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The Couple at Causeway Cottage
‘Deliciously dark and suspenseful… A tour-de-force’ Alex Michaelides, The Silent Patient
‘Pacy, twisty and full of shocks, all the way to the jaw-dropping finale’ S.E. Lynes, The Housewarming
NEW START. OLD SECRETS.
Kat and Mark move to an island off the Northern Irish coast for a new beginning. Far away from their frantic life in London, it’s the perfect place to bring up the family they’re longing to start.
But as soon as they arrive, cracks begin to appear in their marriage. Mark is still texting his ex-wife. Kat is lying about a new friendship. And one of them is keeping an explosive secret about the past.
The couple in Causeway Cottage are hiding something – and the truth can be deadly…
A gripping page-turner with a shocking twist, perfect for fans of Lucy Clarke, Alice Feeney and Shari Lapena.
Readers LOVE The Couple at Causeway Cottage!
‘Wow! What a rollercoaster of a ride this book is! Gripped me from the start!’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘I could not put this book down… I was mesmerized.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Loved this book. It had me hooked right from the beginning.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Snagged me from the start. Such a clever plot with gasp-inducing twists. Excellent read.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Tense and atmospheric.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘I couldn’t put this book down.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Loved it… Finished it in less than 24 hrs.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Pacy, twisty and full of shocks, all the way to the jaw-dropping finale’ S.E. Lynes, The Housewarming
NEW START. OLD SECRETS.
Kat and Mark move to an island off the Northern Irish coast for a new beginning. Far away from their frantic life in London, it’s the perfect place to bring up the family they’re longing to start.
But as soon as they arrive, cracks begin to appear in their marriage. Mark is still texting his ex-wife. Kat is lying about a new friendship. And one of them is keeping an explosive secret about the past.
The couple in Causeway Cottage are hiding something – and the truth can be deadly…
A gripping page-turner with a shocking twist, perfect for fans of Lucy Clarke, Alice Feeney and Shari Lapena.
Readers LOVE The Couple at Causeway Cottage!
‘Wow! What a rollercoaster of a ride this book is! Gripped me from the start!’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘I could not put this book down… I was mesmerized.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Loved this book. It had me hooked right from the beginning.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Snagged me from the start. Such a clever plot with gasp-inducing twists. Excellent read.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Tense and atmospheric.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘I couldn’t put this book down.’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Loved it… Finished it in less than 24 hrs.’ NetGalley reviewer,
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2022
108 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
About the author
Diane Jeffrey
7 books289 followersDiane Jeffrey is a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author.
She grew up in North Devon and Belfast in the United Kingdom. She now lives in Lyon, France, with her husband and their three children, Labrador and cat.
She has written seven psychological thrillers, all published by HQ/HarperCollins.
THE GUILTY MOTHER, Diane's third novel, was a USA Today bestseller.
Her fourth novel, THE SILENT FRIEND, was a Karin Slaughter Killer Reads pick for ASDA.
THE COUPLE AT CAUSEWAY COTTAGE, Diane's fifth psychological thriller, won the 2023 International Thriller Writers award for the best ebook original novel.
THE CRIME WRITER is Diane's latest psychological thriller, published in March 2025 in ebook, paperback and audiobook.
Diane is an English teacher. When she's not teaching or writing, she likes swimming, running and reading. She loves chocolate, beer and holidays.
Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Author website: https://www.dianejeffrey.com
Readers can also follow Diane on Twitter @dianefjeffrey
or on Instagram @dianefjeffrey
or on Facebook.com/dianejeffreyauthor
or via her website: https://www.dianejeffrey.com
She grew up in North Devon and Belfast in the United Kingdom. She now lives in Lyon, France, with her husband and their three children, Labrador and cat.
She has written seven psychological thrillers, all published by HQ/HarperCollins.
THE GUILTY MOTHER, Diane's third novel, was a USA Today bestseller.
Her fourth novel, THE SILENT FRIEND, was a Karin Slaughter Killer Reads pick for ASDA.
THE COUPLE AT CAUSEWAY COTTAGE, Diane's fifth psychological thriller, won the 2023 International Thriller Writers award for the best ebook original novel.
THE CRIME WRITER is Diane's latest psychological thriller, published in March 2025 in ebook, paperback and audiobook.
Diane is an English teacher. When she's not teaching or writing, she likes swimming, running and reading. She loves chocolate, beer and holidays.
Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Author website: https://www.dianejeffrey.com
Readers can also follow Diane on Twitter @dianefjeffrey
or on Instagram @dianefjeffrey
or on Facebook.com/dianejeffreyauthor
or via her website: https://www.dianejeffrey.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
August 15, 2022
Who exactly did I just marry!?😱
Kat and Mark are newly-weds, anxious to start their young lives together. Mark’s mother is elderly, so to be closer in proximity to her, Mark and Kat move to a small island off the Irish coast. (Such good kids!)
Eventually lies from the past begin to surface, and Kat no longer knows who she can trust!
A highly addictive thriller that kept me engaged and entertained all the way, the storyline flowing effortlessly. With short chapters that kept me saying “just one more” until I found myself at the epilogue!😉
My first read by Diane Jeffrey but I’ll be diving back into her previous works until she releases her next! Diane…you have a new fan!
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital
Kat and Mark are newly-weds, anxious to start their young lives together. Mark’s mother is elderly, so to be closer in proximity to her, Mark and Kat move to a small island off the Irish coast. (Such good kids!)
