Family-Friend_Socials_V3-5

Extracts

Extract: The Family Friend by Claire Douglas

Local Girl Missing

A TENSE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE WRONG SISTER AND THE NEW NEIGHBOURS. . . 
 
'A class act - she never ever disappoints' LISA JEWELL 
'Douglas is a master storyteller' JANICE HALLETT 
'Douglas is the queen of the unexpected twist' GILLIAN MCALLISTER 
'Claire Douglas is the Queen of Gripping Pageturners' CL TAYLOR 
_________ 
 
 Twenty years ago 
 21-year-old Sophie Collier vanishes one night. 
 She leaves nothing behind but a trainer on the old pier - 
 and a hole in the heart of her best friend Francesca. 
 
 Now 
 A body's been found. 
 And Francesca's drawn back to the seaside town she's tried to forget. 
 Perhaps the truth of what happened to Sophie will finally come out. 
 Yet Francesca is beginning to wish she hadn't returned. 
 
 Everywhere she turns, ghosts from her past appear. The same old faces that always haunted her. But if someone knows what really happened to Sophie that night, then now's the time to find out . . . Isn't it? 
 
 Except sometimes discovering the truth can cost you everything you hold dear - your family, your sanity and even your life . . . 
_________ 
 
 PRAISE FOR CLAIRE DOUGLAS: 
 
 'Thrillingly tense and twisty' B A Paris 
 
 'Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train' Marie Claire 
 
 'Packed with a killer twist' Closer 
 
 'Superb plotting' Jenny Blackhurst 
 
 'Will give you chills' Sunday Mirror 
 
 'Gripping' Closer

The New Neighbours

You know your neighbours are plotting a crime but no one believes you . . . 
 
DON'T MISS THE SPINE-TINGLING THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE WRONG SISTER 
 
'Claire Douglas is a class act - she never, ever disappoints' LISA JEWELL 
 
'No one does tense suburbia like Claire Douglas. The New Neighbour is gripping and unsettling – I loved it!' CLARE MACKINTOSH 
 
‘It’s one of those books you can’t put down’ LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK 
 
‘An utterly compelling plot, a protagonist you’re rooting for, and smartly plotted twists and reveals that come thick and fast’ LUCY CLARKE 
 
'Douglas is a master storyteller' JANICE HALLETT 
 
'Douglas is the queen of the unexpected twist' GILLIAN MCALLISTER 
 
'Claire Douglas is the Queen of Gripping Pageturners' CL TAYLOR 
 
--- 
 
Lena overhears a conversation she shouldn’t have. 
She’s sure her new neighbours – the Morgans – are planning a crime. 
Her family say she’s mistaken.They are a lovely, friendly couple.She should forget it. 
Yet Lena can’t. 
And the more she investigates,the worse her suspicions. 
But Lena hasn’t counted on one thing. 
A secret from her own past. One the Morgans seem connected to. 
And which puts Lena in terrible danger . . . 
--- 
 
Praise for Claire Douglas 
 
'Few people do psychological thrillers as claustrophobic and as creepy as Claire Douglas' Tim Weaver, bestselling author of No One Home 
 
'Thrillingly tense and twisty' B. A. Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors 
 
'Stunning . . . with a killer twist' Closer 
 
'Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train' Marie Claire 
 
'Twisty, exciting yet so very real' Gillian McAllister, bestselling author of Anything You Do Say 
 
The Wrong Sister, Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024

Claire Douglas is a class act - she never, ever disappoints

The New Neighbours has all the trademarks of a classic Claire Douglas novel: an utterly compelling plot, a protagonist you're rooting for, and smartly plotted twists and reveals that come thick and fast. An absolute blockbuster!

A pulse-pounding thriller that will make you think twice before opening a can of worms

It’s one of those books you can’t put down

A real treat for psychological thriller fans

No one does tense suburbia like Claire Douglas. The New Neighbour is gripping and unsettling – I loved it!

Claire Douglas worked as a journalist for fifteen years, but had 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. 
She is a Sunday Times bestseller and a frequent Richard & Judy Book Club pick. Her books have sold nearly two million copies in the UK alone. She lives in Bath with her husband and two children.

Lena overhears a conversation she shouldn’t have. She’s sure her new neighbours – the Morgans – are planning a crime. Her family say she’s mistaken.They are a lovely, friendly couple.She should forget it. Yet Lena can’t. And the more she investigates,the worse her suspicions. But Lena hasn’t counted on one thing. A secret from her own past. One the Morgans seem connected to. And which puts Lena in terrible danger . . .

Then She Vanishes

THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SHOCK YOU MORE THAN THE FIRST CHAPTER . . . IS THE LAST 
 
THE TWISTY PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE WRONG SISTER 
 
 'A riveting, edge-of-your-seat excitement fest - the plotting was so sinfully clever that I was kept endlessly guessing' 5***** Reader Review 
 
'It has twist upon twist upon twist, and even then, the final twist took me by surprise. So good!' 5***** Reader Review 
________ 
 
 Jess and Heather were once best friends - until the night Heather's sister Flora vanished. The night that lies tore their friendship apart. 
 
 But years later, when a brutal double murder shakes their childhood town, Jess returns home. 
 
 Because the suspect is Heather. 
 
