Neighborhood Watch

Rating:
Summary: Good Idea, Bad Execution
Review: How do you write a thriller based on a home-owners association? Don't ask Neiderman. He wasn't able to pull it off in Neighborhood Watch. You'd get a better answer from Bentley Little, who was successful in The Association.

Reading the synopsis on the back of the book, it sounds as though Neiderman used Little's idea for The Association verbatim. Once you start reading, however, its clear that Neiderman isn't going to be able to pull it off nearly as well. Neiderman's ideas, while suitably strange and creepy, lack real imagination. He doesn't take many risks with the plot and while his characters are well developed, they're not altogether likable.

Having read two Neiderman novels, I also have to say that he doesn't use supernatural elements wisely. They'd be all too appropriate in Neighborhood Watch but his explanation of events is quite banal and down-to-earth. However in Amnesia, he introduced supernatural elements when his tale could be perfectly told with a realistic explanation.

Regardless, Neighborhood Watch is an entertaining read but it doesn't live up to its potential. Instead, check out The Association.

Rating:
Summary: As Usual!
Review: I love Andrew Neiderman!! I always finish his books in two nights because I can't put them down! This is another one! Not as much of a thriller, but a total page turner!

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable read
Review: This book was pretty good. It's not a suspenseful page-turner, but the story flows pretty well and I wasn't bored reading this book. I liked the characters well enough. I would recommend this one.