I finished this in one sitting. I was engrossed in the story and couldn't put it down until I reached the resolution. The characters were well-written and my stomach was in knots. Read this for a twisty, dark, unsettling experience.

I only came across Mark Edwards last year, & he’s quickly became one of my must read authors. I’m currently making my way through all of his books but I already know this one will be a favorite when I’m done. The entire story is thrilling but the last 20% had me on the edge of my seat, I couldn’t put it down.
It’s fast-paced, packed with twists, everything you could want in a thriller!

4.5⭐️ ROUNDED UP.

He’s done it again. Mark Edwards never fails to deliver, and The Psychopath Next Door is another first-class thriller that sees Edwards turn the ordinary into our worst nightmare.

Ethan Dove and his family have got the fresh start they were looking for after moving to a new home in a safe neighbourhood. And when Ethan’s daughter, Rose, is bullied by two local boys, he’s relieved that his new next-door neighbour, Fiona, steps in to help. This is exactly the kind of community he was looking for. And when Fiona offers to look after Rose during the school holidays, Ethan and his wife, Emma, are thankful for the help. But Fiona isn’t what she seems. Because lurking beneath the smiley, helpful exterior is a cold, calculating psychopath hell-bent on revenge. And she’s decided that Rose is the perfect trainee accomplice.

As soon as I heard that his latest book was set in the same world as his unsettling Magpies series, I knew it would be a winner. Edwards has been an auto-buy author for me for a number of years and he gets better with every book. This nerve-shredding thriller had me hooked from start to finish but it was the finale where Edwards shined, delivering one of the best twists that I have ever read. And those final lines were truly terrifying.

Lucy Newton from the Magpies Trilogy makes a welcome appearance in this book. I always find her so much fun to read and loathe, but I found someone I might loathe even more: Fiona Smith. Fiona is a strange, unnerving and fascinating character who knows she’s a psychopath and embraces it. Fiona has just been released from prison and now she’s finally free to exact revenge on the people she blames for putting her behind bars. But the real star of the show in this book is Rose. That child made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and was truly terrifying. As a parent all I could think was how her parents were going to feel and what they might do. But I never could have predicted what ANY of the characters would do in this book.

A magnificent thriller that will have you hooked from start to finish, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

This was my first Mark Edwards novel, and it won’t be my last. I liked his writing.
Meet the Doves, Ethan, Emma and their two kids Dylan 15, Rose 12. They have recently moved to have a fresh beginning, at the start of the book we aren’t sure why. On this street we have Tommy and his extremely annoying family, and Fiona. Fiona is a single, attractive woman that relocated from Australia.
One day Tommy’s boys bully Dylan and Rose and Fiona jumps in to save the day. A new friendship is formed between Ethan’s family and this mysterious neighbour Fiona. She seems awfully interested in young Rose right from the get go. Soon, she is providing childcare for Rose for the remainder of the summer. Mistake number one.
There is much more to Fiona than appears. She’s not the kind of neighbour you would ever want, little own be watching your child, or being close with your family.

This book felt like a puzzle with all the pieces coming together, for the explosive ending that I wasn’t expecting.
If you are looking for a good psychological thriller that keeps you on your toes, this one is for you!
I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the early copy. This book will be released on January 28th, 2025.

3.5 stars
This is a good psychological thriller centred around a family and their neighbour.
Ethan and Emma have recently moved home with their son Dylan and daughter Rose. They are trying to make things work as a family but are struggling with their 12 year old daughter.
When their neighbour Fiona steps in when Rose is being picked on, Ethan and Emma are grateful.
When she offers to look after Rose in the school holidays, Emma is wary but Rose persuades her.
Fiona is hiding a few secrets and enjoys spending time with Rose as she sees a kindred spirit.
This is a good read but was a bit predictable in places.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this book.

Ethan Dove’s family has moved to a new home in a safe community, and it’s exactly the fresh start they need. Not only is his marriage to Emma hanging by a thread, but his son, Dylan, and twelve-year-old daughter, Rose, deserve to have a happy childhood. After Rose is bullied by the boys across the road, Ethan is relieved when the woman who lives next door steps in. Fiona Smith has come into their lives at just the right moment, and when she offers to look after Rose during the school holidays, Ethan and Emma can’t believe their luck.

