The Psychopath Next Door

By: Mark Edwards

Narrated by: Imogen Church, Nicholas Boulton

In this mesmerising thriller from the bestselling author of Keep Her Secret, a family’s fresh start is just the beginning of their nightmare…

Ethan Dove’s family has moved to a new home in a safe community, and it’s exactly the fresh start they need. Not only is his marriage to Emma hanging by a thread, but his son, Dylan, and twelve-year-old daughter, Rose, deserve to have a happy childhood.

After Rose is bullied by the boys across the road, Ethan is relieved when the woman who lives next door steps in. Fiona Smith has come into their lives at just the right moment, and when she offers to look after Rose during the school holidays, Ethan and Emma can’t believe their luck.

Which is exactly what Fiona wants. Because, far from being the perfect neighbour, Fiona is the last person you should trust with your child. With a vicious plot for revenge, Fiona is happy to train Rose to be her accomplice, especially when she begins to suspect that Rose might not be as innocent as she appears…

The Psychopath Next Door is a gripping and twisted psychological suspense thriller set in the terrifying world of Mark Edwards’s bestselling The Magpies universe.

©2025 by Mark Edwards. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Each chapter pulses with unsettling tension and never relents until predator and prey reach their final, chilling conclusion.”—John Marrs

“Sinister, creepy, and utterly gripping—I could not stop reading. And that ending! My jaw hit the floor.”—Ruth Kelly

the title is 100% accurate

The Psychopath Next Door was my first book by Mark Edwards. I went into this thinking it was a standalone and finding out over half way through that it is part of a series.

I thought this was super thrilling and dark! I really was not expecting where this story was going to go.

This audiobook was done so well! I cannot wait to read the previous books!

Great

Great book and overall performance. Didn’t expect the ending. Will be looking for more from this author

Great pacing and genuinely edge-of-your seat thrills

If you need a spring break thriller, definitely purchase this audiobook! I’m so glad I discovered this author.

The Story and the Narrators

absolutly amazing, thrilling, stunning, love the fact that characters from other book also make appearance.

Interesting book

Definitely a learning experience.

This book goes a bit mind bending and definitely fascinating.

I will look for other books from this author. Seems like she really knows her stuff.

Entertaining

Good twists and good ending - a good beach read or casual listen - I liked it

Thriller

I loved how on the edge this kept me. It was so good. The end was personally shocking.

Absolutely Unhinged

This book was absolutely unhinged and very farfetched! That being said, I think that’s one of the great things about reading, you can go to places and experience things out of the norm. There were many twists and turns, all the way until the end. Some parts were more predictable than others but, overall I think the writing style left enough unknown making it hard to put down. I didn’t expect the very last twist at the end, which could’ve been left off unless there will be a sequel. Otherwise, a solid book for those who like this type of thing, but prepare yourself for some outlandish, crazy, and absurd stuff!

Not related to happiness

Imogen Church is always a sell point for me. Her narrations are a treat. The male narrator was good too. This story realistically portrays the shocking reality of a psychopath. Many points hit home with the struggle of being a parent.

JUST OK

I listened to the book on audible and have listened to LOTS of Imogene Church narration who I love. This book was a recommendation on the Psychological Thriller Readers Facebook Group. Honestly it just didn't hit well with me. At times it felt to over the board and fake. I even laughed at times at the over exaggeration of thoughts Fiona had about killing. Spoiler: She didn't even kill anyone but acted like she was a serial killer. There was a lot of potential here but it just fell flat for me. I listened to the whole book and the ending was blah. Not one of my faves.