 What happened to the girl you used to know? 
 ________ 
 
 Praise for Claire Douglas: 
 
 'Kept me up last night - scary, twisty, all too believable' Jane Corry 
 
 'A page-turning slow burn' Cara Hunter 
 
 'Thrillingly tense and twisty' B A Paris 
 
 'Tense, claustrophobic and gripping' Paula Daly

Claire Douglas worked as a journalist for fifteen years, but had 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. 
She is a Sunday Times bestseller and a frequent Richard &amp; Judy Book Club pick. Her books have sold nearly two million copies in the UK alone. She lives in Bath with her husband and two children.

One missing. One a murderer. One trying to find the truth. 
 
Flora has her whole life ahead of her - until the summer night she vanishes from her sleepy seaside town. 
Her sister Heather was a good girl - until the spring morning twenty years later when she kills two strangers. 
Journalist Jess Fox was once like a sister to them both. 
But called home to investigate Heather's crime, Jess begins to wonder if she really knew either sister at all . . .

The Wrong Sister

DISCOVER THE SUSPENSE-FILLED NEW THRILLER FROM NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
A heart-stopping story of family, trust and betrayal. 
'Outstanding. A terrific family drama' Sunday Times 
 
'Claire Douglas at her masterful best - twisty, surprising, and extraordinarily clever. I loved it' Andrea Mara 
 
---- 
 
You’ve known her all your life . . .Or have you? 
Tasha and sister Alice look alike, but couldn’t be more different. Yet each trusts the other with her life. 
So when Tasha is in need of a holiday, Alice offers to stay at home with the kids. Tasha knows they’re in safe hands. 
She couldn’t be more wrong. 
The phone call from home is unexpected.Alice and her husband, Kyle, have been attacked. Alice is in intensive care. Kyle is dead. 
Then the note arrives, addressed to Tasha: 
It was supposed to be you . . . 
---- 
'I raced through it...The solution to the mystery is so clever I was nowhere near guessing it! I loved it' HARRIET TYCE 
 
'The Wrong Sister is Claire Douglas at her finest. I couldn't put it down!' LUCY CLARKE 
 
'An intricately plotted chiller with a shocking twist' DAILY MAIL 
 
'A real treat for psychological thriller fans' TM LOGAN 
 
'A brilliant jigsaw of suspicious characters, grisly deeds, and family tragedy' ABIGAIL DEAN 
'Claire Douglas has a wonderful ability to keep you turning the pages. Full of twists and plenty of tension, I couldn’t put this book down' HEIDI PERKS 
 
Wrong Sister, Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024

Outstanding. A terrific family drama revealing how little the sisters know about each other and their own history

An intricately plotted chiller with a shocking twist

I raced through The Wrong Sister - it’s such a masterclass in building tension from the dream Venice break at the start to the nightmare it becomes. The solution to the mystery is so clever I was nowhere near guessing it! I loved it.

Brilliant...I was blown away by the intricate plotting, the page-turning tension and the relatability of the sisters and their wider families. And boy, do they have secrets!'

The Wrong Sister is Claire Douglas at her finest - page-turning, compelling and utterly addictive. I couldn't put it down!

This is a book that won’t leave you be. It’s a brilliant jigsaw of suspicious characters, grisly deeds, and family tragedy - and Douglas only lets you see the full picture on the very last page.

A triumph of masterful misdirection and intricate plotting. It keeps you guessing from the first page to the last and it's Claire Douglas's best book yet. If you love a Christie-esque mystery that keeps you guessing, The Wrong Sister definitely won't disappoint

Claire Douglas has done it again with this twisty, ingenious and suspenseful tale of long-buried secrets – a real treat for psychological thriller fans

Spine-chilling scenarios and a catalogue of twisty connections ensue. Claire Douglas layers her stories with atmospheric suspense. This is edgy, unsettling and unputdownable.

What an excellent thriller. The plot was both full of unexpected twists and still completely plausible, the characters were brilliantly drawn, and the writing was great. Claire Douglas keeps getting better and better

Cunning, intelligent, expertly told and with twists and turns that will give readers whiplash, I think it’s destined to be one of the best thrillers of the year

The Wrong Sister is quintessential Claire Douglas at her masterful best – twisty, surprising, and extraordinarily clever. I was desperate to find out what was going on and raced through it. I loved it!

[A] twisty read full of red herrings, you will question everything - and everyone

Claire Douglas has a wonderful ability to keep you turning the pages. Full of twists and plenty of tension, I couldn’t put this book down

Packed full of clever twists, secrets and suspense, this book was unputdownable. Claire Douglas knows how to write a proper page-turner that grabs you from the first page to the last. The Wrong Sister is a gripping thriller, but also a cleverly written and beautifully woven mystery guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings. I devoured this book and I loved every page

Full of twists and turns, with a relatable and all too human cast of characters. No one seeds shocking secrets into seemingly ordinary families quite like Claire Douglas. Hugely enjoyable! I loved it.

Douglas has a deceptively chatty style, but she is a particularly good at twists and red herrings. She keeps the plot on the boil right to the end with a conclusion that is both gratifying and surprising.

Few people do psychological thrillers as claustrophobic and as creepy as Claire Douglas

Devotees of domestic noir will love the multiple perspectives and shifts in time that Claire Douglas uses to complicate her nervy narrative

Tasha has always felt in the shadow of her older sister, Alice. Alice is married to wealthy entrepreneur Kyle and has a high-flying career, Tasha is married to her childhood sweetheart and lives in a Bristol suburb with their three-year-old twins. 
 
