Release: August 2nd 2022
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Source: NetGalley
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N
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“Tense, twisty, fraught with emotion and packed with secrets, The Couple at Number 9 is Claire’s best thriller yet.”–Gilly MacMillan, bestselling author of What She Knew
The internationally bestselling author of Do Not Disturb and Just Like the Other Girls delivers a heart-pounding psychological thriller about a couple who inherit what seems to be their dream home, until they make a horrifying discovery–and the danger begins.
The Victims . . .
When pregnant Saffron Cutler moves into 9 Skelton Place with boyfriend Tom and sets about renovations, the last thing she expects is builders uncovering human remains. The remains of two bodies, in fact.
The Investigation . . .
Forensics indicate the bodies have been buried at least thirty years. Saffy has nothing to worry about–until the police launch a murder inquiry and ask to speak to the cottage’s former owner. Her grandmother, Rose.
The Witness . . .
Rose is in a nursing home and Alzheimer’s means her memory is increasingly confused. She can’t help the police, but its’ clear she remembers something.
The Killer . . .
As Rose’s fragmented memories resurface, and the police dig ever deeper, Saffy fears she and the cottage are being watched.
The Truth . . .
What happened thirty years ago? Why did no one miss the victims? What part did her grandmother play? And is Saffy now in danger?
About the Author:
Claire Douglas has worked as a journalist for fifteen years, writing features for women’s magazines and newspapers, but she’s dreamed of being a novelist since the age of seven. She finally got her wish after winning Marie Claire’s Debut Novel Award for her first book, The Sisters, which became a bestseller.
She is also the award winning author of seven stand alone thrillers, THE SISTERS, LOCAL GIRL MISSING, LAST SEEN ALIVE, DO NOT DISTURB, THEN SHE VANISHES, JUST LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS and her most recent, THE COUPLE AT NO. 9, which is a number one Amazon bestseller and reached number three on the Sunday Times bestsellers list. Her books have sold over 500,000 copies in the UK and have been translated into twenty languages
She lives in Bath, England, with her husband and two children.
The Couple at Number 9 A Novel Review:
Wow! Where do I begin with this one? “The Couple at No. 9” is terrific and the first mystery thriller I loved reading in 2022.
There is just so much happening in the tale that there is never a dull moment. Let’s begin with the characters. I loved all the characters and thought they brought something fresh to the table. On the one hand, we have Saffy, who is pregnant and discovers dead bodies in her garden. Then, you have Lorna, Saffy’s mom, who I adored because she is flaky and comical, but a pivotal character too, who joins her daughter for the investigation. Throw in Theo, who is also investigating another case and wants to find the truth. As if this is not enough, we also get a parallel story from years back about a woman and her feelings for another woman. The author beautifully weaves an intricate plot that keeps you guessing what is happening and how all these characters somehow connect.
Moreover, I loved the author’s style of writing. This book is the perfect example of what I expect in a mystery thriller. The author throws in shocking twists and turns that you don’t see coming at all. Also, the author surprises you again when you feel that the plot is over. Yet, in the end, you are satisfied with how everything turned out, and everything seems to fit appropriately. Lorna turned out to be my favorite character because of her personality. Initially, you don’t take her seriously, and it is surprising how important she becomes in the story. The author also develops the characters wonderfully, and I enjoyed the bond between Lorna and Saffy.
Overall, “The Couple at No. 9” is an incredible suspense mystery thriller that I highly recommend.
