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The Bad Neighbour
In March 2020, the Covid pandemic hits the sleepy English village of Brampton. At the start of lockdown, social climber and local busybody Tara Sanderson sets up a community group to help vulnerable residents through the crisis. Elderly Elspeth Chambers, her longstanding neighbour and friend, accepts Tara’s offer to buy food and collect medicine for her.
But it isn’t long before neighbourliness and community spirit turn sour. Tensions arise when Tara becomes jealous of Elspeth’s emerging friendship with Ashley Kahn, a recent arrival in Wilton Close. Suspecting there is more to Tara’s hostility toward them than meets the eye, Ashley and Elspeth start to uncover their neighbour’s long-buried secrets...
But it isn’t long before neighbourliness and community spirit turn sour. Tensions arise when Tara becomes jealous of Elspeth’s emerging friendship with Ashley Kahn, a recent arrival in Wilton Close. Suspecting there is more to Tara’s hostility toward them than meets the eye, Ashley and Elspeth start to uncover their neighbour’s long-buried secrets...
- GenresThriller
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2023
33 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Ensor
9 books109 followersA Londoner with Irish heritage, Jennie Ensor writes emotionally-charged psychological suspense and thrillers, and darkly comic fiction.
She began her writing career as a journalist and loves to tackle controversial issues in her novels: Islamic terrorism, Russian gangsters and war crimes in Blind Side (a thriller set in the year of London’s 2005 terror attacks), abuse and sexual exploitation in The Girl in His Eyes. Not Having It All is a darkly humourous novel about love and relationships, not having children and the perils of family life.
Jennie’s fourth book Silenced published December 2021 with Hobeck Books – a crime thriller with a strong psychological element that ventures into the shadowy world of teen-exploiting gangs and police corruption.
Ms Ensor lives with her husband and an Airedale terrier. She writes short stories and poetry as well as novels, her poem Lost Connection placed second in its category in the 2020 Fish Lockdown Prize. In her spare time (?) Jennie reads widely, sings choral music, practices yoga and cycles the punishing local hills. Evenings, she’s often collapsed in front of a TV crime drama with a bar of chocolate/glass of strong alcohol.
You can find out more about Jennie and her books on her website https://jennieensor.com or follow her on social media.
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennie-Ensor...
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JennieEnsorA...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennie_Ensor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennieensor/
She began her writing career as a journalist and loves to tackle controversial issues in her novels: Islamic terrorism, Russian gangsters and war crimes in Blind Side (a thriller set in the year of London’s 2005 terror attacks), abuse and sexual exploitation in The Girl in His Eyes. Not Having It All is a darkly humourous novel about love and relationships, not having children and the perils of family life.
Jennie’s fourth book Silenced published December 2021 with Hobeck Books – a crime thriller with a strong psychological element that ventures into the shadowy world of teen-exploiting gangs and police corruption.
Ms Ensor lives with her husband and an Airedale terrier. She writes short stories and poetry as well as novels, her poem Lost Connection placed second in its category in the 2020 Fish Lockdown Prize. In her spare time (?) Jennie reads widely, sings choral music, practices yoga and cycles the punishing local hills. Evenings, she’s often collapsed in front of a TV crime drama with a bar of chocolate/glass of strong alcohol.
You can find out more about Jennie and her books on her website https://jennieensor.com or follow her on social media.
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennie-Ensor...
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JennieEnsorA...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennie_Ensor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennieensor/
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 15, 2023
The Bad Neighbour is a very entertaining and enjoyable read that also manages to skillfully tackle some serious themes. We’re taken back to the year everyone wants to forget – 2020 – as Covid first reared its head in communities. In The Bad Neighbour, we’re in one particular neighbourhood in the quiet parish of Brampton. Within this neighbourhood, brimming with intriguing individuals, we are introduced to three central characters: Elspeth, Tara, and Ashley. Each of them carries their own unique set of problems and secrets.
Jennie Ensor, the author, strikes a perfect balance between humour and drama. Even the seemingly mundane aspects of the characters’ lives are remarkably entertaining to read about, thanks to the skilful characterisation. I found myself completely engrossed in their stories, rooting for the engaging protagonists and delighting in despising the loathsome ones. The squabbles and nuances of their relationships with one another were really entertaining. While the novel occasionally had the cosy charm of a crime story, it also delved into serious and shocking subjects that grounded us in reality. There were new moments that required you to suspend your disbelief a little, but they were great fun!
The Bad Neighbour holds some unexpected twists. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a thrilling yet cosy experience, with gritty elements and unforgettable characters that leave a lasting impression.
Many thanks to the publisher Hobeck Books and Rebecca Collins, for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest review, and for inviting me onto the blog tour!
Jennie Ensor, the author, strikes a perfect balance between humour and drama. Even the seemingly mundane aspects of the characters’ lives are remarkably entertaining to read about, thanks to the skilful characterisation. I found myself completely engrossed in their stories, rooting for the engaging protagonists and delighting in despising the loathsome ones. The squabbles and nuances of their relationships with one another were really entertaining. While the novel occasionally had the cosy charm of a crime story, it also delved into serious and shocking subjects that grounded us in reality. There were new moments that required you to suspend your disbelief a little, but they were great fun!
The Bad Neighbour holds some unexpected twists. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a thrilling yet cosy experience, with gritty elements and unforgettable characters that leave a lasting impression.
Many thanks to the publisher Hobeck Books and Rebecca Collins, for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest review, and for inviting me onto the blog tour!
May 30, 2023
Set in a small village at the start of lockdown, this is one absorbing psychological thriller with a spattering of dark humour and plenty going on to keep you turning those pages.
When lockdown hits, Tara, who lives alone, decides she will set up a residents group to support the vulnerable, especially since her next door neighbour is shielding. Tara does her neighbours shopping and picks up her medications but becomes increasingly annoyed that she is not getting the thanks she deserves. She begins to buy a little something for herself out of the shopping money. And now her long term neighbour and good friend seems to be getting friendly with the new neighbour. That does not suit Tara.
As lockdown begins to affect their lives more, tempers begin to fray.
Tara begins to turn into a neighbour no one wants next door. And as for the dark secrets from her past she is hiding and the neighbours are desperate to uncover ….
Jennie has encompassed what lockdown felt like for us, from the worry of catching the virus and keeping our most vulnerable safe, to the strange face masks and social distancing and the ever changing rules we had to follow. Not to forget the Zoom meetings - and those who broke the lockdown rules!
I enjoyed the book being written from the POV of a few main characters so we got plenty of understanding of what was going on in their own lives and how they were trying to get through this difficult time.
I will be reading more from this author!
When lockdown hits, Tara, who lives alone, decides she will set up a residents group to support the vulnerable, especially since her next door neighbour is shielding. Tara does her neighbours shopping and picks up her medications but becomes increasingly annoyed that she is not getting the thanks she deserves. She begins to buy a little something for herself out of the shopping money. And now her long term neighbour and good friend seems to be getting friendly with the new neighbour. That does not suit Tara.
As lockdown begins to affect their lives more, tempers begin to fray.
Tara begins to turn into a neighbour no one wants next door. And as for the dark secrets from her past she is hiding and the neighbours are desperate to uncover ….
Jennie has encompassed what lockdown felt like for us, from the worry of catching the virus and keeping our most vulnerable safe, to the strange face masks and social distancing and the ever changing rules we had to follow. Not to forget the Zoom meetings - and those who broke the lockdown rules!
I enjoyed the book being written from the POV of a few main characters so we got plenty of understanding of what was going on in their own lives and how they were trying to get through this difficult time.
I will be reading more from this author!
May 22, 2023
Ashley Kahn has recently moved to the village of Brampton with her family: husband, Zac, and their children, Sam and Layla.
