Loved the storyline, it immersed me almost immediately. I am a big Freida McFadden fan so this author was recommended to me, and boy will I be reading more Daniel Hurst again. Great book, worth the read!

Have you ever wondered who you would trust if you were in a vulnerable or chaotic situation or worse, into both? Would you trust your romantic partner, your parents, or your neighbours? This book is excellent at highlighting the complexities of our interpersonal relations and how trust plays a HUGE role in deciding the right course of action. I felt the main character was very relatable, especially being a female myself and often second guessing my gut feelings and whether it is paranoia or reality. The author was amazing at having the reading figuring out what happened exactly and who is the good or bad person. I was hooked till the last page, and I recommend it for wanting a who done it style read.

Daniel Hurst writes great books that are quick, easy reads. I rarely can predict how they will end! He also has a tendency to write female characters who are a bit over the top and jump to conclusions easily and this is something I would like to see him improve. He writes a lot of women, like Di in this book, who see something, assume something bad happened, and in an effort to get to the bottom of it, do things like break into people’s houses and search them, only to find out what they thought they knew wasn’t that at all. That’s just such an unlikely occurrence. Does the author assume all women just get hysterical and then go scorched earth?

But back to this book. Di and Christian have moved into a new home. They’re the first owners. But shortly after moving in Di finds a note saying something bad happened to the couple who lived there first. She tries to make friends with her next door neighbors and asks them about the previous couple but gets no answers. And the estate owner is becoming more and more suspicious as well. Di is determined to find out the truth.

Another good thriller by Daniel Hurst! Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Bookoutoure for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date July 17, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me read this arc!

Dionne, Christian and their son Kai move into a lovely new home but something doesn’t quite feel right from the start for Dionne and strange things start to happen and Dionne wants to get to the bottom of what has been going on in what should be her forever family home!

I was absolutely hooked to this fast-paced thriller, Daniel Hurst has a talent for keeping you guessing and not being able to put the book down!

I recommend this book if you love a fast paced thriller with shocking plot twists you didn’t see coming

This thriller wastes no time, diving straight into the action from the first page. It’s not your typical whodunnit... it’s more of a "what the hell is going on & how do I find out?" kind of read.

I was clueless about where the story was headed & then about the halfway mark, a sneaky suspicion set in... but even then, I couldn't fully piece it together.

Exactly what you want from a thriller: quick, addictive, and keeps you guessing until the end. I read it in 2 days!

⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst

I was so graciously given an ARC of The Couple Before Us, and I’m really glad I had the chance to read it early. The storyline was gripping and full of twists that kept me turning the pages. Daniel Hurst delivers an intriguing plot with characters that leave you guessing.

That said, I did find the pacing a little uneven. It starts off strong and moves quickly—almost too quickly at times—before slowing down more than expected in the latter half. I think a more balanced flow could’ve made the suspense hit even harder.

Overall, a solid domestic thriller with an engaging premise, just a few pacing issues that kept it from being a full 4 stars for me. Still definitely worth the read!

"The Couple Before Us” by Daniel Hurst is a twisty 4-star read! Dionne, her husband Christian, and their son Kai move into a brand new estate, hoping the extra space will be perfect for the baby on the way. But when Di discovers an ominous note, she starts to suspect that the house may not be as new or as safe as it seems. Despite the increasingly dangerous situations she faces, Di is determined to uncover the truth.

In typical Daniel Hurst fashion, this is a fast-paced story packed with twists, maybe even a few too many. Some parts of the story were confusing at first, but as it progressed, the odd behavior began to make sense. At times, Di’s actions didn’t feel entirely believable for a pregnant mother. Still, I enjoyed the book and will definitely keep reading whatever Daniel Hurst writes next

Thanks to Bookouture, Daniel Hurst, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Dionne, her husband and their child have just moved into a brand new home. They're second child is due soon and they wanted a bigger place to raise their family. They're the first to live in this new home so why did Dionne find a note hidden in a closet warning that something awful happened to the couple that lived there before them?

Dionne can't shake the feeling that something is horribly wrong in this perfect new neighborhood and her suspicions only increase when her neighbor goes missing.

She knows she's been lied to but she doesn't know who she can trust.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Couple Before Us. The mystery of the whodunnit and what exactly is going on was enough to keep me turning pages, but just barely. The FMC was exhausting and repetitive.

The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst is a fast-paced domestic thriller that keeps you hooked from the start. The plot centers around two couples and a house-swap arrangement that quickly turns unsettling. Hurst does a great job building suspense and dropping twists at just the right moments. While some of the characters’ decisions feel a bit far-fetched, the story is undeniably entertaining and perfect for fans of quick, binge-worthy thrillers.

Rating: 4/5

Wow!! Thank you to Daniel Hurst and Bookouture for the opportunity read this as an ARC.
This book is well and truly had me on the edge of my seat! The start is a little slow burn however once it picked up I genuinely couldn’t put it down.
The plot follows Di, Christian and their son Kai who move into a new build house on a new estate owned by a man called Cesar. Apparently no one has lived in their house before but Di finds out otherwise…. What happened to the couple that lived there before? Di is on a mission to find out.
Each chapter gripped me and I couldn’t put this down!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating: 2.5 out of 5
An okay thriller that delivers an easy, entertaining read—but not much more than that.

The premise is intriguing enough and the author does a decent job building suspense. That said, the plot starts to unravel under closer scrutiny. Character motivations often feel thin or inconsistent, and some twists come off more as contrived than clever. The story leans heavily on convenience, with a few too many coincidences to feel truly believable.

Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for sending this book for review consideration.

e couple before us - Daniel Hurst
Thanks @netgalley & @bookatour for the ARC!
Pub date July 17th 📙
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mood: 🤔😯🍿

✅ REVIEW:
I found it to be an entertaining book with a simple yet well-crafted plot. It’s an easy read, with short to medium chapters that keep the pace flowing nicely. Not the most memorable for me, but it gave me a good time and helped me unwind for a few hours. Perfect if you’re looking for something light and enjoyable.

The Couple Before Us was a good book but could have used a few more twists and turns. I still liked the book because it definitely kept me interested. I enjoyed reading this as an ARC reader.
I wasnt sure who the bad people would be until it actually got closer to the end so I didn't suspect until almost the end who did what.
I would definitely read more of Daniel Hurst's books!

Dionne (heavily pregnant), her husband, and their young son are moving into what seems like their dream home. It’s a brand-new house, and they believe they’re the first ones to ever live there. But soon, Dionne finds a strange note that says something bad happened to the people who lived there before. After that, weird things start to happen. But no one, not even her husband, believes her…
Told in single POV, 1st person, it can be read as a standalone novel. This was my first book by Daniel Hurst, and I liked it. The story was fast-paced and easy to read, with short chapters. The plot was interesting and kept me curious. I just wish there was a bit more character development so I could connect more with the people in the story. Overall, it was a quick and entertaining read, and hope you like it as well!

Thanks to Daniel Hurst, Netgalley, and Bookouture for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. (Expected publication: July 17, 2025)

These characters made me mad but at the same time I couldn’t wait to turn to the next page.

Daniel Hurst books always keep you guessing, and I almost never figure them out.

That being said, great read with lots of twist. I enjoyed this read.

Hurst is a familiar name in the psychological thriller genre, and this novel follows in the same vein. The story centres on Di, a pregnant mother navigating a new neighbourhood alongside her husband, Christian, and their son, Kai. Told from Di’s perspective, the plot kicks off with her discovering a mysterious note on move-in day—launching a tense, paranoia-fuelled search for answers.

The premise was intriguing, and Hurst does a good job of hooking the reader early with an air of suspense. The pacing moves along quickly by the end, and even though many of the twists were fairly easy to anticipate, they still gave the story momentum and a reason to continue 'til the end.

However, I struggled with Di as a main character. Her narration often felt overexplained, and her internal monologue became repetitive to the point of frustration. At times, her logic didn’t quite hold up—for example, proudly announcing she’s never learned to drive and then lamenting how trapped she feels. These kinds of contradictions made it hard to connect with her or fully invest in her point of view.

That said, while The Couple Before Us wasn’t quite for me, I can see how it might resonate with a different audience—especially readers who enjoy slow-paced domestic thrillers with a touch of neighbourhood drama.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review out 7/15

I was fortunate to read this before it was released. I enjoyed this book it kept my attention and had me guessing the whole time. I feel in the beginning Dionne was portrayed as a hormonal, overthinking anxious pregnant woman. Multiple characters were gaslighting her and downplaying her thoughts and feelings by the end her feelings were validated.

The novel The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst is a psychological thriller.
Dionne and her husband, Christian, are looking forward to starting a new life in their new house. However, upon finding the disturbing note, Dionne begins to question what happened to the couple who lived there before them. 
She tries to shake off her worries and trust her husband, but when she overhears Christian on the phone revealing a secret, her suspicion grows. This leads her on a path to uncover the truth about the former residents, but the closer she gets to the answers, the more she fears her safety and relationships. The story builds suspense as she grapples with fear and the unsettling feeling that she should have left when she had the chance.

Psychological thriller from Daniel Hurst. This is probably the best yet. Di and Christian are in need of a new property as they have a growing family. They move to a new build estate and from the start something seems off with it.
While trying to sort the house out and run a normal family life Di is getting more and more unnerved by the place. The suspense is high in this story and it speeds along to the climax, not one we would expect while reading. The ending seemed a little rushed compared with the speed of the earlier chapters and I was left with a couple of questions, but then again I often am regardless of the book I'm reading. None of this detracts from the impact of the story. And I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to people who want to be on the edge of their seats wondering where it was going to lead and if the characters would survive to the end of the story. Amazing story. With thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Daniel always writes entertaining books that compel you to turn the pages quickly. This story is about pregnant Dionne, Christian and their son who move into a new house on a newly built estate, against Dionne’s better judgement. And then she finds a strange note and bizarre things start to happen. This book stretched credibility and Dionne is a frustrating protagonist, but nevertheless it’s a fun, twisty read.

Thank you to Daniel Hurst, Bookouture and Netgalley for my advance copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. This is the first Daniel Hurst standalone I’ve read, after finishing The Doctor’s Wife series.

I initially struggled to get into this book and was getting increasingly frustrated with Di and her actions. The last few chapters were twist after twist and took me in some directions I definitely hadn’t expected. While I finished and enjoyed some of the book, it was also made difficult by just not liking Di. This book had me until about halfway through. I felt the 'reveal' was too soon and anti-climatic… and then the story kept going. I lost interest and the overall ending was confusing and disassociated from the rest of the book.

Overall, it was still a decent story/read but it wasn’t my favourite Daniel Hurst book and there’s other thrillers I would reach for again before picking this up, a 3 star from me.