The Neighbors

River Glen #3

by Nancy Bush

If you lived here
It’s one of the most exclusive addresses in town—a luxury development with pristine lawns and steep price tags. But there are unforgiving people living in the Villages, who know your secrets and have plenty of their own . . . secrets that no one lives to tell . . .

You’d be dead by now.
Mackenzie Laughlin has reluctantly moved to the Villages as bodyguard to Daley Carrera, who claims someone is pranking her and her husband. Mac expects a simple case of petty squabbles between new and longtime residents. Instead, she hears rumors of squalid affairs and sinister disappearances that tie in to a missing persons investigation led by her partner, Jesse James Taft.

Welcome to the neighborhood . . .
Behind every door and every smile, there are grudges that run deep and dangerous. Mac and Taft are being marked as targets, but why? Figuring out who to trust is the key to uncovering a killer who has no qualms about killing again. The neighbors are watching. And if getting into the Villages was difficult, getting out alive may be impossible . . .

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

444 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 28, 2022

About the author

Nancy Bush is a New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including the River Glen Series, Nowhere Series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Wicked Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Lisa Jackson, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Lisa Jackson and Rosalind Noonan.

Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.

After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!

Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am questioning whether I was given the same ARC as everyone else. I could not get into this book or the characters. The book's synopsis sounded so promising, and some reviewers claimed that you didn't need to read the first two books in this series to jump into this book easily. Well, IMO, yes, you do need to read the first two books, and if you have KU, you're lucky since they are freebies to borrow.

Some of the things I did not like about this book:

1) You needed to read the first two books to understand one of the storylines in this one.

2) Perhaps the author dislikes 'the older' generation, or maybe it is because she seems to be kissing up to the younger generation? I don't know which. However, I know that it seemed false and offensive.

3) What romance there was seemed forced and false. (at least up to the point that I gave up.)

4) More characters than you can shake a stick at. Very difficult to keep straight who was who and who was sleeping with who.

5) The characters and storyline that did make me curious enough to read this book ended up being a bit on the stupid side. I mean, come on, who hires a bodyguard to protect you from dog poop in your mailbox? Yes, I understand there is more to it, but I gave up after 40%.

I am in the minority, so try this book because you may like it; everyone else did!

*ARC supplied by the publisher Kensington Books, Zebra, the author, and NetGalley.

[Courtney (caffeinereadrepeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely Smickered! 😳😯🤯😳😳

I absolutely adore Nancy Bush and have for years, as a suspenseful thriller author - she reminds me so much of Lisa Jackson. When i saw this ARC I knew I had to read it and I'm so glad I did. This book is part of a series, but you CAN read it as a standalone. I've delved into this series and absolutely loved it. This didn't disappoint with Mac & Taft at it again!

Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Mac & Taft are both former police officers but due to their playing to their own drum, they are forced out and decide to do investigative work together as a team. A case they've taken on, involves Mac being an essential bodyguard to Daley, who lives in the Villages - a highly exclusive and luxury area. Recently since her and her husband have moved there, they've been threatened, taunted & picked on. What Mac believes is just some pesky neighbours acting out on the new kids on the block, turns to be something far more sinister and dark that will lead back to a disappearance Taft has been working on. And Daley isn't the only target anymore.

I will admit that at times it did get a bit confusing and a bit frustrating with all the different names & characters involved. And the length felt a bit cumbersome, however that aside, I absolutely delved in with no guilt on a sunny day doing nothing but gasping, eye-boggling, jaw-dropping & whispering "what?!" my afternoon away! Spine-tingling, dark, deceitful, and decadent in lies & suspense, you'll be dying to know how it ends!

Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Books for this ARC!
Release Date: June 28, 2022

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊

[Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Neighbors by Nancy Bush took some time to get going. There are a few characters that I really didn’t like, but overall the story was good enough that I am confident in recommending it to my customers. I didn’t realize that this was book 3 in a series but I found that I was able to keep up and the book can easily be read as a standalone. Not one of my favorites by this author but I still overall enjoyed the book in the end.

Thank you to #netgalley and #kensingtonbooks for allowing me read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Neighbors by Nancy Bush that I read and reviewed.
I did not feel this book at all. I found it very boring and extremely hard to get into. This series as a whole as been a struggle for me. With more or less two main characters I feel it should be two books focused on both people and it would be more exciting and you would get more out of the characters and get more action. I just don’t love this series at all. Bush tries to have to much going on and dor me it water downs the book.
I could only give The Neighbors three out of five stars because I kept loosing interest in the story.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book didn't work for me. Allegedly it can be read as a standalone, but I found that I was very confused as it continued several plot lines from earlier books in the series. There are a ton of characters, and it is not easy to keep them all straight. It took me forever to read this book, and I almost didn't finish it because I could not get into the story - it was all too complicated with zero action and very lackluster romance (for a "romantic suspense").

[OutlawPoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, for some reason, this didn’t really read like a Nancy Bush book. It’s weird, because I can’t pin down exactly what was different – it’s just that as I read it, I literally kept forgetting who wrote it.

That being said, it was a fun read.

The folks at The Villages are all kind of nasty. Sooooo much trashiness in once place – they all needed better hobbies. It was fun to find out what was really going on and the various scandals definitely lead to some unexpected places.

One character was so tragic. I really did not like this person when first introduced, but I ended up so sad about their character arc.

A truly entertaining beach read!

• ARC via Publisher

[Denise S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite of the River Glen series. Way too many characters and different stories going on. No one needs a bodyguard for porch pirates and dog feces in a mailbox; that was far fetched from the beginning. Three quarters of the way in, I didn’t care how any of the neighbors ended up.

[Twobchelm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard time getting through this one, plot was silly and couldn’t keep track of the characters!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars ✨

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since Mackenzie is no longer a police officer she has to find work somewhere so being a bodyguard it is for the moment. A young woman named Daley says someone has been pranking her husband and herself and she wants her to look into it. Mac figures its probably just kids but soon learns that there are all kinds of goings on in this neighborhood. There are affairs left and right, people going missing, and wild parties. Her business partner Jesse is looking into a missing persons case and it looks like hers intertwines with it. The two start looking into all the neighbors and what grievances they might have. What all will they turn up as they continue to investigate? This was a great read and I loved the previous books just wish the author would continue on with the series and characters!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This booked sucked me in from the start. It is #3 in a series, which I did not know. I have read the first book and acquired the 2nd. It works well as a stand alone. Mac is working for Taft at his P.I. office when she is asked to take on a bodyguard job. Daley and her husband have moved into a new neighborhood and they are being harassed. It's obvious no one want them there. As she investigates what is going on, they find that many aspects of the investigation jibe with a case Taft is on. When the murders start, everyone is a suspect.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Neighbors by Nancy Bush
River Glen #3

Neighbors can be wonderful or…just the opposite. In The Village, an established housing development, the “old guard” have a creepy association, keep dark secrets, and as so often happens…a secret is not a secret forever once more than one person knows the secret.

What I liked:
* Returning to River Glen to se how characters from past books are doing
* Mac: ex-police, working with Taft in his PI business, trying to ignore her attraction to Taft, hired to keep Daley safe in The Village
* Taft: ex-police, owns his own PI business, has worked with/for some dicey characters, trying to keep Mac safe, has a lot of irons in the fire
* Cooper: detective on the River Glen police force, continuing to follow up on a case that has been “solved”, in a relationship with Jamie, there for Jamie, Jamie’s sister Emma, his daughter and also Jamie’s daughter
* Elena: Cooper’s work partner, strong, dependable, intriguing
* The way the story started
* Following the trail of the cases that Taft and Mac were involved in
* That Emma was well liked and cared for by those in her family and social sphere
* That some of the baddies were found and dealt with
* The writing and plotting was well done
* Knowing that there will be another book in the series

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like

Comments:
* I had trouble connecting with the characters – especially the many in The Village and those that Taft was dealing with. I also had trouble understanding their motives.
* I wished that Taft and Mac had made some headway in their relationship…seems it was on the very back burner and perhaps on ice for this book
* There is great potential for this series

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, for the most part
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Neighbors by Nancy Bush is about a neighborhood with layers of secrets and traditions. This is book three in the River Glen series but can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone book. Mackenzie Laughlin had no idea of the conflicts which would arise when she agreed to work as a bodyguard for one of Taft's friends. Daley Carrera feels threatened in her new neighborhood in The Villages. Daley tells Mac (Mackenzie) there is a hierarchy among the residents such as the old guard and the new guard. The older original residents of The Villages have strict and peculiar rules they enforce through the HOA. Daley has had packages and mail stolen and then doggy poo put in her mailbox.
As Mac and Taft dig into the murmurs of cliques and old resentments within the residents, they discover a link to a missing person case Taft had been working. This is not good because now they are put at risk!
Publication Date: June 28, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

[Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this book will remind you why you should never talk to your neighbors.

I haven't read any books by Nancy Bush I believe and "The Neighbors" was just published this year though it reads a lot like old school detective novels.

Mac and Taft, two private detectives in the novel, are investigating the harassment of a client who moved into a new neighborhood. Though when they dig deeper, suddenly it's development deals gone wrong, hot tub parties, nosy neighbors and of course, murder.