The new arrivals raise Tara Sanderson’s eyebrows, Ashley’s next door neighbour. The reason? Zac is a Pakistani Muslim, and Sam and Layla are of mixed-race.
Tara is a meddling busy body with a hidden agenda. When COVID hits, lockdown begins, and vulnerable people are told to shield, Tara sets up a community foodbank to help those in need. Ashley, who is new to the community, also joins this group, however, it becomes clear that Tara doesn’t like her.
Next door to Ashley lives the elderly Elspeth, who used to be a professional dancer. When Elspeth begins to shield and can’t leave the house, Tara offers to do her food shop and collect her medications. Elspeth agrees and is grateful, but soon starts to suspect that all is not well with Tara…
When Ashley becomes more and more friendly with Elspeth, Tara’s rage and jealousy reaches the boiling point…
I absolutely adored this book! It’s a mix of a psychological thriller with elements of a cozy mystery. The Bird Woman sitting on the bench observing the residents – that resonated real Hitchcockian vibes, Rear Window sprang to my mind!
Tara’s comeuppance had the feel of a Biblical reckoning. She was such a force of nature, slightly unhinged, but what a complex character to explore.
Elspeth was my favourite character, she was sweet and kind, and I can only hope to be as fit and alert when I am nearly 80.
It was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last.
Thank you to Rebecca Collins for the e-ARC and for my spot on the tour.
The new arrivals raise Tara Sanderson’s eyebrows, Ashley’s next door neighbour. The reason? Zac is a Pakistani Muslim, and Sam and Layla are of mixed-race.
Tara is a meddling busy body with a hidden agenda. When COVID hits, lockdown begins, and vulnerable people are told to shield, Tara sets up a community foodbank to help those in need. Ashley, who is new to the community, also joins this group, however, it becomes clear that Tara doesn’t like her.
Next door to Ashley lives the elderly Elspeth, who used to be a professional dancer. When Elspeth begins to shield and can’t leave the house, Tara offers to do her food shop and collect her medications. Elspeth agrees and is grateful, but soon starts to suspect that all is not well with Tara…
When Ashley becomes more and more friendly with Elspeth, Tara’s rage and jealousy reaches the boiling point…
I absolutely adored this book! It’s a mix of a psychological thriller with elements of a cozy mystery. The Bird Woman sitting on the bench observing the residents – that resonated real Hitchcockian vibes, Rear Window sprang to my mind!
Tara’s comeuppance had the feel of a Biblical reckoning. She was such a force of nature, slightly unhinged, but what a complex character to explore.
Elspeth was my favourite character, she was sweet and kind, and I can only hope to be as fit and alert when I am nearly 80.
It was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last.
Thank you to Rebecca Collins for the e-ARC and for my spot on the tour.
July 16, 2023
Thriller with Elements of Greek Comedy and Tragedy
Bird Woman lives alone. She prefers birds to humans and with good reason.
Ashley lives with her family. They recently moved to Brampton, and she feels insecure about her welcome, especially because of her Muslim husband.
Tara lives next door to Ashley. She moved here some years ago and has established herself as the local do-gooder. She craves attention.
Elsbeth is Tara’s other neighbour. She was a dancer and still has an exercise program. She appears to have some money, but appearances can mislead.
When Covid strikes the inhabitants of this small town face many upheavals. Everybody suffers from isolation claustrophobia. Elsbeth must isolate as she’s over seventy. Ashley has trouble with her family, as they are unused to being together twenty-four hours a day, but there is deeper trouble brewing.
Tara sees an opportunity to become admired and needed.
This heady mix brings some people together, but it also stirs up hatred and envy.
What strikes me about The Bad Neighbour is that we have the satire of early Greek comedy and the ordinary people of the later plays. Also, the unity of action and space that constitutes Greek Tragedy plays a role, although the timeline stretches over more than twenty-four hours. Add to that the catharsis the main characters go through each in their way.
As always, Jennie Ensor wields her pen with wit and decisiveness.
Bird Woman lives alone. She prefers birds to humans and with good reason.
Ashley lives with her family. They recently moved to Brampton, and she feels insecure about her welcome, especially because of her Muslim husband.
Tara lives next door to Ashley. She moved here some years ago and has established herself as the local do-gooder. She craves attention.
Elsbeth is Tara’s other neighbour. She was a dancer and still has an exercise program. She appears to have some money, but appearances can mislead.
When Covid strikes the inhabitants of this small town face many upheavals. Everybody suffers from isolation claustrophobia. Elsbeth must isolate as she’s over seventy. Ashley has trouble with her family, as they are unused to being together twenty-four hours a day, but there is deeper trouble brewing.
Tara sees an opportunity to become admired and needed.
This heady mix brings some people together, but it also stirs up hatred and envy.
What strikes me about The Bad Neighbour is that we have the satire of early Greek comedy and the ordinary people of the later plays. Also, the unity of action and space that constitutes Greek Tragedy plays a role, although the timeline stretches over more than twenty-four hours. Add to that the catharsis the main characters go through each in their way.
As always, Jennie Ensor wields her pen with wit and decisiveness.
May 25, 2023
This is a story set just as the Corona Virus pandemic begins. Jennie manages to nail the fear, awkwardness between people, fear, queues, isolation and loss of identity without a job to go to, dismissiveness of some, but does it in a way that isn't excessive or oppressive when we are still trying to forget. A wonderful skill indeed.
The story is based around 3 main characters, Elspeth, an eldery lady, who has to shield, Tara, a long time friend, who is on hand to help put, then newcomer to the village, Ashley, who is causing controversy by daring to marry a Pakinstani Muslim man!!
A group set up a food bank to help those most in need, but this wouldn't be a crime book if everything was rosy.
Elspeth starts to become friendly with Ashley which Tara doesn't like...
The characters are all brilliantly written, all unique and certainly have unique personalities. I loved Elspeth, in all of the shenanigans she was always the innocent party.
The peripheral characters were a lot of fun and added to the story and the feel of the village community.
The plot goes along gently but with dark undercurrents that pick up speed until an ending with a bang.
I found it difficult to put this down and loved every second of reading it.
The story is based around 3 main characters, Elspeth, an eldery lady, who has to shield, Tara, a long time friend, who is on hand to help put, then newcomer to the village, Ashley, who is causing controversy by daring to marry a Pakinstani Muslim man!!
A group set up a food bank to help those most in need, but this wouldn't be a crime book if everything was rosy.
Elspeth starts to become friendly with Ashley which Tara doesn't like...
The characters are all brilliantly written, all unique and certainly have unique personalities. I loved Elspeth, in all of the shenanigans she was always the innocent party.
The peripheral characters were a lot of fun and added to the story and the feel of the village community.
The plot goes along gently but with dark undercurrents that pick up speed until an ending with a bang.
I found it difficult to put this down and loved every second of reading it.
June 6, 2023
It’s March 2020 and the Covid pandemic hits Brampton, a little British backwater village where Tara Sanderson takes it upon herself to set up a community group to help vulnerable residents throughout the crisis. Also, she sets up a Saturday morning stall to help people in need of food, the food is donated or cooked locally for local people. It’s called the Brampton Food Initiative.
She lives between Elspeth, who has lived there for years and she considers her a friend and Ashley Khan, who she takes an instant dislike to. She tries to get her husband Zac to use her PR services which have nose-dived since Covid started but he’s not interested. As Elspeth has problems with her tinnitus and ordering food from the shops, Tara offers to do her shopping for her and her medication which Elspeth appreciates but as the weeks wear on and it proves more trying then Tara thought, nerves and tempers are tried with both of them. Words are said in the heat of the moment then regretted. In the meantime, Ashley has been popping over for a daily chat with Elspeth which has been riling Tara up. Elspeth then finds out that Tara is stealing from her, so tells her she no longer wants her to do the shopping but Tara guesses that Ashley is taking over. When questioned Elspeth can’t deny it. This leaves things on a very frosty ending. Then Tara comes down with Covid and a few days later Elspeth catches Covid but she has to be admitted to hospital in a very bad way.
