I checked on the author’s bio to confirm he knew of what he wrote. Check him out and you’ll respect the writing even more.
Chambers is conversational and that’s one of the keys to this being an enjoyable read. I appreciated the quick wit, modern day references (Betly managed to use Finding Nemo, Spiderman’s Uncle and Jack Bauer and make it seem perfectly normal) and the relationship of the upstanding citizens who came together to fight for their neighborhood.
I listened to the audio and kudos to George Newbern. He is a credit to his profession. He voices characters flawlessly and this allows the listener to stay within the story at all times.
I am very happy that I did not DNF this one, but may start reading book descriptions first, lol.
October 24, 2022
A former spec ops guys is living in a nice gated neighborhood. He's just about getting settled in when a troop of mercs takes over the neighborhood masquerading as cops.
From there, it's like a TV movie, probably starring someone like Dean Cain. We have the kids who are a little bit too precocious, the former suit who really isn't as bad as all that, and the mercs who are really too ineffective to be taken seriously. Everything is just too easy.
From there, it's like a TV movie, probably starring someone like Dean Cain. We have the kids who are a little bit too precocious, the former suit who really isn't as bad as all that, and the mercs who are really too ineffective to be taken seriously. Everything is just too easy.
December 28, 2022
It's not Logan West, it's Zack Chambers. Wow what a great book, hats off to Matthew Betley who has written a standalone story that could be turned into a serie. The Neighborhood is a fantastic book about a nice gated community that has some secrets and a bunch of bad guys going after one of them. The story is filled with twists I didn't see coming and that doesn't happen very often. The book is as always with Betleys work well written and told in a way that makes it hard to put down.
December 8, 2022
This book started out good - Die Hard in the Burbs - but contained two beyond-belief coincidences that left me scratching my cheek and going, "Come on." The main hero, as well as several side heroes, appear clairvoyant in that they see something and immediately realize what's happening. Computers couldn't connect dots faster than this crowd. Also, extended dialog during tense situations turns into theater of the absurd. For example, after having a fellow hostage recently murdered in front of them, one family discusses whether their father should take a job that would cause the family to move to New York. No kidding. The book needed a few more edits. In fact, the first sentence of the book begins "The white van drove slowly . . . " but the first sentence of the second paragraph now refers to the white van as "The dark blue Mercedes Amazon delivery van . . ."
December 17, 2022
I must be in the minority of reviewers. Reading some of the reviews makes Mr wonder if I read a different book than they did. This book has some huge plot holes. The dialog is horrible at times. The neighborhood that is attacked by a group of former military mercenaries just happens to be full of people that seem to easily wipe them out. There is even a 17 year old girl and boy that join in the fun. To say that some of the events in this book were unbelievable is an understatement. About a third of the way through I started finding the book humorous which I am sure wasn't it's intention. 1.5 🌟
February 8, 2024
Enjoyable pulp fiction in suburbia mixed with some CIA action in North Africa. Just plain fun to read.
April 3, 2023
It’s a challenge to review Matthew Betley’s The Neighborhood without insulting all the Goodreaders who thought it was hot stuff. Granted that it might have an Edgar-worthy plot; having given up after a few chapters I wouldn’t know. Betley’s prose is so - I guess prosaic is the word - that I couldn’t stand it. It felt to me like something written for 7th-grade boy who likes comic books. A few phrases/sentences chosen virtually at random from the second chapter are illustrative:
Tomorrow had to go smoothly, or there’d be problems—lots of problems.
His instincts were almost always right.
His deep brown eyes shone with alertness and intelligence.
he took a mental snapshot instantaneously.
Not recommended for anyone who already likes chapter books.
Tomorrow had to go smoothly, or there’d be problems—lots of problems.
His instincts were almost always right.
His deep brown eyes shone with alertness and intelligence.
he took a mental snapshot instantaneously.
Not recommended for anyone who already likes chapter books.
February 14, 2022
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Make sure to check out the full review
Make sure to check out the full review
August 13, 2022
If there is one lesson to be learned from the insanely intense new thriller from author Matthew Betley, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, it is the simple fact of just how thin a veil of security actually protects each of us. For the residents of the upscale gated community of Hidden Refuge, located not far from Washington D.C., it comes down to merely knowing the code to punch in at the gate to gain entry to that privileged community to burst through that thin veil of so-called security.
