DO NOT DISTURB
CLAIRE DOUGLAS
*****
After a rough year Kirsty, Adrian and their two children Evie and Amelia move to the countryside to set up a B&B, but when their first guests are closer to home than expected, who can they really trust?
The narrative of Do Not Disturb is compelling and kept me interested throughout. It’s a nice mix of flashback background on characters and events, action packed present day events and foreboding premonitions. There are even parts of it that feel almost in the horror genre, but without it going too over the top. The portrait of family life was interesting, with enough information withheld and drip fed to the reader in a way that was not frustrating or felt fake. I also really liked the characterisation of the two girls – it felt very realistic in a way that is not often done well in fiction.
The story itself is full of twists and turns – leaving you guessing right up until the last chapter, each red herring felt entirely plausible and not over the top to make you sure that this time it was sure to be the right answer. Although I guessed a couple of smaller plot details ahead of time, I didn’t find the main plot predictable at all – far from it!
As a few other reviewers have been left disappointed that this book is not as good as Claire Douglas’ other work I will definitely have to look up more books by this author! A twisty read that keeps you guessing right up until the very end. Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin UK – Michael Joseph for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-Not-Disturb-Claire-Douglas-ebook/dp/B079NPZMBY/