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Fear Thy Neighbor
A thrilling new book from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of No Way Out , that fans of Nora Roberts and Rachel Caine won’t want to miss! One woman’s picture-perfect island sanctuary reveals itself to be filled with dangers in this exciting page-turner…
At twenty-nine, Alison Marshall is ready to find a place to call home. With no family and no ties, she’s drifted from one small Florida town to another since high school, working odd jobs, saving hard, and building a nest egg. Once she finds the right place to settle down, she’ll know. And when she reaches beautiful Palmetto Island, she thinks she may have found it.
The small, close-knit island community seems to have everything Alison needs. On a hunch, she contacts the island’s only realtor, and learns that an old beach house is on the market. Miraculously, it’s in her budget, and Alison takes it as another sign that she’s in the right place.
At first, home is everything she hoped it would be. But as days turn into weeks, she uncovers a dark side to this supposedly peaceful haven. The locals have a secret, and once Alison discovers what it is, she faces a stark choice. She can stay and join them—or escape. But leaving brings its own risks, and Alison is starting to wonder if coming to Palmetto Island is the last mistake she’ll ever make . . .
At twenty-nine, Alison Marshall is ready to find a place to call home. With no family and no ties, she’s drifted from one small Florida town to another since high school, working odd jobs, saving hard, and building a nest egg. Once she finds the right place to settle down, she’ll know. And when she reaches beautiful Palmetto Island, she thinks she may have found it.
The small, close-knit island community seems to have everything Alison needs. On a hunch, she contacts the island’s only realtor, and learns that an old beach house is on the market. Miraculously, it’s in her budget, and Alison takes it as another sign that she’s in the right place.
At first, home is everything she hoped it would be. But as days turn into weeks, she uncovers a dark side to this supposedly peaceful haven. The locals have a secret, and once Alison discovers what it is, she faces a stark choice. She can stay and join them—or escape. But leaving brings its own risks, and Alison is starting to wonder if coming to Palmetto Island is the last mistake she’ll ever make . . .
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 29, 2022
3737 people are currently reading
25640 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
429 books6,571 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 906 reviews
April 8, 2022
I barely got through this and I’m just relieved it’s done. The writing style doesn’t work for me, the characters are far too simplistic, the crime and motive make absolutely no sense. I’m baffled by the high reviews.
Fear Thy Neighbor introduces Alison who is a drifter with a hard past as a foster kid. She stumbles across a beautiful beach community in a Florida and finds a house that is priced well below market value and within her budget. As soon as she agrees to purchase it, she stumbles across human bones in her backyard. This neighborhood may be a lot more sinister than she expects.
I didn’t feel anything during this book. Not shock at the crime, empathy for Alison, anger at any of the side characters. The writing didn’t elicit any emotion at all. However the reveals in the last couple chapters had me rolling my eyes because it made absolutely no sense at all. I’m glad this one is done.
Fear Thy Neighbor introduces Alison who is a drifter with a hard past as a foster kid. She stumbles across a beautiful beach community in a Florida and finds a house that is priced well below market value and within her budget. As soon as she agrees to purchase it, she stumbles across human bones in her backyard. This neighborhood may be a lot more sinister than she expects.
I didn’t feel anything during this book. Not shock at the crime, empathy for Alison, anger at any of the side characters. The writing didn’t elicit any emotion at all. However the reveals in the last couple chapters had me rolling my eyes because it made absolutely no sense at all. I’m glad this one is done.
June 6, 2022
This book was, in short, a hot mess. It was a slow, almost nonexistent burn, during which the dialogue and character development were both positively abhorrent.
The story is that of Alison (Ali)—a product of the foster care system, abused and neglected by those who were responsible for her safety and well being. At 17, Ali graduates high school and, after a harrowing experience at home, goes on the run. The story is of Ali visiting a new-to-her village in Florida and purchasing her first home. In spite of being drugged and dragged, finding human bones in her yard, and having horrendous experiences with the nefarious characters who inhabit the space, Ali moves ahead with buying a beach house there. She knows something is not quite right (ya think?), and as the story unfolds, the community’s secrets are revealed.
Whilst reading, I kept waiting for some big event to occur—something that would anchor this novel. Instead, what I got was a series of unrelated crises and events that portrayed Ali as, at once, a bad ass and a woman who just could not make good decisions. The result was a muddled protagonist about whom I could not possibly have cared any less.
While the lack of a central plot was disconcerting, it was the uncomfortable and stilted dialogue that sealed the two star deal. When Ali is chased while inadvertently trespassing on a private beach, she, weapon in reach, tells her pursuer she will “blow (his) frigging head off”. When the man backs off and tells her he never meant to scare her, Ali responds with “Then what the hell are your intentions?” His INTENTIONS? Really? She’s just been chased down and she asks his intentions? It was just so out of character. Was she the brusque and base woman who threatened to blow his head off or the more refined lady asking a man of his “intentions”? When she goes into a “dollar store”, she asks to purchase a “cellular phone”. So formal for a street rat who has had to live by the seat of her pants! The inconsistencies were prevalent through out and extended beyond the dialogue. At one stage, she was convinced she had food poisoning, then pages later professed that she never believed her illness was food poisoning. She talked about having to, in the past, eat from garbage cans, but then we find she has well over $100,000 she has managed to “save” over a period of only 12 years, all the while moving from place to place. She even has her own investment broker, was weapon trained by an ex-military captain and knows enough to check the behind-the-scenes plumbing when she looks to purchase a home. Must have been a busy 12 years.
