I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

"Do Not Disturb" by Claire Douglas is a gripping psychological thriller with a twist-filled plot that keeps the reader engaged throughout. The story follows a woman who finds herself in a seemingly perfect but increasingly sinister situation, blending suspense with complex character dynamics. As always, Douglas's writing is sharp, and her ability to craft intricate, tension-filled scenes shines through.

However, while the novel is well-written and certainly holds your attention, it didn't quite have the same "wow" factor that her previous works have delivered. The twists, though effective, felt somewhat predictable at times, and the pacing, while steady, lacked the relentless intensity that I’ve come to expect from Douglas. That said, this is still a solid read that fans of psychological thrillers will appreciate, offering a good mix of mystery, suspense, and well-developed characters. It may not be her best, but it's certainly an enjoyable addition to her collection.

This one kept me on the edge of my sofa tearing through the pages at such a pace! I thoroughly enjoyed this creepy adventure in the beautiful Welsh mountains (and I might have slept with the light on….)

Interesting, engrossing and throughly enjoyable. I found myself thinking about this book long after I had finished reading it.

Alright, gather 'round, my fellow bookworms, because this one's a treat! Meet William Arrowood, a contemporary of the legendary Sherlock Holmes, but with a twist - his clients ain't exactly the cream of the crop. No fancy-pants, newsworthy folks here. Instead, he's dealing with regular folks like you and me, just trying to find their way in the world.

And get this - instead of a trusty Doctor Watson by his side, Arrowood's got Norman Barnett, his assistant and the narrator of this tale. Oh, but don't be fooled, Arrowood is convinced he's the bee's knees when it comes to detective work. Move over, Sherlock!

So, what's the case this time? A simple request from worried parents to find their missing daughter, Birdie. But hold on to your hats, because this ain't your average missing person investigation. Nope, it takes a wild turn into murder territory, with danger lurking around every corner.

You'll find yourself venturing into the back streets and villages of Victorian Britain, rubbing shoulders with some not-so-salubrious characters. And let me tell you, the treatment of those less mentally astute back in those times will leave you shaking your head.

But hey, it's not all doom and gloom! There are secrets to unravel, perils to dodge, and conspiracies to dismantle. It's like a rollercoaster of intrigue and excitement, with Arrowood's friendly rivalry with Sherlock Holmes adding a dash of humor to the mix.

So, if you're a fan of mysteries set in the Victorian era, filled with danger, daring detectives, and a good dose of laughter, this book and series are a must-read! Trust me, it's worth taking a peek at this hidden gem. I hadn't tried this author's work before, but now I'll be keeping an eye out for more adventures from him in the future! Four stars for sure!

An intriguing read which was haunting and atmospheric at times. Layers of family secrets slowly revealed. Thanks for the opportunity to read

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Claire Douglas is a master of the psychological thriller. From the beginning, there is so much tension both in the setting and between the characters. There are so many significant things that have happened in these characters' lives before we even meet them and this means there are a lot of questions that I was really keen to find answers to.

As Do Not Disturb is set in a guest house, there are a lot of suspects among the guests, the owners, Kirsty and Adrian, and their family. I didn't find the characters particularly likeable and they all seemed capable of committing a crime, so I changed my mind several times about who had done what over the course of the novel.

I will admit to feeling slightly disappointed towards the middle of the novel, as I felt I could see where the story was going and predict the ending. However, I should have had more faith in the author! The last third of Do Not Disturb is a thrilling ride and although it had taken me a while to get into it, by the time I reached the ending, I did not want to tear myself away!

Through Do Not Disturb, the author explores a number of interesting themes. I felt these added an extra layer to the novel as the story gathered pace.

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

You can always rely on Claire Douglas to keep your attention all the way through a book with her intricate plots which you have to try and unravel, which is a challenge for us who love a good psychological thriller.

As recommended as always.