When Alice realises that Tasha is struggling she suggests she come to look after the twins for a week, so Tasha and her husband can enjoy a trip away. 
 
But a few days in, it all goes terribly wrong. Tasha receives a phonecall to say Alice is in hospital and Kyle is dead after an intruder broke into their house. A burglary gone wrong, surely. Until a note arrives saying It was supposed to be you...

The Woman Who Lied

THE SUSPENSE-FILLED TALE OF A CRIME NOVELIST WHOSE BOOKS ARE COMING TRUE FROM THE NO 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER CLAIRE DOUGLAS 
 
She finally has her dream life. But someone knows the truth . . .'Her best yet. It's gripping, atmospheric, and so original' GILLIAN MCALLISTER'Thrilling, twisty and impossible to put down. Claire Douglas at her very best' TIM WEAVER'A gripping read, so cleverly plotted and brimming with tension' GILLY MACMILLAN'A tightly plotted, dazzling thriller, filled with Claire Douglas's trademark suspense. An up-all-night read' LUCY CLARKE'A whirlwind of a thriller with twists that made me gasp' CL TAYLOR'Ingenious and compelling . . . absolutely loved it' MARK EDWARDS'So many ingenious twists, so many gasp moments. I absolutely loved it' B P WALTER__________Emilia Ward lives quietly in suburban London with her husband and two children.Just an ordinary wife and mother. But also a bestselling crime writer.When she starts writing her tenth Detective Miranda Moody novel, however, life takes a frightening turn: an incident straight out of one of her novels occurs in real life.Just an unsettling coincidence, she thinks. Until it happens again.Then someone she knows dies exactly like a victim in the book she's still writing . . .Why is someone doing this? 
How do they know what she is writing? 
And how long before Emilia and her family are next?__________READERS ARE GRIPPED BY THE WOMAN WHO LIED . . .'A fantastic thriller. Fresh and original, genuinely kept me guessing and a total page turner' 5* READER REVIEW'I did not want this book to end. I read it in bed. On the sofa. In the bus. You get the picture. Did not put it down till it was done. Then felt disappointed with myself as I had gobbled it up and not spread the treat out. Best book by the author' 5* READER REVIEW'Wow, what a book. I could not put it down. Would definitely recommend' 5* READER REVIEW'Claire Douglas never disappoints, she keeps you hooked until the final page, each story she produces is better than the last with twists galore' 5* READER REVIEW'Truly tremendous, cleverly plotted with a deftly drawn cast and an enthralling one-sit read' 5* READER REVIEW'Tremendous' 5* READER REVIEW 
 PRAISE FOR CLAIRE DOUGLAS:'I loved this twisty novel' RICHARD OSMAN'Clever. Gripping. Terrifically compelling. Kept me glued to the page' SARAH PEARSE'Eerie, spine-tingling. Douglas is a master storyteller. The perfect immersive read' JANICE HALLETT'Douglas is the queen of the unexpected twist' GILLIAN MCALLISTER'Spine-chilling' THE SUNDAY TIMES'A deliciously dark, captivating and twisty mystery from the Queen of Gripping Pageturners' CL TAYLORThe Woman Who Lied, Sunday Times bestseller, October 2023 
Claire Douglas, Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller, September 2022

Claire Douglas's best yet. I loved the literary setting, the simmering tension and the book-within-a-book. It's gripping, atmospheric, and so original

Life imitates art and the truth keeps sliding just out of reach in this clever, twisting thriller. Claire Douglas knows just how to put both characters and readers through their paces - I was hooked

A thriller packed with twists that will leave you breathless

An intriguing, twisty mystery combined with first-rate suspense - hard to put down

Thrilling, twisty and impossible to put down, The Woman Who Lied is Claire Douglas at her very best

A whirlwind of a thriller with twists that made me gasp

THE WOMAN WHO LIED is a gripping read, so cleverly plotted and brimming with tension. The book-within-a-book intrigued me and works beautifully to ratchet up the tension and deepen the mystery. I loved it

Absolutely loved it...Ingenious and compelling with so many twists

This novel is an absolute dream for crime fiction fans. So many ingenious twists, so many gasp moments, so many page-turning scenes that are impossible to stop thinking about. I absolutely loved it.

A tightly plotted, dazzling thriller, filled with Claire Douglas's trademark suspense. This is an up-all-night read - sure to be another blockbuster!

Claire crafts a gripping mystery that not only kept me glued to the page but gave me goosebumps! Clever and terrifically compelling

Douglas is the queen of the unexpected twist, and this is her best wrongfooting yet

Moody, menacing and gothic...a chillingly atmospheric thriller

An unputdownable thriller. Spine-tingling mystery . . . I could not put this down!

A cleverly plotted dark and twisty thriller which will keep you guessing until the end

A fabulously eerie, spine-tingling treat. Douglas is a master storyteller and I felt in the safest of hands. This haunting thriller is the perfect immersive read. I loved it!

Emilia Ward is just an ordinary mum living happily in suburban London with her husband and two children. She's also a bestselling crime author. 
But when Emilia starts her tenth novel, life takes a disturbing turn: an incident straight out of one of her novels occurs in real life. Just a coincidence, she thinks. 
Until it happens again. 
Then someone she knows dies in the same way as a victim in the book she's currently writing . . . 
Who is doing this? How do they know what she is writing? And what if Emilia and her family are next?

