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mattiereads's review against another edition
4.0
The Downstairs Neighbor was such a good twisty thriller you never knew what was coming next! It’s told from different POVs and had multiple timelines that come together in an amazing way. Usually with books like this it gets predictable super quick but this one kept me guessing up until the very end! Definitely add it to your list!
emmawilsonnn's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
readingwithcats's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Cancer, Murder, and Bullying
books_brownies_etc's review against another edition
4.0
The Downstairs Neighbour
By Helen Cooper
AD - PR Product
‘Three families, living under the roof of a converted Georgia town house in South London. Chris and Vicky - a quiet couple in the basement, Emma, a single woman in the first floor flat and the top floor flat is home to Steph, Paul and their teenage daughter. Their paths rarely crossed - until the day that Freya goes missing, secrets and dark pasts are’s slowly revealed as they all come to realise that the truth to Freya’s disappearance may be closer to home than they first thought.’
Domestic suspense at its finest, this book reminded me of Lisa Jewell’s ‘Then She Was Gone’ and ‘Invisible Girl’. Filled with complicated characters, mild thrills and jaw dropping twists. I flew through it and was left feeling satisfied with the neat ending - sometimes a book being tied up ‘in a bow’ is frustrating but in this case I think it perfectly suited the story.
It feels very apt to be reviewing this book on Mother’s Day as my favourite thing about the book was the complex, painfully flawed but equally loving mother and child relationships of the characters, and how central these relationships were to the plot. From Steph and Freya, to Emma and Zeb and Kate and her mum - it was fascinating and relatable to see the way in which these characters interacted with one another and how their dynamics changed as their personal situations became more stressful.
Thanks so much to InstaBookTours and the author for gifting me this copy of ‘The Downstairs Neighbour’ in exchange for a fair review - as always, all opinions are my own.
By Helen Cooper
AD - PR Product
‘Three families, living under the roof of a converted Georgia town house in South London. Chris and Vicky - a quiet couple in the basement, Emma, a single woman in the first floor flat and the top floor flat is home to Steph, Paul and their teenage daughter. Their paths rarely crossed - until the day that Freya goes missing, secrets and dark pasts are’s slowly revealed as they all come to realise that the truth to Freya’s disappearance may be closer to home than they first thought.’
Domestic suspense at its finest, this book reminded me of Lisa Jewell’s ‘Then She Was Gone’ and ‘Invisible Girl’. Filled with complicated characters, mild thrills and jaw dropping twists. I flew through it and was left feeling satisfied with the neat ending - sometimes a book being tied up ‘in a bow’ is frustrating but in this case I think it perfectly suited the story.
It feels very apt to be reviewing this book on Mother’s Day as my favourite thing about the book was the complex, painfully flawed but equally loving mother and child relationships of the characters, and how central these relationships were to the plot. From Steph and Freya, to Emma and Zeb and Kate and her mum - it was fascinating and relatable to see the way in which these characters interacted with one another and how their dynamics changed as their personal situations became more stressful.
Thanks so much to InstaBookTours and the author for gifting me this copy of ‘The Downstairs Neighbour’ in exchange for a fair review - as always, all opinions are my own.
renwar96's review against another edition
4.0
There was a lot going on in this book. Each character had their own drama going on that didn't necessarily tie in to Freye's disappearance. The flashbacks to 25 years before left you hanging and wondering where Kate's story was going to intertwine with the current time story. This book is definitely a twisty turny story that keeps you guessing what's coming up next.
bc7ate9's review against another edition
2.0
3rd Floor Girl disappears. Parents freak out and realize the secrets they’ve been keeping could be to blame.
Main Floor Lady misses a guy who seems to be her lover, but TWIST! ends up being her son. Her Baby Daddy hung out with bullies in high school so she refuses to acknowledge him. Son is angry, goes to live with him. Son had relationship with 3FG. Teenagers do mean, gaslighty things to their parents. Turns out, Bully BF was actually a pretty ok guy.
Basement Guy is married to a kleptomaniac and teaches kids to drive, including 3FG. He is also in cahoots with secret aunt of 3FG. Takes 3FG to secret aunt.
Flashbacks reveal secret aunt went to prison way back when b/c 3F Mom poisoned her mom’s boyfriend b/c she thought he was abusive. Actually, her mom had cancer and killing him was a mistake. She kind of takes care of secret aunt, but wants to keep that life separate from current life.
They all live happily ever after.
Main Floor Lady misses a guy who seems to be her lover, but TWIST! ends up being her son. Her Baby Daddy hung out with bullies in high school so she refuses to acknowledge him. Son is angry, goes to live with him. Son had relationship with 3FG. Teenagers do mean, gaslighty things to their parents. Turns out, Bully BF was actually a pretty ok guy.
Basement Guy is married to a kleptomaniac and teaches kids to drive, including 3FG. He is also in cahoots with secret aunt of 3FG. Takes 3FG to secret aunt.
Flashbacks reveal secret aunt went to prison way back when b/c 3F Mom poisoned her mom’s boyfriend b/c she thought he was abusive. Actually, her mom had cancer and killing him was a mistake. She kind of takes care of secret aunt, but wants to keep that life separate from current life.
They all live happily ever after.
arthur_pendrgn's review against another edition
2.5
2.5 It took a long time for the past to unwind. A story about the negative, long-lasting damge of assumptions and deceptions we engage in to "protect" others. Plus the really horrific murder of Nick. Nick's characterization is the most skillful part of this book.
brittneyhm's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the way the author meshed all the stories together. Paul’s story was the only outlier in my opinion.. I could see how it came together in the end but it was a stretch in my opinion. It was a pretty cool story but didn’t hold my attention.