Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Couple on the Train: An absolutely compelling psychological thriller packed with suspense

Rate this book
I look at where the woman was sitting. There’s a scrap of paper tucked into the gap between the seats. With shaking hands, I pick it up. The note Help me.

At first glance, the couple on the train look normal. She’s dressed smartly, a floral patterned bag on her lap. But her hands are clenched, her fingers white. The man with her has his arm looped through hers, but not in a comforting way. He’s holding her too tightly.

She catches my eye and I see desperation there. I’m opening my mouth to speak when the train grinds to a halt and the man stands, hauling her away. She looks at me again, then at the seat behind her, her face pale.

I find the message she left behind. Help me .

When I call the police, there’s no sign of the couple on CCTV. The kind detective gently suggests that it’s not surprising, with my history, that I am imagining things. Wanting to save someone.

I know what I saw. If no one will believe me, I’ll find her myself.

But as I search, what I find seems personal. Little things that remind me of what happened ten years ago. And I think I’m being followed, that someone broke into my flat.

The hunt for the woman on the train is leading me somewhere I should never go. Can I save her, or will I be next?

See what readers are saying about Claire

Addictive and unpredictable. I found myself pulled in… devouring this book in just one sitting. My heart pounded and my pulse raced. I absolutely loved it.’ littlemissbooklover87, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WOW! It was brilliant, it was fast-paced… Kept me guessing… Perfect… From the very first page I was drawn in and couldn’t put the book down. It was so good I read it in a day!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘For lovers of Freida McFadden this novel is for you! Twisted with an ending you don’t see coming! I loved this.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really loved it!!! What a twist… a WOW read!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a ride!… gripping… jaw-dropping reveals.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A standout… when the timeline went back to the past, it was welcomed so I could get my breathing to return to normal!… thrilling finale had me gasping for breath and on the edge of my seat!Once Upon a Time Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sensational… a plot that unrolls like clockwork, and simmering tension that never lets up. Betrayal, double-crossing and the most delicious sting in the tailI couldn’t put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A tangled web of lies that has an explosive ending… The tension ratcheted up at the end and literally had me gasping with my jaw on the floor… riveting.

330 pages, Paperback

Published August 20, 2024

417 people are currently reading
131 people want to read

About the author

Claire Cooper

57 books5 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
57 (23%)
4 stars
74 (30%)
3 stars
83 (34%)
2 stars
18 (7%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Brooke.
867 reviews589 followers
July 16, 2024
⭐️ 3 stars ⭐️

« No one believes the woman on the train was being taken somewhere against her will. No one but me. »


I found this whole book to be a little unbelievable, honestly.
I really enjoyed the tension build up, the chaoticness of the main character.
I don’t know if it was the similar title or Laura’s unreliability, but this read heavily reminded me of The Girl on the Train, and having loved that book perhaps skewed my perspective a bit.

I thought I was losing my grip on reality. But now I know I’m not, and that’s much, much worse.


I love when the story makes me question everything, look for enemies around every corner. It really increases the thrill, the anxiety. Laura’s story was a downwards spiral of paranoia and self-neglect — her sole focus being the mystery woman’s disappearance. Because maybe this time, she could save her.

I also really liked the way the author split the timelines, slowly feeding us the character’s backstory while also progressing the plot. Every time switch just helped bump up the chills and the tension.

The problem for me was the climax, the twists, the ending. It all felt a little too unbelievable and unrealistic. The way the police handled Laura, how what happened in her past was handled. There were some unfinished bits, some plot holes in the overall story, that has me still here trying to figure out what actually happened.
I also kind of hated that ending, which really killed whatever enjoyment I was getting from this.

The writing was excellent, but the story needed a bit of polishing. Or maybe just a different ending.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Donna Mallery.
958 reviews90 followers
November 3, 2024
This is a tangled story of what happens when you see a woman on a train, and she leaves the message, “Help me”. What would you do. The protagonist is determined to find out who this woman is and to help her. We are taken along on a journey to discover the truth, and when you find it, you will be blown away.
Profile Image for lindsey.
42 reviews31 followers
August 13, 2024
This is actually more of a 3.5 star rating.

It took a while for me to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed it! It’s got an unreliable narrator and switches back and forth from Now to Then.
Without spoiling, I’ll say there was once scene that legitimately shocked me and it’s not the one you’re thinking of lol.

