There are a lot of neighborhood noir psychological thrillers out there and they range from the popcorn-thriller variety, to heart-pounding terror, and everything in between. The best ones for my personal tastes are the ones that engross the reader so deeply into the dynamics among the neighbors that I forget for just a moment that there is a broader mystery going on.

The latter type is what I found in Melissa Adelman’s debut novel, What the Neighbors Saw. Layered, well-crafted, and compelling, I was so immersed in the stories of the two leading female characters that I almost forgot the book started with a murder! This was without question one of the best books I’ve read in 2023. I didn’t want it to end, I obsessively marked passages I wanted to come back to, and I have thought about it nearly daily since I finished it. If you are a fan of well-developed characters and relationships, captivating settings, and complex layered stories, this book should be top of your to-be-read list.

About the Book

Alexis and her husband Sam are thrilled at the possibilities when they buy a fixer upper Cape Cod style house in one of the most exclusive suburbs of Washington D.C. Sam is close to making partner and Alexis is pregnant with their second child. This is a dream house, if only they can budget the money to make the necessary updates over time.

At first this is a dream come true. Their neighbors are all so glamorous and wealthy. But soon after moving in, Alexis and Sam realize the house needs more work than they thought and they are constantly fighting over where to spend their money on the house. Alexis sometimes wonders if they should have never left their downtown brownstone. She’s the only black resident on their block, and she never truly feels like she fits in. Add in the fighting with Sam…were they happier before?

The dream truly shatters when their neighbor Teddy Bard is murdered while out for a run. Teddy’s wife Blair is the reigning queen of the neighborhood, but in the wake of her husband’s sudden death, she doesn’t know where to turn. Appreciating Alexis’s humble kindness and distinct outside status to neighborhood gossip, Blair and Alexis form an unlikely friendship. But as the women grow closer, things in the neighborhood seem to grow darker.

After all, the most beautiful neighborhoods often hide the darkest secrets…

Why you should read it

At the forefront, What the Neighbors Saw is a gripping psychological thriller about a couple moving to an affluent neighborhood and finding themselves living with front row seats to a murder investigation that is exposing secrets previously hidden behind closed doors. The murder is more of the instigating factors for everything else that unfolds. It is both central to the plot and almost takes a backseat to the other dynamics within the block.

This is also a story about Alexis, a black woman who was raised by a distant mother with no family and very few friends. Alexis was alone from a young age and relied on her intelligence and hard work to create a life that couldn’t be more different from the one her mother led. As an adult, Alexis is constantly aware of being the “other” in a world populated by largely white men and affluent women who struggle to look past her surface characteristics and see her for who she is.

Blair, who is probably the most welcoming to Alexis once they form their friendship, often muses that Alexis seems terrified or skittish. Blair likes Alexis, but I question whether she really appreciates Alexis as anything other than a friend who is less glamorous or wealthy than her who she can feel superior to. I know this sounds harsh, I actually like Blair as a character and felt she also had way more depth to her than others think she has.

The twists and turns in this book are subtle but also shocking. The story starts about a couple moving to a new neighborhood and trying to fit in, then it is about a murder, and then it is about what is really going on behind the gorgeous facades of the neighborhood homes. The story weaves through different secrets and deception, exploring the lack of diversity in a neighborhood like this and how that can change someone’s role within the group depending on their past or race. It deeply explores the relationships among the characters, even the ones who are less prominent.

Alexis’s story was so compelling, I loved getting glimpses into her past. Her mother was cold, distant, and often punishing. And yet at times, though I never felt any of her actions we justified, I could feel her pain even through the second-hand account by Alexis. I thought the character of Alexis was the best part of the book, followed by the twisted ending that had me spinning.

Ooooh i love a good scandal, and this book certainly had a doozy! Thrilling and fast-paced, it kept me glued to my seat until the very end! A fun murder mystery with some jaw dropping moments. Great writing and such fun characters!

3.5 This was okay! It took me a long time to finish which is odd for me and an Audiobook but it did feel like it dragged on in some parts, and I went back and forth if I like Alexis’s or not but in the end I did like her! I thought Blair was an interesting character and I enjoyed her POV and I had my ideas of what the twist was and I was half right with it! And I was shocked at the other half! But I did feel like there was a lot filler with the neighbourhood and neighbours than needed to be! I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was done well!

This book was great at hiding the truth lurking in the background. Alexis and Sam have moved into a new house in a affluent neighborhood. They start to get to know their neighbors better and the secret dynamics come alive. Blair’s husband Teddy is found dead. Suspicions are mounting that he was murdered. Alexis goes to visit Blair and forms a friendship with her. I enjoyed the drama and the twists to the story.

I gave this book a chance. It was not for me. I will not be reviewing it on my bookstagram account or goodread page. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it.

