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No Time to Be Alone
A psychological thriller from the author of the #1 bestselling book The Passenger.
Christmas. A time for family, friends...and enemies?
Nicola is returning to her family home for the Christmas holidays to spend the festive season with her loved ones for the first time in several years. But she gets a shock when she discovers that there will be an unexpected guest joining them for dinner on the big day. Their elderly neighbour, Barbara, will be present at the table too after receiving an invitation from Nicola's parents because they hated to think of the old woman spending the day alone.
That is a big problem for Nicola, although she struggles to let her family members know why. As far as they are concerned, Barbara is just the sweet old lady from next door. But Nicola knows the truth. That woman is not all she seems. And now she is in their house...
Forced to confront several demons from her past, Nicola struggles through Christmas Day. But as difficult as it is to face the past, nothing is as hard as what happens next. It seems that Barbara has been waiting for Nicola to return home after all these years. Now she has, things will never be the same again...
Christmas. A time for family, friends...and enemies?
Nicola is returning to her family home for the Christmas holidays to spend the festive season with her loved ones for the first time in several years. But she gets a shock when she discovers that there will be an unexpected guest joining them for dinner on the big day. Their elderly neighbour, Barbara, will be present at the table too after receiving an invitation from Nicola's parents because they hated to think of the old woman spending the day alone.
That is a big problem for Nicola, although she struggles to let her family members know why. As far as they are concerned, Barbara is just the sweet old lady from next door. But Nicola knows the truth. That woman is not all she seems. And now she is in their house...
Forced to confront several demons from her past, Nicola struggles through Christmas Day. But as difficult as it is to face the past, nothing is as hard as what happens next. It seems that Barbara has been waiting for Nicola to return home after all these years. Now she has, things will never be the same again...
Audible Audio
First published November 26, 2021
1747 people are currently reading
1373 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Hurst
89 books3,955 followersDaniel Hurst is an Amazon #1 bestselling author of fast paced psychological thrillers. His most popular titles include Til Death Do Us Part, The Passenger and The Doctor's Wife, the latter title reaching #1 on the Amazon UK Kindle store in February 2023. A regular KDP Select All Star since he became a full-time author in 2021, Daniel prides himself on writing fast, releasing stories often and engaging with his readers.
You can visit him at www.danielhurstbooks.com, where you can also download a copy of his FREE thriller 'Just One Second.'
You can visit him at www.danielhurstbooks.com, where you can also download a copy of his FREE thriller 'Just One Second.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
July 5, 2023
Trigger warning: Abuse
This was a very dark and disturbing novel. You knew early on that the main character had experienced something really bad in her childhood, and that unease stayed with you throughout the book. The pace of the story picked up steadily, and it for sure took an unexpected turn that made me really like this book. Very well done, hurst!
This was a very dark and disturbing novel. You knew early on that the main character had experienced something really bad in her childhood, and that unease stayed with you throughout the book. The pace of the story picked up steadily, and it for sure took an unexpected turn that made me really like this book. Very well done, hurst!
May 8, 2025
What a delectably ugly little story this was. We’ve all had scary babysitters at some point, but Barbara and Bill take the cake. Speaking of cake, I will never eat a lemon cheesecake again, either. First off, I really appreciated how much tact was used by the author when alluding to some of the more heinous and graphic abuse that happened to Nicola as a child. I remember struggling a great deal writing that particular topic in my original Preternatural book. It’s a question of how much needs to be detailed for the reader versus what isn’t necessary to spell out. But Hurst did it beautifully. And the story flowed well, fully utilized the holiday setting, and made Nicola into a truly engaging protagonist. I, as the reader, was rooting for her on each page of her tumultuous journey. Now, on the ending portion of the book, that was my biggest difficulty. It felt like everything just got fast-forwarded, and it made the actual events seem almost trivial. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the reader doesn’t get to actually see what happens between Nicola and her neighbors during the climax. It’s described after it already happened. And then Nicola seemed to be somewhat passive on her traumas that were not only never treated or acknowledged, but then happened all over again. She should basically be an emotional mess after all this, but that wasn’t the case. So I had a hard time with all that, and felt the ending marred an otherwise great holiday-based psychological thriller.
October 24, 2024
Slow moving for quite a bit, but then after a couple of nice twists it moved along faster. RTC
What to expect:
~ mostly single 3rd person POV
~ UK setting
~ dual timeline
Will hide the trigger warning since it's spoilerish. References to past child .
