Book Review – The People At Number 9

The People At Number 9 by Felicity Everett (Harper Collins) ISBN 978-0-00-821689-4

This novel is billed as “an exciting, dark novel about friendship, beautifully truthful and raw”. But for me, it didn’t live up to that promise. It’s a suburban psychodrama set in a close-knit London community.

When Gav and Lou, the new arty neighbours arrive, everything changes for Sarah and Neil next door. Gav is an artist who builds huge sculptures. Lou is filmmaker of the fringe variety. And for Sarah, a wannabe writer, they seem interesting and a little bit magic. The first part of the book gets us acquainted with the characters, and the pretensions, jealousies, manipulations and disappointments of their lives.

I found the personalities interesting, some of the dialogue quite funny, and the situation that emerges quite intriguing – but certainly not with dark and shattering consequences.

I read most of this book in three hours while waiting in the endless line to renew my Driver’s License – and it kept me amused, which is a good thing. Apparently it is going to be made into a TV series, which will probably suit the book’s style, if you like that sort of thing.

Judy Ward
3/5