2.5 stars rounded up

What the Neighbors Saw is a dual POV told through the perspectives of new neighbour, Alexis, and established neighbour, Blair. After a death in the neighbourhood, secrets and drama come to light and leave Alexis wondering just what kind of neighbourhood she’s moved into.

The story reads quickly, but the plot progresses slowly. I didn’t feel any of the characters were well flushed out and a lot of time was spent on plot points that didn’t add to the story as a whole.

I do want to specifically say that I was not a fan of all the talk about losing baby weight. The constant weight related talk really bothered me and I wish it wasn’t so heavily focused on. I don’t know if it was to accentuate the superficiality of the neighbourhood, but I didn’t think it had any point.

Overall, this story was just fine for me. The ending was interesting but the journey there made it feel kind of weird and abrupt. I wish we had more background on Blair and Teddy.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a domestic thriller about an ambitious young couple who succumb to the lure of all the glitz and glamour of living in an upscale neighborhood alongside the wealthy. When the chance to buy a broken-down Cape Cod cottage at a deal presents itself, they jump at the chance knowing it's a fixer upper, but location is everything, right? In their eyes, they have finally moved up to take their place among the affluent. They settle in and begin meeting their wealthy neighbors and attending block parties while also starting renovations on their bottomless money pit of a house. Funds are tight, but Sam is expected to make partner at his law firm soon, and Alexis is preparing for the new baby. Just when it seems they are finally on the right track, a murder shatters their perfect illusions. A neighbor is found dead of suspicious causes. How does that happen in the middle of suburbia paradise?
WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a slow burn tale unfolding through dual points of view - that of Alexis and also Blair, an influential neighbor who appears to take Alexis under her wing guiding her through the long list of who's who including who's cheating on whom within the not nearly so perfect neighborhood. Before long, it's clear money cannot buy happiness, and after the birth of her child, Alexis tries to conceal her growing uneasiness that's fueled by spying on neighbors. The more she sees, the more she suspects all is not as it seems in the land of the affluent. Eventually, the long, sleepless nights with a crying newborn takes its' toll on her sanity, and those around her begin to question the validity of her sparsely shared observations. The story that unfolds is an intriguing domestic thriller where dark secrets begin surfacing and masks slipping amid a hunt for the killer living among them.

Melissa Adelman has penned an intriguing story with detailed descriptions of life among the wealthy and/or wanna be wealthy. The first half of the book plays out in slow motion with the author paying great attention to individual family dynamics within the community as she strips away layers and draws aside the curtains to reveal some ugly truths to readers. At times, it feels as though the murder investigation is secondary with more time and attention being paid to the daily lives and happenings within the community. In doing so, the author emphasizes that wealth does not buy happiness or loyalty, changing location does not assure bliss and the grass is not always greener elsewhere. Even though some may find the slow pace frustrating early on, I think they'll appreciate Adelman's attention to detail in setting and characterizations as much as I did. While most characters are certainly not very likeable, they do afford readers juicy entertainment as the gossip mill runs rampant and lies and secrets pile up. With the pace increasing in the latter half of the book, questions about loyalties and betrayals arise, and I suspect many will be shocked at the big reveal and climax.

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a warning about the many dangers in trying to keep up with the Jones, of trying to fit in at all costs. Relationships become strained within families and friendships as people are often shocked at just how far they're willing to go to protect the lifestyle to which they've become accustomed. Fans of domestic thrillers will enjoy this one as will fans of suspense thrillers.

This ones for fans of the rich families and neighborhood drama thats devastating consequences. Alexis and her husband are getting ready to have their second child when they find out they can buy a house In an exclusive neighborhood. They thought it would be everything they wanted but it turned out to be so much worse. This was a fun quick read about the rich behaving badly. I enjoyed getting to know the histories of the neighbors and what they were hiding.






Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for my Gifted copy

What the Neighbors Saw is Melissa Adelman's debut novel. There were elements of the book that I really enjoyed - the main characters, Alexis and Blair, were well developed, and I loved the setting of the neighborhood. I thought that the author did.a great job of bringing perspective into Alexis' journey of moving into an upscale neighborhood expecting that it would drastically transform her life - but then learning that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. The pace of the book was great and I read it within 24 hours.

What I didn't love about the book is that I felt like it had a bit of an identity crisis - it was definitely a slow burn domestic mystery, but also seemed to want to have elements of other genres through some side plots and commentary. The main focus of the book was the murder of Alexis' neighbor Teddy, but the reveal of his murderer ended up being a fairly minor plot point and didn't have much mystery to it.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and will definitely be looking for future books from Melissa Adelman!

✨What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman✨

Genre: Thriller
Pages: 296

📚 Sometimes the darkest acts occur in the most beautiful houses…

When Alexis and her husband Sam buy a neglected Cape Cod house in an exclusive DC suburb, they are ecstatic. Sam is on the cusp of making partner at his law firm, Alexis is pregnant with their second child, and their glamorous neighbors welcome the couple with open arms. Things are looking up, and Alexis believes she can finally leave her troubled past behind.

