“Something terrible happened to the couple who lived here before…”

⭐️⭐️ (2/5)

Moving to this gorgeous house was meant to be a new start for Dionne and Christian’s family. Christian wraps his strong arms around her and tells her to forget the note; he wants this to be the perfect home for them. But as she looks into his blue-grey eyes, she wonders if there’s something he’s keeping from her or if she’s just being paranoid.

Was there a couple who lived here before? And what happened to them?

I wanted to like this book but it was just too all over the place for me. It started out strong, wondering if the note was real, wondering what’s going on in this neighborhood, wondering if there’s something sinister happening. Then everything started playing out, and I was ANNOYED.

I didn’t give it 1⭐️ because it did keep me turning the page and I finished the book. Things just happened too out of left field for me.

This was a fast-paced popcorn thriller that is easy to get into and easy to read. Dionne and Christian move into a new housing development and immediately Di gets a creepy sense that they weren't the first people to live in the house... even though everyone tells them they are. There are some good twists and turns that keep you guessing. However, there were so many far-fetched things that happened in the story that you really need to stretch your imagination to enjoy it.

Just when I think I’ve read all of Daniel Hurst’s books, another one arrives and I’m drawn into the book, unable to put it down

I look the short, sharp chapters, always managing to leave me needing to move onto the next one.

This book kept me going wondering what the outcome would be, waiting in anticipation for the twist. Then of course all is not what it seems!

Great book, great author, just need a breather before the next one to catch my breath!!

Twisty and addictive....This gives domestic thriller vibes and explores trust, betrayal, and how well we really know those around us. Fast paced Full of suspense Another 5 stars for Daniel Hurst!

"The Couple Before Us" by Daniel Hurst is an absolutely captivating thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page! Hurst masterfully crafts a suspenseful narrative filled with unexpected turns and a palpable sense of tension that makes it impossible to put down.

The plot is incredibly intricate, weaving together secrets and revelations that will have you constantly questioning what's real. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that deliver a relentless pace and a truly shocking climax, "The Couple Before Us" is an essential read. It's a brilliantly executed and highly addictive story that you won't soon forget!

I have been on a massive reading slump for a while now and the couple before us was the best book to get me out of it, the authors work has never disappointed, i couldn't wait.

A fast paced book that has multiple twists and turns that will have you guessing what is going on and when i say full of twists i mean twists, my jaw dropped. Some characters you will like whilst some are very unlikeable. There are secrets that the main character delves into and overall the book was very interesting and kept me engaged turning the pages right to the very end. Would definitely recommend to everybody who enjoys suspense and jam packed twists.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers Bookouture for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

4.5 stars

The Couple Before Us started with fast-paced plot that kept me turning the pages. Daniel Hurst does a good job building suspense and creating a sense of unease throughout the story. while the twists were surprising, some of them felt a bit forced or unrealistic. The characters were interesting but not particularly deep. the ending wasn’t as great as I hope dot would be.

Overall, it’s an entertaining psychological thriller that’s good for a quick read, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Daniel Hurst is one of the authors where I just know I’m going to enjoy the book. This book has plenty of twists and turns, it’s hard to put down and fast paced. I had a few guesses for the ending, but I was wrong. I highly recommend this book and any other book by Daniel Hurst.

My first read by this author and sadly it fell flat. The writing was simple and the plot started off good but went kinda off the walls near the end. I did say I was invested to see what happened but not sure if I will read another book by him. 3 ⭐️

I was extremely excited to have gotten early access to „The Couple Before Us”, as I’ve read The Doctor’s Wife series before and I really enjoyed it. Sadly, despite a very strong start, the book ended up being a disappointment.

Di, a pregnant SAHM, and her husband Christian currently live in a hotel with their young son Kai. An opportunity to buy a house in a new estate seems too good to pass on, and despite Di’s initial doubts, she agrees to the move. As she tries to make the house her home, and unpack before the baby arrives, she finds an ominous note, one that changes everything and sets her out on a dangerous path to find out what really happened to people before her.

I must say that the premise had me hooked, and the first 30% of the book flew by… and that’s where things went downhill. I am not a stranger to suspending my belief, and I’m always down for a ride, but this time it was a bit too much. From breaking and entering, to the Big Brother seemingly watching all the time, I could not sympathise with our heroine. Actually, I had to put the book down multiple times, just because I was so so so annoyed at her action.

The finale and resolution also felt extremely lackluster and rushed, with no real motivation between the villains actions. I must say that I have very high expectations and was quite disappointed, but I will count this as one off and will eagerly look forward to different books by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

2⭐️⭐️


I’m so sorry, but this book just didn’t feel like Daniel Hurst at all. I’ve read quite a few of his thrillers and usually fly through them, completely hooked by the suspense, the twists, and the clever storytelling. But The Couple Before Us really missed the mark for me, and honestly, it didn’t feel like it came from the same author.