Overall, an incredible disappointment from an accomplished author. Two stars—and that’s being generous.
The story is that of Alison (Ali)—a product of the foster care system, abused and neglected by those who were responsible for her safety and well being. At 17, Ali graduates high school and, after a harrowing experience at home, goes on the run. The story is of Ali visiting a new-to-her village in Florida and purchasing her first home. In spite of being drugged and dragged, finding human bones in her yard, and having horrendous experiences with the nefarious characters who inhabit the space, Ali moves ahead with buying a beach house there. She knows something is not quite right (ya think?), and as the story unfolds, the community’s secrets are revealed.
Whilst reading, I kept waiting for some big event to occur—something that would anchor this novel. Instead, what I got was a series of unrelated crises and events that portrayed Ali as, at once, a bad ass and a woman who just could not make good decisions. The result was a muddled protagonist about whom I could not possibly have cared any less.
While the lack of a central plot was disconcerting, it was the uncomfortable and stilted dialogue that sealed the two star deal. When Ali is chased while inadvertently trespassing on a private beach, she, weapon in reach, tells her pursuer she will “blow (his) frigging head off”. When the man backs off and tells her he never meant to scare her, Ali responds with “Then what the hell are your intentions?” His INTENTIONS? Really? She’s just been chased down and she asks his intentions? It was just so out of character. Was she the brusque and base woman who threatened to blow his head off or the more refined lady asking a man of his “intentions”? When she goes into a “dollar store”, she asks to purchase a “cellular phone”. So formal for a street rat who has had to live by the seat of her pants! The inconsistencies were prevalent through out and extended beyond the dialogue. At one stage, she was convinced she had food poisoning, then pages later professed that she never believed her illness was food poisoning. She talked about having to, in the past, eat from garbage cans, but then we find she has well over $100,000 she has managed to “save” over a period of only 12 years, all the while moving from place to place. She even has her own investment broker, was weapon trained by an ex-military captain and knows enough to check the behind-the-scenes plumbing when she looks to purchase a home. Must have been a busy 12 years.
Overall, an incredible disappointment from an accomplished author. Two stars—and that’s being generous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2023
I started this yesterday and did something I haven't done in ages...I stayed up until morning to finish it. I then found that I was actually disappointed that it had ended...that there wasn't any more story. Just when Alison starts to make friends and is happy with her decision and her new home.... strange things begin to happen. This is where I knew I COULD NOT stop reading! She finds a bone. ...you can use your imagination to guess what kind...as she's clearing up overgrowth on her property. She then learns this is not the first time that bones came from here. Then she hears the rumors of missing children and cult activity, or is it just rumors? Slowly she knows that her first thoughts on the discoveries were right. Still, she wants to spend time in her nice cottage on the beach. She has now set herself on a course that may change her life forever. The characters are both likable and questionable. The plot is breathtaking and events are sometimes horrific, but be assured the book will hold onto you until the end and afterwards.
November 22, 2022
this book was actually a FEVER DREAM.
I am so confused. why did nothing happen until the last 20 pages…? I kept waiting for some insane plot twist but I was EXTREMELY let down. the plot twist was only unpredictable because it didn’t make sense.
the main character was not likable at all. the side characters were okay, but lacked any real depth. the book was easy to read, but honestly it wasn’t very interesting & was VERY repetitive.
• the cult came out of left field - honestly I don’t even know what else to say about that
• ‘kit’, her love interest, was so sus???? why was he literally in love with her after meeting her once???
• the bad guy literally being a random ass side character from the middle of the book that had barely a coupe pages about him????????
• the entire val/renee/john story line?!?! a guy gets you pregnant & leaves so you tell the entire town he’s a predator????
• ALSO why did allison constantly feel like she needed to shoot everyone with her gun??? but then she finally needs it and she it’s no where to be found??????
i’m so unsatisfied with the way this book ended. it literally felt like a waste of time when I finished.
I am so confused. why did nothing happen until the last 20 pages…? I kept waiting for some insane plot twist but I was EXTREMELY let down. the plot twist was only unpredictable because it didn’t make sense.
the main character was not likable at all. the side characters were okay, but lacked any real depth. the book was easy to read, but honestly it wasn’t very interesting & was VERY repetitive.
• the cult came out of left field - honestly I don’t even know what else to say about that
• ‘kit’, her love interest, was so sus???? why was he literally in love with her after meeting her once???
• the bad guy literally being a random ass side character from the middle of the book that had barely a coupe pages about him????????
• the entire val/renee/john story line?!?! a guy gets you pregnant & leaves so you tell the entire town he’s a predator????