One Saturday, Tara has to run the BFI on her own and there is plenty to share but there are no takers. People are coming and looking then telling her of the rumours they are hearing, things in the meat pie, something in the victoria sponge. At 3pm, the trestle table was still full so she packed the table up and moved elsewhere but sold the stuff hoping no one know. Unfortunately for Tara she had been seen by someone who had taken photographs and then outed her to the group at the next zoom meeting. She couldn’t deny it and they wanted to know how much she got, they were disgusted with her. The vote was taken that she left the group and they have a new leader. She became a total pariah. Everyone in the village blanked her once they knew. She lost her business and she came off social media. She ended up having to go around in disguise to go out. It made her think of her sisters. It made her want revenge. One person she blamed was Ashley for spreading the rumour.
For a short while she reinvented herself as Avril Appleby and changed her appearance to go with the alias. She decided she would get revenge on Ashley and her family, so started a journal noting down anything that might help. She noted down about Layla on the green late one night and Samir being down the allotments with his mates talking about wanting a mosque in Brampton. She then managed to arrange a meeting with a man from the ‘TAF’ and started spreading rumours that way. This was soon causing Layla and Samir grief and there were a lot of arguments at home. This soon drew the attention away from Tara and she could walk around without the disguise.
Elspeth and Ashley are wondering if Tara was planning some revenge for them. Their friendship is blossoming and since Elspeth has come out of hospital, Ashley has shared her fears with her, that Tara set out to hurt her and give her Covid. They tried to map out what they knew of Tara’s past and her family but it didn’t amount to much as it wasn’t something she spoke about. Elspeth took it upon herself to visit Tara and ask her questions about her family as well as asking about the fence in the back garden. Tara was surprised that Elspeth was at the front door but she tried to be pleasant but then Elspeth asked about her sisters and where she lived as a child. The hackles went up but she told her that she lived at Dove Cross in Devon. She went into what to her sisters and then they mentioned the fence but then, Elspeth couldn’t wait to get away and tell Ashley what she learnt. They trawled the Dove Cross local site and found the details which sent chilling feelings down their spines. They needed to tread carefully with Tara, who knew what she was capable of.
Would Tara kill her neighbours? Where did her notebook go?
This is a great psychological read with a little bit of humour injected, I was laughing away at snippets that were comically amusing. Brilliantly written with great attention to detail. I like most of the main characters, the main exception is Tara. I think she must be the worst possible neighbour to have and she doesn’t sound very nice at all.
She lives between Elspeth, who has lived there for years and she considers her a friend and Ashley Khan, who she takes an instant dislike to. She tries to get her husband Zac to use her PR services which have nose-dived since Covid started but he’s not interested. As Elspeth has problems with her tinnitus and ordering food from the shops, Tara offers to do her shopping for her and her medication which Elspeth appreciates but as the weeks wear on and it proves more trying then Tara thought, nerves and tempers are tried with both of them. Words are said in the heat of the moment then regretted. In the meantime, Ashley has been popping over for a daily chat with Elspeth which has been riling Tara up. Elspeth then finds out that Tara is stealing from her, so tells her she no longer wants her to do the shopping but Tara guesses that Ashley is taking over. When questioned Elspeth can’t deny it. This leaves things on a very frosty ending. Then Tara comes down with Covid and a few days later Elspeth catches Covid but she has to be admitted to hospital in a very bad way.
One Saturday, Tara has to run the BFI on her own and there is plenty to share but there are no takers. People are coming and looking then telling her of the rumours they are hearing, things in the meat pie, something in the victoria sponge. At 3pm, the trestle table was still full so she packed the table up and moved elsewhere but sold the stuff hoping no one know. Unfortunately for Tara she had been seen by someone who had taken photographs and then outed her to the group at the next zoom meeting. She couldn’t deny it and they wanted to know how much she got, they were disgusted with her. The vote was taken that she left the group and they have a new leader. She became a total pariah. Everyone in the village blanked her once they knew. She lost her business and she came off social media. She ended up having to go around in disguise to go out. It made her think of her sisters. It made her want revenge. One person she blamed was Ashley for spreading the rumour.
For a short while she reinvented herself as Avril Appleby and changed her appearance to go with the alias. She decided she would get revenge on Ashley and her family, so started a journal noting down anything that might help. She noted down about Layla on the green late one night and Samir being down the allotments with his mates talking about wanting a mosque in Brampton. She then managed to arrange a meeting with a man from the ‘TAF’ and started spreading rumours that way. This was soon causing Layla and Samir grief and there were a lot of arguments at home. This soon drew the attention away from Tara and she could walk around without the disguise.
Elspeth and Ashley are wondering if Tara was planning some revenge for them. Their friendship is blossoming and since Elspeth has come out of hospital, Ashley has shared her fears with her, that Tara set out to hurt her and give her Covid. They tried to map out what they knew of Tara’s past and her family but it didn’t amount to much as it wasn’t something she spoke about. Elspeth took it upon herself to visit Tara and ask her questions about her family as well as asking about the fence in the back garden. Tara was surprised that Elspeth was at the front door but she tried to be pleasant but then Elspeth asked about her sisters and where she lived as a child. The hackles went up but she told her that she lived at Dove Cross in Devon. She went into what to her sisters and then they mentioned the fence but then, Elspeth couldn’t wait to get away and tell Ashley what she learnt. They trawled the Dove Cross local site and found the details which sent chilling feelings down their spines. They needed to tread carefully with Tara, who knew what she was capable of.
Would Tara kill her neighbours? Where did her notebook go?
This is a great psychological read with a little bit of humour injected, I was laughing away at snippets that were comically amusing. Brilliantly written with great attention to detail. I like most of the main characters, the main exception is Tara. I think she must be the worst possible neighbour to have and she doesn’t sound very nice at all.
December 30, 2024
This is an interesting and dark mystery thriller with an ending that I didn’t expect! Seventy-eight year old Elspeth has been friends with her neighbour Tara for years, but when the pandemic begins and lockdown starts, Elspeth has to begin shielding. Being a good neighbour Tara not only sets about getting supplies of food and prescriptions for Elspeth but she also sets up a community group to help the vulnerable people of Brampton. However when Elspeth begins a new friendship with Tara’s other neighbour Ashley who has recently moved to the area, Tara becomes annoyed. And as the weeks go on, Tara’s dislike for Ashley grows, leading Ashley and Elspeth to start asking questions about Tara and her past.
This is an interesting story which I enjoyed from the first pages. The story follows a few characters, each with their own chapters and I enjoyed getting to know each of them. Elspeth and Ashley are interesting but very different characters. I liked Elspeth from the start, being an older woman, a former dancer but with an active social life which is slowed when lockdown begins. However I like her spirit and the way she handles all the situations that happen to her within the story. Ashley is interesting too, with her family’s recent move to Wilton Close and the issues her teenage kids have later in the story. The other main character we follow is Tara who is an interesting character, given the fact that at first she seems to be a bit of a busybody leader of the community, but from her chapters we soon learn more about her, the way she thinks, and I love how interesting and dark and different a character she ends up being.
The story goes through the months of the first pandemic and lockdown in 2020, and I love what happens. At first all seems normal with Tara running the community support group, arranging a food stall to help give food to those who need it and helping Elspeth with her shopping and prescriptions. But as time goes on you get to see a different side to Tara and the various situations that happen make for interesting reading, especially when you see how Tara has a different view of what happens to her from other people. As the story moves on Elspeth and Ashley grow closer, leading Tara to feel slighted and we learn more about why she feels like this too and the dark past she carries.