This is exactly what happens when the man posing as the Amazon delivery driver enters Hidden Refuge a few days in a row to scout things out prior to a three-day holiday weekend. The purpose is to get an idea on how many residents would be travelling and how many would be staying put for the weekend that his group was planning their big move into Hidden Refuge to obtain something quite valuable.
The group that will infiltrate Hidden Refuge has been put together by Griffin Huntsmen, CEO of Huntsmen Enterprises, one of the most successful private military and security contractors in and around D.C. He is supported by his COO, Barrett Connolly, and the two of them have put together a team of specialized para-military types specially trained for this specific mission. They will move in disguised as police, rescuers, etc. There will also be a team of six expert searchers seeking out a laptop that contains something specifically valuable to Griffin and his group.
On the night of the mission, the phony police officers, led by Barrett Connolly, start waking up the remaining residents --- there are approximately fifty-three home for the holiday weekend --- and hit them up with a bogus story about a freight train derailment involving dangerous chemicals not far from them that requires the development to be temporarily relocated to a nearby elementary school that FEMA has utilized in the past. Since the story sounds and looks legitimate, most residents begin to comply.
However, a few unexpected things go wrong that quickly changes the plan and the course of this evening for everyone. First off, an elderly resident who suffers from dementia gets out and confronts one of the armed searchers who gets a little trigger happy and ends up blowing the old man away in full view of other residents. Now, all bets are off. Bad news for the Huntsman Group is that one of the witnesses was resident Zack Chambers, who is alone without his family that weekend and possesses a skillset not unlike the most skilled members of this team of infiltrators.
Zack quickly puts together a small band of armed rebels from his neighbors and they begin a standoff that is legendary and does some serious damage to the bad guys --- all the while they are scrambling to still locate this secret laptop that remains somewhere within Hidden Refuge. The bad guys commence complete lockdown on the community and no one is going anywhere, even if it means every resident of Hidden Refuge does not see dawn. However, Zack has more than a few tricks up his sleeve and the twists continue to keep both sides on their toes throughout this unpredictable showdown where no one is safe from each other.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD is a high octane, highly realistic read that shows a very plausible outcome for the dangerous world we all occupy currently. I have never read anything from author Matthew Betley prior to this. I plan to remedy that!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
This is exactly what happens when the man posing as the Amazon delivery driver enters Hidden Refuge a few days in a row to scout things out prior to a three-day holiday weekend. The purpose is to get an idea on how many residents would be travelling and how many would be staying put for the weekend that his group was planning their big move into Hidden Refuge to obtain something quite valuable.
The group that will infiltrate Hidden Refuge has been put together by Griffin Huntsmen, CEO of Huntsmen Enterprises, one of the most successful private military and security contractors in and around D.C. He is supported by his COO, Barrett Connolly, and the two of them have put together a team of specialized para-military types specially trained for this specific mission. They will move in disguised as police, rescuers, etc. There will also be a team of six expert searchers seeking out a laptop that contains something specifically valuable to Griffin and his group.
On the night of the mission, the phony police officers, led by Barrett Connolly, start waking up the remaining residents --- there are approximately fifty-three home for the holiday weekend --- and hit them up with a bogus story about a freight train derailment involving dangerous chemicals not far from them that requires the development to be temporarily relocated to a nearby elementary school that FEMA has utilized in the past. Since the story sounds and looks legitimate, most residents begin to comply.
However, a few unexpected things go wrong that quickly changes the plan and the course of this evening for everyone. First off, an elderly resident who suffers from dementia gets out and confronts one of the armed searchers who gets a little trigger happy and ends up blowing the old man away in full view of other residents. Now, all bets are off. Bad news for the Huntsman Group is that one of the witnesses was resident Zack Chambers, who is alone without his family that weekend and possesses a skillset not unlike the most skilled members of this team of infiltrators.
Zack quickly puts together a small band of armed rebels from his neighbors and they begin a standoff that is legendary and does some serious damage to the bad guys --- all the while they are scrambling to still locate this secret laptop that remains somewhere within Hidden Refuge. The bad guys commence complete lockdown on the community and no one is going anywhere, even if it means every resident of Hidden Refuge does not see dawn. However, Zack has more than a few tricks up his sleeve and the twists continue to keep both sides on their toes throughout this unpredictable showdown where no one is safe from each other.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD is a high octane, highly realistic read that shows a very plausible outcome for the dangerous world we all occupy currently. I have never read anything from author Matthew Betley prior to this. I plan to remedy that!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
November 8, 2022
I'm not sure if Matthew Betley's new thriller THE NEIGHBORHOOD is supposed to be the start of a new series or a standalone book before he returns to his Logan West series. Honestly, it could go either way.
