The Family Friend

by Claire Douglas

PRE ORDER THE NAIL-BITING NEW THRILLER FROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'Claire Douglas is a class act - she never, ever disappoints' LISA JEWELL

When Imogen is told she’s inherited a country house near Bath, she thinks it must be a mistake. She last saw its owner, reclusive artist Dorothea Roe, sixteen years ago, during a tragic summer which changed her life for ever.
Now, with partner Josh in tow, it’s a chance for a fresh start.
But after discovering an old box with her name on it in Dorothea’s abandoned study, Imogen starts to believe the woman was trying to send her a secret message.
And when rumours begin to swirl that Dorothea was murdered, she starts to suspect that this gift might not be the life-line she thought it was.
Who would want to kill Dorothea?
Could it be tangled up in Imogen’s own dark family history?
And what if Imogen is now the one in danger?
PRAISE FOR CLAIRE DOUGLAS
'Douglas is a master storyteller' JANICE HALLETT

'Douglas is the queen of the unexpected twist' GILLIAN MCALLISTER

'Claire Douglas is the Queen of Gripping Pageturners' CL TAYLOR

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 12, 2026

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me this free advance copy, and I’m writing this review honestly and without bias.
I do love a Claire Douglas novel as you know you're in for a cracking read. And what a cracker this was! An intriguing and well plotted mystery that oozes in suspense with a somewhat eerie feel to it. There are some great well developed characters in this story spearheaded by Imogen as she tries to unravel the clues left by Dorothea. Told in the present and with chapters from Dorothea going back in time gives the story an edge. A dark and twisty read with a surprising culprit gives the very talented Ms Douglas another sure fire best seller. Loved this one and it gets all the stars

[Kerry Horwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imogen finds out she’s been left a house in a will, from Dorothea- someone she’s not seen for 16 years- but who had somewhat of an impact on her life at the time. She moves in with her boyfriend Josh, and then starts to think that there’s a reason she was left the house, and it’s to do with how Dorothea died.

I loved the premise of this book- although no-one wants people to die, the idea of being left a house in a will is exciting! And a bit of a twisty turny mystery in there too- with Imogen realising more about her own life, as well as that of Dorothea. It was a real page turner and finished it in a couple of days.

Having previously read and enjoyed several Claire Douglas books, I might see if there are any others I’ve not yet read!

I was given an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

[readingismy_happy_place · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Douglas is one of my favourite authors and this one did not disappoint!
The characters so well written some were definitely testing my patience!! I felt all the emotions!!
The twists they just kept coming !!
I was on edge the last couple of chapters literally couldn’t believe what I was reading it was sooooo good!!
I truly loved it and can’t wait to see what she writes next

[Caitlin Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first 5⭐️ read of 2026 and this book sure deserves it! What a fantastic read this was, I was hooked from page 1 until the very end. Claire never disappoints with her books and I hope this one gets the love it deserves. PS: there was a certain character in this book that infuriated me the whole way through, IYKYK 🤣

[Laura Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Family Friend introduces us to Imogen, a woman who has just been told she has inherited a country house near Bath. She is convinced it is a mistake as she hadn’t seen its owner Dorothea Roe 16 years ago. She moves with her boyfriend Josh and when she finds a box with her name, she starts to believe Dorothea has left her a message. Rumours start that Dorothea was murdered, Imogen begins to wonder if she’s in danger and is this linked her own family history?

I couldn’t put this down!! This book jumps straight in and has twists all around, none that I guessed! Going between multiple POVs, alongside Dorothea’s POV from years gone past definitely adds to the suspense. I felt sorry for Imogen at times and really disliked Josh, which highlights how well the characters were written. A fantastic book that makes you desperate to find out happens next!

[Claire Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Douglas does it again!
Firstly I will thank Netgalley and Penguin for allowing me the chance to review this ARC.

Claire is one author I'll read regardless of the synopsis. I was hooked on her books since reading The Couple at No9.

I knew I'd love this from the first line. When that hooks you in and then you gasp at the end of chapter 1 you are in for a ride.

I flew through reading this and I really felt for every character (except Josh, but no spoilers here).

If you like Claire's previous work you'll love this. What a web of twists and turns!

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Family Friend is a latest thriller from Claire Douglas. An atmospheric novel full of suspense where Imogen receives an unexpected inheritance.

