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The Killer On My Doorstep

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A BRAND-NEW totally addictive psychological thriller full of shocking twists.

‘There’s a package on the porch,’ my husband calls as he leaves for work. I rip open the brown paper and find three books inside. I didn’t order them.

A week ago, my new neighbor was murdered in exactly the way described in the first book.

Her name was Naomi Sheller. I’ll never forget the first time I saw her - frozen in the middle of the grocery store, eyes wide with terror.

Days later, she’s found dead in the woods. Her husband, Eric, is led away in handcuffs.

The second book has another murder in it. And the victim sounds exactly like me.

We moved here from New York City to raise our daughters somewhere safe. But now I think I made a terrible mistake.

The police don’t believe me. My husband thinks I’m paranoid.

But I’m not.

Because whoever sent these books . . . knows exactly where I live

Paperback

Published January 13, 2026

154 people are currently reading
215 people want to read

About the author

T.J. Brearton

49 books392 followers
Timothy James Brearton lives in the Adirondack Mountains with his wife and three children. He's loved thrillers and police stories for most of his life. HABIT follows broken cop Brendan Healy down the rabbit hole of a human trafficking conspiracy. DEAD GONE delivers Florida cop Tom Lange into a criminal underworld and THE KILLING TIME introduces FBI agent Shannon Ames, a country girl in the big city.

http://tjbrearton.net/about

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
Profile Image for kallixto ── .✦.
344 reviews
March 1, 2026
Probably not the best thriller you’ll ever read if you choose to pick it up. But, it was a great time of reading at least.
Profile Image for Nelli Lakatos.
706 reviews25 followers
January 15, 2026
"𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝙰 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚢. 𝚆𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚎. 𝚄𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕, 𝚜𝚞𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚕𝚢, 𝚠𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝."

From the very first page, this suspenseful, page-turner psychological domestic thriller novel absolutely captivated me. It put me under a spell and didn't let me go until the end.

I love thrillers like this, slow-burn and detailed to even the smallest family life moments, dinner, everyday conversations. A life you can imagine yourself into, where you feel yourself transported into this small town where words travels fast and everyone knows everything. A peaceful ordinary neighborhood until one day a new family moves next door. What could go wrong?

Wow, when part one ended I was at the edge of my seat! Such an unexpected turn of events, I definitely got goosebumps from this gripping twist and I knew it for sure that this was only the beginning! While reading this book I saw it play out in my head so clearly, like a movie. I hadn't felt like this in a long time about a book!

When I thought it couldn't get more exciting then part three arrived, with it the package on the doorstep from the blurb appeared! And that's when everything got more twisted.
Four books with themes too close to real life to be a coincidence.

Towards the end when it got more and more exciting I didn't ever wanted this story to come to an end. Twist after twist happened and the only thing I could think of is how could I last this brilliant novel forever? The ending was beautiful!

The Killer on my Doorstep was the best thriller I've read in a long time. ♡

I highly, highly recommend this mind-blowing thriller to everyone, it was absolutely perfect!
Profile Image for Alora Khan.
539 reviews13 followers
January 16, 2026
I love a good domestic thriller. The main character of this novel lives next to a couple that just moved in. Then the wife next door dies. The main character finds herself caught up in the investigation (and basically getting gaslit by everyone around her). I really ate this up. It was easy to get through and I enjoyed the twist. I had called who I believed was involved, but I had a great time getting there. If you are a fan of a good domestic thriller I definitely recommend giving this one a shot. Out now!
Profile Image for Victoria.
196 reviews5 followers
November 23, 2025
Title: The Killer on My Doorstep
Author: TJ Brearton
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: January 13, 2026

The description of this book really had me intrigued. A mystery package on your porch?! Who doesn't love that??

Unfortunately, I felt this book was a little too slow for me. There was a lot to unpack and follow. The good news is that it was not predictable. I definitely did not have the ending figured out.

This wasn't my favorite book, but I wouldn't mind reading other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
Profile Image for Faye Morris.
170 reviews11 followers
January 17, 2026
The Killer on My Doorstep by T.J. Brearton
🌟🌟🌟💫

We start off in the local store with a lady having a seizure. Lainey tries to help her but she runs away.

This lady then becomes Laineys new neighbour who is then murdered, but who did it?

Mystery Books arrive on Laineys doorstep, theories are thrown around, Lainey starts her own investigation and is then ostracised from her friendship group.

