This was a crazy roller coaster of family secrets, murder, lies, tension, emotions and intense twists. I’m a little bit of a snob when it comes to thrillers, but by 3/4ths through I found that I just couldn’t put this one down. I literally had no idea when the next shocking revelation was going to come and what was going to be revealed! I honestly was unable to predict the ending.

So, I struggle at where to begin this review. I guess I will get the elements of the book that I wasn’t too much a fan with out of the way first. There are only a couple things that tripped me up though. One, there were moments where I felt the scenes dragged on a little bit. There was so much energy spent on building up the suspense, tension and emotion before an explosive twist that it was “Come on already!” This could come from my general aversion to suspense and overwhelming desire to just know what is going on. More my flaw than a flaw in the book.

The second was the overwhelming number of characters. Don’t get me wrong, by the end, it all makes sense and they all have a rightful place in the story, but there was a time about a third of the way in where I was finding that I was beginning to not really care about all of them. I just wanted to move along. It was hard early on to see their relevance and it felt that they were taking away from the primary characters and primary conflict.

Overall, the characters are amazing. They span three generations through grandmother, mother and pregnant daughter. I guess that means it technically spans about four generations. Rose, Lorna and Saffron have quite a story to tell. After Saffy and Tom move into her grandmother’s old cottage in the small Village of Beggar’s Nook, they begin some renovations on their house. Unfortunately it turns up two human skeletons when the builders are digging up the garden to build an expansion.

From there the book follows two timelines - present day (well 2018) and 1978-1980. Through the timelines, we experience multiple points of view. Grandmother Rose when she lived in the cottage in the late 70s and 2018 while Saffy and her mother, Lorna, attempt to uncover the truth about what happened there all those years ago. Saffy and Lorna having their own points of view really allowed their characterization to take form. The experiences throughout their lives, especially those events in their childhood shaped them differently, and thus they process the truth in very different, emotional ways. The different POVs allow this to happen.

The timelines are presented in a parallel fashion. As Saffy and Lorna are learning new facts and uncovering new pieces to the puzzle, Rose’s timeline mirrors what truly was happening. However, there were a few critical points where Douglas purposely held information from us until later. A very powerful strategy to say the least.

One would think that the secrets would be easily discovered. Rose can simply tell them what happened and the identities of the two bodies if she truly did live in the cottage when it all happened. The problem? Rose is in a care home suffering from dementia. All they can get are little snippets of information they have to piece together in Rose’s lucid moments.

Throw in Theo, Victor, Daphne, Shelia, Jean, Susan, Davies, and even Melissa, and the puzzle slowly and terrifyingly begins to take shape. Theo does become one of my favorite characters even though the primary plot does not necessarily revolve around him. He still is a very important element as is his father, Victor. Saffy and Theo come across in a very similar fashion. They both present themselves as meek and tentative in the beginning. I definitely wouldn’t classify them as assertive or strong willed, both also impacted by their early, formidable years.

Theo, and Lorna, have to learn and accept what family truly means. Theo has to learn to face the sins of a parent while Lorna has to learn to stop running from uncertainty of love and family. These concepts lead to the emotional roller coaster in this book. The idea that forgiveness isn’t always possible. For others it's the acknowledgement that sometimes the truth can’t change the emotional connection and can’t erase memories. It is because these characters struggle some much emotionally that the plot development becomes that much more intense.

Some of the little secrets and truths didn’t come as a surprise, there was enough foreshadowing for those to be anticipated if you cared enough to process through everything. However, the last quarter of the book I will honestly say it was like getting doused with cold water. I simply said, “What is happening!?!” more than once.

Douglas did a phenomenal job of creating threads and weaving a tapestry together. One that spanned almost forty years and impacted multiple families. The conclusion was fitting if not a little predictable when it comes to how the characters ended up. I was glad that there was closure for Lorna not only when it came to her own mother, but that she and Saffy realized the importance of their relationship. It’s never too late to fix a relationship that is deserving of fixing, but it is also clear that there are times that blood isn’t thick enough to heal a toxic relationship.

If you enjoy thrillers, you will want to get this one added to your TBR list now so you don’t forget about it as you will have to wait until August for it to hit the shelves. This book has everything you would want in a thriller. It was a nail-biting, twist filled, family feuding, secret hiding extravaganza. You too will probably have that “What is Happening?!?” moment too.

This was a great story! It was a little confusing when all the different story lines are at their peak and just before they come together, but after they do it made for a crazy gasp out loud story.
My main thought is: how is that NOT illegal? Once you'll read it you'll know what I'm talking about. You will be shocked as well. The twists and surprises in this were little but many so they added up to a much more complicated and then satisfying solve once they all came out.
CD did a great job with multiple narrators and while you can kind of guess how some are linked the ultimate bottom line of it is also a good twist in itself.
I enjoyed this one though I thought Saffy and her mom, Lorna, had too much animosity at times for how little of a dramatic backstory their relationship had. Although, I guess I'd be jealous if my mom was closer to someone else than me too lol.

First, thank you to Netgalley, Claire Douglas and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I'm really debating on a 2.5/5 for this book

This book was just okay, I didn't find myself DYING to know what happened next. Honestly the POV switches were a little confusing until the end when everything came full circle.

This book was verrrrrry predictable, I figured out the plot twist by the middle of the book and once it happened I was like, alright cool now what?

I felt like this book just wasn't my favorite, and it wasn't for me. That being said, I believe it has very high ratings otherwise - so I'm probably just in the minority on this one!

A great page turner in the covid era... a great escape for an afternoon, a day at the beach, a vacation or plane read to divert ones thoughts from everyday life.

A young couple, Saffy and Tom, have moved into her family cottage. While renovating, two bodies are found in the backyard. Saffy's grandmother was the last occupant and she is now in a care home with dementia. Saffy's mother lives in London and has come back to help answer any questions with the investigation. Grandma Rose is trying to help with the detectives, but her answers are not making much sense as Saffy and her mother remember.
The ladies are worried about the bodies, fear that they are being watched, someone doesn't want the truth coming out about the bodies and was it murder or an accident?
When Rose begins to remember bits from her past, it is scary and eye-opening for all...

The Couple at No. 9 was a little slow at times and the British dialogue drove me up the wall BUT I did love the suspense that was created by the alternating narrators and the flashbacks. Overall, a very twisty read with several surprises and a nice, neat conclusion.

Perfect for fans of: Mary Kubica, John Marrs, and Minka Kent.


Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for a review copy.

I really enjoyed this book. I was a read page turner. I love the mystery of each chapter. The chapters are quick too, and you see many characters perspectives which I also enjoyed in this novel. It really worked well. It makes you question. What would you do if you found bodies buried in your garden?
That's exactly what happens when Saffy and Tom move into a little house and start renovating.

I highly recommend this book if you like thrillers,and or mystery. Claire Douglas is an amazing story teller, and you will not be disappointed with this book

This was a book filled with mystery and lots of plot twists. I enjoyed the characters and found that they were quite memorable, even now, more than a week after finishing the book I remember them, which is not usually the case with me.

This book moves backward and forward through history and although there is quite a lot of that, it isn't really confusing. There is a manageable number of important characters so it is pretty easy to figure out who is who. I liked learning about the lives of the main characters in the past and how that reflected on them in the present setting. This is a well-planned and emotionally charged book about family, friendship and the darkness that some of us may harbour.

Saffy was my favourite character and I liked what the author did to make her grow and fill in her story along the way. Overall, I thought this was a great book. It gave me a lot of enjoyment and it introduced me to an author that I look forward to reading again and am happy to recommend to others.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Quite a good read with many twists and turns. The story is revealed to the reader from many viewpoints and it works well. I will be adding Claire Douglas to authors I follow. Recommended to all thriller and suspense lovers who enjoy a unique story.

Imagine moving into a new home that was gifted to you by your grandmother just to find out that two bodies have been buried in the backyard. Who were they? What happened? Was your grandmother responsible?

This is a twisty book that has you questioning who you can trust. Flip flopping between points of views and past to present will have you on the edge of your seat.

I enjoyed this story even though it was longer than I felt was necessary. Whole chapters probably could have been left out but the ending justifies the long chapters. Enjoy!

The Couple at Number 9 started off really strong with two bodies being found in the garden of an old home that belonged to Saffy's grandmother, Rose. The story is told from four points of view: Saffy, her mother Lorna, Rose, and Theo. Even though this story can jump around a little bit and skip days and, maybe, important pieces, it definitely still flows nicely. The issue that I had with it that made it only a 3 star read is that it's unnecessarily long. There are full chapters that could have been skipped and details that didn't matter to the story that could have been left out. There were a lot of names to remember, with very little context and even though it kind of came together in the end to make sense, it still was confusing for no reason. I did guess the "twists," but that doesn't bother me as much, but I do feel like the book climaxed in the last 50 pages. And for a 400-page book, I wish it would have gotten to the point a lot sooner.

Imagine you've just moved into a beautiful English country cottage. It's perfect and everything you could ask for. It also doesn't hurt that it came free from your elderly grandmother. There's really only one major issue...you need a kitchen extension.

That is where Tom and Saffy's life starts to change. When the builders find a couple of skeletons under the back patio, everything is turned upside down and decades old secrets threaten to shake Saffy's family to its core.

This was a really good read. It's told from multiple POVs, making the reader more omniscient than the characters. I had a really hard time putting it down.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review of The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas

I am in love with this book. It was poignant, mysterious and thrilling. The characters are so well written they seem like people I would know in my own life and their story was strange yet could be true. I had begun to wonder early on if Daphne had taken Rose's identity and loved the way the story came together when that was revealed. Highly recommend this book!

Twisty, turn-y, this book will keep you guessing. I can guarantee you will be surprised at least once!
In the Couple at Number 9, we meet Saffron (Saffy) and Tom, pregnant and fairly newly married, moving into Saffy's grandmother's surprise cottage in a small village. Saffy's beloved gran is suffering dementia and has been put into care, her daughter Lorna (Saffy's mum) is hard to pin down and less likely to assist. Saffy and Tom settle into the village and begin work on the cottage to expand for the expected child.
The home renovators however find not one, but two bodies, determined to be at least 30 years old. The police and reporters swoop in and nothing will ever be the same! Who is buried at Number 9?

Although the book was a bit too long for my taste, the twists were shocking and satisfying. I love a good twist and this book will not disappoint. I thought the characters were believable and likable and I enjoyed the back and forth in present and past.. If you like a good family drama, I would grab #TheCoupleatNumber9 #NetGalley #Penguin #HarperPerenial

Saffron Cutler and her boyfriend, Tom, are moving into their dream house on 9 Skelton Place. Saffron and Tom are expecting their first child soon, but the new house needs renovations. During the renovations the contractor uncovers the remains of 2 people! Police are now investigating the former owner of the home which was Saffron’s grandmother, Rose. Rose now is in a memory care facility suffering from Alzheimer’s. So she cannot offer much help to the investigation. Will these bodies be identified 30 years later?

I am a big fan of Claire Douglas and I was very excited to read THE COUPLE AT NUMBER 9. She has done it again with a great story and plenty of surprises along the way. The creepy house and the two murders had me interested from the start. I would call this a quick and easy read, and I found it to be very entertaining!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas. The story drew me in immediately and kept me turning pages until late at night. Artfully told, I found the book to be very engaging. I was fond of the characters. There were definitely some unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing. This was a great read. I look forward to more by this author!

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas is a gripping domestic thriller that you won't be able to put down! The story is told from 4 perspectives: three generations of women, and one man, who are trying to find out the truth behind what happened 30 years ago. When two dead bodies are discovered at Saffy's grandmother's house, she decides to investigate and find out who they are. Unfortunately, her grandmother has dementia, and half of what she says doesn't make any sense. Can Saffy, her mother Lorna, and a stranger put together the clues and solve the case before the killer finds them?

Here is a dark excerpt from Chapter 1, which is from Saffy's point of view:

‘While we were digging we found . . . something,’ says Darren, folding his arms across his dirt-streaked T-shirt.
‘What is it?’ Snowy strains against my hand and I tighten my grip.
‘Remains.’ Darren’s expression is grim.
‘Like . . . an animal?’ I ask. Darren and the others exchange a look.
Karl steps forwards confidently, almost gleefully, kicking up dust from the ground as he does so. ‘It looks like a hand . . .’
I step back in horror. ‘So you’re saying . . . they’re human?’
Darren regards me with sympathy. ‘I think so. You’d better call the police.’"

Overall, The Couple at Number 9 is an unputdownable domestic thriller with plenty of hidden twists and turns. I could not stop reading this book, and I ended up finishing it in a day. One highlight of this book are the many secrets that the characters are hiding. This made it fun to read when the secrets were gradually revealed. If I had to complain about one thing, I would say that after a certain point, the many character names got confusing. However, everything ties together nicely, and the plot makes sense in the end. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of domestic thrillers, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in August!

When I first started reading this book, admittedly, I wasn't into it at all. The jumping POVs bothered me, the way the story dragged, the way each chapter ended suspensefully; all of these things are pet peeves. But the more I kept reading, the more I really did get caught up in the story of the Cutler women and Rose Grey. It was really a book that kept me guessing, and to my surprise, my initial guesses about the book were wrong at first. That's always a good thing, in my opinion! Especially when Claire Douglas laid out the groundwork to flesh out this mystery so well because the twist at the end really did take me by surprise. It's not a favorite read of 2021, but it sure is up there. I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes family mysteries and dramas!

Talk about twists and turns! This was impossible to figure out. So creepy about bodies being found in your backyard while having renovations done! Literally skeletons in the closet. Really good mystery! I finished it super fast- one of those you can’t put down.

I enjoyed this book, centered on Saffy, who inherits a cottage from her grandmother and uncovers bodies buried in the garden during renovation. The book is told from multiple POVs from both past and present, including Saffy, her mother Lorna, her grandmother Rose, and Theo, a seemingly ancillary character who ends up with a connection to the story.

The mystery in the story was sound, and there were a couple big surprises. As other reviewers have said, there was a lot going on, but the author ties it all together and I didn’t have any trouble following the story. There is a sense of foreboding in all of the older chapters that connect nicely to the happenings in recent times. The characters were well-drawn and I felt like I could understand both their dynamic and their actions.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and thought it was an interesting storyline with good twists. It’s a quick read as well, with short chapters and lots of action. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy mysteries and psychological suspense. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.