Una thinks she has found the perfect job when she begins working for Elspeth as her carer companion. The only fly in the ointment is Una’s daughter, Kathryn, a bitter and twisted woman. However, when Una finds evidence that not everything is as it should be, she begins to fear for her own life.

Claire Douglas is very clever at taking an ordinary every day situation and turning it into a very dark and compelling psychological thriller and “Just Like The Other Girls” is no exception.

This story kept me awake picking over the evidence long after I had read the last page.

Una is a lovely blonde haired girl who wants a job that pays good money so she can go travelling with her best friend Courtney. So she sees an advert for a live in helper for an elderly lady in a posh area of Clifton
Una goes for the interview with Elsepeth and her daughter Kathryn and although Kathryn doesn’t seem overjoyed she gets the job, then things start to go a little weird she finds out from the cook that her two predecessors have both died after starting work here. Una decides to investigate more and through trips to the local library and social media she finds out that the two girls looked like her blonde hair skinny and even more strange she finds out that there was another daughter and she looked just like them
She tells Courtney everything and her friend wants her to leave but Una stays and then disappears
Who is picking of these girls ? Why is Elsepeth picking girls who look like her daughter?

Una is stuck in a rut, her mum has died, she’s working in a job that she enjoys but isn’t a career, living in a damp flat and has been badly let down by her boyfriend; so when she spots an ad to be a live-in carer for an elderly lady in an affluent part of Bristol she jumps at the chance to change her life.

Any my goodness does her life change.

A super creepy thriller that I could not put down with an ending that I would never have predicted

A gripping thriller that kept me guessing throughout the book.
Claire Douglas has created a clever thriller that leads you one way and then turns it completely upside down.
Una takes a job as a live in companion to Elspeth, who is an elderly lady living in a grand house. The money is good but Una gets the strong feeling that Elspeth’s daughter Kathryn doesn’t like her.
Una soon finds out that two girls who worked here before her were killed and Una starts to look into what happened.
It’s clear her life is in danger as we get small chapters from the killer but I totally got their identity wrong. I thought I had it all worked out but Claire Douglas had a few tricks up her sleeve.
This is a great thriller that will get you thinking and I loved the way it all came together at the end.
Thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Una is alone having recently lost her Mother and so she applies for a job as a carer to the wealthy Elspeth Mackenzie. Hoping that she will earn enough money to go travelling, Una sticks to the job despite the less than idea situation with Katheryn, Elspeth’s Daughter being pretty horrible to her.
Bizarrely Una discovers that Elspeth’s last two carers have died, both looked very similar to her. Una begins to wonder if she will be next.
A great book with lots of twists and turns. This book will grip you from the beginning and knock you sideways with the ending that you didn’t see coming.

Just Like The Other Girls is another brilliant thriller from Claire Douglas.
Una cannot believe her luck when she secures a job with Mrs Elspeth McKenzie as a live-in carer and companion. The wage is significantly more than what she was getting at the care home where she was previously working, and the work seems to be easier as 79 year old Elspeth appears to be in relatively good health, and therefore the duties would be more of a companion than a carer. But there is a downside to the job; Una must tolerate Elspeth’s cold and prickly daughter, Kathryn. When Kathryn tells Una that there have been two previous companions who are never mentioned, Una begins to question whether she has made the right decision in taking this job. What happened to her predecessors? Why does Elspeth not want them mentioned? Is there something sinister happening at the big house? Should Una leave whilst she can?
A brilliant book full of intrigue and wonderful characters. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Early on in the story I fell into the trap of thinking that I knew what was going to happen. Una, is the third girl in a short space of time, working as a live in companion for Elspeth, in a rambling old house in the Clifton area of Bristol.

Even at the half way point I thought that it was slowly becoming clear. However, having read several other books by Claire Douglas, I should have known that something unusual would happen.

Along comes Willow.....
Now that has certainly thrown me. I didn't see that sort of twist coming.

There are twists and turns a plenty during the second half of this fast paced murder thriller.

Even when you think it's all over, even the twist has a twist.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK (Michael Joseph) in return for this review.

Simply adored this book. I already knew that Claire was a great author, having read other books by her but this one surpassed them all, it is a dark, chilling novel that is so easy to read and even easier to relate to the characters and the situations. This kept me on the edge and at some parts I found myself holding my breath hoping that Una would survive. I have always thought that I was pretty good at knowing who did it but with this story I had no idea how it was all going to end. The characters themselves were all so alive , well described and easy to relate to; some were delightful, some innocent and oh so naive and others were thoroughly nasty people or totally unlikeable.
Highly recommend for others to add to their reading list.

Una thinks she has really landed on her feet when she gets a job as a companion for an elderly lady. It definitely seems to good to be true with her room in a beautiful old house in an affluent area of Bristol and the easy job of just being there for Elspeth McKenzie. There are some negatives though, namely her daughter Kathryn-a cold and haughty woman who seems to dislike Una on first sight. But when Una discovers that her predecessors have all died in mysterious circumstances she starts to wonder what she has got herself into…

There was a post on FB the other day that asked for your “go to” authors, the ones who’s book you buy or preorder without even reading the blurb. Well, Claire Douglas is one of mine! I’ll admit that the first book of hers that I read didn’t quite do it for me (that book was The Sisters which does have fabulous reviews so do check it out as it definitely was a personal thing for me!) but there was something there that made me pick up her second book and from that moment I was hooked! She never lets me down and I absolutely adore her books as her style of writing, the characters she creates and the storylines she crafts are my ideal for a great psychological thriller. And Just Like The Other Girls continues that pattern. It’s a gripping story with a shocking twist that had my jaw dropping at full speed! Which is why I love Claire Douglas! She isn’t afraid to mix it up and drop a major game changer into her storylines so that the whole plot takes an unexpected turn!

