Loved it. Twisty-turny and as dark as you’d expect. Constantly kept me guessing, easy to read and gripping.

I really enjoyed this book about a dysfunctional family ooening a BnB amd how their lives are flipped by the various guests.

The worst of the guests is a blast from the past and brings along a suitcase full of issues they couldve done without.

I loved the progression of characters and stories and Clare Douglas didnt disappoint.

A young family moving from London to Wales to start a new life... It's not exactly dynamic and exciting, is it? But that's where we start. And those first few pages did fill me with a sense of dread far from what you'd hope in a juicy thriller. However, soon the book came to life... with a limp body and a pool of blood. Yes, for such a pedestrian introduction it didn't take long for the tone to shift and the tension to build. So much so that when I was about halfway through a friend asked what I was reading and I actually described it as a horror story. The plot and characters are so spooky in themselves that I kept forgetting they were in an old house next to a graveyard - something that, when first introduced, felt laboured and transparent.

As you may realise, I got over my concerns about the slow start. With hindsight, it was a subtle way of amplifying the story that followed. It became compulsive. The writing is elegant, with careful usage of things like chapter breaks that remind you to breathe - handy given it did have me holding my breath more than once. The plot is tight, unfolding only ever as much as is needed to unsettle you. That measured delivery is where this book shines. Characters rarely show more than they need to, which does result in some odd flags for things that aren't delivered instantly before being used, but no matter how two-dimensional they may seem there is often a flourish involved when the pieces all slot together.

By the second half of this book, I was thinking twice about picking it up because I knew I would be reluctant to put it down again. It delivers a truly accomplished story that goes far beyond expectations. There is a spooky side to it all, but more than anything it's a twisting and turning thriller. It manages stomach churning shifts without feeling convoluted. And in the end, it's draining in a satisfying way. I'm relieved it's finished now, I'm sad I'll never get that same suspense again. I'm curious how this will feel a second time, knowing what I know now. And it's only by mercy of having too big a pile of books to read I'm not going back to the start immediately.

A chilly and luxurious thriller that delivers a powerful punch. Absolutely splendid!

My thanks to Penguin UK-Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kirsty, husband Adrian and their two young daughters leave London to start a new life in the Brecon Beacons area of Wales. Purchased an old property with the financial help of Kirsty's mother Carol and carry out renovations to begin a guest-house business. So far so good. And then the first 'guest' arrives - Selena and her daughter Ruby, invited by Carol as Selena allegedly needs to escape an abusive husband. Kirsty hasn't seen Selena for seventeen years and she is the last person she wants to see. Too many bad memories.

The locals are unfriendly, it is rumoured that the house is haunted, scary events begin to happen as other guests arrive for short stays. There is an underlying menace to this story that builds a level of tension as events unfold and Selena's real reason for seeking refuge becomes apparent. A complex plot in which past events will come to the fore with one hell of a twist come the end.

Really pleased and grateful to be given the chance to review this one as I love Claire Douglas’s work! This one didn’t disappoint. A good solid read with twists along the way. Read it in 24 hours!

I have read other books by Claire Douglas and always enjoy them and this was no different. The tension builds nicely, twists are named or hinted at, some are guessed others comes as a pleasant surprise. The ending was good too. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.

I was looking forward to this book as I enjoyed the last one so much. I found it harder to start the book, an enjoyable read, but a bit of a slow burner.

Kirsty, her husband and two children have had a tough year and, with financial support from Kirsty's mum, have decided to start a new life in Kirsty’s home town in the Brecon Beacons. They open a guest house but the local people do not appear to be welcoming. The first guest arrives, with her dog in arms, flamboyant and claiming to have psychic powers and informs them the house has a bad aura. The rest of their guests in their first week are family members, one of which, Selena, a cousin who fell out with Kirsty many years earlier is totally unexpected.