Lainey wasn't my favourite character. Would you really get binoculars and spy on your neighbour?? Bored housewife looking for something to do? Would you not go round and introduce yourself?

I didn’t predict the ending. Had thoughts throughout but didn't link it. A slow read that gets you thinking - who are your friends?!
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,851 reviews142 followers
January 25, 2026
Is it wrong to say that I grabbed this book based purely on that front cover?

I knew that this wouldn't be the case, but seeing that box on the doorstep, with the blood - it just reminded me of the film Seven - iykyk!!

 

Anyway, either way - I was pretty drawn into this storyline right from the start and knew I was going to fly through it!

 

When Lainey meets her new neighbours, Naomi and Eric, she was excited to get to know them - but when Naomi is found dead - her husband Eric is the prime suspect and strange things start happening - she begins to wonder whether she's also in danger!

 

As soon as we see Naomi react the way she did to seeing Lainey in the supermarket, I was obsessed with finding out what on earth caused her to feel so terrified.

 

This definitely builds a really creepy atmosphere from then on and had me on edge wondering why these strange things were happening and whether someone was following or watching Lainey and the family.

 

I mean, I'd have stayed well clear and not got involved - but I loved following Lainey as she pieced everything together to get to the truth of what was happening.

 

This was my first read by this author, but I really loved the way the writing drew me in from the start and although some elements of the plot have been done before, this still felt fresh and exciting and had me hooked until the end.

 

A great first read and I'm sure that I'll be looking out for more to add to my tbr soon.
Profile Image for Staceywh_17.
3,766 reviews12 followers
January 21, 2026
It appears this is the first I've read from Brearton. What a great way to start! I definitely picked the right book. I loved every minute!

I'll never look at bookmail in the same light though...

I went in blind so had no idea what was laying in wait for me. It was perfect; the pace was fast, the plot laden with suspense and tension, and most importantly I couldn't put it down!

Lainey was a great character, easy to invest in and I loved the super sleuthing we undertook together. I still didn't get it right though...

A twisty good page-turner.
Profile Image for Diane Elizabeth Taylor.
348 reviews14 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
December 21, 2025
​In this tense domestic thriller, we meet Lainey, a devoted wife and mother who remains a social outsider despite five years in her neighbourhood.
Desperate for acceptance within the local mums WhatsApp group, she begins a private investigation when her new neighbour is found murdered. ​
As the body count rises and eerie books mirroring the crimes arrive on her doorstep, Lainey’s life unravels under the weight of small town prejudice.
The story brilliantly captures the paralyzing need for belonging and the toxicity of a clique culture. Though Lainey makes questionable choices, her heart is in the right place, making her a relatable protagonist. It’s a compelling exploration of insecurity that culminates in a neatly tied up ending.
Profile Image for Linda.
479 reviews
November 26, 2025
Brilliantly Chilling

T. J. Brearton has been one of my favourite authors for many years, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read his latest novel — and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The story is immediately gripping, with a first chapter that makes it clear nothing about this book will be ordinary or predictable.

Elaine Barrister is curious about her new neighbours, but her interest soon draws her into far darker territory. As she becomes entangled in their lives, she unexpectedly finds herself playing the role of unofficial investigator following a sudden, suspicious death. Her involvement sends shockwaves through her “mums” group — tensions that only escalate when another death unsettles the community.

This intense psychological drama is fast-paced, twisty, and brilliantly disorienting. Brearton repeatedly leads the reader down roads that seem promising before abruptly veering in another direction. The sense of foreboding is constant, building steadily toward a chilling final confrontation between Elaine and the killer. I never once guessed the culprit, and the reveal left me genuinely stunned.

Well done to T. J. Brearton for delivering yet another nail-biting thriller that kept me on edge from start to finish. I’ll definitely be looking out for his next novel.
468 reviews5 followers
January 8, 2026
A domestic psychological thriller with a surprise ending.

I just didnt anticipate what was coming at the end, there werent any clues toit at all.

Elaine - Lainey, her husband and two young daughters moved to this small town some five years ago. She has worked at trying to integrate with a local group of women, the moms, but is still regarded as a bit of an outsider and is not fully accepted.

