Reviewed by Rich Follett for Readers' Favorite

Zoe’s neighbors have a secret, but it is not what you might expect, and even Zoe herself is not fully prepared to cope with the knowledge she is about to acquire. M. C. Ryder’s The Neighbors: Zoe’s Story is a festival of the unexpected, sure to delight readers looking for a compact adventure with a supernatural flair. Zoe Emerson, a Labor and Delivery nurse proud of both her work and her independence, knocks on the door of her neighbors in apartment 22 to address a noise concern and thus enters a dark, unfamiliar world where little is as it seems. The suspense is palpable, as every page bears the potential for another unsettling revelation. M. C. Ryder has written Zoe’s story in the second person point of view, which places the reader at the center of the action and contributes in unusual and engaging ways to the sense of unease behind the narrative.

Any comment on the secrets that Zoe’s neighbors Terrence and Jensen keep would be a disservice to both the book and to the many readers it is sure to please. Suffice it to say that The Neighbors is a white-knuckle thrill ride, with characters that readers can really care about, a generous helping of both romance and adventure, and a never-a-dull-moment plot that will keep the pages turning. In The Neighbors, M. C. Ryder has crafted a finely tuned piece of romantic supernatural suspense that will delight readers and have them looking forward to more. Zoe, Jensen, and Terrence are characters worthy of being carried forward, just as The Neighbors is worth reading again and again. A wonderful story!