‘I loved this twisty novel’ Richard Osman

The Girls Who Disappeared

THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND RICHARD &amp; JUDY PICK FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE COUPLE AT NO 9 
 
'I loved this twisty novel' RICHARD OSMAN 
'Clever. Gripping. Terrifically compelling. Kept me glued to the page' SARAH PEARSE 
'An unputdownable thriller. Spine-tingling mystery' GRAZIA BOOK CLUB 
'Eerie, spine-tingling. Douglas is a master storyteller. The perfect immersive read' JANICE HALLETT 
'Douglas is the queen of the unexpected twist, and this is her best wrongfooting yet' GILLIAN MCALLISTER 
'A cleverly plotted dark and twisty thriller that will keep you guessing until the end' ALICE FEENEY 
'A chillingly dark plot with a killer twist, I was totally gripped throughout' HEIDI PERKS 
_________ 
 
THREE GIRLS MISSING 
 
Twenty years ago: One rainy night, Olivia Rutherford is driving three friends home when a figure in the road causes her to swerve and crash. Regaining consciousness, she finds herself alone in the car - her friends have vanished. 
 
THEY ARE NEVER SEEN AGAIN 
 
Now: Journalist Jenna Halliday visits the close-knit community of Stafferbury to persuade Olivia to talk and solve the mystery of the girls' disappearance. But Olivia won't speak. 
 
What happened? 
 
Is Olivia hiding something? 
Why are the people of Stafferbury so frightened? 
How many secrets can one small town hide? 
_________ 
 
'A deliciously dark, captivating and twisty mystery from the Queen of Gripping Pageturners' CL TAYLOR 
 
'Clever . . . Adventurous . . . Fans of Douglas's bestseller, The Couple at No 9, will enjoy her particularly lively female characters and twisty plot' DAILY MAIL 
 
'Moody, menacing and gothic . . . A chillingly atmospheric thriller' JP DELANEY 
 
'Spine-chilling . . . A twisty plot and unnerving undertones make this an unforgettable read' CULTUREFLY 
 
'A fabulous book. Brilliantly plotted, heart-wrenchingly emotional, and with a central premise to die for. This delivered by the armful. I loved it!' GYTHA LODGE 
 
'I was hooked from the first page and turned the last with my head reeling at the fiendishly clever ending. Atmospheric, haunting and endlessly surprising, I loved it' EVE CHASE 
 
'Absorbing, atmospheric . . . A tense, spine-chilling mystery' GILLY MACMILLAN 
 
READERS ARE GRIPPED BY THE GIRLS WHO DISAPPEARED: 
 
'Totally gripping from start to finish, twists and turns galore' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'I was gripped from the very beginning' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'Another great keep-you-guessing read from a fabulous author' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'It's getting harder and harder for thrillers to shock, but this one hit the mark. Fantastic' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'A gripping story which kept me awake last night as I had to finish reading it!' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'Masterful' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
Praise for Claire Douglas 
 
'Devotees of domestic noir will love the multiple perspectives and shifts in time that Claire Douglas uses to complicate her nervy narrative' Sunday Times Crime Club 
'Few people do psychological thrillers as claustrophobic and as creepy as Claire Douglas' Tim Weaver 
'A gripping page-turner' Jane Fallon 
'Smart and atmospheric' Gillian McAllister 
'Spine-chilling' Sunday Times 
'Intriguing. Twisting. Surprising. Touching' Dorothy Koomson 
'Twisty, nail-biting and utterly absorbing' Louise O'Neill 
'Claire is a mistress at weaving the reader into a web of domestic deceit' Jane Corry 
'The perfect gripping holiday read' Lesley Pearse 
'Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train' Marie Claire 
 
*The Girls Who Disappeared: Featured on The Sunday TImes bestsellers list December 2022*

I loved The Girls Who Disappeared! From the atmospheric opening chapters describing the highly creepy 'Devil's Corridor', Claire crafts a gripping mystery that not only kept me glued to the page but gave me goosebumps! Page by page, Claire carefully reveals just enough information to make you want to read on and I quickly became invested in both the plot and the characters. Clever and terrifically compelling, I think The Girls Who Disappeared might be my new favourite Claire Douglas novel!

Moody, menacing and gothic, The Girls Who Disappeared is a chillingly atmospheric thriller

Clever . . . Adventurous . . . Fans of Douglas's bestseller, The Couple at No 9, will enjoy her particularly lively female characters and twisty plot

An unputdownable thriller. Spine-tingling mystery . . . I could not put this down!'

If, like me , you loved The Couple at No 9 you are in for a treat. A cleverly plotted dark and twisty thriller which will keep you guessing until the end.

A chillingly dark plot with a killer twist, I was totally gripped throughout

I was hooked from the first page and turned the last with my head reeling at the fiendishly clever ending. Atmospheric, haunting and endlessly surprising, I loved it

From page one I just knew this was going to be a cracking story, and I was right. The Girls Who Disappeared is a fabulously eerie, spine-tingling treat. Its twists and turns unfolded at a breathtaking pace, but Douglas is a master storyteller and I felt in the safest of hands. This haunting thriller is the perfect immersive read. I loved it!

