I read the synopsis for ‘The Other Couple’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of dark and twisty psychological thriller that I particularly enjoy.  I had high hopes for this book and I wasn’t to be disappointed.  Overall I did really enjoy reading ‘The Other Couple’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me next to no time to get into this book.  In fact by the time I got to the end of the first book I knew that I was going to be in for a treat and that I would find it nigh on impossible to put the book down for any length of time.  I can’t say that I especially liked any of the characters- in fact I disliked them all intensely- but that didn’t stop me from developing a need to know what happened to them.  I thought that I had worked out what was going to happen to each character and although I wasn’t too far from the truth in some respects, in other respects I had the wrong end of the stick entirely.  The pages turned increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the story.  My desperation to find out how the story concluded grew and grew as I charged to the end of the story.
‘The Other Couple’ is well written.  The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and draw you into the story.  Cathryn has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with.  The chapters are voiced by the four main characters and tells the story from their perspective.  The chapters interlink well and the story flows seamlessly.  I found that I was so wrapped up in the story that I began to interact with the book as if the different characters could hear me.  Yes, before anybody says anything I know this is fictional but I find if I enjoy a book as much as I enjoyed this one, I ‘live’ the story as if it were real.  I did feel as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Cathryn’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.  I found ‘The Other Couple’ to be a gripping read that kept my attention throughout.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Other Couple’ and I would recommend it to other readers.  I will certainly be reading more of Cathryn’s work in the future.  The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

For Maggie and Brad it was meant to be a relaxing vacation in Lake Tahoe to reconnect with each other. Meeting Skye and Joe, who they hit it off with instantly, seems to be a happy coincidence. After inviting them to share their house lakeside, they begin to realise that meeting Skye and Joe is neither a coincidence or something that will make them happy.

The Other Couple is told from the view points of each of the four characters, giving the reader an in depth view of each of their personalities, lives and motivations. While you may have read a similar story, this book is made unique by the way in which the author has you questioning these characters and if anybody is as guilty or as innocent as they seem.

The first part of the book is on the slower side, but in the second half, this is where the pace ramps up and it gets really good. The author starts to mess with the reader’s head, starts planting all these seeds and this gets you thinking, who is playing who and who out of the four, will take the trophy as being the master manipulator!

What I love most about Cathryn Grant’s books, is she really knows how to deliver a twist. She has a real gift of leading the reader in one direction, where you can become complacent, thinking you know where its heading, only to then have the rug pulled out pull out from underneath you with a jaw dropping outcome, which is exactly what she achieves in this book.

The Other Couple is a thrilling tale and is another great example of Cathryn Grant showing us her talent in the psychological thriller genre. I look forward to reading what she comes up with next. It was a pleasure to read and review The Other Couple, which I recommend.

Thank you to Cathryn Grant, Inkubator Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Other Couple, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Two couples meet in a restaurant at Lake Tahoe and instantly become friendly with each other. One couple do not know that they have fallen in a dangerous spider net and that their lives will change forever.

Brilliant thriller that you can't put down! Masterful manipulations with characters and readers.

Skye and Joe are sitting in an expensive Lake Tahoe restaurant, enjoying the view and their drinks and discreetly observing the other diners. They're looking for a husband and wife who will fall for their con. Maggie and Brad fit the bill perfectly and before the evening is over they've invited Skye and Joe to share their lakeside rental house. I was quickly hooked by the plot and enjoyed the way that chapters alternate between the four main characters, but it got very repetitive very quickly and the plot began to drag. Brad wants time alone with his wife to work on their marriage. Maggie is glad to have their new friends as a buffer. Skye and Joe are just in it for the free vacation and whatever they can steal....and then things go wrong.  I appreciated that each character had a distinct voice but the plot started to lose its grip on me about halfway through and there was a twist I just couldn't make myself accept.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of Grant's newest novel. I wish I had better news because Grant is a favorite author of mine but this book really missed the boat for me. 

Two couples, previously total strangers, meet and become quick friends on vacation in Lake Tahoe. One couple is out to scam the other and blackmail is easy to come by within their marriage. And that's pretty much the end of the drama. Very little happens, making this story drag for 400+ pages. 