While this story is a bit of a crime thriller, there are also some funny moments too. Some of the things that end up happening leave you smiling and there are some moments and scenes, even towards the end, that end up being almost comedic in parts. But the story is also a dark one too and it tackes some difficult subjects along the way. Things like online and social media bullying, as well as racism, vandalism, violence, mentions of attempted suicide, murder and death are all parts of this story too. There is also a few uses of the s, f and one use of the c swear word too.
I like the build up towards the end of the story, as it becomes more serious and dark, although what ultimately happens at the end is something I really didn’t expect! The ending is a satisfying one, but I’m not sure it’s the one I really expected or would have wanted. In fact, though there was a bit of a funny moment involving a lot of the characters, what happens surprises you with how dark it suddenly gets and I didn’t expect this story to get quite so dark if I’m honest. Overall though, despite how dark it was it’s a good ending for the characters involved, though it might make you question whether it was the right ending for all.
Overall this is a good book and the story is so interesting and quite fast paced. In fact as soon as I started reading this I struggled to put it down, it became quite the page-turner, something I didn’t expect with a book set during the pandemic of 2020 (which is a time period I’m not a fan of reading about). What happens with Elspeth, Ashley and Tara (and the occasional chapter from Bird Woman’s point of view is interesting to read, and I like how silly and dark Tara’s side of the story became. The overall ending is satisfying but definitely one I didn’t expect, and although it perhaps is a bit of an unsettling ending, it’s also a good one and makes this an interesting book to read, especially if you like a bit of a dark crime thriller with a twist!
-Thanks to Hobeck Books for a free copy.
This is an interesting story which I enjoyed from the first pages. The story follows a few characters, each with their own chapters and I enjoyed getting to know each of them. Elspeth and Ashley are interesting but very different characters. I liked Elspeth from the start, being an older woman, a former dancer but with an active social life which is slowed when lockdown begins. However I like her spirit and the way she handles all the situations that happen to her within the story. Ashley is interesting too, with her family’s recent move to Wilton Close and the issues her teenage kids have later in the story. The other main character we follow is Tara who is an interesting character, given the fact that at first she seems to be a bit of a busybody leader of the community, but from her chapters we soon learn more about her, the way she thinks, and I love how interesting and dark and different a character she ends up being.
The story goes through the months of the first pandemic and lockdown in 2020, and I love what happens. At first all seems normal with Tara running the community support group, arranging a food stall to help give food to those who need it and helping Elspeth with her shopping and prescriptions. But as time goes on you get to see a different side to Tara and the various situations that happen make for interesting reading, especially when you see how Tara has a different view of what happens to her from other people. As the story moves on Elspeth and Ashley grow closer, leading Tara to feel slighted and we learn more about why she feels like this too and the dark past she carries.
While this story is a bit of a crime thriller, there are also some funny moments too. Some of the things that end up happening leave you smiling and there are some moments and scenes, even towards the end, that end up being almost comedic in parts. But the story is also a dark one too and it tackes some difficult subjects along the way. Things like online and social media bullying, as well as racism, vandalism, violence, mentions of attempted suicide, murder and death are all parts of this story too. There is also a few uses of the s, f and one use of the c swear word too.
I like the build up towards the end of the story, as it becomes more serious and dark, although what ultimately happens at the end is something I really didn’t expect! The ending is a satisfying one, but I’m not sure it’s the one I really expected or would have wanted. In fact, though there was a bit of a funny moment involving a lot of the characters, what happens surprises you with how dark it suddenly gets and I didn’t expect this story to get quite so dark if I’m honest. Overall though, despite how dark it was it’s a good ending for the characters involved, though it might make you question whether it was the right ending for all.
Overall this is a good book and the story is so interesting and quite fast paced. In fact as soon as I started reading this I struggled to put it down, it became quite the page-turner, something I didn’t expect with a book set during the pandemic of 2020 (which is a time period I’m not a fan of reading about). What happens with Elspeth, Ashley and Tara (and the occasional chapter from Bird Woman’s point of view is interesting to read, and I like how silly and dark Tara’s side of the story became. The overall ending is satisfying but definitely one I didn’t expect, and although it perhaps is a bit of an unsettling ending, it’s also a good one and makes this an interesting book to read, especially if you like a bit of a dark crime thriller with a twist!
-Thanks to Hobeck Books for a free copy.
May 28, 2023
Life in the better part of Brampton, the bit with the Waitrose, was quite idyllic. People rubbed along nicely and even self-appointed community leader and guardian of neighbourhood standards, Tara Sanderson, was tolerable. In fact, she and her elderly neighbour Elspeth Chambers got on well and were friends. Two things were to happen to fatally upset the local dynamic.
The first change was the arrival of Ashley to the street, a bright personable woman, perhaps lacking in confidence but a cheerful addition to the neighbourhood. However, in some eyes, not only is she an incomer, but she is also married to a second-generation Pakistani immigrant, and they have two mixed-race teenage children. Two things to set her apart from the rest of residents.
The second was the disruption the Covid 19 restrictions put in place, that affected us all, but some more than others. Tara was quick to act setting up the neighbourhood support group, with the aim of supporting those having difficulties but also cementing her position as queen bee. Tara also sets herself up as Elspeth’s helper, her support bubble, and does her shopping.
Gradually cracks start appearing, Tara sees Elspeth as lacking gratitude for all she does for her and as Elspeth starts to become friendly with Ashley, she sees her friendship usurped. From this point matters escalate out of control and dark secrets are discovered.
A story full of changing relationship dynamics, how perceived slights can be taken personally, allowed to fester before bursting like a cyst and oozing poison. Tara has her problems and a dark past, so has constructed another life based on needing to be respected and the centre of attention. Any undermining of this position she views as an attack, even if that is not the intention, which she feels obliged to respond in kind. The pettiness begins to escalate, but she has no off button, a simple clearing of the air discussion is all that is required but she cannot see that. So, the responses spiral out of control to become vindictive and quite vicious as Tara’s past comes back to haunt her. This is all entertainingly written and constructed, such that you are wondering what she is going to do next before it gets quite shocking.
Tara is clearly the ‘star’ and what a complex and damaged character she is. So nicely judged that even at her despicable worst it’s impossible not elicit some sympathy. The blossoming friendship between Ashley and Elspeth provides the perfect contrast, the closer they get the more obsessed Tara becomes and the more outlandish her behaviour is. The other residents provide the street-life banter that balances the simmering tension.
There is an added mystery too. The novel starts with the strange Bird Woman, an outcast from society but apparently of her own making. She lives in a run-down cottage in the woods, is a keen observer of birdlife and is happiest when left alone. Ignored to the point of invisibility she moves around unnoticed but is a keen observer of life, she notices and she remembers.
The story is something of a slow burn, there is plenty going on, it’s all rather trivial, but it slowly ratchets up building to a strange but dramatic confrontation. This produces a bizarre but surprisingly satisfying scene I would defy anyone to guess. Different to how problems might be dealt with in the big city, but Brampton is a genteel place to live not like the low-life ruffians down the hill. The net result might be similar though, with dilemmas to be faced and difficult decisions need to be made.
It may have a dark heart but there is plenty of general humour to provide a lift and keep it in the realms of cosy crime.
The first change was the arrival of Ashley to the street, a bright personable woman, perhaps lacking in confidence but a cheerful addition to the neighbourhood. However, in some eyes, not only is she an incomer, but she is also married to a second-generation Pakistani immigrant, and they have two mixed-race teenage children. Two things to set her apart from the rest of residents.
