The Couple at Number 9: A Suspenseful Mystery Thriller with a Haunting Atmosphere―Unravel the Secrets and Solve the Mystery
“Tense, twisty, fraught with emotion and packed with secrets, The Couple at Number 9 is Claire’s best thriller yet.”—Gilly MacMillan, bestselling author of What She Knew
The internationally bestselling author of Do Not Disturb and Just Like the Other Girls delivers a heart-pounding psychological thriller about a couple who inherit what seems to be their dream home, until they make a horrifying discovery—and the danger begins.
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 thirty 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 its’ 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 thirty years ago? Why did no one miss the victims? What part did her grandmother play? And is Saffy now in danger?
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Community Reviews
Saffy and her husband move to the house owned by her grandmother, Rose. When builders find two bodies on the property, a police investigation takes place. Unfortunately, Rose has dementia and her memories are fleeting.
There is another storyline as told by Theo, who visits his father. He suspects something is off about his dad but he is not sure what it is about. He had saved the newspaper article about the buried bodies and had written, “find her” on the paper. Now, he won’t explain why.
Lorna, Saffy’s mother comes to visit and tries to help figure out how this mystery relates to her mother. When the first body is identified, it is found to be an investigative reporter who was trying to ascertain the identity of a woman he believed was once a child murderer.
In a flashback to the 1980s, Rose and her daughter, Lolly, took in boarders to make ends meet. A woman named Daphne moves in. It is apparent that she is running away from something. Rose is also on the run. She was impregnated by the doctor at the fertility clinic, who then becomes controlling over her. She discovers he is involved in fraud and has using his own sperm to impregnate women, and taking their photos unbeknownst to them. Daphne and Rose become lovers but Rose suspects something is off about Daphne. Rose kills a man who was bothering Daphne. She was trying to protect her, but now Daphne is holding this secret over her head. She is secretive and lies about many things. Rose decides she wants Rose to leave, but Daphne kills her, and assumes her identity.
Theos’s father is Victor, the doctor who impregnate Rose. He knows Rose has evidence against him and tries to find it. He hires someone to harass the family and break into their house. This is the man that Rose was afraid of. In the end, he is arrested on multiple charges.
Rose/Daphne eventually confessed to her daughter and granddaughter. She dies shortly thereafter. Saffy finds the evidence that Rose had hid in the fireplace. With it is a letter to Lorna/Lolly that explains the whole situation, including how she murdered Neil, the reporter, whose body had been found.
I love thrillers with multiple POV because it just adds to the edging effect. The who don it feel of this book was done pretty well also.
I like Claire Douglas, and now want to read more books by her.
I did really enjoy the story overall and it was a very entertaining book.
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