I'll still be looking forward to Grant's next work, but I won't be spreading this one around.

Thank you NetGalley for the complimentary ARC of this book.  I enjoyed this book, however, it moved a little slow for me.

I love psychological thrillers and books where the author chooses to tell the story through alternative voices / perspectives. I feel like this method lets you better understand the motivates of each character. Granted, some of these characters are naïve, and some characters are deeply flawed, but they are intriguing. I found this to be an easy read that you can devour in a single evening. There are some great twists - especially in the epilogue. I love the premise of this book - a couple had a chance encounter with another couple over drinks and decides to invite them back to their amazing lakeside rental home for dinner. Would I ever do this ?- absolutely not! If I wanted to get to know someone better I would have invited them to join us for dinner later at the restaurant where we met-  safe and neutral ground. I would not let them into my vacation home (Heck, I have good friends that I would think twice about inviting on vacation). The only logic is that this is a thriller. People do simple, dumb things in thriller/horror books and movies that end up having lasting consequences. In this case, a simple dinner invite extends to an invitation to stay for the week and leads to at least two people not surviving through the week. One of the best lines in the book. "Murder hadn't been the plan, but plans change." While I think the book is slow in parts and unrealistic about one major plot twist, this is still a book that I would feel comfortable recommending to friends who enjoy this genre. Disclaimer: This book will make you question the motives of strangers who are overly friendly and make you think twice about accepting new Facebook friend requests. Thank you to #netgalley and @Inkubator books for an advanced copy of this book.

I  enjoyed the majority of this book. I love psychological thrillers.  I did feel that there could have been a little more “story” to it.  I feel like one of the characters that had a major storyline was just kind of “lost”.  Other characters were given too much of the action.  I just feel that this could have been a really great story and it ended up just being a good story.  Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a chance to read and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure how I was feeling about this book but once I reached the halfway point I couldn't put it down! the twist at the end was totally unexpected.

Firstly, BRAVO to Cathryn Grant for this phenomenal piece! I throughly adored this book, beginning to end. Also, thank you to NetGalley for this wonderful piece I was able to read. The book is from all 4 characters POV which is super interesting. I’ve never read a book formatted like that and I have to say, I absolutely LOVED it. 

Skye & Joe are two people who have more secrets than most. They are con artist who meticulously strategize who their prey will be. They scope out individuals/couples, set the scene & then devour their prey, only this time..it’s not such a clean getaway like they’re used too. The targeted couple, end up inviting them to their rental lake house in Tahoe and that’s when things take a turn for the worse. 

I thought the authors writing from each POV was extremely well done. That’s not something that’s easy. I wished for more depth at times BUT I did like how “short and sweet” it was. She gave you just enough to have you wanting more. You could somewhat guess what was going to happen however she had some twists and turns on what you expected to happen. 

All in all, I definitely have recommended this book to my friends and cannot wait to hear what they think! 

Again, thank you so much for the opportunity to read this phenomenal book!

I would give this book ten stars if I could! This is the best book I've read all year. I had my eyes glued to the page to make sure I didn't miss even one word. This psychological thriller is told from the POV of all four characters. While it seems like you would know more of what's going on, this book just keeps you guessing the entire time. It is so well written and will absolutely keep you up at night. It doesn't have the creepy feelings like you would get from a typical thriller where you're scared and want to lock your doors. This book is a true psychological thriller! I have already started recommending this book to everyone I knew. It's the first book I've read by Grant, but you can bet I'll be looking into more of their works!

Skye & Joe are in Lake Tahoe on the lookout for their next "mark".  They encounter Maggie & Brad, a successful, beautiful couple & befriend them.  Shortly after meeting, Maggie invites them to stay in their lakefront house.   Things go smoothly with meals & drinks & boat rides around the lake.  One evening Joe observes Maggie texting furiously, on the sly & becomes very suspicious.  When he figures out what is going on with Maggie & confronts her, things take a decidedly dangerous turn.  

This was an excellent & suspenseful read.  The point of view changes to that of each character & is well written.  I definitely recommend this.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Cathryn Grant & the publisher Inkubator Books for the free e-galley I received in return for my honest opinion.

