The discovery of two bodies buried in Saffy and Tom’s garden is a terrifying situation for the young couple, especially as Saffy is pregnant and her gran – who’s house it was and the one person who might know what happened – is suffering from dementia.

This was a gripping storyline, with excellent characters and a storyline spanning three generations. As the book progresses, the secrets start to reveal themselves and the multiple twists and turns make for a thrilling read.

Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the review copy.

Oooh this book, The Couple at No. 9 by Claire Douglas, totally got under my skin. It’s not very often that I find myself thinking about a book’s plot when I’m not actually reading it, and even more rare that I have to think twice about reading it before bed because I find it so creepy. But that’s what happened with this one – it’s so good!

A great premise, cleverly plotted and perfectly paced, I was totally hooked from start to finish. For some reason I’ve never read one of this author’s novels before but I’ll definitely be seeking out some of her back-catalogue.

With thanks to Michael Joseph for gifting me a digital copy to review.

I really enjoyed this book. Saffie and Tom have moved in to their cottage. However, when the builders are digging up the garden ready for an extension 2 bodies are found. It seems that they have been there for 30 years, so the police want to interview the owner at that time. The thing is, that is Saffie's beloved grandmother, Rose. Rose is in a care home suffering from dementia, but it soon becomes obvious that she knows something. This is a real page turner which will keep you guessing to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

What a brilliant psychological suspense with all elements I love in the genre - dual timelines, multiple PoVs, fierce female characters and many many secrets buried underneath!


Present - When Saffy and Tom, pregnant with their first child moves and starts renovating her grandmother's cottage in a quaint little English village, little did the young couple expect to find not one but two human remains buried in their backyard! As the police investigation begins, journalists start pestering the couple and more shocking details are revealed.

Meanwhile, Saffy's mom Lorna returns from Spain and she tries to mend things with her daughter and her mother Rose Grey to whom the cottage originally belonged. Lorna had never been close with either her mom or her daughter and she has her reasons. Now she does not want to leave without answers. What she did not know are shocking information she's about to find out about her mother's past.

Past: Rose Grey is on run. She's scared and pregnant and that's when she spots the little village and the beautiful cottage at The Couple At No.9 where she thinks she'll be safe. Little did she know that her life will be changed ever afterward.


What we have is a beautiful story of the ladies from 3 generations told from various narrators and timelines and the pace is just so smooth-as-a-butter and keeps the reader gripped to the story line. I couldn't get enough of this book because it was SO GOOD.

The distinguished contrast in the culture through the years yet leaving a faint line of connection between the women in question is what makes this book stand out. Absolutely brilliant.

Thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House UK for the advance proof copy and having me on the blog tour. All options mine.

Wow! This book took me all round the houses and back again, delivering punch after shock along the way. We start with Saffy and Tom moving into a cottage in a remote village. A cottage that neither she nor her mum knew existed until Gran went into a home. A cottage that is in need of renovation. And it is during these renovations, in the garden, that builders uncover two bodies. Bodies that apparently have been buried more than 30 years. Obviously the police need to speak to Saffy's gran, Rose, but she is in a care home and is not always coherent, suffering from Alzheimer's.
And then there's Victor who has some interest in what is occurring. An interest that he will move heaven and earth to keep secrets buried. Quite what he has got to do with anything... well, you'll have to wait and see...
Oh my, this book just kept on giving. Just when I though I might have a chance to working it all out, along came another curve ball, sending me in a whole other direction. Kudos indeed to the author for that! Ok there was one thing I guessed early and, with everything else going wide of me, I was darned chuffed at myself for that!
Plotting was some of the best I have seen. With such an intricate plot and many balls to keep in the air pretty much all the way through, successfully I hasten to add, I marvel at the expertise of the author in this regard. Characterisation was also pretty excellent, especially given what was happening along the way. As with most good books of this genre I changed my mind about several along the way as more was disclosed...
It is a bit of a slow burner initially but when you get to a certain point where what has been built up starts to crumble you will realise why this has to be so. And it's not so slow as to not progress, there is just a certain amount of foundations that have to be layered up.
All in all, a cracking example of everything that is right in the genre. Firmly cementing the author on my "not to miss" list. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I just love this author’s books and this one doesn’t disappoint. This is a well paced thriller and very satisfying.
Look forward to her next one.

Atmospheric, chilling and poignant, this psychological suspense is a page-turning read. It's a family drama spanning three generations with timeslips back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, a time I lived through.

The main protagonists are flawed and relatable, making the menacing events and revelations resonate. The twists are impactful with some, easier to work out than others. The balance of pacing and the gradual revealing of the lies and secrets keeps the reader absorbed until the end.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin UK Books - Michael Joseph via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

One amazing book great characters I was hooked from the first page it pulled me into the plot it was gripping a good mixed of characters a few twist a great read as normal I like the writing style so easy to read

Another amazing reading by Clare Douglas, A twisty and gripping thriller that I 100% recommend to readers of this genre

Right from the start, I was drawn into the story. I was intrigued by the dialogue between the house owner and the builders.

As the cast of characters expands from Saffy, the builders and her boyfriend, Tom. We are introduced to Saffy's Gran and Mother, plus some intriguingly named incidental characters such as Headscarf woman, in the village shop.

Already after just a few chapters I am enjoying the way that characters are introduced and developed.

Whilst the places are fictitious, there are enough geographical links to the region to give the story a realistic feel.

The strength of this story I will lies in the way that the characters are slowly developed and revealed.

As the novel progressed, the story jumped in time between now and 1980s. This enabled the author too slowly develop both the characters and the events which had led to the discovery of the human remains which had been discovered in the grounds of the cottage referred to in the title.

By halfway through this book that cast of characters has kept increasing. There is the added problem that not everybody is necessarily being honest about they are. There are twists and turns of plenty during the second half of this murder mystery.

The ending doesn't disappoint.

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

The Couple at No 9
Claire Douglas
Twisty, turney and keeps you guessing. Not a ‘cosy crime’ but almost. Civilised murders…. If there is such a thing that don’t horrify or glorify the act.

A really good read (like her other books) and is another great example of this author’s talent.

The Couple at No. 9 by Claire Douglas is a mystery thriller that also encompasses family secrets and tragedy. The characters are well formed and I enjoyed reading about the relationships between generations. The technic of storytelling from the different characters’ perspectives is well done and adds to the understanding. I also enjoyed how the author took the reader back and forward in time to tell the tale. There are plenty of twists and I certainly tried to guess what would happen next as the story unfolded.

If I have any criticism it is that I felt the pace could be a little faster, especially mid way through the book. However, I heartily recommend it to fans of Claire Douglas and to anyone who enjoys a family mystery.

My thanks to Penguin Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and r view this book.

Another thrilling ride from the master of twists and shocks! A slower burner than previous novels, but still entertaining with warm characters and an easy and pleasant enough read.

The text was quite unpolished in parts, but I'm putting that down to being a rough digital copy. I assume the printed book will be much more refined, as expected!

Claire Douglas books just keep getting better and better. A proper slow burner, twist & turner plot told from the major characters viewpoints - both in the present day and 1980 when the events at the centre of the book took place.
Reminds me of Robert Goddard, albeit it a bit more modern in outlook. Highly recommended.

Any book by Claire Douglas is a fabulous page turner. This was no exception. Fast paced, full of twists and times. Heart pounding stuff

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Couple At No. 9. By Claire Douglas

Saffron and her boyfriend Tom, have moved into a lovely cottage in a small village. A cottage the belonged to her Gran.
They have started decorating the nursery for the impending birth of their child. The garden is being dug up by the workmen for the extension, which abruptly stops...,, they have found something....... they have found 2 bodies!!

We find out more about Saffron’s mum and also her Gran. Her Gran is in a nursing home and suffers from dementia. The story takes us back to when her Gran was young and living in the cottage and her mum was a small child.

You will think ...”oh I know how this is going to go!” .... BUT you won’t - fabulous twist in the story .

Thanks netgalley for allowing me this ARC.

#netgalley #clairedouglas
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I really enjoyed this book. I think Claire Douglas is a fantastic author and The Couple At No. 9 didn't disappoint. Gripping from the start and kept me guessing until the very end, would definitely recommend!

Saffy is pregnant & she & husband Tom are looking forward to becoming parents. Before the baby arrives they are trying to get some renovations to their cottage which once belonged to her Grandmother Rose. Rose is now in a care home suffering from Altzeimer's. Saffy is very close to her having spent a lot of her childhood with her as her mother Lorna is a bit of a wanderer. However this cottage was something they hadn't know about until Rose gave it to Saffy & Tom. When a body is found whilst digging foundations for an extension it is a shock to everyone. When it is established that it is over thirty years old they think they can forget about it, however it seems Rose was living there then- what does she know/remember?

This was a really clever twisty tale. We experience the story from various perspectives & I was kept guessing right up to the end. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- I loved it!

Another great read from Claire Douglas
Saffron and her boyfriend Tom move into their new place and set about renovating, they’re looking forward to their new start in their new house with their new baby. The last thing they expect is builders to find not just 1 body, but 2. It transpires these bodies have been there for at least 30 years and police need to speak to the former owners, Saffy’s grandmother Rose. She is in a care home and has Alzheimer’s will she be able to shed any light?
As a lover of all things Claire I was keen to read this title and as usual wasn’t disappointed. She draws us into her stories by writing great characters and slowly revealing what has happened by teasing us with just the right amount of information along each chapter making us want more and it hard to put the book down
Highly recommend and hope you enjoy as much as I did
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title

I’d like to thank Penguin, Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Couple at No. 9’ by Claire Douglas in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Saffy and Tom are living in her grandmother’s cottage in Beggars Nook, a village in the Cotswolds, and as the builders dig up the garden to extend the kitchen they come across human remains. Saffy can’t believe her grandmother Rose could be involved and as she has dementia Rose doesn’t appear able to remember what happened when she lived there, but Saffy and her mother Lorna are determined to find out.

I’ve read several books by Claire Douglas and enjoyed some more than others so when I read the description of ‘The Couple At No. 9’ it sounded the type of novel I enjoy reading. The story is told from the perspective of Rose in the 1980s and Saffy and Lorna at the present time and I’m not sure why I’ve found it difficult to get involved in the story as it has a well-written plot with a lot of tension, drama and unexpected twists and turns. Despite liking Saffy and Tom I’ve found it hard to empathise with some of the other characters or, indeed, the plot. It’s not one of my favourites but it’s still an easy and interesting read and I appreciate being given the opportunity to read it and give my opinion.