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3.0
A Neighbor's Guide to Murder: A Novel
ByPublisher Description
From internationally bestselling author Louise Candlish, a witty psychological thriller where an older woman's suspicions about her charming new neighbor ignite a deadly spiral in their luxury apartment building
In Columbia Mansions, secrets don’t stay behind closed doors for long…
It's rare for a room to open up in London’s storied Columbia Mansions, and lonely Gwen is thrilled when an unexpected new subletter, Pixie, turns out to be a friendly breath of fresh air to its stuffy halls. Their unlikely cross-generational bond soon becomes the bright spot in Gwen’s quiet life.
But Gwen can’t help noticing cracks beneath Pixie's cheerful surface—especially when it comes to her questionable financial arrangement with her live-in landlord, Alec. As suspicions mount, Gwen’s protective instincts go into overdrive, triggering a dangerous chain of events no one is prepared for.
The last thing Columbia Mansions wants is a scandal on its hands...
Let alone a murder.
In Columbia Mansions, secrets don’t stay behind closed doors for long…
It's rare for a room to open up in London’s storied Columbia Mansions, and lonely Gwen is thrilled when an unexpected new subletter, Pixie, turns out to be a friendly breath of fresh air to its stuffy halls. Their unlikely cross-generational bond soon becomes the bright spot in Gwen’s quiet life.
But Gwen can’t help noticing cracks beneath Pixie's cheerful surface—especially when it comes to her questionable financial arrangement with her live-in landlord, Alec. As suspicions mount, Gwen’s protective instincts go into overdrive, triggering a dangerous chain of events no one is prepared for.
The last thing Columbia Mansions wants is a scandal on its hands...
Let alone a murder.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesA Neighbor's Guide to Murder: A Novel Reviews
3.0
“1.5 stars rounded up for the narrator’s excellent work
This would have been a DNF but the narrator was phenomenal and kept me listening. The story was a bait and switch. The cover says “You’d kill to live here” and the title sounds like it will be a thriller of sorts. It is not. It’s just a long drawn out story of an older lady who is mostly not likable, causing problems and trying to fix them but making them worse. It’s far too long for how little happens. And that murder you’re expecting? It happens at 92%. Not kidding. This was not a good time.”
“Dry Wit & Domestic Chaos
Louise Candlish’s latest kicks off with a shocking opening scene before diving into a dark, domestic tale about how far we can really trust our neighbors. As my first read by this author, it was an engaging introduction to her style. The story is told entirely through Gwen’s perspective, a narrative voice that left me entirely conflicted—I couldn't decide if I loved or loathed her. On one hand, Gwen’s dry, cynical observations are highly entertaining. On the other, her frantic, back-and-forth decisions alienate everyone around her, causing the plot to swing like a far-fetched pendulum. Still, trapped between an appalling family and an unmotivated "boomerang" son, it’s hard not to feel sorry for how often she is taken advantage of.
The momentum stalls a bit when Gwen is forced to protect her lifestyle, caught between loyalty to her desperate tenant, Pixie, and a battle with her sworn enemy next door, Alec. Because I predicted a major piece of the ending early on, the final twist landed with an anti-climactic thud rather than a shock.
Where the book truly shines is its biting social commentary on London’s brutal rental market. The stark contrast between Gwen’s comfortable privilege and Pixie’s sheer desperation to keep a roof over her head creates a brilliant, pressure-cooker atmosphere. It leaves you asking: should we sympathize with Gwen, or criticize her complacency?
While this specific thriller format was new to me, it was a compelling ride, and I’d happily pick up another book by Candlish in the future.”
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