This was an original twisty thriller. I really did not see what was going to happen at the end at all. I think Cathryn Grant is a good writer and the story line really flows well. There is always something happening and you just don't know where this is going to go--Who else thinks picking up a strange couple and inviting them into your beautiful vacation home is a very BAD idea? Scams and infidelity and domestic abuse are all a part of the story of Maggie and Skye and Brad and Joe. Parts of the story are told from all of their points of view and unreliable or not this keeps you guessing. No spoilers here, you should read this without much knowledge on just what these characters are up to.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

Thank you to Cathryn Grant, Inkubator Books and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I finished this book in less than 48 hours and I am still thinking about it. It was THAT good!

Skye Smith and Joe Marchant are conmen who have somehow never been caught after years of scamming people. They have  just arrived in Lake Tahoe and are looking for a new "job". They spot Maggie and Brad Fromm and start planning. The couples instantly connect, with Brad being the one holdout. They invite Skye and Joe for dinner and they never leave. 

This is a psychological thriller for 2020 giving the reader early insight into both couples and their secrets, so the story can play out in real time. There are surprises, great food, luxury boats, grand vacation homes and murder, with the least likely character driving it all. I could not put this book down. I loved how Cathryn Grant gave a voice to each character. I would describe this mystery as amazing. Five stars all around.

I really dont know how to review this book.  There was nothing actually wrong with it but it just did nothing for me.

It was well written (although a bit long winded in places i feel) but I really found it a hard slog to get through.

On a plus side, I thought the four viewpoints were going to be confusing, but it worked well and was easy to follow.

Give it a try - it may be to your taste as Im sure it will be for lots... just not to mine unfortunately.

Maggie and Brad
Skye and Joe
And never the twain shall meet
But they do
Maggie and Brad are good
Sky and Joe are not
You know how it goes by now
Sadly all 4 of them are loathsome
It is a perfectly ok tale of a couple being fooled by ‘ne’er do wells’, we know whats going to happen and cant stop it no matter how loud we think ‘you idiots, no one would invite complete strangers in like that’ and ‘dont you ever read books to see where this is leading’ so go with the flow, as said all 4 annoying and the ‘shock’ bits were as easy as paint by numbers to guess
Not that any of that made it bad, it didn’t, just predictable and a bit staid  and non unique tbh

5/10
3 Stars

I found The Other Couple to be a gripping thriller which had me hooked from beginning to end. Although I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable or sympathetic, I was totally invested in their stories and the unfolding relationship between them all. Something unique about this book is that unexpected twists and turns were blended with some quite obvious disasters lying ahead; usually heavy foreshadowing would put me off but in this book's case I found it all part of the storytelling, as I got the sense that no matter how hard the characters tried they were set on a path towards disaster. For this reason the story slowly became part-thriller, part-tragedy.

The author pulled off writing from the perspective of multiple different characters well - not an easy thing to do. As well as giving different perspectives on the same events it was a good way to move the plot along organically and introduce new details and subplots that added more interest to the story. I think if I could make one small suggestion it would be to highlight to the reader where we are in the week-long holiday at certain points. The characters sometimes refer to the 'end of the week/trip' which gave the sense of counting down to something, but I struggled to place the day or how long was left of the vacation. when these references were made. A tiny point but I think it would have helped ground the story a bit more.

I liked the author’s style of writing.  The book was easy to read, not a lot of depth.  The characters did not have a lot of depth to themselves.  I did not like the ending either.  The police officer left the house and the book was done.  The author left a lot of questions unanswered about what happened to some characters.  There were also a lot of parts of the story that seemed very unrealistic.

The other couple was definitely interesting. This really had me guessing. Very good suspenseful read. I devoured it in one sitting.  A chance meeting for what is two con artists turns into something so much crazier. This had vibes of fatal attraction and even a little single white female. Thanks NetGalley for The Arc  in exchange for my honest review., and to Cathryn Grant for writing a great thriller!

Another great book by Cathryn Grant!! I've read a couple of her others and was looking forward to reading The Other Couple and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend 
4 STARS 🌟 🌟🌟🌟