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A review by vonni
The Downstairs Neighbor by Helen Cooper
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Downstairs Neighbor is a delightful read for mystery lovers. Set in the suburbs of modern day London, the neighborhood is shocked when a popular teenage girl, Freya Harlow, is reported missing one March evening. Freya's disappearance stirs up a network of secrets that intersect with the neighbors in their townhome split into three apartments. With missing posters and police officers swimming around the apartments, it seems to be that someone close to the Harlows must know Freya's whereabouts, whether they be close in relation, or close in proximity.
Reading this novel was an intense ride. Helen Cooper weaves a tangled web with many different nodes via third-person POV chapters split into multiple characters. Outside of the characters with POV chapters are other interesting side characters that mostly cast tension and darkness in the lives of the main cast. However, most of those side characters and some of the main characters lack depth compared to arguably the most important main character who has regular POV chapters.
The many twists were fascinating, most were exciting and clever shocks, generous in abundance, and always dramatic. Some of those twists, unfortunately,derailed significant side plots into red herrings that didn't seem to add much depth to their assigned characters. For instance, Paul's story ends with the reveal that his undercover campaign had no relevance to Freya's disappearance. Up until a pivotal point towards the very end, Chris being resentful of the distance in his relationship with his wife somewhat resolved by the reveal that he was covering for her kleptomania made his entire subplot seem at first irrelevant, and then with the brilliant twist of his collusion with Becca, actually revealed his plot to just be frustratingly slow. Personally, regardless of the broader story, when stories are divided into multiple character POV's as chapters, I will always have a favorite and least favorite. Perhaps, for the sake of groundedness in reality, these plots struggling or becoming questionable in varying ways isn't such a bad thing. With one of the above examples, I will admit that the journey of that plot was fascinating even without the conclusion I may have preferred more.
Morality in this novel is completely grey. Character growth is up to interpretation in some cases, and in one major case I'd say there is a character who regresses in growth over the novel. Despite how that may sound, I enjoyed the process of the narrative around characters changing in multiple directions. Particularly withSteph/Kate, whose story begins empathetically in both the modern and past story, but ends with a dark tone. Her life as Kate, allowing Becca to take all of the blame for Nick's death, and her most recent chapter, the final lines of the story, to end with her quietly revealing that she was responsible for the actual death. A secret she kept even from Becca. I enjoyed that character's plots in particular, but come to the end of the novel. I couldn't help but feel cheated that we never got a POV chapter for Becca or Freya. I was particularly curious for Becca's point of view as an adult. Her resentment, not her actions, felt justified and increasingly complex, even up to the final chapter of the book. The other character seemed as checked out of the plot as Paul is claimed to be by himself, at one point!
Any negative points aside, this has been one of the most satisfying thrillers I've read in the past 12 months. Overall, the pace was fantastic, despite minor caveats. This is one of those stories that I want to push into the hands of my other thriller fan friends, and would even possibly like to see adapted one day in the right hands. In the meantime, I am excited to see what else Helen Cooper has been up to in the years since she released this addictive story.
Reading this novel was an intense ride. Helen Cooper weaves a tangled web with many different nodes via third-person POV chapters split into multiple characters. Outside of the characters with POV chapters are other interesting side characters that mostly cast tension and darkness in the lives of the main cast. However, most of those side characters and some of the main characters lack depth compared to arguably the most important main character who has regular POV chapters.
The many twists were fascinating, most were exciting and clever shocks, generous in abundance, and always dramatic. Some of those twists, unfortunately,
Morality in this novel is completely grey. Character growth is up to interpretation in some cases, and in one major case I'd say there is a character who regresses in growth over the novel. Despite how that may sound, I enjoyed the process of the narrative around characters changing in multiple directions. Particularly with
Any negative points aside, this has been one of the most satisfying thrillers I've read in the past 12 months. Overall, the pace was fantastic, despite minor caveats. This is one of those stories that I want to push into the hands of my other thriller fan friends, and would even possibly like to see adapted one day in the right hands. In the meantime, I am excited to see what else Helen Cooper has been up to in the years since she released this addictive story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Terminal illness, Murder, Police brutality, Cancer, Gaslighting, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Bullying, Medical content, Body horror, Blood, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Self harm, Death of parent, Infidelity, Body shaming, Child death, Sexual content, Trafficking, Suicide, and Dysphoria