Friday, November 9, 2012

The Neighbors-Ania Ahlborn

The Neighbors


Ania Ahlborn

Thomas & Mercer, Nov 27 2012, $14.95

ISBN: 9781612184456



In Creekside, Kansas Andrew Morrison gave up his life to care for an acrimonious agoraphobic and alcoholic mother. Though feeling guilty for deserting his mom, now he is freed as he moves in with a childhood friend Mickey Fitch though the house is an eyesore as the squalid dump of Magnolia Lane.



Though they differ over white picket fences and paint, the two roommates get on well. Their biggest contention is over The Neighbors. Drew feels welcomed by Harlow and Red Ward while also envying their Leave It To Beaver lifestyle as what they have is what he always wanted. Mickey warns his roommate about his fascination with the Neighbors especially kind Harlow; that is until she tries to seduce Andrew who sees her as Harriet Ward. As Drew wonders about the odd behavior of Ward couple and of Mickey who vanishes a lot and keeps a room that he has not entered as it is always locked, the newcomer wonders if living in hell with mom is better than this taste of heaven.



This is a taut horror thriller in which readers ponder if the perfect couple next door are monsters or whether Drew suffers from a psychosis. The four protagonists are fully developed, which adds to the audience wondering what is going on. Filled with increasing suspense, fans will enjoy the Neighbors as things are rarely what they seem on the outside.



Harriet Klausner

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