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Maine Justice #5
The House Next Door
The charming stone house next door is for sale! How could there be a down side to that?
As his wife Jennifer’s due date approaches, Captain Harvey Larson decides to invest in real estate, unaware of the terror this will cause his family. The neighboring house seems ideal for Jennifer’s brother Jeff and his wife. A hidden cupboard isn’t so bad—in fact, it’s almost fun to try to solve the little mystery inside it. But will any of their loved ones want to live next door after they learn what’s in the basement?
The men of the Priority Unit might be wasting their time, trying to prove one dead man killed another. Or is the murderer still alive, and ready to strike again? Join them on their latest case as they deliver Maine Justice.
As his wife Jennifer’s due date approaches, Captain Harvey Larson decides to invest in real estate, unaware of the terror this will cause his family. The neighboring house seems ideal for Jennifer’s brother Jeff and his wife. A hidden cupboard isn’t so bad—in fact, it’s almost fun to try to solve the little mystery inside it. But will any of their loved ones want to live next door after they learn what’s in the basement?
The men of the Priority Unit might be wasting their time, trying to prove one dead man killed another. Or is the murderer still alive, and ready to strike again? Join them on their latest case as they deliver Maine Justice.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2017
161 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Susan Page Davis
177 books534 followersFROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE: I'm a native of central Maine, and grew up on a small farm with a wonderful mom and dad, three sisters and a brother. Most of my books take place in small towns, many of them in Maine.
My husband, Jim, and I moved to his birth state, Oregon, for a while after we were married, but decided to move back to Maine and be near my family. It allowed our six children to grow up feeling close to their cousins and grandparents, and some of Jim's family have even moved to Maine!
Our children are all home-schooled. When Jim retired from his vocation as an editor at a daily newspaper, we moved from Maine to Kentucky.
I've always loved reading, history, and horses. These things come together in several of my historical books.
Another longtime hobby of mine is genealogy, which has led me down many fascinating paths. I'm proud to be a DAR member! Some of Jim's and my quirkier ancestors have inspired fictional characters.
For many years I worked for the Central Maine Morning Sentinel as a freelancer. This experience was a great help in developing fictional characters and writing realistic scenes. I also published nonfiction articles in several magazines and had several short stories appear in Woman's World, Grit, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
My husband, Jim, and I moved to his birth state, Oregon, for a while after we were married, but decided to move back to Maine and be near my family. It allowed our six children to grow up feeling close to their cousins and grandparents, and some of Jim's family have even moved to Maine!
Our children are all home-schooled. When Jim retired from his vocation as an editor at a daily newspaper, we moved from Maine to Kentucky.
I've always loved reading, history, and horses. These things come together in several of my historical books.
Another longtime hobby of mine is genealogy, which has led me down many fascinating paths. I'm proud to be a DAR member! Some of Jim's and my quirkier ancestors have inspired fictional characters.
For many years I worked for the Central Maine Morning Sentinel as a freelancer. This experience was a great help in developing fictional characters and writing realistic scenes. I also published nonfiction articles in several magazines and had several short stories appear in Woman's World, Grit, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 11, 2025
Clean Christian romance and mystery set in contemporary Portland, Maine. Part of a series. Best to read them in order because of the number of characters.
June 10, 2018
Can’t get enough of this series! Jennifer is getting close to her delivery date and the house next door comes up for sale. Harvey thinks it would be great to buy the house and have some family members move next door after some repairs are made. While a work team comes in to prepare to lay concrete they discover some bones, which turn out to have been there for around 10 years. This starts an investigation into who those remains could be and whether the occupant of the house was the one who had anything to do with it. A couple have moved in and a non forced entry break in occurs, which further puts things on edge. Plus, another decade old missing person is brought to their attention. Is it tied with this case, or did the person just disappear? Abby and Leanne have preparations to make for the summer as well. Another must read book of this fantastic series!
October 22, 2019
Wow, this one had lots of twists and turns and tension.
Harvey and Jenny have had their baby, Conner - what a cutie. He plays quite a role in this story. Abby and Peter are planning their wedding and Leanne and Eddie are engaged and planning for an August wedding.
The house next door to Harvey and Jennifer comes available after the owner dies and Harvey buys the house hoping Beth and Jeff will want to live there. If not Beth and Jeff, then Eddie and Leanne probably would.
