The Neighbor

By: Joseph Souza

Narrated by: Laurence Bouvard, Todd Boyce

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

In a taut psychological thriller filled with breathtaking twists, Joseph Souza explores the tangle of betrayal and deception between two neighbouring couples and asks how well we can really know others - or ourselves.

It all seems so promising at the start....

When Leah and her husband, Clay, move from Seattle to Maine, she envisions a vibrant new neighbourhood packed with families - playmates for her twins, new friends she can confide in and bond with. But while Clay works long hours to establish his brewery, Leah is left alone each day in a nearly deserted housing development where the only other occupants are aloof and standoffish.

Bored and adrift, Leah finds herself watching Clarissa and Russell Gaines next door, envying their stylishly decorated home and their university careers. But Leah's obsession with the intriguing, elegant Clarissa grows until she's not just spying from afar but sneaking into their house, taking small objects...reading Clarissa's diary. It contains clues to a hidden turmoil Leah never guessed at - and a connection to a local college girl who's disappeared.

The more Leah learns about Clarissa, the more questions emerge. Because behind every neighbour's door there are secrets that could shatter lives forever....

©2018 Joseph Souza (P)2018 W.F. Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"A taut, twisty psychological thriller. Totally riveting." (James Hayman, best-selling author of The Girl on the Bridge)

"His unreliable narrators weave such a dark, disturbing tale. As the tension builds, twist after twist makes this impossible to put down." (Debbie Howells, author of Her Sister's Lie)

Good storyline gone awry

Story is so far-fetched it’s laughable. All the talk of racism got old fast too. Skipped several chapters in the middle just to get to the end.

Unrealistic and offensive

I still have 7 hours left to go in this book and it is frankly awful. It uses vulgar and offensive language that keeps racial tensions thriving. None of the characters are relatable or likable. I love a good drama between feuding neighbors, but this book was a far cry from my expectations. Save your time and money and DO NOT listen!!!

One Word: Ridiculous

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Only a rewrite of the entire book.

What could Joseph Souza have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Make the characters more believable.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Mispronounced words and had an annoying voice.

What character would you cut from The Neighbor?

Zack

Any additional comments?

This was one of the worst books I’ve ever listened to. The two main characters stayed drunk pretty much 24/7. The storyline was so far-fetched. People do not talk or act like this in real life. Don’t waste your time with this one!

Overall: terrible

The Performance was okay at best. Having two readers and not having them really play their respective parts was off putting. The Story itself was poorly written and leaves a lot to be desired. I feel cheated of a good ending and resolution. Based on this one experience of Joseph Souza, I won’t be wasting my time again.