The Couple at No. 9 by Claire Douglas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
**3.5-stars rounded up**
When Saffy and Tom move to 9 Skelton Place, they’re excited about the possibilities. The property once belonged to Saffy’s Grandmother and it will take a little work to get the place just how they want it, but with their first baby on the way, they’re willing to take on the project.
As they prepare for a kitchen extension, a construction crew begins digging up the back garden. That’s how they discover the two bodies buried there.
Early analysis indicates the bodies have been buried there for about 30-years. While their presence isn’t the result of a recent act of violence, it’s quite clear that a crime, or crimes, was once committed there.
9 Skelton Place becomes a crime scene; a very unpleasant occurrence for the young couple just looking to nest.
As part of their investigation, the police ask to speak with the home’s former owner, Saffy’s Grandmother, Rose. Unfortunately, Rose is currently suffering from fairly advanced dementia.
Saffy frequently goes to visit Rose in her Care Home and can attest to the fact that some days are worse than others. It’s unclear if Rose will be able to provide any reliable information to the investigators.
Hearing of her daughter’s troubles, Saffy’s Mom, Lorna, returns from Spain, where she lives abroad with her boyfriend. Lorna has always been a free spirit, with Saffy often feeling the more mature of the two. It’s clear that Lorna loves her daughter though and she’s here to help.
The more Saffy and Lorna dig into the mystery of 9 Skelton Place, the more ominous it all seems. There are entire chunks of Lorna’s very early history that she knows nothing about. What has her mother, Rose, been hiding from her?
I liked this. It was a good time for me. It wasn’t perfect, but I found the mystery, the characters and the family dynamics quite interesting.
Once I started down the rabbit hole of the bodies in the garden, I was compelled to discover the truth. I had to know!
This story is told through both past and present perspectives. You learn about the present by following Saffy, Lorna and a man named, Theo. In the past, you learn about Rose’s time living at 9 Skelton Place.
I found both timelines interesting and like how each present section seemed to build off things discovered from the past.
Theo’s perspective was confounding to me at first. I wasn’t quite sure why it was necessary, but it did ultimately serve a purpose and I like how it all wrapped up in the end.
Overall, I thought this was an entertaining read. Douglas did a great job creating a puzzling little mystery and it was fun watching it all come together.
While this won’t be the most memorable Mystery/Thriller that I read this year, I am still happy that I picked it up. This was my first Claire Douglas and I definitely enjoyed her style.
Thank you to the publisher, Harper Paperbacks, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!