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Oct 14, 2025
21,000+ Reviews
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Description
Welcome to the Estates at Chestnut Lake, home of perfect lawns, matching houses, and an inconvenient murder or two.
This hilarious and compelling whodunit mystery has the “crime close to home” feel of Only Murders in the Building and is perfect for readers who loved Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect and Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.
Brad Hanson’s life in his suburban Atlanta subdivision is unremarkable. He investigates insurance fraud, which is as dull as it sounds, though if he’s able to get a good bonus this year, his wife, Rhonda, will finally get to have her new kitchen. His highest achievement in life is being secretary and de facto parliamentarian on the homeowners association board, which is the center of all the neighborhood drama.
As frustrating—and heated—as the arguments over tennis court resurfacing and dog droppings may be, much like his subdivision compatriots, Brad would never kill a neighbor, but… he might enjoy thinking about it from time to time. (Who hasn’t?)
When someone murders cranky old Inga Oskarsdotter—a frequent source of complaints to the HOA board—a literal smoking gun turns Brad into the chief suspect. But Brad is not waiting around to be arrested—after all, he is an investigator by trade—and he takes it upon himself to find the real killer. Then the body count starts to rise.
One thing is sure: A murderer on the block is not good for property values.
This hilarious and compelling whodunit mystery has the “crime close to home” feel of Only Murders in the Building and is perfect for readers who loved Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect and Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.
Brad Hanson’s life in his suburban Atlanta subdivision is unremarkable. He investigates insurance fraud, which is as dull as it sounds, though if he’s able to get a good bonus this year, his wife, Rhonda, will finally get to have her new kitchen. His highest achievement in life is being secretary and de facto parliamentarian on the homeowners association board, which is the center of all the neighborhood drama.
As frustrating—and heated—as the arguments over tennis court resurfacing and dog droppings may be, much like his subdivision compatriots, Brad would never kill a neighbor, but… he might enjoy thinking about it from time to time. (Who hasn’t?)
When someone murders cranky old Inga Oskarsdotter—a frequent source of complaints to the HOA board—a literal smoking gun turns Brad into the chief suspect. But Brad is not waiting around to be arrested—after all, he is an investigator by trade—and he takes it upon himself to find the real killer. Then the body count starts to rise.
One thing is sure: A murderer on the block is not good for property values.
Product Details
| Publisher | Crooked Lane Books |
| Publish Date | October 14, 2025 |
| Pages | 304 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Paperback / softback |
| EAN/UPC | 9798892423366 |
| Dimensions | 8.3 X 5.5 X 0.0 inches | 0.8 pounds |
About the Author
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, Chuck Storla considered following his muse until he saw her checks bounce because of insufficient funds. Instead, Chuck joined a well-known and occasionally well-run computer manufacturer. Upon leaving the corporate world, he rediscovered his inner artist. Chuck also discovered the great thing about being a writer is that the barrier to entry is incredibly low. He has learned humor can be an effective way to deal with anger while avoiding almost all legal consequences. His short piece of fiction, “I Chat, Therefore I Am,” was runner-up for the 2023 Terry Kay Prize. You can find other examples of his writing in past editions of The eQuill, a publication of the Atlanta Writers Club.
Reviews
Praise for Murder Two Doors Down:
“There's something wonderfully unsettling about this tale of suburban calm unravelling into chaos. Storla masterfully turns neighbourhood politics into high-stakes hilarity, proving that beneath the veneer of perfect lawns lies a fertile ground for murder. Written with wit, warmth, and just the right amount of menace—I loved it!”
—Joanna Wallace, USA Today bestselling author of You'd Look Better As a Ghost
“I laughed out loud several times reading this quirky, twisty whodunit. Murder Two Doors Down transported me to a neighborhood of intrigue and acquainted me with the darker side of its HOA, all the while keeping a smile on my face, courtesy of Chuck Storla's wry humor and keen eye for domestic detail. I eagerly turned every page to see how this tale of homicidal homeowners and petty politics would turn out.”
—Matthew Greene, author of There's No Murder Like Show Murder
“Murder Two Doors Down is a sly and witty subversion of the traditional cozy, set in a suburban homeowners association where Machiavelli would be at home. We see it through the eyes of narrator Brad Hanson, who engages us with dark-humored observations reminiscent of Donald Westlake. I found myself rooting for him until the exciting wind-up—hoping to see what trouble he'll get into in a sequel.”
—R.J. Koreto, author of the Historic Homes mysteries
“There's something wonderfully unsettling about this tale of suburban calm unravelling into chaos. Storla masterfully turns neighbourhood politics into high-stakes hilarity, proving that beneath the veneer of perfect lawns lies a fertile ground for murder. Written with wit, warmth, and just the right amount of menace—I loved it!”
—Joanna Wallace, USA Today bestselling author of You'd Look Better As a Ghost
“I laughed out loud several times reading this quirky, twisty whodunit. Murder Two Doors Down transported me to a neighborhood of intrigue and acquainted me with the darker side of its HOA, all the while keeping a smile on my face, courtesy of Chuck Storla's wry humor and keen eye for domestic detail. I eagerly turned every page to see how this tale of homicidal homeowners and petty politics would turn out.”
—Matthew Greene, author of There's No Murder Like Show Murder
“Murder Two Doors Down is a sly and witty subversion of the traditional cozy, set in a suburban homeowners association where Machiavelli would be at home. We see it through the eyes of narrator Brad Hanson, who engages us with dark-humored observations reminiscent of Donald Westlake. I found myself rooting for him until the exciting wind-up—hoping to see what trouble he'll get into in a sequel.”
—R.J. Koreto, author of the Historic Homes mysteries
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