• ALSO why did allison constantly feel like she needed to shoot everyone with her gun??? but then she finally needs it and she it’s no where to be found??????
i’m so unsatisfied with the way this book ended. it literally felt like a waste of time when I finished.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2022
I'm torn because while this was very simple and a Scooby Doo level mystery, I did enjoy it and stayed consistently interested. I still had some questions and wanted to know a bit more of what happened in her young adulthood to get her to the point she could pay cash for a beach house and I had questions left about this cult.
This was my first Fern Michaels and while I'm glad I listened to this (I got the audio and I liked the narrator) I'm not sure if I'll be hunting down her others.
This was my first Fern Michaels and while I'm glad I listened to this (I got the audio and I liked the narrator) I'm not sure if I'll be hunting down her others.
May 6, 2022
woof. too many plot lines crammed into one not-very-well-written book (and none wrapped up well), with stiff dialogue and unbelievable characters.
February 9, 2023
Wholly unsatisfying. The many plot holes ruined much of this for me - a 29 year old graduate of the foster system (well, technically not even a graduate since she ran away after harming the male in her foster home who assaulted her). She has somehow managed to live a drifter life, entry level jobs BUT somehow, magically, met someone she entrusted with her “savings” and voila, had more than 100k to buy a dream house on the beach. Sign me up for that fantasy please.
It was also unfathomable that this woman who draws a gun the first time she encounters a man on the beach, yet she becomes besties so fast, sharing accommodations and entrusting new people with her safety.
And, the plot was thin. Scooby Doo and the Mystery Van thin. You could practically see the mask being pulled off as the end just pops up.
It was also unfathomable that this woman who draws a gun the first time she encounters a man on the beach, yet she becomes besties so fast, sharing accommodations and entrusting new people with her safety.
And, the plot was thin. Scooby Doo and the Mystery Van thin. You could practically see the mask being pulled off as the end just pops up.
March 16, 2022
Fern Michaels has been a favorite author of mine for years. I was so thrilled to get a ARC of Fear Thy Neighbor. I’m really sorry to say I just could not get into this book. I did read it to the end so there is that. But, it just didn’t engage me much at all. The ending just left me hanging.
The main character, Allison, grated on my nerves. Yes, I felt sorry for her but that was about it. The decisions she makes are just out there. Much going on within the story just seemed too far fetched.
I’m sure others may love this book. It just wasn’t for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
The main character, Allison, grated on my nerves. Yes, I felt sorry for her but that was about it. The decisions she makes are just out there. Much going on within the story just seemed too far fetched.
I’m sure others may love this book. It just wasn’t for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
July 10, 2022
This book was a train wreck! The story was all over the place, but you had to keep reading to see were it went! It was a story of a girl who grew up in the foster system of Ohio. She was tossed around and mistreated. You actually thought she had murdered someone in the beginning of the book, only to find he tracked her down on her bus trip escaping the town she was from. (Very far fetched). She makes enough money waitressing and is able to buy a house with cash on a beach in Florida (28 years old) only to find out the town has a sordid past that she somehow gets involved in! For someone whose had to deal with a lot in her short life, she really has no common sense. But me neither, since I actually read the entire book!
May 26, 2022
Atrocious. Each page was worse than the last. A jumbled mess of half-assed storylines, terrible dialogue, and a dumb, unlikable, contradictory protagonist. I struggled to finish it. Seriously this was the worst thing I’ve ever read.
February 18, 2022
I hate to admit this, but I read Fern Michael's Captive and Texas books when they were released in the late 70's and early 80's. Yes! I'm am "that" old and yes, I have been a fan of her writing for "that" long. 😎
I am truly honored to review her new book called "Fear They Neighbor". It will be published March 29, 2022. Fern Michaels has a very special place in my heart for all the hours of reading entertainment she has given me.❤
Now lets look at "Fear They Neighbor":
Alison Marshall age-29, is alone and free to pick a new place to live. Her dream has always been to live on the beach. She buys a little yellow beach house on Palmetto Island. Palmetto appears to be the perfect little beachside community for Alison to establish roots. Alison is so happy, but begins to have strange occurrences happenIng to her. Is someone trying to frighten her? Are the local residents hiding a dark secret? Is Allison in grave danger?
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. Seriously, who does not like a beach mystery? However, was it my favorite Fern Michaels book? Sadly no. I rated it 3.5. Here are the reasons why. We begin with Alison, who in the first few chapters trusts no one (pulls a gun on someone) and then tells other people she just met the code to her new house? W-h-a-t?? Plus, the ending felt a little rushed and implausible.
I will always be a huge Fern Michaels fan and can't wait to read more from her. I will continue to highly recommend her books.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books, for allowing me to read a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate you.
I am truly honored to review her new book called "Fear They Neighbor". It will be published March 29, 2022. Fern Michaels has a very special place in my heart for all the hours of reading entertainment she has given me.❤
Now lets look at "Fear They Neighbor":
Alison Marshall age-29, is alone and free to pick a new place to live. Her dream has always been to live on the beach. She buys a little yellow beach house on Palmetto Island. Palmetto appears to be the perfect little beachside community for Alison to establish roots. Alison is so happy, but begins to have strange occurrences happenIng to her. Is someone trying to frighten her? Are the local residents hiding a dark secret? Is Allison in grave danger?
