I’ve read and enjoyed most novels by the writing duo known as Nicci French and I think Don’t Answer the Door is one of their best.
We know from the start that Amy Barton has a secret but before the reader can find out more, she is brutally murdered. The police soon identity the most obvious suspect, her husband Oliver who has been experiencing depression following a redundancy. When it’s highlighted that the investigative team is all male, DS Maud O’Connor from the Met is brought in to head up the investigation.

This is an absolute masterpiece of crime fiction writing, the author’s set the scene beautifully - a Suffolk village where everyone knows each other and people are very quick to accept the guilt of Oliver Barton. The aftermath for Oliver and Amy’s children and parents is heartbreaking and I loved how the children play a crucial role in discovering the truth. I love the character of Maud and her tenacious and detailed investigation is so tense. There is a breathtaking twist that I did not expect and the novel takes on a new direction from that point.

This is a stunning novel, I raced through it over the course of one day, holding my breath. It is the fourth and in my opinion the best in the Maud O’Connor series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

When Amy Barton - sweet and popular, a friend to many, the mother of two young children - is murdered, the police don't find it necessary to look much further than her husband. Oliver Barton has no alibi and is struggling mentally after losing his job. He's the obvious suspect, and the investigating officers have no hesitation in assuming his guilt. We as readers, though, know Oliver is innocent, even if we're not initially sure who is guilty.

However, concerns about the all-male investigation team lead to them being forced to bring in a woman officer "for the optics". She's expected to do as she's told, and certainly not to question anything - unfortunately, the one they are sent is Maud O'Connor, who's not renowned for doing as she's told. Maud is unconvinced of Oliver's guilt, and she's not prepared to sit back and let injustice go unchecked.

This is a really powerful read which clearly delineates the impact of Amy's murder on those around her - particularly, and most heartbreakingly, her two little children, combative Daisy and vulnerable Harry. Not to mention her husband Oliver, who is broken by her death and the enforced separation from his children. And Amy's parents Laura and Jim, devastated and bewildered about what to believe.

Around halfway through, the plot takes a turn and we're desperate no longer to find out who's responsible, but to see that person brought to justice.

This was a hugely compelling read - I was thoroughly invested in the story and rooting for Maud to expose the murderer and exonerate Oliver. Maud herself is a great character, principled and tenacious, and it's beyond infuriating how she's treated by the local police.

Excellent read.

I rushed to read this latest from Nicci as I have enjoyed her books in the past. This one was just as good and packed full of menace. The characters were very convincing and I enjoyed it. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I always enjoy books by the author duo of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, and this is their fourth book featuring D S Maud O’Connor, so I was delighted to obtain an early copy from NetGalley. This was a powerful, character driven crime drama which I found engaging.

The story is introduced through Amy and Oliver Barton, who live in the Suffolk village of Brookstead with their children Daisy and Harry. Amy is having an affair. When she is brutally murdered Oliver is the prime suspect, the police think they’ve got their man and can wrap the case up quickly. However, when D S Maud O’Connor is drafted into the team as part of a PR exercise, she has other ideas.

The police procedural and investigation were compelling parts of the story, as Maud goes about methodically sorting clues, and there are false trails, red herrings and people who are not what they appear to be, maintaining the suspense. The tension builds in steady increments, backed by a riveting plot that all comes together perfectly.

The characters are beautifully constructed, I loved Maud’s tenacity, she came across as a force to be reckoned with, and she felt credible and real. On the flip side, I found D S Ben Tilman and rookie Constable Luke Mickelwait to be unlikeable and annoying, but all the characters are compelling and you feel every emotion with them.

This is yet another book by Nicci French that proved to be a fantastic read - a cleverly written thriller and a 5 star read for me.

Many thanks to @netgalley and publishers @simon&schusteruk for the ARC.

Don’t Answer the Door by Nicci French is the kind of psychological thriller that makes you suspicious of almost everyone and keeps you questioning what is really going on.

The story begins with a seemingly ordinary situation that quickly takes a much darker turn, drawing the characters into a web of secrets, uncertainty and danger. As the story unfolds, there is a growing sense that something isn't quite right, and I found myself constantly trying to work out who could be trusted and what might happen next.

What I particularly enjoyed was the atmosphere. Nicci French creates that uncomfortable feeling that danger could be much closer than you realise, and the title itself becomes increasingly unsettling as the story progresses. There is plenty of tension, but the book also takes time to explore its characters and the relationships between them, which made me feel invested in what happened to them rather than simply waiting for the next twist.

I also liked how the story plays with the idea of trust. How well do we really know the people around us? And how much would it take for our perception of someone to completely change? These questions sit underneath the suspense and give the novel a little more depth than a straightforward thriller.

