Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Two neighbors-at-war band together to stop a dangerous criminal in their midst in this enthralling new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Ticket.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

April 2024; Berkley; 978-0593550519
audio, ebook, print (384 pages); women's fiction

Nosy Neighbors is the first book I've read by Freya Sampson, though The Last Chance Library is on my to-read list.

I love character-driven novels and this book is all about the characters. Sure there is a bit of a mystery but I felt that was secondary to the characters learning about themselves. 

The story is told from the points of view of Kat Bennett and Dorothy Darling. At first glance, these characters seem as different as can be. Kat is 25 years old, with pink hair and piercings, and has never really called any place home. On the other hand, Dorothy Darling is 77 years old, a very much by-the-book kind of woman, and can't imagine ever leaving her home at Shelley House. There are other residents in the building that we see through the interactions with these two main characters. But they aren't just taking up space, they have their own growth.

But when the tenants of Shelley House are given notice that the building is being torn down, they come together to try to stop it. When one tenant is attacked, unlikely friendships are forged and Kat and Dorothy find out they aren't so different.

I loved the characters. I was curious about Kat as it is hinted at early on that she might have a checkered past. I felt bad for Dorothy as she doesn't seem to have much in her life - she watches from her window the going ons near Shelley House and records her observations in a notebook. It is easy to see that she is the Nosy Neighbor to whom the title refers.  The other tenants appear less often but are still interesting and feel like real people and I'm happy Sampson allowed them to grow as well. I particularly liked Joseph.

There is a bit of a mystery - Kat's past and Joseph's accident. Kat and Dorothy's investigation is entertaining but it was really the interactions with the characters that I thoroughly enjoyed.

If you are looking for a good read with entertaining characters, then you should get this book.

Buy Nosy Neighbors at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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