The Girl Next Door

by Patricia MacDonald

Book Overview

She's out to clear his father's name... and caught in killer's sights. The affluent town of Hoffman, Ney Jersey, was shattered when esteemed doctor Duncan Avery stabbed his wife to death one spring... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743423623
• ISBN13: 9780743423625
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.1" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Amazing book!!

I have been a mystery/thriller junkie for some time now, really soaking up and enjoying the work of John Sanford, Mary Higgins Clark and others. I just "stumbled" upon the author's book, "The Girl Next door" one night while exiting a local bookstore, and I shamefully admit I have never read this author's work before, even though I may have given it a cursory glance. Given the fact that I enjoyed this book immensely, I have a lot of catching up to do in regards to reading her past novels. I took a chance and bought the book, and it's definitley a page turner and one that is hard to put down. As mentioned, the story revolves around Nina Avery, a strong willed and somewhat independent aspiring New York actress who seeks justice for her father, Duncan Avery , who was wrongfully accused and imprisoned for the horrific murder of his wife. Nina must unravel a web of deceit, lies and brutality that will eventually lead her to the truth. While I hated for the book to come to an end, the author skillfully gets to the point and keeps the reader interested throughout the entire book. I also like the fact that the book was not cluttered with filler and useless dialouge, but maintains a steady course to the final chapter and stunning conclusion. I will definitely seek out the rest of Ms. Mac Donald's work and look forward to future novels by her. A must have in the collection of anyone who enjoys the mystery genre.

Like............WOW!

I have read all of Patricia MacDonald's book, but this was the best. I read it in two days. You have to really admire Nina for having so much faith in her Dad with all the evidence against him. Especially since it is her Mom that he is convicted of killing. And, it had a touch of romance without all the sexual dancing that so many books have. I am not a prude, I just rather have a good book with a good story and this one delivered just that.

Good Book

I thought this book was great. It just keeps you going. And the ending is something you would never expect. Very hard to put it down.

Observations on the many facets of obsession

Risking reproach from English majors everywhere, sometimes a cliché is all that will work. Just as you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the prince, a reviewer has to slog through a lot of average reads to find a keeper. THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is that pleasant surprise we all hope to find when reading a new author. Although she has written three previous novels, Patricia MacDonald is not yet well known but is sure to achieve that status if she continues to write like this. THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is anything but what the title may imply. It is a deftly written thriller that will keep you reading well past your bedtime, as you try to unravel the carefully crafted clues that pepper the pages. In addition to the intricate plot, MacDonald has created characters who elicit empathy; you care about what happens to them. For me, this is rare in books that are not part of a series in which I have already grown fond of the players. Nina Avery is a budding actress, working in commercials and off-Broadway theaters. She is affable, people like her and try to help her succeed. She is also the daughter of Duncan Avery, a convicted murderer, who is up for parole after spending 15 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Nina's mother Marsha. Nina never believed that her father was guilty and was as fiercely defensive of him as her brothers, Jimmy and Patrick, were condemning toward him. Once Duncan wins his parole, MacDonald begins her exploration into the pathology of a dysfunctional family, and that's where the suspense begins. Her keen observations of the many facets of obsession are thorough without being tedious. The ending will surprise some, but others will see it coming about halfway through the book. She provides foreshadowing but neatly holds enough back to keep you guessing. Though the themes are often heavy, the tale never bogs down and there is even a bit of a love story included for us romantics. I am definitely looking forward to reading Patricia MacDonald's other books, STRANGER IN THE HOUSE, SUSPICIOUS ORIGIN and NOT GUILTY. --- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened. She also reviews for www.womenonwriting.com. To contact Maggie, e-mail Magster2@cox.net.

strong psychological suspense tale

Fifteen years ago Nina Avery returned home from her first date to find her mother dead and her father trying to shield her from the carnage. After an investigation Nina's father Douglas, a well respected doctor, is charged with the crime and found guilty of second degree murder. Her brother Jimmy, an alcoholic and drug addict, was placed in the care of neighbors where he straightened his life out, her older brother Patrick went on to college and married and had two children. Nina stood by her father while trying to find acting jobs in New York City.At a parole hearing Jimmy fails to show up, Patrick speaks out against him and Nina does all in her power to get the board to let her father go free. Parole is granted and Douglas who swears he is innocent returns to the scene of the crime to find evidence that would exonerate him. Before he can find out anything he is murdered but someone made it look like suicide. With the help of the prison doctor, Nina takes up where her father left off and finds herself in danger from a killer she has known for almost two decades.Fans of Marry Higgins Clark will want to read THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, the quintessential psychological suspense tale. The Avery clan is a dysfunctional but likeable family who pull readers into their angst laden drama and end up hoping they will recover from the traumas they have endured. Patricia Macdonald is a brilliant writer known for her works of intrigue; her latest novel is definitely her best but this reviewer will probably say that about her next novel too.Harriet Klausner