I found this to be an easy and accessible read, especially as a non-native English speaker — the language is clear, and the writing style straightforward, which I appreciated. The book isn’t overly descriptive, which helped keep the pace moving. That said, I found the first part of the story quite slow to build, though it did improve as the plot developed.

Some of the dialogue felt a bit forced at times, with certain lines coming across as slightly cliché. I also struggled to fully connect with the main character — her thought process and conclusions often felt far-fetched, and I didn’t find much chemistry or emotional depth in her relationship with her husband.

Overall, a light and readable thriller with some engaging twists, but I personally had difficulty connecting emotionally with the characters.

Daniel Hurst is brilliant at psychological thrillers and "The Couple Before Us" is another fabulous read.

Hurst masterfully builds tension from the very first page. There is a sense of unease, and the pacing is deliberate, allowing the mystery to unravel slowly, It is satisfyingly tense.

The characters, are very real and I loved getting to know them.

"The Couple Before Us" has an intricate plot and the shocking twists that Hurst is known for is a delight for any reader. Just when you think you've figured things out, the narrative takes an unexpected turn, keeping you guessing until the very end.

"The Couple Before Us" is a highly recommended read for fans of psychological thrillers. It's a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the truth behind the house's sinister past and the secrets that bind its inhabitants. Daniel Hurst delivers another compelling and unsettling tale that will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page.

I received an advanced copy of *The Couple Before Us* by Daniel Hurst, thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley. This psychological thriller follows a couple who move into a new home that quickly begins to feel off. As mysterious events unfold, they’re forced to confront not only the secrets of the house but the truths within their own relationship.

I’ve recently gotten into Daniel Hurst’s books, and I’m really enjoying his mix of suspense and creative storytelling. This one was no exception—it was gripping, fast-paced, and full of tension. Hurst does a great job of keeping the reader hooked while slowly unraveling the layers of the story. *The Couple Before Us* kept my recent streak of great reads going, and I’m looking forward to picking up more from him soon.

Wow! Words can’t describe how much I absolutely adored this book from start to finish, the creepy vibes were there from page one, and did not end until I turned the final page. I was thinking about it for ages afterwards.

Man, this was a tough one to review. I wanted to love it, mostly because all my friends raved about it. But I just didn’t connect with it the way I hoped I would.

Don’t get me wrong, the pacing was great, and the creeping sense of dread? Chef’s kiss. The build-up had me fully invested. But somewhere along the way, it started to lose me.

I couldn’t quite connect with Dionne, and the rest of the characters felt a little underdeveloped, more like background props than fully fleshed-out people.

That said, the second half delivered. The plot twists had me punching the air a little. Dramatic? Maybe.

Not a new favorite, but I’m glad I stuck it out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the free copy.

This book unfortunately disappointed me a bit! I've read other books from Daniel Hurst and have enjoyed them but this majorly missed the mark for me. It was so incredibly unrealistic it was like a movie where every character is an evil villian. And living in this private compound where you're constantly being surveilled and controlled and there's no one on the outside that can be reached? It was just too much suspending of disbelief with the comical amounts of isolation happening.

When newly pregnant Dionne, her husband Christian, and their young son Kai move into a new house, it was meant to be a fresh start. But when Dionne finds a troubling note hidden away from prying eyes, she realizes that their fresh start could be turning into a nightmare. As Dionne digs deeper and more secrets come to light, she becomes tangled in a web of secrets, lies, and manipulation, leaving her questioning everyone around her.

For being an avid Daniel Hurst reader, something about this novel felt off from his usual writing style. As with other books by Hurst, The Couple Before Us was a quick, popcorn thriller that delivered on both tension and pacing. Short punchy chapters, cliffhangers and a couple of well-placed twists keep up the momentum. I guess the main place where I had some difficulty was with the character development. Dionne, our FMC, felt very one-dimensional and her actions and decisions didn't really feel all that believable. Same with Christian, he felt underdeveloped and some of his narrative especially felt forced and not natural. Overall, if you are looking for a quick, fast-paced thriller and can handle sacrificing some depth, this is an okay choice.

Thank you to NetGalley, Daniel Hurst, and Bookouture for this ARC! Publication date was July 17th 2025.

This was a fast-paced read with a gripping premise: a cryptic note, a suspicious new home, and a mounting sense of paranoia. The setup was strong, and I was hooked by the unease creeping in around Dionne and her growing suspicions about the house, her husband, and the neighbors.

However, while the tension was steady, the plot didn’t quite deliver the payoff I was hoping for.

Still, Daniel Hurst’s writing is undeniably engaging, and I can see this working well for fans of domestic thrillers looking for a quick and twisty read.

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

Daniel Hurst delivers a chilling, edge-of-your-seat domestic thriller in The Couple Before Us, a novel that takes the classic “new house, new start” dream and turns it into a psychological nightmare.

