A bit of a slow start, despite bodies being located in the garden early on. Multiple points of view, so a bit confusing with the characters. Not a thriller, but a mystery. The twist at the end wasn’t too bad though.

I just reviewed The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas. #TheCoupleatNumber9 #NetGalley
[NetGalley

If you like slow burns with an incredibly over-complicated plot, far too many characters, and is definitely a "mystery" (very loose) not a thriller, then The Couple at Number 9 might be for you.

This book had a lot of promise, but the most thrilling thing that happens, happens in the first chapter. Everything else after chapter 1 just drags on and on. This book was WAY too long with what felt like a lot of useless filler.

By the end, there was a little twist that I enjoyed. But, overall, I don't recommend this book.

My first Clare Douglas and it didn't disappoint. Such a great domestic thriller. Thank you to Harper for the gifted ARC my honest review.

This book started off strong and I was drawn in. Can you imagine doing basic home renovations and finding two bodies in your garden? That's a great start to a book, for sure! But from there I think this book took a turn and became a bit too slow and a bit too cumbersome. I could discern where it was going from about the midpoint, and it seemed to slog from there to the end. I liked the premise but didn't like the pacing, laborious details, or switching points of view. When I finished the book I didn't have any particular feelings about it and didn't feel like I'd be eager to recommend it to others. It was just ok.

Started slow but really packed a punch with the twist! I liked the multiple POVs and the back and forth timeframe which helped piece together the mystery. I didn’t see the twist coming so I loved seeing how everything played out.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m getting through some of my backlog and was really glad I finally made time for this book! The character development was spot on, and every time I thought I knew where it was headed, I was caught completely off guard! I loved never knowing where the story was headed until it all comes together at the end, wrapped with a neat bow. I will definitely be reading more by this author and would totally recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers and mysteries!

Another home run psychological domestic thriller by one of the best authors in the genre. I received this advance copy from Netgalley and I was thrilled as this is the best offering yet from Douglas (I have read all of her books and she started out great and just keeps getting better)! Excellent dialogue, character development (she makes you care about the main character, you identify with her and you cheer her on...Reading Claire Douglas' novels is like eating your favorite treat, when a new book of hers is released I tend to consume it all in one day/night

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.