The second was the disruption the Covid 19 restrictions put in place, that affected us all, but some more than others. Tara was quick to act setting up the neighbourhood support group, with the aim of supporting those having difficulties but also cementing her position as queen bee. Tara also sets herself up as Elspeth’s helper, her support bubble, and does her shopping.
Gradually cracks start appearing, Tara sees Elspeth as lacking gratitude for all she does for her and as Elspeth starts to become friendly with Ashley, she sees her friendship usurped. From this point matters escalate out of control and dark secrets are discovered.
A story full of changing relationship dynamics, how perceived slights can be taken personally, allowed to fester before bursting like a cyst and oozing poison. Tara has her problems and a dark past, so has constructed another life based on needing to be respected and the centre of attention. Any undermining of this position she views as an attack, even if that is not the intention, which she feels obliged to respond in kind. The pettiness begins to escalate, but she has no off button, a simple clearing of the air discussion is all that is required but she cannot see that. So, the responses spiral out of control to become vindictive and quite vicious as Tara’s past comes back to haunt her. This is all entertainingly written and constructed, such that you are wondering what she is going to do next before it gets quite shocking.
Tara is clearly the ‘star’ and what a complex and damaged character she is. So nicely judged that even at her despicable worst it’s impossible not elicit some sympathy. The blossoming friendship between Ashley and Elspeth provides the perfect contrast, the closer they get the more obsessed Tara becomes and the more outlandish her behaviour is. The other residents provide the street-life banter that balances the simmering tension.
There is an added mystery too. The novel starts with the strange Bird Woman, an outcast from society but apparently of her own making. She lives in a run-down cottage in the woods, is a keen observer of birdlife and is happiest when left alone. Ignored to the point of invisibility she moves around unnoticed but is a keen observer of life, she notices and she remembers.
The story is something of a slow burn, there is plenty going on, it’s all rather trivial, but it slowly ratchets up building to a strange but dramatic confrontation. This produces a bizarre but surprisingly satisfying scene I would defy anyone to guess. Different to how problems might be dealt with in the big city, but Brampton is a genteel place to live not like the low-life ruffians down the hill. The net result might be similar though, with dilemmas to be faced and difficult decisions need to be made.
It may have a dark heart but there is plenty of general humour to provide a lift and keep it in the realms of cosy crime.
May 15, 2023
A hugely enjoyable book.
It’s 2020, and the coronavirus pandemic is sweeping across the country. People are afraid, apprehensive, disbelieving, and the residents of the village of Brampton are no different. A local group is formed to discuss how best to help the elderly and vulnerable in the community: there’s Tara, the group initiator, a middle-aged woman who prides herself on helping her neighbours. And Ashley, who’s new to the village and has problems within her mixed-race family. And John, who gets around on a mobility scooter and could probably be classed as vulnerable too. And others, different people, all come together to help those like Elspeth, who’s old and lives alone. Then there’s Bird Woman, who keeps herself to herself so much that nobody knows her name.
Jennie Ensor paints a picture that we all lived through – the oddness of having to wear face masks and socially distance ourselves, the loneliness of not being able to visit people as we want to, the fear when someone goes down with the virus; it makes for compelling reading. In Brampton, however, tensions are rising fast and consequences are far greater than any of us encountered.
Although The Bad Neighbour is crime fiction, Jennie Ensor’s gloriously dark humour comes over in places you least expect it, and the book has many golden moments where you find yourself smiling in recognition. Zoom meetings, for instance, and the accompanying technical problems. The characters are realistic, from lonely wannabe do-gooder Tara to Ashley’s teenage son Samir, struggling to find his identity. The ending swings from crime to comedy to horror, then back to the question – has justice been done?
It’s 2020, and the coronavirus pandemic is sweeping across the country. People are afraid, apprehensive, disbelieving, and the residents of the village of Brampton are no different. A local group is formed to discuss how best to help the elderly and vulnerable in the community: there’s Tara, the group initiator, a middle-aged woman who prides herself on helping her neighbours. And Ashley, who’s new to the village and has problems within her mixed-race family. And John, who gets around on a mobility scooter and could probably be classed as vulnerable too. And others, different people, all come together to help those like Elspeth, who’s old and lives alone. Then there’s Bird Woman, who keeps herself to herself so much that nobody knows her name.
Jennie Ensor paints a picture that we all lived through – the oddness of having to wear face masks and socially distance ourselves, the loneliness of not being able to visit people as we want to, the fear when someone goes down with the virus; it makes for compelling reading. In Brampton, however, tensions are rising fast and consequences are far greater than any of us encountered.
Although The Bad Neighbour is crime fiction, Jennie Ensor’s gloriously dark humour comes over in places you least expect it, and the book has many golden moments where you find yourself smiling in recognition. Zoom meetings, for instance, and the accompanying technical problems. The characters are realistic, from lonely wannabe do-gooder Tara to Ashley’s teenage son Samir, struggling to find his identity. The ending swings from crime to comedy to horror, then back to the question – has justice been done?
May 21, 2023
I’m not sure how you would categorise this book. It’s like a cake recipe, but not one of Tara’s, with a spoonful cosy crime, mixed with some psychological thriller, a pinch of humour, a small spoonful of police procedural and a lump of family drama - all mixed well and left to simmer! Yes I know you don’t simmer cakes but bake didn’t work so well. Set in Brampton, a quiet village, in March 2020 when the Covid pandemic hit the UK and lockdown started. Some excellent characters, I particularly liked Elspeth Chambers, a retired dancer who is classed as vulnerable and ‘the bird woman’ who was just a quiet presence but one who plays a pivotal role in the story.
Briefly, a local group is set up in the village to help the vulnerable through the lockdown period. Chaired by Tara Sanderson who sees herself as a community minded and kind person but who is actually a bitter woman, for bitter read psychopathic, and who has become jealous of Elspeth’s friendships with new neighbour Ashley Kahn. But when Tara let’s her mask slip she soon finds the whole village turning against her.
I must admit when I started this I sceptical about a book set in this period I would rather forget but the characters soon took over and Covid became a minor player in the drama. The way things were is well explained; mask wearing, zoom meetings, working from home and the loneliness, missing friends and family and the fear of catching the virus, especially if like me you are classed as vulnerable. As long as Covid isn’t a trigger for you then this is a good compelling read about the complexity of relationships and of how little things can fester and become a massive issue. I enjoyed it.
Briefly, a local group is set up in the village to help the vulnerable through the lockdown period. Chaired by Tara Sanderson who sees herself as a community minded and kind person but who is actually a bitter woman, for bitter read psychopathic, and who has become jealous of Elspeth’s friendships with new neighbour Ashley Kahn. But when Tara let’s her mask slip she soon finds the whole village turning against her.
I must admit when I started this I sceptical about a book set in this period I would rather forget but the characters soon took over and Covid became a minor player in the drama. The way things were is well explained; mask wearing, zoom meetings, working from home and the loneliness, missing friends and family and the fear of catching the virus, especially if like me you are classed as vulnerable. As long as Covid isn’t a trigger for you then this is a good compelling read about the complexity of relationships and of how little things can fester and become a massive issue. I enjoyed it.
May 28, 2023
I have come to expect great things of Hobeck Books over the last couple of years and I was looking forward to reading their latest release – The Bad Neighbour by Jennie Ensor.
Part One begins in March 2020 in the village of Brampton and Part Two in June 2020. We read chapters from the viewpoints of different characters – Bird Woman, Ashley, Elspeth and Tara.