Spine-chilling . . . A twisty plot and unnerving undertones make this an unforgettable read

A deliciously dark, captivating and twisty mystery from Queen of Gripping Pageturners. With an eerie setting, a brilliant hook and a cast of suspicious characters, The Girls Who Disappeared will keep you guessing and frantically turning the pages from the gripping opening to the very last page

A darkly menacing sense of place looms throughout Claire Douglas's latest absorbing, atmospheric novel. Douglas weaves dual timelines and smart plotting to serve up another tense, spine-chilling mystery that fans will absolutely love

A fabulous book. Brilliantly plotted, heart-wrenchingly emotional, and with a central premise to die for. This delivered by the armful. I loved it!

Claire is a mistress at weaving the reader into a web of domestic deceit

Twenty years ago, Olivia Rutherford was driving three friends home when she crashed. When she regained consciousness, she was alone - her friends had vanished. 
Now, journalist Jenna Halliday visits the small town of Stafferbury to solve the mystery of the girls' disappearance. But Olivia won't speak. 
What happened? What is Olivia hiding? And why are the people of Stafferbury so frightened?

‘Spine-chilling’ - SUNDAY TIMES

The Couple at No 9

It was the house of their dreams. Now it's their worst nightmare . . . 
 
'Spine-chilling' SUNDAY TIMES 
'A well-plotted tale . . . Intriguing. Twisty. Surprising. Touching' DOROTHY KOOMSON 
'Secrets, skeletons, mothers and daughters - and some absolutely corking twists! A cracking thriller, I loved it' EVE CHASE 
_________ 
 
BODIES FOUND UNDER PATIO 
 
When pregnant Saffron Cutler moves into 9 Skelton Place with boyfriend Tom and sets about renovations, the last thing she expects is builders uncovering a body. Two bodies, in fact. 
 
POLICE INVESTIGATE 
 
Forensics indicate the bodies have been buried at least thirty years, which leads the police to question the cottage's former owner - Saffy's grandmother, Rose. 
 
OWNER QUESTIONED 
 
Rose's Alzheimer's means her memory is increasingly confused. She can't help the police - but it is clear she remembers something. 
 
A KILLER AT LARGE? 
 
As Rose's fragmented memories resurface, and the police dig ever deeper, Saffy fears she and the cottage are being watched . . . 
 
What happened thirty years ago? 
What part did her grandmother play? 
And is Saffy now in danger? . . . 
_________ 
 
DON'T MISS THE BRAND NEW THRILLER FROM CLAIRE DOUGLAS, THE WOMAN WHO LIED - AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW 
 
'This book has everything I love: murder, a taut and fiendishly clever plot and nail-biting tension' EMMA CURTIS 
 
'Combines a tight, gripping, plot and truly shocking twist, with beautiful writing and emotion. A thriller with a heart' NUALA ELLWOOD 
 
'A darkly absorbing mystery' CRIME MONTHLY 
 
'Twisty, nail-biting, and utterly absorbing, you won't be able to put The Couple at No. 9 down' LOUISE O'NEILL 
 
'Expansive, emotional, with one of the very best end twists I've ever read. Douglas at her heart-stopping best' GILLIAN MCALLISTER 
 
'Devotees of domestic noir will love the multiple perspectives and shifts in time that Claire Douglas uses to complicate her nervy narrative' THE TIMES CRIME CLUB NEWSLETTER 
 
'The perfect gripping holiday read' LESLEY PEARSE 
 
Praise for Claire Douglas 
 
'Few people do psychological thrillers as claustrophobic and as creepy as Claire Douglas' Tim Weaver, bestselling author of No One Home 
 
'Thrillingly tense and twisty' B. A. Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors 
 
'Stunning . . . with a killer twist' Closer 
 
'Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train' Marie Claire 
 
 'Twisty, exciting yet so very real' Gillian McAllister, bestselling author of Anything You Do Say

Spine-chilling . . . Douglas writes sensitively about dementia in this heartbreaking novel about how far a desperate woman will go to survive

This book has everything I love: murder, a taut and fiendishly clever plot and nail-biting tension

Combines a tight, gripping plot and truly shocking twist, with beautiful writing and emotion. A thriller with a heart. One of the best I have read in a long time

Secrets, skeletons, mothers and daughters - and some absolutely corking twists! A cracking thriller, I loved it

Eve Chase, author of The Glass House

A well-plotted tale. All the characters are hiding things and you're often waiting for the next secret to blow up. Intriguing. Twisty. Surprising. Touching. Enjoyed it

Devotees of domestic noir will love the multiple perspectives and shifts in time that Claire Douglas uses to complicate her nervy narrative

Tense, twisty, fraught with emotion and packed with secrets, The Couple at No. 9 is Claire's best thriller yet

This well-paced thriller never lets up the pace, and delivers a twist that it's unlikely you will have seen coming

Dense and deeply creepy, this is a top-class chiller

Expansive, emotional, with one of the very best end twists I've ever read. Douglas at her heart-stopping best

Gripping, twisty and hold-your-breath tense, this is Claire Douglas's best book yet

Twisty, nail-biting, and utterly absorbing, you won't be able to put The Couple at No. 9 down

Absolutely LOVED it. Twisty, turny and full of surprises. A definite 5 star

Fabulous. It had me reading late into the night, desperately needing to see what happens

bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors

Stunning . . . with a killer twist

Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train

Few people do psychological thrillers as claustrophobic and as creepy as Claire Douglas

An inherited cottage. A body buried in the garden. And a secret spanning three generations. 
When Saffy's beloved grandmother, Rose, goes into a care home, Saffy learns that she has inherited her Cotswolds cottage. 
But as work begins on much-needed renovations, the body of a young woman is uncovered in the garden. 
Who is she? During Rose's more lucid moments, she reveals snippets of information that Saffy pieces together. 
And then another body is discovered. 
As she delves into Rose's past, Saffy uncovers dark secrets, calling into question everything she thought she knew about her family.

The gripping thriller from the author of THE COUPLE AT NO 9

Just Like the Other Girls

THE NAIL-BITING THRILLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE COUPLE AT NO 9 
 
 SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS SAFE. SO DID THE OTHERS . . . 
 
'Douglas's best yet - an ingenious concept with a corker of a twist' GILLIAN MCALLISTER, bestselling author of THAT NIGHT 
'An immersive page-turner with a twist I didn't see coming' SARAH VAUGHAN, bestselling author of LITTLE DISASTERS 
________ 
 
 *CARER/COMPANION WANTED FOR ELDERLY LADY* 
 
 *YOUNG FEMALE PREFERRED * COMPETITIVE SALARY* 
 
 *ROOM AND BOARD INCLUDED* 
 
 Una Richardson is devastated after the death of her mother. Hoping for a fresh start, she responds to an advertisement and steps into the rich, comforting world of elderly Mrs Elspeth McKenzie. 
 
 But Elspeth's home is not as safe as it seems. 
 
 Kathryn, her cold and bitter daughter, resents Una's presence. More disturbing is the evidence suggesting two girls lived here before. 
 
 What happened to the girls? 
 
 Why will the McKenzies not talk about them? 
 
 As the walls close in around her, Una fears she'll end up just like the other girls . . . 
 ________ 
 
 'A thriller that will leave you in a spin' Sun 
 
 'A chilling novel. Very hard to put down' Gilly MacMillan 
 
 'A wickedly clever page-turner of a psychothriller' Emma Curtis 
 
 'If you like thrillers with plenty of killer twists and turns, then Just Like The Other Girls should definitely be high on your reading list' My Weekly 
 
 Praise for Claire Douglas: 
 
 'Few people do psychological thrillers as claustrophobic and as creepy as Claire Douglas' TIM WEAVER, bestselling author of No One Home 
 
 'Tense, claustrophobic and gripping' Paula Daly 
 
 'Absorbing and chilling' Karen Perry 
 
 'Thrillingly tense and twisty' B A Paris 
 
 'Kept me up last night - scary, twisty, all too believable' Jane Corry

Just Like the Other Girls is a chilling novel showcasing Claire Douglas's trademark brilliantly claustrophobic settings and tightly plotted twists. Impossible to know which of the well-drawn characters to trust and very hard to put down

Douglas's best yet - an ingenious concept with a corker of a twist halfway through. Just Like The Other Girls grips and thrills

bestselling author of The Evidence Against You

Just Like the Other Girls is just the sort of distraction I need at the moment: an immersive page-turner with numerous red herrings and a twist I didn't see coming

bestselling author of Anatomy of a Scandal

A thriller that will leave you in a spin

I absolutely couldn't put this book down. A wickedly clever page-turner of a psychothriller

Deliciously spooky. You simply have to discover what happens

bestselling author of Anything You Do Say

If you like thrillers with plenty of killer twists and turns, then Just Like The Other Girls should definitely be high on your reading list

CARER/COMPANION WANTED FOR ELDERLY LADY 
 * YOUNG FEMALE PREFERRED * COMPETITIVE SALARY * 
 *ROOM AND BOARD INCLUDED * 
Una Richardson is devastated after the death of her mother. Hoping for a fresh start, she responds to an advertisement and steps into the rich, comforting world of elderly Mrs Elspeth McKenzie. 
But Elspeth's home is not as safe as it seems. 
Kathryn, her cold and bitter daughter, resents Una's presence. More disturbing is the evidence suggesting two girls lived here before. 
What happened to them? 
Why will the McKenzies not talk about them? 
As the walls close in around her, Una fears she'll end up just like the other girls.

The chilling novel by the author of THE COUPLE AT NO 9

Do Not Disturb

THE NAIL-BITING PAGE-TURNER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE COUPLE AT NO 9 
 
 'A chilling reminder that sometimes home is where the hurt is' CARA HUNTER 
 'This kept me up last night. Scary. Twisty. All too believable' JANE CORRY 
________ 
 
 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. 
 
 But then their first guest arrives. 
 
Selena is the last person Kirsty wants to see. It's 17 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? 
 
