As a fan of Daniel Hurst, this was just so-so for his writing. Still readable but not his best work

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was just okay. The writing was just okay. The plot was just okay and a bit far-fetched. It was my least favorite book of his.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pregnant Dionne (known as Di), her husband Christian and their five-year-old son Kai have just moved into a brand new house in an exclusive estate (this isn’t an American book so I’m guessing that means neighborhood?). Di didn’t like it - it’s so modern, so cold, so different than the cozy house she wanted. Christian eventually talks her into it though, and since she doesn’t want to have a baby while they are living in a hotel, the book starts with moving day.

While unpacking, Di finds a note in a closet, saying that the house isn’t safe, and something terrible happened to the people who used to live there. She immediately confronts her husband, as he told her this was a new build that nobody else had ever lived in…then they meet Cesar, owner of the estate, and he assures her it must be a prank from one of the builders. They meet an elderly man at the (mandatory?) monthly get-together, and he starts to ask them about the couple who lived in their house before them, but Cesar quickly guides him away and apologizes for the man’s dementia.

They also meet Theo, who lives next door. His partner’s name is Hayley, and he tells Di that she’s very shy. One night, Di hears crying in their yard, but when she asks Hayley if she’s okay, Hayley runs inside. That’s when the neighborhood really starts to freak Di out. Cesar is a creepy man, and their neighbor Theo and the rarely-seen Hayley are an odd pair. Why does the estate have air-raid sirens? Why does Cesar seem to be everywhere at once? Why does it feel like someone is always watching? And who lived in the house, if anyone, before them?

This is a fantastic thriller that, at times, starts to lean into the horror category (which I love!) While the books are nothing alike, it made me think of Stephen King’s “Needful Things” (I cast Cesar as Leland Gaunt in my head because of his smooth manipulation), and Bentley Little’s “The Association” (I don’t think the estate has an HOA, but it’s that same feel). The big twist really shocked me - I definitely didn’t see that one coming. The ending was a bit abrupt, but it was decent. Overall, this was one entertaining novel. I’ve only read a handful of books by this author, but I’ve enjoyed them all and look forward to more! 4.5 stars.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Daniel Hurst and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on July 17, 2025.)

Daniel Hurst does it again! Another quick, easy and page turning book. I’ve read several of his books and tear through them very quickly wanting to read on to find out what happened. This book was the same!

As ever a cracking read from this author. Nothing predictable, lots of twists and turns and hard to put down. Thanks @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Dionne and Christian just moved into a new fancy neighborhood against Dionne's better judgment. Right away, she starts to feel uneasy about their decision. The neighborhood is still being built, so only a couple of houses are occupied. Dionne quickly realized that the only neighbors they have seem shady and mysterious.

20% into the book, and I was still waiting for a twist and/or something exciting to happen. The events that unfolded were just so far-fetched and unbelievable. This book was such a disappointment. Not at all what I would expect from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

I was drawn to the premise of this book: a brand-new house in a suburban setting, but full of secrets and mysteries, with the female main character (FMC), Dionne, determined to uncover what’s happening and what happened before. The setup sounds promising for a thriller, but unfortunately, the execution fell short for me.

Dionne, the FMC, is an incredibly frustrating character, a stereotypical “Karen” who gets on my nerves from the beginning to the end.

Typically, I root for the FMC or main character who senses something is wrong early on, cheering them on because their instincts are usually correct. But not this time. Even when Dionne’s suspicions were validated, I couldn’t bring myself to care.

It’s not her paranoia or anxiety that bothered me; those traits are common in thrillers, and I’ve read enough to know that a “hunch” often proves right to some degree. However, Dionne’s handling of situations is maddeningly irrational and unhinged.

Her decisions feel less like plot-driven choices and more like contrived stupidity to drive the story forward. I no longer enjoy books that rely on a FMC’s hysteria or poor judgment to drive the narrative.

While I don’t expect Dionne to be a Sherlock Holmes, I wanted her to act like a reasonably competent adult. The more I read, the less I could tolerate her, even when she was proven right.

The story itself has potential, particularly around the 69% mark, where a twist caught my attention and briefly rekindled my interest. However, the characters undermined the experience. Dionne’s erratic behavior aside, none of the supporting characters were likable, memorable, or engaging. Flawed characters can add depth, but when a character like Dionne has no redeeming qualities, they become simply irritating.

The writing style is straightforward, which I appreciated as a non-native English speaker, as it made the book easy to follow. However, the prose and dialogue often felt bland. Some conversations are quite odd and don’t flow naturally.

Overall, this book wasn’t for me due to its unappealing characters and lackluster dialogue.

While the plot and twists held some intrigue, the disappointing ending left me unsatisfied. Readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers with dramatic twists might still find something to like, but the character-driven issues were too significant for me to overlook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in advance.

I have also included the same review on my Goodreads account.

4.5 star from me! My very first Daniel Hurst book and I will definitely be buying others from him now. If you like John Marrs and Fredia McFadden, you will be hooked! The writing style is brilliant and love the relatively short chapters.
I read this book in 24 hours, couldn’t put it down as I had to know what happened to the couple before Di and her husband moved in and all the secrets of the new estate. Brilliant twist and turns to this book, not what you would expect!

