BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Other Couple' by Triona Walsh.

This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read her debut novel 'The Snowstorm' and 'The Party' which I would also recommend.

This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all feeling the hair raise on your arms and feeling the sweat run down your back.


This is another interesting crime novel by Triona that I really enjoyed reading. As previously mentioned I have also enjoyed 'The Party' and 'The Snowstorm' which I would also recommend reading. One thing that I must say is that although I enjoyed those two books this has got to be my favourite of the three and it is clear that Triona has developed her writing skills and fed more drama and action into her storylines since her debut 'The Snowstorm'. I always find it interesting watching an authors novels and development 'grow' the more books that they write!! In this gripping page turner Triona whisks us away to a lighthouse keeper's cottage on the Irish Coast where Alice and Finn have planned a weekend away to spend some quality time together. Finn works as a CEO of TobinTech so this is a much needed break from work. This is not the only reason they have gone on a break away though. They are not there long before they are disturbed by a knock on the door. When they answer the door it is to face to soaking wet people who tell them that they booked the same dates at the cottage. Alice and Finn invite them in out of the rain and are determined to get the mix up solved. they find out their names are Mark and Vivienne and they have proof that they also booked the cottage for those dates. Alice is desperate to get hold of the booking company to find out what happened so they can carry on their break away but with phone service being a problem it is harder than it should be. Alice begins to get a strange feeling about Mark and Vivienne and that all is not as it seems. What is really going on and why are Mark and Vivienne really there? Grab your copy of this page turner today to find out for yourselves!! I promise that you will not regret it! With a storyline filled with drama, secrets, twists, romance, lies, mystery and more what are you waiting for? This book is an interesting 'locked room' mystery set in one of my favourite places in the world... Ireland, well the coast of Ireland anyway!!! I absolutely LOVE the unique location setting as I have yet to come across a book where the storyline is set in a lighthouse cottage before now so a HUGE well done Triona!! It is getting harder and harder for me to discover unique and new things in books have read so many but you have managed it hook, line and sinker!! The fact that it is based in a remote location gives the book a chilling and ominous atmosphere which makes it a perfect book to read on a winters day in front of a fire or wrapped up in bed especially during the moments that make the hair on your arms stand on end. The suspect list is quite small so you are continuously guessing which of the small group is hiding what. There were several twists throughout the book and I love how everything is wrapped up and explained at the end leaving no loose ends which I am not a fan of at all so well done Triona. It is a gripping and intriguing book with shocks I never seen coming and considering how many crime books I have read that is definitely a huge bonus as it is getting harder and harder to surprise me. I devoured it in one sitting as I just had to know what was happening so there was no chance of me putting it down!! Triona has done an absolutely fantastic job of weaving the multiple protagonist perspectives together perfectly ensuring the reader gets a bigger picture of who is doing and feeling what. I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities, flaws and weaknesses and Triona ensured they were strong, multi layered and that the reader ends up questioning who they can and cannot trust throughout the storyline. I was constantly questioning the characters and even myself at points which I actually love doing in a good book so another well done on that Triona!! Triona's excellent writing skills with evocative and emotive descriptions really does ensure the characters and storyline come to life ensuring you can hear the waves crashing, feel the tension in the air and see everything that is going on around you. This is a book filled with lies, twists and one where you have no idea which characters are telling the truth or who are hiding secrets so I won't go any deeper into my feelings of the characters as I don't want to spoil it for future readers.

Overall a suspense packed thriller filled with twists you won't see coming!

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@TrionaWalsh @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous


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This book was really good! The thriller was definitely there and it had me hooked! I would definitely recommend this book. The setting, the characters and the plot were really enjoyable. I kind of knew where the plot twist was going but I found it exciting either way because I just had an idea but then there was the twist! I came a little late with my review but life kind of got in the way because I couldn’t stop reading which is a very good sign in a thriller!
I'm rating this book a 4/5 stars, perfect for this fall vibes and it was a really good way to end this spooky season!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Tríona Walsh’s "The Other Couple" is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends suspense with unexpected twists. Set in a remote Irish lighthouse, the story follows Alice and her boss, Finn, as they attempt to escape their complicated relationship. Their romantic weekend quickly spirals into chaos with the arrival of a mysterious couple, Mac and Viv, who disrupt their plans and bring hidden tensions to the surface.

Walsh excels at creating an atmosphere thick with suspense, and the alternating perspectives of Alice and Viv add layers to the narrative, keeping readers guessing about each character’s true intentions. The isolated setting amplifies the sense of danger and intrigue, mirroring the characters' internal struggles.