Tara Sanderson has set up a community group during the Covid pandemic and has asked for volunteers to help their vulnerable residents. This group includes Ashley (a white woman married to Zac, a Pakistani Muslim. They are parents to two mixed race children Sam and Layla) and Elspeth (who is in her late seventies). After a while, it seems that looking after Elspeth becomes an obsession for Tara and anytime Ashley does something to help out the older woman, Tara becomes angry. As more is learnt about Tara’s past, Ashley and Elspeth wonder if she could be a threat to their lives…
I liked how the story was set during the pandemic and you could work out when it was through various news items mentioned, like when Boris Johnson was in hospital with Covid. It made the book feel very authentic.
The plot had plenty of twists to keep you interested and trying to guess what was going to happen. But the best thing about the book are all the wonderful characters. I especially loved Elspeth, Ashley and John, but all of them were believable and fully formed and I was really rooting for the “good guys” to shine through and win the day.
Part One begins in March 2020 in the village of Brampton and Part Two in June 2020. We read chapters from the viewpoints of different characters – Bird Woman, Ashley, Elspeth and Tara.
Tara Sanderson has set up a community group during the Covid pandemic and has asked for volunteers to help their vulnerable residents. This group includes Ashley (a white woman married to Zac, a Pakistani Muslim. They are parents to two mixed race children Sam and Layla) and Elspeth (who is in her late seventies). After a while, it seems that looking after Elspeth becomes an obsession for Tara and anytime Ashley does something to help out the older woman, Tara becomes angry. As more is learnt about Tara’s past, Ashley and Elspeth wonder if she could be a threat to their lives…
I liked how the story was set during the pandemic and you could work out when it was through various news items mentioned, like when Boris Johnson was in hospital with Covid. It made the book feel very authentic.
The plot had plenty of twists to keep you interested and trying to guess what was going to happen. But the best thing about the book are all the wonderful characters. I especially loved Elspeth, Ashley and John, but all of them were believable and fully formed and I was really rooting for the “good guys” to shine through and win the day.
May 31, 2023
Jennie Ensor’s previous novel ‘Silenced’ was an exceedingly hard hitting but brutally entertaining crime thriller that packed a punch from the very first chapter. Jennie’s latest book called “The Bad Neighbour” is set in a completely different ambience but is still as dark, compelling and addictive.
This thriller was a such a good concept for a story, using the Covid 19 lockdown to highlight the characters emotions and reactions to the guidelines and the trauma of the illness affecting the vulnerable. The author captured every single thing we all experienced, from the over competitiveness of helping in the community, the sometimes selfish attitudes of those helped, to the often unpredictable zoom meetings, queues in supermarkets and fighting over goods that were no longer as widely available. I was literally transported back to the pandemic and every solitary thing mentioned, I related to in full. Thankfully we’re now far enough past the lockdown to be able to view it with some humour (obviously not lessening the seriousness of the many who suffered or lost a family member). The way Jennie incorporated such a fantastically thought out mystery for the reader to solve, in a setting everyone could relate to, was truly remarkable and kept me turning the pages with interest. The characters were realistic and believable, with an intriguing plot line that held twists, hostilities, long buried secrets that shock the reader but with some fun moments too. I love this author’s writing and I will definitely be back for more in the future!
#TheBadNeighbour - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This thriller was a such a good concept for a story, using the Covid 19 lockdown to highlight the characters emotions and reactions to the guidelines and the trauma of the illness affecting the vulnerable. The author captured every single thing we all experienced, from the over competitiveness of helping in the community, the sometimes selfish attitudes of those helped, to the often unpredictable zoom meetings, queues in supermarkets and fighting over goods that were no longer as widely available. I was literally transported back to the pandemic and every solitary thing mentioned, I related to in full. Thankfully we’re now far enough past the lockdown to be able to view it with some humour (obviously not lessening the seriousness of the many who suffered or lost a family member). The way Jennie incorporated such a fantastically thought out mystery for the reader to solve, in a setting everyone could relate to, was truly remarkable and kept me turning the pages with interest. The characters were realistic and believable, with an intriguing plot line that held twists, hostilities, long buried secrets that shock the reader but with some fun moments too. I love this author’s writing and I will definitely be back for more in the future!
#TheBadNeighbour - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 8, 2024
I just didn't want this story to end. It is that good. It's twisty but not contrived. For a while I was expecting Tara to be the innocent victim of a gang of cliquish, snobby neighbours, but it soon became clear that she really was a wrong 'un. Still, I wanted to see the good in her - I think most people who like to read are natural introverts, so we tend to be on the side of the outsider. I badly wanted Tara's dark past to be explained away by something (another person did those terrible things.
Just nitpicking here, but I would like to have read more about Tara's back-story, to explain why she is a malignant narcissist. Also, the far right guy was a bit disappointing, story-wise: I wanted him to have an affair with Tara - and his wife to show up on her doorstep...
There's also a mention of a real British politician which I found a bit trite. Even though the words came from Tara's lips, and sound natural for her, it distracts from the story because I find myself wanting to argue that his policies, thoughts and the man himself can't be reduced to a snide comment... Real political debate ruins a work of fiction; it breaks the spell. The author had already made her point without bringing real names into it.
I also didn't like Tara's neighbours, and this bothers me because the author is clearly on their side. I wouldn't like to live beside them; they're so judgemental and cliquish. The only one I really liked were the husband of one of the characters (I kept wanting him to have an affair with evil Tara...) and the Bird Lady (a true eccentric but clearly very sound).
But none of that takes away from the fact that I really enjoyed this book and really wish it was longer.
Just nitpicking here, but I would like to have read more about Tara's back-story, to explain why she is a malignant narcissist. Also, the far right guy was a bit disappointing, story-wise: I wanted him to have an affair with Tara - and his wife to show up on her doorstep...
There's also a mention of a real British politician which I found a bit trite. Even though the words came from Tara's lips, and sound natural for her, it distracts from the story because I find myself wanting to argue that his policies, thoughts and the man himself can't be reduced to a snide comment... Real political debate ruins a work of fiction; it breaks the spell. The author had already made her point without bringing real names into it.
I also didn't like Tara's neighbours, and this bothers me because the author is clearly on their side. I wouldn't like to live beside them; they're so judgemental and cliquish. The only one I really liked were the husband of one of the characters (I kept wanting him to have an affair with evil Tara...) and the Bird Lady (a true eccentric but clearly very sound).
But none of that takes away from the fact that I really enjoyed this book and really wish it was longer.
May 3, 2023
This book is a truly terrific read!
Before I began reading I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy reading a novel set in the pandemic - didn't we all just want to forget that time? But Jennie Ensor is such a talented writer, with such a lightness of touch, that the whole book was pure enjoyment. Her razor-sharp observations of character and her insight into the essence of small-town life gave the story-line total authenticity.
Tara and Elspeth's friendship is convincing throughout - but the irritation with each other's foibles grows and Tara's actions seem designed to provoke a falling out. Ashley's presence adds fuel to the fire and there are some interesting side-issues around her family and children.
I couldn't work out at all how Bird Woman was going to fit into the narrative and enjoyed her surprise intervention immensely. I spent some time wondering what the moral of the story was and came to the conclusion... well, that's going to stay my secret and you'll just have to work it out for yourself!
Before I began reading I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy reading a novel set in the pandemic - didn't we all just want to forget that time? But Jennie Ensor is such a talented writer, with such a lightness of touch, that the whole book was pure enjoyment. Her razor-sharp observations of character and her insight into the essence of small-town life gave the story-line total authenticity.
Tara and Elspeth's friendship is convincing throughout - but the irritation with each other's foibles grows and Tara's actions seem designed to provoke a falling out. Ashley's presence adds fuel to the fire and there are some interesting side-issues around her family and children.
I couldn't work out at all how Bird Woman was going to fit into the narrative and enjoyed her surprise intervention immensely. I spent some time wondering what the moral of the story was and came to the conclusion... well, that's going to stay my secret and you'll just have to work it out for yourself!
