*****

When human bones are found in the garden attached to the glamorous London home where she grew up, Jess McIntyre prepares to receive the news she has dreaded for thirty-four years: that her sister, Nina, is dead and now here is the proof.

Nina disappeared without a trace in 1992, aged eighteen, the summer she fell in with a charismatic group of friends who squatted in a vacant house on the other side of Willow Gardens.

Having moved to Australia years ago, widow and single mum Jess arrives back in London to provide a DNA sample to help the investigation, with her teenage son, Ollie, in tow.

As they try and unravel the secrets of Nina's past, and her connection to a sinister cult, will they discover that some bodies are best left buried…?

'I could not put this down! The twists and turns – I did NOT see them coming!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'I haven’t read a book with such well developed characters in a long time and this book manages to match that with a fast, clever plot' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'You will not be able to out this one down' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'A twisty, atmospheric story that's deeper and more complex than your everyday domestic thriller' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'I stayed up well past the time I should have been asleep. Five stars no doubt. Can't wait to see what else this author has to offer' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Praise for Emma Babbington

'Dark, intriguing and at some times touching, this suburban Sydney drama packs a punch. With well-drawn characters, a high-speed plot and a handful of unexpected twists, this delightful debut kept me guessing – and wondering if I really know my neighbours at all' Ali Lowe

'When two childhood acquaintances end up living on the same street in an affluent Sydney suburb, is it just a coincidence? Or something more sinister? With its delicious twists and turns, THE NEIGHBOURS kept me on the edge of my reading chair right the way through. Emma Babbington absolutely delivers in this savvy and compelling debut' Hayley Scrivenor

'Tense, compelling and oh-so-twisty, Emma Babbington’s debut is perfect for anyone who has ever suspected that their neighbours might not be as perfect as they seem’ Pip Drysdale

'What a book! A genuine ‘I need to know what happened’ kind of story, I loved it’ Jess Kitching

'A delight to read. Amazing – I kept thinking I was reading a Lisa Jewell novel set in Sydney! A truly exceptional debut with everything you want in a thriller – intrigue, tension and characters you think you know. I couldn't put it down!’ Sarah Clarke

'Juicy family secrets, badly behaved neighbours and a mother who will do anything to protect her child, The Neighbours has all the ingredients for a killer read. This is such a compelling debut from Emma Babbington with a climax that has more twists and turns than a bush track. If you like Lisa Jewell mixed with a little Liane Moriarty, The Neighbours is the book for you’ Cassie Hamer

‘A brilliant debut novel that excavates a close-knit family and neighbourhood to reveal all their dirty secrets. The Neighbours has compelling characters, a vivid setting and themes that resonate. I couldn’t stop reading’ BM Carroll

Emma Babbington is a London-born, Sydney-based journalist and is currently news editor for Australia’s bestselling weekly magazine, Woman’s Day, where she heads up the real life and crime section and also co-edits the books pages.