The Couple at Number 9 A Novel
8.1 / 10 84K ratings
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2022
- Publisher
- Harpercollins
- Pages
- 400
- ISBN
- 9780063138162
When Saffron Cutler and her boyfriend Tom begin renovations on the charming Cotswolds cottage Saffy inherited from her beloved grandmother, Rose, they anticipate a fresh start. However, their dreams are shattered when builders unearth two human skeletons buried beneath the patio. The discovery launches a murder investigation, and police attention quickly shifts to Rose, who resided in the cottage during the thirty years the bodies are estimated to have been interred. With Rose now in a care home and suffering from advanced Alzheimer's, her fragmented memories offer unreliable clues, yet hint at dark secrets from the past. As Saffy delves into her grandmother's history, she uncovers a web of deception, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about her family and the seemingly idyllic home.
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Other editions (7)
Listen to the summary Narrated summary
The quaint cottage at 9 Skelton Place, nestled in the picturesque Cotswolds, was meant to be a fresh start, a dream home for Saffron Cutler and her boyfriend, Tom, as they awaited the arrival of their first child. The air buzzed with the promise of renovations, of transforming the inherited property into their own haven. But the cheerful sounds of builders soon gave way to the chilling scrape of shovels hitting something unexpected beneath the patio: not earth, but bone. Then another. Two bodies, carefully buried, and forensic analysis whispered a horrifying truth - they had lain there for nearly thirty years.
The idyllic dream shattered, replaced by crime scene tape and the grim presence of the police. The focus of the investigation quickly turned to the cottage's former owner, Saffy's beloved grandmother, Rose. Yet, Rose now resided in a care home, her mind clouded by advanced dementia, her memories fragmented and elusive. How could she, in her current state, shed light on the dark secrets buried beneath her old home? Saffy, desperate for answers and a sense of security, found herself caught in a horrifying nightmare, convinced that her family's past was inextricably linked to the gruesome discovery.
As the police pressed for information, Saffy visited Rose, clinging to every fleeting word. Sometimes a name, "Sheila," would slip from her grandmother's lips, a phantom from a past Saffy knew nothing about, offering tantalizing but incomplete clues. Into this maelstrom arrived Lorna, Saffy's vibrant, free-spirited mother, who flew back from Spain, her usual carefree demeanor replaced by a growing unease. Lorna, who had inherited the cottage from Rose but had never lived there, also found herself confronting a history she barely knew, realizing there were vast, unsettling gaps in her own early life.
The narrative began to weave between two distinct timelines: Saffy and Lorna's harrowing present-day investigation, and Rose's life in the cottage three decades earlier. In the past, Rose, a young mother fiercely protective of her daughter Lorna, harbored secrets of her own, a quiet desperation that led her to take in a mysterious lodger named Daphne Hartall. These glimpses into Rose's past revealed a woman fleeing an unspoken threat, seeking solace and a new beginning, creating an unsettling parallel with the present-day mystery.
As Saffy and Lorna delved deeper, piecing together Rose's fractured recollections and the few tangible clues, a complex web of deceit, betrayal, and long-buried family secrets began to unravel. They encountered other figures, like Theo, a chef whose own life, seemingly disparate, would slowly and disturbingly intertwine with the events at 9 Skelton Place. Each unearthed detail, each whispered memory from Rose, drew them closer to a chilling truth, transforming their inherited dream home into a house haunted by a past that refused to stay buried. The tension mounted, a creeping dread that someone was watching, that the danger of thirty years ago might not be truly gone.
The layers of the mystery peeled back, revealing not just the identities of the victims, but the shocking motives and desperate acts that led to their demise. The cottage, once a symbol of hope, became a crucible where the weight of generational secrets was finally exposed, forcing Saffy and Lorna to confront the darkest corners of their family's history and the devastating impact of long-held lies. The truth, when it finally emerged, was more intricate and heartbreaking than they could have ever imagined, leaving an indelible mark on their lives and the very foundations of 9 Skelton Place.