Eventually lies from the past begin to surface, and Kat no longer knows who she can trust!
A highly addictive thriller that kept me engaged and entertained all the way, the storyline flowing effortlessly. With short chapters that kept me saying “just one more” until I found myself at the epilogue!😉
My first read by Diane Jeffrey but I’ll be diving back into her previous works until she releases her next! Diane…you have a new fan!
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital
July 1, 2022
3.5
Mark and Kat make their way to Rathlin island off the coast of Northern Ireland. They’re hoping for a fresh start not least as an escape from Mark‘s ex-wife Fiona. They’ve bought a pretty little cottage in which they hope to raise a family and it also provides proximity to Marks ailing mother in Ballycastle. Initially, it all seems perfect, Kat is enchanted but very soon there are worrying signs that will test them both.
First of all, in my opinion the star of the show is the absolutely glorious setting of Rathlin island. There are some wonderful descriptions of the birds and wildlife as well as the landscape and a sense of the island‘s history and its legends. It also allows the author to utilise the vagaries of Irish weather especially the wildness of winter in order to create a perfect backdrop to the storyline and inject things like claustrophobia.
The characterisation is good, some fool you and some are distinctly unlikable. Most are burdened with guilt or anger, there are big secrets aplenty, copious amounts of lying and an abundance of suspicion. You end up with a little clue who to trust as tension mounts.
Much of the premise and storyline is good though at times the writing is a bit unemotional, there’s repetition with things going round and round in Kat’s head which gets on my nerves a bit! There is drama in the ending but I’m not sure what to make of the somewhat abrupt way it concludes.
Overall though, it’s an easy quick diverting holiday type read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for their much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Mark and Kat make their way to Rathlin island off the coast of Northern Ireland. They’re hoping for a fresh start not least as an escape from Mark‘s ex-wife Fiona. They’ve bought a pretty little cottage in which they hope to raise a family and it also provides proximity to Marks ailing mother in Ballycastle. Initially, it all seems perfect, Kat is enchanted but very soon there are worrying signs that will test them both.
First of all, in my opinion the star of the show is the absolutely glorious setting of Rathlin island. There are some wonderful descriptions of the birds and wildlife as well as the landscape and a sense of the island‘s history and its legends. It also allows the author to utilise the vagaries of Irish weather especially the wildness of winter in order to create a perfect backdrop to the storyline and inject things like claustrophobia.
The characterisation is good, some fool you and some are distinctly unlikable. Most are burdened with guilt or anger, there are big secrets aplenty, copious amounts of lying and an abundance of suspicion. You end up with a little clue who to trust as tension mounts.
Much of the premise and storyline is good though at times the writing is a bit unemotional, there’s repetition with things going round and round in Kat’s head which gets on my nerves a bit! There is drama in the ending but I’m not sure what to make of the somewhat abrupt way it concludes.
Overall though, it’s an easy quick diverting holiday type read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for their much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 25, 2022
Diane Jeffrey.
Remember her name.
Look at her backlist and buy them as well as this one.
You won’t be disappointed.
I eagerly await her books and I had this one on my wishlist for publication day and was overjoyed to get this book early.
The Couple at Causeway Cottage.
Kat and Mark.
Kat and Mark previously lived in London but decided to move onto an Island off the Northern Irish coast. Mark wanted to be near his ailing mother and it was also a good place to raise children which they were planning to have.
Oh my. Kat and her dark guilty secrets.
Mark still texting his ex wife.
On the Island chinks in their marriage started to appear.
But they loved each other right?
A child is what they both wanted. A lovely home on an Island.
But someone lives on that Island that brings even the darkest secrets to light.
This was far much more than I could have ever had hoped for, it had such intricate woven details that my jaw was dropping every two minutes gasping WHAT!
As more and more came to light I was shocked, I was thinking “Diane Jeffrey you have nailed it” she really did nail it for me. It’s a definite 5* from me.
It was suspenseful.
Thrilling
Gasping shocking moments
Spine tingling
Can you tell I liked it?
I don’t care if you’re on a book buying ban, you NEED this one if you love thrillers.😁
Remember her name.
Look at her backlist and buy them as well as this one.
You won’t be disappointed.
I eagerly await her books and I had this one on my wishlist for publication day and was overjoyed to get this book early.
The Couple at Causeway Cottage.
Kat and Mark.
Kat and Mark previously lived in London but decided to move onto an Island off the Northern Irish coast. Mark wanted to be near his ailing mother and it was also a good place to raise children which they were planning to have.
Oh my. Kat and her dark guilty secrets.
Mark still texting his ex wife.
On the Island chinks in their marriage started to appear.
But they loved each other right?
A child is what they both wanted. A lovely home on an Island.
But someone lives on that Island that brings even the darkest secrets to light.
This was far much more than I could have ever had hoped for, it had such intricate woven details that my jaw was dropping every two minutes gasping WHAT!
As more and more came to light I was shocked, I was thinking “Diane Jeffrey you have nailed it” she really did nail it for me. It’s a definite 5* from me.
It was suspenseful.
Thrilling
Gasping shocking moments
Spine tingling
Can you tell I liked it?
I don’t care if you’re on a book buying ban, you NEED this one if you love thrillers.😁
January 8, 2025
Very dull start secrets between Kat & Mark who is in touch with his former wife Fiona, Kat & Mark move to a small island 🏝️ Rathlin which is situated on the Irish Coast she is hoping for a new start, But does she really know her husband at all.
