The New Couple in 5B is a new novel by Lisa Unger. The book is fast-paced and twisty. It also has paranormal elements to the story. The main narrator is the appealing Rosie, an author of nonfiction books.
Rosie is married to Chad, who is an aspiring actor looking for his big break. The couple spent quite of bit of time being caregivers to Chad’s uncle, Ivan, who has just recently passed away. Ivan was expected to leave his apartment to his daughter, but he has instead left it to Rosie and Chad. Rosie decides to write her new book about the building that the apartment is in, The Windemere.
The Windemere has a storied past. There have been murders and suicides within its walls. Rosie thinks that the building will make a great nonfiction book, and her editor/best friend Max agrees with her. Rosie gets started on research for the book, but she has a lot on her plate. She and Chad are trying to conceive. As Rosie awaits the result of a home pregnancy test, she is confronted by Dana, Ivan’s estranged daughter who expected to inherit the apartment. Dana is very angry. Chad arrives home and tries to placate Dana, but she threatens legal action as she leaves.
Rosie is already worried about making ends meet. They will have no apartment rent, but there are still taxes, co-op fees, and maintenance to consider. Chad, on the other hand, is ecstatic to inherit. He hopes to land a big acting role soon. However, there is more to Chad than the eye can see. Rosie also has a troubled past with her family. Her family has paranormal tendencies themselves. She is estranged from her parents, and when she talks to her younger sister, she seems to give off an almost cult energy. The family want Rosie to move back home.
Shortly after moving in, Rosie begins to see dead people. One of the dead people is a little boy and another is a young lady. We discover later that the little boy is Miles, the son of Rosie’s new neighbors.. Was Miles’ death a tragic accident or was it murder? The young lady is Willa who died when she was a resident, and she has her own story to tell throughout the book in a separate timeline. She was cheating on her husband, but with whom?
A couple of people try to warn Rosie that Chad isn’t who he seems. But before she can meet with either one of them, they both die. One of them is Dana; another is a Windemere resident; and more people die along the plotline. Rosie was on her way to give Dana a box of items that Ivan had collected that showed he did love his daughter. Abi, the Windemere doorman was supposed to put the box in the trunk of Rosie’s cab, but did he?
Abi is a mystery himself. Exactly how old is he? He looks much younger than he should for as long as he has worked at the Windemere. And what is the deal with the intercom system? He must be listening inside all of the apartments as all you have to do is say “Hey, Abi,” and he immediately answers. How is he involved in all of the deaths?
There is a lot going on in The New Couple in 5B, but the storyline is easy to follow. The first chapter sucks you in, and you can’t stop turning the pages. You will really enjoy this new book by Lisa Unger!
