Kurryreads | The Perfect Neighbors : A pulse-pounding p...

The Perfect Neighbors : A pulse-pounding psychological thriller
Author: Jordan Cannon

“I finish a thriller a week and it takes a lot to surprise me but WOW!! All the stars!” —Jessica Dailey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Every day, Olivia walks her new mail route. White fences, porch swings, the same wide smiles and chatty folks. Every night, she returns to her run-down house, heats her frozen dinner and assures herself that this is the fresh start she needs. But in the summer heat something is rotting. And after dark, footsteps crack in the woods behind her house. Yet the most unsettling to Olivia are her perfect next door neighbors.

The Berkleys are wealthy and admired. But Olivia's seen what others pretend not to. Tess Berkeley slurs her words before lunch. Her daughter’s always wandering the neighborhood like she’s looking to escape. And her handsome husband watches Olivia like he's forgotten he's married.

When a body turns up nameless and naked, the knives come out. But the town’s secrets don’t scare Olivia. She has her own.

Fans of Freida McFadden and John Marrs will love the nail-biting pace and whiplash twists of The Perfect Neighbors.

Discussion Questions

  1. Olivia spends much of the novel observing the Berkley family while hiding secrets of her own. How did your opinion of Olivia change throughout the story, and did you ultimately find her trustworthy or sympathetic?
  2. The novel explores the contrast between public appearances and private realities. Which character do you think was best at maintaining a façade, and what does the book suggest about “perfect” suburban communities?
  3. Tess, Ethan, and Gracie each reveal different signs that something is wrong inside the Berkley household. Which relationship or family dynamic stood out to you most, and why?
  4. The story slowly builds tension before delivering several dark twists near the end. Did the pacing work for you? Were there clues you picked up on early, or did the ending completely surprise you?
  5. A major theme in the book is isolation—many characters seem lonely even while surrounded by neighbors and community. How does loneliness influence the choices characters make throughout the novel?