The Couple Next Door: The fast-paced and addictive million-copy bestseller

Shari Lapena

Jul 2016 · Random House

About this ebook

'Meticulously crafted and razor-sharp. THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR lingers long after you turn the final page' HARLAN COBEN

***The fast-paced, addictive No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller. Over one million copies sold.***

PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF ALMOST ANYTHING.

You never know what's happening on the other side of the wall.

Your neighbour told you that she didn't want your six-month-old daughter at the dinner party. Nothing personal, she just couldn't stand her crying.

Your husband said it would be fine. After all, you only live next door. You'll have the baby monitor and you'll take it in turns to go back every half hour.

Your daughter was sleeping when you checked on her last. But now, as you race up the stairs in your deathly quiet house, your worst fears are realized. She's gone.

You've never had to call the police before. But now they're in your home, and who knows what they'll find there.

What would you be capable of, when pushed past your limit?

***OUT NOW *** Shari Lapena's brand-new unputdownable thriller: EVERYONE HERE IS LYING

Ratings and reviews

I found it simple and disappointing. One twist was okay but not really great. For me the ending would have been okay until the author continued a chapter and made it a bit ridiculous and unfortunate and went away from the tone of the book. I guess I wouldn't say steer clear, but it's not really anything special, in my opinion its on the egde of terrible yet somehow also tolerable.

Not entirely predictable at the start but some of the twists were predictable towards the end. The last one seemed entirely unnecessary and seemed to be used purely for the sake of it when the character was initially built up in the plot. Added no value to the story other than make it end on a different note with no relevance or impact to the story. Some characters were not explored well enough for the build up to the climax. First half seemed like a criminal thriller and second half more like a family drama which eventually had a lack lustre ending. Overall an okay read but would not recommend as a crime thriller that tends to keep people guessing for that one last turn of events.

A clever plot that kept me reading to the end. The author understands her characters and effectively reveals their inner thoughts and feelings, although the use of the present tense is a technique I've always found to be somewhat annoying - as if I'm reading the work of a child. Still, a great debut novel for Shari Lapena.

About the author

Shari Lapena is the internationally bestselling author of the thrillers The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, Someone We Know, The End of Her, Not a Happy Family and Everyone Here is Lying which have all been Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers. Her books have been sold in forty territories around the world. She lives in Toronto.

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