Marks mother is close by in a nursing home with Dementia which suits him to a T.
This was very slow & dull the only thing good about this book was the description of the area of Rathlin where they lived the birds 🦅 & the houses that surrounded them, I couldn’t connect with Kat & Mark at all Kat going on about Fiona every 2 seconds was grating on my nerves + I didn’t like the writing style from this author a very slow burn which I didn’t not enjoy at all.
Marks mother is close by in a nursing home with Dementia which suits him to a T.
This was very slow & dull the only thing good about this book was the description of the area of Rathlin where they lived the birds 🦅 & the houses that surrounded them, I couldn’t connect with Kat & Mark at all Kat going on about Fiona every 2 seconds was grating on my nerves + I didn’t like the writing style from this author a very slow burn which I didn’t not enjoy at all.
September 20, 2022
New Start. Old secrets. Dull story. Vapid protagonists.
I agree with my GR friend Ceecee that the "star of this book's show" was the glorious setting of Rathlin Island.
I am a Diane Jeffrey fan, so perhaps my expectations were set too high. Unfortunately, this is the second Dianne Jeffrey book in a row that was disappointing.
The author's repetitious text was primarily responsible for my low rating of the book.
The main female protagonist must have uttered "Should I tell them the truth about what really happened?" at least 15 times and this was very irritating.
Also, overall, I had a difficult time identifying with any of the protagonists.
It wasn't that the protagonists were unlikeable. Instead, I had a hard time getting into the protagonists' heads and their life priorities.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was good but not great.
I loved "A Guilty Mother" and, therefore, I am not guilty of giving up on Diane Jeffrey.
2.5 stars.
I agree with my GR friend Ceecee that the "star of this book's show" was the glorious setting of Rathlin Island.
I am a Diane Jeffrey fan, so perhaps my expectations were set too high. Unfortunately, this is the second Dianne Jeffrey book in a row that was disappointing.
The author's repetitious text was primarily responsible for my low rating of the book.
The main female protagonist must have uttered "Should I tell them the truth about what really happened?" at least 15 times and this was very irritating.
Also, overall, I had a difficult time identifying with any of the protagonists.
It wasn't that the protagonists were unlikeable. Instead, I had a hard time getting into the protagonists' heads and their life priorities.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was good but not great.
I loved "A Guilty Mother" and, therefore, I am not guilty of giving up on Diane Jeffrey.
2.5 stars.
August 14, 2022
Kat and Mark move to an island of the Northern Irish coast for a new beginning far away from their frantic life in London, it's the perfect place to bring up the family they're longing to start. But as soon as they arrive, cracks begin to appear in their marriage. Mark is still texting his ex-wife. Kat is lying about a new friendship. And one of them is keeping an explosive secret about the past. The couple in Causeway Cottage are hiding something - and the truth can be deadly....
Kat and Mark move to Rathlin Island to be near Mark's mother who is in a care home. The story is told from Kat's point of view. I didn't like any of the characters, they weren't really believable either. Kat and Mark both have dark secrets, bit someone seems to know all about them. The pace is slow to begin with. It's also a bit predictable, but that doesn't make it a bad read. It's descriptively written, with twists, and I thought it was more a mystery than a thriller.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #DianeJeffrey for my ARC of #TheCoupleAtCausewayCottage in exchange for an honest review.
Kat and Mark move to Rathlin Island to be near Mark's mother who is in a care home. The story is told from Kat's point of view. I didn't like any of the characters, they weren't really believable either. Kat and Mark both have dark secrets, bit someone seems to know all about them. The pace is slow to begin with. It's also a bit predictable, but that doesn't make it a bad read. It's descriptively written, with twists, and I thought it was more a mystery than a thriller.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #DianeJeffrey for my ARC of #TheCoupleAtCausewayCottage in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2022
Diane Jeffrey is one of my favourite authors and you can always be guaranteed a great story with easy to picture characters and some lovely scenery descriptions,this latest book is no exception 😎, we meet Kat and Mark who decide to 360 change their lives and move from London to an Island just off the N.I. coast, but however far they move,however much they change their way of living the secrets and lies they have in their lives follow them and ultimately once again find them….with shocking consequences…
Tense and atmospheric the book grabs you and keeps you and shows this authors skill at writing brilliant psychological thrillers
10/10
5 Stars
Tense and atmospheric the book grabs you and keeps you and shows this authors skill at writing brilliant psychological thrillers
10/10
5 Stars
August 25, 2023
Kat and Mark have moved from London, to an island off the Northern Irish Coast, a house called Causeway Cottage. Mark wanted to be closer to his elderly mother and it would be an excellent place to bring up their children which they plan to have.
Before long cracks start to appear in their relationship. Mark is still messaging his ex wife and Kat is lying about a new friendship. And one of them is hiding a big secret about the past.
A must read addictive book that had plenty of jaw dropping moments.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Before long cracks start to appear in their relationship. Mark is still messaging his ex wife and Kat is lying about a new friendship. And one of them is hiding a big secret about the past.
A must read addictive book that had plenty of jaw dropping moments.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2024
Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Publication date : August 18, 2022
Narrated by: Hannah Kelly-Turner
Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
Story started off well but at some point I got tired by the characters and their big secrets. Kate has some dark secret that involves her childhood friend Erin - something bad happened to her when they were 15. Author isn't revealing why she feels guilty but keeps referring to it, which I started to find annoying. There's also some big secret Kate's husband Mark is keeping from her.
