I was given a copy of The Couple at no 9 by Claire Douglas by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I have read several books by this author, this book's was one of her bests. When Saffy moves into her Gran's house and begins to build an extension 2 body's are found. Saffy tries to find out what has happened and question her Gran who has dementia. This book has lots of twists and turns. Highly recommend.

If I could give more than five stars I definitely would for this brilliant book.
The characters felt so real and I loved the way the truth unravels.
The book begins with Saffy and Tom being alerted by their builders that they’ve found a body in their garden. It turns out to be two bodies and the Police start their investigation.
The house originally belonged to Saffy’s grandmother, Rose, who passed it on to her daughter, Lorna when she moved to a care home, suffering with Dementia.
When the approximate date of the deaths is revealed, it seems it was the same time Rose lived in the house before renting it out.
Saffy is pregnant and worried by the growing number of journalists taking an interest in the story, so her Mum comes over to stay.
Between them they start digging into the past and ask Rose some questions but Rose has good days and bad days and it’s hard to work out what she’s telling them.
This is a brilliant story which gets better and better the more you read.
I loved the ending and felt like I really knew the characters in the book.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

When Saffron and her partner Tom are gifted a house in the countryside how could they possibly refuse?
The house belonged to her grandmother Rose who is unfortunately suffering from dementia and her mother who lives in Spain doesn't want the cottage.
But after the cottage being rented out for a couple of decades there is alot of work to make it back into a home.
Saff and Tom quickly go to work on the old place and decide that a kitchen extension is needed and get contractors to start digging up the garden for the foundations.
But soon into the build the contractors discover human bones and Saffron, Tom, Lolly and even Roses world turns upside down.
How can a family survive with so many dark secret's?

This book is written in two times, In 2018 and also 1980. Saffy and Tom have moved into her Nan’s cottage, and are renovating it before the arrival of their baby. During the extension of the kitchen two bodies are found by the builders. After finding out that the bodies were buried there during the time her Nan lived in the cottage Saffy finds her life turned upside down. There are lots of twists and turns and an unexpected discovery before Saffy gets to bottom of this mystery. You won’t want to put it down once you start reading.

What an amazing read!
Totally engrossing,completely thrilling. I could not stop reading so engrossed in the story was I.
Characters very well defined each with their own backgrounds. So many twists and turns I lost count.
Story got darker and darker and more gripping til the explosive ending!
I loved it!

This was a fast paced book, imagine creating your ideal home passed down from your Grandmother and discovering secrets held by the house from her past.
Once you think you have everything worked out another clever twist springs into action.
Claire Douglas does not disappoint with this great read.
Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph UK, Penguin and to Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Another great read from this oh so talented writer. Lots of twist and turns that will stop you in your tracks.

Saffy Cutler and her boyfriend Tom are the couple at no 9 Skelton Place, in Beggars Nook, a small village in the Cotswolds. Pregnant with their first baby, this young couple have been gifted the property by Saffy’s grandmother, Rose Grey who is now living in a care home, suffering with Alzheimer’s. Rented out for many years, the cottage is now undergoing extensive renovations when work comes to an abrupt halt following the discovery of two bodies in the back garden, which it later transpires have been there for over three decades. Saffy and Tom might hold the keys to their new home but who holds the key as to the identity of the victims and who chose the ground beneath the patio to be their final resting place?

Claire Douglas throws the reader right into the middle of the action with the discovery of the two bodies. Even before the builders raise the alarm you know it’s going to be bad news for the couple and the family as a whole. Immediately you are desperate to know who killed these unidentified victims and why, understanding that the clues will lie in the past but yet unsure how much digging will be required to unearth the truth. I wasn’t prepared for how twisty the storyline would become, nor how intricate the plotting, two hallmarks of a good thriller so in no time at all I knew I was in for a satisfying read. Obviously this isn’t an auspicious start to a new life in the country especially for Saffy who is struggling with the early stages of pregnancy whilst working from home, with Tom commuting into the city, away for long stretches of time. Clearly, as a former owner, Rose will have to be questioned by the police investigating the crime but with a deteriorating memory, how reliable will her recollections be? Her own daughter and Saffy’s mother Lorna, currently living abroad in Spain returns to offer support at this difficult and unsettling time, determined to unravel the mystery that has set the nation’s tongues wagging. A sub plot involving head chef Theo Carmichael who runs a restaurant in Harrogate, his marriage to Jen who is finding it difficult to conceive and his strained relationship with his retired father, Victor, runs alongside. Arousing further intrigue as to how Theo and his father’s history relate to the events unfolding in the Cotswolds, the author takes you on a journey back through time at a steady but gripping pace. Just a few more chapters turn into a few more as you grapple with the details, with some clues glaringly obvious whilst others remain frustratingly complex.

