Last year one of my favourite books of 2018 ended up being The Sisters by Claire Douglas. It was one that totally took me by surprise so when I spotted Do Not Disturb for an amazing price recently, I had to buy it. If you're ever after new books at a reasonable price by the way, I tend to get most of mine from this shop World Of Books on Ebay, all in great condition and they arrive so quickly! Anyway, want to know if Do Not Disturb impressed me just as much as The Sisters?
'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, it can be murder getting rid of it...'
My review
This was another one of those books that genuinely as soon as I started it, I couldn't stop. I love it when from the first page of a book you are totally consumed by it and I truly did struggle to put this down each occasion. It was one of those books that you're just waiting to pick up again! There's no hanging about either with this, within the first few pages, a death happens and we then get to uncover everything that happened in the lead up to it which I liked. You know something big has been revealed, but you get to try and piece everything together as you go.
Claire is just brilliant at creating tension yet her writing feels effortless, it all just flows perfectly and the story is so engaging. She managed to make pretty much every character suspicious so it's definitely a book that keeps you guessing which I always like in a thriller. Whilst I didn't necessarily love Kirsty, the main protagonist, I absolutely hated Selena, and I could understand why several characters might have something against her. Also with the story being set in a guesthouse, it would have been easy for it to have felt too complicated, but at no point did that happen. I liked that there was so much intrigue around everyone because it meant when the murderer of a certain character is revealed, it was a real shocker.
This is a book though that isn't just about what you're lead to believe, it explores quite a few different topics including mental health, whilst the main story is unfolding. We hear a little about Kirsty's husband, Adrian's battle with depression which I think is a very real subject which can often be difficult to approach in the appropriate way, and then there's all of the drama and believability of family arguments and lies between one another, things that are very much real life. It really felt like there was a few different stories going on at once that could all have been developed more, but it wasn't too much if that makes sense.
This might only be the second book I've read of Claire's but I can easily see her becoming a new favourite of mine. I find thrillers can be so hit and miss sometimes but this is another book that has come along unexpectedly and impressed me more than many others this year. I just can't help but love how quickly her books grip you and keep you enthralled right until the very end. Even if the ending is a little bit of a cliff hanger! I found with the end of The Sisters, there was a bit of a 'hang on, there could be more' feeling to it, and that's exactly what happened with Do Not Disturb too. It definitely wasn't clear cut and leaves you with a few questions, but I do like that it leaves it open for maybe another book at some point in the future.
If you're after a page turner, Do Not Disturb is well and truly that. I'll be recommending this to anyone who will listen! I'd love to know if you've read this too and what your thoughts are on it if so. And let me know if there are any other books you've read of Claire's, I'm off to hunt more down now!
Claire is just brilliant at creating tension yet her writing feels effortless, it all just flows perfectly and the story is so engaging. She managed to make pretty much every character suspicious so it's definitely a book that keeps you guessing which I always like in a thriller. Whilst I didn't necessarily love Kirsty, the main protagonist, I absolutely hated Selena, and I could understand why several characters might have something against her. Also with the story being set in a guesthouse, it would have been easy for it to have felt too complicated, but at no point did that happen. I liked that there was so much intrigue around everyone because it meant when the murderer of a certain character is revealed, it was a real shocker.
This is a book though that isn't just about what you're lead to believe, it explores quite a few different topics including mental health, whilst the main story is unfolding. We hear a little about Kirsty's husband, Adrian's battle with depression which I think is a very real subject which can often be difficult to approach in the appropriate way, and then there's all of the drama and believability of family arguments and lies between one another, things that are very much real life. It really felt like there was a few different stories going on at once that could all have been developed more, but it wasn't too much if that makes sense.
This might only be the second book I've read of Claire's but I can easily see her becoming a new favourite of mine. I find thrillers can be so hit and miss sometimes but this is another book that has come along unexpectedly and impressed me more than many others this year. I just can't help but love how quickly her books grip you and keep you enthralled right until the very end. Even if the ending is a little bit of a cliff hanger! I found with the end of The Sisters, there was a bit of a 'hang on, there could be more' feeling to it, and that's exactly what happened with Do Not Disturb too. It definitely wasn't clear cut and leaves you with a few questions, but I do like that it leaves it open for maybe another book at some point in the future.
If you're after a page turner, Do Not Disturb is well and truly that. I'll be recommending this to anyone who will listen! I'd love to know if you've read this too and what your thoughts are on it if so. And let me know if there are any other books you've read of Claire's, I'm off to hunt more down now!
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12 comments
It sounds like a great read x
www.ofbeautyandnothingness.co.uk
I'm such a huge Claire Douglas fan! I loved The Sisters and this one but my favourite has to be Last Seen Alive, so I'd highly recommend giving that a go!
Jenny
http://www.jennyinneverland.com
You've written a really great review darling, this book sounds wonderful! 💜
With love, Alisha Valerie x | www.alishavalerie.com
This one sounds thrilling and a bit scary! x
It really is Heather x
I think I'm going to give Last Seen Alive a read next! Thanks Jenny xx
Thank you so much Alisha xx
It's definitely a little scary at times! Very creepy xx
This sounds like a great red! I love it when you start and can't stop x
Sophie
www.glowsteady.co.uk
This sounds like a proper page turner. I'll add it to my list.
Me too Sophie, it was so interesting from the start x
It definitely is Joy, I hope you like it too x
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