“But for Dorothy Darling, flat two, there was never any question of when the trouble began. She could pinpoint the exact moment when everything changed: the single flap of a butterfly’s wing that would eventually lead to the tornado that engulfed them all. It was the day the girl with pink hair arrived at Shelley House.”
Nosy Neighbors, Freya Sampson
Looking for a not-quite cozy mystery that features wonderfully stubborn women, slimy landlords, and a trail of misfortune? Then you should definitely check out Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson!
This was such a fun read, with some heavy-hitting and emotional moments. Our two main characters, Kat and Dorothy, are each struggling with their past and have the tendency to shut everyone else out. As they begin to work together, there’s lots of fun banter with moments of vulnerability and growth sprinkled in. I really liked that both women have journeys of personal growth, and that Dorothy wasn’t used as a “wise elder” with nothing left to learn.
The rest of the housemates add several layers of chaos and crazy into the mix. I really enjoyed the little tidbits we got of their personal lives, while still focusing on Kat and Dorothy. As the crew worked together to save their home and solve several mysteries, I found myself getting attached to the group. And as I got closer to the ending, I was 100% tearing up at the dynamics between the housemates!
Ready for my full summary? Continue reading here!
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy thriller. It’s not crazy intense, but there are some heightened moments, including a break-in, several attacks, and multiple cases of long term harassment. Instead of a crazy ending that gives you whiplash, everything gets tied up nicely, and there’s a wonderful feeling of resolution by the epilogue.
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