The Couple Before Us
- Judith D Collins
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 21
By: Daniel Hurst
Narrator: Clare Corbett
Hachette UK
ISBN: 978-1805500803
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 07/17/2025
Format: e-book
My Rating: 4 Stars (ARC)
‘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?
Moving to this gorgeous house was meant to be a new start for our family. My hand rests on my growing baby bump as I walk through our home, the smell of fresh paint in the air, but my heart no longer feels full of hope for the future.
My husband Christian wraps his strong arms around me and tells me to forget the note; he wants this to be the perfect home for us. But as I look into his blue-grey eyes, I wonder if there’s something he’s keeping from me or if I’m just being paranoid.
Was there a couple who lived here before? And what happened to them?
I try to forget my worries like Christian asked, but then I see something in our next-door neighbour’s garden that I can’t ignore. I know I need to find out the truth if I’m ever going to feel safe again.
Except when I overhear Christian revealing a secret on the phone, I start to question: do I even know the man I married?
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…
Number 1 bestselling author Daniel Hurst is the king of utterly addictive and unputdownable psychological thrillers. The Couple Before Us is a completely gripping, pulse-pounding, keep-you-up-until-3am read perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Freida McFadden and Lisa Jewell.
My Review
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 whom? 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? 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.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 17, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
About the Author
Daniel Hurst is an Amazon #1 bestselling author of fast paced psychological thrillers. His most popular titles include Til Death Do Us Part, The Passenger and The Doctor's Wife, the latter title reaching #1 on the Amazon UK Kindle store in February 2023. A regular KDP Select All Star since he became a full-time author in 2021, Daniel prides himself on writing fast, releasing stories often and engaging with his readers.
You can visit him at www.danielhurstbooks.com, where you can also download a copy of his FREE thriller 'Just One Second.'
