Thank you Park Row/Netgalley, #partner, for the advanced copy of The New Couple in 5B in exchange for my honest review. I borrowed the audiobook from the library.
Publisher: Park Row / Harlequin Audio
Published: March 5, 2024
Summary:
A couple inherits an apartment with a spine-tingling past in this binge-worthy thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six.
Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet in New York City when they receive life-changing news: Chad’s late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. With its prewar elegance and impeccably uniformed doorman, the building is the epitome of old New York charm. One would almost never suspect the dark history lurking behind its perfectly maintained facade.
At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn’t feel more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie starts to suspect that there’s more to the Windermere than meets the eye. Why is the doorman ever-present? Why are there cameras everywhere? And why have so many gruesome crimes occurred there throughout the years? When one of the neighbors turns up dead, Rosie must get to the truth about the Windermere before she, too, falls under its dangerous spell.
My thoughts:
I have long been a fan of Lisa Unger, ever since reading Fragile a few years back. I love that her books are dark and twisty and that you think you know what it going on, but you could not be more wrong.
This book oozed gothic vibes and even had some supernatural elements that just enhanced the overall story. It made it just creepy enough without being too crazy. I love books set in old buildings in New York City, so of course I was already a fan, but little did I know just how much this one would get under my skin. We get such great descriptions of the building and its history, both of which play so nicely into the story.
This book kept me fully engaged from the get-go. From the doorman of the Windermere that always seems to be on duty to the strange happenings, I found myself on edge and wondering what would happen next. There is a cult-like atmosphere in the building and as the story moves back and forth in time, we start to uncover some of the secrets the building. I also loved the way Unger writes the characters, where you are never quite sure if they are reliable or not.
If you love atmospheric, dark reads, this one is for you!
Audio thoughts:
This was fantastic on audio, with the narrator, Vivenne Leheny, doing an amazing job with the voices. Each character had a distinct voice and she infused just the right amount of suspense and tension into her voice to make this a creepy listening experience!
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