Those People Next Door

‘Terrific and hugely thought-provoking’ Ian Rankin‘One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars’ Lisa Jewell

Waterstones Thriller of the Month – August 2023

You can choose your house. Not your neighbours.

WELCOME TO YOUR DREAM HOME …

Salma Khatun is extremely hopeful about Blenheim, the safe suburban development to which she, her husband and their son have just moved. Their family needs a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like the right place.

MEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBOURS …

Shortly after they move in, Salma spots her neighbour, Tom Hutton, ripping out the anti-racist banner in their front garden. Choosing not to confront Tom, Salma takes the banner inside and puts it in her window. But the next morning she wakes up to find her window smeared with paint.

AND PREPARE FOR THE NIGHTMARE TO BEGIN …

This time she does confront Tom, and the battle lines between the two families are drawn. As things begin to escalate and the stakes become higher, it's clear that a reckoning is coming… And someone is going to get hurt.

A gripping thriller about nightmare neighbours, Those People Next Door explores the loss of innocence and how far we’d go to defend ourselves and the people we love.

Readers are GRIPPED by Those People Next Door

‘Impossible to put down’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An incredibility evocative, intense, and impactful book’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A powerfully impactful and thought-provoking thriller’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Kia Abdullah smashed all my expectations with this relentlessly gripping thriller that held me in its thrall from first page to last’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Praise for Those People Next Door 'Those People Next Door ticks all the Kia Abdullah boxes we've come to know and love: social drama, ethical dilemmas, and nuanced plots, where characters are neither truly good nor truly bad. This is followed by perfectly drawn, intense courtroom drama, which is where Abdullah truly shines. Those People Next Door is intelligent, clever, poignant, sharp, and thought-provoking, right through to the perfect final line. Another sure hit for Kia Abdullah, I loved it and can't wait to see what comes next'' Andrea Mara, Sunday Times bestselling author of All Her Fault 'A rollercoaster ride of a toxic tale of neighbours from hell. Brilliantly pacey and wonderfully written with a lovely big twist. Highly recommended' Neil Lancaster, bestselling author of Dead Man's Grave 'I was utterly addicted to Those People Next Door. It's a stunning, thought-provoking and morally challenging read. It was so vivid and will make readers question their own values and viewpoints all in the context of a world-class story' Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good Praise for Kia Abdullah 'Bold and brave, shocking and heartfelt, Kia Abdullah handles this story with such skill and empathy, yet builds the tension toward the kind of jaw-dropping turn that had me gasping aloud. A very special book from a very special author' Chris Whitaker, We Begin at the End 'A superb legal thriller that fairly crackles with tension' Guardian 'A topical and gritty story' Observer 'Her writing style and tense courtroom descriptions are a masterpiece. I felt my heart in my mouth as I turned every page. When you get to the final chapters, buckle up. You won't see it coming but you will definitely be applauding the handling of such a heroic and tragic tale' Daily Record”

Praise for Those People Next Door

‘Those People Next Door is intelligent, clever, poignant, sharp, and thought-provoking, right through to the perfect final line. Another sure hit for Kia Abdullah, I loved it and can't wait to see what comes next’’ Andrea Mara, Sunday Times bestselling author of All Her Fault

‘A rollercoaster ride of a toxic tale of neighbours from hell. Brilliantly pacey and wonderfully written with a lovely big twist. Highly recommended’ Neil Lancaster, bestselling author of Dead Man’s Grave

‘I was utterly addicted to Those People Next Door. It’s a stunning, thought-provoking and morally challenging read. It was so vivid and will make readers question their own values and viewpoints all in the context of a world-class story’ Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good

‘This powerful social drama about racism and microaggression in today’s society is a must-read’ Prima

‘A tense, clever tale about the seething underbelly of a picture-perfect suburban town’
Country and Town House

‘If Jane Austen were alive, she would not be writing about zombies but the sorts of novels that Kia Abdullah does’ The Times (Thriller of the Month)

‘A thought-provoking thriller with the addition of a gripping courtroom drama, and more than one surprising twist along the way. Highly recommended!’ Peterborough Telegraph

‘Creates an important dialogue about the communities we live in and the importance of frank discussions about race in the UK’ PA Media

Kia Abdullah is an author and travel writer. She has contributed to The Guardian, BBC, and Channel 4 News, and most recently The New York Times commenting on a variety of issues affecting the Muslim community. Kia currently travels the world as one half of the travel blog Atlas & Boots, which receives over 200,000 views per month.

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