 Because Kirsty knows that once you invite trouble into your home, getting rid of it can be murder . . . 
 ________ 
 
 'Absorbing and chilling' Karen Perry, author of Your Closest Friend 
 
 'I raced through it' Gillian McAllister, author of No Further Questions 
 
 'Kept me guessing up to the thrilling finale' Emma Curtis, author of One Little Mistake

This kept me up last night. Scary. Twisty. All too believable. Exactly what you need for a bestselling chiller-thriller

Tense, claustrophobic and gripping . . . This tale of 'living the dream' gone wrong will have you tearing through the pages

A page-turning slow burn that builds into a chilling reminder that sometimes home is where the hurt is

Truly touching . . . and well-observed

Secrets lurk behind every corner in this dark, gothic thriller. Absorbing and chilling

I raced through Do Not Disturb. Douglas is one of few thriller writers who combines shocking twists effortlessly, and beautifully, with sensitive explorations of family dynamics. I loved it and can't wait to see what she does next

A tense and intriguing domestic noir where no one in the family is beyond suspicion. Kept me guessing right up to the thrilling finale

This enjoyable tale is very contemporary

Kirsty is all set to open a guesthouse in the Brecon Beacons - then her first guest turns up. She hasn't seen Selena for 17 years . . . what does her cousin want?

Kirsty is looking for a fresh start with her family and running a guesthouse in the Welsh mountains sounds ideal. Until their first guest arrives. It's been 17 years since Selena tore everything apart and she is the last person Kirsty wants to see. But why has she walked back into Kirsty's life?

An addictive read that will leave you on the edge of your seat

Superb plotting. I could hardly catch my breath between twists

bestselling author of Before I Let You In

As soon as I finished the first page, I knew I wouldn't be able to put this down

It's impossible to guess the shocking ending

Fast-paced and chock-full of twists

I was absolutely gripped

Compelling and page-turning, with a brilliant twist

Kirsty's family have escaped London for the beautiful, remote Welsh mountains, leaving their dark past behind. Opening their guesthouse marks the start of the type of idyllic life some people would kill for. 
 
 But their first guest isn't one they expected. Kirsty hasn't spoken to her cousin since a lie tore their family apart seventeen years ago. Why has Selena chosen now to force her way back into their still-fragile lives? 
 
 Living with strangers under her roof, Kirsty soon realizes she doesn't know her own family as well as she thought. 
 
 Kirsty also knows she's going to regret allowing Selena into their home to stir up old secrets. 
 
 She just doesn't know it will end in murder.

A short story

The Text

**A new short story from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Local Girl Missing and Last Seen Alive. Her newest novel, Do Not Disturb, is out now!** 
 
A single text changed her life. Did it end his? 
 
Emily Latimer is furious. Her boss Andrew is being so unreasonable, as always. She fires off a text to her boyfriend, only in her haste she sends it to her whole office group. 
 
In it she says Andrew's being difficult about letting her have time off work. That she is angry. That she hopes he dies. The next day her face burns in the office. No one believes her when she says it was a typo, she meant to say does. She hopes he does. 
 
It's a nightmare. But it gets worse - Andrew doesn't turn up for work. And then the police come knocking. Because Andrew Burton has been murdered . . . 
 
Praise For Last Seen Alive 
 
'Thrillingly tense and twisty, a great read' B A Paris, the bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors 
 
'I loved the sense of lurking dread that pervades it all . . . I was absolutely gripped and intrigued' Emma Curtis, the bestselling author of One Little Mistake 
 
'Fast-paced and chock-full of twists, Last Seen Alive is both absorbing and gripping. After reading it you'll never dream of a house swap again' Paula Daly, author of The Mistake I Made 
 
'Brilliant. Twisty, exciting yet so very real' Gillian McAllister, the bestselling author of Everything But the Truth 
 
'Thrilling . . . superb plotting. I could hardly catch my breath between twists!' Jenny Blackhurst, the bestselling author of Before I Let You In 
 
'I love stories when you're not quite sure who is telling the truth! This one kept me guessing' Jane Corry, the bestselling author of My Husband's Wife

A free kindle short from Sunday Times bestselling author in which sending the wrong text may turn out to be deadly

Praise for Last Seen Alive

Thrillingly tense and twisty, a great read

Fast-paced and chock-full of twists, Last Seen Alive is both absorbing and gripping. After reading it you'll never dream of a house swap again

Brilliant. Twisty, exciting yet so very real

Gillian McAllister, Sunday Times bestselling author of

Emily Latimer is furious. Her boss Andrew is being so unreasonable, as always. She fires off a text to her boyfriend, only in her haste she sends it to her whole office group. 
 
In it she says Andrew's being difficult about letting her have time off work. That she is angry. That she hopes he dies. The next day her face burns in the office. No one believes her when she says it was a typo, she meant to say does. She hopes he does. 
 
It's a nightmare. But it gets worse - Andrew doesn't turn up for work. And then the police come knocking. Because Andrew Burton has been murdered ...

The twisty thriller from the author of THE COUPLE AT NO 9

Last Seen Alive

THE GRIPPING AND TWISTY THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE COUPLE AT NO 9 AND THE GIRLS WHO DISAPPEARED 
 
'Thrillingly tense and twisty, a great read' B.A. PARIS, bestselling author of THE DILEMMA 
'If you loved Clare Mackintosh . . . You will love Claire Douglas' WOMAN & HOME 
__________ 
 
SHE CAN RUN 
 
Libby Hall needs to escape from everything for a while. which is why the house swap is a godsend. The chance for Libby and her husband Jamie to exchange their tiny Bath flat for a beautiful haven on the wild Cornish coast. 
 
BUT SHE CAN'T HIDE 
 
But before they can begin to heal their fragile marriage, Libby makes some disturbing discoveries about the house. And soon the peace and isolation begin to feel threatening. How alone are they? Why does she feel watched? 
 
BECAUSE SOMEONE KNOWS HER SECRET . . . 
 