But after reading the book, I can say that I not only loved the book but actually would like to see more stories featuring Zack Chambers.
One blurb for the book described it as "Die Hard in a gated community". And it's about as accurate a description as you are likely to find.
Late one night, a group of police officers arrive in the Hidden Refuge neighborhood and begin to evacuate the residents because a nearby accident that could lead to them being harmed by the after effects.
Zack Chambers is at home alone, his family off on a visit to one of their relatives. But he notices quickly that the cops aren't what they seem. In fact, they aren't cops at all. Readers soon learn that they are mercenaries and they are looking for something. And they are being paid a pretty penny to find it.
But when one of the mercs, with an itchy trigger finger, kills one of the residents the op is blown and now they have a host of hostages while they look for the "package". But they don't have Zack.
And that proves a bad thing for the mercs. Zack is an ex-CIA operator and he is soon on the hunt to save his neighbors...leaving a path of dead bodies in his wake.
Cut off from communicating with the outside world, Zack and a handful of allies end up facing off with a highly motivated kill squad, led by someone from Zack's past...a true monster who won't hesitate to kill anyone and everyone in the way of accomplishing the mission.
Zack will have to face that past if he is to make it through the night and stop a madman's plot that could leave dozens dead.
I've been a big fan of Matthew Betley's Logan West series from the start and I feel the same way with THE NEIGHBORHOOD. This is a high-octane thriller that keeps readers on an adrenaline high as Zack races against the clock to stop the mercenary plan.
With the narrative told over the course of just a few overnight hours, Betley has to make you care quickly about the main characters and he does this with an ease that will show you why I'm such a fan of his writing. It's not just Zack Chambers that you'll come to enjoy either.
There's Sam, the teenage neighbor that babysits for his family. She is revealed to be a quite capable young woman with both gravitas and humor when called upon in certain situations. I loved the nickname she gave Zack over the course of the book as she sees in him action. Her boyfriend Ben plays a similar, albeit smaller role. Still, both of them show a lot more steel than you might expect from teenagers.
I liked the way the narrative occasionally went back to the time when Zack was still part of the CIA, it helped flesh out just why he and the head of the mercs, Griffin Huntsman, are so antagonistic towards each other.
In the end, through a hail of bullets, fire and flame and no small amount of bodies hitting the proverbial floor, Matthew Betley's THE NEIGHBORHOOD stands out as a non-stop thrill ride for any fan of the thriller genre!
But after reading the book, I can say that I not only loved the book but actually would like to see more stories featuring Zack Chambers.
One blurb for the book described it as "Die Hard in a gated community". And it's about as accurate a description as you are likely to find.
Late one night, a group of police officers arrive in the Hidden Refuge neighborhood and begin to evacuate the residents because a nearby accident that could lead to them being harmed by the after effects.
Zack Chambers is at home alone, his family off on a visit to one of their relatives. But he notices quickly that the cops aren't what they seem. In fact, they aren't cops at all. Readers soon learn that they are mercenaries and they are looking for something. And they are being paid a pretty penny to find it.
But when one of the mercs, with an itchy trigger finger, kills one of the residents the op is blown and now they have a host of hostages while they look for the "package". But they don't have Zack.
And that proves a bad thing for the mercs. Zack is an ex-CIA operator and he is soon on the hunt to save his neighbors...leaving a path of dead bodies in his wake.
Cut off from communicating with the outside world, Zack and a handful of allies end up facing off with a highly motivated kill squad, led by someone from Zack's past...a true monster who won't hesitate to kill anyone and everyone in the way of accomplishing the mission.
Zack will have to face that past if he is to make it through the night and stop a madman's plot that could leave dozens dead.
I've been a big fan of Matthew Betley's Logan West series from the start and I feel the same way with THE NEIGHBORHOOD. This is a high-octane thriller that keeps readers on an adrenaline high as Zack races against the clock to stop the mercenary plan.
With the narrative told over the course of just a few overnight hours, Betley has to make you care quickly about the main characters and he does this with an ease that will show you why I'm such a fan of his writing. It's not just Zack Chambers that you'll come to enjoy either.
