‘THERE are no worse problems in life than the ones next door.’

Sometimes you have a gut feeling about something. You may like what you see but appearances can be deceptive as part-time teacher, Ollie, discovered when he decided to invest his inheritance in a run-down property in Leeds.

Despite the warning signs within the property alone and the fleeting sightings of the guy next door Ollie decided to ignore his instinct and the classic ‘act in haste and repent at leisure’ scenario springs to mind.

The panic-buy purchase of the property proved to be more than a renovation project for Ollie who barely sets to work to spruce up his terraced home. No wonder, he’s too preoccupied with life on the other side.....

However, as the plot plays out, his curiosity gets the better of him costing him his home and much more - but I won’t reveal too much for those who fancy reading David Tallerman’s thrilling book.

‘The Bad Neighbour’ is an intriguing insight into what can happen if you don’t trust your gut instinct, throw caution to the wind and invest in a run-down property because you think it has potential.

The signs were staring Ollie in the face yet he seems to be blinkered by a burning desire to invest his windfall - the incentive being to buy into bricks and mortar rather than renting but he ends up regretting ever setting eyes on the abode that could, potentially, have heralded a new start - perhaps even provide a family home for him and his girlfriend, Yasmina.

She too had doubts but Ollie, while conscious of the decision he is about to make, can see beyond the superficial and cosmetic repairs. A survey would have indicated he had bitten off more than he could chew.

Conscious of the TLC required, Ollie makes a start cleaning, aware he is only scratching the surface, but he soon realises turning this house back into a home is the least of his worries.

Sleepless nights caused by the blaring music and general comings and goings at his neighbour, Chas’ house, make Ollie aware he has made a massive mistake - and one which would impact on his life and the lives of those around him.

Reality finally dawns when a trip to the local with his pals to get to know his new neighbourhood led to confrontation with a local hate group - one of the key members of which was someone familiar, someone with whom he lived side by side - an antisocial thug who, with his friends, had taken against one of Ollie’s friends they felt had no place to be in their pub.

Ollie’s concern for the gang’s intentions deepen when a local shop is firebombed. There are other intervening incidents too involving Ollie and his girlfriend, who becomes another target of the gang’s attentions.

A shared roofspace provides Ollie with the key to gain access to Chas’ home and, ultimately, his curiosity leads to the grim discovery in Chas’ cellar.

Ollie’s obsession with his neighbour’s coming and goings, and his quest for proof of Chas’ involvement in a kidnap plot, take over any incentive Ollie had of making his own living space into a place he can be proud of.

He’s in it for the long haul, no matter how miserable life is at the moment until it literally becomes an explosive situation. Then, just when you think things couldn’t get any worse Ollie meets the investigating police officer - a familiar face who he recognises from Chas’ inner circle.......

Exciting, gritty, and dramatic, this book has it all.

Born in Yorkshire, David Tallerman is the successful author of the YA fantasy series The Black River Chronicles, the Tales of Easie Damasco series and the novella Patchwerk. David has also worked on comics such as Endangered WeaponB: Mechanimal Science, and the ongoing mini-series C21st Gods. He often takes inspiration for his writing from cinema and animation as well as the ability to draw on his MA on seventeenth-century witchcraft.

The Bad Neighbour is his first crime thriller. Visit flametreepress.com.

By Sally Clifford