What is Jamie hiding? Is Libby being paranoid? And why does the house bring back such terrible memories? Memories of the night she last saw her best friend alive . . . and what she did. 
___________ 
 
'Stunning. Packed with a killer twist' Closer 
 
'It's impossible to guess the shocking ending' Saga 
 
'I love stories when you're not quite sure who is telling the truth! Kept me guessing' Jane Corry, bestselling author of My Husband's Wife 
 
'Fast-paced and chock-full of twists' Paula Daly bestselling author of The Mistake I Made 
 
'Thrilling. I could hardly catch my breath between twists!' Jenny Blackhurst, bestselling author of The Foster Child

This stunning new release from Claire Douglas is packed with a killer twist

A heart-thumping psychological mystery that ticks all the boxes . . . with twists galore, it's impossible to guess the shocking ending

Fast-paced and chock-full of twists, Last Seen Alive is both absorbing and gripping. After reading it you'll never dream of a house swap again

Thrilling . . . superb plotting. I could hardly catch my breath between twists!

Just finished Last Seen Alive . . . it's so twisty, turning and grippy. Highly recommend it!

Brilliant. Twisty, exciting yet so very real

I love stories where you're not quite sure who is telling the truth! This one kept me guessing

I loved the sense of lurking dread that pervades it all . . . I was absolutely gripped and intrigued

A fab and twisty page-turner that kept me guessing

Grippingly claustrophobic and unpredictable on every page: perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train

Tension oozes from every page . . . [an] addictive read that will leave you on the edge of your seat

Compelling and page-turning, wonderfully written and impossible to second guess with a brilliant twist

bestselling author of Richard & Judy pick The Bones of You

The creepy goings on in the off-season, secret-filled resort will give you chills

As soon as I finished the first page, I knew I wouldn't be able to put this down . . . I thoroughly enjoyed it

Libby and James Hall can't believe their luck when the leaflet comes through the door. Swapping their tiny city flat for a beautiful house by the sea? Who would say no? But once they arrive at The Hideaway Libby starts to get jittery and increasingly paranoid. She is sure that someone is watching them. Something here isn't right. And when she suspects their lives to be in danger they swiftly decide to return to Bath. 
 
But they can't pick up their old life so easily. Because this isn't just a casual house swap. This is something much, much more sinister.

Claire Douglas

Clever, humane, with gasp-out-loud twists, it’s a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page.

One of the most reliable names in unputdownable suspense.

With The Family Friend, Claire Douglas has once again upped her already high game. A captivating and powerful story of the past and present coming together and dark secrets that won’t stay buried. Superb!

A pacy gripping thriller that fans will lap up

Dark and addictive... This thriller has got it all...you'll be hooked!

When Imogen is told she’s inherited a country mansion near Bath, she thinks it must be a mistake. She last saw its owner, reclusive artist Dorothea Roe, sixteen years ago: a summer which changed her life for ever. 
 
Once Imogen and her partner Josh settle into the house, she dares to hope that this is the start of a new life.Yet Imogen can’t stop wondering why a woman she barely knew would leave her everything. 
And when she discovers a box with her name on it in the artist’s abandoned studio, she’s sure Dorothea was trying to send her a message before she died. 
 
What if her death wasn’t an accident? 
Could it be tangled in Imogen’s own dark family history? 
And why is she feeling watched all of a sudden?

Claire Douglas

Praise for The Family Friend

Clever, humane, with gasp-out-loud twists, it’s a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page.

One of the most reliable names in unputdownable suspense.

With The Family Friend, Claire Douglas has once again upped her already high game. A captivating and powerful story of the past and present coming together and dark secrets that won’t stay buried. Superb!

Clever, humane, with gasp-out-loud twists, it’s a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page.

One of the most reliable names in unputdownable suspense.

With The Family Friend, Claire Douglas has once again upped her already high game. A captivating and powerful story of the past and present coming together and dark secrets that won’t stay buried. Superb!

Clever, humane, with gasp-out-loud twists, it’s a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page.

One of the most reliable names in unputdownable suspense.

With The Family Friend, Claire Douglas has once again upped her already high game. A captivating and powerful story of the past and present coming together and dark secrets that won’t stay buried. Superb!

Books by Claire Douglas

Articles featuring Claire Douglas

Extract: The Family Friend by Claire Douglas

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Praise for The Family Friend

Clever, humane, with gasp-out-loud twists, it’s a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page.

One of the most reliable names in unputdownable suspense.

With The Family Friend, Claire Douglas has once again upped her already high game. A captivating and powerful story of the past and present coming together and dark secrets that won’t stay buried. Superb!

Clever, humane, with gasp-out-loud twists, it’s a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page.

One of the most reliable names in unputdownable suspense.

With The Family Friend, Claire Douglas has once again upped her already high game. A captivating and powerful story of the past and present coming together and dark secrets that won’t stay buried. Superb!

Clever, humane, with gasp-out-loud twists, it’s a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page.

One of the most reliable names in unputdownable suspense.

With The Family Friend, Claire Douglas has once again upped her already high game. A captivating and powerful story of the past and present coming together and dark secrets that won’t stay buried. Superb!

Books by Claire Douglas

Sign up to the Claire Douglas newsletter

Articles featuring Claire Douglas

Extract: The Family Friend by Claire Douglas

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