Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. The Couple at the Table follows Lucy after she had a disaster of a getaway. She booked a vacation at the same place her ex-husband and his new wife were going for their honeymoon. Even though everyone is friends, this is still awkward. Then someone ends up dead and everyone is a suspect, but no one could have done it, since everyone was accounted for. This was a fun mystery that could have done with less confusing elements, like trying to describe table layouts multiple times in print. While extremely far-fetched, it was fun reading how the author put everything together.

I only finished this book through sheer determination and skipping ahead to read spoilers. It was dull, dry, and painfully slow. The setting and narrative jumps were confusing and I didn't feel invested in any of the characters.

Sophie Hannah’s The Couple at the Table is so problematic despite having a captivating synopsis. My issues with this book started immediately upon discovering that it is part of a detective series. I do not normally read mystery/suspense/thriller series, but because I had unknowingly committed to this one, I was determined to give it a go. Unfortunately this is a book that is constantly spinning its wheels, yet getting nowhere. There’s so much incessant, disjointed rambling and no clear plot. This novel was all over the place - I didn’t know whether to look right or left. I am convinced that many amateurs could string together a story better than this one, even though it pains me to say it - this book was just that badly pieced together.

'The Couple at the Table' by Sophie Hannah is an Agatha Christie sytle mystery. It is part of a series but stands alone without issue. For some you will find it a bit slow and rambling, those who enjoy reading for details will like to pay attention as everything is nicely tied up at the end.

The Couple at the Table follows a classic mystery plot: a small group of people who are staying at a resort. One person receives warning notes and by the end of the day someone is dead. Author Sophie Hannah provides details of the personalities who are staying at an English resort, including the ex-wife of William who is on his honeymoon with his new wife. The intrigue of the story is revealed through the eyes of the chief investigator who is obsessed with solving the crime. Incidentally, the inspector happened to be on holiday at the same resort when the murder occurred. The novel is full of detail, but readers will hang on to see if the person whom them suspect is the murderer really is caught.

The Couple at the Table is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. The characters are well-developed. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Couple at the Table asap.

This is a good mystery that ties up all loose ends. It requires a close reading to take in all of the details. Even though the book is part of a series you can pick this up as a standalone. Conclusion is surprising.

I was so excited for this one, and then....I just wasn't. I was really bored, the whodunnit wasn't surprising at all, and a lot of complaining from the characters. Just not my favorite type of thriller.

I wanted to like this book. But for me, it was hard to follow. It moved between too many points of view and dragged on. The end wasn’t really plausible to me. I was disappointed because the plot was definitely interesting!

I wanted to like this one. I was excited about the pretense of the story….but early on, I knew it just wasn’t for me. I thought it was confusing, slow and boring. I felt like it just drug on in a kind of rambling way. It was hard to follow and distinguish between the characters. It wasn’t a favorite of mine! Thank you Net Galley for the ARC. .

I love Sophie Hannah, and somehow I did not realize this series existed until I read the latest installment. Luckily for me, I did not feel like I was missing much of the plot by starting here. This is also great to know as a librarian. It is rare that the first book in a great series is sitting on the shelf.
I am excited to recommend this to mystery fans who may not have read Sophie Hannah yet! She always creates well plotted mysteries and relatable characters I enjoy!

A superb fast paced thriller. I absolutely loved the story and couldn’t stop reading it. It’s perfect for all readers, especially thriller lovers.

Didn't realize this was one of a series - but it definitely didn't matter.

Definitely not a winner in my book - a little convoluted, a little long and a lot confusing.

I will now however have to read the previous books to see if that helps!

Jane and William are honeymooning at Tavendon Estate Resort. Lucy, William's ex-wife is also there with her finacee Pete. Jane receives a note saying "beware of the couple at the table nearest you." The only problem is that all the tables are all of equal distance. Then Jane is murdered. A classic who donit in Agatha Christie style. The book lags at time, but it keep you guessing until the very end.

I love Sophie Hannah, but this one was slow to start and I just couldn't get into the unreliable narrator.

I much prefer her writing the Hercule Poirot series these days.

If thrillers are the bulk of your collection's circulation, grab it. If you've seen a drop off in thrillers, not worth a trial purchase.

This was a fantastic thriller. It was more of a slow burn that built up to a classic every one in the room for the reveal which I LOVED!!!!!!! This book kept me on my toes.

I found the premise intriguing and was looking forward to reading the book. I just couldn't relate to the characters and didn't enjoy the unreliable narrator. However, I think many readers at my library will enjoy this book.

The Couple at the Table
by Sophie Hannah
Pub Date: Nov.1, 2022
Hodder & Stoughton
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Interesting premise but I just couldn't get into this book. It was unnecessarily long too. No real emotional impact for me.
3 stars

Ace as usual! Sophie Hannah will always be a recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.