And there's their new neighbor, Darragh, who's also hiding something.
I hate it when author keep referring to some big secret all the time but not telling it. Eventually the big secret of what happened with Erin is revealed and much more but there were too many coincidences to make it believable. There were issues that bothered me and I often didn't get the behaviour of the characters.
Publication date : August 18, 2022
Narrated by: Hannah Kelly-Turner
Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
Story started off well but at some point I got tired by the characters and their big secrets. Kate has some dark secret that involves her childhood friend Erin - something bad happened to her when they were 15. Author isn't revealing why she feels guilty but keeps referring to it, which I started to find annoying. There's also some big secret Kate's husband Mark is keeping from her.
And there's their new neighbor, Darragh, who's also hiding something.
I hate it when author keep referring to some big secret all the time but not telling it. Eventually the big secret of what happened with Erin is revealed and much more but there were too many coincidences to make it believable. There were issues that bothered me and I often didn't get the behaviour of the characters.
July 28, 2022
What should be a new start for Kat and Mark in an idyllic location turns out to be quite different from what they expected. It soon becomes obvious that both this couple have secrets and this is what has the reader turning the pages at speed.
You can feel the isolation of their new home which adds to the tension of the story. The author has you envisioning the stunning views yet adds a sinister element to it all. I wasn’t quite sure who I could trust, even Kat herself and it had me desperate to find out what she was keeping not just from the other characters but from the readers also.
The Couple at Causeway Cottage was an engrossing page turner of which the author nailed this atmospheric story. It’s the secrets and lies that has the reader racing through the pages with some unexpected twists. I had a sense of dread through out that never left me and even after turning the last page, I could feel my heart racing ten to the dozen. The author is a natural story teller whose books you need to block out however many hours from your day when you pick one of them up as believe me, they are impossible to put down!
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
You can feel the isolation of their new home which adds to the tension of the story. The author has you envisioning the stunning views yet adds a sinister element to it all. I wasn’t quite sure who I could trust, even Kat herself and it had me desperate to find out what she was keeping not just from the other characters but from the readers also.
The Couple at Causeway Cottage was an engrossing page turner of which the author nailed this atmospheric story. It’s the secrets and lies that has the reader racing through the pages with some unexpected twists. I had a sense of dread through out that never left me and even after turning the last page, I could feel my heart racing ten to the dozen. The author is a natural story teller whose books you need to block out however many hours from your day when you pick one of them up as believe me, they are impossible to put down!
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
November 19, 2022
GROAN. This was awful. I only finished it due to not having any backups on audible. The story started out ok but Kat quickly became the most loathsome character. We’re supposed to cheer her on but I just wanted her to meet her demise. I could not stand her hypocrisy, dithering attitude, constant back and forth and what to do, pregnancy obsessed attitude. God, there’s only two more months in 2022 and I hope this is the worst fictional character I encounter for the year.
Other than a detestable lead character, the story is ridiculous and unbelievable. I’m actually mad at this book. I’m mad this is what gets published - maybe because I’m currently on a streak of reading garbage books lately. This will be my first and last experience with this author.
Other than a detestable lead character, the story is ridiculous and unbelievable. I’m actually mad at this book. I’m mad this is what gets published - maybe because I’m currently on a streak of reading garbage books lately. This will be my first and last experience with this author.
September 11, 2022
Kat and Mark Fisher move to the idyllic island of Rathlin, off the coast of Northern Ireland. Their reasons are twofold. They want to escape their hectic London life and start a family, and, they want to be closer to Mark's mother who is now living in a care home.
They no sooner move in when you are made aware that they are both keeping secrets from one another. Secrets that in time will erode their marriage into dust...
Mark is away from the island a lot due to work. Kat spends her days building up her photography portfolio by taking nature shots around the island. She also is a keen runner, and soon finds a running partner in a local man, Darragh Moore and his sheepdog, Dexter.
When Mark's mother passes away, his personality begins to change. His moods are mercurial and volatile and he lies to Kat about important things.
Kat too is less than forthcoming. For she has visited the area before, when she was just a teenager - and something tragic happened when she was there...
"The longer you keep something a secret, the harder it is to confess.
And the easier it is to bury it under another layer of lies."
This was a real page turner! At first I thought it was going to be more along the lines of a romantic suspense novel, but it veered into a psychological thriller with a surprising ending.
The setting was absolutely idyllic. Rathlin, an island off the coast of Northern Ireland. Think picturesque cliff walks, seabirds, charming pubs, and ocean vistas.
Themes explored in this story were the age old ones of infidelity, revenge, and above all the perils of secrecy. The reader doesn't know which of the characters to trust.
This novel was a fairly quick read and held my interest throughout. This is my first read from Diane Jeffrey and now I'm interested in pursuing her backlist of titles. Recommended to all fans of the genre.
They no sooner move in when you are made aware that they are both keeping secrets from one another. Secrets that in time will erode their marriage into dust...
Mark is away from the island a lot due to work. Kat spends her days building up her photography portfolio by taking nature shots around the island. She also is a keen runner, and soon finds a running partner in a local man, Darragh Moore and his sheepdog, Dexter.
When Mark's mother passes away, his personality begins to change. His moods are mercurial and volatile and he lies to Kat about important things.
Kat too is less than forthcoming. For she has visited the area before, when she was just a teenager - and something tragic happened when she was there...
"The longer you keep something a secret, the harder it is to confess.
