Fern Michaels has been a favorite author 0f mine for years and 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.

While some parts were a bit unbelievable, I really enjoyed this book. Alison is a likeable character, and you can't help but feel for her with all she's been through. The pacing is just right to keep readers engaged, and the mystery of what's going on in the town and the secrets everyone is keeping is interesting. A well-written tale with enough twists to keep you guessing.

Mixed emotions about this book. It’s not up to the usual Fern Michaels standard. The plot had me going in circles and I didn’t know how to get off the ride. There were several threads of the story that just didn’t knit together well. Instead they jutted out like bad juxtapositions and the narrative was disjointed.
It was an ok read but not my favorite.

This is an author that I never hesitate to pick up. I loved reading this suspenseful thriller. This is an author that has great writing skills and her attention to details make her stories feel realistic. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into the story from the beginning. This is a fast paced story that has twists and turns that left me sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what will happen next. I enjoyed the growth of not only the characters but the plot as well. This is a story that is engaging and where the characters are connectable. They are strong and supportive. A story that is full of action and non stop suspense. I really enjoyed this story and what the characters brought to the story. I highly recommend this book and this author.

I have been a fan of Fern Michaels writing for many years. I haven't read any books by her recently.
Allison grew up in childcare and it was not usually a good experience. In fact for her it has been pretty bad. She leaves town the day after her high school graduation and must survive on her own.

Now Allison is almost 30 and had decided to settle in Palmetto Island. She gets a great bargain on a house on the beach and feels her life is finally coming together.
That is until strange things start happening in the town.
Did Ali make a mistake in choosing her first home? Just what is happening in this town? Can she believe the gossip? Will she be able to put her past behind her and make friends?
Read it for yourself and find out!
I liked the characters quirks and all. It started slowly but then picked up speed. Due to Ali's past she is reluctant and even afraid to trust others. I could feel her anxiety whenever she felt threatened..
Is this my favorite book by the author? No
Would I read more books from her? Absolutely!
3.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to netgalley and Kensington Books for the early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

While generally a fan of Fern Michaels, Fear Thy Neighbor just didn't do it for me.

There were too many things that bothered me, (view spoiler) I had difficulty relating to any of the characters, and there was just too much suspicion about the majority of the characters.

I would recommend this if you're a Fern Michaels fan, or a lover of mysteries. Don't let my words stop you from giving this book a shot.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.

I've never read Fern Michaels but by sentence one of "Fear Thy Neighbor", I was hooked. Great, suspenseful read.

A quick beach read with some very quirky characters. I loved Alison's resilience as she strives to survive her past. Her story of abuse in foster homes was heart breaking and realistic. However, the beach in Florida filled with weird people and strange happenings was questionable.

Allison thinks she's finally found her place in the world when she buys the little yellow house on Palmetto Island. But is it? Things begin to unravel when she finds a human bone, Turns out there's an uncurrent of bad stuff in this town and her neighbors well, they aren't all what they seem. No spoilers from me but know that Allison will find the truth. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

A great thriller and mystery with a little romance added in the mix. Intriguing characters, great setting and superb storyline made this a page turner that may be read.

Allison Marshall was a foster child. She was raised in Ohio until she moved to the south. She ends up at 29 in Florida. On her way to Key West, she stops for a night at a small local motel. She sees an ad for Palmetto Island and checks it out. Even after a strange night spent at the motel; she decides to check out a beach house for sale.
Allison has been very careful with her money and purchases the small beach cottage only to find the small town has some strange things happening. She meets a local teen and her mother they warn her about a local man being strange. The more she is in town the stranger things happen a grey car following her. The old lady from the motel and her son. She thinks the old lady may have drugged her the night she spent there. Before she can even move into the beach house the teen goes missing. Should she stay or go?
I love the mystery of Fern's books.

Who doesn't have a dream of a cottage on the beach, quiet seascapes, and beach walks just outside the door? Allison doesn't know when she starts her journey toward Key West that she will find all that and much more. With a horrific childhood that consisted of unloving and abusive foster homes she sets out for a change and in the process finds a picturesque cottage for sale at an unbelievable price. It is everything she thought she ever wanted. Within a very few days, she has made some friends, found out some of the seaside town's ugly secrets, and set herself on an adventure that will change her future. In the entertaining style of Fern Michaels, this book will hold onto you until the end. A beautiful seaside setting, both likable and questionable characters a thrilling plot, and events make this book a good read. Thanks to #NetGalley#FearThyNeighbor for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book jumps right into events that are thrilling, keeping you turning the page in order to find out what possibly could come next.

The timeline of things seems a bit implausible. The entire book seems to take place in a short amount of time, with the exception of the flashbacks that add a deeper insight into the main character, Ali, and why she is the way she is. The ending seemed to be tied up in a neat little bow, but it left me unsatisfied. There was so much repetition on Ali sticking to her guns on staying on Palmetto Island in her newly acquired yellow beach cottage when more time could have been spent diving deeper into the other characters of the story. Valentina, Rene, John, Kit, Gib and Hal (plus many more) seemed to fall flat.

The writing was clear and the train of thought easy to follow but it won't be a title that sits with me for a long time because it barely scratched the surface of a very interesting plot. I will read Fern Michaels in the future because I found the story entertaining and hope that in any future books the characters and plot are dived deeper into.

I did like the romantic aspect of the book, though it seemed to come out of nowhere. I found it sweet that after spending so much time alone, attempting to stay off the radar, Ali found people to build relationships with it. I wish Kit had made more appearances because he seemed to be an absolute doll.

**Digital ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

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 Alison 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.

“The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there… and still on your feet.” –Stephen King, The Stand

Alison Marshall is a survivor. After escaping from an aberrant foster home, Alison drifts from town to town…job to job…never trusting anyone and keeping to herself. Her only goal is to hopefully find a forever home where she can put down roots and actually find peace in her life. While traveling to the Florida Keys, Alison thinks she’s finally found her own slice of paradise on the beaches of Palmetto Island. A small beachfront cottage is for sale and she throws caution to the wind and decides fate is finally giving her a sign. However, all good things seem to come with a price, and after purchasing the cottage, Alison starts noticing this tight-knight community is hiding something…but what? Has she made the wrong choice? Will Palmetto Island become her nightmare rather than her dream come true?

Fern Michaels is an author I’ve enjoyed reading in the past, and while Fear Thy Neighbor is an easily read mystery, it just didn’t keep my attention, and I really wish the ending wasn’t quite so rushed. I’ll say no more for fear of spoilers. Keep in mind not all stories appeal to everyone, so if you are a fan of Fern Michaels or this genre, give it a try! While not my fav, it could be yours!



**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

*Thank you to Kensington Books, Fern Michaels, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/fear-thy-neighbors/

“People have discovered that they can fool the devil; but they can’t fool the neighbors.” –Francis Bacon

Alison Marshall is a drifter, never staying in one place for very long. Having grown up in foster care, she spends her adult life moving from place to place as she grows tired of where she is. From the day after her graduation from high school, she has had only herself to rely on, taking odd jobs to make money. When she tires of her job at a Mexican restaurant in Florida, she decides to explore the keys. Luckily, she has invested her money wisely and has options open to her.

On her way to the Florida Keys, she makes a stop at Palmetto Island, where she finds a cute inn called the Courtesy Court Motel. The small community draws her in, despite the sinister locals she comes across. While she only means to spend one night, she gets very sick suddenly, which she suspects might have to do with the owner of the cute inn. While browsing through the ads in the local newspaper, she sees a deal on a little yellow cottage on the beach and buys it outright. She doesn’t know the house already has a history. She learns of talks of cults, pedophiles, strange people, and the human bone she found while digging in her property. Alison has always depended on herself, not getting close to other people. All of that changes when she settles in Palmetto Island, but strange things continue to happen around her. What are her neighbors hiding? Did she make a mistake buying this house?

This was my very first Fern Michaels novel, so I was excited to dig in. I found the author’s writing style very easy to understand. I felt entertained, however; the plot was inconsistent and took away from the story. While the locals were cold to newcomers, I didn’t really understand their motives. Towards the end of the book, the author introduces Kit, a New York Times reporter, and Alison, always suspicious, seems to accept him right away, even going as far as to invite him to her neighbor’s house. There are some twists and turns and lots of pleasant tension that sets the pace of the story and keeps the reader engaged. While the revelations at the end are interesting, they leave the reader wanting more. As my first book by this author, I enjoyed Fear Thy Neighbor and the character of Alison. She was scrappy, smart, and likable. I wish the other characters were as well-developed. I would enjoy reading another book by this author.

Alison Marshall is twenty-nine and has been running from her past for most of those years. A foster kid who doesn’t even know who her parents are. She’s worked hard and has invested wisely all while trying to find a place she fits in.

Palmetto Island may be the place she is looking for. Small and the islanders are friendly for the most part. She even manages to make a friend. When she finds a small beach cottage in her price range, she buys it. And then finds a human bone.

A journalist from Miami shows up looking for information on a cult in the area and hopes of finding out what happened to his little sister years ago. When her friend’s child is found missing, things get weird.

And that was an issue for me. A lot of the storyline felt shallow and not finished. There was a bit of an unbelievable factor to the wrap-up as well.

NetGalley/ March 29th, 2022 Kensington

Another thrilling suspenseful mystery by the master - Fern Michaels. This is an unpredictable plot. Alison, a street-smart former foster kid, has learned to live by her wits and trust her instincts. They have saved her life more than once. Used to being on her own she relocates to a low-key Florida island. Her dream has always been to own her own beach house and she finds the perfect one within her price range - or so she thought. Strange things seem to happen on this island. There is gossip but it seems to be just that - Gossip. Rumors of missing children and cult rituals but no one seems to have any evidence until Alison uncovers a human bone on her property. The local law enforcement appears to be inept, so she teams up with a local reporter to uncover the truth. The more she discovers, the more her life is in jeopardy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I am a fan of Fern Michaels and ‘Fear Thy Neighbor’ didn’t disappoint. Set on the west coast of Florida, this book includes mystery and romance. My 4 star rating is because there were parts of the book that could have used a little more depth and explanation. Overall, an easy and enjoyable read.

For many years I have been a fan of most of Fern Michaels books (some I loved and others not so Much) so I thought I would give her latest tome a try when it was offered by Net Galley. Unfortunately FEAR THY NEIGHBOR falls into the “not so much” category for me.

While the premise of the foster child overcoming a rocky beginning and fulfilling her dream of owning a home of her own is intriguing there are so many other facets of the story that had me questioning the protagonists’ capabilities in the areas of logic and common sense. Some of the decisions our heroine made were downright stupid. The place she chose to settle in the state of Florida has to have the highest per capita percentage of weirdos, general crazies and folks with secrets than any other place on the planet. Everything about the place screams STAY AWAY!

Granted, the beach house she purchases is a bargain (which should in itself be a dead giveaway that something isn’t right) and she would likely turn a healthy profit if and when she sold it……that is if she survives long enough to sell it. Well, you get the picture.

One of Fern Michaels greatest strengths has always been her ability to weave a great story that holds the readers interest building upon action upon action and consequence upon consequence - and while I do have a high tolerance for foreboding and cynicism this particular offering proved to be a real test of my endurance.