Just Like The Other Girls had it all for me. I was completely gripped by this compelling storyline and love that I was convinced that I knew EXACTLY who and what was behind the deaths of the previous companions but I was way off the mark! And that epilogue!! I was NOT expecting that!

Just Like The Other Girls fulfilled all my expectations and more! I loved it and have already preordered Claire’s next book out next year. No idea what it’s about but I know I NEED it in my life!

The latest Claire Douglas book is an unbelievable psychological thriller. Delving into the lives of Una and her employers, the McKenzie family, this book promised to be surprising and it certainly was. After the death of her mother, Una has to find employment quickly, so that is how she ended up as a companion for the elderly Elspeth McKenzie. Unfortunately for the grieving young woman, Elspeth’s daughter Kathryn dislikes her from the beginning and is rude and unhelpful in every way. Una plods on, trying to fit into this new world, only to discover that two previous companions have died. More disconcerting is that the young women looked a lot like her. The McKenzie family has some really twisted secrets and the book holds one surprise after another as they are methodically revealed. The plot is complex and well-written with an astonishing ending. Fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy this book and at the end probably have the same feeling I had, “What just happened?”
Disclaimer of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

When Una starts a new job as a companion to a wealthy elderly lady, she's excited and full of hope for the future. It'll allow her to save up enough money to go travelling — something she'd dreamed of doing before her mother became terminally ill and passed away. However, the job doesn't turn out to be quite what she'd expected but determined to make the most of it she forges ahead.

Una soon discovers not only were previous companions young, female and pretty but they also bore a striking resemblance to herself — and met with untimely deaths. As she delves a little deeper she becomes convinced something sinister is happening inside the house. Can she uncover the truth or will she end up just like the other girls?

I immediately know when I pick up a Claire Douglas novel that I'm in for a treat. This book was no exception. With excellent characterisation, a fast-moving plot and red herrings aplenty, I was instantly transported into Una's world. Part way through, BAM! — the most unexpected twist happens. It really was a great read.

Ummmm, real need to suspend belief here that the police wouldn’t investigate the ‘no spoilers’ coincidences here! Fairly gripping read, but the so predictable girl in peril plot tends to bore now. Good points, some really great and believable characters here and the setting of Clifton in Bristol is perfectly described. There are some plot holes, but as a thriller to read on the beach in summer there is lots to recommend it.

This is a fantastic, intelligent thriller with twists I genuinely did not see coming. A quick read, mainly because I couldn't leave it alone and whizzed through it to see how it would all end. Another great read from the wonderful Claire Douglas.

Just Like The Other Girls by Claire Douglas is my first novel by this writer and it certainly will not be my last.
Based on an elderly lady needing friendship and care with a jealous adopted daughter the storyline really had me intrigued and with the close murders of the girls and the story behind the house it was an intriguing and very twisty read.
I am normally very good at working out what is happening or going to happening but I just could not guess which kept me on the edge of my seat.
A very on the edge of your seat read and I can not wait to read more by this author.
Highly recommended read and you will not be able to put it down.

I love the Claire Douglas books and this one did not disappoint. Great writing and premise. Amazing characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me enthralled. Did not guess the culprit which is a great plus point for me. Definitely look forward to her next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This was a great thriller. The little old lady who lives alone, her odd daughter, the carers who live in but all look alike.

Terrible accidents happen until one fiesty carer decides to find out whats really going on.

Its a fabulous book and really pulls you in.

I found this a little middle of the road - the suspense I was expecting was lacking a little, and the characterisation of Una was only just taking shape when everything changed, Willow was far too flat and the ‘coincidence’ with Kathryn a little under used.

That said it was a good holiday read, it kept me interested and I did enjoy the book overall.

Well this was a surprising novel. My first Claire Douglas, and what a delight. It took a while to get into, but maybe lockdown had much to do with this as I went from frenzied devouring of one book to not having the energy for the next. I hit the halfway mark with this book over a few weeks, and then didn't stop until I got to the end of this intriguing mystery of murder (or was it 🤔), deception, a rollercoaster of twists and red herrings, unexplained death, and a broken family of wealth and envy and spite. If, like me, you enjoy a psychological thriller, I'd highly recommend this.

Disturbing thriller with a great twist at the end - something Clare Douglas does well. This book kept me up all night as I couldn’t bear to put it down
. Una grieving for her Mother and reeling from her boyfriend’s betrayal, answers an advert for a job in a posh part of town She becomes a live in companion carer for Elspeth who isn’t as frail as she makes out.. The money on offer is good , ,Una plans to stay until the end of the year then go travelling with her friend Courtney . The discovery that the two previous companions have disappeared coupled with the presence of Kathryn, Una’s bitter daughter add to the sense of unease and menace in the house. When Una goes out she is convinced she is being watched - is it one of the missing companions?

This book got off to an interesting start with Una starting a job as the carer for a wealthy woman who obviously had a few family secrets. Sadly it then became more and more far fetched and difficult to take seriously until the rather obvious ending which had been signalled frequently through the story
Thank you to netgalley and penguin books for an advance copy of this book