May 31, 2023
Another fabulous psychological thriller from this author, not a comfortable read in places but a cracking one none the less. Yes, the dreaded covid is there but it is a backdrop to the main story not the theme.
Set at the beginning of lockdown, we meet Tara who decides to set up a residents group to support the vulnerable & those shielding. She collects shopping & medications for her neighbour but feels she is being taken advantage of, so dips in to the shopping money for herself. Also, the same neighbour, a long standing friend, appears to be getting a bit too friendly with a family who’ve just moved in. Tara is not a happy bunny.
As lockdown continues, Tara begins to turn in to the neighbour no one wants & is struggling to hide her secret past.
As I mentioned at the beginning, covid is there, you can’t escape it & the way restrictions & our way of life quickly changed is well described. Despite this, there is plenty of black humour particularly around the dreaded zoom calls & some brilliant character descriptions. Highly recommended.
Set at the beginning of lockdown, we meet Tara who decides to set up a residents group to support the vulnerable & those shielding. She collects shopping & medications for her neighbour but feels she is being taken advantage of, so dips in to the shopping money for herself. Also, the same neighbour, a long standing friend, appears to be getting a bit too friendly with a family who’ve just moved in. Tara is not a happy bunny.
As lockdown continues, Tara begins to turn in to the neighbour no one wants & is struggling to hide her secret past.
As I mentioned at the beginning, covid is there, you can’t escape it & the way restrictions & our way of life quickly changed is well described. Despite this, there is plenty of black humour particularly around the dreaded zoom calls & some brilliant character descriptions. Highly recommended.
May 1, 2023
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book.
I found it an entertaining romp full of interesting characters.
The premise is during covid, in a small community we peep into the lives of the residents and see how they cope, what they get up to and how they get on, or don't get on, with each other. One resident is particularly unpleasant and as the story unfolds we find out about her past and how this informs her now..
The characters are well rounded and most of them likeable (except the baddie!) Which I enjoyed, there are a few twists and turns which surprised me...
This book kept me entertained and I could see this as a play on the stage. I hope there is a sequel exploring some of the other characters which i would enjoy reading about in greater depth.
I found it an entertaining romp full of interesting characters.
The premise is during covid, in a small community we peep into the lives of the residents and see how they cope, what they get up to and how they get on, or don't get on, with each other. One resident is particularly unpleasant and as the story unfolds we find out about her past and how this informs her now..
The characters are well rounded and most of them likeable (except the baddie!) Which I enjoyed, there are a few twists and turns which surprised me...
This book kept me entertained and I could see this as a play on the stage. I hope there is a sequel exploring some of the other characters which i would enjoy reading about in greater depth.
May 25, 2023
I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.
This dark and shocking domestic thriller follows several occupants in a street, in the town of Brampton. It is the start of lockdown and whilst everyone is shielding a neighbourhood group form to help those in need.
Whilst the neighbours seem to be getting along, small tensions which were lying beneath the surface start to escalate.
When the neighbours start to get suspicious of one resident in the street in particular, rumours start to spread throughout the community. What they don’t know is the secrets lying beneath their past.
How will the neighbours survive lockdown? How far will the tensions and jealousy take them?
This thriller certainly shocked me as it was a lot darker and went further than I ever imagined it would. The build up as the tensions increases makes you want to read further to see what will happen.
There are times in the book where racial discrimination is discussed between the characters and showing the protests which occurred during the lockdown period. I thought it was dealt with particularly well and showed that it didn’t involve everyone.
I liked that you got to hear from many of the different neighbours and hear the story from their own sides, it helps the storyline run smoothly and allows you to get a bigger picture of the reason events occur.
Overall, a dark, domestic thriller where tensions between neighbours escalate to a shocking conclusion.
This dark and shocking domestic thriller follows several occupants in a street, in the town of Brampton. It is the start of lockdown and whilst everyone is shielding a neighbourhood group form to help those in need.
Whilst the neighbours seem to be getting along, small tensions which were lying beneath the surface start to escalate.
When the neighbours start to get suspicious of one resident in the street in particular, rumours start to spread throughout the community. What they don’t know is the secrets lying beneath their past.
How will the neighbours survive lockdown? How far will the tensions and jealousy take them?
This thriller certainly shocked me as it was a lot darker and went further than I ever imagined it would. The build up as the tensions increases makes you want to read further to see what will happen.
There are times in the book where racial discrimination is discussed between the characters and showing the protests which occurred during the lockdown period. I thought it was dealt with particularly well and showed that it didn’t involve everyone.
I liked that you got to hear from many of the different neighbours and hear the story from their own sides, it helps the storyline run smoothly and allows you to get a bigger picture of the reason events occur.
Overall, a dark, domestic thriller where tensions between neighbours escalate to a shocking conclusion.
October 21, 2023
What happens if you move to a new place and slowly discover you have moved next door to a ‘bad neighbour’? I’ve experienced bad neighbours in my time, but never to this extent. Ashley and her Muslim Pakistani husband and her mixed-race children move into a village just as COVID-19 strikes. Her neighbour, Tara, seems a high-profile figure in the village, always organising things to help the less fortunate in their area at this challenging time. So, what’s not to like? However, as she grows closer to Elspeth, Tara’s elderly neighbour on the other side, things aren’t quite what they seem. Things soon start to get out of hand, and in such a small community, it escalates. Find out what happens to Ashley and Elspeth in this deliciously dark and often funny tale.
May 22, 2023
Thank you to Hobeck Books for my opportunity to red and review this book.
It's set at the beginning of the Covid pandemic in March 2020. A group is formed in the village of Brampton to help the community face the crisis in particular the elderly and the vulnerable. The group of characters within the group are Tara, Ashley and John. Then we have the Bird Woman, who is a loner but she is part of the story throughout the book.
The story covers the face masks, zoom meetings, working from home and the lonliness that some people faced when living on their own. It is a well written story with twists and turns that you won't expect to an ending that you will be amazed by.
It's set at the beginning of the Covid pandemic in March 2020. A group is formed in the village of Brampton to help the community face the crisis in particular the elderly and the vulnerable. The group of characters within the group are Tara, Ashley and John. Then we have the Bird Woman, who is a loner but she is part of the story throughout the book.
The story covers the face masks, zoom meetings, working from home and the lonliness that some people faced when living on their own. It is a well written story with twists and turns that you won't expect to an ending that you will be amazed by.
June 13, 2023
I wasn’t sure for quite a long time whether The Bad Neighbour was supposed to be cosy crime (as per the publisher’s website) or psychological thriller (as per the blurb on Amazon) and in the end it turned out to be a bit of both. The style is clear, the story – set during Covid lockdown - well-constructed and the characters thoughtfully created, even the minor ones. I’m not sure what moral is to be drawn from the tale but I enjoyed the book and read it quickly, always a good sign. One small quibble would be the choice of Brampton as its location. I would have thought it better to choose a completely fictional town/village rather than a real place. But that’s me being picky.
May 21, 2023
I've been a tad apprehensive on reading covid/lockdown reads but with this one, I needn't have worried.
Something in this village feels a bit 'off' from the off! Characters are not easy to trust and this put me on high alert form the beginning. It was tricky to work out who the 'bad apples' were.... With the neighbours being so intertwined too this soon became a claustrophobic setting in the best possible way.
This maintains a great pace and still manages to tackle some really difficult societal and behavioural issues in a delicate, sensitive and thought provoking way.
A great read.
Something in this village feels a bit 'off' from the off! Characters are not easy to trust and this put me on high alert form the beginning. It was tricky to work out who the 'bad apples' were.... With the neighbours being so intertwined too this soon became a claustrophobic setting in the best possible way.
This maintains a great pace and still manages to tackle some really difficult societal and behavioural issues in a delicate, sensitive and thought provoking way.
