A Neighbor’s Guide To Murder

Author: Louise Candlish
Genre: Mystery/Domestic Drama
336 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, July 2026

Synopsis
In Columbia Mansions, secrets don’t stay behind closed doors for long…

It’s rare for a room to open up in London’s storied Columbia Mansions, and lonely Gwen is thrilled when an unexpected new subletter, Pixie, turns out to be a friendly breath of fresh air to its stuffy halls. Their unlikely cross-generational bond soon becomes the bright spot in Gwen’s quiet life.

But Gwen can’t help noticing cracks beneath Pixie’s cheerful surface—especially when it comes to her questionable financial arrangement with her live-in landlord, Alec. As suspicions mount, Gwen’s protective instincts go into overdrive, triggering a dangerous chain of events no one is prepared for.

The last thing Columbia Mansions wants is a scandal on its hands…

Let alone a murder.

My review
A Neighbor’s Guide To Murder by Louise Candlish is a mystery novel that leans more towards a he-said/she-said domestic drama than a traditional thriller. The story explores the unsettling premise of a rent-for-sex arrangement, adding a layer of tension and discomfort that runs throughout the narrative. Most of the novel is told from the perspective of the elderly protagonist, Gwen, and whether she’s a reliable narrator is questionable. I was confused and frustrated throughout much of the novel with how easily Gwen was manipulated and swayed by several residents in the building.

Candlish does an excellent job bringing her cast of characters to life and creating a vivid sense of time and place. Gwen, in particular, feels authentic. While I didn’t particularly like or fully trust her, her actions and reactions were believable. In fact, I found myself feeling more sympathy for Gwen than affection. She’s mistreated by her neighbors at Columbia Mansions and even by her own children, which makes her situation even more bleak.

None of the characters are especially likable, and none have redeeming qualities. While this adds realism and reinforces the novel’s darker tone, it also contributes to an overall sense of heaviness. A Neighbor’s Guide to Murder is a dark domestic drama where truth feels elusive and perspectives constantly shift. Although the writing is strong and the characters convincing, I finished the novel feeling more saddened than entertained and the end was downright depressing. I wish there had been at least one character with a spark of warmth or redemption to provide a bit of balance.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Louise Candlish for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

My recommendation: definitely worth the read!