Do Not Disturb by Claire Douglas
DO NOT DISTURB
by CLAIRE DOUGLAS
Everyone has a list of 'go to' authors for when they really want to treat themselves to a great read or want something that they know will enthral, delight and keep them reading way too late into the night. Claire Douglas is definitely on the top of mine. She consistently delivers stories that just hit the spot time after time. As soon as I start reading the first paragraph I feel my whole body relax, at once settling into the prose and happy not to move from my spot until I've reached the very last page.
Do Not Disturb is a very satisfying, clever and well written story all about Kirsty and her attempt at starting a new life with her family running a guesthouse in the Welsh mountains. It's a premise that is immediately engaging - who hasn't thought about leaving their frenetic lives in the city or suburbs behind for the peace and beauty of the countryside? Who doesn't find themselves wanting to scoop up their family - who in Kirsty's case have been through enough - and transport them to a place that offers not only a fresh start, but a whole different set of priorities and change in lifestyle? But, this is a crime thriller, so hang on a minute...surely Kirsty's wish for an idyllic future in the countryside is not going to come that easily. Of course it isn't! As soon as the first guest arrives Kirsty finds her past returning to haunt her and suddenly her dream home becomes her worst nightmare...
Douglas throws us straight into the nightmare that's come from Kirsty's search for a brighter start with a very powerful prologue. I had so many questions from these superbly delivered opening lines that I was absolutely compelled to read on. Douglas then uses this opening event to shape her narrative in an equally page-turning way. The prologue is dated and then each subsequent chapter is dated with the subheading either 'a month before', 'two days before', 'three days after' and so on which creates a fantastic sense of tension and suspense and ensures the reader is constantly putting together the jigsaw until they can fill in the gaps and see the full picture. I liked that the story moved backwards and forwards, sometimes by a few days, sometimes by a few weeks but always in a way that was very easy to follow. This well plotted storyline was so effective in building tension it definitely marks Douglas out as a highly skilled writer. Despite the jumps in the timeline, Douglas' narrative is so fluent and so well structured that is really is a compelling read that flows flawlessly.
I also found the main character very relatable. I immediately cared about her, she's straightforward, caring, well meaning, prioritises her family and has nothing to hide. Well, obviously that last bit's not quite true or it wouldn't be such a gripping thriller, but I liked the authenticity of the characters and how realistically they were portrayed. I also enjoyed the creeping sense of unease - the implication that actually, there is something odd about some people's behaviour and that actually, there is something more sinister at play here. Kirsty's husband is also well crafted and the relationship between the husband and wife adds a further level of complexity and tension to the story. As Kirsty soon discovers, you can try to run away from your life - both your immediate past and as well as your childhood - but you can never escape it.
Kirsty's daughters are equally well portrayed. I enjoyed the dynamics between them and their mother. I enjoyed how a few bad dreams, a few comments from the young girls are initially easy to dismiss but as time continues, begin to unsettle them all as they realise that actually something is haunting the house and actually their attempts to create an idyllic, warm and relaxed atmosphere may be impossible to achieve.
I'm not telling you any more. You'll have to read it for yourself - and read it you should. This is a great story, with a great set of characters. It's perfect for the holidays and a great example of a thriller where the tension, sense of threat and danger, is slowly built up through a very effective use of language and atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sad to reach the end - which, by the way, is exceptionally jaw dropping!
Add this to your reading list now and if you haven't read any Claire Douglas before, you really should. If you love psychological thrillers and books by Clare MacIntosh, Samantha Hayes, Ruth Ware and Laura Marshall, then you will love this!
Do Not Disturb was published by Michael Joseph on the 9th August.
My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of the novel.
If you like the sound of this, why not take a look at my reviews for her previous novels:
CLAIRE DOUGLAS
Claire Douglas always wanted to write novels and, after many years of trying to get published, her dream came true when she won the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award in 2013 with THE SISTERS.
Her second and third novels, LOCAL GIRL MISSING and LAST SEEN ALIVE (Penguin), are Sunday Times bestsellers.
You can follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/Dougieclaire
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