An intriguing premise that straightaway got my mind wanting to know more. Imogen is struggling with life after having a problem at work that has left her uncertain of her future. So when a letter arrives notifying her that she is unexpectedly inheriting a country house near Bath, it bowls her over. Surely there is a catch? The home belonged to Dorothea Roe, a reclusive artist Imogen hasn’t seen in sixteen years, not since a tragic summer that basically shattered her world.

Along with her partner Josh , Imogen hopes this move will be the “fresh start” they desperately need. But the house itself feels like it’s holding its breath. When Imogen finds an old box with her name on it hidden in Dorothea’s abandoned study, The tension suddenly rises, when it becomes clear that Dorothea wasn’t just leaving a house, she was leaving a message.

local rumours start and the town think Dorothea didn’t just die of old age, they think she was murdered.

As Imogen digs deeper into why she was chosen to inherit the estate, the realisation hits that she might not be the lucky beneficiary, she might be the next target. As the tension rises, so does the suspicion, who can Imogen trust, with the neighbours and even her partner Josh looking very suspicious.

This is an excellent read, A twisty story, full of emotion and suspicion.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin Random House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of ‘The Family Friend’ by Claire Douglas, due to be published on 12 March 2026 by Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House. 

Imogen, currently suspended from work as a journalist pending an investigation is shocked to discover that an old friend of her mothers, a famous artist called Dorothea who has died, has left her house to her and money each year to go towards the upkeep.  Imogen’s boyfriend Josh wastes no time in asserting his authority over decisions at the house, despite it not belonging to him.

When Imogen decides to run her own investigation into Dorothea’s death, what she finds leaves her with more questions than answers, growing feelings of unease and with no idea who she should, or shouldn’t, trust.

Characters are well written and the storyline which is told over multiple points of view and timelines, is gripping and engaging.  

As a fan of Claire’s previous books, this had me eager to finish to get to the big reveal, but at the same time I did not want it to end, I was so invested in all the characters and their outcomes.  

This certainly did not disappoint and will undoubtedly be as big a hit as her previous offerings.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc!

This book had me absolutely gripped from the first chapter and I could just not put it down until I was finished. I really enjoyed this storyline and the collection of characters created by Douglas. There were a few characters that I suspected of having bad intentions from the start but I really didn’t know what direction things would go and the twists and turns really kept me on my toes. Ultimately, I feel like everything came together really nicely in the end and I was very satisfied with how things were wrapped up.

Multiple perspectives and timelines are always a great feature to help build suspense but I absolutely loved the way that Dorothea’s perspective was told backwards throughout the book. I feel like this kept the story really well paced and helped to slowly reveal details until we finally knew the truth.

There were so many examples of controlling and abusive behaviours as well as the way that different people react to them. I feel that Douglas handled this really well and gave a variety of perspectives on abusive relationships with no judgement involved or blaming of the victims.

Definitely recommend this book!

[Saffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed the author’s previous novels so was really looking forward to reading The Family Friend. It started off well - Imogen lives in Bristol with her partner Josh and discovers she has been left a Regency villa on the outskirts of Bath by an old family friend, Dorothea Roe. Dorothea died in a house fire but it soon becomes apparent that she may have been murdered. I love old houses associated with a mystery in novels so I was drawn into this aspect from the start. However when the novel switches the narrative to Dorothea I began to lost interest and did not find this aspect of the novel particularly interesting. There seemed to be too many plot strands to the novel and I felt these were all wrapped up too quickly. This author always writes well but I feel this is one of my least favourite of her novels.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

While suspended from her journalism job, Imogen is the surprise inheritor of a huge house on the outskirts of Bath, complete with its own wood.

The woman who has died is Dorothea, an elderly lady who looked after Imogen one summer years ago when she and her Mum were hiding from the abusive Dad, who is now locked up for life in prison.

Plenty of twists and flashbacks to that summer and the events following it that led to Imogen’s Mum being killed and her Dad’s conviction.