Thanks to NetGalley & publisher for this ARC!
Profile Image for Craig and Phil.
2,284 reviews140 followers
August 18, 2024
Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Couple On The Train is a suspenseful, engaging, gripping and fun read.
I really enjoyed the tension build up and mystery element woven throughout.
Laura travels on the train for work in the same seat every day.
One day a couple sits opposite, the woman is pleading help with her eyes and body language.
After they exit the train, Laura sees a note which she thinks the woman left for her to see.
It reads “Help Me”.
After the police can’t help her after lack of evidence, Laura begins the search for answers herself.
Soon she is caught up in the drama, danger and the lies until the shocking truth is unleashed…….
I loved the twists in this one and the very unexpected ending.
The sharp plot was clever, the characters mysteriously flawless and the opening chapters on the train were appealing but the book overall was gratifying.
As my novel journey progressed I had to know the truth, so I accelerated my reading to find out the truth.
I look forward to Claire’s next book.
1,752 reviews112 followers
August 11, 2024
This one started off well then it suddenly started to drift off and I was beginning to loose interest. Then an unexpected twist at the end which is why I decided to give it 3 stars instead of 2. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Rosie.
423 reviews14 followers
August 18, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up! ⭐️

I digged it, though I found the beginning to be a bit off; the way the police treated Laura didn't seem realistic to me. However, I didn't really get hung up on that aspect since I assumed this was written like that for convenience of the plot, although I don't like when an author takes this approach. 

The book is separated between then and now timelines—and some input from the anonymous antagonist, muahaha. I much preferred the now chapters. It sometimes felt like the past narration was stalling, and the clues that the author was dropping were easier to pick up in the present and flowed more smoothly than in the past. I did see one big thing coming, though! 

I read The Elevator earlier in the year, and I see a bit of a recurring theme going on, but ultimately, I think The Couple on the Train is better. It's funny because for that book, I thought it stalled towards the last third and started strong, but for this one, the first third is a bit weak in pacing, but then it picks up and never drops!
Profile Image for Julie .
694 reviews15 followers
July 24, 2024
A great suspenseful start but a little fizzle for me after.
Laura Trader works at a so-so job while making lottery on the side, which is her passion.
Her life is equally so-so.until one day on the train, commuting, when she sees what she believes is a woman being held against her will. She finds a note left behind on the seat.that says "Help Me" and convinced the woman is in immediate danger, goes to the police.
And so begins the story of Laura's chase with a back and forth from the past to present, at times, in a very messy kind of way. And throw in a second person telling of parts of the story, and the thrust just seems to get lost along the way.
Laura is cringe worthy at times and I did not find any of the characters to be particularly strong, interesting or overly likeable.
So sorry.
Profile Image for Karen.
Author 133 books280 followers
July 28, 2024
This one caught me hook, line and sinker and kept me dangling all the way to the end. I didn't foresee that twist! Brilliant plot perfectly executed. It would make a good TV drama
Profile Image for Lisa Aiello.
1,186 reviews28 followers
July 29, 2024
Always remember that even though you're paranoid, that doesn't mean they're not out to get you!

This poor woman (Laura) is a catastrophizer and hypersensitive (I feel yah, sistah!!!) due to an event in her past which isn't revealed until the very end. She has an encounter on her train ride where she sees a woman passenger being seemingly manhandled by the man she is with and then finds a note left behind when the couple leave the train that says "Help Me". Well, that's all that is needed, and off Laura goes. She has convinced herself that the woman is in trouble and that it's up to her to save the day. Laura goes to the police, and they investigate, but find nothing to substantiate Laura's version of events. They know her history, so believe she is probably overreacting. But Laura knows what she saw, so she investigates it on her own. She is pretty darn clever in uncovering clues. The police still won't help her and, in fact, have told her that if she continues to waste their time she could be arrested. Laura digs in her heels and things spiral out of control in her life quickly and completely.

The twist didn't come as a great surprise to me, but the story kept me intrigued and flipping pages. What more can you want from a suspense/thriller?
Profile Image for Sharon.
2,057 reviews
August 25, 2024
I usually enjoy train-themed books, but unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit the mark for me. The protagonist, Laura, during her daily train ride, thinks she witnesses a woman being held captive and discovers a note pleading "Help Me" on her seat. With the police showing little interest, Laura becomes determined to rescue the woman herself.

