Book Review: The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas

The Couple at Number 9 was a 2021 book release by Claire Douglas.

Claire Douglas is known for writing gripping psychological thrillers and suspenseful novels. I’ve read a couple of books by Claire Douglas before and really enjoyed them.

I was therefore excited to have the opportunity to read an advanced copy of her latest novel The Couple at Number 9.

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Genre: Thriller

Author: Claire Douglas

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2021

Plot

Saffron and her boyfriend Tom are excited to move into her grandmother’s old cottage. With a baby on the way, this marks the start of a new chapter for the young couple. However, when the patio reveals two bodies, their dream home transforms into more of a nightmare.

Since the bodies were buried at least thirty years ago, Saffron feels she has nothing to worry about. However, when the revelation surfaces that the bodies were buried while her grandmother lived there, it thrusts her family into the spotlight.

With her grandmother now suffering from dementia in a care home, her memories of that time are fragmented and hazy. As the police launch a murder investigation, Saffron worries her family may be in danger.

What really did happen 30 years ago? And what part did her grandmother play?

The Couple at Number 9 Book Review

I loved the pace of this book. Whilst it was far from slow, the author takes the time to drip feed us clues and information. Despite the book being told from different perspectives and timelines, it managed not to be too confusing.

I found the characters to be really realistic and their relationships showed how complex family bonds can be. There were quite a few characters that left me wondering how they could all be involved. Claire Douglas cleverly entwined the different stories whilst also keeping the reader guessing to the end.

It’s a suspenseful read full of twists. I found myself thinking I had figured it out and then something else would happen to prove me wrong! I did predict one of the developments midway through but there were more elements to the story that surprised me. It had me gripped from start to finish and I found the ending to be a satisfying one.

What to Read After The Couple at Number 9

If you enjoyed The Couple at Number 9, I would definitely recommend you read some of Claire Douglas’ other novels such as The Wrong Sister or The Girls Who Disappeared.

If you’re looking for other crime and thriller authors to read, I’d recommend Lisa Jewell and Clare Mackintosh.