Hey!

I just finished reading The Couple Downstairs by A. J. Carter.

And the danger is someone she invited in.

Someone new moves into your home and turns out to be dangerous is one of the staples of domestic thrillers.

Here are my favorites.

Danger Moves In Thrillers

Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders

Joanne is settling into quiet family life with her husband Richard and their new baby when Richard's estranged adult daughter, Chloe, moves in with them. From the first day, it is clear Chloe means them harm.

In Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders, we follow Joanne as she watches the person she let into her home pick apart everything she has built.

Magpie by Elizabeth Day

Marisa and Jake are trying for a baby and struggling with London bills, so they take in a lodger, Kate, to help pay the rent. Kate is charming, helpful, and slowly becomes someone they can't get rid of.

In Magpie by Elizabeth Day, we follow Marisa as Kate works her way deeper into their lives, and it becomes clear she has no intention of staying a lodger.

The Vacation Rental by Katie Sise

A family rents out their country home for the summer and heads to the shore. The woman who moves in has her own agenda, and secrets tied to the house start surfacing.

In The Vacation Rental by Katie Sise, we follow Georgia as she lets seemingly harmless Anna, a complete stranger, move into their home.

And the newest addition to the list:

The Couple Downstairs by A.J. Carter

Holly has money, a beautiful home, and no one to share it with. When Danny and his wife Claire move into her ground floor, they seem like exactly what she needs: charming, warm, and happy to keep her company. But behind the smiles and the home-cooked dinners, the couple has plans for Holly that go far beyond being good tenants.

The Couple Downstairs by A. J. Carter is a domestic thriller set in a family home in the UK.

Carter's writing is functional. The dialogue is natural, and the prose keeps things moving. There are similes sprinkled throughout and some vague descriptions, but they don't get in the way.

We follow two POVs in alternating chapters through a single timeline. One story is Holly dealing with Danny and Claire; the other follows a woman in a very different situation. The two stories run in parallel and seem unrelated for most of the book, and I couldn't see how they connected, which is what kept me turning pages. I did enjoy the payoff of the two stories once they collide.

The pace is steady throughout. Both storylines move forward at a consistent clip, and the suspense comes from watching both women navigate their situations.

The characters are a mix. One is proactive, pushing back and moving the plot forward. Holly is more reactive, adapting to a bad situation as it gets worse. I did have an issue with some of the character decisions, though. Several major moments depend on a character valuing a relationship or an outcome far more than I found believable, and as a result, some of the tension didn't fully land for me. The antagonists were also a little too quick to reveal their plans when caught, which took the edge off a couple of scenes. That said, I enjoyed the ride.

There is some romance central to the plot. There are no explicit scenes, no swearing, and no graphic violence.

So, what about the ending? (No spoilers, obviously)

I enjoyed the ending. Things wrapped up in a satisfying way. The denouement was good, long enough to paint a picture of where both women land, but not too long that it would overstay its welcome.

The Couple Downstairs by A. J. Carter is a fun popcorn domestic thriller around two women in bad situations who learn to fight back. If you enjoy lighter thrillers with steady suspense and a satisfying payoff, you'll like this one.

Latest Updates

• Netflix dropped the trailer for I Will Find You, the adaptation of Harlan Coben's thriller. Sam Worthington plays a father wrongfully serving life for the murder of his son, who breaks out of prison after learning the boy may still be alive. Premieres June 18. I reviewed the book here.

That’s all for this week. See you next time.

— Diego Dunne

P.S. Let me know how I did today by replying to this email.

P.P.S. I would love to hear your recommendations for thrillers you loved. Reply to this email, and I’ll add them to my TBR list. Thanks!

^{* Some links help support this newsletter at no extra cost to you.}