The narrative started off strong, but lost me when Laura's obsession with the woman's safety began to dominate her life. The plot alternates between the present and Laura's teenage years, which was initially confusing. Her teenage years were engaging, but in the present, Laura's character was just annoying. It seems implausible to suspend your entire life, future, and career to search for a possibly endangered stranger.

Despite its potential, the book ultimately fell short for me. I managed to finish it, but the negatives overshadowed the positives.
Profile Image for Hannah.
567 reviews11 followers
August 19, 2024
Laura is on her usual commute on the train when she sees a couple near by who don’t seem right. The woman seems to be pleading with her and when they get off, Laura finds a note asking for help. This sets her off on a desperate quest to try and help this mysterious woman.

This was an intriguing thriller with a solid plot that dived straight into the drama. The book was definitely well written but I found myself struggling to get into the overall story. My main issue with this was the main character, I struggled to connect with her and found her personality irritating and a bit over the top. Early on the book gave me similar vibes to The Girl On The Train, most likely due to the main character’s paranoia and obsessive personality. Overall this was a mixed bag for me, I think it would have been better cutting some parts out as there was some repetition, however I found it written well with some suspenseful, twisty scenes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Tina B..
155 reviews29 followers
August 26, 2024
4 stars rounded up to 4.5

Every day, Laura commutes by train to her job as a customer service representative. She hates her job, her boss hates her, and her new co-worker Sam has a crush on her that she wishes he didn’t. However, her life might be finally looking up. Pottery has only been a hobby up until now. But an article in the news has brought her to the attention of a reputable gallery owner who wants to see more of her work.

She’s happily staring at the story on her phone one morning when a couple on the train catch her eye. Laura senses something’s not right. She sees fear in the woman’s eyes and notices the tight grip the man has on her arm. When he forcefully tugs her off the train at the next stop, Laura is convinced she witnessed an abduction. A note the woman left behind confirms it. “Help me.”

But when Laura tries to get help, nobody wants to believe her. Not her boss. Not her mother. Not even the police. But why would they? The article did more than feature her pottery. It told everyone about her dark past. Only Sam believes what she saw, but Laura suspects he has an ulterior motive. That leaves only Laura to save the woman from the train before it’s too late.

A sinister, fast-paced psychological thriller, “The Couple on the Train” by Claire Cooper is so taut with suspense and pulse-pounding scenes that you’ll find yourself chewing on your nails as you white-knuckle the book. That’s quite a mental image, isn’t it? But trust me. This book is enough to make you assume the pose — or invest in hands-free reading. Strangely addicting and mildly frustrating at the same time, dual timelines that follow Laura now and ten years ago keep you glued to the pages. It becomes clear that in order to figure out what’s going on with the missing woman in Laura’s present-day, you’ll first have to figure out what happened in her past when she was still a teen hanging out with her friends.

But beware of the evil that’s lurking in some of the chapters! While the story is told from Laura’s point-of-view, it’s also told from an unknown character’s perspective whose interior monologue appears in italics — and who is as creepy as the psychopath watching from the shadows in a slasher flick.

Reading “The Couple on the Train” is a dizzying, compelling ride on the most twisted roller coaster you can imagine. While you’re looking one way, a twist comes at you from the other direction and flips you knees over elbows. The character of Laura is maddening. So much so, that it appears like she’s as mad as the police believe her to be. But she’s not. The creep-o in italics proves it. It’s only when her past and present collide that the mystery of the couple on the train is solved, and the long-hidden truths about them are Laura is revealed. My heart was in my throat at the end. The final twist was so shocking, it made my stomach feel a bit uneasy from the jolt. I loved it!

