Joined in 2023 
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The Wades are an attractive, popular couple. But they are also a couple with a secret, a secret buried in the life they have left behind, a secret they have shared with no one. But their new neighbours – these friendly, affluent, educated men and women in the Gardens – have secrets of their own. I seem to be on a roll this year reading books with horrible endings ones where you are left feeling like there is a chapter or 2 missing.
Tony Parsons hooked me from the first few chapters, and I found it really hard to put down, I'd highly recommend it to any thriller lovers.' The Dream House Move …. to the ideal suburban neighbourhood of Blenheim is a fresh start for Salma Khatun, her husband Bil, and their teenage son Zain. Although forced to move, their relocation is rewarded with a beautiful home, nice neighbours, and a great school, and when invited to the family barbecue next door the families, including the two sons realise, they have a lot in common.Anyway, it is through books like this that we are reminded how things can spiral out of control if not managed and confronted. It also provides insight into the hurt racism can cause and feelings of isolation that is felt by victims of abuse, whilst at the same time showing us how easy it is to use a label like 'racism' for someone's actions when that's not the driver at all. All of comes down to tolerance and the need for effective communication. As always, the author deftly examines race, prejudice and preconceived notions, this time when Bilal and Salma Khatoun, and their son Zain move into a mostly “white” neighborhood in the suburb of Blenhem.
Since the author's "Next of Kin" was one of my favorite books of 2021, this book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023.In this book, she explores themes such as racism, community, social media, class differences, hypocrisy, and violence that can tempt each person to cross the line for their righteous or distorted perspective. Finishing this book last night, I was left musing about how I felt about the book. It was definitely addictive reading and kept me hooked. The parts which left me wondering, were, I felt, a little too far-fetched. Whenever I see Kia Abdullah’s name attached to a book, I get very excited, and ‘Those People Next Door’ was a perfect example of why this author elicits such feelings.
The hardest part of the story is that feelings are hurt and they never feel a sense of belonging. The book A Good Neighborhood by Theresa Anne Fowler came to mind while reading this one. "What does it mean to be a good neighbor? How do we live alongside each other when we don't see eye to eye?" The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they aren't true, but they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story." - Chimamanda Ngozi AdichiePeople who see themselves as different feel that way for a reason, and it can be as much about us as it is about the individual. Tom is confronted by Salma, who, when angry, can be loud and rude. He denies painting the window. Bad feelings increase. Within a short time, Salma believes Tom is responsible for keying her car, stealing their dog, having the restaurant they were selling trashed, and hiring young hooligans to occupy the restaurant as squatters, making it impossible for the Khatun family to sell.
I don't regret reading this book nor did I dislike it, but I felt that there was a lot missing. There were still a lot of unanswered questions; something which I find to be one of the most frustrating weaknesses in writing, especially when the story is so promising. A house with a safe room that gets mentioned frequently but then doesn't get used when somebody is in the house threatening Lana. Salma Khatun is extremely hopeful about Blenheim, the safe suburban development to which she, her husband and their son have just moved. Their family is in desperate need of a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like the place to make that happen. As communication breaks down between all parties, the neighborhood rapidly turns into a suburban battleground.
Retailers:
Oh my gosh, I can't tell you how disappointed I am after finishing this. I am a huge fan of Tony Parsons' books and have enjoyed a few of them but this just didn't do it for me in any way, shape or form and for that, I am extremely sad. There were some good plot twists such as Vince being Juno's brother and the neighbours turning out to be some sort of crazy cult preparing for the end of the world
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