I enjoyed reading about all the characters and the author’s descriptive writing is spot on. The moody dark setting of the area sets the scene for a truly intriguing thriller. There are many twists and turns and I was totally enthralled throughout. I was kept guessing right to the end which is always a plus.

I highly recommend this thriller.

I have read and enjoyed a couple of this author's previous books but, for me, this one didn't quite hit the heady heights that they did. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book but there was just something missing for me, making this a four rather than a five star read.
So, after a bit of a rum time of late, Kirsty has partnered up with her mother in a new business venture. Relocating alongside her family - husband Adrian and their two children - back to her Welsh childhood hometown in order to run a guesthouse. After a few shenanigans with the renovations and indeed the locals, they are finally ready to open. But not all their first guests are as welcome, or indeed paying, as they'd have liked; especially cousin Serena, along with her disabled daughter, Ruby. Apparently Selena is escaping an abusive marriage, I say apparently as Selena has a bit of a track record with the economics of truth, the main reason for her long estrangement from one-time bosom buddy Kirsty. Another of the first guests also bizarrely declares the house to "have a dark energy". Far from the fresh start that Kirsty wanted and needed after the time they had just been through in London with Adrian. But that's just the start of things...
I think that my main gripe with this book was that it was simply too busy. There was too much going on that certain things just got all caught up in the noise rather than having the impact that they probably should have had. It all got a bit too convoluted for me, sadly. Too many not-so-nice characters with motives did weaken the plot a tad. In fact, I can't think of one character I actually liked. It was also a bit on the predictable side at times, I guessed a fair few things early which probably did mar my enjoyment if truth be told. Oh and we got a fair old share of twists, turns and red herrings throughout. And then, when all was said and done, and the truth, the real truth eventually all came out... well, that just didn't quite work for me and left me a little unsatisfied. Maybe I'm being too harsh, maybe I'm just in need of a break from the genre for a wee while to get the juices flowing again. Maybe it just wasn't quite the book for me. A decent enough read in itself, just not quite as I'd have preferred in certain aspects.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Kirsty and Adrian decide to move their family from London to Wales after Adrian suffers a breakdown. They find an old dilapidated house, which with the help of Kirsty’s mum, they are going to turn into a guesthouse. As the opening of the guesthouse approaches, dead flowers are left on the doorstep and stories about the history of the house are revealed.

Selena, Kirsty’s cousin is one of the first guests to arrive. They haven’t seen each other since they were 17 and Kirsty is not sure she wants her there. As they try to resolve their differences, Selena is found dead at the bottom of the stairs. Kirsty is sure that her death was an accident but the police think otherwise.

Do Not Disturb is a well written thriller that has plenty of twists and turns with an unexpected ending.

Full of twists this book it kept you guessing all the way . Good characters and plot I really enjoyed it . My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my chance to read

Lots of twists and turns and a claustrophobic setting which adds to the tension. A tension which builds as secrets from the past emerge. The storyline takes a while to 'get into' but hold your breath, accept some suspensions of disbelief and watch out for surprise ending.

After finishing the book and comparing it to the synopsis I have to say I wasn't expecting the story to go the way it did. I didn't think the victim would be that character, I assumed maybe the husband or mother. Even afterwards I suspected everyone but the actual killer. Everyone else had a motive except the killer. Unless they had one that we never discover?
I think the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the reveal. I feel it was for shock value more than anything else and it definitely was a shock. Also the last page set a few months later left me with more questions I don't think I'll ever get answered.
The writing itself had me hooked from the beginning. I usually don't like to read thrillers too late but with this I had to know what happened. I suspected too many characters to have to wait. For a book around 400 pages I devoured it within a few hours.

Its certainly a roller coaster ! Just when you start to get to grips with the complex plot it all twists again. A brilliant read.

