The Courier cover art

The Courier

The most gripping, page-turning psychological suspense of 2022

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The Courier

By: Holly Down
Narrated by: Joanna Miller
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About this listen

 THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN meets THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR in this gripping, page-turning psychological suspense, perfect for fans of K.L Slater and Claire Mackintosh.

She sees much more than you think . . .

Five years ago, Laurel Lovejoy had it all. The high-powered city job, the loving husband, the perfect daughter. Now, she is forty and alone, and working for a courier service. But she has discovered that being a delivery driver comes with a superpower: it makes her invisible. People accept her presence without question. They go about their lives, unaware of just how much she sees - how much she knows.

Laurel is particularly fascinated by the residents of Paradise Found, an exclusive gated cul-de-sac. She sometimes even finds her way there when she's not working, using her days off to soak up as much information about the inhabitants and their lives as she can. Everyone needs a hobby.

Then one day Laurel sees something in one of the houses - something that blows her whole world apart, and will have devastating consequences for everyone involved . . .

Perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh, Adele Parks, Lisa Jewell and The Girl on the Train, THE COURIER will keep you up all night with your eyes glued to the page!

(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd©2021 Holly Down Domestic Thrillers Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Thriller

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All stars
Most relevant
I must admit I was expecting more from this – more subtlety,, more nuanced descriptions and more twists. In the end it was quite a formulaic mystery/thriller and not particularly well written one at that. The plot was full of inaccuracies and implausible awkward encounters and
the big twist was fairly predictable. It was well read though

A fairly basic, derivative story

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I found this very interesting. We follow the life of our main character, Laurel, who works for Zippy, a London based delivery company.

Laurel's life is split into two sides. The past and the present. In the past, Laurel had it all, perfect husband, a daughter and a high flying career..
Unfortunately Laurel was selfish and wanted more, so she had an affair.

She clashes with her young daughter, mostly because she doesn't want children and her husband does. Sophie is two years old, spoilt and difficult, she prefers her Father who she gets a long with better. Laurel through out the book seems like a selfish Mother who puts no effort in and when she doesn't get love and cuddles and a relationship with her daughter she decides that having an affair is the next best thing.


Through out the book, we to and fro with the past and each chapter give more than the last. We see what Laurel really is, just another mother who should've took the emergency contraceptive pill. She makes it plain she adores her child but what Mother could have left her child in her car seat and abandoned her on the hottest day of the year.

Laurel in the present is a delivery driver, a decent job in lock down which kept keyworkers busy. Essential for brains that needed that sanity.

Patrick seemed nice but too nice. I didnt trust the fact that he slept with Laurel on the first date, always a no no in my book and also was getting her sloshed, that to me was a red flag. Waking up an not sure about having sex was also the next biggest red flag. The sister in law turning up looking for her sister at her brother in laws, red flag again.

There was enough flags to put Patrick on the map as a danger for me. I felt like I was screaming at Polly get away, get away and she did luckily.

Laurel is on self destruction mode, her drinking, her loss, her lies, shes being careful. I felt sorry for her until I got to the end, if she wanted her child back she would safe fought to have made it right.

In my eyes, the loss of custody of her child, her marriage, reputation and the life she used to have is punishment enough for me.

I think the author went one step too far with the Patrick story line. I really detest books that authors leave on a cliff hanger. You the author are the storyteller, leaving the story without a firm this or that is idle writing for me and is a bad way to end a show down.

Interesting read.

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Enjoyed this although it got frustrating at times when I couldn't understand why she wouldn't have just gone to the police when she thought she found her daughter, but it all made sense in the end

Good Listen

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This was a great listen but slightly repetitive. But I didn’t mind because it was read so well and the plot intrigued me. The ending was so abrupt that I had to go back! I felt it needed an epilogue.

Really enjoyed but abrupt ending

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Well, the title details warn you that this story will " keep you up at night" and for me, it definitely did . There must have been at least three mornings that I was still listening at 3.30, and I had to physically drag myself away at times to turn the story off in order to get some work done.
My sadness is , that as far as I can see, this is the only Holly Down novel available on Audible and in fact her one and only novel to date - unless you know differently!
A superb and believable narration by Joanna Miller, the characters, especially Mr Winters are very sinister and I sensed his menace on more than one occasion!
I thoroughly "enjoyed" this story if enjoyed is the correct word for such skewed characters.
Thank you Holly and Joanna! xx

Extremely sinister characters.......

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