Thank you to Claire Cooper & Bookouture for the complimentary eARC in exchange for a fair & unbiased review.
Profile Image for Janalyn, the blind reviewer.
4,683 reviews143 followers
July 27, 2024
The Couple On The Train by Claire Cooper is a book about Laura Fraser who is finally seeing good things happen after suffering a childhood trauma as a teen in a small town, that she was blamed for. It’s been 10 years and she’s since moved away. She has a full-time job in London but dreams of making her Pottery A career. So when an Instagrahmmer gets one of her vases and post on her channel it really boost Laura’s cachet and even gets her an interview with a museum director that wants to show her stuff in his gallery. However while on her way to the job she greatly dislikes she sees a woman who keeps trying to catch her eye and the man with her doesn’t seem to want to let her go. When they leave the train Laura finds a note in the seat where she was sitting in the note says “help me.“ Laura goes to the police but DC Hollis doesn’t seem to take her serious, I mean she doesn’t even know the girls name. Once Laura starts looking into it slowly but surely she’s learning things about the girl. Due to her childhood trauma and PTSD her mom and the police thinks she’s making a mountain out of a mole hill end it seems every clue she gets either vanishes or could be brushed off is nothing. The only one who seems to believe her is her coworker Sam who she slowly but surely starts to fall for but who can she really trust? The story goes from the beginning of what happened 10 years ago to current day as 2 POV‘s. Once again I am thwarted by not wanting to give too much away because in Laura’s search for marina who she believes to be a missing person and the other story with her new best friend Amy and her crush will
It seems everything I say will result in a spoiler. So what I will say is I absolutely love the way Claire Cooper rights and although some parts of the story were predictable the twists were so good that I’m definitely going to read another book by her and have already downloaded one called The Elevator, that I can’t wait to read. I’m only giving the book 3 stars and I’m still definitely recommending because the parts I liked were really good it was just some of it was predictable that is my only complaint but still a great story with an awesome ending.#Bookoucher, #NetGalley, #ClaireCooper, #TheCoupleOnTheTrain,
Profile Image for J Kromrie.
2,545 reviews47 followers
August 11, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this captivating eARC.

Claire Cooper’s “The Couple on the Train” is a psychological thriller that is a masterclass in suspense, weaving a tale that is as intricate as it is compelling.

The story begins with an ordinary train ride that quickly turns sinister. Our protagonist notices a couple that seems off—particularly the woman, who appears distressed. When the woman leaves behind a note that reads “Help me,” the protagonist is thrust into a whirlwind of mystery and danger. As she delves deeper into the couple’s story, she finds herself entangled in a web of lies and secrets that echo her own past traumas.

Cooper excels in character development, particularly with her protagonist. The protagonist’s determination to uncover the truth is both her strength and her vulnerability. The couple on the train, though initially enigmatic, are gradually revealed through a series of well-placed flashbacks and interactions that keep the reader guessing about their true intentions.

Cooper’s writing is sharp and evocative. She has a knack for creating an atmosphere of tension and unease, making the reader feel as if they are right there on the train, experiencing the protagonist’s anxiety and fear. The pacing is perfect, with each chapter ending on a note that compels you to keep reading.

The novel explores themes of trust, trauma, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. It also delves into the psychological impact of past events on present actions, making it a thought-provoking read as well as a thrilling one.

“The Couple on the Train” is a standout in the psychological thriller genre. It combines a gripping plot with deep character exploration and a writing style that keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you’re a fan of authors like Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena, this book is a must-read. Claire Cooper has crafted a story that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant, making it a memorable addition to any bookshelf.

I loved it, and after I finished it, I immediately purchased The Elevator from this author. I will post a review by that novel upon completion.
Profile Image for Lee.
1,068 reviews123 followers
July 22, 2024

The book is presented to us in two timelines and POV’s, Laura and an unidentified person. The present which sets up the story of the couple on the train and the past when hen Laura was young and had a friendship with a girl called Amy and a boy that she was quite keen on named Will.

Laura is travelling to work on the train when she notices a couple, the woman looks extremely uncomfortable, and the man is holding onto her tightly. Laura straight away feels there is something wrong with this situation. After the couple disembark at a station Laura finds a note that says, “Help Me”.

Laura goes to work but cannot stop thinking about this woman and has an extraordinarily strong gut feeling that something is terribly wrong. On further examination of the note Laura realizes it is a receipt which leads her to a book shop that the woman had visited. She begs the shop attendant to allow her to look at their CTV and is then confident this is the same woman.

Laura then tells her work mate Sam about what has happened, she can just not let this go. But Laura has been in trouble in her past and when she approaches the police to express her concerns, they look at her history and do not take her concerns seriously. Still Laura continues to investigate, taking time off work calling in sick as she continues to obsess about this.

I found Laura’s character a little annoying and really could not warm to her at all. The book is quite entertaining but in saying that we do have to remember this is fiction, and of course many of her actions one would not do in real life. As the book moves forward, we are drip fed more clues and the two timelines slowly come together as we reach the end, which unfortunately I found a little disappointing.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
154 reviews4 followers
July 20, 2024
The Couple on the Train follows Laura after she sees a couple on a train. The woman is clearly in distress and leaves a note for Laura to find with the words "help me". Laura does the right thing and reports this to the police, but no-one believes her. The only exception is her co-worker Sam, who seems a bit too keen to help her and is always in the right place at the right time. Laura decides to take matters into her own hands and start her own investigation, but the more involved she gets, the more she realises her secret from the past is about to be exposed...

This is a super fast-paced novel, I devoured it in a few hours. The story is told from two different POVs -that of Laura and a mysterious character who appears to be stalking her, but why? The present story of "now" is sometimes interrupted with excerpts from "then" which lead to the reveal of Laura's secret and help connect the dots.

The story moves forward seamlessly and the characters are interesting and well-written. I really enjoyed the tension build up and it was generally a fun read. I feel like the ending is one of those that people will either love or hate. I personally loved it!! I feel it's the same about the main character. For me, personally, she was insufferable and every single of her actions justified the dislike some people had for her. Without giving any major plot points away, I could sympathise more with the antagonists in her life than her.... go figure!!

All in all, a superb novel!!!



goodreads.com/booksireadandliked
Disclosure: I would like to thank the publisher and author for my advanced review copy of the book. This is my honest review
Profile Image for Jessica.
821 reviews
July 21, 2024
Our heroine, Laura Fraser, works at a job she doesn’t really like while trying to make it as an artist. One day on the train, she sees a couple that gives her weird vibes—the man is holding the woman a little too tightly. When she finds a note with “help me” written on it, she decides to call the police. But when they don’t believe her, she decides to investigate on her own.

Laura has a troubled past. As a kid, she was always trying to "save" someone, even when they didn’t need saving. We also get flashbacks from a time she was friends with a girl named Amy and a boy named Will. Throughout the book, we see moments from that time and learn just how troubled Laura is. I liked Laura for most of the book despite her flaws. She seems like someone with deep mental issues and trauma who is just trying to do the right thing. She feels incredibly guilty for what happened with Amy back then and is trying to atone. So I really liked her… until the end. The last scene made me realize just how much she’s been lying to us while telling her story. She’s not a good person, and kudos to the author for making us believe she was.

Since we’re seeing things from Laura’s point of view, we don’t really get to know much about the other characters. This sometimes takes away the weight of some revelations. For instance, I wish we had known more about Kate. The same goes for Sam, who is mostly used as a red flag character.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy, The couple on the train will be out in August
Profile Image for Roz.
716 reviews16 followers
July 30, 2024
This book has an interesting premise and starts with great pace, almost immediately into the action with our protagonist Laura seeing a woman on a train whose male companion may be mistreating her. Once the couple have left Laura finds a note which says “help me” and thus starts the journey.

Laura has some issues from the past which are gradually drip fed during the book in a dual timeline, present day and her teenage years. Now Laura struggles with mental health and is an aspiring artist making ends meet in a job she hates. Then Laura was best friends with a girl called Amy, who was everything Laura was not, but they were best friends until the entrance of Will, a boy who threatened their friendship. In addition to the dual timeline the story is told by Laura and an unknown individual, as Laura becomes more obsessed with finding the woman from the train.

The book was good although I didn’t really grow to like Laura and couldn’t really get my head around anyone throwing their opportunities away as she did to find a complete stranger who may or may not have needed help. The past and her decisions may well have had a huge influence in this however some of the narrative I found a little far fetched. The ending has a good twist though and although I had guessed the identity of the man and woman there were some good red herrings along the way.

