When I was looking for a house recently (not because I wanted to move, but because I liked the “idea” of moving), I avoided any that might have a Homeowners Association. There’s nothing wrong with them, and they certainly do have a way of keeping a neighbor neat (for the most part), but in a former life, I had people write me up if my grass was a centimeter too long or my trash can was out on the street five minutes after the garbage man passed by.

In Neighborhood Watch by Kevin Patrick Kenealy, the concept of a homeowners association extends to an entire town–the ideal-yet-creepy Ridgeport, Illinois. From the beginning, I started to feel that same sense of why I’d never want to find myself moving to a place like this. The tension started early, and after only the first few pages, I was so drawn in I wanted to know how bad things would get. Like passing by a train wreck. I was not disappointed. The phrase that will continually stick out in my head through all of this is “Love thy neighbor, love thy Ridgeport.” That’s creepy enough.

Some might find the narrative in Neighborhood Watch slow, but that’s actually what drew me in. I got to know the characters, empathize with them, and feel what they felt. The story is not sequential, but the bounce between timelines is fluid. That’s the sign of a great author, and this was a well-written and engaging book. World building is important to me, and nearly every element required for a good build is there: from the government structure of the town to the economics, the history, the daily life of its citizens, and the interactions of social groups.

With a careful build-up, Kenealy brings us into Ridgeport then whacks us upside our collective heads with the secrets of the town. Neighborhood Watch is a great read, and Kevin Patrick Kenealy is a great writer and one to “watch” for. ( )