The Move: A gripping, unmissable thriller from the author of The Girl Before and Playing Nice

by JP Delaney

*From the multi-million copy bestselling author of The Girl Before and Playing Nice, now major television series*

'JP Delaney has a gift for the unputdownable story' MICK HERRON

New beginnings c an be deadly . . .

Kate and Matt Crowther are finally moving out of London, in search of a better life for their young family. Trade Cottage seems to be the house of their dreams - and they immediately hit it off with the sellers, Rosemary and Paul Finch, who brought up their own family there.

When Kate and Matt move in, they're pleased to discover the Finches still very much in offering advice, introducing them to the local community, and becoming honorary grandparents to Will, 11, and Tilly, 9. But when the Finches take exception to Kate and Matt's renovations, relations with the neighbours sour, and Kate and Matt find themselves subjected to a vicious campaign of hate.

But Kate isn't giving up her dream home without a fight. And it turns out Trade Cottage has secrets of its own to reveal - secrets that may endanger the very family Kate has moved there to protect . . .

'JP Delaney is King of Thrillers' FIONA CUMMINS

'Twisty, unexpected and utterly convincing' DAILY MAIL

READERS LOVE JP DELANEY

'My favourite author!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The twists and turns are always unexpected' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The master of spinning stories' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An all-time favourite of mine' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Love this author's books, so clever!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published March 12, 2026

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosemary and Paul Finch are selling quirky, historic Trade Cottage and Kate and Matt absolutely fall in love with it, stretching themselves financially to make the move from Dulwich in London. In the beginning everything goes well, the whole family love Trade Cottage and they set about renovating it. As an added bonus, they get on well with the elderly previous owners. However, for a number of reasons, relations turn exceptionally sour and it seems the whole area is against them as they face a campaign of hate. However , Kate in particular is made of stern stuff but can she withstand this ever worsening barrage?

JP Delaney always delivers a highly entertaining and engaging thriller for his readers to get their “teeth” into and I thoroughly enjoy the psychological thriller, even though at times it’s perhaps a tad OTT! That’s not to say I don’t relish the plot escalation because I certainly do! I like how the energy and feelings in the village change but how Kate’s emotional attachment to Trade Cottage stays the same or even deepens but it brings out the steel in her personality. At times it gets quite dark as the vendetta gains malicious heat and so it’s engaging reading.

The main characters are well portrayed and can be visualised easily with the star of the show undoubtedly being the atmospheric cottage with all its ancient beauty and secrets. This is conveyed exceptionally well by the author and I love the inspiration noted in the afterword. The surrounding area is also used most effectively as the chilling twisty and twisted tale unfolds.

Overall, this is a fun, easy to read, tense thriller which clips along at a brisk pace. It’s another winner for this popular author.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated daily copy and return for an honest review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

JP Delaney books are always a guaranteed hit for me, and The Move was wild! I love a good domestic thriller, full of characters that can’t be trusted, and a village full , of secrets.. what happens to newcomers Kate and Matt is just awful, a complete nightmare. I wouldn’t have blamed them if they sold up and left.

A young family, ready to escape London and start a new life in the countryside. They find the perfect home, one that needs a little updating which is exactly what they want. Only the previous owners struggle to let go, and that is when the drama begins.

I couldn’t believe some of the tactics that were used to put Kate and Matt off their new forever homes. Just awful people. It was unpredictable and twisty and I loved it.

Thanks so much to Quercus Books for my early copy to read.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

JP Delaney is one of those authors who has hovered on my periphery for a while. If I asked I would have thought I had read more of their novels however this is only my second after Playing Nice. However, that is about to change as I absolutely loved this one.

The Move in question is Kate and Matt's move into Trade Cottage, leaving behind the hustle of London for a beautiful house in the country. What's even better is that they have struck up a close relationship with the sellers, Rosemary and Paul who are downsizing into a local bungalow due to Paul's deteriorating health.

However, what starts as a beautiful friendship and shared love of the house soon descends into murkiness, back stabbing and treachery when Kate and Matt begin some renovations in the house which Rosemary and Paul continue to feel a close connection to. When the relationship sours to the point that the local community turn against them, will Kate and Matt stick it out or what secrets are really hiding behind the Trade cottage walls.

