THE NEW NEIGHBORS

By Simon Lelic

Jack and Sydney both have something to say. Unfortunately, their stories may be just a bit too late to save their own lives.

This is a young couple who was happy…originally. Although there are two sides to every story. What Sydney wanted was a home. She wanted a foundation that would perhaps see marriage, a child, and a long, comfortable life for both she and Jack. What did Jack want? Well, he hems and haws, but he caved when he and Sydney saw this particular house and she wanted it. Of course, when Jack put a bid in to purchase the house, he assumed that it would be far lower than the other bids that would come from the large amount of people who were also at the Open House that day. Turns out…the owner just so happens to want that “perfect couple” and Jack’s bid is the one accepted.

As they are setting up house, so to speak, a vile thing is found in the attic. A vile, smelly thing that has both of these people wondering if this was the dream house they actually wanted. As other things crop up, both of them soon believe this is one dream that may have turned into an actual nightmare.

As the child next door becomes more than a bit odd and murder comes to their back door, Jack and Sydney find themselves being watched by local law enforcement, and it may just take a miracle to get them out of this disturbed house and bizarre existence they’ve gotten themselves into.

With each chapter told from a different perspective—going back and forth between Sydney and Jack’s point of view—this tale never gets tired or dull. Lelic has done a great job leaving a trail of breadcrumbs that leads readers to a completely unforgettable end. An end that may just cause many house hunters out there to settle for a rental.