The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
I bought The Couple Next Door with precisely no thought whatsoever. I’d never heard of it before, but it sounded like my sort of book and the cover proclaimed it was a ‘Sunday Times bestseller’. Having just read one thriller that I loved – Lying in Wait – I was ready to read another. And I wasn’t disappointed.
Anne and Marco leave their six month old baby daughter at home while they go next door for dinner. They have the baby monitor with them and plan to check on her every half an hour. What could possibly go wrong?
But when they get home, the baby is gone.
Immediately, the house is swarming with police, who suspect the parents first. But they didn’t do it, did they? Anne’s parents want to know why they aren’t out catching the real criminals, and they’re willing to put up good money for the safe return of the baby. As hours turn into days, is there any chance that Anne and Marco will get their baby girl back alive?
Needless to say, none of the characters in Shari Lapena’s debut novel are as nice and straightforward as they first appear and there are a fair few skeletons in the cupboard. But does having a few skeletons in the cupboard mean the couple could have kidnapped their own daughter?
This book twists and turns and just when you think you’ve sussed who is guilty, something else happens. This really is the definition of a page turner and I read it in six days, which is very quick for me.
The subject matter is an emotional one and this would almost certainly be a tough read for someone with a young baby, but if you can bear to read about it (it is only a story, after all), The Couple Next Door is an easy to read and very satisfying thriller.
Sounds great! I shall have to add this to my ‘to read’ list on goodreads.
It’s really good! Well worth a read 🙂
Hmmm, I quite like the concept of this one. I’m debating whether to persevere with thrillers or give up after not loving the few I’ve read recently.
Nat.x
It’s a tough choice! Of course I would recommend you carry on, but I love thrillers! If someone was telling me to read books about vampires and witches, I wouldn’t do it! x
Oh I really want to read this now!
It’s brilliant, I’m sure you’ll love it!
Ooh this does sound very good. I love a good page turner. I now just need to remember to actually pick the book up!
I’m sure you will love this one! There are a lot of twists and turns!
Loving the sound of this one , adding to my TBR list, thank you for sharing with #readwithme
I think you’ll really enjoy it! It’s a proper page-turner.
Great review! This sounds like an interesting read. Am adding it to my wishlist 🙂
#readwithme
It’s really good! I’m sure you will enjoy it.
I was tempted to buy this when I was on holiday and had book tokens burning a hole in my purse. I decided against it in the end but I’m now adding it to my TBR list!
I do love having book tokens burning a hole in my pocket! I’m sure you will enjoy this.
Ooh sounds like a good read! #readwithme
It’s a really good read! I would definitely recommend it.
ooh sounds gripping but I struggle with these sorts of storylines since having the kids! #readwithme
That’s understandable! Occasionally I will stop and think ‘What if this happened to us?’, but I remind myself it’s just fiction and carry on reading!
It sounds like a great read, really gripping. I do need to remind myself of things just being fiction if they’re emotional subjects like this! #readwithme
It is really gripping! I occasionally have to remind myself too, especially if the victims are close to my own children’s ages.
Oh gosh, this immediately made me think of Madeleine McCann. But as fiction, I’d definitely like to read it #readwithme
It’s a really good story! It made me think of Madeleine McCann too 🙁