The Couple Before Us follows Dionne (Di), her husband Christian, and their young son Kai as they settle into what should be their dream home on a newly developed estate. However, from the outset, an unsettling atmosphere lingers. Di learns that the previous occupants vanished without a trace—setting the stage for a story filled with secrets and suspense.

Initially, I questioned whether this novel would suit my reading preferences, particularly due to a somewhat grating first impression of the protagonist. Nonetheless, I continued reading and was ultimately glad I did. Around the halfway mark, the pace quickened significantly, and the plot became increasingly engaging. The suspense built steadily, and I found myself compelled to read through to the end as the twists and secrets unfolded.

While the story delivers an intriguing premise and moments of tension, it didn’t entirely captivate me. Some plot developments felt predictable, and I struggled to form a strong connection with the characters. That said, the pacing was solid, and the gradual revelation of hidden truths was enjoyable.

Readers who appreciate light, fast-paced domestic thrillers—especially those centered on secrets, relationships, and suburban drama—may find this an entertaining and accessible choice.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Okay, wow! This book was incredible! It starts out with a couple moving into a newly constructed home only for the wife to find a note suggesting that they, in fact, aren’t the first couple to live in the house. As they try to settle in to their new community, the note leaves Di with a lot of questions. And when she begins to ask around, things really start to get crazy. Was there really another couple in the house before them, or is someone just playing a prank? This book was fast-paced with nonstop suspense that kept my jaw on the floor right up to the end. Highly recommend!

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!

Dionne and Christian, expecting their second child in a few months, need to move into a larger home. She acquiesces to her husband’s desire to move into a brand-new estate home, despite qualms about it. However, her life takes a terrifying turn when she finds a chilling note that says “something terrible happened to the couple who lived here before”. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she realizes she can trust no one.

Hurst fans will welcome this new addition to his body of work. I have read some of his books, which I characterize as “popcorn thrillers”, enjoyed the Doctor’s Wife series, and chose this one because the premise intrigued me.

At first, I wondered if this book was really for me. I initially found the main character quite annoying. However, I compulsively forged ahead and was glad I did. At about the halfway point, the suspense and action accelerated, and I didn’t put the book down until all the twists, turns, and secrets were revealed.

If lighter, fast-paced, fun, escapist suspense reads are for you, check this one out.

Book Review – The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one early!

The Couple Before Us had an intriguing setup that pulled me in right away. The idea of house-swapping and the secrets that come with it had a lot of potential, and I was curious to see how it would all unfold. The pacing was decent, and I did enjoy the unraveling of certain truths.

That said, while the plot was okay, it didn’t fully grip me the way I hoped. Some twists were a bit predictable, and I didn’t feel super connected to the characters. Still, it was a quick read and had its moments of suspense.

If you’re a fan of domestic thrillers with drama and secrets at the center, this might be one to check out.

This was everything we have come to expect from Daniel Hurst. A fun, quick read with unexpected twists and turns throughout. Never knowing who you can trust or what will unfold as the story plays out. Don’t miss this one!

Thank you to Daniel Hurst, NetGalley, and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a big fan of Daniel Hurst so I was over the moon to be accepted for this ARC!

Another quick and easy read, packed with suspense and thrills that keeps you guessing!

I really enjoyed the storyline, and I loved the strange neighbours!

I really enjoyed reading this one! The storyline immediately gripped me, and left me constantly guessing until the end. The ending was fantastic, and filled with twists. I highly recommend this book!

THE COUPLE BEFORE US BY DANIEL HURST.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
Release date set for the 1uth of July 2025.
I love the cover. I've been waiting for The Couple Before Us and as soon as it's landed I've started it straight away.
Oh this book is amazing. These type of storylines and settings are my favourite.
I really didn't want to put this book down.
Loved every second.
Now I'm waiting for the next Daniel Hurst book to arrive.

I’m a massive Daniel Hurst fan so was delighted to be accepted for this arc (thanks). It centres around Christian and Dionne who are expecting, have a young son and move to a bigger house on a new estate. It gets more stressful than the move when neighbours are acting suspicious and the person who owns the estate, Cesar, is suspicious too. It was mysterious but slightly far fetched and I liked it but it was not my favourite book by this very talented author.