The plot is expertly paced, leading to several shocking revelations that kept me hooked until the final pages. While some character arcs could have been explored further, the overall execution and the clever twists make this a standout thriller. I’m excited to see what Walsh conjures up next!

I was immediately drawn to the lighthouse's remote location. It evoked feelings of isolation, where cries for help would go unanswered.

Narrated from different POV, The Other Couple is a fast paced thriller that's twisty, suspense driven and is guaranteed to have you second guessing throughout.

Add unreliable narrators and a cast of mysterious characters into the mix and you have a gripping and thoroughly entertaining read that will have you turning the pages until late in the night.

When Alice and Finn getaway for a private weekend, they find another couple double booked for the weekend and show up at their door. Is it a booking mistake, are they really strangers or do they have a history? Everyone had their own agenda for the weekend.
It was a mystery from the very beginning. Twist after twist in this page turner right from the beginning! I really enjoyed this read and will highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGallery and Bookouture for the chance to read this ARC!

Would you stay the night with complete strangers that showed up in the middle of the night to your booked vacation home?

The Other Couple was a great read, with lots of twists that I definitely did not see coming. The story was engaging and had me wanting to read more to figure out what exactly was going on in this little Lighthouse Thriller.

Thanks to everyone involved for an ARC copy of this novel. It did not disappoint.

The Other Couple is a relatively quick read. It reeled me in from the beginning with all the drama - the couple staying at the inn are keeping things under wraps because it's a boss, employee relationship. Then a couple arrives and says they're supposed to stay there too and won't leave. We're let on to the fact that something is up almost immediately. And from there, the book just keeps on giving - what's going on, who's involved, who's who. But like someone else says, the ending - closure in like 1 paragraph?! I was like - really?! It was way too abrupt. Thankfully there was an epilogue that gave us a little more of the "after".

This is a new to me author, and I really enjoyed this twisty thriller. I wasn't expecting any of the twists, and they kept me turning the pages. I loved the dual timeline that featured both of the female main characters. The setting in an old lighthouse was super fun, and the locked room mystery trope is one of my favorites. Overall, a really interesting read that kept me engaged and guessing throughout the entire book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read "The Other Couple" in exchange for my honest opinion.

Each book by Ms. Walsh gets better than the previous one. Her stories grab you on the first page and don't let you go. I was eager to keep turning pages to see what happens next but also sorry that the book was coming to an end.

Finn Tobin - founder /CEO of TobinTech has been seeing one of his employees for 6 months and Alice seems to be hiding something from her boss. They can't be seen together in Dublin so they travel to Donegal to stay in the Fanad Lighthouse which has been converted into a guesthouse. No one knows that they are here so they are shocked when there is a knock at the door.

Vivienne O'Brien and Macdara Ryan are at the door claiming that they booked the lighthouse for the weekend. For some reason Finn appears to know them and is reluctant to insist that they leave. Then strange things start happening. Alice sees Vivienne outside in foul weather raging at the night. She finds the landline wires have been cut, her bag has been moved and her mobile is missing. Vivienne has some ulterior motive for being in Donegal. What does she want with Finn?

Alice also seems to have a plan for Finn, she also has a hidden mobile that no one knows about. Why when she has this fairytale romance, does she want to destroy Finn.

Vivienne goes to the boarded up remains of an old youth hostel. She remembers someone named David Johnson. Mac tells Alice that Vivienne had a partner named David and he died in an accident 25 years ago.

Then it's noted that Finn's car keys have gone missing and someone cut his regulator hose when he went scuba diving.

An old photo in an album holds the key to what has been happening this weekend. There are many secrets and lies, cover ups and a happy ending - but will everyone come out of this happy.

As with all of Ms. Walsh's books, I feel that 5 stars is not enough for this absolutely fantastic story.

Okay. Wow. I knew there was something sinister afloat but when the story kicked into high gear, about halfway through, it took turns I did not expect! Triona Walsh has written a rollercoaster of a psychological thriller full of twists!
Thank you, Triona Walsh, Bookouture, & netgalley, for my early gifted copy! All opinions are my own.

This is my first Triona Walsh book; I was intrigued by the synopsis of the book and was thrilled to be offered an ARC.

