I received an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is pretty standard for a psychological thriller but I found myself liking a couple quite a bit- both the wife and the dark, brooding man I found the twist to be unexpected and I definitely found myself getting swept up into the suspense. I was pretty shocked by the ending. All in all, a satisfying read

I really wanted to like this book, love the premis, love the cover but it's a no from me. Pointless whittering from the main character, not enough drama, bizarre ending. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy 2.5

Mark and Kat Fisher make the tough decision to leave their lives in London and move to Rathlin Island, off of the Coast of Ireland. Cut off from the hustle and bustle of the big city, Rathlin is only accessible by ferry. This will be a fresh start for them, a chance to start a family and a chance to be closer to Mark’s ailing mother. Mark is working long hours especially with the extended commute, leaving Kat at home by herself. Cracks start forming in their marriage. To starve off boredom, Kat makes friends with several of the locals; including the one person Mark told her to stay away from. Kat decides to keep her new friendship a secret from Mark. It isn’t the only secret she is keeping though. But Mark is keeping secrets of his own too. He is still talking to his ex-wife. The text message that Kat oversees says ”If you don’t tell her I will?” What is Mark doing with the ex? What are the secrets that Kat has never revealed to Mark?

This novel is full of secrets and intrigue. I devoured it in one sitting! There are twists and turns as revelations are revealed. The secrets were shocking and at times completely unexpected. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC!

Katherine (Kat) and Mark up sticks and move from London to Rathlin so that Mark can be close to his mother who is suffering with dementia. Though Kat was reluctant to move, she is excited and happy with the house that she had only seen online and in photos before Mark bought it. The island is small, and everyone know each other’s business. Mark is still commuting to his work in Belfast, often staying overnight, and Kat struggles to make friends. But friends do appear in the shape of Jenny and Tom and the enigmatic Darragh. Unfortunately, there is a mutual dislike between Mark and Darragh, so Kat keeps her friendship with him a secret from Mark.

If you don’t mind far fetched unbelievable plots then this is for you. The number of coincidences is amazing! Pure escapism, totally crazy, a perfect holiday read, especially if you happen to be visiting Rathlin!

An alternative title for this could be the vacillations of Kat, as she could never make up her mind what to do, forgot what she was going to do or did the exact opposite of of what she planned! Luckily she became a focused and determined woman in the last few chapters!

An easy read, with an unbelievable plot and a daft ending.

2.5* upped to 3*

Thank you NetGalley.

This book was about a couple moving to a semi private island and the wife’s past coming to haunt her. Shortly after the marriage starts to go downhill.

The author was really good at describing the island, as well as, describing the emotions of each character really well. I also think I was left with a cliff hanger for a sequel

If I could give half stars, I would have rated this book a 2.5 because the first half of the book is good. The main characters are developed and there's an appropriate amount of mystery about who they really are and what they might be hiding. The second half of the book is just not good. I don't want to give spoilers, so I will just say that what happens to the main character is highly unbelievable. And then what she does in return seems like the author just needed a quick way to wrap up the book and not address the unbelievable plot line.

Loved this book. It had me hooked right from the beginning. Nice set of characters. Or are they? Good plot to get your teeth into. It was very well written. Flowed well. But if suspense in there.

I will be looking out for this author again.

An interesting start but i found the characters unlikeable and rather unbelievable.
The main characters thoughts became rather irritating and seemed to drag the story.
A decent thriller in parts but overall not for me sadly.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an early copy.

Kat and Mark, a lovely couple making the move from city life to a small island. But all is not what it seems. Secrets from the past will soon haunt their plans. The story had me right from the start and every chapter ending made it worthwhile to go to the next one. The way how Daragh comes into the story and the feeling that somethings are not adding up. The revenge is bitter sweet and the end is a surprise and makes you long for more.
The writing made it so easy to step into the story and live it, walk and run the island see the sunset, the pub, feel the rain and wind, but foremost for me walking in Kat's shoes.
It was an honour to read this book and review it.

The Couple At Causeway Cottage by Diane Jeffrey

Kat and Mark move to an island off the Northern Irish coast for a new beginning. Far away from their frantic life in London, it’s the perfect place to bring up the family they’re longing to start.

But as soon as they arrive, cracks begin to appear in their marriage. Mark is still texting his ex-wife. Kat is lying about a new friendship. And one of them is keeping an explosive secret about the past.
I enjoyed this book which is full of intrigue and a few twists as well.
Many of the characters are shady , and have secrets. You think Kat and Mark are the perfect couple but very soon the cracks begin to show.
I loved the way the author described the cottage and it's remote location. I could feel the changing weather and almost see the nature of the area from her brilliant observations.

I couldn’t get into this book, I didn’t particularly like the characters which is not a deal breaker for me but I just didn’t care what happened to them.

I wasn’t taken with the cottage or the Island lifestyle and I found myself bored with the “mystery”.

After a while I decided this book wasn’t going to take my interest so it’s a DNF from me. I can see how others will be intrigued and enjoy this so for fairness I am giving this 2.5 rounded up to 3.

Thank you to HQ Harper Collins, NetGalley and the author for a copy of this book in advance.

I found this book a quick and entertaining read. The characters were believable but the premise seemed a bit stretched. All in all, it is the kind of novel that would be a good beach companion.

3.5

Mark and Kat make their way to Rathlin island off the coast of Northern Ireland. They’re hoping for a fresh start not least as an escape from Mark‘s ex-wife Fiona. They’ve bought a pretty little cottage in which they hope to raise a family and it also provides proximity to Marks ailing mother in Ballycastle. Initially, it all seems perfect, Kat is enchanted but very soon there are worrying signs that will test them both.

First of all, in my opinion the star of the show is the absolutely glorious setting of Rathlin island. There are some wonderful descriptions of the birds and wildlife as well as the landscape and a sense of the island‘s history and its legends. It also allows the author to utilise the vagaries of Irish weather especially the wildness of winter in order to create a perfect backdrop to the storyline and inject things like claustrophobia.

The characterisation is good, some fool you and some are distinctly unlikable. Most are burdened with guilt or anger, there are big secrets aplenty, copious amounts of lying and an abundance of suspicion. You end up with a little clue who to trust as tension mounts.

Much of the premise and storyline is good though at times the writing is a bit unemotional, there’s repetition with things going round and round in Kat’s head which gets on my nerves a bit! There is drama in the ending but I’m not sure what to make of the somewhat abrupt way it concludes.

Overall though, it’s an easy quick diverting holiday type read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for their much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This was my first Diane Jeffrey book and it did not disappoint! The plot twists and reveals in this novel were shocking and unexpected. High recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC!

The Couple at Causeway Cottage was a great read.. It had enough suspense to keep the reader wanting more. It takes place on Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland. Katherine Fisher (Kat) is the main character and her husband Mark have just moved into their cottage called Causewaiy Cottage. They have moved there to be closer to his mother who is in a nursing facility. Mark works as head of research for Campbell and Coyle a pharmaceutical company in London and Belfast. Cat runs into Darragh Moore while trying to photograph a sunrise at Altacarry Head with his dog Dexter. She thinks that she knew him from Bellycastle when she was younger. She is worried that he will recognize her as she is hiding a secret that she knew his sister Erin. When in the bar they also meet Ginny who is the principal and teacher and principal at the school and Tom, Darragh's partner in the construction company.. Darragh paints a picture of Altacarry Head and leaves it for Kat at her cottage door.. Strange things start to happen at the cottage which leaves both Cat and Mark suspicious of each other. There is so much that is going on in the story that I will leave it to the reader to go on the adventure that the story tells. There is a climax towards the end of the story that I did not expect. The story ends with leaving the reader to imagine what the ending is.

I hope there is another story in this series as I was left guessing what would come next.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing LTD for this ARC.

“He who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves.”

Such vivid descriptions and imagery. Well-written characters that leaped off the pages. A thrilling mystery poised to return and ruin a new beginning. Snagged me the start. Such a clever plot with gasp-inducing twists. Excellent read.

I was so excited to read this book, and thrilled when I was approved to read it. Wow! What a rollercoaster of a ride this book is! Gripped me from the start! Nobody was what they seemed and I was very satisfied with the ending.

Keenly Observed…
Moving from the frenetic life of London to a remote island off the North coast of Ireland means a new start for Kat and Mark. Or does it? Secrets and lies can follow you anywhere. Right? Keenly observed and well crafted suspense with a credibly drawn cast of characters and a vivid sense of place. The slow build of tension works well and the plot maintains a menacing undercurrent until that ultimate sting in the tail.

Diane Jeffrey is one of my favourite authors and you can always be guaranteed a great story with easy to picture characters and some lovely scenery descriptions,this latest book is no exception 😎, we meet Kat and Mark who decide to 360 change their lives and move from London to an Island just off the N.I. coast, but however far they move,however much they change their way of living the secrets and lies they have in their lives follow them and ultimately once again find them….with shocking consequences…
Tense and atmospheric the book grabs you and keeps you and shows this authors skill at writing brilliant psychological thrillers

10/10
5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley and HQ for the copy of The Couple at Causeway Cottage. The writing never engaged me. It was written all from Kat’s POV and she had to analyze everything to death and think/talk about herself which quickly got tiresome. The story was not compelling but I was really surprised at one big twist. The characters were all unlikable and not really believable to me. If you like a twisty story you might like this book, but this book just wasn’t for me.