A Neighbour's Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish
Don't be fooled by the veneer of cosy crime - this is much more complex and twisted than retirement noir. Discover why in a review of the new suspense thriller.
After reading The Heights, I've gone straight in with the latest Louise Candlish novel, A Neighbour's Guide to Murder*.
Retirement noir seems to be growing in popularity. While A Neighbour's Guide to Murder* might have the veneer of cosy crime, it's actually something much more complex. And it's delivered through award-worthy writing.
Gwen takes her new neighbour, Pixie, under her wing when the younger woman moves into Columbia Mansions. However, as Pixie's relationship with her landlord, Alec, comes under scrutiny by Gwen, tensions start to rise.
Matters escalate from curiosity to criminal behaviour, and life will never be the same again at Columbia Mansions.
The story is told from Gwen's point of view and she starts her own sleuthing when things don't add up. At one point, Gwen even compares herself to a second-rate Jane Marple and Jessica Fletcher. Although she says she thinks of herself more as a Vera.
The prologue kicks off by teasing you about what’s going to happen and subtle hints continue to be dripped as the book progresses.
The story feels so timely with the social trends and topical issues that crop up, from Instagram influencers to the lack of affordable housing. These are threaded through the story, bringing conflict into the characters' lives and making them believable as real people.
The realism is underlined by the dialogue. Each character's voice is carefully honed and the language is a masterclass in how to shape your characters and give them depth. Above all, it helps to create complex, inconsistent and life-like characters.
If you've read any of Louise Candlish's other suspense thrillers, you'll know she always delivers unexpected twists. A Neighbour's Guide to Murder* is no exception. All I'll say is it provides a disturbing twist on unreliable narration.
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