There's Sam, the teenage neighbor that babysits for his family. She is revealed to be a quite capable young woman with both gravitas and humor when called upon in certain situations. I loved the nickname she gave Zack over the course of the book as she sees in him action. Her boyfriend Ben plays a similar, albeit smaller role. Still, both of them show a lot more steel than you might expect from teenagers.
I liked the way the narrative occasionally went back to the time when Zack was still part of the CIA, it helped flesh out just why he and the head of the mercs, Griffin Huntsman, are so antagonistic towards each other.
In the end, through a hail of bullets, fire and flame and no small amount of bodies hitting the proverbial floor, Matthew Betley's THE NEIGHBORHOOD stands out as a non-stop thrill ride for any fan of the thriller genre!
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April 12, 2022READ MY FULL REVIEW AT BEST THRILLER BOOKS
December 16, 2022
Book Review – The Neighborhood – Matthew Betley
National bestselling author Chris Hauty called author Matthew Betley’s “The Neighborhood,” “A Die-Hard movie in a gated community.” And he was right! I can easily picture The Neighborhood as a blockbuster action thriller film in the very near future. Betley crafted this standalone from his Logan West series with the same vigor and vitality that he is known for in his Logan West series. Action-packed, intense, and full of twist and turns, readers are treated to Betley’s great writing, strong character development, and exhilarating plot and storyline. Protagonist Zack Chambers, a former CIA elite operator, warrants his own series after this narrative. Working as a software developer now and living in an affluent gated subdivision, Chambers senses something wrong when the local police show up unexpectedly and starts evacuating the entire upscale neighborhood citing a nearby train wreck with toxic fumes. However, there was no chemical spill, nor were the police real police officers. Chaos ensues with the shooting of a resident and Chambers with some help, ultimately takes on a band of violent mercenaries who were there to retrieve a laptop hidden in one of the posh homes that contained some super important information that could change the world! Exhilarating. Entertaining. Humorous. Invigorating. The Neighborhood is one electrifying thriller! I highly recommend it. Two thumbs up Matthew Betley! Great read!
National bestselling author Chris Hauty called author Matthew Betley’s “The Neighborhood,” “A Die-Hard movie in a gated community.” And he was right! I can easily picture The Neighborhood as a blockbuster action thriller film in the very near future. Betley crafted this standalone from his Logan West series with the same vigor and vitality that he is known for in his Logan West series. Action-packed, intense, and full of twist and turns, readers are treated to Betley’s great writing, strong character development, and exhilarating plot and storyline. Protagonist Zack Chambers, a former CIA elite operator, warrants his own series after this narrative. Working as a software developer now and living in an affluent gated subdivision, Chambers senses something wrong when the local police show up unexpectedly and starts evacuating the entire upscale neighborhood citing a nearby train wreck with toxic fumes. However, there was no chemical spill, nor were the police real police officers. Chaos ensues with the shooting of a resident and Chambers with some help, ultimately takes on a band of violent mercenaries who were there to retrieve a laptop hidden in one of the posh homes that contained some super important information that could change the world! Exhilarating. Entertaining. Humorous. Invigorating. The Neighborhood is one electrifying thriller! I highly recommend it. Two thumbs up Matthew Betley! Great read!
December 19, 2022
DNF 25% Incel/Prepper/"Patriot"/Ninja/Violence porn that I am just soooo over.
Killing a bunch of highly trained people quickly without being detected? Your neighborhood filled with other highly trained people just like you (though it is D.C.)?
I would rather be on a deserted island with vegans and some chickens.
Killing a bunch of highly trained people quickly without being detected? Your neighborhood filled with other highly trained people just like you (though it is D.C.)?
I would rather be on a deserted island with vegans and some chickens.
October 3, 2022
When I first started reading Matthew Betley’s novels, his gritty in-your-face realism mixed with witty sarcasm pulled me in, and I was an instant fan of his writing. Betley has recently released a new novel entitled The Neighborhood, and it is all of what I have come to expect from him and more. This novel sucked me in from the get-go, and I could not put it down. Now as I walk around my neighborhood, my head is on a constant swivel after reading this! You know you got it bad when the plot starts seeping its way into your daily life!
In the novel, The Neighborhood, all the residents of the suburban community, Hidden Refuge, think it is a normal Friday night as they crawl into their beds. However all of that changes when a group of ne’er-do-well’s impersonating police offers enter their neighborhood hell bent to take control of the community, and uncover what they were hired to find.