Late at night new neighbours move into the empty house nexdoor. The wife from there is then found mudered. The police dont seem to be making much progress except to blame the husband, so Lainey decides to investigate using the skills she acquired along with her psychology degree. She isn't helped by the discovery of another body. Then, books describing similar crimes turn up on her doorstep. She continues her investigation and becomes ostracised by the moms.

The book starts off quite slowly, but the pace and the tension soon begin to ramp up. I'm not familiar with the work of T J Bearton , but they've certainly done a really good job here. This is well worth a read.
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
2,032 reviews147 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
January 12, 2026
BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for ' The Killer On My Doorstep' by T.J. Brearton

This may be the first book I have read by this incredible author but it most certainly will not be my last!! What an absolutely tension packed, suspense filled page turner! An absolute must read!

What an absolutely gripping, addictive and action packed page turner!! Clear your schedules and grab your copy now!!

Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done to T.J Brearton on an absolutely incredible, mind blowing and addictive read! I have absolutely NO idea whatsoever how on Earth I have never actually got around to reading any of your books before now but I am very pleased that that silly mistake has now been rectified and I have discovered your incredible storytelling talent. You absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! I absolutely love crime, mystery, psychological and thriller books but having read so many it is getting harder and harder to find a unique storyline or one that surprises me but Brearton has managed both of these in this brilliant page turner. If you love suspense, tension and red herring packed thrillers then this, ladies and gentleman, is a must read for you!!This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author. WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! What you need to do now is stop wasting your time reading this, run, do not walk and grab your copy of this gripping page turner now. You also need to clear your schedules as once you start this book you will not be able to put it down! This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline. I absolutely loved the unique storyline which had me hooked from the very first page to the last. I will not say anything about the storyline as the publisher has done a fantastic job of this in the synopsis and I do not want to run the risk of giving anything away but if you want to know more then grab your copy of this gripping suspense packed thriller today and I can GUARANTEE you will not regret it!!! With a storyline absolutely RAM PACKED with drama, family, action, suspense, emotion, tension, deceit, red herrings, romance, heartache, tension, strong and realistic characters, intrigue and so so much more! Seriously people, what are you waiting for?!! Brearton's brilliantly evocative descriptions will have you feeling every emotion Lainey is from anger to fear, shock to tension!! It is one of the most unforgettable and unputdownable books I have ever read!! His brilliant storytelling and writing sucks the reader straight into the storyline with Lainey, the rest of the characters and surroundings coming to life around them. This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how powerful and emotional it is. When I was reading this book I could feel my heartbeat speeding up as I was getting a dark sense of foreboding the deeper into the book I got!! It is one of those books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my kindle reading the book everywhere I went. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting of just a few hours. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with Lainey and going through her anger, pain, sadness, fear and much more. Each of the characters were perfectly written and each had their own unique and strong personalities with individual strengths, weaknesses, quirks, flaws and more. You need to clear your schedules because you will not be able to put this book down. AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!! The characters were all very strong and realistic and Brearton's writing ensured they jumped off the pages at me. They all have their own unique personalities and I enjoyed discovering their histories as the story unravelled. Pick up your copy of this book today and meet these fantastic characters yourself. I cannot wait to read more books by this incredible author!!

Congratulations T.J. Brearton on an absolutely gripping, gritty, addictive, action packed, explosive and must read page turner!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! This is why I would like to welcome you to my favourite author list and here is to your next guaranteed success!!

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, action packed, addictive and explosive MUST READ!!


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Profile Image for Jen.
1,159 reviews110 followers
December 10, 2025
I liked this book OK but it dragged in places. Also, the timeline around when the protagonist received the books does not match the synopsis at all, and I think it was a bit misleading. The story centers on Lainey, who is trying to make friends and feels that she struggles to fit in as it relates to the small community to which she moved a couple years ago. When a string of surprise deaths occur (and THEN she receives mysterious books) she wants to get to the bottom of the mystery, but is also enjoying being the center of attention with her friend group.

The mystery in the story is OK but there were times where I thought Lainey jumped to major conclusions and they turned out to be right, and I wish that the bread crumbs would have been laid a little bit more clearly. What I really did like is her family dynamic- I felt that her relationship with her husband and kids and her concerns around decisions they made felt very realistic. There was something a little disjointed in the people that she leaned on to ask for help as she ran her own investigation on the murders, but I did enjoy seeing her connect dots as she got deeper. The unveiling of the villain was a decent twist, though some of the decisions made seemed a little extreme for the situation. I had to suspend my disbelief at the end, as some of the things Lainey did didn't really fit what I knew about her up until that point.

Overall, it was a decent read but didn't fully do it for me, both for the confusion around the synopsis and some gaps in the storyline. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Devi.
829 reviews41 followers
January 19, 2026
📱📖 Read on Kobo
📃 300 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Joffe Books
📅 Publishing Date: January 13, 2026
📩 ARC provided by NetGalley

I’ll give it this: the hook had me. Three mystery books showing up uninvited, one predicting a local murder? That’s grade-A thriller bait. The early chapters promised a binge read; I was all in for a one-sitting kind of night. But somewhere around the halfway point, the pace decelerated. What began as taut and urgent morphed into a slow crawl through neighbors’ secrets and marital distrust.

The constant guesswork kept me on edge; every chapter flipped my suspect list. One minute it's the grieving husband, next the possibly cheating spouse, then whispers of affairs rippling through this tight-knit, almost gated community. The red herrings? Chef's kiss. The author nails that drip-feed doubt, layering paranoia like a pro. For a genre that thrives on pulse-pounding momentum, the pacing dragged hard after the strong start.

I kept waiting for the speed to pick up, for the tension to snap tighter, yet it lingered in low gear. But by the time I reached the final reveal, my interest had dulled enough that I just wanted resolution. It’s not a bad book, it’s competently written and atmospheric, but the pacing smothered its potential thrills. With a snappier tempo, this could’ve been a sharp, satisfying ride.

Would I recommend it?
This one’s tricky. The Killer on My Doorstep is for readers who don’t mind a slow simmer where the unease outweighs the action. If you crave twisty suburban suspense with rich character politics, it might work for you. But if you like your thrillers fast and breathless, this may not scratch the itch.

Neighborly secrets or too slow a burn?
Would you still stick with a thriller if the tension stretched thin midway, or would you DNF and move on to the next pulse-pounder? Let’s talk below.
Profile Image for David Taylor.
1,546 reviews25 followers
January 16, 2026
The Killer on My Doorstop is the 21st book I’ve read by T.J. Brearton.
Opening this book felt like putting on an old pair of shoes, from the opening paragraph I knew the story would give me more than a few hours of passing entertainment. Several pieces of the story evoked memories of being the “new guy” and having to fit into the established order until such a time as that order finally accepted me.

It’s been a while since I read one of T.J.’s psychological thrillers, and once again I was treated to one of his magic shows. He kept my attention with what he showed in his right hand while that left hand worked the magic. This story kept me guessing, I can count making at least three separate hypotheses about who did the killings and why. Those hypotheses lasted until they were proven wrong.

The characters develop organically over the course of the story and by the time things began coming apart in Laine’s life I had begun to see her as a neighbor in need of a true friend. The action in this story started right off with an unexpected incident but no it’s not just one and done. Things keep occurring that will set the story’s hook deep enough putting the book down no longer becomes an option.

I can honestly say when the revelations started, I never had main perpetrator in my sights. But then as the rest of the story unfolded I could only sit there thinking I never saw that coming. The Killer on My Doorstep was well worth the time. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, you should give this one a shot.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of The Killer on My Doorstep from the author and chose to provide my review.
Profile Image for Veronika Jordan.
Author 2 books51 followers
Review of advance copy
January 7, 2026
I was a beta reader for this book earlier this year and I really enjoyed it. In fact I read it in 24 hours. I’ve read quite a few of this author’s books – but this is totally different. It’s described as a domestic thriller, though I would probably call it more of a psychological thriller.

Lainey and Geoff have lived in Buxton for seven years. They are still regarded as newcomers. Geoff is a doctor, while Lainey has given up her career to look after their two children Delia and Charlotte. Charlotte is soccer mad and Lainey is one of the coaches. She is also part of a WhatsApp mom’s group, one of whom, Wendy, is married to police officer Martin.

After their next door neighbour Mrs Marvin died, her house was empty for a while until new neighbours moved in. Eric and Naomi Sheller also have two children of similar ages to Delia and Charlotte. The girls are very excited, while Lainey is just plain nosy. Eric pops over to say hello and a couple of days later Lainey and the girls take them brownies. And that’s when the mystery begins. Because isn’t Naomi the same woman who was having an ‘episode’ in the supermarket the other day? Having a daughter-in-law who is epileptic and has ‘absenses’, I assumed (wrongly) that’s what it was.