Moving to Wales to start afresh Kirsty and her family open a guesthouse in the hope of a quite simple life away from London. what happens is that her entire family end up staying in the guest house and the books takes on an Agatha Christie vibe it being so claustrophobic and dark. Adrian's illness, the girls difficult relocation and Kirsty's mum coming to stay and work with them all tightens the circle around Kirsty leaving her to feel that she has no alternative other than to keep secrets !

I won't spoil the book for those yet to read it. Suffice to say that the Becons of Wales are atmospheric and so is the village where the family settle. Old scores are to be settled and whilst some wounds heal others are opened up and will remain (possibly forever).

A damned good read

Thanks to netgallery for an advanced copy of this book.

For the first quarter of this book I was rating it a solid 4 stars.... but then it got a bit too busy if that is the right word.
The story in it self is great. There is elements of ghosts, murder, munhousens, child abuse, damaged childhoods, incest , depression, attempted suicide ,you name it this book has got it. But is it really necessary? I don’t think so. Saying all that it’s definitely worth a read.

Thank you #netgalley for this review copy to read. I like veld this book. You follow kirsty and Adrian and their 2 children after having a tragic event happen to them and makes them reassess their life in London and decide to move to Wales to open a guesthouse along with Kirsty's mother. A lot of events happen in this house as they are due to open to the public this explains a bit more about Kirsty and her families past with some tragic consequences. I was hooked and wanted to read more and discover if what I thought was happening was in fact the case but then the story throws you around and I honestly didn't guess who did it. If you have read this authors books before you will enjoy this if first time you are in for a treat. Thank you again net galley.

Wow: this really was a page turner of a thriller. I really enjoyed Last Seen Alive by the same author and this is just as good.

Set against the brooding beauty of the Brecon Beacons this twisty, dark, novel features Kirsty and her family hoping for a fresh start running a guesthouse and escaping from London. By necessity Kirsty has had to go into business with her mother and the description of their fractious relationship is excellent. As guests begin to arrive odd events occur. One guest, in particular, Selena, is a face from Kirsty's past that she had never expected to see again. Why has Kirsty’s mother invited her and what is it she seems to be running from? Why are dead flowers being left on the steps of the guesthouse and who has left a noose in the attic?

Seriously creepy and delightfully clever. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

This was an absorbing, fast read. I enjoyed it and would recommend it. The ending was surprising - I didn’t see it coming! I liked the setting of the B&B in Wales and the author spins an interesting tale of a family moving house and setting up a new business after a very stressful time. The plot works very well with the characters under one roof and there’s plenty of tension so it was no problem turning the pages. A very good holiday read!

Kirsty's family is going through a big change, her daughters are coping with it in different ways, and her husbands not really pulling his weight, despite having Welsh roots Kristy still feels she is an outsider in the village, and then the arrival of people from the past unsettle the family more.

Sometime a book just makes you really appreciate the people around you, while you re reading it. Do Not Disturb did that to me. The background of the Welsh Mountains, the spooky old house and someone messing with the family. This book had suspense, drama, betrayal and compassion. Its dark and twisted in a beautiful way.

I would like to thank Penguin UK-Michael Joseph and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Do Not Disturb’ by Claire Douglas in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Kirsty, Adrian and their daughters Amelia and Evie are on holiday in Wales when they see the ‘Old Rectory’ for sale. As Adrian is recovering from severe depression they decide to move away from London and buy it and, with help from Kirsty’s mother Carol, open it as a guesthouse. Their first guest is Selena, Kirsty’s childhood best friend who she hasn’t met since they argued seventeen years ago, but Selena has created a maze of lies and secrets and when she has an accident nobody knows whether she fell or was pushed?
When I started reading ‘Do Not Disturb’ I thought it was going to be another average novel but as I got deeper into the story I found myself becoming more involved with the family, their guests and the mystery surrounding the ‘Old Rectory’. The plot was chilling, there were lots of twists and turns, and an ending which caught me unawares. I like Claire Douglas’s style of writing which flows nicely making it easy to read and I have no hesitation in recommending this excellent novel.