This book is really, really, really, really good. The characters will stay with me a very long time, especially Rose and that includes the real and the fake. The story drew me in and I was gasping and holding my breath with all the suspense, mystery and the brilliant twists, which were plentiful. Twists which were shocking and totally unexpected made this book unputdownable. The plot is out of this world and the story stays consistent throughout. When a chapter ends you just want to read on until the final shocking conclusion which was mind blowing. It's sad in parts, but at the same time it gives you chills. The ending is especially sad but it's also uplifting at the same time and I had a lump in throat after reading Rose's letter to her daughter Lolly. It's a brilliant psychological suspense and I loved every page. Claire is a very clever author who knows how to shock her readers and I can't wait to see what she writes next because this one is bloody PHENOMINAL! I LOVED IT FROM BEGINNING TO END!!!.

Claire Douglas has written a real mystery can the old lady with dementia help solve the murder mystery or is she the mystery herself? Two families torn apart by discovery of two bodies from the past two families not connected or are they ? Intriguing until the end worth the read hope to see more from the pen of Claire Douglas

It all became very involved and I lost interest. Perhaps a case of the wrong book at the wrong time?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This started off at a slower pace, which made it take a little longer to get into. But once I did I couldn’t put it down. I was captivated, wanting to figure out the truth.

I went into this without reading the synopsis. I trust Douglas enough at this point to not disappoint. I find her books are easy to digest and get lost into.

I had theories throughout. Douglas in previous books made me question everyone so I now just automatically question everyone. Due to this I ended up figuring out of the bigger twists. It felt kind of obvious at one point.

But there were still other twists and reveals that I didn’t figure out. Victor was one. I knew there was something about him. That much was obvious. But what it actually was surprised but also disgusted me. What a vile man.

The “inspiration” from the real life Mary Bell case was interesting addition to the story. It made me question one character a lot more. Were they really rehabilitated? Are they still the same? I was intrigued to find out.

Pregnant Saffron and her boyfriend Tom have recently moved into a cottage owned previously by Saffron’s grandmother. The cottage is undergoing renovation works when a grisly discovery is made by the builders, two bodies found buried in the garden.

Saffron then comes to discover that the bodies were thought to have been buried there during the time that her grandmother lived there. But did her grandmother have anything to do with these deaths? The problem now is that her grandmother is in a nursing home and with Alzheimer’s and doesn’t have many lucid days.

This story flicks between the present day with events unfolding back to the past and her grandmothers time at the cottage.

I enjoyed the storyline and the characters in this book.

A suspense filled psychological thriller, with twists and turns aplenty and enough deep, dark secrets to make your head spin. A great, original storyline, with a highly unlikely setting, which only adds to the atmospheric tension.

Descriptive, well thought out and brilliantly written, I had to read it in one sitting. Packed full of the unexpected, it definitely kept me guessing.

The characters are quirky, engaging and full of surprises. They drew me in with the greatest of ease, I couldn't wait to see where the plot would take them next.

A fantastic read!

This book tells the story of what happens after two bodies are found in the garden of a recently inherited house. Forensic investigation finds that the bodies have been there for 30 years, a time when the current owner’s grandmother lived there. Told from many different perspectives over a long time-frame, the book examines themes of love, betrayal and the very meaning of family. Recommended.

This was an easy read. I loved the family dynamics, I loved the relationships and I loved the twists...all brilliant. Saffy and Lorna were great characters and I loved reading about a normal imperfect family! Rose's story was heartbreaking and the main thread of the book.....so clever ❤

Well I have to say that this was one of the best crime thriller novels I've read in a long time.. Getting an extension built Saffron and Tom discover there are two bodies buried in their garden, The ensuing story is one of dark secrets, tragic loss and family relationships. Rose, Saffron's grandmother has dementia yet she is pivotal in discovering the truth about what really happened. .No more plot details, this is a review not a book precis.
I thought this book was well written and intelligently crafted.. The POV does switch between character and time but I didn't find this a problem at all. Sometimes it was first person voice, sometimes third but it made sense for the character. I am not someone who thinks it's impossible to cope with such switches nor that it's bad form. I had no problems with it whatsoever.. The characters were all well drawn and very likeable. Saffron was a bit wet but this didn't make her unlikeable. The "twists" that people seem obsessed about were actually just very good natural progressions of the plot. You expect things to be revealed as you go through the book. The story kept me engrossed and entertained the whole way through. A very believable story too. I didn't have any issues with thinking "don't believe that would happen". I didn't think there were any weak areas although if I have to be uber picky the epilogue was a little over sentimental. The dementia thread was handled very sensitively and appropriately. Congrats to the author who has successfully piqued and rekindled my waning interest in crime/thriller fiction. First of hers I have read and I am hoping her other books match up

Thanks so much for allowing me to read this great great story, loved it.
Saffron and Tom are living in the home that Rose, Saffron’s grandmother lived in, and where she brought up Saffron’s.mother.
All was good until the builders who were building an extension to the house dug up two bodies.
Who are they and why are they buried in the garden.
Saffron went to see her grandmother Rose. To see if she knew anything about bodies being buried in the garden.
Rose suffered with dementia, and lived in a care home.
Rose got very confused about being asked questions about her house and the two bodies.
The more that was asked of Rose the more confusing everything sounded.
Finding out who the bodies are was a great story, and was sorry when I finished this book.