All sorts of strange and unsettling things start happening in and around the house. Is this such a great inheritance after all? As the truth emerges I had just a slight frustration that instead of racing around everywhere trying to piece together Dorothea’s past life, she could have spent a couple of hours reading the full draft manuscript of her rather than dipping into it for a clue from time to time.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for a fair review

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Family Friend’ is an intriguing domestic suspense novel that begins with the suspicious death of Dorothy and then Imogen surprisingly being bequeathed her house in her will. Claire Douglas manipulates a double time line expertly to tell the story as it’s clear that mysterious events at Imogen’s new house are linked to Dorothy’s past. In both cases, the main characters are subjected to abusive and controlling behaviour and this theme is explored sensitively. Characterisation is a strength of the author’s novels so I was disappointed with the portrayal of Dorothy’s three female friends who aren’t sufficiently individualised and are seen more as a supportive trio. This affects the credibility of the ending and I found it difficult to take it seriously as the body count spiked. Still ‘The Family Friend’ was an enjoyable and fairly easy read.

[Amanda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so sure I was going to love this, but sadly I was left a little disappointed.

Claire Douglas is one of my favourites and always an auto-buy author for me. I love her writing style and traditionally, her twists floor me. I will start by saying that I did enjoy the writing in this, but the plot just didn't interest me at all and I found the storyline quite boring. There were still some good twists and turns later in the story, but nothing jaw-dropping. I did like the characterisation and the dogs!

It makes me sad to write this review, as I really wanted to love this book. Claire will always be one of my favourite authors, but it goes to show that not every book will suit every reader.

[Claire Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very lucky to be offered an advanced reader copy of The Family Friend through NetGalley and I'm SO glad I was. I love almost all of Claire Douglas' books and was so excited when I heard about this one.

I read The Family Friend in 2 sittings. It was addictive and really well written. Best of all, I DID NOT expect the ending. There were hints scattered throughout the book, but they didn't spoil it for me at all and kept me guessing throughout.

Character-wise, I enjoyed it.

I grew to really like Imogen, but when I first read her lines, I thought "Oh God I won't be able to read the book if she's going to be like this". Her development was spot-on. I hated Josh with a passion though.

The connection between Imogen and Dorothea is interesting. It makes sense, but is also a little wild. I LOVED how it all came together though. And Dorothea's friends were a real mixed bag of characters, which just added to the bizarreness of the story.

The perfect story of family secrets, friendship, relationships, and how they can all go wrong. And how do we pick ourselves back up again.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a breeze to read, and I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Felt like I'd only just picked it up, and I was done.
Lots of twists and turns, which led to a few surprises.
I was questioning quite a lot of the characters actions and motivations.
There were some very interesting characters.
It was as entertaining as a book about murder could be 😀
I'll be picking up a copy or two for friends in the future I think.

Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book of the new year to keep me up past my bedtime. Had to read to the finish!
Beautifully constructed story with fully realised characters and the beautiful Villa Oiseau at the centre.
The red herrings were there but it was hard to guess the perpetrator(s), the mark of an extremely good yarn.

[Katey Lovell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cracker of a thriller from Claire Douglas. The Family Friend is the story of a big villa, abusive relationships and creativity, with protagonist Imogen - and journalist - determined to uncover the secrets of the past when she inherits the house belonging to artist Dorothea Roe. Creepy and unsettling, this is going to be a hit read in 2026.

[Tina Fulcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely fabulous read. I was so invested in the book that I read it in one sitting, finishing it in the early hours. Some great twists, one of which I suspected, but this didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book. Highly recommended. I was lucky enough to read an advance copy and leave this review willingly.

[Debra Gape · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imogen inherits a huge estate but all is not well.
Her new home is full of so many secrets.
A huge cast of characters and a dark and twisty storyline.
Fabulously written by the talented Claire Douglas.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
Huge five stars from me.

[Maria Lavinia]

hello so I read one of claire books and I really love her writing so now this is one of my most anticipated book releases in 2026! I can't wait to read her new book soon!

[Chloe (booksandteawithchloe) · Rating 3 out of 5]

unfortunately this felt clunky and all over the place. very slow paced compared to others I have read from this author

[Eilis Dunne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Michael J Books and Claire Douglas for this early proof copy - yet another solid hit!!

I loved the mystery set up and the different perspectives scattered throughout that helped give insight and clues to what was going on.

I particularly loved the personal journey Imogen went on along the way and the way she started standing uo for herself in other areas of her life.

I'm already a huge fan of Claire Douglas, but i think this might be my favourite one because the blend of mystery, edge of your seat cliff hangers and emotional story was perfect!

Also, as someone born in Bristol and currently living in Cardiff, the locations in this one were top tier!