Thank you to the publisher and thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review this e-ARC. Full review will be available soon

2.5⭐️
I thought the premise of the story interesting and the stress of moving into a new home something I could relate to but I found Dionne, the main character to be very annoying and unhinged to the point it feels very unrealistic and farfetched . I also felt the rest of the characters were boring and I just didn’t like them.

When a family of three soon to be four move into a brand new estate it was suppose to be a new start for the family. When Dionne finds a disturbing note while moving into her new home, her husband dismisses it and thinks she is just being paranoid. Dionne tries to do some digging to find what this disturbing note means. Was there a couple who lived here before? And what happened to them? When the truth starts to unfold she wishes she never stepped foot into her new home.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: July 17,2025

A dark and twisty psychological thriller! The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst, is a well-written, suspenseful read packed with secrets, lies, and unsettling revelations. When a family moves into what they believe is a brand-new home, the wife starts to suspect they weren’t the first to live there. What happened to the couple before them—if they ever existed? This story slowly unravels a web of hidden, shocking truths, and just when you think you have it figured out, another layer peels back. A gripping read from start to finish!

All I could think is.... man if this lady don't mind her own business. She's so dang nosey. But I guess it was a good thing in the end. Such a great read. And I couldn't put if down all day.

Daniel hurst has always seemed to be my go to for a quick read and this just confirms that

Suspenseful and keeps you wondering what is really going on in this subdivision and who is really behind it all!

Review of ‘The Couple Before Us’ by Daniel Hurst, due to be published on 17 July 2025 by Bookouture.

Dionne, Christian and 5 year old son Kai are currently living in a hotel room, desperate to get out into a new home before their baby is born. When Christian takes Dionne to see a possible house, she feels uneasy and that it does not feel like a home, but Christian is insisting that it is perfect for them and pushes for them to make an offer and move in.

When Dionne finds a note in the wardrobe, things take a mysterious and creepy turn, exacerbated by the site manager Cesar’s odd behaviour and the neighbours reluctance to engage in conversation.

A dark, psychological thriller that makes you raise doubt in your own mind about each character - what is their involvement, what is true, who is lying and will the mounting questions be answered, before it’s too late.

Recommended read.

A creepy storyline.
Strange neighbours, kidnapping and a really irritating husband.
A decent read from Daniel Hurst but not one of his best.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Daniel Hurst does it again another creepy twisted thriller with and ending that blew my mind I really can’t find fault with this author. This time we meet Di and Christian a young family looking to buy a bigger home in time for their new arrival. When they look around a brand new house on an estate currently in construction Christian is sold by Di has reservations however the baby will be here before they know it and they need to get out of the hotel they are living in. As she is persuaded to buy the house her concern turns to real fear when she discovers a note the day they move in. Someone is lying to her about this home and she is determined to find out why even if it risks everything. Do not miss this book!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story follows Di, who is pregnant with their second child, her husband Christian, and their 5-year-old son Kai. The family moves into what’s supposed to be their dream home in a beautiful new neighborhood. They’re told they’re the first to ever live there—but when Di finds a hidden warning letter inside the house, she begins questioning who lived there before and what really happened.

I usually enjoy Hurst’s books and tend to speed through them because I find it difficult to put them down. However, with this one, I just wanted to get through it to find out how it ended. The plot had great potential, but I felt it was missing something. Maybe another POV would have added more depth to the story? Rating the book a 3-star rating.

What I loved about this book was that the mystery isn’t just who did what, it’s whether we ever truly know the person sleeping beside us. The tension is personal, emotional, and disturbingly familiar. Rather than relying solely on plot twists, the author builds emotional suspense. Every character is just vulnerable enough to be believable, just flawed enough to be suspicious. This is not just a whodunit, it’s a why’d they hide it. I give a 4.5 ⭐️ and would recommend to a reader looking for a refreshing mystery/thriller.