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2.65 AVERAGE
2.65 AVERAGE
‘…the most terrifying, unforgettable novel you’ll read all year.’ This the cover and blurb oversold this book by double, not only was this book not terrifying, I found myself wanting to forget I’d even wasted the time reading it. ‘And what is hiding in the basement?’ SPOILER: It’s nothing..
I was looking forward to reading this, having read a previous novel ‘the birthing house’ by Christopher Ransom, I thought this book would hold its own, but boy was I wrong.
The plot left a lot to be desired, the start of the book replies heavily on Micks near death experience, when in reality this plays little to no relevance within the story line. The new next door neighbours are introduced in different and obscure ways to their Nash family counterparts. The jumping between POVs and timelines is confusing and does not add to the depth of the story. The is a definitive lack of character introduction and development: we are briefly introduced to Kyle and then he seems to be forgotten for the majority of the story until the very end.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this book, it’s long and leaves a LOT to be desired. I would however, recommend Christopher Ransoms other Novel - The birthing house. One of the very first books I had to put down whilst reading for being scary!
FAVOURITE PASSAGE: “ Think of the worst thing you have ever done, or better still, the worst thing that’s ever happened to you. Can you ask yourself how often do you allow yourself to think about it. The horrific details the moment you did it, the moment it was done to you. The second-by-second chain of thoughts that run through like a poisonous but addictive injection. The smell of the room, the texture of the other person skin against yours, terrifying sense of isolation when you thought, mistakenly, no one has ever done this before, this is beyond reality as I understood it… .Nothing is beyond the scope of human depravity.”
I was looking forward to reading this, having read a previous novel ‘the birthing house’ by Christopher Ransom, I thought this book would hold its own, but boy was I wrong.
The plot left a lot to be desired, the start of the book replies heavily on Micks near death experience, when in reality this plays little to no relevance within the story line. The new next door neighbours are introduced in different and obscure ways to their Nash family counterparts. The jumping between POVs and timelines is confusing and does not add to the depth of the story. The is a definitive lack of character introduction and development: we are briefly introduced to Kyle and then he seems to be forgotten for the majority of the story until the very end.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this book, it’s long and leaves a LOT to be desired. I would however, recommend Christopher Ransoms other Novel - The birthing house. One of the very first books I had to put down whilst reading for being scary!
FAVOURITE PASSAGE: “ Think of the worst thing you have ever done, or better still, the worst thing that’s ever happened to you. Can you ask yourself how often do you allow yourself to think about it. The horrific details the moment you did it, the moment it was done to you. The second-by-second chain of thoughts that run through like a poisonous but addictive injection. The smell of the room, the texture of the other person skin against yours, terrifying sense of isolation when you thought, mistakenly, no one has ever done this before, this is beyond reality as I understood it… .Nothing is beyond the scope of human depravity.”
If I could I would give this book a solid 3 1/2 stars! I was very tempted to go with 4 stars, but it didn't quite nudge me there. I enjoyed the twists and surprises and the writing was high quality. I still recommend this book to any horror readers out there...it is a different take on most of what you normally read.
If I could pick one word to describe this book, it would be 'meh'. It's intriguing enough to make you want to keep reading but is ultimatly a let down. The 'scary' parts I found only mildy creepy and the twist wasn't really a big shock.
Recently, I was unfortunate enough to break my beloved Kobo Aura (weep!) on day 3 of a two week holiday. Fortunately we were part of a large group staying in a big villa that had several bookshelves full of forgotten beach reads and airport buys, so I had ample choice for a replacement and after several false starts with a few truly dreadful novels, I picked up 'The People Next door'. The dust jacket promised a thriller with a twist, and the first chapter was interesting enough persuade me that reading a 'real book' would be better than continuing with my current read on my phone's tiny screen.
'The People Next Door' is not a great book, but it isn't a terrible one either. The initial teaser, while somewhat predictable in content, leaves you wondering how this scene could possibly tie into the main storyline. The characters are simple but likable enough, although the protagonist Mick reads like a poor man's version of most of Stephen King's literary Dads (troubled, a bit selfish, but generally cares about the kids). I can't say I found Ransom's tale particularly frightening or even unsettling, but it certainly kept me guessing. Somehow even though the overarching plot proved dull and predictable, the details around what the hell is going on with the Nash family and those around them remained mysterious throughout. The 'Island Living' chapters dotted throughout the book were undoubtedly the most interesting to me, while many of the visions and interactions between the Nashes and the Renders fell flat.
