Do Not Disturb by Claire Douglas
Published by Penguin UK (Michael Joseph)
Publication date: 9th August 2018
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers/Womens Fiction
383 pages
I'm afraid I have become quite overwhelmed by my NetGalley shelf over the last few months and am now endeavouring to clear my backlog of some brilliant titles which I just haven't had the chance to get to. This book in particular has been waving frantically at me from my shelf so I made sure it was the first to be reached from the list once I found some free time. My sincere thanks to publisher Michael Joseph Books for the opportunity to review this book, I can but apologise for not having done so sooner.
Book Description:
Could your dream home be your worst nightmare?
After what happened in London, Kirsty needs a fresh start with her family.
And running a guesthouse in the Welsh mountains sounds idyllic.
And running a guesthouse in the Welsh mountains sounds idyllic.
But then their first guest arrives.
Selena is the last person Kirsty wants to see.
It's seventeen years since she tore everything apart.
Selena is the last person Kirsty wants to see.
It's seventeen years since she tore everything apart.
Why has she chosen now to walk back into Kirsty's life?
Is Selena running from something too?
Or is there an even darker reason for her visit?
Is Selena running from something too?
Or is there an even darker reason for her visit?
Because Kirsty knows that once you invite trouble into your home, it can be murder getting rid of it . . .
My Review:
The focus of this very cloak and dagger book, Kirsty and husband Adrian have moved to the Welsh mountains to make real their dream of running a guest house with the support of Kirsty's mum Carol. Adrian has clearly had some mental health issues back in London with his stressful job as a lawyer finally taking its toll. The full extent of his problems are divulged gradually to the reader as the story unfolds.
There is a heavily claustrophobic feel to this novel, the location of the guesthouse nestled in among the mountains feels quite oppressive. Then as various members of the family turn up having been invited by Carol and not necessarily approved by Kirsty, things start becoming more and more sinister. Rumours of 'bad energy' and reports of an unpleasant history of the property only add to the atmosphere, then daughter Evie discovers a spooky china doll beneath the floorboards in her new bedroom.
The arrival of Kirsty's estranged cousin Selena and her daughter Ruby seems to trigger even more unsettling events which culminate in a tragic accident in the early hours of one morning. Everyone is under suspicion both by local police and between the various members of the household. Trust is not something readily on offer throughout the whole of the book.
This is one big onion of a psychological thriller with layer upon layer of secrets and lies just waiting to be peeled away in order to expose the truth. This book is a chilling exploration of how far people will go to protect themselves and one another, whether they are family or not.
This is a great read for a dark wintry evening, especially if you can dedicate the time to read it in good, hefty chunks as it really pulls you in to want to know who is responsible for the goings on behind the doors of the Old Rectory.
About the Author:
Claire Douglas has worked as a journalist for fifteen years writing features for women's magazines and national newspapers, but she's dreamed of being a novelist since the age of seven. She finally got her wish after winning the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award, with her first novel, The Sisters, which was followed by Local Girl Missing, Last Seen Alive and Do Not Disturb, all Sunday Times bestsellers. She lives in Bath with her husband and two children.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: @DougieClaire
Instagram: clairedouglasauthor
Facebook page: clairedouglasauthor
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