However, not everyone in Hidden Refuge is what they appear to be. Zack Chambers, who is now a full-blown family man with a good job as a programer has a deadly past he would rather keep hidden. Zack is able to keep his wits about him as the siege unfolds in front of him, as he uses the skills from a past life to protect his community. As the night unfolds, Zack, his equally deadly brother, and a motley crew of his neighbors (which also includes his babysitter) must work together to uncover what this group want, and to protect the other residents of this community.
The Neighborhood is a fast paced read with amazing twits and turns. The pacing is perfect, and I really enjoyed the character development throughout. I have to say, the reveal at the end was perfect, and it had me beyond shocked. Betley sets up the ending to where it begs for a sequel! I really hope we get more, because Zack and his brother Nick are great, and Zack’s babysitter Sam has a future that I would love to see unfold on the pages. The Neighborhood is an absolute gold mind, and is an absolute must read!
In the novel, The Neighborhood, all the residents of the suburban community, Hidden Refuge, think it is a normal Friday night as they crawl into their beds. However all of that changes when a group of ne’er-do-well’s impersonating police offers enter their neighborhood hell bent to take control of the community, and uncover what they were hired to find.
However, not everyone in Hidden Refuge is what they appear to be. Zack Chambers, who is now a full-blown family man with a good job as a programer has a deadly past he would rather keep hidden. Zack is able to keep his wits about him as the siege unfolds in front of him, as he uses the skills from a past life to protect his community. As the night unfolds, Zack, his equally deadly brother, and a motley crew of his neighbors (which also includes his babysitter) must work together to uncover what this group want, and to protect the other residents of this community.
The Neighborhood is a fast paced read with amazing twits and turns. The pacing is perfect, and I really enjoyed the character development throughout. I have to say, the reveal at the end was perfect, and it had me beyond shocked. Betley sets up the ending to where it begs for a sequel! I really hope we get more, because Zack and his brother Nick are great, and Zack’s babysitter Sam has a future that I would love to see unfold on the pages. The Neighborhood is an absolute gold mind, and is an absolute must read!
October 23, 2022
The Neighborhood is an explosive, wild, tense, and intense read!
From the opening pages, we know things in the idyllic neighborhood of Hidden Refuge are about to go horribly wrong. The action is breathless, taking us through the tangled lives of a few residents and someone on the outside whose sociopathic narcissism is about to shatter their world.
Interspersed we have a second timeline, which is our hero’s backstory. Here we gradually put the pieces together, leading us to where the stories collide.
If you like thrillers loaded with action, a complex plot, and lovable characters, this is the book for you.
*I received a free copy from Blackstone Publishing.*
From the opening pages, we know things in the idyllic neighborhood of Hidden Refuge are about to go horribly wrong. The action is breathless, taking us through the tangled lives of a few residents and someone on the outside whose sociopathic narcissism is about to shatter their world.
Interspersed we have a second timeline, which is our hero’s backstory. Here we gradually put the pieces together, leading us to where the stories collide.
If you like thrillers loaded with action, a complex plot, and lovable characters, this is the book for you.
*I received a free copy from Blackstone Publishing.*
November 9, 2025
Basically Die Hard in suburbia, which is a very cool idea. As with the last Betley book I read, the action sequences are solid, while the dialogue and voice suffer. Also too many coincidences for my taste.
November 23, 2023
5 stars for audiobook narrator George Newbern
2.5 stars for the book, bumped up to 3.0
I nearly DNFed the kindle version after author tells about a wealthy suburb in uninspiring prose. He also tells/expounds about the layout of a 6,000 sq. ft. house. Then, he tells about its owner, closing with he looks like a “daytime soap opera star.” Aaaaarrrgggh.
I switched to the Audible version superbly narrated by George Newbern, and was able to finish the book. I’m thinking this could be filmed as a straight-to-DVR, B-action movie.
2.5 stars for the book, bumped up to 3.0
I nearly DNFed the kindle version after author tells about a wealthy suburb in uninspiring prose. He also tells/expounds about the layout of a 6,000 sq. ft. house. Then, he tells about its owner, closing with he looks like a “daytime soap opera star.” Aaaaarrrgggh.
I switched to the Audible version superbly narrated by George Newbern, and was able to finish the book. I’m thinking this could be filmed as a straight-to-DVR, B-action movie.