The idyllic dream shattered, replaced by crime scene tape and the grim presence of the police. The focus of the investigation quickly turned to the cottage's former owner, Saffy's beloved grandmother, Rose. Yet, Rose now resided in a care home, her mind clouded by advanced dementia, her memories fragmented and elusive. How could she, in her current state, shed light on the dark secrets buried beneath her old home? Saffy, desperate for answers and a sense of security, found herself caught in a horrifying nightmare, convinced that her family's past was inextricably linked to the gruesome discovery.
As the police pressed for information, Saffy visited Rose, clinging to every fleeting word. Sometimes a name, "Sheila," would slip from her grandmother's lips, a phantom from a past Saffy knew nothing about, offering tantalizing but incomplete clues. Into this maelstrom arrived Lorna, Saffy's vibrant, free-spirited mother, who flew back from Spain, her usual carefree demeanor replaced by a growing unease. Lorna, who had inherited the cottage from Rose but had never lived there, also found herself confronting a history she barely knew, realizing there were vast, unsettling gaps in her own early life.
The narrative began to weave between two distinct timelines: Saffy and Lorna's harrowing present-day investigation, and Rose's life in the cottage three decades earlier. In the past, Rose, a young mother fiercely protective of her daughter Lorna, harbored secrets of her own, a quiet desperation that led her to take in a mysterious lodger named Daphne Hartall. These glimpses into Rose's past revealed a woman fleeing an unspoken threat, seeking solace and a new beginning, creating an unsettling parallel with the present-day mystery.
As Saffy and Lorna delved deeper, piecing together Rose's fractured recollections and the few tangible clues, a complex web of deceit, betrayal, and long-buried family secrets began to unravel. They encountered other figures, like Theo, a chef whose own life, seemingly disparate, would slowly and disturbingly intertwine with the events at 9 Skelton Place. Each unearthed detail, each whispered memory from Rose, drew them closer to a chilling truth, transforming their inherited dream home into a house haunted by a past that refused to stay buried. The tension mounted, a creeping dread that someone was watching, that the danger of thirty years ago might not be truly gone.
The layers of the mystery peeled back, revealing not just the identities of the victims, but the shocking motives and desperate acts that led to their demise. The cottage, once a symbol of hope, became a crucible where the weight of generational secrets was finally exposed, forcing Saffy and Lorna to confront the darkest corners of their family's history and the devastating impact of long-held lies. The truth, when it finally emerged, was more intricate and heartbreaking than they could have ever imagined, leaving an indelible mark on their lives and the very foundations of 9 Skelton Place.
What other readers say
Liked
Reviewers widely praise this book as a smart, hooking, and riveting mystery, often described as a unique puzzle. Many highlighted the engaging multi-perspective narration and dual timelines, which adeptly build suspense and allow readers to piece together clues like amateur detectives. The characterization is frequently commended, with many finding the characters realistic, well-drawn, and compelling. The plot is noted for being well-structured, clever, and full of surprising revelations and unexpected twists that kept readers on the edge of their seats, leading to a shocking and satisfying conclusion for many. The author's talented writing style is also celebrated for creating an immersive and visually rich reading experience that makes the book a compelling page-turner.
Disliked
Conversely, some readers found the pacing to be an issue, describing the narrative as slow, drawn out, or long-winded, particularly in the middle sections, with occasional repetition or excessive backstories. A few reviewers felt the plot was predictable or formulaic despite the twists. The complex structure with interchanging characters and timelines, while appreciated by many, sometimes led to confusion or disengagement for others. Some found certain plot points or character actions to be less believable, such as the police relying heavily on a character with memory impairment. A minor point for some audiobook listeners was difficulty understanding certain narrators due to accents or muffled sound, or confusion arising from switches between first and third-person perspectives within the multiple viewpoints.
In short
Overall, reviews for this book are quite mixed, yet many readers found it to be an entertaining and enjoyable mystery despite its perceived flaws. It is recommended for those who appreciate a well-crafted domestic thriller with a complex plot and a focus on family secrets and dynamics. Readers who enjoy multi-perspective storytelling and dual timelines that gradually unravel a central mystery, building suspense towards a significant reveal, are likely to find this book particularly engaging. It is an ideal read for those who don't mind a slower burn in favor of a detailed narrative and character exploration, and who seek a twisty tale that keeps them guessing until the very end.
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