The Family Friend: A Novel

by Claire Douglas

A mysterious inheritance unveils a dark and deadly secret in this sensational, nail-biting thriller from the internationally bestselling author of The Wrong Sister and The Woman Who Lied.

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. 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 message.


And when rumors begin to swirl that Dorothea was murdered, she starts to suspect that this gift might not be the lifeline 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?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

400 pages, Paperback

First published 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

[iain jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great Story from Claire Douglas. I’ve read a few of hers before that I’ve throughly enjoyed.
A young lady Is given a house in a will from a elderly lady that was a Artist, this young lady is surprised that this house and Wealth has been given her as the only time she remembers this woman is when she was 14 and stayed at this ladies house with her mother when her mum was hiding from her dad and from his domestic abuse towards her mum.. a safe house.
Dorothea Roe she finds out was murdered in this house, she brings it on herself to find her murderer and how the death of her mother fits in with the sculpture that has been hidden. Book contains, domestic Abuse, murder.

[Alisonbookreviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Love this author but couldn't get into this book.
Imogen unexpectedly inherits a villa from a family friend Dorothea whom her mother used to clean for.
Imogen discovers all kinds of secrets about Dorothea and her own family.
Imogens mother was murdered by her father who is now serving a lifetime in jail.
Imogens sister Alison isn't sure her father did it.
The story goes back forty years to Dorothea and Imogen in the present.
Lots of twists and well written but I really couldn't engage myself in the story.

[Cynth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started so fast and gripped me from the start, I was completely hooked. It was perfectly eerie and suspenseful but it felt like the book slowed down from about halfway for me and I started to lose interest a little.. still a very good Claire Douglas, not my favourite by her but would absolutely recommend as it picked up at the end with a satisfying finale.

[Lavins · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

Far too long, things that bear too little relevance were explored in too much depth and the ending felt rushed and unrealistic.

[Erica⭐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imogen is shocked when she unexpectedly inherits a regency villa in Bath from Dorothea. Imogen hasn’t seen Dorothea for sixteen years when she and her mother stayed at Dorothea’s house for four months during one idyllic Summer as Imogen’s mother had some important decisions to make about her marriage. That Summer was an important turning point in Imogen’s life and the immediate aftermath extremely tragic and shocking. It was the last time that she remembers being truly happy.
As Imogen arrives at the house to take a proper look and to decide what to do about her inheritance, the past cannot be left undone and Imogen begins the quest to find out more about the past and also the manner of Dorothea’s death as rumours begin to circulate that her death may not have been
an accident.

[daniela weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

dual timelines packed
with commentary about
abusive relationships and
sorority: deep, compelling
and full of plot twists. ♡

[Ellie Tudor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bang average. I want a thriller to knock my socks off and this just wasn’t it. Back to the historical fiction I go x

[Marisa LM · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's other works.

I found it long, dense and boring even though the chapters were short. There were too many characters, all of them important to the story. There were too many time jumps and too many plot twists.

And the ending felt unreal. Everything happened in just a few chapters.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was okay. I think it was a solid 3,5⭐️ I didn’t guess the plot twist but it didn’t shock me nor did it annoy me

[EmmaReadsCrime · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day, Imogen cannot believe it when she inherits a country house—and enough money to run it—from Dorothea, an old family friend she hadn't seen in years. However, she discovers an old box with her name on it and believes Dorothea is trying to send her a message.

Claire Douglas is an auto-read author for me; I find I can rely on her books for a great read.

I liked the plot of this story and found the characters entertaining. It was mostly a fast-paced read and easy to follow. It did get a little slow towards the end, but apart from that, it was an enjoyable read.

[Christina McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly unsettling thriller with an original premise and an impossible to predict plot. Hypnotic and utterly absorbing, I couldn't put it down until I saw which direction Claire was going. The characters were well-built, the writing evocative, the house our main character moves to sinister.
Clever, claustrophobic and beguiling, I was totally hooked from the first sentence.

[Karen Chong · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 / 5.0

Honestly I think every-time I read a book from Douglas she’s always trying to do a two plot story, one dated far back and one concurrent and always thinks that she can pull off the timeframe trick. At one point, we are going 49 years before time. The constant change in time frame, mixed in with different POVs made the book harder to understand and click. I don’t know why adding or introducing this confusion within a book makes author believes it’s going to be a banger - it isnt. The constant change in POV then going back in time stalled and slowed down a great plot building. The confusion, built in with multiple POVs took away from the story naturally telling itself. Things kinda felt forced to develop, things occurring in the plot just felt ‘well timed’. I also think Douglas is a fan of creating some of the most unlikable characters, because I just didn’t vibe with the characters. Overall it’s a mid tier book, not a banger.

The story centres around Imogen and who has inherited a country house near Bath. She immediately thinks it’s a mistake, as the last time she saw it’s owner - a reclusive artist Dorothea Roe was sixteen years ago during a tragic summer where her Mother had passed. She’s with her partner Josh and it’s a chance for a fresh start. But the minute they both move into their house, Imogen discovers a box with her name in Dorothea’s old story and she starts to believe that the women was trying to send her a secret message. Then rumours begin to swirl that Dorothea was murdered and suspects the gift might not be the life line she thought it was.

Overall, it’s an ok book but very bland and typical Douglas fashion of confusing timelines and introduction of time frames within their POVs. Credit to Douglas’ marketing team for selling this book well.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Family Friend by Claire Douglas. Thanks to Harper perennial for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Imogen has inherited a beautiful country home in Bath from her late mother’s old friend. Imogen stayed there one summer before tragedy. While the summer changed her life, she doesn’t understand why famous artist, Dorothea Roe, left it to her. When she discovers an old box with her name on it, she thinks there are clues left.

Hooked immediately, I finished this one in a day. I don’t usually love plots that involve art, but there was a lot more to this one and I actually found the artistic clues interesting. I loved Imogen’s relationship with her sister; the love, jealousy, and interactions were so genuine for a sibling relationship. The investigation aspect was fun. There were a handful of characters, but it wasn’t hard to keep them straight at all. There were multiple back stories that fed into the plot, and this kept the story action-based and mysterious thoroughly.

“I find that secrets are like lattice pastry; there is always a point where yours will criss-cross with someone else’s.”

Read if you like:
-Inheritance tropes
-Stories with sisters
-Art or sculptures with meaning
-Amateur investigations

The Family Friend comes out 3/2.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this! A lot of twists to keep up with but loved it!

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Claire Douglas and once I saw her latest mystery thriller in my local library, I had to check it out.

I love how she builds layer upon layer of mystery, from Imogen inheriting a county house near Bath to her connection to the recluse owner and artist Dorothea Roe.

Learning about Imogen's parents, Roe's inspriation for her sculptures and the sense that the artists death might not have been an accident...

I like how the two timeliness from Imogen and Dorothea (from the past) follows very effectively as they interweave.
A very enjoyable twisty quick read with some great atmosphere and easy to get stucked in.

[Jessica Huntley · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Brilliant as always from one of my fav authors. A superb blend of creepiness mixed with underlying tension.

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was the second book had read by the author. Brilliant plot that moves along at a decent pace. Sory jumps backwards and forwards this book as the history of the characters is revealed, gripping and suspenseful, with a few red herrings thrown in. Highley recommended. Will be on lookout for other books by this author.

[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

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Family Friend, by Claire Douglas, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The family friend, has lots of secrets! Imogen does not know who to trust, her husband, her sister, and a mystery to solve. This was a good read, I love most Claire Douglas books.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Claire Douglas writes a truly flawless, unique, unguessable thriller YEARLY is beyond my comprehension

[Joe Brayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

First things first, Josh is a real melt. Controlling and obsessive freak. But by God does Imogen not help herself. Bit of open communication between any of these characters and the book would be wrapped up in a couple hundred pages

Also, where was the Harry arc going? I get the summer teenage romance and rekindling the relationship that she holds with the area/house, but he always felt shoehorned into the scenes despite only living down the road.

Some fun twists and turns throughout, and certainly an easy page turner, but the niggles follow you throughout the book. Dorothy is a wonderfully deep character, though, and well worth reading on to unlock her full story.

JB's Top Tip: Withstand a blow to the noggin for an all expenses paid jolly in Aus.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Claire Douglas as an author, I’ve even attended her launch events and I’ve read all of her books over the past couple of years. I usually preorder a signed copy, as i did with her latest release, so it makes me a bit sad to say that this one just didn’t work for me.

From quite early on, I found myself having to force myself to keep picking this up. It felt slow and, at times, a little dull, which is not something I’ve experienced with her previous novels. By about a third of the way through, I had already guessed the plot, which took away some of the suspense I usually enjoy so much in her writing.

I just didn’t find it engaging at all. Dorothy’s POV, in particular, didn’t hold my interest, and while Imogen’s chapters were slightly more engaging, they still didn’t quite pull me in the way I’d hoped.

That said, this is very much down to personal preference. Claire Douglas has written many five-star reads for me, and I know I’ll still be picking up whatever she writes next. This one just wasn’t for me—but if you’re a fan of slower-burn thrillers, you might have a completely different experience.

[Zoey Curato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst I enjoyed reading this one, it wasn't my favourite Claire Douglas book that I have read so far. I found it a little far fetched and as more and more secrets were revealed this became more and more apparent. The boyfriend was a really unlikable character and I just wanted Imogen to tell him where to go. And to be honest despite inheriting the big house I was screaming internally at Imogen to get the heck out of there! All in all its a real suspenseful read and I would recommend it but its just not up there with my favourites from this author.

[MK07 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly I’m only giving this 2 stars because I actually finished it but it stands out as one of the worst written and most stupid books I’ve ever come across. It reminded me of how I wrote essays myself in primary school - “this happened and I turned a corner and suddenly such & such happened, then I went outside and I saw a mysterious stranger’’ - seriously, this is how it reads. It made zero sense, what was with the magpie theme? As for the ending, beyond ridiculous.

[Catherine (catisbookedup) · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

My first Claire Douglas book do wasn't sure what to expect. I read this as part of a buddy read and I think we had a general consensus of certain things.
What starts off as an intriguing start, soon turns to a slowburn build but at a steady pace building and building to the boil. Unfortunately to be it didn't quite boil more like simmered.
There is a good backstory to most of the characters which in actual fact is crucial to the book. There are various mysteries to solve in this book. Who killed Dorothea? Was Ruth actually killed by her husband? Who has been scaring Imogen in and around her Home? Who attacked Dennis? What did Dorothea want Imogen to know? Let me say almost everyone was a suspect in one way or another. Without giving too much away there is an underlying theme of scorned women which I usually love but this book somehow flipped it to my dislike, leaving me feeling like it was all a bit clumsy whilst also appreciating the intricate web Claire Douglas has strived to weave.
An epilogue would have actually benefited this book, to help put closure to a couple of characters.

[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.

[Devi (TheBookAccountant) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Family Friend - 3.5⭐️
The FMC inherits a huge country house from
someone whom she’s not close with at all
(like zero contact) and it looks like someone might have unalived them.
Written in dual timelines, I did enjoy the parallels in both past and present, the dynamics of relationships then and now AND I wished the FMC had a bigger backbone (present)
I also genuinely don’t get the lady’s determination to solve the mystery which put herself in danger, that was kinda frustrating to read.
Also, i think the book would have been a higher rating if the pacing was tight and the book trimmed to remove all the unnecessary circle backs.

[Wynnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a difficult day, Imogen receives a letter that changes everything. A friend of her late mother has left her an unexpected inheritance: a sprawling mansion near Bath along with a generous sum of money. But the circumstances surrounding the inheritance are troubling, and the gift feels less like good fortune and more like the beginning of a mystery. Determined to uncover the truth, Imogen sets out to learn what really happened to the house’s former owner. Why was the estate left to her? What secrets does the mansion hold? And who might be connected to the crime at the heart of it all? This is a well-written, modern whodunit with a steady pace that keeps the intrigue building throughout.

[Lu thrillskillsandchills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Claire Douglas, and based on this alone, it definitely won’t be my last.

I was immediately hooked by the mystery of why Imogen had inherited Dorothea’s home and loved trying to work out the truth as the story unfolded. As more pieces of the puzzle fell into place, it became clear that Dorothea had left behind more than just an inheritance. I also really enjoyed Dorothea’s chapters being told in reverse chronological order, which made the gradual unveiling of the past even more compelling.

Josh was an absolutely terrible boyfriend, and his controlling behaviour towards Imogen was completely OTT. I spent most of the book wanting her to get as far away from him as possible. I also found parts of the Dominic storyline a little far-fetched, though this was only a minor criticism in an otherwise really enjoyable read.

One of my favourite aspects of the novel was watching Imogen’s personal strength develop throughout the story. She begins believing that Josh is all she has after sharing twelve years of her life with him, only to gradually realise that her support network and chosen family are much larger than she’d ever allowed herself to believe.

I really enjoyed Claire Douglas’ writing style, and I can absolutely see why she has such a loyal readership. I’m very glad I already have a few more of her books sitting on my shelves, because I’ll definitely be picking up another one soon.

4⭐️

[Laura Senter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Got me hooked from the start! A real twist too!