Book Review The Woman Next Door

The Woman Next Door

By

Cass Green

A dark and twisty psychological thriller, perfect for fans of HER by Harriet Lane and IN A DARK DARK WOOD by Ruth Ware.

Two suburban women. Two dark secrets. The almost perfect murder.

Everybody needs good neighbours

Melissa and Hester have lived next door to each other for years. When Melissa’s daughter was younger, Hester was almost like a grandmother to her. But recently they haven’t been so close.

Hester has plans to change all that. It’s obvious to her that despite Melissa’s outwardly glamorous and successful life, she needs Hester’s help.

But taking help from Hester might not be such a good idea for a woman with as many secrets as Melissa

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

From the very beginning I was gripped. Partly I think it was because the setting of the book seemed familiar. The shops mentioned for instance were instantly recognisable and this made it easier as a reader to imagine the characters and setting in my head.

The book is written from the point of view of the two main characters Hester and Melissa. It is clear from the beginning that both these women have secrets that they are hoping will stay hidden. The two have been neighbours for a while and Hester used to look after Melissa's daughter Tilly, becoming a kind of Aunty figure. However now Tilly is a teenager and it is clear that relations between the two women are no longer rosy. 

Hester is clearly a lonely lady who is now a widow and is childless, something that she seems to regret.She lives alone with just her dog Bertie for company.

Melissa appears to have it all. A husband who is a successful doctor now on TV, a daughter Tilly, a lovely house and lots of friends.

The book gets going pretty quickly and something happens to make these two women work together. However it is still clear that something else isn't quite right and both women have dark, dark secrets. 

I enjoyed the book immensely and found it an easy read. I liked how the story twisted and it kept me hooked.

Preorder here