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. Seriously, who does not like a beach mystery? However, was it my favorite Fern Michaels book? Sadly no. I rated it 3.5. Here are the reasons why. We begin with Alison, who in the first few chapters trusts no one (pulls a gun on someone) and then tells other people she just met the code to her new house? W-h-a-t?? Plus, the ending felt a little rushed and implausible.
I will always be a huge Fern Michaels fan and can't wait to read more from her. I will continue to highly recommend her books.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books, for allowing me to read a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2022
What a struggle bus this book was. I don’t think I even know what it was about really. Short book filled with a ridiculous amount of unbelievable events. It’s like the author was throwing every thought or idea. into the book, that she had in her head like they would pass away if she Didnt write them down. Some one please explain to me what I just read.
February 25, 2022
This is the first novel by Fern Michaels that I have read and I was particularly impressed with the depth of the characters and story plot in Fear They Neighbor. Michaels draws you into the life experiences of Alison as an abused foster child who is determined to create a "forever" home. After several riveting and unsettling experiences, Alison questions her decisions about the choices she's made. Can she trust anyone? Are this town and this home for her? What secrets are hidden in this town? Michael's abilities as an expert storyteller had me captivated from the beginning to the suspenseful end of this novel. Thank you Kensington Press for the ARC and for introducing me to another author.
January 4, 2022
This one gets an okay from me.
While I liked our story overall, there were times when I simply didn’t believe it. Even after finishing the book, I question the motivations of some of the characters. Some of what happens is completely illogical and I didn’t really love the characters.
I was intrigued by our murder mystery, but was disappointed in the why and who of it all.
I’ll read the author again, but this one was just a little too slapdash for my tastes.
*ARC via Publisher
April 14, 2022
None of this made sense. I found myself so annoyed by the main character for her stupid choices and over reactions to situations. Plus when handling a gun your finger should never be “on the trigger” which she always did, even when someone just asked her a question or looked at her sideways. The characters were all pretty unlikeable. Then with a few chapters left it seemed the writer got tired or writing and just finished it abruptly and very blah. I’m not sure how it has a 4 star average…
September 9, 2025
Words can't express how much this BORED me. Seriously. I did not think bored to death could be literal until today.
DNF at 51% in, which was 4hrs 24mins so I really really tried.
But I'm nosey enough to still want to know the 'thing' so now I have to go looking for spoilers.
Great. Boring AND gave me homework.
DNF at 51% in, which was 4hrs 24mins so I really really tried.
But I'm nosey enough to still want to know the 'thing' so now I have to go looking for spoilers.
Great. Boring AND gave me homework.
February 2, 2022
Well…I really wanted to like this book, but it was just too unbelievable and didn’t have enough characters that I liked. The ending felt rushed and didn’t really seem plausible. Just not for me.
July 14, 2022
A heap of gossip not much suspense
May 28, 2022
My second book by this author and my last. Kudos to the cover writer, whose blurb intrigued me enough to pick this one up on the shelf. The book would do better set in Texas, where the cliché inept redneck police officer, and Alison's misguided belief that she can take care of herself because she keeps a gun in her purse might be more believable. She seems to have a superhuman resistance to pain: able to wrap an open fracture (bone through the skin) of her arm with an ace bandage, take some aspirin (how'd she get the safety cap off?) and ride a bus. Later, she climbs through a window with a dislocated shoulder. Eventually, she nails the bad guys when they walk past her front porch at night. She draws her gun on them, tells a kidnapped, probably drugged child to run and scream for help through dark brush, then the FBI saves her by shooting the bad guy without announcing themselves (even though he was unarmed and only verbally threatening her), and politely tells her to lower her gun. Not happening.
August 14, 2022
Riddled with typos and an uninteresting plot, I barely made it through this 250 page book. It was just a hot mess of a book.
July 29, 2023
"She kept wondering why she moved to the island"....I kept wondering why I was still reading 🥴
October 5, 2024
A young woman that was raised in foster care makes a new life for herself in Florida.
June 30, 2023
I'm a working author, and I get my share of bad reviews. I even read some of them. Often, it's just a matter of taste. Other times, there are legitimate complaints. I don't abide by the rule, "If you don't have anything to say, don't say anything at all." I DNF plenty of books and never review them. But this one... I just have to.
I made it about a third of the way through "Fear Thy Neighbors" before I gave up. Most of that third was spent incredulous that such a book gets published, but then rationalizing why it does: "Fear Thy Neighbors" is pure fantasy. In it, a thirty-year-old woman who survived the most horrible ordeals in foster care as a child is now out in the world, trying to find some peace. She's standoffish, armed, skeptical of every man she meets, she takes in stray kittens, and she's searching for... something. Maybe a house? So far, so good.
