The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

The Couple Next Door
By Shari Lapena
Published by Transworld/Random House (14 July 2016)
ISBN: 978-0593077382

Publisher's description

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?

My verdict
The Couple Next Door is another missing child book, but takes a slightly different stance.

A couple leave their baby daughter at home one evening while they go to a party next door, popping back to their house to check up on her every hour or so. They return home to discover their baby has been snatched from her cot and there's no sign of any intruders.

This is certainly an easy read and would be great for holidays by the beach or pool. There are various twists and turns and, on the whole, the book is well written and well plotted. It's filled with a whole host of unreliable characters, none are whom are particularly likeable. In fact, most of them are quite nasty and manipulative and couldn't be trusted. Suspicion crept through every page, as the detective in charge of the investigation attempted to established whether this crime had been planned in advance - and, if so, by whom.

The Couple Next Door is certainly a page turner and a fast paced read. But I have to admit that after a while I wasn't that worried about what had happened to the baby. I had already guessed some of the plot anyway. I was intrigued though to see which way the plot was heading, as each character wove a complex web of lies to cover up their secrets and dark past.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.