Synopsis
It was the house of their dreams. Now it's their worst nightmare . . .
'Spine-chilling' SUNDAY TIMES
'A well-plotted tale . . . Intriguing. Twisty. Surprising. Touching' DOROTHY KOOMSON
'Secrets, skeletons, mothers and daughters - and some absolutely corking twists! A cracking thriller, I loved it' EVE CHASE
_________
BODIES FOUND UNDER PATIO
When pregnant Saffron Cutler moves into 9 Skelton Place with boyfriend Tom and sets about renovations, the last thing she expects is builders uncovering a body. Two bodies, in fact.
POLICE INVESTIGATE
Forensics indicate the bodies have been buried at least thirty years, which leads the police to question the cottage's former owner - Saffy's grandmother, Rose.
OWNER QUESTIONED
Rose's Alzheimer's means her memory is increasingly confused. She can't help the police - but it is clear she remembers something.
A KILLER AT LARGE?
As Rose's fragmented memories resurface, and the police dig ever deeper, Saffy fears she and the cottage are being watched . . .
What happened thirty years ago?
What part did her grandmother play?
And is Saffy now in danger? . . .
_________
DON'T MISS THE BRAND NEW THRILLER FROM CLAIRE DOUGLAS, THE WOMAN WHO LIED - AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW
'This book has everything I love: murder, a taut and fiendishly clever plot and nail-biting tension' EMMA CURTIS
'Combines a tight, gripping, plot and truly shocking twist, with beautiful writing and emotion. A thriller with a heart' NUALA ELLWOOD
'A darkly absorbing mystery' CRIME MONTHLY
'Twisty, nail-biting, and utterly absorbing, you won't be able to put The Couple at No. 9 down' LOUISE O'NEILL
'Expansive, emotional, with one of the very best end twists I've ever read. Douglas at her heart-stopping best' GILLIAN MCALLISTER
'Devotees of domestic noir will love the multiple perspectives and shifts in time that Claire Douglas uses to complicate her nervy narrative'THE TIMES CRIME CLUB NEWSLETTER
'The perfect gripping holiday read' LESLEY PEARSE
Praise for Claire Douglas
'Few people do psychological thrillers as claustrophobic and as creepy as Claire Douglas' Tim Weaver, bestselling author of No One Home
'Thrillingly tense and twisty' B. A. Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors
'Stunning . . . with a killer twist'Closer
'Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train'Marie Claire
'Twisty, exciting yet so very real' Gillian McAllister, bestselling author of Anything You Do Say
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9781405943406
- Number of pages: 432
- Dimensions: 198 x 132 x 14 mm
- Weight: 284g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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Disappointing second half
I was really enjoying this book, the first half was excellent, maintaining the pace well and keeping a good sense of threat throughout.
But then it just b... READ MORE
Another Claire Douglas Masterpiece
I have read a number of books by Claire Douglas and not been disappointed. This is my favourite to date. The sign of a good thriller is when, at no point... READ MORE
Tense thriller
Just Like The Other Girls
Author: Claire Douglas
Publisher: Penguin Michael Joseph
Publication Date: 6 August 2020
Tense, gripping and full of twists wi... READ MORE
Excellent
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found the... READ MORE
Murder Mystery
Just Like the Other Girls by Claire Douglas is a mystery thriller focusing on the victims and the people who are involved in the drama rather than the dete... READ MORE
An excellent thriller
Una is mourning the loss of her mother and is looking for a change in her life. She answers an advertisement for a live-in companion for a wealthy elderly ... READ MORE
ANOTHER CLAIRE DOUGLAS MASTERPIECE
I have read a number of books by Claire Douglas and not been disappointed. This is my favourite to date. The sign of a good thriller is when, at no point... READ MORE
A tense thriller with twists and turns!
A tense thriller with twists and turns!