The name Beggars Nook (which I love!) conjures up visions of an eerie location so it seems an ideal setting for murder and mystery. From the beginning I had a sense of deja vu, the feeling I’d read a similar storyline sometime in the distant past preying on my mind but this lack of originality did not detract from my overall enjoyment of this thriller. As far as unreliable witnesses go putting a character who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s centre stage is guaranteed to cast doubt in the reader’s mind, a clever albeit convenient way in which to muddy the waters. I’m never sure how I feel about other characters supplanting the role of the police in an investigation but Lorna takes up the mantle, without fuss, darting across the country, gathering evidence. Slowly with her involvement the layers to this mystery, of which there are many, are peeled back to reveal the bigger, clearer picture. However that’s not before a side helping of menace is thrown into the mix, designed to frighten the residents at no9 into submission and silence, tension mounting for their safety and their sanity! Although I’ve hinted that some twists are rather too easy to spot, the twist to end all twists left me shocked and flabbergasted. I definitely did not see that one coming! If I hadn’t already decided this would be a 4⭐️review then that jaw dropping moment cemented my decision!

Despite having failed Saffy in the past, leaving the parenting up to grandmother Rose so she could maintain her nomadic lifestyle you get the sense Lorna is now ready to commit to a more stable,settled existence. Throwing herself into the heart of the investigation seems like Lorna’s way of making up for lost time, proving she can and will be a good mother to Saffy going forwards. I liked her; she’s independent and resilient and made of stern stuff as opposed to Saffy who appears more fragile and vulnerable. The theme of motherhood and what constitutes a good mother is an important one knitted into the fabric of this storyline. The bond between Saffy and Rose is incredibly strong with Saffy treating her grandmother with so much love and tenderness compared to Lorna who cannot be described as a doting daughter. But it’s not only motherhood that comes under scrutiny from this author. Theo and Victor’s relationship is just as interesting and complex as the ones between Saffy, Lorna and Rose. Miles apart from his harsh,irascible, difficult to communicate with father, Theo displays a more caring nature, his strong desire to be nothing like Victor becoming more understandable as events progress. I like how out of darkness and tragedy comes unity and hopefulness. Ultimately this is a thriller concerned with testing unconditional love to its limit, the results of which will (hopefully) momentarily take your breath away.

A good thriller which I can happily recommend.

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

*4.5 stars*
Saffy and Tom have moved into the house that Saffy has inherited from her grandmother (well actually her mother gifted it to her) but suddenly it doesn’t seem as attractive now that two bodies have been found in the backyard. What is their story and how did they get there.
I’ve enjoyed of all of the Claire Douglas books that I have read (read them all but one) and this was up there with the best.
Half a star removed because I found the first half a little slow but in all respect that could my mind set at the time of reading. The second half just gathered speed and there were many twists and turns that kept my attention fully. Very satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

Another fabulous thriller from Claire Douglas.
Don’t be fooled by the gentle and somewhat ‘expected’ start to this mystery, the plot soon gathers pace and develops twists and turns aplenty.
Told from the points of view of four narrators: young and pregnant, Saffy, the current owner of Skelton Place, gifted by her mother; Lorna, her mother, a wanderer currently living with her latest toy-boy in Spain; Rose Grey, Saffy’s grandmother, narrating from the past when she lived in the cottage, currently suffering from Alzheimer’s and in a care-home; and Theo, living in Yorkshire, trying his best to be a dutiful son to his angry and belligerent father.
No spoilers here - it had me reading late into the night, desperately needing to see what happens. The story contains tension that had me gritting my teeth, fear, suspense, passion and understanding, family secrets long hidden, mystery and suspense. My brain was constantly reasoning, thinking my way through, predicting where I felt the story was going. There were gasps and pauses to allow time to process the brilliantly crafted plot developments. Loved it!