Ransom's writing style is well-suited to this thriller/horror of a beach read. Unfortunately, he used so many brand names and products in the descriptive details of this book that it manages to sound dated only 6 years after it was published, which proved to be a little jarring.
Bottom line: I have given this book a (somewhat high) rating of 3 stars on the basis that the story kept me guessing right up until the final couple of chapters, even if I didn't *love* every minute of it. It was a solidly average book that proved entertaining enough while I was on vacation.
'The People Next Door' is not a great book, but it isn't a terrible one either. The initial teaser, while somewhat predictable in content, leaves you wondering how this scene could possibly tie into the main storyline. The characters are simple but likable enough, although the protagonist Mick reads like a poor man's version of most of Stephen King's literary Dads (troubled, a bit selfish, but generally cares about the kids). I can't say I found Ransom's tale particularly frightening or even unsettling, but it certainly kept me guessing. Somehow even though the overarching plot proved dull and predictable, the details around what the hell is going on with the Nash family and those around them remained mysterious throughout. The 'Island Living' chapters dotted throughout the book were undoubtedly the most interesting to me, while many of the visions and interactions between the Nashes and the Renders fell flat.
Ransom's writing style is well-suited to this thriller/horror of a beach read. Unfortunately, he used so many brand names and products in the descriptive details of this book that it manages to sound dated only 6 years after it was published, which proved to be a little jarring.
Bottom line: I have given this book a (somewhat high) rating of 3 stars on the basis that the story kept me guessing right up until the final couple of chapters, even if I didn't *love* every minute of it. It was a solidly average book that proved entertaining enough while I was on vacation.
Not really sure how to review this one....hmmm
Was sucked in by the 'You'll never forget the twist!' On the back while stalking some books for my holiday. So being sucked in I was hoping for a shocking, gasping twist.
But sadly that did not happen.
To be truthful I did enjoy this book however at some points I felt the book repeated itself in some areas over and over again while others were repeated for no reason and got annoyed with Mick straight away.
The story of the neighbors 'The Renders' is quite interesting if the story would have been told with more detail as I felt it was only hinted to us what exactly was going on and In some ways it felt rushed and very vague but not in a good way on their part.
But I read until the end wanting to be caught within this twist. Sadly for how long it's dragged out It wasn't hard to figure everything out, which in a way ruined the book for me, despite the last two pages which did bump it up a little.
Was sucked in by the 'You'll never forget the twist!' On the back while stalking some books for my holiday. So being sucked in I was hoping for a shocking, gasping twist.
But sadly that did not happen.
To be truthful I did enjoy this book however at some points I felt the book repeated itself in some areas over and over again while others were repeated for no reason and got annoyed with Mick straight away.
The story of the neighbors 'The Renders' is quite interesting if the story would have been told with more detail as I felt it was only hinted to us what exactly was going on and
Spoiler
and what they were to be honest. At some point I kept putting the book down and going 'huh?'But I read until the end wanting to be caught within this twist. Sadly for how long it's dragged out It wasn't hard to figure everything out, which in a way ruined the book for me, despite the last two pages which did bump it up a little.
It was okay, but not as good as I had hopped. The about 220 first pages felt like one very long introduction, followed by a couple of pages of actual story, and then a long interlude, again a couple of pages of story, interlude and so on til the disappointing and slightly confusing end.
I kept reading though, and it was intriguing at some points. I wanted to know how it all would end, even though I was on the border to boredom at times.
As a shorter story, it might have worked out better, but as a supposed-to-be-horror/thriller it failed. Too drawn out for that.
I kept reading though, and it was intriguing at some points. I wanted to know how it all would end, even though I was on the border to boredom at times.
As a shorter story, it might have worked out better, but as a supposed-to-be-horror/thriller it failed. Too drawn out for that.
It's tough times for Boulder couple Mick and Amy Nash. Money is tight, their business is failing, and now they've got weird new neighbors to deal with next door.
Completely unexpected! There is no way you'll figure out what's going on! Ransom is doing fantastic things and I look forward to each of his new works.
Completely unexpected! There is no way you'll figure out what's going on! Ransom is doing fantastic things and I look forward to each of his new works.
Don't bother. No, really. The blurb and spooky cover will tempt you but you mustn't give in.
Really struggled putting this book down . Alot of mystery and confusion within the book which was great as it kept me wanting to carry on reading. Twists in it were awesome , glad I bought this book :)
Did not enjoy this book, did not live up to the back jacket storyline which had me gripped and wanting to read the book, struggled to read it, could gladly have given up at times as wasn't enjoying the story at all, very weird book