Then Naomi goes missing and Eric is the prime suspect. But that’s only the start, and at this point I just could not put the book down. Of course, because this is TJ Brearton, there are plenty of twists and turns and a surprise ending.

Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
Profile Image for Leanne.
900 reviews89 followers
November 23, 2025
T.J. Brearton’s latest psychological thriller is a masterclass in domestic suspense, blending everyday unease with chilling twists. The novel opens with an unsettling gift: three mysterious books arriving on the protagonist’s doorstep, each one eerily foreshadowing real-life murders. What begins as a curious coincidence quickly spirals into a nightmare, as the second book seems to predict her own fate.

Brearton captures the claustrophobic tension of suburban life with sharp detail—the quiet woods, the fragile sense of safety, the creeping paranoia that no one else seems to share. The protagonist’s isolation is palpable: dismissed by police, doubted by her husband, yet utterly convinced that someone knows exactly where she lives.

What makes this story so gripping is its balance of pace and atmosphere. The plot races forward, but Brearton lingers just enough on the emotional beats—fear, doubt, mistrust—to make the reader feel every moment. It’s not just a whodunit; it’s a chilling exploration of how quickly the familiar can turn sinister.

Casual readers will be hooked by the addictive twists, while those who savor psychological depth will appreciate the novel’s exploration of paranoia, trust, and the fragility of domestic peace. A perfect pick for fans of Lisa Jewell or Shari Lapena, this is a thriller that keeps you turning pages long into the night.

With thanks to TJ Brearton, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Profile Image for ☆Laura☆.
5,361 reviews61 followers
November 18, 2025
3.5


Lainey siempre ha creído que conoce bien su vecindario hasta que la llegada de la familia Sheller altera la tranquilidad de la zona. Intentando ser amable, se ofrece a recibirlos, pero la dinámica entre ellos le provoca una incomodidad que no logra explicar. Cuando Naomi, la nueva vecina, muere en circunstancias que sacuden al pueblo, Lainey se queda con la sensación de que su intuición había intentado advertirle algo.

Poco después, tres novelas aparecen en su puerta. Al principio parecen simples envíos equivocados, pero sus tramas reflejan situaciones inquietantemente similares a los conflictos y tragedias que empiezan a rodear a las familias del lugar. Cada capítulo que Lainey lee coincide con tensiones reales entre los vecinos, y lo que parecía una coincidencia se convierte en una señal imposible de ignorar.

Decidida a entender quién está manipulando los hechos o anticipándolos, Lainey revisita conversaciones, gestos y eventos que antes consideraba insignificantes. A medida que las piezas encajan, descubre que alguien ha estado observando a su comunidad con atención obsesiva. Su investigación la obliga a cuestionar no solo a sus vecinos, sino también a las personas en quienes más confía, mientras el peligro se acerca cada vez más a su propia casa.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Profile Image for Sandra Vdplaats.
597 reviews19 followers
Review of advance copy
December 20, 2025
I really liked the beginning (the scene in the supermarket), but as the story progressed, I started to feel somewhat ambivalent about the dramatic what-if scenarios and overthinking of the main character, Lainey.
She becomes fixated on her new neighbours and, when the next-door woman dies under suspicious circumstances shortly afterwards, her mind goes into overdrive.

I liked the writing style, but the lead-up to the actual plot felt too long. The story itself mainly revolves around the impact that a traumatic event can have on a close-knit community. The story is made up of five parts, and I really liked that each one ended with a real cliffhanger.

Lainey's perseverance leads her to become the subject of mockery from the community, yet she perseveres. The narrative reaches its cathartic climax as all the coincidences and fragments of the puzzle come together, weaving a tale of adultery, a troubled family history, and the aftermath of a personal tragedy.
Had the first part been shortened, I would have given it 4 stars, but in its current form, I'll stick with 3 stars.
Thank you to Joffe Books and the author for providing this review copy. 🌷

Publication date: 13 January 2026.
Profile Image for Lynsey.
768 reviews35 followers
January 21, 2026

‘The Killer on My Doorstep’ was a great read that definitely gets the blood pumping. This was the first book by the author that I have read, but I will keep an eye out for what comes next from him. He manages to capture the suburban soccer moms and their small-town communities to a T.