Which is exactly what Fiona wants. Because, far from being the perfect neighbour, Fiona is the last person you should trust with your child. With a vicious plot for revenge, Fiona is happy to train Rose to be her accomplice, especially when she begins to suspect that Rose might not be as innocent as she appears.

Mark Edwards is a master at creating suspense. This was fast-paced from the beginning, and I read it in one sitting. I literally couldn't put it down. 🙂 Great plot, creepy psycho next door, all the things I love in a neighborhood psychological thriller. Read this. You'll love it! 4.5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

We start with a family getting the fresh start they need. Ethan Dove has moved to a "safe community" along with wife Emma and their two children Dylan and Rose. Ethan and Emma are having "issues" in their marriage, the main reason for the move, so hope this new beginning will help them save it.
But cracks start to appear again when Rose starts getting bullied by the two boys who live opposite. Ethan tries to fix it but it is next-door neighbour Fiona who steps in instead. Fiona who turns out to be a godsend when she bonds with Rose and offers to look after her during the school holidays.
But, as we find out, Fiona has an ulterior motive for wanting to spend time with Rose. She sees in Rose what she has inside herself, and can't wait to teach her all she knows...!
Normally I love this author's books. They are five stars all the way. They are chilling and scary, but always wholly plausible. Sadly, I didn't get all this with this book. It ticked most of the boxes I wanted but I really couldn't help rolling my eyes at some of the things that happened, or didn't. A couple of things I can ignore, but there were a few too many implausible scenarios for me. I guess a lesser author in my eyes might have been forgiven but I hold this author in such high esteem that maybe my standards for him are higher, but expectations have to be met. Even the inclusion of a couple of "old favourites" didn't sway my overall opinion, and I though actually made the book weaker.
But, all that said, he's still one of my favourite authors and I guess like all things in life, you can't please everybody all the time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

The Dove family have moved to a new area for a fresh start and they think everything appears to be going well until new neighbour, Fiona Smith becomes involved in their lives and takes an instant interest in twelve year old Rose. On the surface she appears lovely, she helps Rose when she gets bullied by the boys across the road and even offers to look after her during the holidays whilst Ethan and Emma are at work, a prospect that they are delighted at, so Fiona takes her under her wing, while their fifteen year old son Dylan does his own thing, but she isn't there to babysit a child, she's looking to exact revenge and nothing will get in her way.

The Psychopath Next Door is the latest thriller by this author and, in true Edwards style, this is just as dark and compelling as his others. The premise is clever and the read is well paced, drawing out Fiona's backstory which is explained throughout in this three part tale. It was great to see the return of Lucy Newton and, albeit briefly, Jamie and Kirsty from the Magpies trilogy and, even though this one is linked to those books, it's definitely a standalone read but, if you haven't read any of the Magpies books yet, now's your chance, they are a very chilling read. As always Edwards draws you in and keeps you hooked throughout, in a story that will have you on the edge of your seat second guessing what comes next, with some great twists and a fabulous ending. I definitely recommend!

I'd like to thank Thomas & Mercer, Netgalley and the author for inviting me to read this book, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Mark Edwards, you are seriously twisted and psychotic 🤣🤣 but really, your books just get better. I loved everything about this.

A fast paced thriller that really had you thinking. I was half expecting Ethan to be an Apex Predator at the end to overcome all, but the ending was fab just as it was

If you love a great psychological thriller get this and any other of Marks books. Run, don’t walk !!!

Amazing thriller.

First time hearing about Mark Edwards and it didn't disappointed me.

It was gripping from the start, so many twist until the end.

Totally recommend it.

Tense, Dark, Disturbing..
A new life or a huge mistake? When Ethan, Emma and family move to a new neighbourhood they are undoubtedly hoping for a fresh start. After all, surely they deserve that? It seems too good to be true, a safe and friendly community - and everyone knows what they say don’t they? If it seems too good to be true then it invariably is. When neighbour, Fiona, begins to inveigle herself into their lives it appears harmless - more than that, she seems just the perfect neighbour, but appearances can be very deceptive indeed. Tense and gripping, this psychological suspense is bubbling over with twists and turns with a cast of well crafted characters populating a taut plot. Dark and disturbing.

“The Psychopath Next Door” is a psychological thriller.
Thank you Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ethan and his family moved to a new home for a fresh start. Fiona moves next door and starts inserting herself in the neighbors’ life by offering to look after Rose, Ethan’s 12 year old daughter.