I do love my Claire Douglas novels and this was no exception I really enjoyed the characters, the plot and I love her writing and the way she story tells.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this book, it kept me guessing from the beginning and I read it in a couple of days would definitely recommend.

Do Not Disturb is another excellent read by Claire Douglas. I have read a couple of her books now and I love her writing.
When we meet Wales born Kirsty she has been living with her husband and two daughters in London. However, her husband hasn’t been well, so they decide it’s time to start a new life back in Wales. They buy a guest house to run as a family, along with Kirsty’s mother.
Before they are even open to guests her Mum asks if Kirsty’s cousin, Selena, can stay with her sick daughter. Kirsty is reluctant. They haven’t spoken for years after a massive fallout. Does she need the extra stress in her life? However, her mother had pretty much decided for her anyway, and Selena arrives. It isn’t long before something feels off though and then a tragic accident (or so it seems initially) leaves them all in shock. Serious questions are raised and what we discover as the story progresses is shocking and heart wrenching. I’m not sure how I would handle the situation they are faced with. I can certainly understand Kirsty as a mother.
There is so much going on in this story. So many complex characters. So many back stories and secrets to be revealed (and kept). It’s full of surprises and it certainly held my attention from the first page to the very last. I highly recommend!

Was a good premise for a story, but I guess it fell a little flat in parts, Kirsty was a bit of a let down, I wanted her to be so much more that she was. Selena was a tart, not surprisingly the paternity of her child was dubious. Hubby was a lazy bum and taking liberties! I’m aware of his mental health issues which had an effect on him previously, but when you are a parent then you need to step up. I’ve read other books from this author and have been really impressed m, maybe this just wasn’t to my taste?

Unfortunately I just could not get into this book. It may be one for other readers, but I was unable to finish it.

This one has been on my reading list for a while. After getting round to it I can see why I didn't rush to get to it.
It's highly reviewed on here generally but it didn't quite grab me this one.
The story sets itself out strongly with the main event, then heading back in time to lead up to the event and then the aftermath is sorted out afterwards. The format was OK but meant the build up to the main event was kind of muted as you knew what to expect. The aftermath, in rather long-winded fashion, sorted out who was responsible and why with a few side-plots for good measure.
Again this format was OK but there was no real sense of anticipation or build up as you knew what was going to happen and so it certainly doesn't get the pulse going at all bar one brief interaction in the garden.
All in all for me it felt that it didn't quite hit the mark.
The setting is fairly local to me, which should have added something but aside from being set in a small Welsh village it didn't really matter in the end where it was either.
Overall, given the high scoring reviews I'm left feeling a bit underwhelmed, so 3-stars from me, although I can see why book club readers would maybe lap this up more.
As ever though many thanks for the advanced-review copy.

I was looking forward to this book as I had read Claire Douglas before. The story is about a family who move to wales to start a new life by buying a guesthouse. The storyline was ok with some different characters being introduced and plot lines to go with the story. However I found the book having too many subplots that did not make the story and cause red herrings you didn’t need.

This is a great book

Very keep you on the edge of your seat reading

Get a few hours together and curl up with this I guarantee you will keep turning the pages

I've never read a Claire Douglas book before, and on the strength of this one, I don't think I will go back.

The overwhelming feeling I had after reading this book was that I was being patronised. The style of writing felt quite 'young adult', as a lot of the finer details of owning a B&B were explained in mind-numbingly boring detail.
Kirsty complains her way through the vast majority of the story, and this becomes really tedious. I thought the horrible cliché of locals not being particularly welcoming was incredibly passé. It also wasn't really as gripping as the reviews suggested.

The author deserves credit for her handling of mental health, as it's done quite sympathetically, but it wasn't really enough to save the rest of it.

Overall, perhaps a good read for a grown up teen, but not for me.

An ok read I don't like books that jump backwards and forwards it is hard to keep track of what day we are on.

Struggled to get through this one, it wasn't bad but I didn't find it as gripping as I would have liked it to be. I'm glad I finished it though to round up the story