The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: July 17 2025

Blurb:
‘Something terrible happened to the couple who lived here before…’ My hands shake as I read the warning note I’ve just found hidden in a forgotten corner of my brand new house. My husband told me we’d be the first people to live here. Did he lie? As I get closer to the truth of what happened to the couple before us, I realise one thing: I should have run when I had the chance…
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This was my very first ARC read ever, and I was thrilled by getting the chance to read one of Daniel’s Hurst’s books! This one had me gripped, and I had a hard time putting it down. There where several times I wanted to throw the book across the room (in a very good way). Lots of twists and turns and I loved every second of it! Huge 5 star rating from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @danielhurstbooks for letting me read this!

I absolutely loved The Couple Before Us! From start to finish, it was a twisty, suspense-filled read that kept me completely hooked. The pacing was perfect quick and gripping without ever feeling rushed. I honestly struggled to put it down, flying through the pages to find out what would happen next.

Daniel Hurst knows exactly how to keep readers on edge, and this story had just the right mix of tension, mystery, and shocking twists. If you're a fan of domestic thrillers or psychological suspense, I highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

Thank you to Daniel Hurst, Bookouture, and Netgalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

There is a reason that Daniel Hurst is and will forever be my favorite author. He consistently produces books that are quick, thrilling, tension fueled stories that simply leave you shocked on the edge of your seat. This story follows Dionne (Di), her husband Christian, and their son Kai. After moving into a new house, Di finds a note from the previous owners of her new home, after being told by her husband that no one had previously lived in the house. Sketchy right?! Di does alot of dangerous things that really made me dislike her. She's super pregnant and walking alone late at night, breaking into neighbor's homes, and making some questionable life choices-I guess I can blame it on the pregnancy hormones. It was like watching a scary movie, where you're screaming at the tv-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! I certainly didn't trust Christian at all. Why couldn't he just come out with the truth, what's he truly hiding? In typical Hurst fashion, the last 1/4 of the book was full of twists and turns, which I adore about him. Chapters are left on cliffhangers making it impossible to put it down and the pace is perfect. I easily finished this in two days and it's another remarkable stand alone novel. I always look forward to seeing what new story he can conjure up next. 5/5 stars

Gripping, thrilling, twist filled, and shocking, Daniel Hurst has delivered yet again with The Couple Before Us! Seriously, when does he not? This is the 19th book that I have read by Daniel Hurst, and he never fails to deliver a gripping, twist filled, entertaining, and well thought out book! Just when I thought I had this book figured out, Daniel Hurst delivers a zinger of a twist, and I left dazed and amazed!

Moving is never easy especially when pregnant, but Dionne, her husband Christian and their five-year-old son Kai have moved into their new home. It's not the dream home that Dionne imagined raising her children in, but Christian is excited, and she is pregnant, so she goes along with it. But then she finds a note informing her that something bad happened to the couple who lived in the home before her family. Her husband tells her not to worry and that they are the first people to live in this home, but she can't help but wonder if he is hiding something. Then another person mentions the couple who lived there before them before he is quickly pulled away....

Who is telling the truth? If someone lived there before them, why lie about it?

The Couple Before Us is full of mystery and a sense of dread. Dionne knows something isn't right, but can't quite put her finger on what? She knows that she is not being told the truth and is not willing to let sleeping dogs lie. The foreboding in this book was like a pot bubbling over the top as the tension boils out of control! I thought I had a handle on what was going on but them BAM Daniel Hurst threw in another twist and reveal. There are quite a few of them in this book which kept me guessing and turning the pages! Things get a little OTT in the best possible ways. I enjoyed the mounting suspense and sense of danger as the book progressed.

Wonderfully written, well thought out, shocking, and hard to put down!

When I say I couldn't put this down because I needed to know what happened!!! I thought I had it figured out to be thrown for loops and twist galore! I loved this book and the details and how it had me sucked in!! When you move into a beautiful house and quiet neighborhood what could go wrong? This just proves you never know who people truly are and what their intentions are!
Thank you netgalley and publishers for allowing me an arc for my honest review!

I love anything Daniel Hurst and this did not disappoint. Edge of my seat the entire time and I couldn't put it down to even go to the restroom. Thriller title at its best!

Thank you, Bookouture, for the ARC of The Couple Before Us. I'm a big fan of psychological thrillers, but this one left me wanting more. I felt there was too much of Dionne's thoughts, which frankly, were getting on my nerves. I didn't like her.. I felt the author could have gone into a little more detail about her husband and her parents. The plot was good, but I did feel like the writing lacked depth.
This review will also be posted on Amazon and Goodreads.