And the easier it is to bury it under another layer of lies."
This was a real page turner! At first I thought it was going to be more along the lines of a romantic suspense novel, but it veered into a psychological thriller with a surprising ending.
The setting was absolutely idyllic. Rathlin, an island off the coast of Northern Ireland. Think picturesque cliff walks, seabirds, charming pubs, and ocean vistas.
Themes explored in this story were the age old ones of infidelity, revenge, and above all the perils of secrecy. The reader doesn't know which of the characters to trust.
This novel was a fairly quick read and held my interest throughout. This is my first read from Diane Jeffrey and now I'm interested in pursuing her backlist of titles. Recommended to all fans of the genre.
August 18, 2022
The past haunts!
A young couple, Kat and Mark, buy a house, ‘Causeway Cottage’ on an island off the coast of Northen Ireland. Their plan, to be close to Mark’s mother who has dementia and is in a care home. And to start a family. Kat was gong to take her photography to the professional level, Mark would catch the ferry across to work in Belfast,
But they both have secrets. Secrets that laboured and destroyed, and in the end, those secrets did me in as well. Kat’s had something to do with her childhood friend and tragedy.
I’m so conflicted about this story. It was a page turner that’s for sure, I couldn’t put it down.
I understand the actions of Kat but the morality gives pause. And the ending! I’d be running! And—is that really the ending?
But all that aside Kat is a conflicted mass of should she, shouldn’t she tell Mark, tell Darragh. Who’s hiding secrets from whom? Too many secrets. And yes, I’d guessed Mark’s big secret, mind you he had two major ones. I didn’t like Mark, I found him untrustworthy. Darragh I was unsure about. Kat I felt sympathy for, but her actions were crazy complicated.
So, all this agonising is to say it’s definitely up there with readability and questions, but in the end I lost all with sympathy for the players.
An HQ ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
A young couple, Kat and Mark, buy a house, ‘Causeway Cottage’ on an island off the coast of Northen Ireland. Their plan, to be close to Mark’s mother who has dementia and is in a care home. And to start a family. Kat was gong to take her photography to the professional level, Mark would catch the ferry across to work in Belfast,
But they both have secrets. Secrets that laboured and destroyed, and in the end, those secrets did me in as well. Kat’s had something to do with her childhood friend and tragedy.
I’m so conflicted about this story. It was a page turner that’s for sure, I couldn’t put it down.
I understand the actions of Kat but the morality gives pause. And the ending! I’d be running! And—is that really the ending?
But all that aside Kat is a conflicted mass of should she, shouldn’t she tell Mark, tell Darragh. Who’s hiding secrets from whom? Too many secrets. And yes, I’d guessed Mark’s big secret, mind you he had two major ones. I didn’t like Mark, I found him untrustworthy. Darragh I was unsure about. Kat I felt sympathy for, but her actions were crazy complicated.
So, all this agonising is to say it’s definitely up there with readability and questions, but in the end I lost all with sympathy for the players.
An HQ ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
July 9, 2022
This is my first time reading a novel by Diane Jeffrey. The story deals with a young couple, Kat and Mark Jeffrey, who recently purchased a cottage in Northern Island. Like any married couple they have had some challenges. Unfortunately they are constantly keeping secrets from each other, and they both lie constantly. Some lies are “little white one” but some are not. There is a good story line here with drama and suspense. I found that I was able to figure out a few mysteries myself before the ending. Sometimes the main character, Kat, made assumptions and decisions that I found a bit hard to believe. She never seemed to listen to her gut feelings. I did enjoy the book despite my above mentioned personal observations. I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley. My review is unbiased.
July 25, 2022
A quick read, entertaining with a few twists but nothing that got my heart racing. Predictable and with an ending that was so unbelievable. Very disappointed after all the hype. This is my own personal opinion and I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 4, 2022
Loved this book. It had me hooked right from the beginning. Nice set of characters. Or are they? Good plot to get your teeth into. It was very well written. Flowed well. But if suspense in there.
I will be looking out for this author again.
I will be looking out for this author again.
August 23, 2022
The Northern Irish coast is the place where Kat and Mark Fisher decide to settle, moving from London. They hope to start a family at Causeway cottage on Rathlin Island. It's also where Mark's ailing mum lives - the nursing home nearby in Ballycastle. Kat is a professional photographer working on her own website whilst Mark, head researcher for a pharmaceutical company based in London and Belfast is often away. Why is Mark still in touch with his first wife, Fiona and what about Darragh Moore who Kat runs into whilst taking photographs?
I delighted in the slow build-up of tension, and my resulting apprehension as well as the descriptions of the island, which was an ideal backdrop to the story. Brooding and utterly addictive.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I delighted in the slow build-up of tension, and my resulting apprehension as well as the descriptions of the island, which was an ideal backdrop to the story. Brooding and utterly addictive.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 27, 2022
Kat and Mark Fisher move to Rathlin Island, off the coast of Northern Ireland, for a fresh start and to be closer to Mark's ailing mother. But with Mark working long hours away from home resulting in Kat feeling increasingly lonely things start to erode the foundations of their marriage and to threaten their chances of starting the family that they long for. Kat finds a new friendship that she decides to keep secret and then discovers that Mark is still texting his ex-wife; and someone is hiding dark secrets about the past that are primed to blow them all apart.
This is a story steeped in mystery and is literally dripping with intrigue. Suspicion abounds throughout and the plot is littered with tantilising hints around the buried secrets lurking just below the surface urging the reader on to discovering who is hiding what. The tension starts building right from the start until it practically leaps from the pages and grabs you by the hand racing you to a totally unexpected ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it had a well developed plot with believable characters that will keep you guessing right to the end!
My thanks to the author and to HQStories for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story steeped in mystery and is literally dripping with intrigue. Suspicion abounds throughout and the plot is littered with tantilising hints around the buried secrets lurking just below the surface urging the reader on to discovering who is hiding what. The tension starts building right from the start until it practically leaps from the pages and grabs you by the hand racing you to a totally unexpected ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it had a well developed plot with believable characters that will keep you guessing right to the end!
My thanks to the author and to HQStories for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2022
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I am very impressed. It's the kind of book that I really hated to have to put down, I found myself thinking of it when I wasn't reading and in certain parts my heart was pounding, and I couldn't wait to swipe the page fast enough to find out what was going to happen.
Mark and Kat have recently bought a cottage on the island of Rathlin, off the coast of Northern Ireland. The cottage is named Causeway Cottage and is everything you'd imagine it would be on a tiny island with a population of about 150 people. They have just moved from London so that Mark could be near his ailing mother. It also seems to be a good place to raise children, which they are currently trying for.
But there are underlying problems that have yet to come to the surface. Kat has a long kept, deep, dark secret and Mark is still in contact with his ex-wife, although to what extent isn't known yet. On the island there is a neighbor that threatens to expose Kats secret. As the story progresses, we find that Kat is not the only one with a deep, dark secret. What will happen when these secrets come to light?
I imagine that living on an island like Rathlin can be idyllic but also isolating depending on who you are and what your life is like. The descriptions of the island are incredible, and I had to look up the place to see it for myself. The story is well written, and the twists and turns will have you turning pages faster than you can read. I love the intricacies that are woven between Kat, Mark and the friends they make on the island. How the author brought it all together really had me entertained and even though I was left wanting more from the ending, its still a solid 5 for me. I really enjoyed this book and I definitely look forward to more from this author. Now, off to find more of her books to read! I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.
Mark and Kat have recently bought a cottage on the island of Rathlin, off the coast of Northern Ireland. The cottage is named Causeway Cottage and is everything you'd imagine it would be on a tiny island with a population of about 150 people. They have just moved from London so that Mark could be near his ailing mother. It also seems to be a good place to raise children, which they are currently trying for.
But there are underlying problems that have yet to come to the surface. Kat has a long kept, deep, dark secret and Mark is still in contact with his ex-wife, although to what extent isn't known yet. On the island there is a neighbor that threatens to expose Kats secret. As the story progresses, we find that Kat is not the only one with a deep, dark secret. What will happen when these secrets come to light?
I imagine that living on an island like Rathlin can be idyllic but also isolating depending on who you are and what your life is like. The descriptions of the island are incredible, and I had to look up the place to see it for myself. The story is well written, and the twists and turns will have you turning pages faster than you can read. I love the intricacies that are woven between Kat, Mark and the friends they make on the island. How the author brought it all together really had me entertained and even though I was left wanting more from the ending, its still a solid 5 for me. I really enjoyed this book and I definitely look forward to more from this author. Now, off to find more of her books to read! I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.
October 24, 2023
Twisty and unexpected, really enjoyed the book
February 8, 2024
Thrilling
August 6, 2022
I love books from Diane Jeffery and was eager to read her latest one The couple at causeway cottage.
The setting of the story Rathlin island is familiar to me and I loved how accurately it was portrayed.
Mark and Kat have bought a cottage on the island so that they could be near Marks sick mother. It’s quite a culture shock for Karen as it is so different to her previous life in london.
We soon learn that Kat has been to Ratlin before and she may be hiding a secret. Mark seems to have his own well kept secrets as well .
I enjoyed this book and I particularly loved the setting but I did think it lacked something for me as I found it difficult to connect to the main characters.
The setting of the story Rathlin island is familiar to me and I loved how accurately it was portrayed.
Mark and Kat have bought a cottage on the island so that they could be near Marks sick mother. It’s quite a culture shock for Karen as it is so different to her previous life in london.
We soon learn that Kat has been to Ratlin before and she may be hiding a secret. Mark seems to have his own well kept secrets as well .
I enjoyed this book and I particularly loved the setting but I did think it lacked something for me as I found it difficult to connect to the main characters.
December 13, 2022
I won this book in a giveaway. Yay! It’s an engaging story that hooked me from the start and didn’t let go till the end. Twisty with a dark edge, which I loved. Great setting too—an island off the coast of Northern Ireland. All in all a great read!
August 1, 2022
Kat and Mark move from London to an island off the Northern Irish coast to be closer to Mark’s Mum, who is is a care home.
It isn’t long before their marriage is in trouble. With both keeping secrets from each other, how can they make their marriage work?
This is a story of secrets and lies. I didn’t like the character, Darragh from the start, there was something about him that I didn’t like. It is a small knit community where everyone knows everybody’s business!
The story had me hooked from start to finish. It was tense and full of twists, the ending had me gobsmacked! The descriptive writing made me feel as though I was there.
My thanks to the author for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
It isn’t long before their marriage is in trouble. With both keeping secrets from each other, how can they make their marriage work?
This is a story of secrets and lies. I didn’t like the character, Darragh from the start, there was something about him that I didn’t like. It is a small knit community where everyone knows everybody’s business!
The story had me hooked from start to finish. It was tense and full of twists, the ending had me gobsmacked! The descriptive writing made me feel as though I was there.
My thanks to the author for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2022
I do like a story that has a good mystery behind it, The Couple at Causeway Cottage is a story that has a mystery and is atmospheric and completely addictive reading.
Kat and Mark have moved to a small island off Ireland, the cottage is ideal as it is close enough for Mark to be able to visit his ailing mother. For Kat, the location is the opportunity to take photos and build her website sales. The land is rugged and wild, windswept and alluring. But there is a feeling that lurks around the periphery of the story. A secret and a lie that is not fully known until much later in the story.
Unbeknown to her husband, Kat is aware of one of the residents of the island, it is around an event when Kat was in her teens. This is tentatively approached through the story for those involved, and it adds a wonderful vibe to the story.
While Kat does come across as trustworthy, this little secret of hers means she starts to be elusive about things. This distrust is added to when she starts to doubt her husband, this is an easy thing to accept given that he does work away quite often.
The island is isolated, Kat has left her friends behind and it seems that the friends she meets on the island have hidden messages or meanings behind their conversations. This does leave Kat feeling alone and it is a chance for her mind to work overtime.
The ending of this story shocked me, there were little things hinted at but it wasn't until the final chapters that I suddenly got the whole thing. The secrets of the past are the foundation for the present and I do think they were very well woven together.
I do like this style of story, it has brooding darkness to it that mirrors the location, it works very well and it gives the overall mysterious atmosphere to it. A fabulous read and one I would definitely recommend.
Kat and Mark have moved to a small island off Ireland, the cottage is ideal as it is close enough for Mark to be able to visit his ailing mother. For Kat, the location is the opportunity to take photos and build her website sales. The land is rugged and wild, windswept and alluring. But there is a feeling that lurks around the periphery of the story. A secret and a lie that is not fully known until much later in the story.
Unbeknown to her husband, Kat is aware of one of the residents of the island, it is around an event when Kat was in her teens. This is tentatively approached through the story for those involved, and it adds a wonderful vibe to the story.
While Kat does come across as trustworthy, this little secret of hers means she starts to be elusive about things. This distrust is added to when she starts to doubt her husband, this is an easy thing to accept given that he does work away quite often.
The island is isolated, Kat has left her friends behind and it seems that the friends she meets on the island have hidden messages or meanings behind their conversations. This does leave Kat feeling alone and it is a chance for her mind to work overtime.
The ending of this story shocked me, there were little things hinted at but it wasn't until the final chapters that I suddenly got the whole thing. The secrets of the past are the foundation for the present and I do think they were very well woven together.
I do like this style of story, it has brooding darkness to it that mirrors the location, it works very well and it gives the overall mysterious atmosphere to it. A fabulous read and one I would definitely recommend.
December 30, 2022
I have to admit I love Diane’s books, but I have been rubbish at keeping up with them. So, when the opportunity came up to read her new book, I grabbed it with both hands.
OH. MY. DAYS!!!!
What a bloody book! I am blown away. I spent most of the book turned around and upside down. I guessed a twist but you know what it was still so shocking. I was expecting to be told I was wrong so to be right, well hells bells!
This is an intense book and it doesn’t hold back. Yes, Kat can be a bit irritating at times, sometimes too naive and other times frustrating yet you still urge her on to the truth. The one you suspect. The one you don’t expect to be true.
I don’t want to be one of those people, but I am… that ending. Gosh, the chills. I never expected that and my god it was cold, so cold and shocking, and just such an epic ending. Wow.
Diane has bamboozled me and I am never getting on her bad side. A book set in a beautiful location with a tarnished history. She sucks you in and she will not let you go until you have discovered the secrets. I get lost in her writing, I was there with Kat, reacting (most of the time) in the same way. This book gave me so many feelings and a lot of them made my jaw drop as I tried to sweep it off the floor!
This is one of my top books this year without a shadow of a doubt. There’s no way it can’t be. It is a great thriller, allowing you to immerse yourself in the story and question would you do the same thing?
OH. MY. DAYS!!!!
What a bloody book! I am blown away. I spent most of the book turned around and upside down. I guessed a twist but you know what it was still so shocking. I was expecting to be told I was wrong so to be right, well hells bells!
This is an intense book and it doesn’t hold back. Yes, Kat can be a bit irritating at times, sometimes too naive and other times frustrating yet you still urge her on to the truth. The one you suspect. The one you don’t expect to be true.
I don’t want to be one of those people, but I am… that ending. Gosh, the chills. I never expected that and my god it was cold, so cold and shocking, and just such an epic ending. Wow.
Diane has bamboozled me and I am never getting on her bad side. A book set in a beautiful location with a tarnished history. She sucks you in and she will not let you go until you have discovered the secrets. I get lost in her writing, I was there with Kat, reacting (most of the time) in the same way. This book gave me so many feelings and a lot of them made my jaw drop as I tried to sweep it off the floor!
This is one of my top books this year without a shadow of a doubt. There’s no way it can’t be. It is a great thriller, allowing you to immerse yourself in the story and question would you do the same thing?
August 13, 2022
The fifth psychological thriller from Diane Jeffrey is a gripping thriller that completely threw me with its twists and turns as it certainly didn’t follow the path I expected! There were some shocking revelations that I didn’t see coming and I do love that! Set on an island off the coast of Northern Island, The Couple at Causeway Cottage has at its centre Mark and his wife Kat who have moved to the island from London for a fresh start. Mark has an ex wife but he has admitted to sleeping with her again recently so Kat is feeling insecure especially as he still seems to be maintaining contact with Fiona. Kat has secrets of her own though and the move has unsettled her…
I do love a toxic, messed up couple but Mark and Kat really made me quite cross at times! Where was their communication? Why all the secrets? I didn’t hold out much hope that their marriage was going to survive the move especially when combined with other stressful things like trying for a baby! And I didn’t know which of them to trust either as they just has way too many secrets between them. And as I read towards the last few chapters, the threads started coming together but NOT in any way that I had expected. Many of the other characters kept me on my toes as well so I was never sure who to really trust and those I liked initially I ended up disliking and vice versa!
The setting suited the narrative perfectly. The sense of isolation and of being cut off from the mainland came across perfectly. As did the contrast between the life Kat and Mark left and the island life they have to adapt to and this is quite dramatic right from the very start. But moving away from your problems often backfires as they have a tendency to seek you out and follow you! The idyllic location proved to be atmospheric but stark and, although beautiful, nature can be a cruel neighbour when those indiscretions come to find you.
The Couple at Causeway Cottage kept me reading late into the night and I loved being shocked by the ending! Who would have guessed?! Well, not me obviously but the clues are there if you look for them. But if I were you I would just sit back and enjoy the “Gone Girl” toxicity of the couple who really should not have bought Causeway Cottage!
I do love a toxic, messed up couple but Mark and Kat really made me quite cross at times! Where was their communication? Why all the secrets? I didn’t hold out much hope that their marriage was going to survive the move especially when combined with other stressful things like trying for a baby! And I didn’t know which of them to trust either as they just has way too many secrets between them. And as I read towards the last few chapters, the threads started coming together but NOT in any way that I had expected. Many of the other characters kept me on my toes as well so I was never sure who to really trust and those I liked initially I ended up disliking and vice versa!
The setting suited the narrative perfectly. The sense of isolation and of being cut off from the mainland came across perfectly. As did the contrast between the life Kat and Mark left and the island life they have to adapt to and this is quite dramatic right from the very start. But moving away from your problems often backfires as they have a tendency to seek you out and follow you! The idyllic location proved to be atmospheric but stark and, although beautiful, nature can be a cruel neighbour when those indiscretions come to find you.
The Couple at Causeway Cottage kept me reading late into the night and I loved being shocked by the ending! Who would have guessed?! Well, not me obviously but the clues are there if you look for them. But if I were you I would just sit back and enjoy the “Gone Girl” toxicity of the couple who really should not have bought Causeway Cottage!
July 29, 2022
I feel like this is one that I could’ve easily read in a couple days if I had had the time. It was pretty fast-paced and the chapters always left me wanting to know what was going to happen next! I would’ve liked the ending to be a little more tied up but I still find it interesting when a book ends on a mystery/unknown (hopefully you don’t think of this as a spoiler). I really enjoyed the setting of this book and I think it was an ideal location setting for a thriller. I don’t think this book had anything revolutionary by any means, but it was definitely enjoyable to read!
A very special thanks to NetGalley, HQ, and Diane Jeffrey for this ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Couple at Causeway Cottage will be published August 18, 2022!
A very special thanks to NetGalley, HQ, and Diane Jeffrey for this ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Couple at Causeway Cottage will be published August 18, 2022!
September 7, 2022
The protagonists of the novel are Kat and Mark, a young couple who have only lately purchased a cabin in Rathlin, a small island in Northern Ireland. They just moved from London so that Mark could be near his dying mother. They are also trying to have kids. Mark is originally from Northern Ireland while Kat or Katherine is from Devon but she spent time with her grandparents in the area when young. They have a funny marriage, they seem in love but they tend to lie a lot and Mark had an affair with his ex wife Fiona which makes difficult to trust him.
On the island, they meet a few locals; Darragh, Jenny and Tim. Mark doesn’t like Darragh from the start while Kat seems a bit fascinated and starts a friendship with him. The problem is that Kat, Mark and Darragh have big secrets. Some has to do with guilt but others are a lot more serious than guilt. The story is not totally unpredictable, I worked out quite a few things well before the end. It’s not the first book by Diane Jeffrey I read and I don’t think it’s her best. But it’s an ok psychological thriller to read in a weekend. What stands out is the author’s description of the small island with its constantly changing weather. I was given a free copy by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
On the island, they meet a few locals; Darragh, Jenny and Tim. Mark doesn’t like Darragh from the start while Kat seems a bit fascinated and starts a friendship with him. The problem is that Kat, Mark and Darragh have big secrets. Some has to do with guilt but others are a lot more serious than guilt. The story is not totally unpredictable, I worked out quite a few things well before the end. It’s not the first book by Diane Jeffrey I read and I don’t think it’s her best. But it’s an ok psychological thriller to read in a weekend. What stands out is the author’s description of the small island with its constantly changing weather. I was given a free copy by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
August 4, 2022
I fully requested this book on Netgalley because I’d just returned from a trip to Ireland. I was so happy to see so many spots I’d visited in this book and feel like I was still there. The location descriptions and atmosphere were very vivid. Though I do think that the one plot twist was pretty predictable, I found this book very readable. I read it in two days. Couldn’t put it down after I got about 30% of the way in. This book is gritty and dark, but I loved it. Also loved the ending and wonder what, if anything, might happen next.
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
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