5 stars. After reading “Doll House” by Phoebe Morgan just a couple of months ago, I was excitedly awaiting the release of “The Girl Next Door”. I was not disappointed. This book is thrilling, non-stop and extremely well written and planned. Reading my way through this, I didn’t want it to end and would not even consider giving this less than a 5 star, excellent review. Very impressed. Cannot wait for the next book by Phoebe Morgan!

A teen is found murdered in a field. What ensues here is a gripping, twisty, suspenseful story, not so much about the investigation, and more about the town and the people in it. If I were to compare it to some recent books I’ve read they’d be Jo Spain’s Dirty Little Secrets or Lesley Kara’s The Rumour, because what we have here is a small community with lots of secrets and things are not quite what they appear at first. That’s all I’ll tell you about that, the blinder you are going in, the better! And I hope you do go in, because this is a belter of a book, that you don’t want to miss, especially if you like stories that are all about unravelling secrets and that are chock-full of little twists and turns (honestly, doesn’t everyone?!). Highly recommended.

Thanks to Phoebe Morgan, HQ and The Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this novel for free!

3.5⭐️ - wow, that was a bit insane! Quick read for sure!

I received this book as part of a surprise bundle a d picked it up to read on my train journey to and from Glasgow as it seemed like a quick read.

Overall, it was fairly enjoyable. It was indeed a quick read but I found some of the plot to be pretty unbelievable and characterisation thin.

I did enjoy it but it was an easily forgettable read.

What a twisted ending!

I loved this book. You follow the story line through the perspective of the neighbor who has her own secrets to hide. Being lead on a trail that ultimately leaves you with your mouth hanging open. Stunningly clever plot full of misdirection. You won't want to stop reading until you reach the conclusion.

It took me a few days to get passed a few pages (not by choice but lack of time) however when I finally got time I finished over half of it within a day. I couldn't put it down. The story had me questioning how it would end until the very end. Highly recommend!

3.5
In this novel we follow three POVs, Jane the wealthy mother of three who is married to a doctor. She has the life everyone want, well that would be until they see what goes on behind closed doors… She lives next door to Rachel the mother of the dead girl. This is an insightful POV we get the nosy neighbour, the gossiping mums and then Janes story intertwined.

DS Madeline Shaw is the one who is put on Clares case, ready to do her job she starts investigating. I think having her as a POV character was a mistake she doesn’t really seem to do much? She doesn’t divulge any information we need, there quite boring chapters.

The final perspective is Clare the girl who was found dead, in her chapters we get to see the day leading up to her death. We get to know what she’s feeling, how her home life is.

I think I would have enjoyed the narrative a lot more if it was Jane and Clare. I think having more of Clare would have added more to the story, we would get to know more, we’d get to see who she was and more of what her home life is really like. Some of the book fell flat and most of that was due to Madelines chapters.

The plots was good, girl found dead. Who done it? Let’s try and find out while learning all about this small town. I’m in. Sad that the book didn’t execute the kind of drama and mind fuckery I want when jumping to a physiological thriller.

I have to admit I didn’t see the twist coming, I didn’t guess the killer. It was slightly anti-climatic. I do wish it was longer act three felt like it was crammed in all at the last second. Also I wish there was more build up to Janes reveal a little more background clarification of what was mostly hinted at but never explicitly stated.

Overall good read, would pick this author of again. If your in the mood for a slow burn, domestic thriller with a few turns in the road and you can get you hands on this book, it worth reading it.