A gripping true crime account that unfolds with the tension of a thriller. Chuck Storla masterfully recounts the shocking murder that happened just steps from his home, blending personal perspective with investigative detail. A compelling, fast-paced read for fans of real-life mysteries.

Rating: 3.5 stars
Murders Two Doors Down is a cozy mystery featuring Brad Hanson, an insurance investigator, who becomes the primary suspect in the murder of his neighbor. We follow Brad as he bumbles his way through a murder investigation to clear his name while dealing with gossiping neighbors. Brad’s inability to stop quoting statistics and his awkward, quirky personality makes for humorous encounters with the police. My favorite character has to be Dix and I wish there was more time to get to know her character. The plot is a tad predictable but overall, this was a fun popcorn read.

Having heard about how HAO works through tik tok, i was intrigued to see it in a book. As someone who doesnt live in a country with HAO neighbourhoods, i didnt have the knowledge or insight, it did feel very american which some references meant i did not understand. But other than that a fun read.

This was amazing. Murder Two Doors Down was everything I love about murder mysteries. The location is Chestnut Lake and our MC is Brad Hanson. He lives a typical boring suburban life with his wife. However, things quickly turn when he becomes suspect #1 for the murder of their neighbor. This book is a funny, fast-paced, page turning, whodunit.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is a fast paced, suspenseful mystery set in a quiet neighborhood rocked by a shocking murder. Chuck does a great job keeping you guessing just when you think you know who did it, another twist hits. The characters feel real, and the story explores how dark secrets can hide behind the most ordinary doors. If you like domestic thrillers with a few surprises, this one’s worth picking up.

Hilariously homicidal book about HOA's, and nosey neighbors. Although, this book is set in Georgia, most southern labyrinthine neighborhoods give the same feel, adding to the realistic aspects of this book. I adored Brad and only wanted him to please stop sticking his foot in his mouth, while also adoring his little tangents covering LCM films, GA insurance codes, and odd vocabulary. The twist, that wasn't the twist, that became the twist was a wonderful ending that had my eyes glued to the pages for the last 30 or so percent. To be fair, I keep wanting to read the whole thing, and never really wanted to put it down, but be prepared to cancel plans, order in dinner, or stay in an uncomfortable seated position for the last 30-20% of the book. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
As for me know, I suppose I MUST subscribe to the author's newsletter so I'll be able to get my hands on book 2 ASAP.
Enjoy =)

I loved this book so much! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I will definitely be looking for their mother books. I don’t usually like cozy books- I’m more of a fast paced thriller reader, but this book was perfect. It gave me everything I could want in a book. Start to finish I loved the mystery and the humor. It reminded me of Housewives in the best way possible. The characters were perfect as in I didn’t hate any of them. Usually when I read a book there’s someone I don’t like, but I loved each of them.

This books gives mad Only Murderes in the Building vibes. I would describe it as a cozy thriller. I also found it humorous. I will say that even if it starts going straight to the point, directly to the heart of the plot, I did notice how sometimes it would slow down in a way that would almost make me lose interest to keep going, but I promise it's worth it. It's an amazing read.

Unfortunately I had to DNF at 30%.
I tried, but the story truly isn't holding my attention. It's not easy to follow, and despite reading a lot of books in English, I'm finding this one quite difficult.

This was an extremely solid, page-turning whodunit that had me chuckling throughout. I loved the HOA setting and the protagonist, Brad, who investigates insurance fraud and now has to use those skills to get himself out of being the main suspect in a string of neighborhood murders. He was quirky, funny, and a bit of a bumbling idiot at times for such an intelligent and clever guy. His lack of street smarts caused him to wind up in some pretty hilarious situations, which made him all that more suspicious to the police. But a murder suspect who loves spreadsheets and has an app to make sure he doesn’t repeat shirt/pant combinations for several weeks? Absolutely inspired for a cozy, comedic mystery.

