My Rating 4.25
I love a good Daniel Hurst phycological thriller and the same goes for this one.
The writing drew you in and submersed you into the story. I was yelling at the FMC, the MMC seemed dodgy and the twist was good. I did fell the last part of the book could have more, felt a bit rushed. I enjoyed the book immensely.
Thank you to Daniel Hurst and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

✨ARC Review✨
📖 The Couple Before Us
✍️ Daniel Hurst
📅 Publication: July 17, 2025

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Something awful had happened to the couple who once lived in this house. She found the warning note tucked in a hidden corner, despite her husband, Christian, claiming they were the first to live there. Had he lied?
This home was meant to be a fresh start. But as she walked through the freshly painted rooms, hand on her growing baby bump, unease replaced hope.
Christian told her to forget the note, but doubt lingered in his eyes. Then, she spotted something disturbing in the neighbor’s yard proof she couldn’t ignore.
When she overheard Christian revealing a secret, everything changed. Who lived here before? What really happened? And did she ever truly know the man she married?
As the truth emerged, one terrifying thought echoed: she should have run while she still could.
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
This is my first time reading a book by Daniel Hurst, and I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging his writing is. He knows how to pull you into a twisted story. I’ll admit, more than once, I wanted to shout at the main character like, Seriously, what was she thinking?!
The big twist caught me off guard. I didn’t see it coming at all, which made the story even more compelling. While the ending felt a little rushed, it still wrapped things up well enough to leave me satisfied.
If you’re into dark psychological thrillers that keep you guessing, wondering who to trust, what’s real, and who’s hiding something, you’ll likely enjoy this one.

Thank you @Netgalley and @ Bookouture for allowing me to review this book.

The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst is another compelling read from this very prolific author.

Christian and Dionne have just moved into a new housing estate with their young son, Kai. But something about their new home and community is unsettling, and when Di starts to ask questions, she is immediately shut down by not only her own neighbours, but by her own husband. Who lived in the house before, and why is everyone so reluctant to speak of them?

I love Daniel Hurst's writing, and I will pick up any of his work without hesitation. This one was another page-turner. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NerGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

This was just not my vibe . The story sounded really interesting but it just wasn’t my cup of tea .
The mystery was dull and it was basically a dnf and the end just bombed .
I do think this author is a good writer though.

Another beaut from Daniel Hurst. I really enjoyed this one. A couple have moved into their new home, on a new estate. The whole place has Stepford vibes and is almost too perfect. They were told no one lived in the house before them… but there are clues that they aren’t the first…

Usual blend of twists, turns, family dynamics, and issues of trust that Daniel Hurst writes so well.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookcoture for the ARC.
Honestly I don't know how to feel about this book. I have never read any books by this author so I can't compare to other pieces of work, he has. At first I was intrigued and looking forward to the development of the plot. As I kept reading I found the writing to be just okay, some of the characters just were so annoying. (Wife). The ending just seem silly. Sorry to say I wasn't a fan of this.

This is another great thriller from Daniel, I don't know how he writes them so quickly! Loved it from the start, the msysterious note and strange neighbours! I couldn't stop reading till I finished it, such a twisty and fast paced thriller!

Another fantastic book from one of my favourite psychological thriller authors with a great storyline, plenty of twists and full of lies and deceit.

You didn't know who to trust and my suspect kept changing throughout and you never knew for sure until the brilliant ending, well done Daniel once again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this great ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

As a fan of Daniel Hurst, this was just so-so for his writing. Still readable but not his best work

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was just okay. The writing was just okay. The plot was just okay and a bit far-fetched. It was my least favorite book of his.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pregnant Dionne (known as Di), her husband Christian and their five-year-old son Kai have just moved into a brand new house in an exclusive estate (this isn’t an American book so I’m guessing that means neighborhood?). Di didn’t like it - it’s so modern, so cold, so different than the cozy house she wanted. Christian eventually talks her into it though, and since she doesn’t want to have a baby while they are living in a hotel, the book starts with moving day.

While unpacking, Di finds a note in a closet, saying that the house isn’t safe, and something terrible happened to the people who used to live there. She immediately confronts her husband, as he told her this was a new build that nobody else had ever lived in…then they meet Cesar, owner of the estate, and he assures her it must be a prank from one of the builders. They meet an elderly man at the (mandatory?) monthly get-together, and he starts to ask them about the couple who lived in their house before them, but Cesar quickly guides him away and apologizes for the man’s dementia.

They also meet Theo, who lives next door. His partner’s name is Hayley, and he tells Di that she’s very shy. One night, Di hears crying in their yard, but when she asks Hayley if she’s okay, Hayley runs inside. That’s when the neighborhood really starts to freak Di out. Cesar is a creepy man, and their neighbor Theo and the rarely-seen Hayley are an odd pair. Why does the estate have air-raid sirens? Why does Cesar seem to be everywhere at once? Why does it feel like someone is always watching? And who lived in the house, if anyone, before them?

This is a fantastic thriller that, at times, starts to lean into the horror category (which I love!) While the books are nothing alike, it made me think of Stephen King’s “Needful Things” (I cast Cesar as Leland Gaunt in my head because of his smooth manipulation), and Bentley Little’s “The Association” (I don’t think the estate has an HOA, but it’s that same feel). The big twist really shocked me - I definitely didn’t see that one coming. The ending was a bit abrupt, but it was decent. Overall, this was one entertaining novel. I’ve only read a handful of books by this author, but I’ve enjoyed them all and look forward to more! 4.5 stars.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Daniel Hurst and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on July 17, 2025.)

Daniel Hurst does it again! Another quick, easy and page turning book. I’ve read several of his books and tear through them very quickly wanting to read on to find out what happened. This book was the same!

As ever a cracking read from this author. Nothing predictable, lots of twists and turns and hard to put down. Thanks @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Dionne and Christian just moved into a new fancy neighborhood against Dionne's better judgment. Right away, she starts to feel uneasy about their decision. The neighborhood is still being built, so only a couple of houses are occupied. Dionne quickly realized that the only neighbors they have seem shady and mysterious.

20% into the book, and I was still waiting for a twist and/or something exciting to happen. The events that unfolded were just so far-fetched and unbelievable. This book was such a disappointment. Not at all what I would expect from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

I was drawn to the premise of this book: a brand-new house in a suburban setting, but full of secrets and mysteries, with the female main character (FMC), Dionne, determined to uncover what’s happening and what happened before. The setup sounds promising for a thriller, but unfortunately, the execution fell short for me.

Dionne, the FMC, is an incredibly frustrating character, a stereotypical “Karen” who gets on my nerves from the beginning to the end.

Typically, I root for the FMC or main character who senses something is wrong early on, cheering them on because their instincts are usually correct. But not this time. Even when Dionne’s suspicions were validated, I couldn’t bring myself to care.

It’s not her paranoia or anxiety that bothered me; those traits are common in thrillers, and I’ve read enough to know that a “hunch” often proves right to some degree. However, Dionne’s handling of situations is maddeningly irrational and unhinged.

Her decisions feel less like plot-driven choices and more like contrived stupidity to drive the story forward. I no longer enjoy books that rely on a FMC’s hysteria or poor judgment to drive the narrative.

While I don’t expect Dionne to be a Sherlock Holmes, I wanted her to act like a reasonably competent adult. The more I read, the less I could tolerate her, even when she was proven right.

The story itself has potential, particularly around the 69% mark, where a twist caught my attention and briefly rekindled my interest. However, the characters undermined the experience. Dionne’s erratic behavior aside, none of the supporting characters were likable, memorable, or engaging. Flawed characters can add depth, but when a character like Dionne has no redeeming qualities, they become simply irritating.

The writing style is straightforward, which I appreciated as a non-native English speaker, as it made the book easy to follow. However, the prose and dialogue often felt bland. Some conversations are quite odd and don’t flow naturally.

Overall, this book wasn’t for me due to its unappealing characters and lackluster dialogue.

While the plot and twists held some intrigue, the disappointing ending left me unsatisfied. Readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers with dramatic twists might still find something to like, but the character-driven issues were too significant for me to overlook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in advance.

I have also included the same review on my Goodreads account.

4.5 star from me! My very first Daniel Hurst book and I will definitely be buying others from him now. If you like John Marrs and Fredia McFadden, you will be hooked! The writing style is brilliant and love the relatively short chapters.
I read this book in 24 hours, couldn’t put it down as I had to know what happened to the couple before Di and her husband moved in and all the secrets of the new estate. Brilliant twist and turns to this book, not what you would expect!

Another ARC read. I really enjoy this authors writing style, he writes like Freida McFadden and I love how engaged and hooked his books are. I was immediately hooked in on this book, I really love when a book has family drama. In relation to the twist, I wouldn’t say it was a wow moment for me. This book more tied together nicely rather than made me gasp. Overall, worth the read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. Daniel Hurst is such a brilliant author, he easily pulls you in and the drama is brill

The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst is a twisty, fast-paced thriller that’s hard to put down. It starts with a simple house swap between friends, but things quickly take a dark turn. Secrets come out, trust is broken, and the ending will definitely surprise you. A quick, addictive read for fans of domestic dramas with a dark edge. This author never disappoints. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley! I love Daniel Hurst and am constantly recommending his novels. This one was another great read. I always love the crazy neighbor stories and was sucked into the drama and gaslighting.