The story is gripping, with dual POV (Ethan and Fiona), full of suspense and secrets. As Fiona and Rose spend more time together we find some disturbing things about both of them.

The ending was not very surprising, but it is dark and makes you question things.

I found this to be an addictive story. The writing was descriptive and allowed me to feel engaged in the story. The characters had many layers which added to the intensity of the story. I felt this was more suspense than twisty. I enjoyed reading and I'll be sure to review and recommend.

“The Psychopath Next Door” is a chilling thriller by author Mark Edwards that in my opinion is one of his best novels since ‘The Magpies’.

Ethan Dove moves his family in search of a fresh start to rebuild his delicate marriage. He wants to create a perfect setting for his family but the idyllic setting quickly turns sinister when their next-door neighbour, Fiona Smith, steps into their lives at a time when they need support the most.
At first Fiona appears to be a great help to the family when she assists with their daughter Rose but Fiona soon shows a different side. Far from the perfect neighbour Fiona starts to manipulate Rose, using her to execute a plan of revenge that puts the entire Dove family in danger.

This is a well written novel, plenty of tension as Mark Edwards weaves a web of suspense and intrigue. I enjoyed the character Fiona Smith who proves to be a very complex antagonist. Ethan and Emma Dove are struggling to save their marriage as well as making a safe environment for their children so the realisation of danger next door is very real.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Another great read from Mark Edwards.

A gripping psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to shout ‘noooooo’ at the book in many places.

Was gripping from the start and fast paced and I loved the return of Lucy.

Great read
Loved it

New beginnings…
Hoping to leave the past behind and get a fresh start, Ethan, his wife and children all relocated to a new neighborhood. Unfortunately, things may just get even worse for his family! Come on Ethan, the grass isn’t always greener.💁🏼

The house across from them have two teenage sons that are full-blown bullies. Not surprisingly, the parents are no better.

But after a young easygoing single gal moves in next door, it may be the little ray of sunshine this neighborhood needs. She even offers to sit for Ethan and his wife’s two kids.

Too good to be true? Survey says…duh!

Mark Edwards always delivers a suspenseful and chilling thriller that will have you second guessing who you let into your life!

As with all neighborhood thrillers I read, it leaves me eyeballing my neighbors just a bit more closely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas &Mercer

This was my first Mark Edwards book and it was SOO good! I read it in 2 sittings! I could not put it down. I 10000% recommend!!

Mark has done it again a gripping read with twists and turns that you can't turn the pages fast enough. Set in the Magpie universe you get to meet old friends and new ones. Well written that will stay with you long after you're finished. Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Is it normal to enjoy a psychological thriller so much that you didn't want the book to end?
Mark Edwards has a devilishly disturbing mind indeed, so I'm not sure what that says about me as a reader!
The author grabs you from the very first page, those first few lines,
" There was no one to meet her outside the prison gates. She had left her only friend, if that term could be used for her relationship with Lucy"
That magical moment when you know that what you are about it read is going to be one heck of a ride if Lucy is involved in anyway shape or form.
After Fiona is released from prison she has just one thing on her mind and that is sweet, delicious revenge, what she didn't expect was to form friendship with her new neighbours daughter Rose. But Fiona sees something in Rose that has potential.
So many twists it had my head spinning like Regan from The Exorcist.
Bravo Mr Edwards for another fantastic read!

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Psychopath Next Door’ written by Mark Edwards in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Ethan and Emma Dove with their children Rose 12 and Dylan 15 have moved into a new home in a safe area hoping to make a fresh start but it isn’t long before Rose is bullied by the two boys living opposite. She’s brought home by their next-door neighbour, Fiona, who offers to look after Rose during the school’s summer holidays while her parents are working. But Fiona has a reason for wanting to get close to Rose as she feels a connection with her and it’s not long before she has Rose trained to play ‘pranks’ on the people Fiona wants to punish.

Mark Edwards has excelled himself with ‘The Psychopath Next Door’, an outstandingly chilling psychological thriller that’s had me gripped from the first page to the last. The suspense and shocking twists increase the tension until I’ve been unable to stop reading for fear of missing what happens next. The perfectly written plot has been cleverly thought out keeping me on tenterhooks throughout but I still wasn’t ready for the final chapter that shook me to the core and left me open-mouthed with disbelief. This has been a thoroughly entertaining though scary thriller that I recommend to all readers.