When the crew comes in to put in a new concrete floor in the cellar, human bones are found! And off we go on a new case. Who is it? Who did it?
Another very good and clean mystery!
Harvey and Jenny have had their baby, Conner - what a cutie. He plays quite a role in this story. Abby and Peter are planning their wedding and Leanne and Eddie are engaged and planning for an August wedding.
The house next door to Harvey and Jennifer comes available after the owner dies and Harvey buys the house hoping Beth and Jeff will want to live there. If not Beth and Jeff, then Eddie and Leanne probably would.
When the crew comes in to put in a new concrete floor in the cellar, human bones are found! And off we go on a new case. Who is it? Who did it?
Another very good and clean mystery!
June 4, 2018
Another page turner
Though this book starts off a little slow it helps the reader get in the rhythm of the close, loving family revolving around Harvey & Jennifer. I've loved this series & author since I picked up the first book. There is plenty of excitement & tension & also a picture of what it looks like to keep learning how to have a relationship with Christ at the center with unconditional love overflowing. I highly recommend these books to everyone looking to fall in love with the characters & story & be inspired by the author!
Though this book starts off a little slow it helps the reader get in the rhythm of the close, loving family revolving around Harvey & Jennifer. I've loved this series & author since I picked up the first book. There is plenty of excitement & tension & also a picture of what it looks like to keep learning how to have a relationship with Christ at the center with unconditional love overflowing. I highly recommend these books to everyone looking to fall in love with the characters & story & be inspired by the author!
September 3, 2017
Jennifer and Harvey are awaiting the arrival of their first, love is in the air and Jennifer's sisters are in love.
Amid all the family going on, the Priority Unit works a murder close to home.
It was nice to see all the recurring characters and meeting new ones.
The story line and setting were inventive.
We see God's love and redemption in play as Harvey and Jennifer help bring their doctor friends to The Lord.
I recommend this book to anyone that loves Christian romantic suspense.
Amid all the family going on, the Priority Unit works a murder close to home.
It was nice to see all the recurring characters and meeting new ones.
The story line and setting were inventive.
We see God's love and redemption in play as Harvey and Jennifer help bring their doctor friends to The Lord.
I recommend this book to anyone that loves Christian romantic suspense.
October 3, 2017
5 stars isn't enough for this fast-paced thriller! I'm a big fan of the series and this is the best one yet. If I'm not careful I'll go over my allotment of exclamation points for this story!! I was engaged in the story line and could not figure out what was going to happen next. It was great to continue with Harvey and Jennifer and all the clan but seriously, the page turner was the PLOT!! Fantastic!
August 17, 2017
Oh my goodness, another terrific book in the Maine Justice series. Totally enjoyed learning more about and being a part of Jennifer's family. When the mystery is detected, once again, there is great police operations detail. Such an interesting and informative method of portraying the police. I very much highly recommend this book and entire series. So looking forward to number 6!
November 18, 2019
WOW!!!!!
What a convoluted mess. More twists and turns, almost more than I could keep up with. But, a really, really fantastic book. A really hopping' good continuation of the series. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
What a convoluted mess. More twists and turns, almost more than I could keep up with. But, a really, really fantastic book. A really hopping' good continuation of the series. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
March 18, 2018
Wonderful Christian suspense! A buried body found next door brings danger to the whole family and the suspense solving the mystery tests the skills of the Priority Unit.. wow! page turner!
March 12, 2025
Fast Moving, Exciting!
Very interesting, lots of characters centered around one family. A couple of weddings approaching and anxiously waiting for the birth of a baby. Then we have all this criminal activities and those investing are in the family involved. I could not put it down. Very well written.
Very interesting, lots of characters centered around one family. A couple of weddings approaching and anxiously waiting for the birth of a baby. Then we have all this criminal activities and those investing are in the family involved. I could not put it down. Very well written.
January 6, 2025
Another exciting adventure solved by the Maine priority police unit.
Loved being back with this author again. Harvey , Jennifer and their extended family and friends had another case to solve. It was exciting from start to finish. So happy for Peter and Abby and Eddie and Leanne on their upcoming marriages. Harvey makes a good dad for little Conner and loves Jennifer with every breath he takes. So happy for Beth and Jeff too and their little one coming. Will read more by this author.Peter,Harvey, Eddie and Jeff are all great guys and they all got their perfect match in the girls.
