The Other Couple by Cathryn Grant is another fabulous read from an author who can turn out a fast-paced psychological thriller that is almost impossible to put down.

Maggie and Brad Fromm are vacationing in Lake Tahoe in the hopes of getting their marriage back on track. The plan is quickly foiled, however, when cons Skye and Joe choose them as marks, and manage to finagle an invitation to join the Fromms at their holiday home. Although the foursome appear to hit it off initially, it quickly becomes clear that Skye and Joe have an agenda to advance, while Maggie and Brad begin to expose the cracks that exist in their own seemingly solid marriage.

There is palpable tension from the first time that Skye and Joe lay eyes on the Fromms, and the author does a commendable job of teasing out the suspense for maximum effect. This is a character driven novel that is told from the multiple perspectives of each player, and I was gripped for the duration. I cannot wait to see what Ms Grant has in store next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC.

I should have done some research. This book was so not what I was expecting (think Housebroken by The Behrg but maybe not that extreme). What I got was a rather pedestrian story of a couple of con artists (Skye and Joe) who inveigle their way into another couple’s (Maggie and Brad) holiday home on Lake Tahoe with a view to scamming money from them. They all had a jolly time while Skye and Joe try to find and angle for blackmail. Their luck is in - it just so happens that Maggie has been having an affair. With one of Brad’s clients no less. This is not a spoiler, it happens very early in the book. Anyhow, naturally things don’t go according to plan. There is a boating accident!

There really wasn’t much more to it. There was little character development beyond what you needed to follow the story and there weren’t many characters to keep track of. The story was pretty slow and the inevitable twists were predictable. In fact the biggest surprise was when I thought the obvious twist was not coming after all! But it finally did. Two stars for being readable and a fairly quick read but I can’t really recommend this. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy to review. My opinions are my own.

Maggie and Brad take a vacation by the lake where they hope to relax and spend some quality time together. Then they meet another couple, Skye and Joe, and get on with them so well that they invite them to stay in their large lakeside rental house. What Maggie and Brad don't realise is that meeting Skye and Joe wasn't just random - Skye and Joe had been watching the couple and planned for the meeting. Then the other couple discover a secret about Maggie and they proceed with their sinister agenda... but could Maggie have a dark side herself? The perfect vacation turns into the holiday from hell, and not everyone may make it out alive...

A tense and thrilling story that keeps you turning the pages until the very end. With shocking twists and secrets about our characters, it is a good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

This is a great thriller! I couldn't put it down, I read it in one setting. I just couldn't wait to see what happened next! None of the characters are very likable and they all have an agenda and the plot is very original so there are lots of surprises .The biggest surprise of all however is the ending which for me is the measure of a great mystery.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this incredible book for my honest opinion.

Cathryn Grant’s gripping psychological thriller, “The Other Couple,” to be published December 6, 2020, is an utterly addictive read that will ruminate in your thoughts long after the last page is finished.

Maggie and Brad Fromm have been coming to Lake Tahoe for their vacation since they were married 12 years ago. As is tradition, they rent a luxurious cabin and spend their days relaxing and heading out on their boat. It’s the perfect getaway for this busy couple from Silicon Valley, California.

Skye Smith and Joe Marchant, having just arrived in Lake Tahoe for a vacation, meet Maggie and Brad at a restaurant. They instantly click as a couple and before long Maggie and Brad are inviting them to stay at their luxury lakeside rental. Skye and Joe can’t believe their luck. Then things go suddenly wrong and one of them ends up dead.

I love Grant’s twist on the psychological thriller. Many authors choose to focus on the ‘who dunnit,’ whereas Grant writes to expose the ‘why dunnit’ in a suburban setting. I read an interview recently where her style, ‘suburban noir,’ was coined a subgenre of psychological thrillers. Regardless of the name we put on it, she’s got the style perfected. Paramount to the success of this type of writing is the characterization. Grant is able to give readers access into the Fromms background via Brad’s blogs. It’s in these posts that we see into their hearts and minds. Skye’s open nature and friendly barrage of questioning accesses Maggie’s real personality. The symbolism in Skye’s given name and Tom’s surname can’t be overlooked; they are both peddling something and the sky’s the limit. You’ll have to read to find out for yourself.

Thank you to Cathryn Grant, Inkubator Books and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book from Cathryn Grant! “The Other Couple” is an easy read.

Two couples, Brad and Maggie, a married couple trying to reconnect, and Joe and Skye, drifters who are con artists, meet under odd circumstances. Deception begins as Maggie is manipulated into sharing vacations and is facilitated by lies and deceit.

Intrigue surrounds Maggie’s affair with a patient of her husband’s, a psychologist, and evidence of adultery and betrayal become apparent. The con’s capitalize on it and blackmail is enhanced by murder making the stakes higher and dangerous.

A thrilling and surprising ending that captures your attention.


I will post my review on Amazon.

#TheOtherCouple #NetGalley #CathrynGrant

Thank you NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review and provide feedback on “The Other Couple ”.

This was a pretty good thriller. A quick read. No real character development; you don't get to learn much about any of their backgrounds, only just enough for them to make sense. Lots of suspense,enough to keep you reading, a few twist I didn't see coming. And the ending, wow!

This was a pretty decent thriller. I liked the storyline itself and the idea of the plot a lot, it was really cool and I haven't read anything like it before. The mystery was pretty solid and I liked the ending, and also how the novel was structured - the prologue already made the reader curious, which was great.
It was pretty character-driven, and although I wasn't a big fan of the characters I still enjoyed that aspect. I also didn't totally love the writing style, but that's quite personal. I feel like this was a pretty average thriller which was a quick and easy read but which isn't totally memorable.

Amazing psychological thriller that begins to suffocate the reader with its gripping intensity. I was enthralled til the last page. I highly recommend this book.

Once the language is overlooked in this book and the shallowness of the characters, the mystery is lurking...this is a character driven novel...little setting...little background...much guessing...what next? Who will do what? Which character will win? How did such misguided people meet and impress this couple who seem to be so different? This is a book I won't read again--thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy-but there are parts of the book that keeps one wanting to see what happens next. I just don't understand why authors feel they have to throw in that certain word when a better one would suffice...shock value?