Thank to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for J_McA 251.
1,018 reviews13 followers
September 12, 2024
Just when I thought I had figured out The Couple on the Train, Claire Cooper threw a twist in that I did not see coming.
Since I read so many psych thrillers, I really enjoy it when an author does that.
I was convinced that it was a run-of-the-mill, obvious who the culprit is type book. I should have had more faith in the author.
Not only was I wrong about the perpetrator, but the truth was also so slyly hinted at that I totally missed it.
The story unfolds in “Then” and “Now” chapters, and the transitions are smooth. They’re also evenly spaced out. I didn’t realize until the very end that there was a reason for where each “Then” chapter was placed.
New readers should pay attention to that.
Laura is also an unreliable narrator. It’s unclear through most of the book if she is even mentally stable. No spoilers, but that plays heavily into the resolution…which was one of the more thrilling ones I’ve read in recent memory.
Oh, and stay tuned for the very end. I mean it – read to the last word. Or you’ll miss something important.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Couple on the Train and will be looking for the next psych thriller from Claire Cooper.
1,740 reviews
July 19, 2024
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“The Couple on the Train” is a thriller by Claire Cooper. I have to admit, it was the title that I found interesting -was this book like “Girl on the Train” or inspired by it? This book is divided into two timelines - but two different POVs - one is Laura past and current; the other is an unknown person who is driving Laura to distraction. I found the main character, Laura, to be a bit puzzling - she wants to be a savior to a strange woman [making things right?] but she also seemed so paranoid that it seemed, well, odd. She begins to suspect everyone - which is understandable given her past (doled out to the reader) but something about it just seemed off-putting to me. I had suspected the “who” early in the book, but it seemed the most logical person to assume. There were some plot holes - and I did not like the ending. I found this book engaging and read most of it in one night - but I don’t think I’ll remember much about this book - other than don’t go diving in quarries.
Profile Image for Sue.
856 reviews
July 20, 2024
Laura notices the couple sitting across from her on the train. He is tightly holding onto the woman who looks terrified. When they disembark, Laura notices a piece of paper on the seat, and it says "Help Me".

Well, when I got to that part of the book, I immediately thought that I would not enjoy it as much as I did.
No name, no address, a description of the woman, the man in a hoodie and sunglasses....... I am not surprised the police say there is no case.

The story is told in two timelines, past and present - by Laura and an unknown person.

Laura has a reputation of causing problems or trouble whereever she goes. She suspects every person she comes across while doing her 'treasure hunt' investigation to find the woman who she insists needs help. Clues are slowly uncovered, and Laura follows the clues, with no regard to her job or future aspirations as an artist.

The story is engaging, quite unbelievable, but very entertaining.
Unfortunately, the ending was terrible.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.
Profile Image for Nicole.
157 reviews2 followers
July 16, 2024
Laura is on the brink of fame after an influencer shared her art work on social media. She needs to find the time to prepare for a meeting of a lifetime with a prestigious art gallery while still working at a job she loathes. On her way to work, she sees a distraught woman on the train, and finds a note she left asking for help. It’s all too familiar to Laura, and brings back memories she’s rather forget. Laura makes it her mission to find the woman, even if the police don’t believe her. She puts her life on hold, but is she putting herself in danger too?

A slower paced read but the surprise twist made it worth it! The story takes place in the past and present, told from two viewpoints, though it is not said who the second viewpoint is (until you get further along). I questioned the main characters actions quite often, thought that made it an unpredictable story. The authors writing style had me imagining I was right alongside Laura on her adventure.
Profile Image for Hillary.
299 reviews5 followers
July 28, 2024
I’m so glad I got an ARC of this book. Laura and Amy become great friends. They spent a lot of time at the quarry. Laura had heard of this place because of Will. He ends up being there one day when they are and meets Amy. They hit it off and start dating which Laura doesn’t like. Things take a turn when they all go to a party together. Then Amy and Laura meet up at the quarry and Amy gets hurt. Laura runs to go get help or does she? Years later Laura is on a train when a woman leaves a note saying help me. Laura does everything she can to find this woman and when she does, it’s someone she knows which I didn’t see coming. I was shocked! I can’t even believe how many twists and turns there were in this book. Once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. I was actually so shocked by the ending. I was really rooting for Laura but by the end, I wasn’t really a fan of her. Thank you Claire, NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC! Looking forward to reading more books by Claire.
Profile Image for P.Reads.
436 reviews2 followers
August 23, 2024
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨ Two Timelines
✨ London
✨ Pscyhological Thriller
✨ is it real?




✨ Laura is the main character in this story. Minding her own business in the early hour of London commute she found something strange. A woman who looks distress with her partner that time and leaves a note ‘Help me’.
✨ The story actually very fast pace, it has two timelines and some other part felt like ‘you’ vibes because of the stalking. Anyway, I love how Laura still finding the time to know the truth. Is she having hallucinations or there is actually a girl in need of help?

✨ Definitely a good read. I just find that the other chapters has a repeated words to make it longer but actually doesn’t affect the story. It’s just me 😄
✨ it’s a win read for me from this author and will put to my tbr is the elevator which is her debut book.


✨ Thankyou @bookouture for the opportunity to read this arc for a honest review.




🫶🏼shaye.reads
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Glenn Armstrong.
269 reviews9 followers
October 19, 2024
The Couple on the Train had a wonderful blurb and had me invested immediately. For most of the book I enjoyed following Laura’s story and trying to unravel the mystery along with her. The writer had the ability to create and maintain intrigue and tension for the reader. I also loved the little twist at the end which, like any good twist, should be shocking and unpredictable. The ending and reveal of the whole mystery was unfortunately a let down for me. It was just too far fetched and not in any way believable. Also there were a few loose ends which were not tidied up which I am guessing was an oversight by the author. Usually these are always explained to the reader. Overall this book had a terrific premise and was mostly well written. The climax of the book was a bit disappointing after the tense build up. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Els .
2,293 reviews54 followers
July 13, 2024
One aspect of being a good citizen is of course reporting to the police when you believe, even are convinced someone is in danger. But what if they don't trust your judgement, because there just is not any proof. 

What would you do? Would you let it go and put it out of your head or would you do whatever you can to find out what is going on? If the author would have chosen option one, it would be a very thin book. ;) ;) I am happy she picked the second one and treats us to a splendid story.

The author alternates chapters describing the present with those filling us in about the past. 

Are you ready to accompany Laura on her quest for the truth? Sit back, relax and enjoy!

I, for one, had a wonderful time joining Laura on this thrilling ride. I enjoyed seeing all the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. 5 stars

Thank you
Profile Image for Amanda Varley.
144 reviews
July 25, 2024
Laura's life in London is all about keeping a low profile: commuting quietly on the train, dealing with her sneering manager, and returning to her small flat to repeat it all the next day. But everything changes one morning when she notices a well-dressed couple on the train. At first glance, they seem perfect, but why is the man holding the woman so tightly? And why does she look so terrified? As they leave, Laura finds a note from the woman: "Help me!"

Determined to find the woman and ignored by the police, Laura's past and present collide. She once failed to help someone in danger and won’t let it happen again.

I really enjoyed this book by Claire Cooper. The unreliable narrator angle and the shifts between childhood trauma and Laura's current life are intriguing and gripping.

Thank you to NetGalley, Claire Cooper, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Profile Image for Angelica.
83 reviews8 followers
July 30, 2024
Thank you, @NetGalley for giving me an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Unfortunately, I guess I’m going to be the first one star review.

From the beginning, the story seemed unbelievable. There’s a woman who needs help and the main character is so hell bent on figuring out a way to help her, while the story also shows us there is something very wrong with her. Without giving much of a storyline, more characters are introduced and the timeframe goes back and forth from present day to past and different view points as well.

This was hard for me to follow and even harder for me to care about… it was a DNF about halfway through. I flipped to the end to find out what happened hoping to reveal something that tied it all together and saved it, and I obviously missed something since I didn’t read all of it, but it just really fell flat for me, unfortunately.
Profile Image for Claire Bailey.
472 reviews15 followers
August 4, 2024
This book started with great pace and an interesting build up of tension. But then it slowly lost its fizz and just meandered its way to the ending.

The character of Laura is frustrating. Either she wants help or she doesn’t? But she so inconsistent that it’s hard to follow who she is or what she’s doing. Her need to solve a crime that she believes has happened is borderline crazy and unrealistic. At one point I did wonder if she was just loosing the plot completely but I couldn’t understand how she had built a life and had nobody to turn to or that would check in on her other than a colleague that supposedly fancied her.

This book could’ve been an absolute masterpiece had it been thought through with a little more care and edited to maintain intrigue. For me this book left me with more questions than answers and little need to answer them.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for LindyLouMac.
1,018 reviews79 followers
August 27, 2024
With a title that caught my attention and the fact it was recommended for fans of Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena I decided this book was one for me.

Written in a then and now format 'The Couple on the Train' gets off to a slow start. As the reader gets to know the protagonist Laura and discovers the reasons behind her quest for answers it picks up pace. Laura's determination to help a girl she believes to be in trouble leads to some interesting revelations about her past. Nothing is as it seems.

Overall a readable psychological thriller which held my interest. I did mostly predict how it would end, though it was not a spoiler. Fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review.

https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.