Another ARC read. I really enjoy this authors writing style, he writes like Freida McFadden and I love how engaged and hooked his books are. I was immediately hooked in on this book, I really love when a book has family drama. In relation to the twist, I wouldn’t say it was a wow moment for me. This book more tied together nicely rather than made me gasp. Overall, worth the read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. Daniel Hurst is such a brilliant author, he easily pulls you in and the drama is brill

The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst is a twisty, fast-paced thriller that’s hard to put down. It starts with a simple house swap between friends, but things quickly take a dark turn. Secrets come out, trust is broken, and the ending will definitely surprise you. A quick, addictive read for fans of domestic dramas with a dark edge. This author never disappoints. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley! I love Daniel Hurst and am constantly recommending his novels. This one was another great read. I always love the crazy neighbor stories and was sucked into the drama and gaslighting.

I was happy to receive this ARC because I’ve always heard that Daniel was very comparable to one of my favorite authors, Freida McFadden. That assessment (based on this story at least) is very true. It read a lot like a Freida book, particularly the twists. I will be reading more from him.

What I did not like is how annoying and paranoid and nosy the FMC was. Of course you know it is going somewhere but man, she is the epitome of an annoying Karen neighbor. It was hard to endure for a while.

Read this if you like:
🏠 domestic thrillers
🏠 New House and new neighbor drama
🏠 Freida McFadden type books

Thank you Bookouture, Daniel Hurst and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

First, thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

At this point, I have to say, Daniel Hurst is one of the writers I just would buy any book from! Just like many of his former releases, The Couple Before Us kept me in it's grip from start to finish, It was fast-paced, had short chapters and surely a lot of twists and turns along the way. Gotta admit, though, Dionne was getting on my nerves a little at times, but I could also relate to her always having to worry, and her slightly paranoid mind always expecting the worst. All in all, a very great read that I can only recommend!

Book Review 📚
Title: The Couple Before Us
Author: Daniel Hurst

Christian and Dionne are preparing for a new chapter in their lives. Their family is growing, with their young son Kai and a baby girl on the way. When Christian finds what seems like the perfect house for their future, everything appears to be falling into place. But things take a chilling turn when Dionne discovers a mysterious note hidden inside the home, warning her that something terrible happened to the previous occupants. The only problem? Christian insists no one lived there before them.
As Dionne digs deeper, unsure of who she can trust, the truth becomes more elusive and disturbing. Who really lived in the house before them? And what happened to them?
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Daniel’s writing is gripping and masterfully paced! He truly knows how to keep readers hooked and hungry for answers. And that ending? Completely unexpected and absolutely wild. A must-read for fans of suspenseful, twisty thrillers!


Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Daniel Hurst for the eARC!

Publication Date: July 17 2025
Rating: ✨✨✨✨

#BookReview #PsychologicalThriller #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BookRecommendation

CHILLING! DARK! EVIL! These are the three best adjectives to describe The Couple Before Us. I was totally blown away by this newest suspense by Daniel Hurst. This wild roller-coaster ride begged to be read in one sitting.

Di and Christian have outgrown their current home now that they're expecting their second child. Though Di has qualms about the new, large home they've found, Christian soon convinces her it's what's best for their growing family. They are supposed to be the first owners of this brand new home on an exquisite estate, but Di finds evidence suggesting that is not the truth. However, no one will talk about the couple that lived there before them or admit there was a couple before them. As more craziness erupts, Di realizes she's on her own finding the answers about this elusive couple.

This was such a great book from start to finish. The ending was a jaw dropper for sure. It's a page turner that goes by quickly immersing the reader in lie after lie and twist after twist. Daniel Hurst keeps cranking out the most twisty evil imaginable. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

Suspend belief and enjoy another fantastic offering from Daniel Hurst!
Dionne (Di), after a lot of persuasion from husband Christian, moves into a brand new house in the suburbs. Di has reservations from the start.
Are they really the first couple to live there? As Di determinedly tries to get to the bottom of the strange goings on, she is thwarted at every stage. Our protagonist refuses to give up, and relentlessly pursues the truth. As the book continues, the drama and suspense build with every page.
Just when we start to think we've worked out what's happening, Bang!;; we're taken in another direction. I'd liked to have seen more of Theo, and to learn learn a little more of what happened to the culprits, but this compelling read is perfect if you love fast paced, twisty novels that will keep you guessing right to the end.
My thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC. This is my honest review.

Another brilliant book from Daniel Hurst. This was creepy, tense and gripping, and was full of shocking twists and turns. Fantastic!

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of The Couple Before Us. When I see a Daniel Hurst book out, I immediately go to read the synopsis so I can request right away. This was a disappointment I’m sad to say. Di was a meddlesome neighbor and very annoying, the plot was weak and not realistic. Theo was the best character and very likable. The break in with both houses were suspenseful but again not realistic. The storyline with Di’s parents was ridiculous. This was not what I expected from an awesome author. I’m really sorry but it did not do it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I’ve read Daniel Hurst before and his books are very similar in style and are perfect for a reader just getting into the thriller/suspense genre. While a bit predictable and not quite what I was looking for, it’s still an interesting read and worth giving a try!