As soon as I started reading “Just Like The Other Girls” I knew that I was in for a treat with this tense thriller... READ MORE
Gripping
Wow, what can I say, this book drew me in from the first page. The story centres on the girls who worked for elderly Elspeth McKenzie in her big house in C... READ MORE
Plenty Twists
At first I found it confusing as there were different people being introduced in the chapters and there was a lot of skipping back and forward from the 70'... READ MORE
Absorbing thriller with good characterisation
Young couple Saffron and Tom are happily married and expecting their first baby in her grandmother’s former home, when two dead bodies are dug up in their ... READ MORE
5*****
Loved loved LOVED this book. I genuinely found it hard to put down once I started reading because I was so desperate to find out what on earth happened at ... READ MORE
Loved it!
I really enjoyed this read! It kept me interested throughout and I really wanted to know the truth and what happened.
It is about Tom and Saffy, who move i... READ MORE
A really great read
Ok, I will be the first to say this took me a while to get into... But once I started to warm to the characters Saffy and Lolly I was hooked... It really s... READ MORE
Mystery drama
The Couple at No. 9 by Claire Douglas is a mystery thriller that also encompasses family secrets and tragedy. The characters are well formed and I enjoyed ... READ MORE
This is a twisty little tale where you’re never quite sure where the story is heading.
Una has just got a job as a live-in companion to the wealthy, but cold Elspeth. But the money is good, and she’s willing to put up with the fact that Elspe... READ MORE
Brilliant!
Saffron and Tom are entering an exciting time in their lives with a baby on the way and renovations taking place on the cottage they have been left. Then ... READ MORE
A compelling read
This was another compelling read from the talented Claire Douglas. Saffron and Tom Cutler have been given a cottage by Saffron's mother, Lorna. The Cotswol... READ MORE
Wow
The Couple At No. 9
Saffron Cutler is left a cottage in the Cotswolds by her mum Lorna, who in turn was given it by her mother Rose. Lorna happily ( well s... READ MORE
More than bodies turn up in this twisty thriller
When Saffy moves into her grandmother's cottage with her husband Tom she is both sad and excited. Sad because her grandmother's health has deteriorated to ... READ MORE
Gripping Read
The discovery of two bodies buried in Saffy and Tom’s garden is a terrifying situation for the young couple, especially as Saffy is pregnant and her gran –... READ MORE
10/10 Couldn’t put this down!.
Wow; I read this amazing book in 3 days!, I couldn’t put it down. The characters, the twists and turns; not to forget the suspense and anticipation of what... READ MORE
You will not regret reading this book
Just Like The Other Girls, is a twisty and jaw dropping masterpiece from Claire Douglas. It feels like every word written has a meaning and is used to draw... READ MORE
Excellent Read
Excellent read that pulled me straight in, I couldn’t put this down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbia... READ MORE
Another brilliant Claire Douglas page turner
“Suicide. That’s what they’ll say it was. Just like the other girls.”
Una lands herself a rather easy but well paid job being a companion to Elspeth, a ri... READ MORE
Enthralling thriller from an excellent author
Tom and Saffy, a young couple expecting their first child have moved into a cottage gifted to Saffy by her mother Lorna (aka Lolly) who did not know of the... READ MORE
Slow-burning and layered
I found 'The Couple at No. 9' to be a slow-burn, intriguing and layered family mystery.
Saffy and Tom have not long moved into their new home and are look... READ MORE
Loved this novel!
I loved this novel and didn't want it to end, but I wanted to know the ending, if you know what I mean!
This is my first introduction to Claire Douglas ... READ MORE
An incredible read
This book was incredible and one of my favorite reads of the year. When Saffy and Tom start an extension on their Grandmother's house in preparation for th... READ MORE
A slow burner with twists and turns galore
A cautionary tale that would make me think twice before starting renovations that require the digging up of my back garden. Not one body, but two!! And so ... READ MORE
Great read with twists!
This was a fast paced book, imagine creating your ideal home passed down from your Grandmother and discovering secrets held by the house from her past.
Onc... READ MORE
Loved this book!
I loved this novel and didn't want it to end, but I wanted to know the ending, if you know what I mean!
This is my first introduction to Claire Douglas ... READ MORE
The very definition of a page turner
I've been looking forward to reading The Couple at No. 9 for a while now. I've read books by Claire Douglas before and so I knew I was in for a good read. ... READ MORE
Mystery thriller
The Couple at No. 9 by Claire Douglas is a mystery thriller that also encompasses family secrets and tragedy. The characters are well formed and I enjoyed ... READ MORE
A tense and compelling domestic thriller...