Narration notes:
She did fine.
What to expect:
~ mostly single 3rd person POV
~ UK setting
~ dual timeline
Will hide the trigger warning since it's spoilerish. References to past child .
Narration notes:
She did fine.
August 27, 2022
After reading Daniel Hurst's "The Passenger", I instantly became a devoted Daniel Hurst fan.
Yes, Daniel Hurst's engaging and fast-paced "popcorn thriller" books have been auto-picks for me in 2022.
And there have been many, many auto-picks.
In 2022, the author released 11 books and I have listened to them all.
Unfortunately, "No Time To Be Alone" and the author's most recent releases have been disappointing.
"No Time To Be Alone" showcases a victim of child abuse returning home for the Christmas holidays.
This book has a darker tone than Hurst's earlier thrillers, and not as many thrills.
Even though this 5.5-hour audiobook was a "quick read ", the book was unusually slow-paced for a Daniel Hurst book.
In addition, the book was predictable and suffered from waaaay too many "this would never happen in real life" moments.
Let the record show that I am still not ready to sever ties with Daniel Hurst -- perhaps because even the author's 2-star books are mildly entertaining.
My expectations, however, will be adjusted accordingly.
It's not easy to release 11 books in one year and it's starting to show.
2 stars rounded up.
Yes, Daniel Hurst's engaging and fast-paced "popcorn thriller" books have been auto-picks for me in 2022.
And there have been many, many auto-picks.
In 2022, the author released 11 books and I have listened to them all.
Unfortunately, "No Time To Be Alone" and the author's most recent releases have been disappointing.
"No Time To Be Alone" showcases a victim of child abuse returning home for the Christmas holidays.
This book has a darker tone than Hurst's earlier thrillers, and not as many thrills.
Even though this 5.5-hour audiobook was a "quick read ", the book was unusually slow-paced for a Daniel Hurst book.
In addition, the book was predictable and suffered from waaaay too many "this would never happen in real life" moments.
Let the record show that I am still not ready to sever ties with Daniel Hurst -- perhaps because even the author's 2-star books are mildly entertaining.
My expectations, however, will be adjusted accordingly.
It's not easy to release 11 books in one year and it's starting to show.
2 stars rounded up.
October 22, 2022
A Scary Christmas
A young woman is returning to her home in England (from her current home in Sydney) where she will celebrate a happy Christmas with her family. A devastating twist made that day and more horrible. Love Daniel Hurst books!
A young woman is returning to her home in England (from her current home in Sydney) where she will celebrate a happy Christmas with her family. A devastating twist made that day and more horrible. Love Daniel Hurst books!
October 12, 2025
Starts slow but gets disturbing.
January 18, 2023
Just in time for Christmas, British author Daniel Hurst offered his own Christmas tale, No Time To Be Alone, for sale at an irresistibly low price.
I should have resisted.
The book begins (unusually slow for Mr. Hurst) as a mystery, becomes moderately suspenseful midway at a Christmas dinner which was the book’s best part, and despite an underwhelming surprise, takes too long to end as an unconvincing thriller.
Nicola is a nurse who left her home in the UK at age 35 to live and work in Australia. She is single and because of a traumatic past has been unable to maintain serious relationships with men, though she has tried. You won’t need much imagination to guess her traumatic past before it’s revealed.
The book opens as Nicola is returning home to the UK for the first time after three years in Australia to spend the Christmas holiday with her family, consisting of her parents, her brother and his wife, and her nephew, age 6. We discover that her traumatic past is connected to a recently widowed lady named Barbara, age 73, who lives in the house next to her parents, and who babysat Nicola thirty years ago when she was a child.
Without telling us why as the book begins, Nicola makes it clear that she fears and despises Barbara, and is horrified to hear that as a kindness to their elderly widowed neighbor, her parents, who had no idea how she felt about Barbara, had invited her to Christmas dinner.
As with the three other far better domestic thrillers of his I have read, I really can’t say much more about what Mr. Hurst has in store for you without spoilers, except to say that Barbara still inexplicably has an axe to grind with Nicola after all these years and has hatched a plot beyond belief.
There are many treats at Christmas, but this book from Mr. Hurst is not one of them. Just be careful what you eat for dessert at your Christmas dinners.
I should have resisted.