As I say, I loved this one. Trade Cottage is really brought alive here and you could sense why it was such a well-loved home, it almost became a character in itself. The four main characters were extremely well developed and the plot moves along beautifully but subtly as the relationship sours gently as time goes on.

I can't say too much more about the plot as there are some twists and turns which can't be hinted at but get your hands on a copy of this as soon as you can.

Thanks to Quercus Books | Quercus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LAPPED this up. It’s very rare for me to read a book within 24 hours but I couldn’t put this down. You honestly have no idea where it’s heading. And the theories I did have were completely wrong. My only criticism is the ending felt a little rushed but to be honest I don’t care, I enjoyed it that much. At times I felt so angry for the situation Kate and Matt were in that it reminded me of a bad neighbour I used to have. To me that just shows how good the writing is but I wish they’d got some bloody cameras 😂

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Buy it!

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it ! Wizzed through it in a couple of days ! Would make a great tv series! We all have the dream of moving to the country , living in the quirky old house, children living their best life out doors ! But what if the reality isn’t what you thought? Especially when the old owners of your new house relocate next door!!!

[tinalouisereadsbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kate and Matt with their two children Tilly and Will want to move to start a new life in the country. Viewing properties they fall in love with Trade Cottage. The sellers Paul and Rosemary have lived there a long time with their own family and feel it's time to move on, or is it?

I have read a few books by the author and have quite enjoyed them. This book i didn't enjoy as much as I thought I would. When reading the book I felt like it wasn't the usual style of the author and did wonder if he had used a ghostwriter.

The story started off fine then I found i was getting very bored very quickly. The plot was weak and predictable and didn't really pick up until the end where it did venture into thrillerland. The whole story up to this point was just about neighbours who weren't getting on.

This book didn't turn out the be the usual thriller that I
have read before from the author. I would perhaps still read books by the author in the future and see how if this author is still for me.

[Anita · Rating 1 out of 5]

Exactly the same as another book I’ve read , but with different characters
Read half of the book

[Sally Hynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delaney never ever disappoints. Fantastic story

[Katherine]

Hbk

[EG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delaney's work is always good - this one is perhaps not his best but has a great sense of place, a few characters so annoying my blood was boiling, and a satisfying resolution.

[Karen Chong]

Not really my cup of tea. Again very slow to develop. Held my patience for 72 pages before I couldn’t stand any longer. Too slow for my liking unfortunately.

[Kirstie · Rating 4 out of 5]

pure rage-bait! Then ending didn't climax though, it fell off a cliff which was a bit disappointing

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus for an advanced copy of The Move in exchange for a review.

What a tense, suspense-filled, gripping thriller this was! In the first half, things bubbled up fairly slowly, setting quite a stressful tone, before ramping up massively in the second half with a very surprising change of direction!

In this domestic psychological thriller, Kate, Matt and their two children are ready to move away from London to somewhere with a quieter, less dangerous feel. Finally, they find the house of their dreams – Trade Cottage. A beautiful old house in the countryside that speaks to Kate immediately and she just knows it’s the house for them.

Previous owners, elderly couple Rosemary and Paul are incredibly friendly, and keen for their home to go to a family with children who will love the house as much as they have. But, after their continued advice and friendly introductions around the village starts out as a welcome help, things quickly start turning malicious as the older couple begin to overstep the mark with their presence and distaste for Kate’s changes to the house.

Suddenly the village feels a lot less welcoming when Rosemary and Paul start waging a vendetta against the new family.

I found the first half of the story so stressful, feeling so angry on behalf of Kate and Matt for how they were treated! But then BAM the direction of the story turned and there was twist after twist! Things turn quite dark and hugely compelling. I read the second half in one day, I couldn’t put it down!

It’s hard to say more about the plot and where things go without spoiling some great surprises but it was wonderful! And I loved the setting of Trade Cottage, which seemed to have a soul of its own that seeps into its owners with its history, secrets and beauty.

[Helen Leecy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, and I think a lot of that came from how close the premise felt to home for me. At its heart, this is a story about moving into what you believe is your dream house, and that alone was enough to hook me. Having been through that experience myself, making friends with the previous owners and settling into a place that genuinely feels right, I couldn’t help but slip into the Crowthers’ shoes almost immediately. We even have an elderly neighbour called Rosemary, which made the sense of familiarity feel a little uncanny at times. Thankfully, our own move didn’t come with any of the darkness or hostility that unfolds here, but it did make me pause more than once and wonder how I would cope if things had turned sour in the same way.
What really worked for me was how quietly unsettling the story is. Nothing feels rushed or overplayed, yet there’s a steady undercurrent of unease that never quite lets you relax. I found myself constantly thinking about trust, boundaries, and how quickly a place of safety can start to feel threatening when relationships shift. The idea of previous owners turning on you, of the past refusing to stay in the past, is explored in a way that feels believable rather than sensational, which made it all the more effective.
I also loved the way the prologue was handled. This is one of those books where you almost forget about it as the story unfolds, only to have that moment later on where everything clicks and you’re hit with a very satisfying “oh yeah!” realisation. That delayed payoff really added to my enjoyment and made the structure feel clever without being showy.
Once I was properly immersed, I was completely gripped. This is very much a ‘just one more chapter’ kind of read, and I lost track of the time more than once, pushing on into the early hours because I needed to know how it was all going to work out. The tension builds in a way that kept me emotionally invested, not just in the outcome, but in the characters themselves and the choices they were forced to make.
Overall, this was a thoroughly absorbing read that left me both entertained and thoughtful. It took a familiar life event and twisted it just enough to make me question how secure any sense of home really is. I finished it feeling satisfied, slightly unsettled, and very glad that my own dream home story didn’t take the same turn.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can highly recommend The Move (Audio Edition) an amazing domestic thriller which I could not put down by J.P. Delaney. (Narrator) Annabelle Dowler provided an excellent variety of of male and female characters in her narration.

Kate and Matt Crowther along with their two young children, Will age eleven, and Tilly age nine, move from London to their dream home, 'Trade Cottage' in a rural area, to provide a more peaceful and safe environment for their family.

They bought their cottage from an elderly couple Rosemary and Paul Finch who become like adopted grandparents to their two children and they initially become quite friendly at the beginning.

Unfortunately, tensions run deep when Kate and Matt decide on renovating their very outdated cottage and also the barns into airbnbs. Rosemary and Paul strongly object, also the locals hear about this and start a vindictive campaign to put a stop to it.


Jamie, Rosemary and Paul Finch's son wants to relocate from the USA and is on a mission to repossess his former childhood home from Kate and Matt for his own family and will go to any length to take Trade Cottage from them.

Poor Kate and Matt are harrassed continually by the locals, including Jamie, to give up their cottage. Sadly ,when the earth has been dug up near a pond by the cottage, the body of a young woman has been found murdered over nineteen years ago and is still well preserved. What secrets will be revealed when they examine her body?

The cottage is more than just a cottage to both Kate and Rosemary as they love it as much as their own family.

Dark toxic secrets, a fight for survival, the identitiy of a murderer is revealed, and suspected suicide factor in this stunning thriller.

I felt empathy for Kate and her family who only wanted to make a fresh start. My blood was at boiling point when how the locals including Jamie harrassed both Kate and Matt continually in order to drive them out of their home and community.

The community is close knit and dislked outsiders who wanted to change things and were also scared of competition.

[Mary Carbajosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book !!
I loved every page of this story. I am a massive fan of J P Delaney’s books, and I was overjoyed to be approved to get an advanced copy of his latest psychological thriller THE MOVE, and after having devoured it, I cannot recommend this highly enough.

I loved the cover and the blurb of this book, it instantly drew me in, giving off sinister vibes. It centres around Kate, Matt and their two children who are relocating to Hampshire from London. They’ve found their forever home called Trade Cottage and they’ve made friends with the sellers, an elderly couple, Rosemary and Paul. However, things start to turn ugly once Kate and Matt begin house renovations, as the previous owners are unhappy with the changes they’ve made and the relationship between them starts to sour. Do Rosemary and Paul still want to be in control of the cottage and of who lives there ? Why ? What lengths will they go to to achieve their goal ?

The narrative takes us beyond the story and gives us rounded characters whose motives and ideals are, like most of us, complex and disturbing. I particularly enjoyed Kate’s character, and I shared her anxiety, her fear, her struggles, her fight and her hope. In addition, I thought that the cottage came to life and became another character !! The pacing of the book was just right- never dragging, always pulling me deeper into the story.

As the story progresses, the tension builds brilliantly as Kate and Matt become entangled with their neighbours and everything starts to heat up, with the final chapters providing sad and shocking truths.

This is a cleverly written and creatively original story, with plotting, characters and location description all first-class.
It’s more than just a thriller, it’s a psychologically-charged journey, filled with tension, emotion and action and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Net Galley and Quercus Books for the advanced copy.

[Teresa Nikolic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate and Matt are looking to move away from London so they can make a better life for their two children so, when they view Trade Cottage, they are certain they've found their forever home and, even though there are other interested parties, the current owners Rosemary and Paul Finch seem eager for them to buy it, they're over the moon when their offer is accepted and the Finches are still on hand to give advice and introduce them to the locals, even taking a shine to their children Will and Tilly. Then things take a turn when the previous owners hear about their planned renovations and Kate and Matt find the community quickly turning against them when Kate refuses to sell the house back to the Finches and in the middle of an intense hate campaign against them, but Kate is determined to fight and uncovers secrets that Trade Cottage has been hiding for a very long time.

The Move is the new domestic thriller by Delaney, telling us the story of Kate and Matt Crowther and the ordeal they faced when moving home. This book is filled with despicable characters, especially Jamie, and I felt so sorry for Kate and Matt when the whole village turned against them and some of the atrocities they had to face. I love the descriptive writing and the portrayal of Trade Cottage so much I imagined I was there in the cottage myself. As with all this authors books he draws you into the story and weaves the mystery around you. It's a fast paced read with lots of twists along the way which kept me hooked and I prayed that this beautiful family would find their happy ending in their forever home. A compelling story with a chilling premise, which is what you come to expect from this author.

I'd like to thank Quercus Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate moves into her dream home, Trade Cottage, along with her husband Matt and their children. They immediately hit it off with the sellers of the home, Rosemary and Paul Finch, who brought up their own family there. But when the Finch family take exception to planned renovations, soon relationships fracture and a campaign of hate begins.

J.P. Delaney is a go to author for me, having read all of his books and knowing that I will get an original, entertaining thriller, I hoped this would be much the same. I knew I had to add it to the top of my list. After reading I can happily say this follows his trademark style and actually ended up one my favourites by the author. The storyline was simple, but had its own unique spin and was hugely compelling. I was completely sucked into the drama and vendetta, and at times the story became very disturbing and enraging, while remaining tense and suspenseful throughout.

The characters were strongly written, each felt authentic and easy to imagine. I loved that Trade Cottage also felt like a main character in its own right, making the story feel atmospheric and charming. I enjoyed watching the storyline play out, desperate to know what would come next, and all the twists and turns that followed. I found that I learnt some things I didn’t know as well. Some parts may have felt slightly sudden, however this didn’t detract from the story and overall this was a fun, chilling and hugely entertaining thriller. I will definitely be recommending and looking forward to more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

[KathVBtn · Rating 4 out of 5]

JP Delaney is an auto read, jump to the top of the TBR list, always entertaining author. When I was approved for their latest book, The Move, I knew I was in for a treat. I didn’t expect to be dreaming about it as well as reading it!
In ‘The Move’, uber-stressed London family Kate, Matt and their two children desperate for a change of scenery and a change of pace. When they view idyllic country cottage ‘Trade Cottage’ they instantly fall in love with The quirky historic layout, the house’s history and most of all the current owners, retired couple Rosemary and Paul.
Kate and Matt are delighted to move into the cottage, envisioning country pub lunches, supportive community, horse riding, fruit picking- the works.
But as almost as soon as they move in, things start to turn and the glorious future Kate had imagined is under severe threat. They start to receive hate mail, they feel ignored by their new neighbours, and someone has reported them to the local council for illegal work.
The stand off continues to escalate, Kate desperate to keep her beloved home despite everything turning against her.

I couldn’t stop reading, desperate to find out how things would resolve. This is an entertaining psychological and domestic drama and I highly recommend it!

[Evie]

JP Delaney refers to Manderley in the author’s notes and I can definitely see the inspiration for Trade Cottage. This thriller features Kate, the proud new owner of a gorgeous country cottage, along with her husband and two tween children. The house is bought from a elderly couple who have lived in Trade Cottage for decades, who seem wonderful and friendly when Kate and her family view the property. There’s a whole host of characters, from local farmers to pub landlords to various villagers, but I would argue that one of the most important characters in this book is Trade Cottage itself. The centre of all the action, and - of course - conflict. By saying more, I’ll be stepping towards spoiler territory so suffice to say that despite knowing something dark would happen, I was still on the edge of my seat and read this book in just a few days.

I have to say that I was expecting a bigger twist and the ending is a little too tidy for me, but the book kept me gripped and had a host of characters that I found myself invested in.
Not the most surprising thriller, instead it gently held your hand and guided you through the plot points, but an enjoyable read nonetheless.

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of ‘The Move’ by JP Delaney, due to be published on 12 March 2026 by Quercus Books.

Kate, Matt and their two children are excited to move from their home in London to Trade Cottage, and to start renovations, even though they are stretched to the very limits of what they can afford.

Original owners, Paul and Rosemary, are really friendly, treating the family like their own, until they take exception to the work taking place at ‘their home’.

Things take a dramatic turn when their son Jamie arrives from America, leading to a vicious campaign of hate, and an evil vendetta against Kate and Matt.

The descriptions of the house and the surrounding area are beautifully written. The characters are well developed and some make you feel nauseous with the lengths they are prepared to go to, both to get what they want and to keep the past secrets they harbour buried.

A gripping and sinister psychological thriller, that holds you tight and doesn’t let go until the end. Definitely a recommended read, and undoubtedly another bestseller.

[Saffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed most of the author’s previous novels so was looking forward to reading The Move.
Kate, Matt and their two children leave London to move into their dream home- Trade Cottage- in the Hampshire countryside. Rosemary and Paul, the previous owners have moved next door and Kate and their children develop a close relationship with them. However once Kate and Matt begin renovations on the house relationships with Rosemary, Paul and the rest of the community begin to break down.
I love psychological thrillers with a house at the centre and here Trade Cottage is a character in its own right. The author’s descriptions of the house are so atmospheric that I felt like I was there with the characters. There’s a good sense of tension, the plot moves along at a good pace and this was a gripping read that I raced through. At times I wondered if Kate’s devotion to a house she’d lived in for a short time was realistic and I found this frustrating but overall this was a satisfying thriller.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Move by JP Delaney is another edge-of-your-seat 'I can't believe they did that' type thriller. The Crowther family think they've hit the jackpot with their dream house (albeit one that needs some work) in the countryside and very welcoming neighbours and a friendly community, until things turn sour and their neighbours are far from welcoming and community far from friendly. In fact, the lengths that 'they' went to in order to get the Crowthers to leave are kinda shocking.

Like Delaney's other books this comes with a bit of a moral / ethical twist. I appreciated the way in which it ultimately plays out but there was a sense of frustration... that assumptions had been made and were never disproven; even though the focus was no longer important. I think that's a 'me' nuance. I hate injustice and am steadfast in my belief that - even it something is not longer relevant - there needs to be closure. But... like I said... that's a 'me' thing.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧4.25⭐️

I had the audiobook of this domestic vendetta read by Annabelle Dowler who is great with the female voices, but not so convincing with the male voices. But I prefer female narrators rather than male narrators doing female voices.

Kate and Matt move from London to an idyllic rural property. Then their problems start.

I enjoy this author’s imaginative storylines. This one feels feasible with what can be insular small rural villages with residents who resent incomers especially big city ones flashing the cash.
The pace rattles along with escalations which kept me riveted, desperate to see where this ended.
This is based in the normality of everyday domestic life. The research that the author has done must have been extensive.
So did my sympathies lie on either side of the fence? they didn’t, I don’t feel that the author was trying to get the reader to take sides, as neither are engaging. I was just swept along for the ride.

I enjoyed it, but not my favourite by this author.

[Nat Eveleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Kate and Matt have finally found their dream home out of London. Trade Cottage has a charm that they didnt realise they were after, and it's a perfect place for their children to grow up. The sellers are a lovely couple who end up moving literally next door. Kate and Matt cant wait to start renovating their new home, but the sellers dont really agree with what they are doing, and trouble starts brewing.

I have heard of this author, but hadn't read many books from them, but this storyline really appealed to me, and I really enjoyed. The characters were really well written, and it really did instil an element of annoyance in me with how Kate and Matt were being treated, which told me this story was so well written that it was affecting my emotions. It was pretty fast paced, and I really liked the twists and turns that came about. A decent read, and I really liked it, and I will certainly keep my eyes peeled for more books from this author.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus for the ARC

The story follows Kate, Matt and their two children they are ready to move away from London they find the house of their dreams - Trade Cottage. A stunning old house in the countryside Kate knows straight away it’s the perfect house for them.

The previous owners, elderly couple Rosemary and Paul are so friendly and want their home to go to a family with children who will love the house as much as they have.

Rosemary and Paul are very much involved in the community them and the rest of village welcome them with open arms but very quickly the older couple that have moved next door begin to over step the mark and the whole village seem not very welcoming a vendetta against Kate and Matt

What a tense, gripping thriller I couldn’t put it down it kept me guessing all the way through

The Move is out 12th March 2026 and would 100% give this a read a very good thriller

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really disappointing. I was so looking forward to this thriller, based around a young family who move into their dream home, only to find everything and everyone is against them. But unfortunately, that was the full extent of the plot for 80% of the book. It was slow, repetitive and rather than a gripping thriller, it was little more than a neighbourly dispute, which the entire village got behind.

It was only in the last part of the book that there was any real sense of a thriller unfolding and whilst that part was well written, with a little more pace, by that stage, I knew the characters well enough that it was fairly easy to predict the perp. It all wrapped up very conveniently and a bit cutesy, with several nasty and vindictive acts brushed under the carpet by the victim; “less said, soonest forgotten”, which just felt lazy.

2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate and Matt move from London to their dream home in the countryside to Trade Cottage. They are looking forward to starting a new chapter in their lives and glad that their bid was accepted as theirs weren’t the highest bidder. The surprise they got though that Rosemary and Paul who brought Trade cottage from has moved next door. As they start to renovate the property their neighbours who they got to know start disagreeing which the renovations.
In the meantime, Kate starts getting threatening notes pushed through her door….
The author has written another enjoyable read by J P Delaney. I personally thought that the style of writing was a bit different than the others they have written, and I thought it has a similar storyline to others I have read but with a twist. But I enjoyed it regardless. I will not go into any more details you will have to read it yourself. 4 stars from me.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great psychological thriller.
Kate and Matt find their dream home in a small village and are over the moon when their offer is accepted.
Rosemary and Paul, the couple who lived there before find it very hard to let go of it though.
Due to Paul’s deteriorating health, the cottage is not suitable for him anymore but they don’t move very far away. In fact Kate is very surprised to see them in the property at the end of their garden.
Kate starts getting the cottage renovated to bring it more up to date but when Rosemary visits, she’s not impressed.
Life soon gets difficult when Rosemary’s son wants to buy back the cottage as he feels Kate and Matt took advantage of his mother.
Jamie soon has the locals behind him and pushes Kate harder and harder to sell him the house.
This is a gripping thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Quercus Books for the opportunity to read this book.

[Martin Southard · Rating 4 out of 5]

JP Delaney’s The Move is one of those books that sneaks up on you. What begins as a seemingly charming tale of a family relocating from London to the countryside gradually turns into a tense, quietly unnerving story. Kate and Matt’s dream home, Trade Cottage, is full of character, and the village initially feels welcoming—but that warmth doesn’t last. Small disagreements over renovations and lingering attachments from the previous owners spiral into an escalating sense of unease, with the villagers’ behaviour becoming increasingly hostile. Delaney has a knack for making ordinary domestic situations feel claustrophobic and suspenseful, and the pacing keeps you turning pages without even noticing. It’s the sort of psychological thriller that lingers long after the last chapter, leaving you side-eyeing neighbours and questioning who can really be trusted.

Many thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy