30 May Review: “The Couple Next Door” by Shari Lapena

I picked up “The Couple Next Door” because sometimes you just need a twisty thriller to get your heart racing. I read it mostly in the evenings after work, when I needed something to distract me from the daily grind. I had high hopes for this one, given all the buzz about its shocking twists and turns.

What’s it about?

“The Couple Next Door” kicks off with a young couple, Anne and Marco Conti, heading to a dinner party next door, leaving their six-month-old daughter, Cora, alone at home. They’ve got the baby monitor with them and check on her every half hour, but their worst nightmare comes true when they return to find Cora missing. Panic ensues, and the police, led by Detective Rasbach, get involved.

As the investigation unfolds, we learn that Anne has been struggling with postpartum depression, and Marco is in financial hot water. The couple’s story comes under scrutiny, with the media portraying them as negligent parents. Relationships with their neighbors, especially the wealthy and controlling Cynthia, come into question, and secrets start bubbling to the surface.

Twists abound: Anne’s parents reveal a tragic past, Marco’s business partner is entangled in an affair with Cynthia, and a ransom demand adds to the chaos. The Contis decide to take matters into their own hands, leading to a botched ransom exchange and more suspicion from the police. The climax reveals a shocking truth—Marco orchestrated the kidnapping to solve his financial woes, only to be double-crossed by his partner. The story ends with Anne moving on and Marco facing the consequences of his actions.

What This Chick Thinks

Alright, time to dish out my thoughts. I’m giving this one a 6 out of 10, and here’s why:

Lapena certainly knows how to craft a fast-paced, page-turning thriller. The premise itself—parents leaving a baby alone, only to find her missing—is enough to get any reader hooked. The initial setup is chilling and filled with potential, drawing you into the Contis’ nightmare with ease.

Character-wise, I found Anne’s struggles with postpartum depression to be a compelling element, adding depth to her character. Marco, with his financial desperation, felt believable enough, but the connection with his shady dealings and the ultimate reveal felt a bit forced. The supporting characters, like the controlling neighbor Cynthia and the somewhat one-dimensional Detective Rasbach, didn’t add as much as I hoped.

The twists, while plentiful, sometimes felt more like shock for shock’s sake rather than organic developments in the story. Some of the big reveals were predictable, and others felt a bit melodramatic. The dialogue occasionally tipped into cliché territory, which pulled me out of the story. Also, the resolution—Marco’s grand scheme and subsequent double-cross—felt like it stretched believability.

What kept me going was the sheer pace and the desire to see how it all wrapped up. It’s a popcorn thriller: entertaining in the moment but lacking that lasting impact. Compared to the emotional depth and character complexity in books like “Never Let Me Go” or the intricate plotting of “Wolf Hall,” this one felt more like a quick diversion.

Final thoughts

“The Couple Next Door” is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged. While it’s a gripping read, some predictable elements and a few too many melodramatic moments kept it from reaching its full potential. A decent 6 out of 10 for me—worth a read if you enjoy domestic thrillers but don’t expect a masterpiece.

Try it if you like:

1. “The Breakdown” by B.A. Paris – For a gripping psychological thriller with unexpected twists and a protagonist questioning her sanity.
2. “The Girl Before” by JP Delaney – If you’re into eerie domestic suspense with a unique setting and layers of secrets.
3. “Before I Go to Sleep” by S.J. Watson – For a thriller that delves into memory loss and the chilling implications of not knowing who to trust.