I am always delighted at the news of a new Claire Douglas novel and this one did not disappoint.
Saffronand Tom have moved into their first home, a cotta... READ MORE
Thrilling read
The discovery of two bodies buried in Saffy and Tom’s garden is a terrifying situation for the young couple, especially as Saffy is pregnant and her gran –... READ MORE
Slightly unbelievable at times but a book that had to be read to its slightly breathtaking end
This is the first title I’ve read by this author and one which came with a lot of marketing hype – especially online.
It is the story of a young, pregnant... READ MORE
A New Home With Unexpected Extra's
I listened to this as an audiobook.
Pregnant Saffron and boyfriend Tom have just moved into 9 Skelton Place. Saffron is so happy as the workmen are busy bu... READ MORE
The Couple At No. 9 by Claire Douglas
The Couple At No.9 by Claire Douglas is a crime thriller, with bodies turning up unexpectedly. Whose bodies are they? Why are they buried in the patio at N... READ MORE
The Couple at No.9
The Couple at No.9 is a thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining read.
Well-written, deftly plotted and featuring a well-developed, (mostly) likeable cast of re... READ MORE
A good thriller!
3.5 ⭐
I have read a couple of Claire Douglas books before and I have enjoyed them both!
When I saw this one for only 99p, I didn't even think about it!
... READ MORE
Full of Twists! My Fave Claire Douglas Book
As someone who has read all of Claire Douglas's books, I can confidently say that The Couple at No 9 is by far my favorite. This psychological thriller was... READ MORE
A Tense And Atmospheric Read
In A is still grieving her mother's death when she applied for the job of live in carer for elderly Elspeth. But she soon discovers that two previous carer... READ MORE
Another hit from Claire Douglas
Thanks to NetGalley & Penguin for providing me and ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh I loved this!
I’ve read a couple of Claire Douglas’ othe... READ MORE
Just Like the Other Girls
This book rewrote the rules a little along the way and, no, I'm not expanding on that - hopefully you'll get that "what!" feeling at a certain point too an... READ MORE
Fantastic!
After losing her mother and splitting with her boyfriend, Una feels like the perfect opportunity has come up when she sees an advertisement to be a compani... READ MORE
Cracking Psychological Thriller
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, for the ARC.
What a cracking psychological thriller! The writing is excellent, good dia... READ MORE
Brilliant!!
I was lost within the first few pages and didn’t come up for air until the last page. The twists and turns were well thought out and kept you guessing. Eve... READ MORE
Another great book from Claire Douglas
Having previously read and enjoyed Then She Vanishes and Do Not Disturb by Claire Douglas, I was excited to get the ARC of Just Like The Other Girls. It’s ... READ MORE
A must read
Wow, what can I say, this book drew me in from the first page. The story centres on the girls who worked for elderly Elspeth McKenzie in her big house in C... READ MORE
Claire Douglas's best psychological thriller yet!
This was a really engrossing story, set in my local area so I can confirm that the locations are authentic and well-drawn. Ageing but spry Elspeth feels s... READ MORE
Felt A Bit Flat To Me
Following the death of her mother, Una responds to an advertisement for a carer / companion to an elderly lady, Elspeth. Accommodation and food are supplie... READ MORE
A Brilliant Book
Just Like the Other Girls is a fabulous cleverly plotted book that gripped me from the very beginning .Set in Bristol the characters are well drawn and ver... READ MORE
Brilliantly gripping
I got into this book very quickly, it was very well-written. Pregnant Saffy and husband Tom move into her grandmother’s cottage which she’d given to Saffy’... READ MORE
Another great thriller from Claire Douglas
Saffron and Tom have just moved into a cottage on Skelton Place, gifted to them by Saffron's mother. The house has been in the family since the 1980s and T... READ MORE
Entertaining and enjoyable
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... READ MORE
Be prepared to stay up late reading in order to finish it as you will want to find out what happened!
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... READ MORE
Great book!
I really enjoyed this book. It hooked me from the start and I breezed through the story. It’s from the perspective of a few different characters and this h... READ MORE
Brilliant read
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. 1... READ MORE
Wonderfully written
I loved this book and would definitely read more from Claire Douglas. It was a great thriller and one that you just had to keep reading! I didn't guess a... READ MORE
Amazing read
This book was incredible and one of my favorite reads of the year. When Saffy and Tom start an extension on their Grandmother's house in preparation for th... READ MORE
Good escapist reading
Young couple Saffron and Tom Cutler are absolutely delighted to have been gifted a cottage in the Cotswolds to ‘do up’ by Saffy’s mother Lorna who lives i... READ MORE
Highly recommended go grab a copy
The Couple at No.9 by Claire Douglas
I give this book 4.5 stars
When pregnant Saffron Cutler and her boyfriend Tom move into 9 Skelton Place, they didn'... READ MORE
Sorry, not for me
I'm obviously in the minority with my review, but I found this book really difficult to get into, and I'm sorry to say I didn't care about Saffy, Lorna, Ro... READ MORE
Gripping mystery
The Couple At No. 9
Author: Claire Douglas
Publisher:Penguin Michael Joseph Uk
Publication Date: 19/8/21
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
No Spoilers
Although a slow burn... READ MORE
When you hide from your past life can you ever find peace and happiness?
Daffy and Tom move into No 9 and embark on extending the cottage, but two bodies are uncovered. This just the beginning of the revealing of family history ... READ MORE
Brilliant
I got into this book very quickly, it was very well-written. Pregnant Saffy and husband Tom move into her grandmother’s cottage which she’d given to Saffy’... READ MORE
Brilliant
Claire Douglas is one of my favourite authors and in this novel, she does not disappoint. Saffron and Tom move into her Grandmother's old cottage and have ... READ MORE
The surprises keep coming!
A cautionary tale that would make me think twice before starting renovations that require the digging up of my back garden. Not one body, but two!! And so ... READ MORE
Exceedingly Good!
My third novel by Claire Douglas, The Couple at No. 9 was a really cracking read!
The reader is introduced to Saffron "Saffy" Cutler whose new home is 9 S... READ MORE
You need to read this
Saffron and Tom.
That’s the couple.
This book is so well thought out, so fantastically structured with never ending anxiety leading me away from my every... READ MORE
Loved it!
Saffy is pregnant & she & husband Tom are looking forward to becoming parents. Before the baby arrives they are trying to get some renovations to their cot... READ MORE
A - Mazing ! A must read
This was a fast paced book, imagine creating your ideal home passed down from your Grandmother and discovering secrets held by the house from her past.
Onc... READ MORE
The Couple at No 9
Wow! This book took me all round the houses and back again, delivering punch after shock along the way. We start with Saffy and Tom moving into a cottage i... READ MORE
Colourful and twisty thriller
Claire Douglas writes ripping thrillers and this is true to form.
Saffy and her husband Tom move into her grandmother's cottage in the country; with a bab... READ MORE
Gripping page turner
The Couple At No. 9
Author: Claire Douglas
Publisher:Penguin Michael Joseph Uk
Publication Date: 19/8/21
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
No Spoilers
Although a slow burn... READ MORE
Riveting
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Michael Joseph UK, for the ARC,
This is such an absorbing mystery/thriller - a really good read, with later t... READ MORE
Never boring
Saffron and Tom.
That’s the couple.
This book is so well thought out, so fantastically structured with never ending anxiety leading me away from my every... READ MORE
Excellent resd
I couldn't put this book down. It was thrilling from beginning to end. The twists and turns from when the bodies were found to near the end when the book... READ MORE
Go grab a copy!
The Couple at No.9 by Claire Douglas
I give this book 4.5 stars
When pregnant Saffron Cutler and her boyfriend Tom move into 9 Skelton Place, they didn'... READ MORE
Wow! What a book
Wow, wow, wow!! What a twist..... I didn’t see it coming which added another star rating from me.
This book unfolds at a steady pace however it is intrig... READ MORE
Another great, twisty thriller from Claire Douglas
When Saffy and Tom move into her grandmother’s house they are excited to start renovating. However, when 2 bodies are discovered under the patio, Saffy mus... READ MORE
Implausible
This wasn't for me sadly.
Not terribly well written and although there was one well sprung surprise the ending was ludicrous.
I don't wish to give anythi... READ MORE
Gripped to the end
What a great writer, brilliant, full of twists
A really great read
When Una starts a new job as a companion to a wealthy elderly lady, she's excited and full of hope for the future. It'll allow her to save up enough money ... READ MORE
A psychological thriller at it's best.
A psychological thriller at it’s best. The story is about Elspeth McKenzie who is an elderly lady who would like a carer. Elspeth has a daughter called Kat... READ MORE
Great start but failed to maintain the tension
This book got off to an interesting start with Una starting a job as the carer for a wealthy woman who obviously had a few family secrets. Sadly it then b... READ MORE
Tense thriller.
Just Like The Other Girls
Author: Claire Douglas
Publisher: Penguin Michael Joseph
Publication Date: 6 August 2020
Tense, gripping and full of twists wi... READ MORE
Excellent thriller
As all good thrillers do, this starts innocently enough. Una has lost her mum and needs a fresh start. She answers an advert for a carer/ companion for an ... READ MORE
A story well worth reading
This was a very cleverly written psychological thriller. Very complex with lots of action and tension but gave nothing away at all. Excellent and totally s... READ MORE
Tense & Riveting
My second novel by Claire Douglas, Just Like the Other Girls was a really cracking read!
The reader is introduced to Una Richardson who has recently lost ... READ MORE
As creepy as it sounds - a good read
I like Claire Douglas's thrillers - easy to read, with a good amount of twists and turns to keep you gripped and guessing.
Una is a young lady, and has r... READ MORE
Full of twists and turns, fabulous read
Well my goodness this was so full of twists and turned my head was spinning by the end of the book and I really did not suspect what on earth was going on ... READ MORE
Just Like The Other Girls
What a lovely little thriller this turned out to be. Full of twists and turns, and with the odd shock along the way it kept me on my toes right to the end... READ MORE
Another excellent novel from the author
Una is alone. Her mother has just passed away and she has split up with her boyfriend Vince. The only person in her life is her friend Courtney. She decid... READ MORE
This will keep you guessing until the very end
Just Like the Other Girls is a cleverly written thriller, as the story progresses you think you know what is going on but then you turn the page, read some... READ MORE
A Brilliant Read
What a fabulous read a real pageturner and very cleverly written ,Claire Douglas doesn't disappoint with her new book .This is one of those books that is ... READ MORE
A fantastic thriller
If you are after a fantastic thriller, this is the one for you. It is a heart pounding and intensely creepy story. You never know what is going to happen i... READ MORE
Another cracking twisty page turned from Claire Douglas
The Couple At No. 9 is a real page turner from beginning to end with no let up in the middle.
Saffy and Tom have recently moved into a cottage that was o... READ MORE
An easy and interesting read!
I’d like to thank Penguin, Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Couple at No. 9’ by Claire Douglas in exchange for my... READ MORE
Family mystery drama
The Couple at No. 9 by Claire Douglas is a mystery thriller that also encompasses family secrets and tragedy. The characters are well formed and I enjoyed ... READ MORE
slow and enaging
Young couple Tom and Saffron never dreamed they would have a house of their own. But, when Saffron’s grandmother Rose goes into a care home as she suffers ... READ MORE
A slow burner with twists and turns galore
A cautionary tale that would make me think twice before starting renovations that require the digging up of my back garden. Not one body, but two!! And so ... READ MORE
Interesting plot!
I’d like to thank Penguin UK-Michael Joseph and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Just Like the Other Girls’ by Claire Douglas in exchange f... READ MORE
Twisty turny pacy thriller
Una has found a perfect job: she’s going to be a live-in carer to an older lady, Elspeth, in a palatial house in Bristol. But when she arrives she finds th... READ MORE
entertaining and suspensful
Una is still grieving the death of her mother when she applies for a live-in carer position for an older lady, Elspeth.
But not long after she starts her n... READ MORE
Loved it!
Claire Douglas is one of my favourite authors and in this novel, she does not disappoint. Saffron and Tom move into her Grandmother's old cottage and have ... READ MORE