The Man Next Door DEALS
Sheila Roberts’ latest novel adds a little mystery to the general cozy atmosphere of her stories. Following three generations of women grappling with their personal struggles become convinced that their new neighbor is up to no good.
The Man Next Door is a cozy mystery combined with a family dramedy, perfect for fans of the lighter side of the genre. Huge thank you to MIRA for providing a copy of the novel for review. Minor spoilers ahead!
The Man Next Door Synopsis
Zona certainly never expected that she’d wind up moving back in with her mom in her forties. Newly divorced and low on funds thanks to her now ex-husband, she’s trying to pick up the pieces of a life of stability that she thought she’d achieved.
Pinching pennies and taking on extra work is the least that she can do to compensate for the fact that her ex gambled away all of their savings… and her daughters’ college fund.
Suffice to say, she isn’t exactly in the headspace for romance and a new relationship. That is, until she meets Alec, her mother’s handsome and somewhat mysterious new neighbor. The problem is, Alec is awfully closed off, and seems to regularly be engaging in knock down drag out fights with someone spending time in his house.
Zona’s mother Louise is immediately suspicious. Surely there must be more going on over there than simple squabbles?
Could a house absorb the emotions of the people who lived in it? Did bad vibes linger long after those people had moved out? Once infected, did that house become a magnet for more of the same?
When the woman that Alec is fighting with appears to vanish without a trace, Zona begins to worry that her mother’s concerns about the man next door aren’t the result of an overactive imagination.
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What I Liked About The Man Next Door
A cute and cozy mystery tends to rely heavily on characters in order to make the story interesting. Luckily, this is the aspect in which the book excels.
Characters
I found that the biggest strength in The Man Next Door was its characters. I loved the dynamic between Zona and Louise, and the intricacies of her relationship with her daughter, Bree. Each woman has a different view on love and the situation that they’ve found themselves in.
Their disagreements and even general conversations felt very natural, never forced or over the top. I understood each of their desires and hesitations, and I found myself wanting the best outcome for each of them.
Alec was a bit of a confusing one at first, however the through line of his character did help to explain his surly disposition early on in the novel and even out his temperament. Even the supporting characters added their own flavour to the story. I particularly liked the sweet and well meaning Martin, whose unrequited crush on Louise gives you no choice but to root for him.
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Weaknesses
While the characters and their antics bring a great flavour to The Man Next Door, I was hoping that this cozy mystery would be a little heavier on the mystery itself.
I love the idea of becoming suspicious of your neighbors strange behaviour (many of us have surely observed strange things from the people next door in the past), it would have been nice to have had a deeper amount of sleuthing for the characters to engage in.
As it was, the nosy neighbor aspect of what would generally have made this into a quirky puzzle to solve was wrapped up earlier than expected, and took some of the wind out of my sails mystery-wise.
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Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a story that’s lighter on the mystery and leans more into the cozy, The Man Next Door is the perfect choice. The novel presents an upbeat tale that still manages to tackle real life issues, and beautifully explores the dynamic between three quirky generations of women.
The Man Next Door is now available for sale wherever you buy your books! Enjoy it for a lighthearted break from the darker elements of spooky season.
*Disclosure: We only recommend books that we love and would read ourselves. This post contains affiliate links, as we are part of the Amazon Services LCC Associate Program and others, which may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
The Review
The Man Next Door
If you’re looking for a story that’s lighter on the mystery and leans more into the cozy, The Man Next Door is the perfect choice.
PROS
- Characters
- Setting
- Banter
CONS
- Mystery
- Pacing
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