The neighbors could have been fleshed out a bit more and I figured out who did it pretty early on, but it was a fun ride and I enjoyed spending time with Brad, his lawyer Jill, and Jill’s private investigator Dix (both much more competent than Brad, thankfully!). Hopefully, this is not the last we see of this trio because I could definitely spend more time with them in suburban Georgia catching killers.

Imagine Only Murders in the Building meets Desperate Housewives, and you've got Murder Two Doors Down. Chuck Storla delivers a hilarious and sharp suburban whodunit that had me hooked from the first page.

Brad Hanson, our delightfully mundane insurance fraud investigator and HOA secretary, finds himself the prime suspect when the neighbourhood's most cantankerous resident is found dead. With a literal smoking gun in play, Brad embarks on a mission to clear his name, navigating the absurdities of HOA politics and suburban secrets.

Storla's writing is witty and engaging, turning the mundane into the extraordinary. The satire is spot-on, and the mystery keeps you guessing with each twist and turn. Brad's dry humour and reluctant heroism make him an endearing protagonist you can't help but root for.

Highlights:

Suburban Satire: A brilliant take on the quirks and dramas of HOA life.

Engaging Mystery: Keeps you guessing without losing its comedic edge.

Relatable Protagonist: Brad's everyman persona adds charm and authenticity.

Conclusion:

Murder Two Doors Down is a refreshing addition to the cosy mystery genre, blending humour and suspense seamlessly. Perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It and Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect. I can't wait to see what misadventures await in the next instalment of the HOA Homicide Mystery series.

Murder Two Doors Down is a delightfully quirky suburban murder mystery that had me laughing out loud from start to finish. The story follows Brad, the hapless and unintentionally hilarious main character, who becomes the prime suspect in not one, but two neighborhood murders. Determined to clear his name, Brad launches his own amateur investigation — with predictably chaotic and comical results.

Brad’s dry humor and complete lack of self-awareness make him a brilliantly entertaining narrator. The book is packed with exaggerated suburban stereotypes, which only heighten the absurdity of the situation and add to the overall hilarity. Despite the comedic tone, the story doesn’t skimp on suspense — there are plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the final pages.

While this isn’t as dark as the thrillers I usually gravitate toward, it was a refreshing change of pace. Light, funny, and cleverly written, Murder Two Doors Down was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a mystery with a comedic twist.

I didn’t expect to enjoy Murder Two Doors Down as much as I did — it completely surprised me in the best way. I picked it out of curiosity and I ended up genuinely hooked from the very first chapter. Brad Hanson is such a refreshing main character — a little world-weary, unintentionally funny, and totally relatable as he stumbles into this murder investigation while just trying to live his normal suburban life. The setting was perfect — that mix of nosy neighbours, quiet tensions, and overly enthusiastic board members made the whole thing feel oddly familiar and hilarious at the same time.

What really stood out to me was how balanced it all was. The mystery itself was tightly plotted, with enough twists to keep things interesting without ever getting confusing. But it was the dry humour, the small-town dynamics, and Brad’s internal commentary that really made it special. I caught myself laughing at lines I didn’t see coming, then turning the page because I needed to know what would happen next. It was the perfect blend of cozy and clever. I wasn’t planning to start a new series, but now I’m fully in — I’ll absolutely be following wherever Brad and his HOA misadventures go next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel, which will be released in October 2025! 4.5 rounded up for me!

No Spoliers- The description of this book definitly matches the plot itself. This is an amateur sleuth mystery, I wouldn't call it a thriller. The main character reminds me a bit of Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder. Fans of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (EIMFHKS) and amatuer sleuth novels (Thursday Murder Club, Marlow Murder Club, etc.) will enjoy this book.

I loved how this book is just so Suburban American. I found myself grinning constantly throughout the book. The observations of the main character really made me chuckle- there are so many good one liners about North vs South stereotypes, insurance, living in an HOA, references to an app similar to the NextDoor app, etc. Some of the complaints of the people in the HOA are hilarious, but also situations that really happen.

