Sarah Langan published three novels in the late 2000's and I liked them all. A lot. Obviously I wasn't the only one. She won three Bram Stoker Awards. Langan also wrote some excellent short stories. Then, after her 2009 novel, Audrey's Door, there wasn't a lot more fiction from her.

I figured it was another case where a good writer put out some good books, and then maybe sales weren't great, publishers lost interest, and they gave up the dream. It happens all too frequently.

Thankfully, Langan is back with a major hardcover. Good Neighbors is heralded with much praise from a lot of big names. I was really excited for it.

Good Neighbors meets all expectations, and might even exceed them. It is a brilliant, searing, powerful work that is part horror novel, part crime story, part cautionary tale. It's a devastating satire, but also achingly human.

The year is 2027 and things aren't so good. Even for the residents of an affluent neighborhood. Taking a cue from a classic Twilight Zone episode, it takes place on Maple Street.

A sinkhole erupts nearby. When a child disappears into it, suspicions run aflame and a family become the target of the anger, frustration, and fears of the dysfunctional parents of the block.

While the parents lives are in emotional ruin, Langan shows hope in the children. It's a good lesson we all need to remember.

Good Neighbors is an often harrowing read, but I also found myself laughing from time to time. It's been a long time since I was so engrossed in a book. This novel sings with reflections of Shirley Jackson, John Cheever, and even Bentley Little.

The year is still new, but Good Neighbors will be one of the best books I read in 2021. You don't want to pass this one up.

Written by Mark Sieber

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