Saffron and Tom have recently moved into a rural cottage that was owned by Saffron’s grandmother Rose, though had been rented out for many years. Rose, now in a care home with dementia, had transferred the ownership of the cottage to her daughter Lorna some years ago but not only was Lorna unaware of the cottage, she has no need for it so Saffy and Tom have moved in and with a baby on the way, they are eager to turn the slightly neglected building into the perfect family home.
During work to build a kitchen extension, the builders find human remains. When the police start investigating, it is discovered that there are two bodies, who likely died around 1980. When they start speaking to everyone who has lived at number 9 since the late 1970’s, the family discover that Rose not only owned the cottage but lived there for a while – around 1980. Rose suffers from dementia, and her answers to questions about the time are somewhat confusing (who is Sheila? What is she saying about a wicked little girl? Victor? Jean?) but Saffy & Lorna realise that there could be some moments of lucidity and truth in what Rose is saying so they start piecing together facts like a jigsaw puzzle …
The characters of Saffy, Tom & Rose are warm & relatable. Saffy’s mum, Lorna, starts out somewhat cold and detached, being somewhat distant and living abroad with her latest toyboy, but when she travels to the UK to support her daughter through this crisis we see the relationship between mother and daughter strengthening as they reconnect over the crisis.
This is a book full of secrets, surprises and twists but the author weaves it together well, flitting between Rose’s story in 1980 when she was living in the cottage and Saffy/Lorna’s story in the present day. There is also the story of Theo who lives in Yorkshire and visits his elderly father Victor out of obligation, but with little love. As the stories of all the characters start to collide it could start to become complicated but the author weaves them together in a way that is easy to follow & whilst none of the revelations came as a big surprise to me, many of them you wouldn’t have guessed a chapter or two ago & I always think that’s the sign of a good thriller/mystery writer!
Overall this is a well plotted mystery/thriller that will keep you engaged to the end – be prepared to stay up late reading in order to finish it as you will want to find out what happened …

In this book we meet young couple Tom and Saffy. They are right in the middle of renovating their dream home when shockingly a body is discovered. What follows is a very twisty tale made even more so because the previous owner of the cottage was Saffy’s grandmother, Rose. What happened all those years ago and does Rose know the truth?!

Well, they were only the tip of the iceberg for the questions I was asking myself throughout this book. I was completely intrigued by this story as secrets and lies from the past just won’t stay buried. This all combined to make me so eager to discover the truth! I really enjoyed the intriguing perspectives and all the parts set in the past. As snippets of information are revealed which bring new revelations but also on occasion even more questions.

For me The Couple at No.9 was a definite slow burn but this gave me time to process the information I was given. Which means that I also got a better feel for both the story and the characters. This also helped me to connect with the characters too. I have to admit that they weren’t necessarily without flaws but I think this helped to give them a more realistic edge. With the reader being pulled into a dark situation right alongside Tom and Saffy. The Couple at No.9 was intriguing, twisty and filled with secrets!

A fantastically well thought out, all round good book, I really enjoyed this right from the get go, the blurb just really put the chills up my spine and I just knew I'd enjoy it.

Firstly, I need to mention that there is some super good structure to this book, it's been well thought out and not just mashed together, this book has everything thats needed in a must have summer read especially a thriller! A total page turner for me!

Though the book wasn't fast paced but it wasn't a slow burner either, I enjoyed every bit of it, I can't wait to read more of Claire Douglas!

I would definitely buy this book and read it again, though I'm not usually much of a re-reader, but this just book was perfect and I just loved it.

With thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for the chance at reading this FREE ARC in return for my honest review. I recommend this book, an honour as I seldom do recommending and five star reviews!

Saffron Cutler and her boyfriend Tom move into 9 Skelton Place and start renovating it before their baby arrives.
However, the builders find two bodies under the patio- but who's bodies are they?
The police are soon involved but the only one that can help them remember events 30 years ago is in a home with dementia.
Events unravel but at what cost and will the truth bring a closure for them all.

Pregnant Saffy and partner Tom are gifted a cottage in the Cotswolds by Saffy's mother who now lives in Spain. During groundwork for an extension, builders unearth the remains of two bodies buried in the garden. Forensics confirm they've been in the ground for at least 30 years. The police focus their attention on Saffy's elderly grandmother Rose, who owned the cottage around the time the bodies were buried. However, there's a problem — Rose is in a care home and has dementia. With her memory now severely impacted, is it possible this kind and gentle woman committed a double murder all those years ago?

Having read several of Claire Douglas' previous novels I was excited to get my hands on this new one, The Couple at No. 9. Her ability to weave a tangled web of lies and deceit never fails to surprise. Characters are fully developed, with some more likeable than others. The plot is suspenseful and I genuinely didn't see the fantastic twist coming.

Told through different viewpoints, the timeline moves back and forth between the past and present. This format won't suit everyone but in its defence it's very easy to follow. The plot starts off a little slowly but soon picks up pace. There are plenty of secrets and revelations along the way and I thought it was a very entertaining and enjoyable read.

Probably my favourite Claire Douglas book to date. Filled with tension throughout its an exciting read. When Saffron Cutler moves into 9 Skelton Place with boyfriend Tom and starts renovations the last thing she expects is builders uncovering two bodies. The police launch a murder investigation and want to speak to the cottage's former owner - Saffrons grandmother, Rose. I liked the characters especially Lorna, Saffrons mum.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this amazing book.

When two bodies are excavated from Saffron and Tom's new home its sets of a chain of events that are truly page turning. The house was her grandmother's. 10 years ago she had signed it over to her daughter and now, in turn, it was Saffrons home. Her grandmother is in a care home and Saffron is questioning why the house was signed over. Was it to avoid paying for care in her later years, to avoid inheritance tax or something more sinister?

Set over different timelines this is one exciting read as you try to work out what happened. With a really good plotline and lots of twists I enjoyed all the little seeds of information throughout the story. Brilliant read I thoroughly enjoyed it.

When. Saffron and Tom move into their new home, a cottage in a secluded village gifted to them by Saffron's grandmother, a simple extension takes a sinister turn when two bodies are excavated.

A fantastic read. Just when you think you've got the plot line all figured out...you don't! Amazing ending to a real page turner.

I was engrossed in this book from start to finish. A great read, full of twists and turns.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read it.

I have to admit that I’d not read a Claire Douglas book before however I saw this one recommended by the author Gillian McAllister so I felt this was high praise indeed and grabbed it on here. Well she wasn’t wrong!

There’s plenty of tension and twists galore and the characters are written brilliantly. It’s not the fastest start to a book as the scene is initially set but once the story starts to unfold it really picks up to wonderful pace.

I’m off to find more by this author now!

I’m a huge fan of Claire Douglas, so I knew I would love this. But this is hands down one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. I won’t say too much for fear of spoilers, but essentially it’s the story of Saffron and Tom, who are shocked to discover that there are two bodies under the patio of the house they’ve just inherited from Saffron’s grandma Rose, who is in a care home suffering from Alzheimer’s. There’s a dual narrative approach, flitting between the present day and Rose’s time in the cottage 30 prior. And as always, Douglas manages the perfect balance between tense and creepy thriller and heart wrenching family drama. All in all, definitely one I’d recommend.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

Having read and enjoyed a few of Claire Douglas’s previous book I was looking forward to pick this one up and I wasn’t disappointed.

The Couple at No. 9 follow Saffy (Saffron) and Tom a young couple who have moved into Saffy’s grandmothers old home. During some renovations, the builders discover two bodies that have been buried in the garden. The bodies are of a man and woman, but no one knows who they are, as the house has been rented out to several people in the past. They are unable to ask Saffy’s grandmother for details as she is in a nursing home and suffering from dementia.

I have to be honest the book started off a bit slow for my liking, but once it got going it turned out to be a real page turner for me. The book is cleverly written, with the plot unravelling piece by piece. There were some really good twists, some of which I saw coming, where as some were very shocking as I really wasn’t expecting them at all. The story is told through two timelines the 1970s to 2018 and is told through multiple narrators.

Although I enjoyed the plot very much, I think the characterisation was definitely what made this book stand out for me. I found the main characters to be well-drawn and developed well with the plot and added to the story. I liked all the characters, but did have my favourites. These were Saffy and Lorna. At first I wasn’t a fan of Lorna but her character grew on me and I really liked the relationship that began to be built between Saffy and Lorna.

Overall, this turned out to be a good compelling page turner. I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for an engaging mystery!!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers Penguin Michael Joseph for my eARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Having read all of Claire Douglas books I was really excited to read this one.. It was a very read , the only thing I will say about the book is that it does take a while to get going, but once it does it is a brilliant read.

I received a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Michael J Books.

Wow, wow, wow!!

Now that was an unexpected plot twist! I did not see that coming! It was mind boggling! The big reveal confused me at first, I just couldn’t get my head around it and I was so glad when it was explained clearly!

It’s full of mini mysteries which, when solves, piece together the full storyline. It was so interesting and cleverly written! I did guess what would happen for some, but not for others which I loved because it kept me wanting more.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I would not hesitate to pick up another of her books!

If you’re after a thriller of a book with twists and turns galore then The Couple at No. 9 could be just what you’re after. Bodies under the patio. Saffy and Tom are renovating their gorgeous cottage, 9 Skelton Place. It had belonged to Saffy’s beloved grandmother Rose. Everything is going well until the builders make a shocking discover in the back garden. The police are eager to question everyone who lives in the property including Rose but she has dementia. It appears she can’t help them although it is clear that she does remember something. As Saffy and her mother Lorna try to piece together what happened, it seems some of Rose’s memory is returning. Although when more incidents happen, could Saffy now be in danger?

I found this book impossible to put down, I was hooked from page 1. I thought it had some great characters and the plot unfolded at a good pace.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Michael Joseph UK and the author for the chance to review.

When builders discover human remains in the garden of Saffy and Tom’s cottage the police have to try and discover the identity of the bodies. However the cottage used to belong to Saffy’s grandma and she may well have been living there at the time the bodies were buried.

A thriller that goes deep into the heart of a family as they try to discover exactly who was living in the cottage and the true identities of the residents..

I was totally absorbed in this book and could not put it down.

Pregnant Saffron and her boyfriend move into 9 Skeleton Place and start their renovations. The builders, however, discover two bodies buried in the garden. Now the police need to speak to the previous owner, Saffron's grandmother, Rose.

I enjoyed a few of Claire Douglas' books, so I was looking forward to reading her upcoming novel. It was a good, entertaining read with a very good twist, but the story took some time to grip me.
It was definitely cleverly plotted, and I enjoyed it, but I didn't find it stood out enough, and therefore I couldn't justify a rating higher than 3 stars.

Daffy and Tom move into no 9 and embark on extending the cottage. But two bodies are uncovered. This is just the beginning of revealing family history and how the past affects the present.
Great characters and storylines. You get really involved with the story and the lives of those past and present living at No 9. Enjoy.

A really clever book that had me totally gripped throughout. It was a book that you want to race through to get the reveal, whilst not wanting to finish as it is so well written.. All the characters and plot line were expertly written and the sense of impending danger and suspense were excellent. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book. Totally recommend it.

I’ve loved all of Claire Douglas’ books and this one was no exception.

We meet saffy and Tom who are living in a cottage owned by her grandmother, unexpectedly they have a crisis to deal with when their builders find a body while preparing for their new extension.

We eventually find out the secrets that the cottage and its former inhabitants are keeping.

Thanks to net galley for this arc.