But, the writing. And the details. It's as if the author has set the book in 1982. But it's not; it's 2022. Still, a cell phone costs $60 in this world. A hotel, with exquisite rooms described as "almost an apartment" -- $50 a night. And a beachfront house in ritzy southwest Florida? 100k. Not only that, but in this world, realtors don't check if you're pre-approved, or even gainfully employed, before showing you a house on the Gulf Coast. Seventeen year old girls on the beach don't have their nose in a phone, watching the latest TikTok; they're friendly and outgoing and say things like, "Mom would croak if she found out."
And I think that's the key. Fern Michaels grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries, and that's kind of what we have here -- a rambling sort of mystery where not much has happened yet a hundred pages in and everybody sounds like it's the 1950s. Or like they're in sixth grade, trying to be cool. Some notables:
"Sorry, Pedro, but it's time for me to move on. I've worked the last two seasons here. I told you when you hired me I was a drifter," Alison explained.
Alison scrambled as far away from her as she could when Sheila yanked her out from under the bed, slapping her several times. "You little tramp, you're just like all the rest! A trashy seductress!"
"Well, I must say I wasn't expecting you to buy the place but now that you have, I'll get the paperwork in order."
(This is the realtor who shows Alison the beach house without first checking for pre-approval, employment -- nothing. She ends up selling it to her for the cost of a trailer home in upstate, NY.)
Maybe if this place turned out to be her forever home, she'd learn about the tides, the moon, and its many phases. She remembered learning about the cosmos when she was in the fifth grade, though she didn't think her teacher referred to them as the cosmos, just the solar system. She learned the phases of the moon, and knew the sun lit up the half-moon except during a solar eclipse.
(I think it's safe to say there were no cosmologists consulted in the writing of this book.)
Fern Michaels is a #1 New York Times bestselling author.
P.s.
Look, I get it. At least, I think I do. People want escapism. They want diversion. And they care about story, not details like the cosmos or how much houses cost. Which would be fine, except I can't "escape" to anywhere with such corny writing or erroneous details. And the story -- yes, she's a sympathetic character, an abuse survivor who only shops at Walmart and we love that -- but nothing has happened. Well, she lost the gun she carries at one point because she thinks she was either date-rape drugged by an old lady or had a bad case of food poisoning -- so that's something.
Am I jealous an author can write this stuff and have it appear on a bookshelf in Walgreens were I picked it up? You bet I am.
2/5 stars
I made it about a third of the way through "Fear Thy Neighbors" before I gave up. Most of that third was spent incredulous that such a book gets published, but then rationalizing why it does: "Fear Thy Neighbors" is pure fantasy. In it, a thirty-year-old woman who survived the most horrible ordeals in foster care as a child is now out in the world, trying to find some peace. She's standoffish, armed, skeptical of every man she meets, she takes in stray kittens, and she's searching for... something. Maybe a house? So far, so good.
But, the writing. And the details. It's as if the author has set the book in 1982. But it's not; it's 2022. Still, a cell phone costs $60 in this world. A hotel, with exquisite rooms described as "almost an apartment" -- $50 a night. And a beachfront house in ritzy southwest Florida? 100k. Not only that, but in this world, realtors don't check if you're pre-approved, or even gainfully employed, before showing you a house on the Gulf Coast. Seventeen year old girls on the beach don't have their nose in a phone, watching the latest TikTok; they're friendly and outgoing and say things like, "Mom would croak if she found out."
And I think that's the key. Fern Michaels grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries, and that's kind of what we have here -- a rambling sort of mystery where not much has happened yet a hundred pages in and everybody sounds like it's the 1950s. Or like they're in sixth grade, trying to be cool. Some notables:
"Sorry, Pedro, but it's time for me to move on. I've worked the last two seasons here. I told you when you hired me I was a drifter," Alison explained.
Alison scrambled as far away from her as she could when Sheila yanked her out from under the bed, slapping her several times. "You little tramp, you're just like all the rest! A trashy seductress!"
"Well, I must say I wasn't expecting you to buy the place but now that you have, I'll get the paperwork in order."
(This is the realtor who shows Alison the beach house without first checking for pre-approval, employment -- nothing. She ends up selling it to her for the cost of a trailer home in upstate, NY.)
Maybe if this place turned out to be her forever home, she'd learn about the tides, the moon, and its many phases. She remembered learning about the cosmos when she was in the fifth grade, though she didn't think her teacher referred to them as the cosmos, just the solar system. She learned the phases of the moon, and knew the sun lit up the half-moon except during a solar eclipse.
(I think it's safe to say there were no cosmologists consulted in the writing of this book.)
Fern Michaels is a #1 New York Times bestselling author.
P.s.
Look, I get it. At least, I think I do. People want escapism. They want diversion. And they care about story, not details like the cosmos or how much houses cost. Which would be fine, except I can't "escape" to anywhere with such corny writing or erroneous details. And the story -- yes, she's a sympathetic character, an abuse survivor who only shops at Walmart and we love that -- but nothing has happened. Well, she lost the gun she carries at one point because she thinks she was either date-rape drugged by an old lady or had a bad case of food poisoning -- so that's something.
Am I jealous an author can write this stuff and have it appear on a bookshelf in Walgreens were I picked it up? You bet I am.