But the neighborhood’s picture-perfect image is shattered when their neighbor Teddy – a handsome, successful father of three – is found dead on the steep banks of the Potomac River. The community is shaken, and as the police struggle to identify and apprehend the killer, tension in the neighborhood mounts and long-buried secrets start to emerge.

In the midst of the turmoil, Alexis takes comfort in her budding friendship with Teddy’s beautiful and charismatic widow, Blair. But as the women grow closer, the neighborhood only becomes more divided. And when the unthinkable truth behind Teddy’s murder is finally uncovered, both Blair and Alexis must reexamine their friendship and decide how far they are willing to go to preserve the lives they have so carefully constructed.

📝The synopsis for this story was interesting but unfortunately this was not for me. The MCs Alexis, Blair and Sam were incredibly unlikeable. Sam was particularly terrible which made the ending fairly predictable.

The plot starts off strong but then devolves into an overdone wealthy neighborhood drama.
I will say that the author is a good writer. I can definitely see myself reading future books by her, but I think the story itself was my issue.

💫Thank you @netgalley and @minotaur_books for my egalley💫

I’ve read quite a few of these neighborhood mysteries and I’d say this one was average. The story promised to be interesting with a young, upwardly striving couple move into a wealthy neighborhood and soon afterwards a man who lives nearby is murdered. I found mainly of the characters unlikeable at worst and unfathomable at best, meaning it became hard as the story progressed (slowly!) to invest in the outcome. The twist at the end was a good one and redeemed the book somewhat. I didn’t dislike it but didn’t love it either.

To me this had the feel of a mystery set in a house similar to Agatha Christie story, but instead of a mansion, hotel, resort, etc. ; it’s a neighborhood. A young couple moves to an exclusive neighborhood near DC where they can raise their family. The wife, Alexis, is feeling stuck as she’s left her legal job to be with her new baby and care for her other child before returning to work. Not long after moving in, their neighbor is killed on a nearby trail and the mystery begins. We get a glimpse of the various people and families that live there and suspect several could be involved in the murder of their neighbor. The grieving wife, Blair, befriends Alexis who is shocked at the attention. Alexis can’t help her curiosity and is trying to get a bead on the neighbors. There is scandal, nosey neighbors and some mean girl activity too. Easy and somewhat fun read.

You have to love a neighbourhood drama! This was a good read and I'll watch for more from this author!

I really wanted to like this book but nothing major really happened and it dragged for so long that I wasn’t really invested. The premise seemed promising which made me push through but I think the dual POVs from Alexis and Blair took away from the novel. The murder wasn’t really the center of the story so many times I questioned what certain things had to do with the plot itself because there was a lot of rambling going on.

Then once the murder happened we don’t really get anymore excitement until nearly the end of the book. I didn’t really care for any of the characters which made this fall flat for me. There were a few twists and turns but nothing substantial enough to make up for the slow pacing. The ending was a little predictable which I figured out a little earlier on who the murderer might be but the second person involved was a little surprising.

Overall, it was meh the characters lacked depth and didn’t really add to the atmosphere of the book. I wanted more from this and I really didn’t believe the motive behind the murder was worth it. Can’t say I recommend because the book was really iffy for me. Special thanks to the author, minotaurbooks, & netgalley for my advanced copy!!!

This was definitely a slow burn, but man did it pack a punch. I really enjoyed this one. I love a good neighborhood thriller. Highly recommend!!

*Thank you @minotaur_books for the copy in exchange for an honest review.*

What a great summer read! The dialog kept me invested until the end. I didn't see all of the twists and turns coming but I loved the ending.

A bit of a slow burn but once you are inside the gossip and secrets of the community you won’t want to put this one down.

If you're looking for a twisty thriller with murder and mystery, this is not the book for you. What I thought was going to be exciting, turned out to be a character-driven story with a murder that just so happened to occur. That plot point became secondary to the many other random things that happened throughout.
I did really like the ending, because it was a twist I did not see coming, but you have to get through the majority of the book to get there and I'm not sure it's totally worth it.

What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman is a dark domestic thriller. Alexis and Sam are new parents. They move to an exclusive neighborhood outside of DC and things quickly take a turn. A neighbor is found murdered and everyone is suspect. This is a novel full of wealthy people and their secrets. Alexis struggles to feel like she belongs because of her rough childhood. Her marriage is becoming strained with her husband working long hours. Everything is out of sorts and the murder close by has everyone in the neighborhood on edge.
This book was fun to read. I’m a sucker for rich people and their devious ways. There are enough twists and turns to keep anyone interested. I am looking forward to more books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a juicy neighborhood drama. The husband of one of the fixtures in the neighborhood is found dead. As the police investigation ensues, secrets, lies and deceit being spilling out 👀