This book was okay, but the overlapping plot lines never really came together the way the author clearly wanted them to.

I enjoyed this book however it felt incredibly slow. By the 60% mark I found myself skim reading a fair bit to get to something that would move the plot along.

I did enjoy the ending and would recommend this as an easy read, but would have liked it to be a bit more fast paced

Absolute dynamite.

When a wealthy surgeon is killed Liv has to think the worst, and in this case the worst case scenario is: Her daughter Gracie killed him.

I haven’t read a book with such well developed characters in a long time and this book manages to match that with a fast, clever plot.

For beach reads or for late night reads, I would just say read it!

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed.  I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.



****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Ok - wow. I could not put this down! The twists and turns - I did NOT see them coming!

In Sydney, Australia, plastic surgeon Richard Wellington is found murdered in a local park. A park where lots of people, including his neighbour Liv’s 19 year old daughter, Gracie, run. When Gracie returns from her run on that fateful day, she’s muddy & agitated. Liv doesn’t want to think it - but was Gracie involved…? We see how a mother would do anything to protect her daughter.

From beginning to end, The Neighbours by Emma Babbington was a dark and deceitful delicious little thrill-ride. Secrets hid in the alleyways weaving between the homes of this tale and each character presented me with a new sensation of unease and uncertainty. Beneath the steamy Sydney sun, witnessing this tale unfold was exhilarating, and I think Babbington did an excellent job of tugging me in and refusing to let go.

In this story, readers are introduced to a host of interesting characters, though I feel Liv and Meredith take centre stage. Now neighbours, it becomes clear to readers that these women knew each other when they were younger, and there is a strange tension between them, though the reasoning behind this tension remains unclear. Chapter by chapter, the author takes us back and forth in time, switching between narratives also, allowing us a complete 360 view of the history between the women. I love this structure and Babbington achieves it beautifully.

As the plot thickens, and news of the murder of Richard Wellington begins to surround everyone and everything, the pace quickens and suspicions begin to arise. Tension becomes even tighter when Liv realises that her daughter Gracie potentially may have crossed paths with the murder victim on the morning he was killed.

From here, an intricate and perfectly woven tale begins to unravel and the discovery of the truth of what really binds these women slowly begins to surface. I loved the mystery of this story, the intrigue that held me captive throughout, the constant anxiety that spread throughout the pages. With so many twists and turns, I was forever on the edge wondering where the author would take me next. I loved the depth of the characters, the hidden history between Liv and Meredith, the secrets, the vividness of the Sydney setting. It was all so brilliantly constructed and from chapter to chapter, especially towards the finale, the tension was enough to make me combust! I could not wait for the truth to be revealed, and I enjoyed every second of build-up to that moment.

The ending, too, was incredibly satisfying. Babbington tied up her tale with a neat little bow, and I could finally take a breath of relief that all had been dealt with.

Overall, this was highly satisfying and exciting story from Emma Babbington. Gripping, addictive, and fast-paced, and poses the question, "How well do you know your neighbours?" Bravo, Emma. I'll definitely be looking forward to reading more of your work in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Hq digital for the opportunity to review The Neighbors by Emma Babbington.
Liv’s neighbor Richard Wellington is not a nice guy. He’s a misogynist, who as a successful plastic surgeon and TV personality, thinks that he can get away with just about anything. That is until he is found murdered in the park in his own neighborhood on an early morning run.
For a man like Richard, the list of suspects are pretty lengthy. There’s Martin, who has on multiple occasions threatened Richard’s life after his wife died in surgery, Meredith, Liv’’s childhood friend who became a bit too obsessed with her and her family, and has mysteriously returned back into their lives, as well as Liv’’s own 19-year-old daughter. Liv suspects she went running in the park that morning and refuses to talk about what happened that day.
Liv doesn’t know for certain what happened but knows she must do what she can to protect her daughter, even if it means handling things a bit unconventionally.
This book is filled with twists and dark secrets not only amongst neighbors, but even by those Liv thought she trusted the most.
You will not be able to out this one down.

One of the neighbors is found dead in the local park and although it shocks everyone, others think he had it coming. One mom has to wonder if her daughter could actually be involved. One coworker has been a victim of his bad behavior. The wife doesn’t seem as upset as she should be. This is a quick read with some surprises in it. I enjoyed the book and think it would be a good summer read, although I had already guessed most of the ending before hand.

The Neighbours is Emma Babbington's debut novel.