There are plenty of moments where I thought I had worked things out, only to start questioning my theories again. That sense of uncertainty kept me turning the pages, and I enjoyed not knowing exactly where the story was heading.

Overall, Don’t Answer the Door is an atmospheric and gripping psychological thriller with plenty of twists, secrets and unease. It kept me guessing and, most importantly for me, it made me want to keep reading to find out how everything would eventually come together. If you enjoy thrillers that leave you questioning who you can trust, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster UK and Nicci French for my ARC of 'Don't Answer the Door', in return for an honest review.

I have read most of the novels written by the duo known as Nicci French and have found them all to be brilliant. However, this must be one of the best, if not the best.

I love the character Maud O'Conner who is now a Detective Inspector and she is quickly becoming one of my favourite fictitious detectives.

Amy Barton is murdered in her own house and we know she has been having an affair but we have no idea who with or all of the background information. The two police officers investigating draw the conclusion that the husband is guilty as after all it is usually the husband/partner. However, the senior police believe a woman needs to be involved in the investigation so Maud is brought in from London.

She is not convinced it is the husband and, despite the wrath of those already involved, she delays the arrest of the husband.

This is an exceptional crime fiction novel with a clever plot keeping me engrossed from start to finish.

Highly recommended.

A brilliant, tense and exciting read. Well paced throughout and keeps you hooked. . Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I was so confident that I had this sussed right from the start but turns out I couldnt have been more wrong. Its not often a book literally makes my jaw drop but here we are!!! Absolutely amazing, the twists and tuns had me reeling. Bu the end I was in happy tears..its perfectly written so many original and well developed characters and an amazing plot with some amazing threads perfectly woven together. Absolutely must read

DI Maud O’Connor #4

Amy Barton has been keeping secrets but before she can admit to them, she is brutally murdered. The chief suspect for DS Ben Tilman and DC Luke Mickelwait is her husband Oliver, after all, it’s always the husband, isn’t it? After rumblings in the Suffolk town about the lack of female officers, DI Maud O’Connor is brought into lead the inquiry. After reviewing all the evidence and interviewing Oliver, Maud isn’t as sure as her new colleagues. As usual, feathers are going to be ruffled, go Maud.

I’ve been reading books by this dynamic duo for many years now and I’ve grown to expect a high-quality piece of crime fiction and they keep on delivering exactly that. The Maud O’Connor series is especially good, the writers have created an outstanding character here. She is calm, observant, analytical, questioning all and testing evidence and as a person is very comfortable in her own unique skin. I love how she infuriates the patriarchy when she doesn’t do what they want her to do and oh, what a delight it is to watch them squirm.

The book is multilayered and what is especially powerful is that the victim, Amy Barton, is centre stage. Her character and personality become clear to see as is the fallout from her death. The heartbreak of her family and especially the impact on her young children strikes a very emotional chord and their role in the storytelling is an important one. All the family are very well portrayed with their grief being palpable.

The storytelling is well paced, the plot constantly moves, it’s tense, suspenseful and will shock. Just as my suspicion antenna twitches in a couple of directions, the rug is pulled spectacularly from beneath my feet. That’s one heck of a jaw dropping curveball, a real thunker that will leave bruises! Fantastic. All of this emerges amongst an excellent atmosphere. It’s very unsettling and uneasy from the start and this is partly because of the small town Suffolk setting where everyone knows everyone.

Overall, if there’s a better writing duo out there, I’ve not yet met them on the page. They are consistently good and this is yet another compelling and engaging mystery thriller with an admirable central character. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

What an absolutely brilliant book, I could barely put it down! A great thriller that runs flat out through the whole book, we don’t even meet Maud until 25% through the book. The story is brilliantly balanced between what we think we know and what can’t be known - yet. So glad I finished the previous book in this series before starting this one, so I understood who Ross is. I now know what Maud looks like and how old she is, not sure we knew before. A great 5 stars read

Before Amy Barton can share her secret to anyone, she is found dead and her husband Oliver is suspect number one. Their children’s lives are shattered, as are Amy’s parents, and none can figure out why Oliver would even consider such a thing. However, the little ones will prove paramount to an investigation that necessitates the help of an outside source, one fans of French will remember from a previous novel. The tension is neatly – but not too neatly – built up and this bird’s eye view of proceedings really does make the reader feel part of the story, fully engrossed. It’s so cleverly written, but with an ease that continues to astound.

I am now addicted to the Maud O’Connor series. I was absolutely hooked on this book and devoured it.
Great storyline and I thought I sussed it until a certain bit part way through where I realised I was wrong - no spoilers from me.
Good characters and detectives you wouldn’t want on your case.
I’ve read all of the books by Nicci French and thus doesn’t disappoint - 5🌟
Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster and more please.