Alice and Finn are at a desolate lighthouse B&B for their first romantic getaway as a couple. They have been careful to keep their relationship a secret, as Finn is the CEO of the company where Alice is also employed. But, this getaway affords them the opportunity to finally let their guard down and relax…until there is a loud noise at the door.
Vivienne and Mac are on the other side of the door, having also booked the same b&b for the evening. It is now late and there are storms rolling in. The couple firmly insists on sharing the B&B with Alice and Finn until the morning, when things can be sorted out.

Alice and Finn agree to let the couple sleep in the guest room, an offer they may soon come to regret.

The story contains some decent plot twists, there is enough to hold the interest of the reader. The setting of the B&B was what I enjoyed the most, the author did a fantastic job of depicting the background. My only complaint was the ending…I would have preferred it to be a little less “perfect.” But all in all, a good read!

Huge thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley, and the Author for the ARC.

I loved the authors previous book The Snowstorm so could not wait to get stuck into The Other Couple and the author pulled it out of the bag again with another cracker of a read.

The Other Couple is a slow burning psychological thriller packed with secrets and suspense. What I loved about this read is that the author did not reveal the characters secrets or true intentions early on, instead they are drip feed to the reader with hints & red herrings dropped throughout the read. The Other Couple centers around two couples Alice & Finn and Vivienne & Mac but is told from Alice & Vivienne’s point of views. I really liked Alice as a character despite her proving to be a very unreliable narrator, unreliable narrators often get a bad rap but I believe they can often be the key to a really great thriller, they keep you as the reader on your toes, guessing and questioning everything. This was exactly the case with this book, it was full of tension and twists that will have you questioning every single character, their motives and actions with the final twist absolutely taking me by surprise.

The remote, isolating & weather beaten location of an Irish lighthouse turned Air BnB was the perfect setting and added so much to the atmosphere and story. This was one of those books that you will struggle to put down as you just NEED TO KNOW what happened and the answers to all the questions going through your head.

The Other Couple was a really well written, atmospheric thriller with a great plotline that will keep you on the edge of your seat & staying up late into the night to finish it.

Alice Armstrong and her boyfriend Finn Tobin have booked a lighthouse-turned-Airbnb in Donegal for a romantic getaway. Hours from their home in Dublin, they can be a normal couple in love for the weekend. They can visit pubs, hold hands in public, and do everything they can’t do any other time. The CEO of TobinTech, Finn is Alice’s boss. Hiding their relationship is necessary to keeping it. The scandal it would create if it was revealed would tank the shares of the company Finn started and ruin him to boot. It’s no wonder the couple seems happy to finally be away and alone. But as Alice readies their bedroom on the first night, there’s a knock at the door. When Finn opens it, a couple steps inside and introduces themselves as Vivienne and Mac. They’ve booked the lighthouse too — for the same days — and they don’t intend to leave.

Alice is leery of them right from the start. Her suspicions grow when her phone goes missing, followed by Finn’s keys, and a hose on his scuba gear is slashed. But he doesn’t seem as alarmed by them as she is. In fact, she spies him chatting with their unexpected roommates in the kitchen the next morning. Something about his body language feels off. Does he know them? Either way, she has to get rid of the unwanted couple. Quickly. Alice has a plan for the weekend, one she’s had since she was a little girl. She needs to be alone with Finn to make it happen. But little does she know, the other couple has a plan, too. As a weekend of romance turns into one filled with lies, fake identities, and long-held secrets, Alice realizes the truth. However, is it too late? Did someone’s plan for the weekend include murder?

Full of twists, turns, and jaw-dropping shocks, “The Other Couple” by Tríona Walsh bubbles with suspense in the very first chapter and quickly builds to a boil before the novel is even halfway through. It’s a maddening roller coaster ride in the dark. It’s the kind of book that creates a lot of questions for the reader early on, then dangles the truth over the chapters like a carrot. Every time you think you’re getting within reach of it, a sudden twist jerks you in another direction — and away from that dang carrot. It’s a little aggravating and extremely riveting.

Through Alice’s interior monologue, it’s revealed she’s anything but a reliable narrator. Likable? Yes. Just not reliable. She has a plan for Finn and, although she doesn’t reveal any details (and neither will this review), it’s clear she has an ulterior motive. The same is true for Vivienne. She comes across as stern and rude when she deals with Alice and Finn, but her interior monologue reveals what she’s keeping hidden — or enough of it to keep you reading, that is. You won’t be able to read it fast enough.