2/5 stars
June 15, 2022
This book was so disappointing. I expect more from Fern Michaels. The character development was terrible and the main character at times was very unlikeable. The writing was so simplistic. At one point I noticed I only had about 7-10 pages left and there were so many angles to the story left hanging that I couldn't understand how I could almost be at the end of the book. Well the whole story wrapped up in those last pages. It was unbelievable. I am aggravated I wasted my time.
June 15, 2022
Fear Thy Neighbor is a thrilling read by bestselling author, Fern Michaels.
Alison Marshall has always lived a nomadic lifestyle, beginning as a child in the foster care system. When she discovers a cute little cottage for sale just a stone’s throw from the beach, she believes her lifelong dream has finally come true. She decides to stay and make this quaint beach town her permanent home. When strange things begin to occur, she starts to think she’s made a deadly mistake. Will she survive to live her dream?
Fern Michaels pens another novel sure to be a bestseller. The characters are fully-developed with complete backstories. The beach scenery is breathtaking and plays an important role as the perfect setting. The premise and plot are well-defined and fully-realized. I give Fear Thy Neighbor 4 out of 5 stars, deducting for a slightly drawn out ending. I recommend it to all readers of women’s fiction, especially if you like a little suspense.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Alison Marshall has always lived a nomadic lifestyle, beginning as a child in the foster care system. When she discovers a cute little cottage for sale just a stone’s throw from the beach, she believes her lifelong dream has finally come true. She decides to stay and make this quaint beach town her permanent home. When strange things begin to occur, she starts to think she’s made a deadly mistake. Will she survive to live her dream?
Fern Michaels pens another novel sure to be a bestseller. The characters are fully-developed with complete backstories. The beach scenery is breathtaking and plays an important role as the perfect setting. The premise and plot are well-defined and fully-realized. I give Fear Thy Neighbor 4 out of 5 stars, deducting for a slightly drawn out ending. I recommend it to all readers of women’s fiction, especially if you like a little suspense.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
October 8, 2025
Good romantic suspense. Filled with interesting characters.
May 22, 2023
Fear thy Neighbor
Fern Michaels
REALLY? The math just didn't work for me...
3 stars
Fern Michaels
REALLY? The math just didn't work for me...
3 stars
July 19, 2022
I have been reading Fern Michaels' books since the beginning of time and she doesn't ever disappoint.
May 1, 2022
Wow!!!! I totally was not expecting the ending at all. I was so focused on Allison and her journey, that I easily missed clues. Great read in my opinion.
July 24, 2023
I'm sorry but this plot makes no sense! Main character Alison wanted to go further south to Key West and she just randomly decides to stay at Palmetto Island? Especially after getting stuck with creepy Betty and potentially being drugged? Betty stole Alison's gun!!! Betty is just a weird character and holds it over Alison that Alison never mentioned having 3 cats. I looked that back up! Alison says "cats" plural! So Betty claiming she only said she had one cat and therefore lied is completely wrong! Only one chapter apart, so come on. Anyway, point being after all that weird/creepy stuff, she wanted to flee now she's just staying?? Fortune teller tells her to stay and buy a beach house, while creepy John lives somewhat close by? Where is the bleeding logic in this?!
By this logic alone, this story shouldn't exit as the above statements should clearly lay out - there is no logic in this plot! To make matters worse, as thoroughly laid out as Alison had a traumatic childhood, so everything she's experienced/found out about this area of Florida should send all her triggers off and she should be making a b-line to the nearest Exit! Not to mention when she discovers a dead body of a little girl was found in the house she's just bought. Seriously?! Not to mention John is supposed to be a creep when it comes to children/little girls. Again, everything is screaming bad vibes and that she needs to leave - especially due to the main character's past experiences - so why does she have to stay?! Based on this, the story really doesn't need to exist. I realize Alison's at a point in her life where she wanted to settle down, but based on everything in establishing her character, her decision to remain in Palmetto Island doesn't reflect the background we as readers have been given, along with what she's experienced within the first 24-48 hours of being in Palmetto Island.
Why would Alison still plan on purchasing the house after learning more about the history, finding a new bone, and seeing how suspicious the police and forensic people are?! Also, Val admitted to not telling her about the house's history. That is so stupid!!! I know from experience you have to tell home buyers if someone has died on the property they are purchasing so while this was Kimberly's job and not Val's, that would've been nice to know - who cares how great a deal the beach house is on sale for?! After that, too trusting of Val and Renee, especially since her experience has shown her women can't be trust just as much as men.
The only person Alison seems to trust is the unseen Henry. What is history of that, especially as she is supposed to be a very mistrustful person due to her trauma? None of this is explained. I have a hunch, but clearly it didn't matter enough to be put on paper despite how he has put great care into investing Alison's money.