A great read.
June 9, 2023
This book is awful. I wouldn’t recommend it at all. The inclusion of racial discrimination was poorly executed and felt as though it was used to make the character “different”. The fact it’s set during Covid was something that made me want to read it but it makes the storyline unbearable. The characters are unlikeable. I am disappointed by all the reviews which claim it’s 4 stars and then say it was in exchange for an “honest” review. I don’t agree the storyline is cosy or interesting, to be it was a way too long and a relief to finish.
August 1, 2023
Another page turning story from Jennie Ensor. Remarkably different from her last novel Silenced it's set in a small village during the pandemic of 2020. An challenging backdrop and the people in Brampton were wearing apparently wearing masks months earlier than we were in London. Interesting female characters and several story strands always well written. Anyway it wasn't possible to guess the ending. I'll definitely read the next book.
July 26, 2023
Charming, funny and a good story
A look at how the relationship between neighbours changed in the pandemic. Helpful or nosey? Kind hearted or self serving? Surely a long term resident of Bramptom couldn't be hiding a major secret...could they?
Great pace and engaging story with some laugh out loud moments - and others that make you think 🤔
A look at how the relationship between neighbours changed in the pandemic. Helpful or nosey? Kind hearted or self serving? Surely a long term resident of Bramptom couldn't be hiding a major secret...could they?
Great pace and engaging story with some laugh out loud moments - and others that make you think 🤔
July 15, 2023
Neighbors
Some neighbors can be like family, others can be like they walked out of a horror story.
Tara was one of those neighbors. Ashley and Elspeth were my kinda of neighbors. I loved Elspeth character. Referred by the bird lady as the dancing lady in the garden.
Some neighbors can be like family, others can be like they walked out of a horror story.
Tara was one of those neighbors. Ashley and Elspeth were my kinda of neighbors. I loved Elspeth character. Referred by the bird lady as the dancing lady in the garden.
September 10, 2023
Enjoyable
Read
February 26, 2024Tara sees herself as the Lady Bountiful of her village. Naturally, when the pandemic hits, she takes it upon herself to lead the community in helping vulnerable residents. But when one of the recipients of her largesse prefers the company of a new arrival in the village, it’s fair to say Tara takes umbrage. The Bad Neighbour was different from anything I’d read before. The author rides the current wave for cosy crime but keeps up the suspense and also hits a topical button with COVID-19 and lockdown references. Clever.
July 25, 2023
Synopsis:
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In March 2020, the Covid pandemic hits the sleepy English village of Brampton. At the start of the lockdown, local busybody Tara Sanderson sets up a community group to help vulnerable residents through the crisis. Elderly Elspeth Chambers, her longstanding neighbour and friend, accepts Tara's offer to buy food and collect medicine for her. But it isn't long before neighbourliness and community spirit turn sour. Tensions arise when Tara becomes jealous of Elspeth's emerging friendship with Ashley Kahn, a recent arrival in Wilton Close. Suspecting there is more to Tara's hostility toward them than meets the eye, Ashley and Elspeth start to uncover their neighbour's long-buried secrets...
Thank you to the author, Jennie Ensor, for a chance to review this book before its publication. I adored her previous books so was delighted to have this one come my way. I read it in one fell swoop: I had to stay up until 2.14 am to finish it as it was that good! Tara is one evil capital-B bitch and her deviousness and insanity knows no bounds.
She almost kills Elspeth, makes herself the enemy of almost everyone in the town where she lives and STILL SHE CONTINUES TO BE EVIL. Add in rampant racism/anti-Muslim behaviour and this book ticks all the boxes to be a read that I will recommend to everyone at my library. We all know a "Tara" (although maybe they aren't as evil as she is) so revenge on the revenge can be very, very sweet.
Pick it up ... it's that good!
***********
In March 2020, the Covid pandemic hits the sleepy English village of Brampton. At the start of the lockdown, local busybody Tara Sanderson sets up a community group to help vulnerable residents through the crisis. Elderly Elspeth Chambers, her longstanding neighbour and friend, accepts Tara's offer to buy food and collect medicine for her. But it isn't long before neighbourliness and community spirit turn sour. Tensions arise when Tara becomes jealous of Elspeth's emerging friendship with Ashley Kahn, a recent arrival in Wilton Close. Suspecting there is more to Tara's hostility toward them than meets the eye, Ashley and Elspeth start to uncover their neighbour's long-buried secrets...
Thank you to the author, Jennie Ensor, for a chance to review this book before its publication. I adored her previous books so was delighted to have this one come my way. I read it in one fell swoop: I had to stay up until 2.14 am to finish it as it was that good! Tara is one evil capital-B bitch and her deviousness and insanity knows no bounds.
She almost kills Elspeth, makes herself the enemy of almost everyone in the town where she lives and STILL SHE CONTINUES TO BE EVIL. Add in rampant racism/anti-Muslim behaviour and this book ticks all the boxes to be a read that I will recommend to everyone at my library. We all know a "Tara" (although maybe they aren't as evil as she is) so revenge on the revenge can be very, very sweet.
Pick it up ... it's that good!
July 25, 2023
Synopsis:
***********
In March 2020, the Covid pandemic hits the sleepy English village of Brampton. At the start of the lockdown, local busybody Tara Sanderson sets up a community group to help vulnerable residents through the crisis. Elderly Elspeth Chambers, her longstanding neighbour and friend, accepts Tara's offer to buy food and collect medicine for her. But it isn't long before neighbourliness and community spirit turn sour. Tensions arise when Tara becomes jealous of Elspeth's emerging friendship with Ashley Kahn, a recent arrival in Wilton Close. Suspecting there is more to Tara's hostility toward them than meets the eye, Ashley and Elspeth start to uncover their neighbour's long-buried secrets...
Thank you to the author, Jennie Ensor, for a chance to review this book before its publication. I adored her previous books so was delighted to have this one come my way. I read it in one fell swoop: I had to stay up until 2.14 am to finish it as it was that good! Tara is one evil capital-B bitch and her deviousness and insanity knows no bounds.
She almost kills Elspeth, makes herself the enemy of almost everyone in the town where she lives and STILL SHE CONTINUES TO BE EVIL. Add in rampant racism/anti-Muslim behaviour and this book ticks all the boxes to be a read that I will recommend to everyone at my library. We all know a "Tara" (although maybe they aren't as evil as she is) so revenge on the revenge can be very, very sweet.
Pick it up ... it's that good!
***********
In March 2020, the Covid pandemic hits the sleepy English village of Brampton. At the start of the lockdown, local busybody Tara Sanderson sets up a community group to help vulnerable residents through the crisis. Elderly Elspeth Chambers, her longstanding neighbour and friend, accepts Tara's offer to buy food and collect medicine for her. But it isn't long before neighbourliness and community spirit turn sour. Tensions arise when Tara becomes jealous of Elspeth's emerging friendship with Ashley Kahn, a recent arrival in Wilton Close. Suspecting there is more to Tara's hostility toward them than meets the eye, Ashley and Elspeth start to uncover their neighbour's long-buried secrets...
Thank you to the author, Jennie Ensor, for a chance to review this book before its publication. I adored her previous books so was delighted to have this one come my way. I read it in one fell swoop: I had to stay up until 2.14 am to finish it as it was that good! Tara is one evil capital-B bitch and her deviousness and insanity knows no bounds.
She almost kills Elspeth, makes herself the enemy of almost everyone in the town where she lives and STILL SHE CONTINUES TO BE EVIL. Add in rampant racism/anti-Muslim behaviour and this book ticks all the boxes to be a read that I will recommend to everyone at my library. We all know a "Tara" (although maybe they aren't as evil as she is) so revenge on the revenge can be very, very sweet.
Pick it up ... it's that good!
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