This was an entertaining read, which has plenty of misdirections and red herrings to keep you guessing until the end! I didn’t see that ending coming! The intrigue with the box of books on the porch and the new neighbours made for an engrossing narrative. The first part of the book could have done with a tad more tension, and the protagonist tends to repeat herself too much for my tastes. But Lainey as a character, I did like. She had some guts to even start investigating the crime, let alone once the pace picked up in the later parts of the book!

This was a quick read and was entertaining and packed full of mystery and twists and turns. The writing draws you into Lainey’s perspective, and you feel as if you are living it with her. It manages to capture ‘toxic’ mum groups accurately. They are your ride or die, but only if you fit in, and if you don’t, well, the Queen Bee is in control!

Let me know if you pick this one up!
Profile Image for Den.
26 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2025
4.5 stars

Yes, the book delivers on the premise.
It is exactly the kind of page-turner thriller I was looking for--something major was happening in every chapter and left me wanting to know more. It's hard to write much here without spoiling anything, but there were things that were genuinely surprising(and some things I saw coming!) I found the payoff satisfying and thought it tied up all the loose ends nicely. I kinda got emotional at the end.

Also, it's a minor thing, but I appreciated how realistically the author captured that tendency to worry about every little thing your kid does and how it might affect them developmentally. Then, the realization that you can't necessarily monitor them 24/7. Not a parent but I'm sure many can relate. I think the author also captured the human instinct and need to belong, and how that need can make use unreasonable at times. We've all been there.

-.5 stars cause I had a hard time keeping track of the names in the friend group and had to go back a few times. If you plan to read this, make sure you pay attention to all the characters that get introduced!

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC.
Profile Image for Mills.
244 reviews7 followers
January 3, 2026
Thank you to Zoe at Zooloo Book Tours for having me on this book tour in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I begin with this one? If you're looking for a book with plenty of twists, lots of narrative strands and a whole load of dysfunctional relationships, this is the one for you.

I absolutely devoured this book from start to finish, thanks to the fast-paced plot and multi-dimensional characters. Lainey's determination to solve the murder of Naomi really hooked me and made the story to be really engaging. I liked how there were many false leads along the way, and how people were quick to judge and jump to conclusions as why she was so heavily involving herself. To be honest, her nosiness became her strength!

The book did begin quite slowly, which I normally struggle with, but I really enjoyed how it began slowly and then sky-rocketed into chaos! My favourite! I did like how, as soon as we as readers thought we were getting somewhere, we were told we were totally wrong - a killer for the ego but great to keep us on our toes.

The ending SHOCKED me - I could've never predicted it, which made it the cherry on top of the thriller cake.

Profile Image for A Lane .
256 reviews9 followers
December 4, 2025
The Killer On My Doorstep by T.J. Brearton was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The premise had me intrigued, and I found the writing to be very easy to follow. I love a good domestic suspense, and this one was great.

New neighbors move in next to Lainey and her family, but something about them seems off from the start. Realizing the wife, Naomi, is someone she had a strange encounter with in the supermarket, Lainey keeps watch on them trying to determine if she needs help. When Naomi disappears, Lainey inserts herself into the investigation. When tragedy again strikes, her determination only escalates, landing herself right in the middle of a dangerous plot.

The was a fast-paced read filled with many twists and surprises. The main characters were all well developed, with attention given to the details of real family life. I loved the suburban setting. I absolutely will be checking out more titles from Brearton.

Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the advanced copy
487 reviews13 followers
January 22, 2026
This thriller had me hooked from the very beginning. I love stories set in small towns where everyone seems to know each other, but underneath the surface there are secrets waiting to be uncovered. That’s exactly the feeling this book gave me, quiet streets hiding dark truths.

Elaine is just trying to live her life, but when strange events start happening around her, she’s pulled into a web of suspicion and fear. The way the tension built slowly, chapter by chapter, made the atmosphere even more unsettling.

What stood out most was the psychological side of the story. It wasn’t just about solving a crime, it was about how fear, obsession, and mistrust can twist people’s minds. The pacing picked up as the mystery deepened, and by the time the final reveal came, I was completely absorbed. The ending was chilling in a quiet, unsettling way.

I also appreciated how the book kept me guessing. The unpredictability made it hard to put down.