Val has known John since they were kids and all she does is allude to him being creepy/dangerous but refusing to answer to Alison what his past was like? That should make Alison suspicious of Val. For crying out loud they've alluded that the family is rich and therefore hinting several cover-ups with aid from local law enforcement. However, upon looking at Alison's first encounter with John, it is Alison who seemed to be the one acting irrational from the get-go. And then they pull the whole statutory rape card between Renee and John? None of that makes any sense! While it fueled fire for John being a creep, none of it added up. Only at the end do you learn Val has been lying the whole time and John is Renee's dad? That is a BS twist. Val's story and reasoning for what she did is far-fetched, and John just seems to be taking it in stride? No! Dude has every right to be pissed off. I realize he wants a relationship with his daughter, but that doesn't mean he just easily forgives Val for keeping his daughter from him and slandering his name for over a decade!
Now, as for the crap with Tank...that was messed up! After the encounter at the diner, Alison still hasn't bought the house yet so she should flee, no strings attached! The whole time Tank is being a creep, Alison has her hand on her gun! You can't just reach for your gun whenever you feel unsafe around someone! She was in a public diner!!! Also, considering all the drama that's happened between Alison, Betty, and Tank, there was no big reaction when Alison learned Tank is Betty's son! That whole part is just breezed over. Val's reason for not saying anything is that she was worried about gossip and spreading rumors, but now is not the time when potential lives are on the line! And what a hypocrite considering everything she did to John.
Afterwards, Alison continued debating whether or not to stay after encounter with Tank. She refuses to live by her past yet she is choosing to stay around in a place with a few people (mostly men) she finds dangerous and is thus allowing herself to stay in a situation similar to ones she's been trying to avoid!
Suddenly we're hearing about Koreshan Park and a cult? How did we go from perverts, creepy guys, nut job old ladies, and then cults? It was just thrown in there too, maybe one visual, but the idea of a cult never actually played into this mess!
And then we have Kit. I like the name "Kit" but why was Alison hitting on a man during a potential kidnapping/missing child situation?! And as cautious as Alison is of men suddenly getting "hot and bothered" but a man she has known less than 24 hours doesn't add up!!! And that's suspicious Kit is from Palmetto Island. It's too in your face and I didn't know to take it as a clue or if it was meant to be a big red herring. Again, less than 24 hours and here Alison goes, breaking and entering with Kit, then totally making out with him. (Eye role) And then Kit says "maybe a little more than like" in referring to his feeling for Alison right after their kiss?! Less than 24 hours and among all this crap!!! "Man of her dreams"? Barf! It was also too in your face with mention of Jane and her being 6 and she's been missing for over 20 years!!! Kinda heavy-handed.
More than once I found Alison to be irrational, especially when her childhood trauma has taught her how to defend herself and keep herself safe. For example (as if everything above wasn't example enough of Alison contradicting what childhood trauma should've instilled in her), if you see a fire and said fire isn't where it can put your new cottage in danger, don't run toward it! Especially when you see people in creepy robes and chanting! Also, the fire and cult in the middle of the parking lot feel too out in the open, even at night. How has no one seen this before?
Finally, Mr. Gib and Hal, really? The ending was way to rushed and the explanations were bogus as they were not hashed out, and again, rushed. It just came out of nowhere and it's like the snip of an explanation we got was meant to fill the hole of a sinking boat. The boat still sank.
Honestly, I was about a third of the way through when I got sick of reading the same thing over and over. Alison had plenty of chances to question her decisions about staying on Palmetto Island. She did it every time something bad happened or she learned something new. Every time she decided to stay only later to question herself again. Too late for question and regret! One quote that ticked me off was "Alison and her ability to know when to run when she felt she was in danger had saved her life..." Are you kidding me?! The fact that she survived feels more like dumb luck as I saw no survival skills displayed except when she was in the foster system, and simply carrying a gun.
Another quote "She never really thought of herself as smart" is just laughable. You got that right!!! How did Alison survive the crap we got from flashbacks to her time in the foster system only to grow up to be this dense?
Aside from major character flaws, the story itself felt jumbled, goes around in circles, and some phrases just felt repeated to the point of blandness. The phrase "beating a dead horse" comes to mind with how some phrases get endlessly repeated.
Normally when I write reviews, I try to find something good to write about along with the bad, but sadly I can't do it for this one. I felt this was more of a character driven story than actual plot, and considering the main character's rationale and therefore her were completely flawed for what limited plot was provided, it was hard to find anything enjoyable.
By this logic alone, this story shouldn't exit as the above statements should clearly lay out - there is no logic in this plot! To make matters worse, as thoroughly laid out as Alison had a traumatic childhood, so everything she's experienced/found out about this area of Florida should send all her triggers off and she should be making a b-line to the nearest Exit! Not to mention when she discovers a dead body of a little girl was found in the house she's just bought. Seriously?! Not to mention John is supposed to be a creep when it comes to children/little girls. Again, everything is screaming bad vibes and that she needs to leave - especially due to the main character's past experiences - so why does she have to stay?! Based on this, the story really doesn't need to exist. I realize Alison's at a point in her life where she wanted to settle down, but based on everything in establishing her character, her decision to remain in Palmetto Island doesn't reflect the background we as readers have been given, along with what she's experienced within the first 24-48 hours of being in Palmetto Island.
