Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas Narrator: Kenton Thomas
Published by HarperAudio on August 2, 2022
Genres: Mystery, Suspense
Length: 12 hours, 43 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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The Victims.... When pregnant Saffron Cutler moves into 9 Skelton Place with boyfriend Tom and sets about renovations, the last thing she expects is builders uncovering human remains. The remains of two bodies, in fact.
The Investigation.... Forensics indicate the bodies have been buried at least 30 years. Saffy has nothing to worry about — until the police launch a murder inquiry and ask to speak to the cottage’s former owner. Her grandmother, Rose.
The Witness.... Rose is in a nursing home and Alzheimer’s means her memory is increasingly confused. She can’t help the police, but it's clear she remembers something.
The Killer.... As Rose’s fragmented memories resurface, and the police dig ever deeper, Saffy fears she and the cottage are being watched.
The Truth.... What happened 30 years ago? Why did no one miss the victims? What part did her grandmother play? And is Saffy now in danger?
I have not read this author before but I have always been interested. The Couple at Number 9 was a great read in introduction. There is plenty of character development in this family psychological suspense. I really liked the young couple who moved into the quiet cottage which belonged to her beloved grandmother. Tom is really kind and supportive and seems a hard worker on the home improvements. Saffy is pregnant and he takes good care of her.
Saffy has always had a great relationship with her grandmother, more comfortable than with her mother. We get Saffy’s point of view as she settles into the cottage and deals with her pregnancy and home renovation and then the bodies. I really thought it was horrible how everyone bothered Saffy and Tom since they weren’t even alive when the bodies were buried. I also thought it was a bit odd how the police told them things.
Saffy’s mom, Lorna, comes from Spain to help and is helpful but also is another thing for Saffy to handle. Lorna does help with cooking and gets into the investigation. She finds some vital information. Being at the cottage, Lorna has some very old memories there but her impression is sad.
We get Saffy and Lorna’s point of view, and also Rose. Rose, being in a care home for dementia, is sort of an unreliable narrator at present. Saffy is protective of her grandmother, much more than Lorna is. Rose’s flashbacks are complete and accurate though, so we get a clear view of what happened 30 years ago.
The characters are well developed and interesting. I really liked Saffy and was sorry for all the trouble this gave her. I worried for her health and somewhat for her safety. I guessed part of the mystery but not all of it. There were some interesting twists which added to the present danger. I really enjoyed this; it kept me following the information and trying to put it together along with the suspense of worrying about Saffy. I’d definitely read more books from this author.
Narration:
This narrator was new to me. I was very comfortable with the male and female voices. There was differentiation, although I think there were more female voices in the story than male. I don’t know if the regional accents were accurate but they were easy to understand. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
About Claire Douglas
Claire Douglas always wanted to write novels and, after many years of trying to get published, her dream came true when she won the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award in 2013 with THE SISTERS.
Her second and third novels, LOCAL GIRL MISSING and LAST SEEN ALIVE (Penguin), are Sunday Times bestsellers.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
I love the sound of this one! And such a creepy, cool cover. 🙂
I really enjoyed this one and it kept me guessing.
I’m really looking forward to this one! Excellent review, Anne💜 The narrator is new to me, too.
Thank you Jonetta. I really liked it and there were some twists.
This sounds exactly like a story I’d get into. I’ll see if they have an audio copy to borrow. Fab review, Anne!
Thanks Rachel. I enjoyed this one.
Sounds like a good solid mystery, I’m glad you enjoyed it, Anne.
Thanks Wendy. I’m not sure I would say solid, it seemed like a wispy thread of truth and lots of unreliable bits.
Glad to know you enjoyed it. I hope to pick this one up soon.
I hope you enjoy it Nadene.
Finding human remains would not be fun.
No especially at a house which has been in your family for 40-50 years.
The blurb gave me the shivers! It sounds amazing and creepy and the audio sounds perfect. I tend to prefer thrillers on audio so I’m glad the narrator did a good job.
It is creepy and there is some danger in the present but the bigger dangers happened in the past.
This sounds like such a great twisty read. I love the tagline on the cover too. Definitely grabbed my attention!
It’s twisty, and generational. I really liked it. There was suspense as they were in some danger and plenty of mystery, more than one thing.
This is a new author to me too. This sounds pretty good.
This was my first time reading her books. The genre is like Ruth Ware or Shari Lapena. I have to pick carefully in the family psychological thrillers but I really enjoyed this one.