The book begins (unusually slow for Mr. Hurst) as a mystery, becomes moderately suspenseful midway at a Christmas dinner which was the book’s best part, and despite an underwhelming surprise, takes too long to end as an unconvincing thriller.
Nicola is a nurse who left her home in the UK at age 35 to live and work in Australia. She is single and because of a traumatic past has been unable to maintain serious relationships with men, though she has tried. You won’t need much imagination to guess her traumatic past before it’s revealed.
The book opens as Nicola is returning home to the UK for the first time after three years in Australia to spend the Christmas holiday with her family, consisting of her parents, her brother and his wife, and her nephew, age 6. We discover that her traumatic past is connected to a recently widowed lady named Barbara, age 73, who lives in the house next to her parents, and who babysat Nicola thirty years ago when she was a child.
Without telling us why as the book begins, Nicola makes it clear that she fears and despises Barbara, and is horrified to hear that as a kindness to their elderly widowed neighbor, her parents, who had no idea how she felt about Barbara, had invited her to Christmas dinner.
As with the three other far better domestic thrillers of his I have read, I really can’t say much more about what Mr. Hurst has in store for you without spoilers, except to say that Barbara still inexplicably has an axe to grind with Nicola after all these years and has hatched a plot beyond belief.
There are many treats at Christmas, but this book from Mr. Hurst is not one of them. Just be careful what you eat for dessert at your Christmas dinners.
January 1, 2022
Waste of Time
I would not recommend this book to anyone. I don’t understand how people rate it so highly. I scanned through pages fast to get through it. Maybe a spoiler- I kept thinking why she wouldn’t rather go to some of the swim competitions than stay with neighbors.
I would not recommend this book to anyone. I don’t understand how people rate it so highly. I scanned through pages fast to get through it. Maybe a spoiler- I kept thinking why she wouldn’t rather go to some of the swim competitions than stay with neighbors.
December 22, 2021
I very rarely read books written by men and I am reminded why after finishing this because it was terrible
Granted I only wanted a quick festive thriller so I wasn’t going to get top quality work but Jesus
Awful writing, have you ever heard of show not tell, Daniel??
Weird constant references about how much the female characters are eating/calories etc - dude this is a thriller why are your characters obsessed with diet culture??
The plot was messy and undeveloped and where he spent time describing unnecessary details really poorly he could’ve like, actually been writing the story??
Like it was a good idea, a great one even, but I’m going to have to say it was a swing and a miss
Granted I only wanted a quick festive thriller so I wasn’t going to get top quality work but Jesus
Awful writing, have you ever heard of show not tell, Daniel??
Weird constant references about how much the female characters are eating/calories etc - dude this is a thriller why are your characters obsessed with diet culture??
The plot was messy and undeveloped and where he spent time describing unnecessary details really poorly he could’ve like, actually been writing the story??
Like it was a good idea, a great one even, but I’m going to have to say it was a swing and a miss
December 30, 2021
Slow & boring
I hated all the unnecessary explaining in this book, I just skimmed over the last pages as it was annoying me so much. First part of the book took far too long to get into the actual story. I didn't care about any of the characters enough. The husband & wife next door could have been alot more nasty. Everyone was very 2 dimensional & just blah. Would not recommend.
I hated all the unnecessary explaining in this book, I just skimmed over the last pages as it was annoying me so much. First part of the book took far too long to get into the actual story. I didn't care about any of the characters enough. The husband & wife next door could have been alot more nasty. Everyone was very 2 dimensional & just blah. Would not recommend.
March 9, 2023
It's really a me thing, but I hate when there is almost no dialogue... The story was interesting and as twisted as expected from this author, but I never really could sink my teeth into it as it was really dragging.
December 18, 2022
This was slightly lacklustre for me.
I had high expectations going into this book based on the reviews and the plot had me intrigued. However, the execution wasn't to my liking. I felt like the first half of the book was a bit slow, and there wasn't much going on. The second half was slightly better, with more "twists" and revelations. That being said, the twists were predictable for me and I wasn't too fazed by them at all. Since I listened to this on audiobook I want to give kudos to the narrator, Deirdra Whelan. I thought she did a fantastic job narrating the whole thing.
It wasn't a favourite nor was it memorable enough.
2 stars.
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Star ratings and their meanings:
★★★★★: I loved everything about this book! I would re-read it and would highly recommend it to you, your family and your cat!