This book had me hooked right from the beginning. It was the perfect domestic thriller with a twist that I did not see coming. I found the characters relatable and well developed even when I did not like them. Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. I was very excited to read the newest Daniel Hurst book and it did not disappoint. I devoured this in one day! I just love his books

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst. It will appeal to readers who enjoy a domestic thriller with plenty of twists and an unpredictable ending. This was a comfortable, easy read, evenly paced, and the plot flowed well, but it tended to be far-fetched. It was a gripping read, but the tension and suspense were mainly derived from Di's perspective.

The main character, Dionne (Di) was incredibly annoying. She is married to Christian and they have a 5-year-old boy, Kai. She is heavily pregnant with another baby on the way. They are presently staying in a hotel and are desperate to move into a spacious new home before their second child is born. Christian has found a new, modern home in an exclusive development. There will be a backyard for Kai to play, a room of his own and a nursery for the baby. Dionne complains that it is too modern and prefers an older home that has already been lived in, stressing that an older house would have more character. Since time is running out, she consents to move into the brand-new, modern home with her family, but she is not happy with the decision.

While unpacking, Di discovers a note in a closet. It refers to a couple who lived there before and seem to be missing. Christian insists they are the first people to live in the house and to forget about the note. Is he lying? The note contributes to Di's unpredictable, unhinged, and hysterical behaviour. She imagines sinister forces everywhere and views the neighbours suspiciously. For example, she sees a neighbour crying over the fence in the backyard. She imagines that her boyfriend is cruelly abusing her. When the woman goes away, perhaps he has killed her. She thinks the couple were connected with the disappearance of the people who were previously in Di's and Christian's home. Di is determined to discover what happened to them, fearing that the note was a warning that her family may face a similar fate.
She confronts the estate's manager, Cesar, who also insists that her family is the first in the house, and that someone, possibly the builders, has played a prank on them. At a neighbourhood gathering, she meets an elderly man who confirms that a couple did live in the house. Cesar interrupts, saying the man has dementia.

For a woman soon to give birth, Di acts in a paranoid, frantic, and irrational manner. Her inner monologues are dramatic, overwrought and paranoid. She runs around, rescuing people, breaking into houses, hiding under beds, wandering around after dark, and alienating her neighbours. She makes a couple of unsuccessful calls to the police, angering Cesar. Any appearance of crime will drive down the value of the homes. Her husband does little to stop her antics.

There is a well-known saying: "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you." Does this apply to Dionne?

In an action-packed finale, we learn that her family, especially her son, are indeed in danger. This has been mainly due to her irrational behaviour. The solution to the mystery is unpredictable, but looking back, some clues can be discerned. I would be interested in trying more books by the author. The book is scheduled to be published on July 17, 2025.

Daniel Hurst did not disappoint! As an avid reader of Daniels books, this was just as much as a creative genius masterpiece as many of his other works. This book sends you on a emotional rollercoaster. Filled with action, dark secrets, domestic drama, and twists you have no idea are coming, I could not recommend this book more! You will not be able to turn the pages fast enough!

Does Di truly know the man she is married to? Strange things begin to happen in the new house Di, Christian and Kai move in to. Can she trust the others of the neighborhood? Is someone out to harm her family? You will just have to read to find out! Let me tell you though, you think you have it all figured out, but I promise you, you don't.

4.5 CONFIDENT stars!! Get your copy pre-ordered today! Set to publish 7.17.25

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Daniel Hurst for the eArc!

I loved the premise of this book, and it was mainly well written, with plenty of twists to keep the reader interested.
Dionne is written as a strong and intelligent woman, but as she is heavily pregnant, we are told that hormones come into play.
There were certainly times that I found myself shouting out loud at some of the poor decisions she made. If I was married to Christion, I would certainly have demanded the truth. But then, who is telling the truth, and who can be trusted.
There was certainly plenty of tension in the book, before things became a little incredible. A good read if you can suspend belief at times.
Thanks to Net Galley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A challenging read, this novel introduces Di, a pregnant wife and mother of a five-year-old, as she and her husband decide to purchase a newly built house. Despite her initial reluctance to move into a home without it ever having someone loving in it before. I really didn't understand her motivation to want to live in a used house. And when she finds out someone did live in a previously she was appalled


Soon after, Di uncovers a singular unsettling evidence suggesting the house was not as new as believed, igniting a spiraling paranoia about its past and any previous inhabitants.

Unfortunately, what begins as a promising psychological suspense premise quickly devolves. The narrative struggles with both clarity and pacing; the prose often feels overwrought with every action and thought meticulously explained, and the dialogue frequently veers into repetition. The plot itself becomes increasingly convoluted, incorporating a dizzying array of dramatic elements from "rich people problems" and financial disputes to murder, entrapment, and a general sense of narrative silliness that detracts from any tension. Ultimately, this story feels stretched thin, suggesting a concept that might have been more effectively explored as a concise short story rather than a full-length novel.