April 17, 2022
The Neighborhood by Matthew Betley. Thanks to @blackstonepublishing for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hidden Refuge is just a normal suburban community. When men claiming to be police officers attempt to evacuate the neighborhood, drama ensues.
This was a pretty exciting read that turns into a survival/action thriller. It picks up the pace right away and stays intense. I did not really love the war flashbacks, but the information was needed to understand the background and what was occurring. The politics of it wasn’t my favorite, but there was little of it between all the thrilling action. Plausibility kept it from being a five star review, but overall an exciting and fast paced read.
“There were no truly safe places in America today, no matter what the occupants of communities like this told themselves.”
The Neighborhood comes out 8/9.
Hidden Refuge is just a normal suburban community. When men claiming to be police officers attempt to evacuate the neighborhood, drama ensues.
This was a pretty exciting read that turns into a survival/action thriller. It picks up the pace right away and stays intense. I did not really love the war flashbacks, but the information was needed to understand the background and what was occurring. The politics of it wasn’t my favorite, but there was little of it between all the thrilling action. Plausibility kept it from being a five star review, but overall an exciting and fast paced read.
“There were no truly safe places in America today, no matter what the occupants of communities like this told themselves.”
The Neighborhood comes out 8/9.
August 24, 2022
DNF - 50%
I don't want to bash this one since I think A LOT of people will enjoy this. This is scene for scene, Die Hard in the suburbs. Here's my gripe and what took me out of the book: showing vs telling. I read thrillers and don't expect any realism however, I can tell if I'm reading a good author vs a not so good author. This is my third Betley book and it will be my last. HIs dialogue really takes me out and his writing of telling just kills my reading. Again, people will love this and that's awesome, this just isn't for me.
I don't want to bash this one since I think A LOT of people will enjoy this. This is scene for scene, Die Hard in the suburbs. Here's my gripe and what took me out of the book: showing vs telling. I read thrillers and don't expect any realism however, I can tell if I'm reading a good author vs a not so good author. This is my third Betley book and it will be my last. HIs dialogue really takes me out and his writing of telling just kills my reading. Again, people will love this and that's awesome, this just isn't for me.
December 14, 2022
"The Neighborhood" (2022) by Matthew Betley could have been a thrilling novel about Zach Chambers, former CIA operative whose suburban gated community is invaded by ruthless killers, prompting Zach to spring into action. Unfortunately, the book is bogged down by long backstories about Zach and numerous supporting characters. Shifting character points of view within scenes made my head spin and my eyes roll. There are some exciting action scenes but ultimately I don’t recommend it. Narrator George Newbern is effective.
July 24, 2023
This was such an action packed book, I needed popcorn to sit and read it. I do see this being a major motion picture and the movie being AS good AS the book. It was suspenseful, but witty. It was violent, but I was absolutely cheering on the good guys. This was an excellent read. Sometimes Spy/CIA/Government novels become hard for me to follow, however, this was an easy to follow read. The author did a wonderful job telling a super nerve-racking story that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
August 23, 2022
A gated community close enough to Washington, DC to house retired government employees is plunged into chaos as armed insurrectionists start taking the residents hostage is a fantastic setting for a siege thriller, and Matthew Betley doesn't disappoint, with two ex-Special Forces brothers teaming up with the elder's teenage babysitter (who's my star of the novel) to attempt to defeat the enemy. The previous encounter between the main protagonists is told in flashback from Malta, and the final confrontation is a 21st century Gunfight At The OK Corral. This really has Hollywood blockbuster running through its core and I highly recommend it.
June 25, 2023
2.5 stars. Very short story. I felt like it ended too fast, though, I don’t know where else it could have gone. Maybe, the character development could have been more. It got really interesting only after two thirds in. Maybe, the character development could have been more.
August 25, 2023
A former special ops guy living in a gated community that is taken over by mercenaries in the middle of the night. Lots of action in a movie way. Liked the characters.
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December 6, 2022DNF after 1/3 of the book. Clearly not my thing. All action, little of anything else. It's not even peppy action. There's so much instructional detail between every piece of the action that it drags it down. The dialogue for the teenagers is probably exactly how a boomer thinks teens talk today; it's bizarre dialogue. And the main character is pretty creepy with how he talks so suggestively to the teenage babysitter (and the writing constantly reminding us that she's "his babysitter" is weird). He even tells her to text him whenever she wants since his family is out of town and he knows she's all alone. She has a boyfriend in the neighborhood. Just really odd.
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