Loved being back with this author again. Harvey , Jennifer and their extended family and friends had another case to solve. It was exciting from start to finish. So happy for Peter and Abby and Eddie and Leanne on their upcoming marriages. Harvey makes a good dad for little Conner and loves Jennifer with every breath he takes. So happy for Beth and Jeff too and their little one coming. Will read more by this author.Peter,Harvey, Eddie and Jeff are all great guys and they all got their perfect match in the girls.
January 5, 2025
Nice Afternoon Read
The book is a decent stand-alone for being one of a series. I haven't read any of the others in the series and there are several places that would be clearer with information from the previous books. Without gov NY too much away, I will say the story has a long lead-up with most of the "mystery" coming near the end, but the book is short enough to be read in one sitting so that doesn't present a problem.
The book is a decent stand-alone for being one of a series. I haven't read any of the others in the series and there are several places that would be clearer with information from the previous books. Without gov NY too much away, I will say the story has a long lead-up with most of the "mystery" coming near the end, but the book is short enough to be read in one sitting so that doesn't present a problem.
July 22, 2018
Do houses have secrets? I never gave it much thought until I started to review this book. All I will say about that is I am not aware of the place I have called home for almost two-thirds of my life having any secrets like the one next door to Harvey and Jennifer Larson. Jennifer has several siblings, whereas Harvey has none. The only thing he seems to want more than starting his own family with Jennifer is to gather her family as close to them as possible, so buying the house next door seems to be a good way to start making that happen. In an age when families seem to splinter and scatter all over the globe, I find their closeness and their hospitality very interesting and refreshing while maybe being too good to be true. Although I have never experienced anything quite like it in my life, I enjoy all the delightful interactions between Harvey, Jennifer, their family, and their friends. His job might be solving crimes and apprehending criminals but Harvey and Jennifer have a passion to help others in any way possible. Their sensitivity to the needs of others goes beyond the material as they seek to set the example of a Christ-like life. They are open to pointing others to the truth of the Gospel, never shying away from letting folks know they are praying for them and then offering to pray right then and there. I would love to be part of a family like theirs. I am excited about reading the next book in the series to see what the next chapter holds in store for them. I received a copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
October 9, 2022
I first heard of this series when a friend (MJ) read it an posted it on Goodreads.
I liked the book, though, reading them one after another, they are starting to get a bit repetitive.
The house next door goes up for sale and Harvey decides to buy it, hoping that one of his wife's siblings will move in/buy it back from them. Next thing you know, a skeleton is found in the cellar.
Jennifer's and Harvey's firstborn arrives.
Eddie and Leanne settle things between them.
Peter and Abby get engaged. Greg reappears briefly. (I never realized there were 2 Pete/Peter s in the story until this book. Peter who's engaged to Abby and has 2 sons from his first marriage and Pete Bearse who used to work with Harvey until he passed the bar and left to become a lawyer. It does get a bit confusing and makes me wonder why the author or editor didn't catch that and change one of the names.
I caught on to the Jacob connection long before anyone in the book thought to consider it.
I liked the book, though, reading them one after another, they are starting to get a bit repetitive.
The house next door goes up for sale and Harvey decides to buy it, hoping that one of his wife's siblings will move in/buy it back from them. Next thing you know, a skeleton is found in the cellar.
Jennifer's and Harvey's firstborn arrives.
Eddie and Leanne settle things between them.
Peter and Abby get engaged. Greg reappears briefly. (I never realized there were 2 Pete/Peter s in the story until this book. Peter who's engaged to Abby and has 2 sons from his first marriage and Pete Bearse who used to work with Harvey until he passed the bar and left to become a lawyer. It does get a bit confusing and makes me wonder why the author or editor didn't catch that and change one of the names.
I caught on to the Jacob connection long before anyone in the book thought to consider it.
August 24, 2021
Not a fan
I'm not sure why I'm reading this series. I was looking for fiction books with a bend towards God when I found these books.
The story line is plausible but I'm finding myself angry over the development of the characters.
The men are chauvinist, calling their wives/girlfriends pet names that are demeaning. The women are insipid without any real strength. They fall apart at the slightest incident.
The authors idea of pregnant women being weak and bedridden insults me, as a Healthcare professional. As a woman, I am insulted by how fragile the men in these series treat the women in these series. God created women to stand beside, not fall apart.
I seems to me that this is just trashy romance stories with God thrown in.
So glad that I'm not paying money for this series.
