Minnie's Fiction Addiction

👀 First impressions:
The premise of this book immediately drew me in. A couple moving into their dream home only to discover two bodies buried in the garden is exactly the kind of unsettling setup that makes you want to keep reading. From the very beginning, there is a strong sense that the past is not done with these characters, and that whatever happened years ago is about to surface in ways no one is prepared for. The use of dual timelines felt like a natural choice for this story and created a steady sense of tension as the pieces slowly began to fit together.

✅ What I Liked:
I really enjoyed how quickly this book became absorbing without feeling rushed. The short chapters and frequent reveals made it easy to keep turning the pages, and the atmosphere was quietly tense throughout. Even ordinary moments carried a sense of unease, which worked well for a story so rooted in secrets and buried truths. The mystery itself was engaging, and while I did predict some elements, there were still twists that genuinely surprised me, particularly towards the end of the novel.

❎ What I didn’t Like:
While the plot was strong, I found myself wishing for more depth from some of the characters. A few of them felt more like tools to move the story forward rather than fully realised people. There were also moments where coincidences played a little too large a role, which slightly weakened the realism for me. Emotionally, I was far more invested in uncovering the truth than in the personal journeys of the characters involved.

📚 Why You Should Read This Book:
This is a great choice if you enjoy domestic thrillers that focus on long buried secrets and cold cases coming back to life. It suits readers who like dual timelines, tense atmospheres, and stories where a seemingly perfect setting hides something much darker underneath. It is particularly good as a weekend read or for getting out of a reading slump.

💭 Final Thoughts:
The Couple at No. 9 is a gripping and well paced psychological thriller that delivers exactly what it promises. It may not be the most emotionally complex book in the genre, but it is highly readable and effective at building suspense. Claire Douglas clearly knows how to structure a mystery in a way that keeps the reader hooked, and this book is a solid example of that skill.

🛍️ Where to buy
To buy your own copy click HERE and HERE

Final Rating ★★★ – A solid, readable thriller with a strong premise, even if it did not quite leave a lasting impact.