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.

Thriller

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

Entertaining

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

This is a must-read!

This book was sinister on so many levels, and it was difficult having to put down the couple of times that I had to. Emma and Ethan are so focused on their own problems that they aren't quite paying attention to their own children. Allowing a brand new neighbor; Fiona, much like themselves, to watch their youngest, Rose, during the week to save money was wild. Their oldest, Dylan, who is fairly responsible, is the first to notice something's not right about Fiona. The entire family, since earlier in childhood, noticed something wasn't right about Rose but chose to ignore their instincts. Now, spending most of her summer days with a psychopathic neighbor, Rose's true nature starts to show itself more and more, as she aids Fiona in exacting her revenge on those behind sending her to jail. Two psychopaths in one neighborhood. What could possibly go wrong?

Mark Edwards’ best yet!

I couldn’t stop listening and when I did I was looking forward to the next time I could sit down and listen. Such a thrilling page turner!

Love Mark Edwards!!!

I love this book!!!! I have read all of Mark Edwards books and this is now one of my favorites! I love the story and the character progression, and there's also a lot of funny moments! This book kept me engaged from the beginning to the very end. I didn't want it to be over! Nicholas and Imogen were also phenomenal narrators!!