It's a very packed novel, oftentimes with a lot of backstory and jumps in perspective between the detectives and very unlikable characters. It's a mystery/thriller but a little dark and about the hell of people, so it's not a guilty pleasure book.

It's well written and although I'm not sure I'll read another Nancy Bush novel unless I'm given one, I can see how she's amassed a fan base.

A beach read, though a little intense.

[Jamie Galayda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC of The Neighbors by Nancy Bush.

This is my first by Nancy Bush and I wish I would have known this was the third in a series because I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more. That being said, it was still an enjoyable, suspenseful read. Keep in mind before diving in that this one has many, many different characters that I had to really find the quiet time to read this in order to navigate it all. Overall, it was a good, thrilling, complicated read for me.

[Flora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed chapter one and was excited for the rest of the book. Unfortunately when the cast of characters piled on rapidly in the next couple of chapters, I became totally lost. Maybe you have to read the preceding instalments in the series. So this was not for me, I’m afraid. Those who are not new to the series will most probably like revisiting the recurring characters.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Not the strongest in the River Glen series, but still enjoyable nonetheless.

Mackenzie Laughlin has joined Jesse Taft in his private investigation business. The next case that’s presented to them is a couple that’s requesting a bodyguard. They’ve received threats and harassment (packages being stolen, dog poop being thrown into their mailbox) and want to find out who’s doing this to them. As Mackenzie inserts herself into the Village apartments, she learns about all the different dynamics amongst the residents. An “old guard” that reigns over the neighborhood, who don’t want anything to change in their perfect oasis. A “young guard” that seems to be partying nonstop and sleeping around. Daley and Leon (the couple that’s asked for help) are definitely outsiders in the villages and it seems like there are some folks who don’t like that they moved to the neighborhood. Is the vandalization a harmless prank/hazing or is there a more sinister intention?

Jesse Taft is trying to break away from working for Mitch Mangella (River Glen’s wealthy gangster who seems to have his hands in everything). However, there are people in his orbit that seem to have eyes everywhere. They don’t trust Taft and think he has information that could be used to exploit them. Along with that, another case comes his way that may be connected to the villages. LeeAnne’s husband, Tobias has gone missing. His father Victor is the one who owned the villages and created them. Is Tobias really missing or is he dead? Is he connected to what’s going on in the villages?

I found the mysteries to be interesting. However, because there are multiple mysteries, the focus continued to shift throughout the tale. This made it harder for me to be fully invested in their outcomes. There was another storyline that’s threaded in there featuring Cooper Haynes (a detective in River Glen from previous books). He’s investigating a case that’s technically “solved,” but seems fishy, like something is being covered up. How does that connect to Mackenzie and Jesse’s cases? Well, you’ll find out. It looks like a small book, but it’s quite packed and long. It took me time to finish it. I enjoy the three main characters equally (Mackenzie, Taft, and Cooper). The people they work for can be pretty obnoxious, though. There are a lot of characters in this series that can play a big role or a small. It can be hard to keep track of, but usually it all connects together at the end. I wasn’t expecting some of the twists that came. Usually, finding out the whodunnit isn’t resolved till almost the last chapters in the book. So it’s quite a ride. It’s good to read the other books beforehand, so you have an idea of who is who. It’s pretty confusing otherwise. I’d be interested to see if Nancy Bush decides to expand upon this series (I read the most recent one, “The Sorority”). If so, I’ll definitely check it out.

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mac's next case is helping a woman who moved to an exclusive neighborhood where she does not feel safe. With more questions than answers, Mac will need everything she has to find out who is guilty. This book kept me guessing.

[Melissa Follett-Filice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spme parts are repetitive, and the story bounces back and gorth between different characters and different plots, but it was all so interesting. I couldn't put it down and quite enjoyed it. Also love that the book has a strong female lead.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Nany Bush. This book did not disappoint.

[Melisa M Brewer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aweful

The worst Nancy Bush book I have ever read There were so many different characters and story plots it was so confusing to keep up; and very stupid plots

[Ashley Gillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, This is the third book in the River Glen series, featuring the "Glen Gang,": Mackenzie Laughlin, Jesse James Taft, Emma/Jamie/Cooper/Harley, and Steph/Nolan, etc. You can read this one as a standalone, the central mystery doesn't have anything to do with any continuing storyline. But there are some subplots that continue from previous books, so it may be helpful to read the first two books in the series (The Babysitter and The Gossip) first. It's up to you.

On to the book itself.