★★★★: I liked it. I didn’t love it but I still liked it enough to still rate it highly. I could see myself still recommending this book to a lot of people
★★★: It was an okay book. There maybe have been a few things that bothered me while reading this book but for the most parts the likes outweigh the dislikes.
★★: the cons outweigh the pros, unfortunately. There might be some things that were lacking in some areas—writing, characterisation, plot etc, but there may have been a few moments that I liked.
★: Nope. I should've just appreciated this book from afar.
I had high expectations going into this book based on the reviews and the plot had me intrigued. However, the execution wasn't to my liking. I felt like the first half of the book was a bit slow, and there wasn't much going on. The second half was slightly better, with more "twists" and revelations. That being said, the twists were predictable for me and I wasn't too fazed by them at all. Since I listened to this on audiobook I want to give kudos to the narrator, Deirdra Whelan. I thought she did a fantastic job narrating the whole thing.
It wasn't a favourite nor was it memorable enough.
2 stars.
Novelstorian (Blog) ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter ✨
Star ratings and their meanings:
★★★★★: I loved everything about this book! I would re-read it and would highly recommend it to you, your family and your cat!
★★★★: I liked it. I didn’t love it but I still liked it enough to still rate it highly. I could see myself still recommending this book to a lot of people
★★★: It was an okay book. There maybe have been a few things that bothered me while reading this book but for the most parts the likes outweigh the dislikes.
★★: the cons outweigh the pros, unfortunately. There might be some things that were lacking in some areas—writing, characterisation, plot etc, but there may have been a few moments that I liked.
★: Nope. I should've just appreciated this book from afar.
September 22, 2023
I enjoyed this book. He’s a new author for me. A great twisty psychological thriller. Definitely looking forward to his other books. This was a short quick read too, which is enjoyable; not too much unnecessary fluff.
January 10, 2024
This is an enthralling Christmas fiction tale that promises to captivate. Nicola, returning home for the holidays after years away, experiences a joyous reunion that takes a dark twist with the unexpected arrival of elderly neighbor Barbara. Nicola senses Barbara concealing more than meets the eye, and as the day progresses, she must confront her past and unravel a chilling truth. Packed with suspenseful twists, this psychological thriller guarantees an exhilarating read that will leave you breathless.
December 17, 2023
best christmas book i’ve ever read. me the whole time 😭💔🤯🤢
January 2, 2022
I really hate to give a bad review, as I know how much sweat and tears goes into writing a novel, but I can't give this one more than two stars - not because of the plot so much, as one usually has to suspend belief to a certain extent when reading a thriller, but because of the bizarrely clunky and ponderous way it was written.
Too much unnecessary description, and far too much over-explaining. I have no idea who edited it, but I think they need new glasses.
Too much unnecessary description, and far too much over-explaining. I have no idea who edited it, but I think they need new glasses.
December 1, 2021
I have read and enjoyed many other works by this author, and this book just doesn't read as if it were written by the same person. It had a great premise but was poorly executed. Too much was merely alluded to with no concrete details. The biggest issue was how contrived the plot was, and although I suspend disbelief consistently in thrillers, this one was asking too much.
January 25, 2022
I don't think this is how trauma works.
November 22, 2022
Christmas 2022 Read #1
Nicola is home visiting. Her past keeps bubbling up and she keeps stomping it back down. But being with family and old childhood memories is making the stomping more and more difficult.
This wasn't a bad book but it wasn't the best either. Every chapter was a tease. Nothing happened and the same two vague ideas were dangled: Nicola has a past and somehow Barbara and her late husband were involved. After the third chapter I was annoyed but it kept going like that until nearly the end.
Nicola is home visiting. Her past keeps bubbling up and she keeps stomping it back down. But being with family and old childhood memories is making the stomping more and more difficult.
This wasn't a bad book but it wasn't the best either. Every chapter was a tease. Nothing happened and the same two vague ideas were dangled: Nicola has a past and somehow Barbara and her late husband were involved. After the third chapter I was annoyed but it kept going like that until nearly the end.
September 14, 2024
Overall: 3.4 ⭐️
✨ DANIEL!! I’m offended by this one. I just hated the story line so much. This plot line skeeves me out. I can read all the murder weirdo books in the world, but when there’s children and the dark side of the way adults treat them, I really can’t read it and enjoy it as a book. Yuck. Up until you learn more details, it’s definitely intriguing and you want to know what happens in the story. Was definitely happy to finish this one.