I'm not sure why I'm reading this series. I was looking for fiction books with a bend towards God when I found these books.
The story line is plausible but I'm finding myself angry over the development of the characters.
The men are chauvinist, calling their wives/girlfriends pet names that are demeaning. The women are insipid without any real strength. They fall apart at the slightest incident.
The authors idea of pregnant women being weak and bedridden insults me, as a Healthcare professional. As a woman, I am insulted by how fragile the men in these series treat the women in these series. God created women to stand beside, not fall apart.
I seems to me that this is just trashy romance stories with God thrown in.
So glad that I'm not paying money for this series.
May 11, 2021
The House Next Door will keep your attention! It was good to read about Harvey and Jennifer Larson from earlier books and be there for the birth of their baby! Harvey is so good to his in-laws and bought the house next door for Jennifer's brother and his wife. I can't imagine moving into a old house and finding a skeleton buried in the dirt floor of the basement! The Priority Unit has their hands full figuring out who the body is and who really owned the house! Plus, there are lots of romances going on with the Wainthrop siblings! I thoroughly enjoyed The House Next Door by Suan Page Davis! I won a e-book of the book in a giveaway. This is my honest opinion.
September 25, 2017
I have had mixed feelings while reading what I thought was the last book in this series. I have become attached to Harvey and all his group! Then, joy, I read that the author has a sixth book coming out soon: The Labor Day Challenge. I cannot find it for sale anywhere and hope I don't forget about it.
Anyway, this is a good series with interesting things going on all the time. This fifth book was more like a cozy mystery than the other four have been and seemed to take place almost entirely between Harvey's house and the one next door.
Anyway, this is a good series with interesting things going on all the time. This fifth book was more like a cozy mystery than the other four have been and seemed to take place almost entirely between Harvey's house and the one next door.
May 8, 2021
UNIQUE SERIES OF RIVETING, HEARTWARMING, SUSPENSEFUL AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
This series is remarkable. I am thrilled with being able to read a Christian series that follows a police captain and their blue and blood family rather than it stopping with a different couple every time.
The series is riveting and I hope there are MANY new books left in this series for years to come!
The difference from other series is exciting and refreshing and delightful!
This series is remarkable. I am thrilled with being able to read a Christian series that follows a police captain and their blue and blood family rather than it stopping with a different couple every time.
The series is riveting and I hope there are MANY new books left in this series for years to come!
The difference from other series is exciting and refreshing and delightful!
September 12, 2023
Body in the basement
I knew the moment they said the basement had a dirt floor, a body would be involved. Turns out, there were many twists and turns in the convoluted story. Along with the mystery death, Jennifer finally gives birth after a four book pregnancy. Anxious to see what's next.
I knew the moment they said the basement had a dirt floor, a body would be involved. Turns out, there were many twists and turns in the convoluted story. Along with the mystery death, Jennifer finally gives birth after a four book pregnancy. Anxious to see what's next.
December 29, 2020
Excellent book!
I've fallen in love with this book series. I can hardly put the books down I want to find out more about what's happening in Harvey and Jennifer's lives. They are can awesome Christian couple and they make it through tough situations together with God.
I've fallen in love with this book series. I can hardly put the books down I want to find out more about what's happening in Harvey and Jennifer's lives. They are can awesome Christian couple and they make it through tough situations together with God.
November 2, 2024
Book 5 in the series did not disappoint
Book 5 in the series did nit disappoint. I wondered if the characters would “fade” But they didn’t there were lots of new dynamics and new characters developing that kept it interesting.
Book 5 in the series did nit disappoint. I wondered if the characters would “fade” But they didn’t there were lots of new dynamics and new characters developing that kept it interesting.
November 13, 2017
Even a very complicated case is not too hard for this team to close.
June 23, 2018
I have really enjoyed this series & the plot line. I think I must have an ARC because of all the glaring editorial mistakes. It was hard to move past them.
May 23, 2020
Mr. Bones
This series just keeps better better and better. I must say Beth is a brave soul , I don't to could have been that brave. Lol
This series just keeps better better and better. I must say Beth is a brave soul , I don't to could have been that brave. Lol
January 19, 2022
Slow start
Started with lots of family stuff but was glad to see a mystery to solve and the suspense to go with it.
Started with lots of family stuff but was glad to see a mystery to solve and the suspense to go with it.
September 20, 2022
This one was full of twists and turns, good read. I've already started the next one!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews