I was in the middle of the road for this book. I didn't read it until October and I wasn't in the right head space to read this book. I don't think that it's fair for me to review a book that I didn't give my full attention to. So this book is a soft DNF

5 stars! The Couple at Number 9 was riveting and I cannot give it enough praise.
Thank you to Claire Douglas, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.15⭐

Featuring ~ multiple 1st person POV, dual timeline, 4 part story, dead bodies, murder mystery, Alzheimer's

Our narrators are:
Saffy/Saphie (spelling in book vs in audio) ~ daughter to Lorna
Lorna ~ mother to Saffy
Rose ~ mother to Lorna (unreliable in present due to Alzheimer's)
Theo ~ you'll have to find out his connection to the story on your own

I really like that this one was written in dual timeline in the present following Saffy and Lorna, and in the past with Rose. The story flowed along nicely and had some nice twists! I like how it was wrapped up.

I was able to listen to the final version as well, so I went back and forth reading and listening. It was narrated by Kenton Thomas and Nathalie Buscombe for 12 Hours 43 Minutes 56 Seconds, mostly easy to follow at 2.25-2.5x. Kenton had such a heavy accent that I had to slow his parts down. It was interesting that when there were phone calls there was sort of an echo.

The Couple at Number 9 is a decades old mystery. Saffy and her husband Tom are adding on to the kitchen in a cottage they recently inherited. When the hole is dug in the back, 2 bodies are found; bodies that have been buried for 30 years. Saffy and Tom are obviously not involved since they weren't born yet, but Saffy's grandmother, Rose, lived there during that time period.

Rose is probably the only one who can solve the mystery, but she is suffering from Dementia and when questioned, only some of what she says makes sense. There are multiple POV's and timelines, 2018 and 1980. Rose was hiding from someone in this little town, but who and why? And when she takes in a boarder, can she trust her?

There was a time in early on when I was getting confused by all the names, but stick with it and it all makes sense in the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Two big positives. I did not see the big twist coming. And, I really enjoyed the flashback storyline. It was a decent read and I can see many people enjoying.

However, this book was a big letdown for me. These are my own opinions and I was thankful for NetGalley allowing me an ARC.

That being said, I felt the book was never ending. The buildup to the reveal also dragged out. Normally I like the back and forth and non linear storyline, but this one felt a little too messy for me. Because of this, by the time the big twist happened, I was looking forward to the story being wrapped up. It didn’t. It went on for many more chapters and kept piling on unnecessary details. They didn’t add much to the story, in my opinion. Some of the added plot could have been a separate book or a continuation in a series.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The couple at number 9. Police procedural with some twists. 3 stars

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to review a Digital ARC of The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas in exchange for an honest review!

Creepy and suspenseful, The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas keeps you digging for more of what remains with each turn of the page!

This story had me feeling: 🙂🙃🧐😨😱🫣😳🫢

I would recommend this thrilling ride of a book to anyone who loves small town gossip and a side of murder-mystery!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This is my first book by this author and I can’t wait to read more! With multiple point of views and a complex plot it was hard to put down once I got started. When two bodies are found in Saify’s back yard, after inheriting it from her grandmother. The story takes so many twists and turns as you try to piece together what happened and what her grandmother knows and can remember. With a host of interesting characters I wanted to figure out how they were all connected..The ending was fantastic! I sat there starinng a the book when I finished and was like dang!!

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for my review copy.

I’ll be completely honest. I started this and read to 70%. I set it aside while traveling, and after a few days I entirely forgot about the book and can’t recall a single detail of the plot. I have no desire or inclination to return to the story. So, 2 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and Claire Douglas for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this mystery / thriller. This is one of those "hook you from the first chapter" type of novels. I was quickly captivated by the story and could not stop reading. Even though this is a 400-page book, it is very fast-paced. It will have you playing detective right along with Saffy trying to uncover the truth about what really happened 30 years ago. I made many *wrong* guesses about what really happened and who did it, and was fairly shocked by the end.

I would also recommend the audiobook version if you have the option. I listened to portions of the story through the audiobook and loved how the narrator, Kenton Thomas, read the story and how she handled phone conversations, making it really seem like we were listening to someone on the phone.

This book was okay. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. It was just a book. It was whatever. The writing was okay and I had no reason to especially hate it.

I very much enjoyed this read.
It was twisty and kept you interested the edge of your seat.

Great characters. And the different perspective gives you a seat on all sides. Leaving just enough for you to question everyone and everything.

First book I’ve read by this author. Loved this book. Short chapters, which I like. Kept you guessing. Would definitely recommend this book to others.

Can you imagine finding two bodies in the backyard of your new house? Oh wait, new to you house? A house that you inherited from your grandma? Bizarre for sure. And that's what has happened to Saffy. So now, she has to deal with the police digging up and identifying two bodies in her backyard and worry about her grandma's involvement.

It's an interesting premise for a book and and Douglas doesn't disappoint. Switching back and forth between Saffy's point of view and her grandma's, we learn all about the life her grandma lived back in the early 80's leading up to the the bodies were buried. It's a richly told tale that has mystery, intrigue, love and betrayal at its heart.

Special thanks for Netgalley for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out now!

I received at complementary ARC of this book from Netgalley on behalf of Penguin and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.
I liked The Couple at Number Nine even though some parts seemed to drag for me in the middle. Saffy’s mom inherits an old cottage and gives it to Saffy and Tom and as they are remodeling it their builders find two bodies buried in their back yard from many years ago. The house belonged to her grandma who is suffering from dementia and she has no idea who could have been murdered and buried in her garden. As the police try to figure out who the bodies belong to Saffy and her mom start investigating on their own. The mystery starts to unravel and it takes while for the pieces to come together. The twists in this book were very unexpected and I wasn’t able to figure things out until almost the very end. A good mystery!

This book grabbed me from the very first chapter. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, there was another twist and turn that kept me guessing even longer. This book will definitely keep you engaged until the very last page. Highly recommend!

Great book. Kept me guessing with all of the twists and turns of this story. The characters are each unique. The family dynamics are ever changing between mothers and daughters. I don’t give many 5 star ratings but this book really deserves it.

Saffy and Tom have recently moved into Saffy's Gradmother's remote cottage. While renovating, the workers unearth something shocking. The police are called, an investigation is under way and interviews start. The police want to interview Rose, the Grandmother, but she has Alzheimer's and is in a nursing home. Does Rose know about the secrets this house holds?

Although the story starts off slow, be prepared for the 2nd half which is filled with lots of twists.

Saffron “Saffy” Cutler and her boyfriend Tom Perkins are expecting, and very excited to be given her grandmother’s Cottswold cottage in Beggars Nook by Saffron’s mother, Lorna. Lorna has a job and a life in San Sebastián, Spain, and chooses not to live in the old cottage gifted to her by Rose, her mother, who is in a nursing home suffering from dementia. As Saffy is busying herself weeding the garden of her idyllic home, she hears a scream from the backyard. Thinking one of the construction crew has been seriously injured while building her dream kitchen addition, she runs to find out they have discovered the skeletal remains of human hand in the opening made from displaced dirt. Saffy rushes to call both the police and Tom to have him come home as soon as possible from his job in London. It turns out not one but two skeletons are unearthed by the police, who call the backyard a “crime scene,” much to Saffy’s disbelief and unease. That’s when the danger for everyone involved begins. The police discover through forensics that the people in the makeshift backyard grave have dead for about thirty years. Saffy and Tom have nothing to worry about, but the police insist on speaking to Rose. While Rose’s memories are quite fuzzy, it does seem clear that she knows something. The police continue to dig into the case, but Saffy begins to feel that both she and the cottage are being watched. The truth might be elusive…but was Rose involved?

This is a mind-blowing book, and I loved every page of it. It was masterfully penned, with so many twists and turns that I felt like I was speeding on a narrow mountain road! Everyone in the novel has something to hide, some more than others. It was a gripping tale: suspenseful, nerve-wracking, dangerous, explosive. The plot was taut, emotional, and exciting. The family drama was brilliant and real. The thrill of uncovering every detail was palpable, sometimes breathtaking, and the climax left me open-mouthed and in disbelief. Maybe it was naive of me, but I did not see that shock coming! I highly recommend this incredible thriller, and will definitely read more of Claire Douglas’ work in the future.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Claire Douglas, and HarperCollins Publishers for the ability to read and review this ARC.

About the Book:
"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 30 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 it's 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 30 years ago? Why did no one miss the victims? What part did her grandmother play? And is Saffy now in danger?"

This was a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner of a thriller with lots of fun twists and turns!