Why would Alison still plan on purchasing the house after learning more about the history, finding a new bone, and seeing how suspicious the police and forensic people are?! Also, Val admitted to not telling her about the house's history. That is so stupid!!! I know from experience you have to tell home buyers if someone has died on the property they are purchasing so while this was Kimberly's job and not Val's, that would've been nice to know - who cares how great a deal the beach house is on sale for?! After that, too trusting of Val and Renee, especially since her experience has shown her women can't be trust just as much as men.
The only person Alison seems to trust is the unseen Henry. What is history of that, especially as she is supposed to be a very mistrustful person due to her trauma? None of this is explained. I have a hunch, but clearly it didn't matter enough to be put on paper despite how he has put great care into investing Alison's money.
Val has known John since they were kids and all she does is allude to him being creepy/dangerous but refusing to answer to Alison what his past was like? That should make Alison suspicious of Val. For crying out loud they've alluded that the family is rich and therefore hinting several cover-ups with aid from local law enforcement. However, upon looking at Alison's first encounter with John, it is Alison who seemed to be the one acting irrational from the get-go. And then they pull the whole statutory rape card between Renee and John? None of that makes any sense! While it fueled fire for John being a creep, none of it added up. Only at the end do you learn Val has been lying the whole time and John is Renee's dad? That is a BS twist. Val's story and reasoning for what she did is far-fetched, and John just seems to be taking it in stride? No! Dude has every right to be pissed off. I realize he wants a relationship with his daughter, but that doesn't mean he just easily forgives Val for keeping his daughter from him and slandering his name for over a decade!
Now, as for the crap with Tank...that was messed up! After the encounter at the diner, Alison still hasn't bought the house yet so she should flee, no strings attached! The whole time Tank is being a creep, Alison has her hand on her gun! You can't just reach for your gun whenever you feel unsafe around someone! She was in a public diner!!! Also, considering all the drama that's happened between Alison, Betty, and Tank, there was no big reaction when Alison learned Tank is Betty's son! That whole part is just breezed over. Val's reason for not saying anything is that she was worried about gossip and spreading rumors, but now is not the time when potential lives are on the line! And what a hypocrite considering everything she did to John.
Afterwards, Alison continued debating whether or not to stay after encounter with Tank. She refuses to live by her past yet she is choosing to stay around in a place with a few people (mostly men) she finds dangerous and is thus allowing herself to stay in a situation similar to ones she's been trying to avoid!
Suddenly we're hearing about Koreshan Park and a cult? How did we go from perverts, creepy guys, nut job old ladies, and then cults? It was just thrown in there too, maybe one visual, but the idea of a cult never actually played into this mess!
And then we have Kit. I like the name "Kit" but why was Alison hitting on a man during a potential kidnapping/missing child situation?! And as cautious as Alison is of men suddenly getting "hot and bothered" but a man she has known less than 24 hours doesn't add up!!! And that's suspicious Kit is from Palmetto Island. It's too in your face and I didn't know to take it as a clue or if it was meant to be a big red herring. Again, less than 24 hours and here Alison goes, breaking and entering with Kit, then totally making out with him. (Eye role) And then Kit says "maybe a little more than like" in referring to his feeling for Alison right after their kiss?! Less than 24 hours and among all this crap!!! "Man of her dreams"? Barf! It was also too in your face with mention of Jane and her being 6 and she's been missing for over 20 years!!! Kinda heavy-handed.
More than once I found Alison to be irrational, especially when her childhood trauma has taught her how to defend herself and keep herself safe. For example (as if everything above wasn't example enough of Alison contradicting what childhood trauma should've instilled in her), if you see a fire and said fire isn't where it can put your new cottage in danger, don't run toward it! Especially when you see people in creepy robes and chanting! Also, the fire and cult in the middle of the parking lot feel too out in the open, even at night. How has no one seen this before?
Finally, Mr. Gib and Hal, really? The ending was way to rushed and the explanations were bogus as they were not hashed out, and again, rushed. It just came out of nowhere and it's like the snip of an explanation we got was meant to fill the hole of a sinking boat. The boat still sank.
Honestly, I was about a third of the way through when I got sick of reading the same thing over and over. Alison had plenty of chances to question her decisions about staying on Palmetto Island. She did it every time something bad happened or she learned something new. Every time she decided to stay only later to question herself again. Too late for question and regret! One quote that ticked me off was "Alison and her ability to know when to run when she felt she was in danger had saved her life..." Are you kidding me?! The fact that she survived feels more like dumb luck as I saw no survival skills displayed except when she was in the foster system, and simply carrying a gun.
Another quote "She never really thought of herself as smart" is just laughable. You got that right!!! How did Alison survive the crap we got from flashbacks to her time in the foster system only to grow up to be this dense?
Aside from major character flaws, the story itself felt jumbled, goes around in circles, and some phrases just felt repeated to the point of blandness. The phrase "beating a dead horse" comes to mind with how some phrases get endlessly repeated.
Normally when I write reviews, I try to find something good to write about along with the bad, but sadly I can't do it for this one. I felt this was more of a character driven story than actual plot, and considering the main character's rationale and therefore her were completely flawed for what limited plot was provided, it was hard to find anything enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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