This was a real page turner for me. When Saffy and Tom are having renovation works done to the cottage the builders unearth not one, but two skeletons in the garden dating back to around forty years ago. This was when Rose lived in the cottage - Saffys grandmother who is now in a care home suffering from Alzheimer s
Who are the bodies, and why has no one come looking for them? The police want to question Rose but with the Alzheimer s what will she remember?
Told in present day and flashbacks by Rose you fetched feeling all is not as it seems and who is this Victor she keeps talking about and why is she so frightened of him? she also talks about Jean hitting someone over the head and them n ever getting up! And a Sheila, but no one remembers them!


Loved this novel many thanks to Net galley for letting me read this and to Claire Douglas for such a gripping story, so many characters to feel.for throughout. Would highly this to everyone!!

The couple at number 9 was a fantastically written page turner and I could not put it down.

The story begins with Tom and Saffy who have recently moved to a lovely cottage in a quite village which was generously gifted to them by saffy grandmother. After doing some construction work two bodies were dug up from the back yard this is when the story begins. However I will not go too much into the story as I do not like to give spoilers.

The story has many interesting characters which are narrating from present to past and a wonderfully twist to each character.

I absolutely love Claire Douglas and this has to be one of her best. I would highly recommend and give 5 stars.

We begin this novel in a small village described as "a backwater village is where people come to hide". The couple living in the cottage is Saffron who is 14 weeks pregnant with at the start of the novel and Tom who is described as being "calm, pragmatic and never over overreacted, which is unlike me [Saffron]". 


The couple recieved the cottage when her grandmother went into a care home suffering from,Alzheimer. They couple decide to extend the cottage, which they have just moved into. When the builders recover two bodies buried in the garden under the patio. The police believe they have been there for 30 years  meaning Saffron's gran could have been involved. But will her Alzheimers get in the way of the police getting any information from her.

The story the begins every chapter with a different characters POV, which is the greatest part of the book.It slowly draws the story together but still leaves you guessing about how all these very different characters will be joined together first it does seem like a lot of characters but they are all integral to the plot and it is wonderful when you star to realise how they are linked. It  also uses dual giving you more action from the past, the story was really engaging and action packed page turner!
I would highly recommend this gripping book. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 








Sent from my Galaxy

The Couple At No. 9
Saffron Cutler is left a cottage in the Cotswolds by her mum Lorna, who in turn was given it by her mother Rose. Lorna happily ( well sort of ) lives in Spain and Rose in a care home due to dementia.
Saffron and her boyfriend Tom are doing up the house and they are also expecting a baby.
When I like a book I cannot put it down, and this title is one of them, I read it in 24 hours.
Claire Douglas certainly knows how to write a good novel and keep the reader in a state of gripped tension. Loved the shocking twist . Nail biting brilliant.

I loved this book!!
We join the story as Saffy and Tom move into their new home, generously donated by Saffy’s grandmother. As they begin renovations, a grim discovery sets the wheels in motion for a story of secrets, lies and historical mysteries...
As the story unravels, the twists and turns will keep you gripped - a fab book!

The couple at No.9 is a book that I have been eyeing up for a long time, so when I saw it was available for a review, I immediately snatched it up.

I am pleased to see my instinct was right. This is very well written and tense, with well rounded characters

Amazing, the most enjoyable book I have read so far this year. The author teases the story out like a tangled ball of wool. Just as you think it is unraveling you reach another knot! Lorna and her daughter Saffy are so very different. Saffy is gentle and sympathetic but Lorna, having given birth to Saffy at age 16 has mostly been absent during her life, running away whenever she encounters a problem. However, when the bodies are uncovered Lorna steps up to the plate coming back from Spain where she lives and supporting Saffy during the investigations and the uncovering of devastating secrets.

As usual in my reviews, I won't spoil the surprise(s) by rehashing the plot (plenty of other reviews like that out there already!)

I've read several books by this author before, so was delighted to be invited to read this novel!

As usual, the plot is deliciously twisty-turny, with a liberal dose of hints and red herrings to throw you off the trail of what's actually going on!

There is an interesting mix of characters, and they are well observed and authentic - you feel that you know them by the end of the book. The story is told from the viewpoint of several different characters, and the narrative moves between past and present - all of which adds to the interest and builds on what we know - or think we know - as the novel progresses.

A couple of points jarred slightly (such as hmm, how deeply would bodies have to be buried for nobody to notice their decomposition - to put it delicately!) but I was happy to go along with them as they were an integral part of the plot (plus one hears of such things in real life unfortunately!).

Multiple plot twists keep the story moving, and the final twist was not what I expected!

Another excellent read from this author - I look forward to the next!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

A very twisty novel that keeps you on your toes. Perhaps slightly too twisty for me personally - I’d just get my head around one twist/reveal and another would appear! Definitely not one of my favourites from this author, but still a decent read.

Wow! I really loved this book!
All the characters were brilliant, the story was so interesting and I had no idea what was happening until all the secrets were cleverly revealed towards the end.
Claire Douglas is a fantastic author and this psychological thriller is not to be missed.
I was gripped throughout! Highly recommend.