Instagram: @literaltrashbookclub
✨ DANIEL!! I’m offended by this one. I just hated the story line so much. This plot line skeeves me out. I can read all the murder weirdo books in the world, but when there’s children and the dark side of the way adults treat them, I really can’t read it and enjoy it as a book. Yuck. Up until you learn more details, it’s definitely intriguing and you want to know what happens in the story. Was definitely happy to finish this one.
Instagram: @literaltrashbookclub
January 23, 2022
Not too alone
This book kept me very much engaged as I wanted to know how far it would go before someone found why Nicola didn't want the neighbors to babysit h
er. .I am of the opinion that if my child made a fuss about a matter when she even saw or heard their names ,yet again Nicola might have been known as an actress. I sort of liked the way that it ended.
t
This book kept me very much engaged as I wanted to know how far it would go before someone found why Nicola didn't want the neighbors to babysit h
er. .I am of the opinion that if my child made a fuss about a matter when she even saw or heard their names ,yet again Nicola might have been known as an actress. I sort of liked the way that it ended.
t
February 11, 2023
3 ⭐️
I found the main plot twist very predictable which made me not really want to carry on. The first half was very slow and then all the drama happened so quickly it felt like it was rushed..however, it was ok to read.
I found the main plot twist very predictable which made me not really want to carry on. The first half was very slow and then all the drama happened so quickly it felt like it was rushed..however, it was ok to read.
January 14, 2022
A very easy read
Absolutely magnificent.It seemed pretty laid back but you soon got the gist of something bad had happened to louise.Yet you think of the elderly lady from next door. Although you know she had some involvement who's flown from Australia to spend time with her family only to find that Barbra the elderly lady will be spending Christmas day at her parents house her husband Bill who had passed away the February. .Now Nichols Christmas as been spoilt as she doesn't want to be in the same room as this 71 year old woman. Being itruged I can not for the live of me think what this old woman had done..It surly can't be a case of sexual abuse of harassment could it no you dismiss this at once as his can a elderly lady have done anything like that.So I did dismiss jt. My head was working overtime to try to envisage what's happened in the past However it not just the past we are looking at its present and future, I couldn't out the book down no matter what at this point I really needed to know what going to happen nexy, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did there's a few twist and turns coming up ahead. You do not want to miss them very much recommend this book
Absolutely magnificent.It seemed pretty laid back but you soon got the gist of something bad had happened to louise.Yet you think of the elderly lady from next door. Although you know she had some involvement who's flown from Australia to spend time with her family only to find that Barbra the elderly lady will be spending Christmas day at her parents house her husband Bill who had passed away the February. .Now Nichols Christmas as been spoilt as she doesn't want to be in the same room as this 71 year old woman. Being itruged I can not for the live of me think what this old woman had done..It surly can't be a case of sexual abuse of harassment could it no you dismiss this at once as his can a elderly lady have done anything like that.So I did dismiss jt. My head was working overtime to try to envisage what's happened in the past However it not just the past we are looking at its present and future, I couldn't out the book down no matter what at this point I really needed to know what going to happen nexy, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did there's a few twist and turns coming up ahead. You do not want to miss them very much recommend this book
December 26, 2023
No real twists or turns just a sad story with some happy vengeance in the end
July 5, 2024
2.5 stars
October 15, 2024
very good reading
I found this book interesting as well as suspenseful. You just didn’t know what was going to happen next. Very good book.
I found this book interesting as well as suspenseful. You just didn’t know what was going to happen next. Very good book.
December 11, 2024
This was a really good Christmas thriller! Unique, creepy and disturbing!
December 10, 2024
This was such a chilling Christmas read loved it a must read but beware of trigger warnings #KindleUnlimited
January 1, 2022
Brilliant
What a rollacoster of a unfolds drawing you in,marvellous characters first-class plot believable characters,what dreadful neighbours but then you never really know people do you
What a rollacoster of a unfolds drawing you in,marvellous characters first-class plot believable characters,what dreadful neighbours but then you never really know people do you
December 28, 2021
Another excellent book by this author. Thoroughly enjoyable and what better time to read it than at Christmas time. Every book by this author has been gripping and will continue to read and recommend his books
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews