The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

It starts off quite well, but it gets a wee bit overzealous after that. The ending is especially 'out there' and in complete contradiction to how a character would behave after such an awful ordeal, then again Anne isn't really the super-mommy she pretends to be.

Marco and Anne are faced with one of the worst nightmares a parent can face. What's worse is the fact their careless attitude and behaviour allowed it to happen. The two of them are ridden with guilt.

From the very beginning the police take a close look at every angle. including the parents. Did Anne make a drunken mistake? Did Marco lie about checking the baby? Was their home targeted specifically?

Turns out everyone has some kind of secret to hide. Anne has a dark past. Marco isn't as innocent as he seems, and the next door neighbours are more than just a modern happy couple.

Suspicion and paranoia seep into the relationships and the investigation. Is it a crime of opportunity or a well-planned and thought out intrigue?

The first scenes and the beginning of the premise are well thought out, in fact it's fine until Marco drives off with the ransom demand. After that it isn't structured enough and everything seems a little rushed, far-fetched and overambitious.

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