Mackenzie Laughlin finds herself recruited to be a bodyguard/companion to Daley Carrera, a resident of "The Villages," a housing development that is divided between the "Old Guard" and the "Young Guard," with Daley feeling like her husband, Leon has been seduced by the Young Guard and she's hated by everyone. What she does know is that someone has been pranking them, and she fears escalation. Meanwhile, the Old Guard begins getting restless and seems to be focused on Mackenzie, but why? What could she possibly be onto that is making them so nervous?

I really liked revisiting River Glen and the people in the town, and the premise seemed really promising - creepy neighbors stalking/harassing a new neighbor. And this one indeed had some really creepy neighbors with the Old Guard folks. They had all the creep factor you could want and then some. But I think the main storyline with the Villages and the stalking got so bogged down with all the side plots and the drama between Daley and Leon that it got lost. And then when it did come to a resolution it kind of fell flat. It just didn't live up to its potential. Which is a shame because I really liked the other two books in the series.

But I still give this book three stars because like I said, there are things that develop that really make this book worthwhile. I don't want to spoil anything, but there's a reason the neighbors don't want people sniffing around the neighborhood. That subplot made for some pretty good twists.

The other subplots, which continue from the other books, were also pretty good. They wrapped up some things that remained unanswered, but I have to say, I wasn't exactly waiting on pins and needles for answers, you know?

Overall, I'm still a fan of the series. But I hope if there's another, it's a little better than this one.

[Lillian Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mackenzie and Taft are back. What starts out as a case of wilful damage becomes something so much more. Mackenzie isn't thrilled about her new assignment but she needs the money and she loves working with Taft. Daley & her husband Leon have been the victims of the neighbours that seem to be ganging up on them but Daley is acting strangely. Is this just a case of martial problems or is there something else going on under the surface? Mackenzie has met some of the old & new guard and she realizes that there many secrets & lies.. She is hoping that this will be over soon but the case just takes a horrible turn.
Taft has taken on another case of a missing man could it be related to the case that Mackenzie is working on. Everything seems to come back to Victor Laidlaw and the three houses that he built that caused a huge rift with everyone. So where is his son Tobias? Did he just take a trip or has something happened to him?
Will they both find the answers to solve both cases?
Throw in our old friend Mangella and we know that their are going to be problems. Can Taft keep Mackenzie safe from him?
A good read read. What will happen to Mackenzie & Taft's relationship will they take it further?
I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Villages, an upscale part of River Glen is a hotbed of lots of things but mostly there's a big Mean Girl thing running through it. Mac and Taft are back in this story that starts out with Mac working for Daley, who thinks one of her neighbors is doing bad things to her and her home. and them turns into more of a murder mystery involving Taft's clients. Mac and Taft are ex- law enforcement officers who are partners in work and in life. This has a fairly familiar set of plot and subplot lines - there's a lot going on. There are also a lot of characters. This might be most enjoyed by readers who enjoyed the earlier installments in the series (and can remember who's who.). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jesse James Taft and Mackenzie Laughlin are back caught up in a weird neighbor of the "old guard" versus the "new guard". Mac is hired to babysit a woman who says she wants to divorce her husband yet her actions show otherwise.

Cooper Hayes and his partner Elena Verbena investigate the suspicious death of a construction foreman whose death was ruled an accident but a witness heard three voices. They are told the case is closed and Cooper is almost killed when his car is sabotaged.

There were too many plots going on for this one book and it was difficult reading through the long book. Too many characters. Disappointed in the book.

[Marcia Whoolery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never got perspective on the protagonists' relationship. Lots of story lines that came together in a rather random way.

[Donna Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel takes place in a neighborhood of luxury homes where the old guard residents resent the recent younger neighbors and their lifestyle. The deadly secrets and history of the older homeowners begin to surface when a new neighbor hires a private investigator to protect her and determine who is harassing her. The grudges, infidelity and crimes evolve into murder.
I just learned this is the 3rd book in a series. I don’t know if starting at the beginning of the series would have meant anything to me though this book did standalone. Perhaps my hopes were too high.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Kensington Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I look forward to reading a thriller keeping me engaged, check.

This is the third Mac and Taft mystery thriller. The pace of this book picks up, as the start of a touch slow. It’s more a slow build, I don’t mind it in this situation. Though multiple stories are taking place, I found it easy enough to navigate.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Villages evokes a happy harmonious neighborhood. However Mac and Taft, two former cops, are hired as protection.
Things start happening that show the neighborhood is rancid and rotten.
The action was decent. There were many players early in which led to some minor confusion, just trying to figure out who goes where. I also didn’t realize it was part of a series.
Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for the early copy.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series. I liked that Cooper, Jamie, Emma, and Harley from the first and second books are still featured. other than that I thought this was too long and wordy. too many people, too many paths to keep up with. Not my favorite. I do thank NetGalley for the advanced copy for my opinion