First I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for the ARC of this psychological thriller. This was my first time reading Kia Abdullah and it will not be my last.

While it is true that we can pick our neighbourhood(s) however we cannot pick our neighbours, this is the perfect title for this book.

This happens to Salma and her husband Bil as they relocate hoping for a better environment for their son, who is struggling with getting kicked out of college and finding his place.

Kia had me right from the first page and my interest never waivered. In fact I had to finish the book to find out the outcome and was up way too late. Just as I thought I may have figured things out (for example the keyed car, a missing pet, vandalism - well I will say no more you will have to read find out) Kia through in a twist so subtle at times I didn’t realize I was on a different road.

Kia ties everything up neatly and yes surprisingly with my expression “What!?!?” and “No, please no!”

This is a must read if you like these types of books. I will admit there were times I had to second guess if I had locked my doors. This story has been so well written and the plot never gets stale.

Definitely a new author for me.
#netgalley #kiaabdullah #harpercollinscanada

The Killer Crime Club, facebook group, along with HarperCollins Canada provided me this ARC. I found this novel to be very interesting with easy to read language. I was eager to learn how the crisis between neighbours would be resolved or even IF it could be resolved, There were a few surprises which is very satisfying. Loved it! Would definitely recommend.

Those People Next Door was a super fast paced and thrilling novel. Our main character, Salma, her husband, and their son move into a new-ish development because they want to remove their son from bad influences in their old neighbourhood. However, once they attend a family neighbourhood party soon after moving in, Salma is realizing that there may be an issue with their race.

Fast forward a bit and Salma is on the receiving end of a ton of microaggressions against her and her family, as well as blatant acts due to racism.

I really enjoyed this and I loved how a thriller could also delve into deeper aspects and create conversation around race.

Those People Next Door definitely cemented my decision to never miss a book Kia Abdullah writes. I was hooked and emotionally invested from the very beginning, I cringed, I sighed, I begged the characters "don't do it, don't do it" a number of times and I was there for all the secrets, twists and turns the story delivered. I also really enjoy Abdullah's ability to successfully marry suspense and courtroom drama, all the while infusing an entertaining story with complex themes such as systemic and individual racism, parenthood, marriage...

Salma hopes that by moving to a new suburban community her family can get start fresh. A small act by her next door neighbour triggers a chain of events that will have a dramatic impact on both families.

Ugh this story was TENSE! And I loved every second of it. If I wasn't reading I would've been covering my eyes a number of times because it felt like watching a train-wreck. Kia Abdullah knows how to create complex characters whose actions seem so human and so possible under the circumstances. She really forces you to think deeply about what would you be willing do to protect your family? And how far would you be willing to go to stand up for what is right?

I highly recommend this one to fans of the genre but also to those readers who enjoy the journey as much as the twists in these kinds of stories. It also makes a great beach/vacation read - definitely a page turner.

A big thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book really got me thinking about white privilege - the author did a fantastic job at conveying how racism is often occurring right in front of our faces, empowered through micro aggressions and fuelled with ignorance and intolerance.
I struggled getting into it at the beginning because I had no idea where it was going and the characters obviously weren’t very loveable. But that plot twist in the middle was shocking!
I also really liked how the author showed how instances like what happen in the book ultimately can bring out the worst in everyone - even when in forms of retaliation.
Would definitely read a book by this author again!

Those People Next Door follows Salma Khatun and her family in their move to a new town. Shortly after moving in, Salma witnesses her neighbour, Tom Hutton, ripping out a Black Lives Matter banner in her yard. After this, things begin to escalate and drama ensues between the Khatun and Hutton families.

This was an interesting and gripping read. I love the depictions of racism and how the book showcases the impact of both those who suffer from it and those who are wrongly accused of it. It was very thought provoking.

It did start off a little bit slow to me when the plot was being set, but it eventually had me hooked.

I loved the court scenes. It was very immersive, and Abdullah does a great job at depicting the courtroom process. Sometimes these scenes can drag, but Abdullah did a great job at making it short and sweet.

There were some great plot twists sprinkled throughout, and there was a big twist at the end. The full truth was not revealed until the end and it had me shocked. Although, if I’m honest, I wasn’t completely satisfied with the truth.

Overall, this book is very relevant and applicable to today’s society. If you are at all interested in legal thrillers or crime, I would definitely check this one out! As I said, Abdullah does a fantastic job of writing the legal process.

I’ve heard great things of some of Abdullah’s other novels as well, and I can’t wait to check them out.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In Kia Abdullah’s latest, Those People Next Door, she gives something slightly different from her other books. She still has written a thought-provoking psychological thriller and courtroom drama with her trademark twist. She adds more drama to the story while exploring class, race, aggression, community dynamics, and neighbors misbehaving, and the underbelly of a picture-perfect suburban town.

What is going on between the cover

Salma, Bil and their son Zain moved to a quieter suburban neighborhood looking for a fresh start, but they don’t start off on a good foot with their neighbors when an anti-racist banner is taken down, and it’s assumed it is an act of racism. Things quickly escalate as each family reacts to the other’s behavior.

My two cents

Kia Abdullah does a great job delving into the complexities of human nature, examining how suspicion and prejudice can influence our perceptions and actions. She shows us both sides of the neighbor’s actions and thoughts through the characters’ POVs, allowing us to question their motivation. We are left to wonder if it is motivated by prejudice or something else on both sides. Plenty of drama in the back-and-forth battle between the two families sometimes felt cringy instead of building the suspense about what they would do next. I almost didn’t want to know, which took away from the tension between the families.

Some hills are worth dying on, and some are worth walking down from, and how things escalate to that final twist felt over the top, and I had a hard time buying into the character’s behavior and motivations’ taking away that believability element that this could happen in the story. In the end, this was not a hill worth dying on but one worth walking down however that is one of the things for readers to think about, making this one a great one to think deeply about.

Overall there are some great messages examined through the themes. The pacing was spot on and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could, and the final twist lived up to Kia Abdullah’s trademark.

I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley

This is my first book by this author and I’m going to have to rectify that. Salma and her family move to a new neighbourhood in the hope it will provide a better environment for their teenage son. They aren’t there long before Salma becomes embroiled in a conflict with her next door neighbour Tom. Salma’s family has put up a Black Lives Matter sign in front of their house and it causes a massive dispute with Tom. Battle lines are drawn and the conflict quickly escalates to an out of control, dangerous, and terrifying feud. The story focuses on the impacts of racism and bigotry and as we know this is unfortunately rising in society rather than decreasing. The book is well written and fast paced. The characters were interesting and the story definitely drew me in. Overall a great suspense story with important messages.

This was not my first Kia Abdullah book and yet every time I read another of her books I'm somehow blown away by her command of the genre. I loved how she went through the leadup, the court proceedings and the aftermath. I felt sucked in the entire way and the very last line of the book blew my mind. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!!

In Kia Abdullah style, this is a great court room drama. She dove into heavy topics, like race, created characters that had you guessing until the end, but always comes out with a surprise.

I found this book slow to start, but quickly became an enthralling page turner as I tried to predict the plot twist. I would have rated a 4.5⭐️, until the last paragraph. It left be utterly disappointed and went down to a 1 ⭐️. I would recommended the read, just skip the last chapter!!

Abdullah is a British author of several successful legal thrillers. Her last book was "Next of Kin "and this new book is another in that genre. It starts when Salma and Bil move into a new home hoping for a fresh start after Bil's restaurant failed due to Covid. When Salma spots her new neighbour Tom removing her small Black Lives Matter banner from a flower pot, she decides to let it go and then puts it in her window instead. The next day she finds the outside of her window has been painted over to block the banner. Confronting the neighbours only escalates the situation. Meanwhile Salma's 18 year son and Tom's 16 year old son have secretly become friends. Eventually violence lands one of the neighbours being charged with attempted murder. This is a wonderful novel about racism, family, miscommunication and trust. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of this author's thrillers and think they are a great recommendation for thriller readers.

“𝑾𝒆’𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒉𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒆 ‘𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈.’ 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒆́ 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒆́𝒔, 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒂 𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉.”

I recently quoted my friend Dennis (@ScaredStraightReads) asking “can you have mixed feelings about a book and still enjoy it?” I had said yes and I believe that holds firm in this book too.

Kia Abdullah has created a tension filled domestic suspense novel that is a page turner; I read the entire thing in one sitting. I loved how she wasn’t afraid to dive deep into issues of race and class; from the opening chapter, we see microagressions where one of the new neighbours are glad to call Bil by a more “English” sounding name and implying that they should bring spicier food to the BBQ next time. It sadly feels authentic to the time we are living in. Abdullah’s writing is great; each time things escalated, I ebbed back and forth between outrage and shock, but also frustration at the decisions the characters were making - a sign of great storytelling, alongside an atmospheric street that feels Stepford-like in its adherence to rules. I really liked Zain and Jamie’s friendship, especially as they bond over the development of an app for those who have a hearing impairment like Jamie. They are certainly the more likeable characters than either set of parents. I wish there was more from them; the peeks we got were welcome reprieves from the chaos their parents were involved in. Part 2 when we got to the trial interested me way more than part 1; the tit for tat there by the two sets of neighbours eventually gets old. Abdullah’s writing really shines in the courtroom and held me captivated.

Those People Next Door is a story of neighbours, choosing sides, prejudice, racism, and retribution. Although I struggled with the unlikeable characters, Abdullah is a great writer who I’d be interested in seeing more from! Thank you to Harper Collins Canada and Killer Crime Club for the ARC!

Those People Next Door highlights the different forms of racism and prejudices in this compulsively readable thriller.

Salma, her husband Bil, and their son Zain have recently moved to a new neighbourhood. They attend a neighbourhood party, and everything seems to be going well enough. That is until Zain’s anti-racist flag starts triggering the neighbours, leading them to acts of passive aggression. The situation quickly spirals out of control.

This intense neighbourhood thriller has multiple POVs.

Abdullah examines the many forms that racism and prejudice can take.

The author’s writing style is very engaging and near unputdownable. This is the second book I’ve read of hers, and it was just as gripping. She strikes a nice balance between characterization and moving the plot along.

There are twists upon twists. However, one of the final reveals was a bit of a letdown. It seemed to come out of nowhere.

But except for that gripe, the rest of the book was amazing.

Thank you to HQ for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

4.5 rounded up quickly to 5 stars after I read the ending which I did not see coming.

Those People Next Door is full of drama including the courtroom, twists and turns and lessons on racism that we all can learn from.

When Salma , Balil and their son Zain move into their new house with hopes of a new beginning they meet the neighbor from hell. Tom Hutton.

Things quickly escalate and the tension mounts between the families ultimately ending in dire consequences.

They say revenge is a dish best served cold.

The pages fly by as you race to the end.

You will hold your breath in the court room scenes wondering if justice will be served.

Those People Next Door will be a favourite Book Club choice no doubt.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada, HQ for a read you wont soon forget.

First published January 19, 2023

This was a rapid review for me as I read an ARC of the book (a coworker's) in January and was holding off my review until it popped up and I was approved.

It is true that we can choose your home but not your neighbours (oh how I loathe my neighbours!) and this excellently written book proves that. Let's call them domestic terrorists: I certainly would not want to live next door to these nightmare people.

A great thriller will hold your breath moments and wonderful characters that I will recommend far and wife: I have already done so and will continue on doing so.

This book can be VERY TRIGGERING… there is some seriously objectionable racism in these pages and trust me you’ll want to yell at Tom … or worse. People like this actually exist IRL and it is nothing short of terrorism … it is utterly sickening how people are marginalized due to their skin colour.

#shortbutsweetreviews

A fast paced thriller with great characters and lots of twists.

Those People Next Door had me from the beginning. I was drawn to the story and was shocked at so many parts of the book. This novel was easy to read and was a page turner. I want to read more by this author now.

Thought provoking courtroom drama.

When the Khatun family moves in a new suburban neighborhood, Salma, a mother and school teacher feels hopeful that this is a new beginning for her and her family.

When she sees her neighbor Tom, an imposing white man ripping out their Black Lives Matter flag in her front yard, she decides not to confront him. She's new and it might be a misunderstanding.. so she decides to put it in her window instead. When she wakes up the next morning to find her window has been painted over, hiding the flag, a battle between the two families begin and will lead them to a very catastrophic event.

Abdullah skillfully explores the topic of class and race with complex characters.

Highly recommend for a book club read as there is so much to discuss!

This was my first Kia Abdullah novel and it definitely won’t be my last. Well-paced story with a mystery, court-room drama and an unexpected twist at the end. I enjoyed this look at racism (one family is White, the other Pakistani), intolerance, and questions around the role of assimilation into the majority culture. There are no easy answers and intolerance can be found in any of us, regardless of culture or race. The characters are neither good nor bad and I enjoyed the nuance that the author brought to the characters. This one kept my interest throughout with the writing, pacing, plot, and themes explored.

Thanks to Harper Collins Canada and Netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Killer Crime Club and NetGalley for this opportunity. This was my first Kia Abdullah book. It took me a while to get into it in the beginning. However, after part II started it “flew” by, I could not put it down. I had to find out what happened, I did not see those twists happening towards the end.

I knew with this author I was going to get a twist! I thought, no, too obvious, maybe this…no, wrong again!! Loved the twist, didn’t love the ending though, but enjoyed the court case.

Thanks to HarperCollins Canada and Netgalley for my advance ecopy in exchange for my honest review.