The premise sounded promising a couple moving into a new house with a mysterious past but it ended up being quite flat and predictable. The story lacked tension, the twists were either obvious or too far-fetched, and the characters didn’t feel real or layered. I didn’t find myself connecting with anyone or caring much about what happened to them, which is unusual for a Hurst novel.

The pacing also felt uneven. The beginning dragged with repetitive scenes and filler, while the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. I kept waiting for that signature Hurst “aha!” moment the twist that makes you rethink everything but it never came. Instead, it felt like the story just fizzled out.

I honestly wondered while reading if Daniel was having a bad day when he wrote this, or if it was a rushed project to meet a deadline. Whatever the case, it didn’t feel like his usual standard. That said, I know he can do better he’s written some amazing thrillers before, and I’m still a fan of his work overall. I’ll definitely keep reading his books, but this one was a disappointment.



✨shaye.readss

Pregnant Di, her husband Christian, and their son Kai move into what’s supposed to be their forever home. But Di immediately senses something’s off. When she finds a hidden note warning them about the house’s past, she can’t let it go, even though Christian thinks she’s just being paranoid.

Thoughts:
While, I didn’t love the story, but I liked his writing style. He’s very descriptive and creative, so I’d definitely try more of his work.

The premise had me hooked early on, and I thought Hurst did a decent job writing from a female point of view. As someone who just had a baby, I could relate to Di in some ways, but a few of her actions didn’t feel realistic for someone that pregnant, like crawling under a bed. She also wasn’t very likable. She came off as dramatic, constantly jumped to conclusions, and assumed everything somehow related to her house.

Her inner thoughts got repetitive quickly, and just when things should have gotten interesting, she acted completely out of character. The ending also felt rushed, with everything wrapped up too quickly.

That said, it was a fast read with a few good twists. The setup was strong, even if the payoff didn’t fully land. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with a bit of drama, it might still be worth checking out.

Obviously it wasn't going to disappoint. It's the new release from Daniel Hurst after all!

It's a fast paced, thrill a minute read that had me hooked from the off, and I didn't stop until I'd flipped the last page...trust me when I say it's that good!!

High on suspense with the tension of knowing something is imminent, the plot is jam-packed with unexpected twists and a blow your mind ending.

The story is told throughout in first person from Dionne's perspective. She was an extremely flawed character whose erratic behaviour and inner voices had me second guessing her.

An enjoyable, edge of your seat popcorn thriller.

Absolutely loved this book. So many twists and turns that I felt like I needed a chiropractic adjustment. I highly recommend this read.

2.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this novel in return for an honest review.

This book was chaotic and not in the good way with a twist that was unexpected and not in the way you want a twist. This book was too long in my opinion. This is my second book by this author and I think his style just doesn't jive with me.

This was amazing!! I was gripped from the first chapter!! My first book by Daniel Hurst and will not be my last !!
The twists like what !!! I was completely shocked !!
Did not see any of it coming completely blown away

This book just didn’t really do it for me. I felt like a lot of the information in the book was repetitive and descriptive in ways that it did not need to be. Although I feel like it was suspenseful, I don’t think the ending pulled everything together and I wasn’t “wowed” by it. Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

In this domestic thriller, we meet Dionne (Di), husband Christian, and son Kai who are searching for a new home as they wait on the arrival of a new baby. They stumble across a development that is building brand new homes and selling as brand new builds. Lucky for Di and Christian, there is one available just for them. Di feels like they are rushing and has an off feeling that she can't seem to shake. Little do they know they are buying into the HOA from hell.

I really enjoyed this and thought the plot was unique. I will say, Di was incredibly frustrating at first but she was written very well. There are so many unlikable characters and it made it a breeze to read. I was completely caught off guard with the twists!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Couple Before Us was just recently published on July 17, 2025.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #TheCoupleBeforeUs by #DanielHurst. Dionne, Di, and Christian have just moved and it’s supposed to be the perfect house and we are supposed to be the first owners. But after Di finds a note about previous owners, it sets off a whirlwind of triggers for her. She decided to find out what the truth is and she finds way more than she bargained for. How well does she really know her husband? I loved this non stop suspenseful thriller and couldn’t put it down.

I found this to be an easy and accessible read, especially as a non-native English speaker — the language is clear, and the writing style straightforward, which I appreciated. The book isn’t overly descriptive, which helped keep the pace moving. That said, I found the first part of the story quite slow to build, though it did improve as the plot developed.

Some of the dialogue felt a bit forced at times, with certain lines coming across as slightly cliché. I also struggled to fully connect with the main character — her thought process and conclusions often felt far-fetched, and I didn’t find much chemistry or emotional depth in her relationship with her husband.

Overall, a light and readable thriller with some engaging twists, but I personally had difficulty connecting emotionally with the characters.