I actually think this book is better than EIMFHKS when it comes to balancing humor with the actual plot, which was what prevented me from giving that book 5 stars. This book is funny without taking away from the larger ideas or getting too side tracked. The main character tends to become overly focused on certain things. He loves a good spreadsheet and technicalities in laws and policies, and sometimes doesn't know when to keep quiet, but is sometimes compelled to share his thoughts anyways.

He is a man on a mission, but with no direction other than a whiteboard and color coded dry erase markers. He is both unsure of himself, yet when he makes a decision, he commits. He draws techniques from his only experience with the law- Law and Order- which doesn't always work in his favor. There is a decent sized cast including other HOA members, vapid and judgemental neighbors, local and federal LEO, attorney, investigator, etc.

While I wasn't completely shocked at the end of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Again, the commentary on suburban american life just resonated with me and made me laugh while still having a substantial plot behind the humor. Although there are some tense moments, this is an overall light and pleasant read. I definitely recommened this book to anyone considering reading! Looking forward to anything else this author releases.

This book had me giggling and gasping all within the same chapter! Anyone in a suburban setting will be able to peg one of the over the top stereotyped characters as one of their own neighbors. As someone who tends to read more dark and tense thrillers and mysteries, this was the perfect reprieve.
The characters were funny and at times relatable. And although there’s not massive character development start to finish, you find yourself invested in them.
I could easily hand this book to most readers and they would find it entertaining.
I look forward to reading more from Chuck in the future!

Rating: ★★★★☆
Murder Two Doors Down is a gripping and atmospheric cozy mystery that draws you in from the very first chapter. The setting—a quiet, unsuspecting neighborhood—is brilliantly described, adding to the tension as secrets slowly unravel.

The protagonist is both relatable and clever, making it easy to root for her as she dives into the investigation. The pacing is solid, with twists that kept me guessing without feeling overly complicated. The supporting characters felt well-rounded, though a couple could’ve used a bit more development.

My only reason for not giving it five stars is that the ending, while satisfying, felt just a touch rushed. That said, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read with charm, suspense, and just the right amount of drama.

If you enjoy cozy whodunnits with a dash of domestic intrigue, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

Oh my god, this was so funny.
We follow Brad, member of a neighborhood with gossipy tenants and an HOA, who gets tangled up as the main suspect in a murder investigation. Of course our hero, being an (insurance) investigator sets out to prove his innocence…..

Hats off to the author, I never thought I would enjoy reading from the perspective of a main character who rambled so much. I actually had to stifle some cackles when I was reading some of his thoughts or actions! The direction the plot takes with his involvement in the investigation is nothing like I expected and I was pleasantly surprised.
The characters in the book are definitely exaggerated stereotypes of people you would expect to be in an HOA, but they were so vividly portrayed that it was easy to picture in my mind. The same went for other non tenants of the neighborhood- this book is definitely a comedy and plays up the quirks in people’s personalities but it worked well!
The mystery itself was pretty decent. I had an inkling of who the culprit was, but the draw for the book really was Brad’s (Not So) Excellent Adventure as he tried to play Sherlock. The story felt well paced and not too long, with enough happening to not drag at any point. Some may find the long inner monologues and descriptions excessive, but I personally think that the book keeps it entertaining throughout.
If you are looking for a light hearted (as much as you can get with a murder mystery) read, definitely check it out!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a digital ARC of the book!

Brad is such an interesting narrator! There’s wittiness, mystery and just a great time! This book is the epitome of a cosy mystery and I really enjoyed it! There were plenty of pacing and twists to keep me turning the pages

I loved the protagonist - quirky, witty, and full of facts, but also honest and naive. The HOA meetings and characters in the neighborhood were well written. The first half was funny and quick paced, though the latter part lagged a bit, and the ending became a bit of a letdown.
The writing shows great ability and keen observation of people. I especially enjoyed the portrayal of the main character, and Dix, the investigator.