I really enjoyed it and will definitely be picking up more from T.J. Brearton.
119 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
January 6, 2026
The first encounter Elaine Barrister has with her new neighbour Naomi Scheller is a strange one to say the least. When she is introduced officially she is unable to shake off some very bad feelings. Hoping it was a miss understanding at the beginning, she decides to take them under her wing. She knows how it feels to be a new face and she knows first impressions are everything. When Eric, Naomi's husband reports her missing it starts off a chain of events. Rumours begin to circulate then some books arrive from an unknown sender. With striking similarities to whats happening in the community. The books seem to be telling the story and Elaine cannot help but dig a little deeper. This is a really great read. The more digging Elaine does the higher the stakes. The book has a great pace and there are plenty of surprises as well as some interesting characters. I found the ending perfect and the way the author brought it together is brilliant. A book I would highly recommend.
Profile Image for April.
690 reviews189 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 9, 2026
This story has all the neighborhood drama you could think of! From affairs to suspicious deaths to gossiping neighbors. It had an intriguing beginning that definitely drew me in. Elaine is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her neighbor, so she conducts her own investigation! I don’t think she was prepared for what she discovered & definitely was not prepared for the consequences of sticking her nose where some would say it didn’t belong. Overall an enjoyable domestic thriller, and I will be reading more from this author. Thank you Joffe Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Publication 🗓️ : 01.13.26

Professional Reader200 Book Reviews
Profile Image for MoMo Book Diary.
490 reviews62 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 12, 2026
T.J. Brearton’s The Killer On My Doorstep is a gripping, high-tension read that hooked me from the very first page and never let go. The premise is instantly unsettling—mysterious books predicting real murders—and the execution is flawless. Every chapter ramps up the tension, making this a true just-one-more-chapter kind of thriller. The pacing is excellent, with a steady stream of twists that kept me constantly questioning who could be trusted. The atmosphere is dark and claustrophobic, perfectly capturing the fear of not being believed while danger inches closer. I loved how the story blurred the line between paranoia and reality, keeping me on edge the entire time. Fast, tense, and completely addictive, this book held my interest throughout and delivered a satisfying, shocking ride. Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers who love suspense that doesn’t let up.
Profile Image for Maja.
324 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 4, 2026
First, thank you Netgalley & Joffe Books for this ARC!

Books like this always make me feel like I should never, under any circumstances, trust my neighbours and always make sure to look my door!

First, we only have the new neighbour being murdered, and her hot husband being the main suspect. And another death happening only a few days later. But then Lainey, our FMC, receives three books. And the murders in those books sound very similar to those that have happened in her neighbourhood. And lo and behold, of course knowing those things after reading the three books suddenly makes Lainey look very suspicious. But Lainey knows she is not the killer. Just like she knows whomever had sent those books had surely very sinister motives....
12 reviews
December 1, 2025
⭐⭐⭐
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC copy of The Killer On My Doorstep.

'There’s a package on the porch,’ my husband calls as he leaves for work. I rip open the brown paper and find three books inside. I didn’t order them.

A week ago, my new neighbor was murdered in exactly the way described in the first book.

I found the premise for this book really interesting. Who wouldn't do their own investigation if they had been sent books describing crimes which have been going on in your own town?! Full of twists and turns that I both did and did not see coming. However it is a really slow read and I struggled to keep reading this which was such a shame.
Profile Image for Sharon Valler:  Live Love Read Review.
1,055 reviews19 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 13, 2025
The premise for this book had me desperate to get stuck in; mystery package of books on the doorstep, describing crimes already committed and with what appears to be you, as the next victim! Unfortunately the book wasn't quite like that in reality, with the books not even becoming a factor until quite a way into the book and a slow pace that I hadn't been expecting.

The ending though, was a bolt from the blue and I never could have seen that coming, so the plot is a good one, if you don't mind a very slow pace.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Mrs C.
76 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
January 8, 2026
When a strange woman in the store reacts strongly to seeing her Lainey gets a bad feeling . When she sees her & her family move into the house nextdoor, she cannot help but wonder if this is the coincidence it seems.
After 7 years in the small town Lainey still feels and is treated as an outsider , except for a close and select few soccer moms.
Strange things start to happen , the next door neighbour is murdered, then her frienss fiance dies in a suspicious car.
She finds a box with 3 books on her doostep all bearing an uncanny resemblance to the events happening.
Is it a coincidence, is she overthinking, maybe obsessing over it.
This is a must for all psychological thriller fans.
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