The story is about 3 women: Liv Elliot and her daughter Gracie. The doctors wife across the street: Sandra and a new doctor in town: Meredith. There are other characters: Liv's husband Andy, the highly respected doctor: Richard of course, Liv's elderly parents and Martin Finch who's wife died after Richard performed an operation on her.

Richard is found murdered in the park where lots of people go running, including Liv's daughter Gracie. When Gracie comes home a bit disheveled and muddy she has to wonder if her daughter was involved in the murder of the highly esteemed doctor. Meredith is the new doctor in town and just started working with Richard and use to be Liv's sort of friend/classmate/babysitter. Then there is Richards wife Sandra. All the women eventually come together within the story with backstories all of their own. All of the characters are well developed and the story flows nicely. I enjoyed the additional side story of Liv's parents and their aging issues which bring new revelations to the story.

I think this is an excellent debut novel.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of the novel for an honest review..

This book felt both fast paced and and incredibly slow at the same time - which is where the star rating came from.

It follows Liv and Meredith after Richard, their neighbour, is murdered early one morning. It would seem from the get go that Liv’s daughter, Gracie, had something to do with the murder but Liv is going to do everything she can to turn the police in another direction.

I found Liv a slightly annoying character - yes she was doing everything she could to protect her daughter, but the way she went about it and her distaste for Meredith got a bit annoying, which I think played into the slow pace.

The ending was surprising and somewhat unexpected (though the murder itself not so much), but I do wish it moved a bit faster.

Review of ‘The Neighbours’ by Emma Babbington, due to be published on 19 June 2025 by HQ Books.

Psychological murder/mystery that is set in Sydney. Draws you in from the start - ‘you are almost certain that your daughter did not kill the neighbour, but what if she did?’

A TV Doctor is found dead, but off screen, he is not what his TV persona suggests.

Lots of suspects, all with motives to end him.

Recommended read.

A compelling psychological thriller set in a Sydney suburb with lots of twists. I liked the strong and believable female characters and the story had me hooked til the end. I love Australian noir and this novel is a great addition.

You’re almost certain your daughter didn’t kill the neighbour. But what if she did?! Fantastic read! Chilling thriller! This book had great suspense, murder, mystery, intriguing, and some crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

When Richard Wellington is found dead in a local Sydney park, few are sad to see him go.

To the public, he was a charming TV doctor. But those who knew him best saw a different man — cruel, manipulative, and relentlessly predatory. A serial womanizer with a dangerous temper, Richard never took no for an answer. Until, perhaps, someone finally said it loud enough to end him.

The suspect list is long.

A grieving husband, convinced Richard caused his wife’s death.

A fellow surgeon, harassed and humiliated beyond reason.

A teenage girl — the one he shouldn't have been watching.

And her mother, Olivia, who would do anything to protect her daughter.

Plenty of others could be guilty, including his wife. As the investigation unfolds and long-buried secrets rise to the surface, loyalties fracture. Lies unravel. And in a quiet suburban street where everyone has something to hide — who can you really trust?

A twisty, atmospheric story that's deeper and more complex than your everyday domestic thriller

#TheNeighbours #EmmaBabbington #HQBooks #DomesticThriller #MurderMystery #Bookstagram #WhatToReadNext #HQLovers

3.5 ⭐

Spoilers

Well paced story, that had me wondering who didn't do it, because I certainly would have bumped Richard off given the chance.
It's got a slight claustrophobic feel to it, being such a small cast of characters, and small location.
As soon as we got to elderly parents, I knew there were secrets to be revealed, and it seems everyone had them.
I felt it was a bit flat as we entered the final pages, but the author had surprises all the way to the end.

A doctor that many people recognise as being on TV and being a top surgeon, so how did Richard become caught up in a malpractice case, but when he is found dead , people around him cannot believe this has happened, people are speculating the worst. But one person knows what happened to Richard but is she going to spill the beans on what she saw. Things start to come to light about Richard and this person really needs to speak up before it is too late. It was an intriguing story line to read along with, it is a thriller that has many underlying secrets and lies, it is packed with suspense and tension. I did not know where this story would lead and I loved the ending.

This is a great novel that kept me up long into the night! It revolves around neighbors who used to know each other in grade school and now live across the street from each other. When a husband is found dead was it an accident or murder? There's great suspense: a sexual assault, theft, and friendship. Enough said. Go in blind and hold your breath! So good!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Could not put this down! Excellent story telling, had me absolutely hooked! Will be recommending this to everyone who’ll listen. Thank you for the opportunity to read this before release

The neighbours is such a great book! I stayed up well past the time I should have been asleep. Just because I couldn't bare to put it down. Five stars no doubt. Can't wait to see what else this author has to offer.