Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme)'s Reviews > Neighborhood Watch

Amazon Editors’ pick for Best Mysteries, Thrillers, and Suspense Books of 2024 So Far!

Wowzers! If I hadn’t already been told that Neighborhood Watch was Sarah Reida’s debut novel, I wouldn’t have believed it. Filled with believable (albeit shady) characters and a deliciously satirical plot, this dynamite whodunnit won me over hook, line, and sinker. But it was the drama that got me the most. You could almost sense the gossip spreading like wildfire amongst the posh streets of Oleander Court as the residents feared for their lives.

The characters were easily the special sauce to this mystery novel. From the controlling HOA president to her equally detestable wife beating neighbor, there were plenty of characters you’ll absolutely love to hate—and others you’ll just plain love no ifs, ands, or buts. No matter what, however, you’ll get sucked in by them all and their round-robin narrations. Especially when bodies start dropping in the most delightfully twisted manner one after the other.

The plot itself was utterly seductive. Fast-paced and filled with black humor, the rich people behaving badly premise was a pure *chef’s kiss* move to this mystery lover. And while there were without a doubt quite a few characters, the storyline unfolded naturally in a fun and easy way. Perfect as a palate cleanser between some of my harder hitting thrillers, there was no end to the snarky banter and lighthearted feel. All told, it was one rollicking good time.

That’s not to say that this book was only surface deep. Oh no. There was much to be read between the deftly written lines. From the thought-provoking character arcs to the more serious, underlying topics, I believe this book would make a brilliant book club pick all things considered. After all, it was not only fun, but would prompt some excellent conversations.

All said and done, I’m not surprised in the least that my friends and colleagues at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse have been raving about this one. From property line skirmishes to hilarious sidewalk b**** slapping scenes, there was no end to the drama on Oleander Court. Nor was it missing some head-snapping twists. So please ignore the somewhat meh cover and grab this book ASAP. Just don’t forget to prepare yourself for one addictive, unputdownable novel. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

The neighborhood of Oleander Court is the poster child for suburban bliss. The residents compare lawns beautified by hired help. They monitor home values. They toss perfect furniture because they wanted tapioca, not beige.

But when a string of murders rips through the neighborhood, suspicions abound as new secrets come to light. And as more and more bodies are taken away, it becomes clear that the killer is strategically selecting each and every victim, picking off the shallowest, most wasteful of the lot in spectacular fashion and leaving everyone in the neighborhood to wonder: Who’s next?

While most of their neighbors scatter like well-dressed cockroaches, a small group of the neighborhood ladies team up to solve their local mystery and restore their once-peaceful lives. But is this ragtag collection of amateur sleuths truly a united front? With reputations, freedom, and personal sanity on the line, the ladies must unmask the killer…even if the killer is among them.

Thank you to Sarah Reida and Keylight Books for my complimentary copy. So opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: Out now!

Trigger warning: homophobia/transphobia, racism