The characters in “The Other Couple” are as much of a mystery as the story itself. They’re well-developed and seemingly rise off the pages to act out their parts in front of your eyes. Yet, they’re shrouded in fog like the truth is throughout most of the book. Although they are believable as characters, you question who they truly are, as well as their motives for the weekend. It’s very much a character-driven story with a plot so twisty that it feels more like loopy-de-loops.

I didn’t love “The Other Couple” in the first few chapters. It seemed slow-moving, and I couldn’t quite get hooked. But, as it turns out, the problem was me. Not the book. Once I got a bite of chocolate to lighten my mood and settled into the story, I couldn’t put it down. “The Other Couple” is a fast-moving, gripping story that keeps you in suspense until nearly the end. You’ll be left slack-jawed by the explosive conclusion, wondering why you didn’t see it coming, and wishing it didn’t have to end because it was such a thrilling ride.

Alice is excited for a weekend getaway with her boyfriend, Finn, especially as they have had to keep their relationship a secret since he is also the CEO of her company. However, their cosy stay at a remote lighthouse bed and breakfast takes an unexpected turn when they discover they’re not the only couple booked for the weekend.

The book starts off strong, immediately establishing a suspenseful atmosphere with its ominous characters. From the first page, the tension is palpable, making it hard to put down. The plot is compelling and gripping, with the promise of a major revelation. However, the pacing slows in the middle, which detracts from the overall momentum. While there are intriguing plot twists, the ending feels rushed and somewhat unsatisfying, as it tries to tie up too many threads at once. Overall, it’s an engaging read, but it falls short of delivering a cohesive conclusion.

A shoutout to Net Galley for the ARC!
I wasn't expecting the final twist, but it was good. The whole time reading I was trying to solve the mystery and trying to figure out who Alice was. At first I thought Viv and Mac was just some unwanted house guest who were going to kill Finn and Alice. And I did not expect anything with Michael!

The Other Couple is a domestic thriller, where you start off in the dark and the character motivations and back stories are gradually trickle fed to you. Whereas, I did find the pacing too slow for me, it is typical of this sub-genre and did allow the book to culminate in a rather surprising twist.

It was interesting that we didn’t know the main character’s motivation at the start - instead she skulks around trying to do *something* of which is unclear. However, the downside is that it made it hard to bond with the characters and I felt rather dissociated from them.

There is absolutely nothing inherently wrong with this book; writing style is good, the plot makes sense. Therefore, my rating is purely down to personal taste, and you shouldn’t be dissuaded from trying it yourself. If you like slow-burn thrillers, then it will be a good fit for you.

I nearly gave up on this book as it’s very slow paced and a bit boring! I’ve never read anything by this author before until now but I wasn’t gripped. The characters were dull and im sorry but if 2 strangers appear in the middle of the night at the lighthouse I’m staying at I’m leaving!!
There’s a few twists along the way but not ones that shock you ones you kind of can see were coming!
If I’m honest the ending was a bit stupid and crap!

Thanks to netgalley

I loved this book so much. I read thrillers after so long and this one didn't disappoint. Loved the isolated setting of this book. Perfect chilly vibes for a thriller. I liked the writing style, of the author. How she maintained the tone of the story while flipping the perspectives is commendable. And the twist? I failed to predict it as usual. It was a page turner surely, the story, the secrets unfolded so amazingly I was not able to put it down and flipped through pages.

I went into this book with an open mind, since it’s the first book I’ve read by this author. Initially , The Other Couple pulled me right in with Alice and Finn wanting to have a romantic getaway when they realized they were “double booked” with another couple, Vivienne and Mac.
I found myself spacing out towards the 30% mark once the initial shock wore off when the couples realized they were staying at the venue. None of the characters were particularly likable and it’s hard to care what is going to happen to them once you realize everyone has a secret.
The Other Couple overall was very fast paced and had various twists and turns where you thought you had the plot figured out and then another reveal would happen. I just didn’t get into this suspense read as much as I wanted and I was determined to finish the book. It’s unfortunate that you need to complete a novel for unanswered questions as opposed to finishing a book from sheer enjoyment.

Despite being deeply in love, Finn and Alice must keep their relationship a secret. To spend some quality time together, they plan a romantic getaway. However, their plans are disrupted when another couple unexpectedly arrives at the property.

Overall, the plot was exciting, and the setting was captivating. While I found the book enjoyable, some drawn-out sections made it difficult to read. The story contained some satisfying surprises throughout, though, and I'm glad I finished it.

I particularly appreciated the detailed descriptions of the lighthouse and its surroundings, but unfortunately, none of the characters were likable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the free copy of the book.