Review: The Neighbors, Ania Ahlborn

The Neighbors Ania Ahlborn cover
Andrew Morrison sacrificed everything—his childhood, his education, and the girl of his dreams—to look after his alcoholic mother. But after an incident he’s determined to get out and live his life. That means trading the home he grew up in for a rented room in the house of an old childhood friend who is in a sorry shape.
The only thing worse than Drew’s squalid new digs and sullen new roommate is the envy he feels for the house next door: a picture-perfect suburban domicile straight out of Norman Rockwell, with a couple of happy householders to match. But the better acquainted he gets with his new neighbors—especially the sweet and sexy Harlow Ward—the more he suspects unspeakable darkness beyond the white picket fence.

Born in Ciechanów, Poland, Ania Ahlborn is also the author of the supernatural thriller Seed, and is currently working on her third novel. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Mexico, enjoys gourmet cooking, baking, drawing, traveling, movies, and exploring the darkest depths of the human (and sometimes inhuman) condition. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her husband and two dogs.

This book unfortunately did not live up to its expectations. I was hoping for a very disturbing psychological thriller giving me the creeps but that did not really happen. I experienced it as a weak version of the Stepford wives without that really eerie feeling that story gave me. The story development was not fluent enough. Situations that could have been very disturbing where rushed and the clues given to soon. I never really felt I had to guess about motives and what would happen. After being introduced to the characters and their background story it is pretty obvious how things will develop.
The character development for Andrew I really liked. It was easy to connect and see trough his eyes. Harlow was more difficult to get a hold on. I still don't understand her motives that well though the story does explain her actions and the way she thinks. I feel like both Red and Mickey could have been stronger characters and better developed.
The story reads very easy though. I guess it is a good entry level thriller if you do not want to be spooked to much.
My favorite quote
"You don't really dream about the things you can become if you know you can't become them."

The Neighbors
Author: Ania Ahlborn
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN-10: 1612184456
ISBN-13: 9781612184456
Pages: 233 (print)
Format: eBook
Thomas & Mercer: eBook | Paperback

3 star review
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fredamans
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19 April, 2013 delete

A thriller is supposed to be creepy or else it's just a suspense.

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Anonymous
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22 April, 2013 delete

Sorry you didn't like this one. I also agree with above comment ...

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