Thank you netGallery for the ARC.

Received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
Disappointing read.

FMC was portrayed as an unhinged pregnant lady who was paranoid. It didn’t seem realistic for a pregnant lady who is busy with a child, her side business, moving homes, to be so concerned as to whether there was another couple living next door.

Plot hole that I could not get over,
FMC’s husband was on the phone with someone, and she heard it. She wanted to clarify with her husband. But when something happened, poof, that desperate need to find out was gone. The desperate need to move away from her husband, was gone too.
Nothing carried through, even knowing the FMC is somebody who bites and never lets go.

Writing style was straightforward, but truthfully it feels like what a student would submit.

If you’re expecting a twist that perplexes you, you’re reading the wrong book.

Dionne, Christian and their son Kai move into a new home on an exclusive estate. Dionne is a bit sceptic at first but as Dionne is expecting and they need a bigger place, Christian talks her around. But when moving in some boxes Dionne finds a note saying ‘something happened to the couple before us. Paranoia sets in and Dionne wants to find out more. She asks the Estate manager and her said that it might be one of the builders playing a prank. But Dionne is not so sure. Even more weird going on appear and Dionne wonders if her family are safe living there.
Mr Daniel Hurst has done it again with ‘The couple before us’ This is gripping, tense, thriller that keeps you wanting more. This did have a sense of ‘The Stepford wives’ scenario’ intertwined in the storyline and paranoia especially with the protagonist all through the book. It did make me appreciative of my own surroundings and the community of my own estate I live in and put me off moving anytime soon!! This is a great thriller but in this one I did feel a bit disappointed at the ending. I missed his famous cliffhanger he usually does at the end. 4 stars from me.

Daniel Hurst is one of my favorite thriller authors and he doesn’t get enough hype! I absolutely enjoyed this newest thriller of his about to drop! It had me in the edge of my seat, especially because the MC was so pregnant but making decisions that would put her whole family in danger *sigh definitely read this one to find out what happens!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. It has twists that I really didn’t expect and the idea of this creepy housing estate with hidden mysteries was a great idea.

Sometimes I did find the writing a little bit clunky and the FMCS actions to be a little far fetched but I guess when your head is being messed with and you are being gaslighted you do things that are out of character.

A nice quick enjoyable read

First book I’ve read by Daniel Hurst. I was hooked by this fast paced thriller. So many twist! Writing style reminds me of Freida McFadden which i love. Can’t wait to read more.

"I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review."
Expected Pub Date: July 17, 2025
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House-hunting is never easy, but for Dionne, Christian, and their six-year-old son Kai, the pressure is even greater. With baby number two on the way and time ticking down, the family is desperate to find somewhere new before the birth. They eventually settle into a freshly built, modern estate that seems perfect on the surface—but Di, heavily pregnant and increasingly uneasy, can't shake the feeling that something is off. Her anxiety turns to dread when she discovers a chilling note tucked away in a forgotten corner of their new home: "Something terrible happened to the couple who lived here before…" From that moment, an unsettling atmosphere takes hold, and Di begins to spiral into paranoia, questioning everything and everyone around her.

Daniel Hurst has long been one of my go-to authors when I'm in a reading slump or just in the mood for something quick and gripping. I thought I knew what to expect from him by now—but this book totally took me by surprise. The setting—a quiet cul-de-sac with an eerie undertone—was spot on, and the story, told from the POV of a heavily pregnant and understandably anxious wife, kept me on edge the entire time. I genuinely didn't see the twist coming. The true suspects weren't even on my "suspect list". I found myself judging and second-guessing every single character. Each one seemed dodgy in its own way, and I loved how my feelings toward them shifted as the story unfolded.
At one point, I was convinced this was going down a cultish route—there's this weird, unsettling vibe that lingers over the estate, with secrets and scandals hiding just beneath the surface. Cesar, in particular, gave me the creeps with his strange visions and controlling presence—he seriously came across like some kind of cult leader. And, of course, the husband (because it's always the husband, isn't it?) was infuriating—constantly brushing off his wife's very valid concerns, despite all the signs pointing to something sinister. Di herself is nosy, quick to judge, and suspicious of everyone—from her own parents to their new neighbours. And lastly, there's the neighbour with his cryptic jokes and bizarre behaviour, who definitely seems to be hiding something dark.
This book isn't just plot twists driven; it's packed with well-developed, layered characters that kept me gripped from start to finish. An addictive, chilling read that I couldn't put down!

As I say in every review, I am patiently waiting for this author to blow up like Freida McFadden did! These are such excellent popcorn thrillers that have me on the edge of my seat turning pages into the night. There were so many good twists in this and I finished within 3 days because it was that good!