4.5 rounded to 5 stars ..what a great read . A mystery around two dead bodies found in a back garden has Saffy and her mum Lorna embroiled in a mystery of 40 years . Brilliantly written and keeps you turning the we pages . Definitely recommend

This was a perfectly decent read for me, it’s twisty and full of mystery and secrets. While I wouldn’t describe it as a slow-burner as such, there are many layers to the story and a thorough amount of detail provided throughout - I do enjoy a book that offers a good backstory but my only criticism is occasionally I felt that the pace could have been picked up to move the story along.

The characters are a strong point for me, particularly the main ones - Saffy, Lorna, Rose, Theo - they are relatable and feel credible and as the narration flicks between their perspectives as the story progresses, I got a good sense of their development. I thought the storyline was woven together really well with some poignant moments, especially a particular scene toward the end that is both a big twist and tragic revelation. Overall an engaging mystery that is easy to read and held my interest well.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great story from Claire Douglas. Lots of twists and when you think you have got it all worked out ........................... wrong! Well worth a read!
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was another compelling read from the talented Claire Douglas. Saffron and Tom Cutler have been given a cottage by Saffron's mother, Lorna. The Cotswold cottage was originally owned by Lorna's mother, Rose, who is now in a nursing home and suffering from dementia. When builders start work on an extension to the cottage, two bodies are discovered in the garden and they have been there a long while. Concurrently we read that chef Theo is visiting his elderly and rather unpleasant father in Yorkshire. Obviously there stories are going to be connected in some way. Very intriguing.

The narrative involves the points of view of a number of characters and they cleverly pull the well constructed plot together. The slow reveal keeps you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages. The characters are really human and authentic; some are lovely and others not but they are entirely believable.

There is a deep sense of mystery in this book and an intensity in the interaction between the protagonists. The suspense builds to a smart and rewarding ending.

If this novel doesn't fly off the shelves I'll eat a bowl of brussel sprouts!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, it was a good story. I just got a bit confused by the changing names of one of the characters. Otherwise an enjoyable mystery.
It was perhaps not quite as interesting as the cover would indicate, but nonetheless a good read.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for this gripping novel

oh my word the twists and turns with this one, and it was quite late into the book before i suspected what was about to be revealed...and boy what a twist that one was....

this book is about relationships and family life and so much more

when saffy and her hubby inherit a cottage life for them begins and with the new extension being built to make the kitchen bigger the cottage would become their family home until the builders stopped after the skeletal remains of two people were found...

who on earth could they possibly be.....and as the remains are not as old as they at first thought, all the previous owners of the cottage have to be questioned and one of those is saffys grandmother....who is in a care home with dementia....

boy oh boy does this book keep up totally hooked with the many twists and turns and red herrings, never in a million years did i suspect what was about to be revealed at the end...so well written and paced to keep you guessing on where you were going to end up...just brilliant

After a slowish build up start this book then sets off like a rocket and it’s full on until the explosive end,great mum/ daughter relationship shown in the boo and a lot of ‘OOOOOOOO’’s from me at the superb ending

Well this grabs you by the throat right at the start. So well written and told from the perspective of all the main characters.
Saffy and Tom are happy in their new cottage until their builders find two bodies in the garden. They’ve been there since the time her grandmother owned the house. The grandmother who’s now in a care home. The story unfolds and gives you just enough to make you keep turning those pages. Such a good read. This is the first Claire Douglas book I’ve read but I’ll definitely seek out the others. Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publisher for the advanced copy.

I absolutely devoured this book, and read it in three sittings around a busy day job.

It was intriguing, dark, atmospheric, intricate and best of all, a very human story in the sense of following the different character’s perspectives as the tale unfolded. I totally believed every character as they were all written so well, and while some of the things they did horrified me, I could also understand their motivations and the emotions that drove them.

There was a great sense of place in terms of the cottage and the village, and the pace was constant, prompting me to keep turning the pages.

This was a brilliant psychological thriller written by a highly skilled author. Can’t wait to read more books by Claire Douglas.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this book v much, it felt like it was refreshing change. Staffy and lorna made me smile as they seem such odds with each other.