The story follows a young pregnant woman who moves into what’s supposed to be the perfect home with her husband, Christian. But when she finds a cryptic note hidden in a forgotten corner—“Something terrible happened to the couple who lived here before…”—everything shifts. The atmosphere thickens with suspicion, dread, and the kind of anxiety that wraps around you like ivy. Her husband's repeated dismissals only deepen her unease, and when she begins to notice strange behavior from the neighbors and overhears Christian sharing a disturbing secret, the perfect life begins to crack.

What makes this novel so compelling is its claustrophobic intensity. Hurst knows exactly when to drop a clue and when to yank the rug from under you. The pacing is sharp, with short chapters that pull you along like a heartbeat spiking in fear. The protagonist’s growing paranoia feels justified at every turn, and the question of whether she's unraveling or being manipulated keeps you firmly in suspense.

This book isn’t just about lies—it’s about the stories we build around what we want to believe. The truth is buried somewhere between those stories and the silent house that refuses to forget.

This book pulled me in right away with its eerie setting and sense of unease. The secrets, the tension, and the suspicious characters kept me turning the pages. While some parts felt a bit far-fetched, I was fully invested and had to know how it would all play out. A great pick if you enjoy twisty thrillers about trust, lies, and what really goes on behind closed doors.

This was my first book by this author and won’t be my last! I really enjoyed the writing style, it draws you in quickly and builds suspense really well. I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the book and although elements were a little far fetched at times, it was a super enjoyable read!

Daniel Hurst, the master of suspense, returns with another chilling sizzler, THE COUPLE BEFORE US. Following the success of his previous novels, this twisty thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat, delivering the same heart-pounding suspense and unexpected twists his fans have come to love.

About...

Dionne, her husband Christian, and their five-year-old son Kai have moved into their new home, awaiting the arrival of their unborn daughter (Sophia) in a few short months.

It's stressful enough with a move, and the excitement and anticipation of a new start, a fresh moment, and a memorable experience, and you want it all to go perfectly.

Then she finds a note. A warning. Who wrote this? Why was it left here?

What happened to the couple that lived there before us? Does this mean they are not safe?

But did someone lie? This is a new home. A new neighborhood. How could someone else have lived here? Is the community safe?

My thoughts...

Daniel Hurst knows how to build suspense and keeps the twist coming, with darkness lurking at every page turn in THE COUPLE BEFORE US. We all worry about the stress of moving and the potential for hidden secrets to emerge in a new home. This fear is expertly woven into the narrative, making it a relatable and intriguing read.

However, in this case, a newly built home on a freshly created estate gives all the creeps: did they fall for a sales pitch? Then, when she meets the neighbor and receives a warning, her stress level increases.

The ongoing mystery of who lived there before and what is going on gives off a palpable sense of dread. You know something bad is coming, and the wife and mother will have to find her answers. Are they trapped? This sense of impending danger will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The couple next door (Theo and Hayley) is also strange, and Di must figure out what happened at her house and what is going on in this shocking and entertaining domestic suspense novel.

What is with Cesar, the charismatic, wealthy, cocky man, the owner who also lives there? What are they hiding? A cover-up? Things are not as they appear.

Can she trust her husband, the neighbors, or anyone? What is everyone hiding? Is it the pregnancy, hormones, paranoia, or are they in danger? She must keep her son and unborn child safe.

But what if there is something more sinister? Please read it to find out the shocking secret of murder, perverting the course of justice, abduction, and more.

Recs...

If you enjoy dark, creepy, twisty books with Stepford and Stephen King vibes, and the movie Them (2021), give this twisty popcorn thriller, THE COUPLE BEFORE US, a whirl!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 17, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
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Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing with this book.

I love a book domestic thriller and this book was exactly that. Here we had our main character Di who is pregnant and her husband Christian and 5 year old son Kai. They recently moved into a new house in a god neighborhood. DI was told they are the first family to live in this house but when she finds a note in the corner of their closet that says this house is not safe and the previous couple that lived here were met with terrible fate, Di can’t help but wonder if she was lied to. Her husband tells her it’s a prank.

Then we have so many different characters in the neighborhood and lots of secrets. It was really enjoyable read and lots of twists and turns which I loved.

Thanks again NetGalley and publisher for providing me with this book.

Classic Daniel Hurst! Di has a bad feeling about the house and neighborhood where her family has just moved. There are many peculiar people and situations, but why is Di the only person questioning what’s going on? What secrets are being kept by the people around her, and is this “crime free” neighborhood really safe? Di is determined to find out.

I really enjoyed the internal dialogue and first person narration. Hurst’s storytelling is very comfortable - like getting under a cozy blanket and having a close friend tell you what’s happening. That does not mean the narrative is laid back; there’s plenty of mystery, suspense, danger and secrets. Although, this book can be far fetched at times, it kept me glued and turning the pages. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

The Couple Before Us, by Daniel Hurst, is the definition of a psychological thriller. This one will grab you and take you for a ride, with twists and turns throughout. I am looking forward to reading more by this author. Wow!
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC ebook that I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Hurst’s writing style is clean and evocative, effortlessly drawing readers into the tense atmosphere and vivid settings. This combination of sharp storytelling and rich characterization makes The Couple Before Us a must-read for fans of psychological suspense.

The Couple Before Us is definitely one of my favorites by Daniel Hurst! It was mysterious, a little creepy with lots of twists and turns. Could not put this book down! I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC!

The Couple Before Us is an action packed thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end! Daniel Hurst is known for these gripping thrillers and this one does not disappoint! The twists and turns just keep on coming and you'll get whiplash trying to keep up. Yes, the book is really good! Dionne, her husband Christian, and their 5 year old son Kai are moving into a new house in a new development. Christian is excited for the move, but Dionne wishes for a house with more personality. This house looks like every other on the street and is too modern for Di's taste. She sees how excited Christian is and her son loves the yard, so she agrees to the move. Di is 6 months pregnant with their baby girl and they need to find a home soon and be settled before the baby comes.

As Di is unpacking, she finds a note that says something bad happened to the couple who lived here before. Christian told Di that they were the first to ever live in this house, so this can't be true can it? As Christian works hard to reassure Di, she feels uneasy about the note. Is Christian telling Di the truth? Why would he lie to her? At a barbecue for the community, another person mentions a previous couple to Di. The man asks her what happened to them? What is going on? As he's talking to her, the head of the development pulls the man away. Di finds the entire thing so odd. Di takes it upon herself to dig into this further because she's sure she's being lied to. Will Di discover what's really going on? Are she and her family in danger? Is the new house really new? Is the new community safe? This book will keep you guessing until the shocking end. I rate The Couple Before Us 4 stars with a high recommendation. When you start this book be prepared to lose several hours until you finish it. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Couple Before Us in exchange for a fair review. #TheCoupleBeforeUs

The Couple Before Us by Daniel hurst, I really do believe riders get so far stuck in the fake reality they write about they lose sight of what’s believable and what’s not. In this book Dion and her husband move with their five-year-old son Kai to a home Dion really didn’t want to move to but due to the fact that they already sold their home and was staying in a hotel room with a five year-old and she’s due to give birth to their daughter in less than three months with slight pressure from Christian she ultimately acquiesces andagrees to the new house. it’s on a brand new estate and they’re supposedly only the third family to move in the Neighbourhood and the first to move in the brand new home. after they move in many strange things start happening from her weird neighbor whose wife ultimately goes missing to the note she found talking about the previous couple who lived in their house before, her rich parents who she wants nothing to do with when it comes to their money moves in the neighborhood, Cesar the esstrange estate owner who seems to always be around to interrupt any conversation helping Dion get the information she seeks and on and on. The truth will change everything Dion thought she knew about the life she was making. I would love to say as I do with most Danhurst books that I loved the story but OMG I did not. For one thing the whole mystery begins because she found a piece of paper in a dresser in an upstairs bedroom talking about the couple who lived in the house before. immediately Dion starts talking about all the people who sold them the house lied to them how they’re in danger and no one wants to tell her they go to a barbecue for everyone who lives in the neighborhood and she’s questioning everyone about do you know the people who lived in my home before not to mention Haley next-door who she basically stocks. I am not going to waste much more time on this review I did not like the book I was disappointed as I look so forward to his books I just thought there wasn’t enough for deal to be upset about let alone believe her family was in danger she ultimately seemed like a busy body who was making mountains out of mole Hills and although she would ultimately be proven right if you really think about it that she said nothing she probably could’ve lived in the house peacefully with no problems. I mean minus the dead previous resident and the other stuff that happened in the book but she would’ve known none of that in most of it wouldn’t have happened if not for her interfering. I do want to say this before closing out this review at one point in the book Dion is arguing with someone because they rented a home to someone who moved in and paid no rent at all after moving in and she tried to shame them because she said these people were struggling and how dare this person go confront them when they’re having a hard time and I just want to say I don’t care if someone is a billionaire if you give your word and promise to pay someone for a service you owe them that money you cannot accept the service and then cry hard times I just thought that was Such a wishy-washy pansy way because it came out as if because these people had money that they should’ve let the other people slide and I just didn’t agree with that sentiment at all. ask for recommending this book I mean you may like it I really don’t think it was as entertaining as all of his other books but read it with the grain of salt. #NetGalley, #Bookouture, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#DanielHurst, #TheCoupleBeforeUs,

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher an Daniel Hurst for this read. Daniel always writes a good popcorn thriller. Once you start, you have to quickly finish his books. This was so good and quite creepy.