REVIEW: The Doctor by Daniel Hurst

The Doctor (The Doctor's Wife #5) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 5th February 2026

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 23rd January 2026

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Is he the perfect man or the perfect liar?

Doctor Drew Devlin is handsome, charming and wealthy. The first time I looked into his blue eyes, I wanted him to be mine. I swore I’d do anything to become his wife.

But now I have blood on my hands.

I thought it was all going to be worth it. But as my husband’s past starts to unravel, I realise he’s not the man I thought he was. I don’t know if I can trust him.

I won’t let Doctor Drew’s mistakes destroy me. I’ve risked everything for this perfect life, so I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it.

And he has no idea what I’m capable of…

From the number one bestselling author of The Doctor’s Wife, this is a totally gripping and page-turning psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the final jaw-dropping twist. Perfect for fans of John Marrs, T.M Logan and Freida McFadden.

MY THOUGHTS:

The perfect man...or the perfect liar?

That's a bit misleading because I don't get any of that sense when reading this prequel to The Doctor's Wife series. In fact, scrap any pre-conceived notions you may have had about Doctor Drew Devlin from the first book because he is nothing at all like we were lead to believe!

In this book, Hurst takes us back to where it all began with Drew and Fern. How they met, fell in love and were married. And it ends when Drew met Alice. It's a prequel that offers the back story to a tale we were already well familiar with. But like with any Hurst thriller, there are spanners galore that are thrown in for good measure. Thus changing my first opinion of Drew that Fern painted via Hurst's pen from the first book and onwards. He was a man we loved to hate; that she was driven to commit the crime she had because of his infidelity. But the Drew Hurst introduces us too has none of that narcissistic charm we thought he had. In fact, he was kind and considerate, very likeable. He even valued faithfulness and loyalty, both in himself and others. So what drove him to have that affair with Alice?

When we meet Drew, he is engaged to Rose and working in a practice alongside Phil, a serial philanderer. But it's thanks to Phil that Fern meets Drew and the rest became history. Fern had just been dumped by her boyfriend the week of her best friend's funeral. And it is on her way to work one morning that she meets an anonymous woman who buys her a cup of coffee and gives her some advice. 

"Find yourself a doctor and marry him! You won't regret it."

This front row seat look into the lives of Drew and Fern will have you wondering just what is at play here. Or who is playing who? We thought we knew Fern, but do we really? Is this really the full story? Is one the victim of the other? Or is it the other way around? I won't tell you what I think or it may spoil things. But let me say, that things are not always what they seem.

This is the best of the Doctor's Wife series yet! I thoroughly enjoyed stepping back in time with Drew and Fern...and I'm wondering if there will be a follow-up for the time between the end of this one and the beginning of The Doctor's Wife? I guess with Daniel Hurst, never say never.

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheDoctor in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: He's My Man by Daniel Hurst

He's my Man (Shocking Short Stories #3) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Short story, Quick reads

Read: 12th January 2026

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 20th December 2025

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A short story with a shocking twist...

He comes home to me. He eats dinner with me. He sleeps close to me. But there is a distance between us, and I can feel him slipping further away. So I need to fight for us. I cannot give up on what we have.

I cannot give up on my man. Especially not if somebody else is coming in between us. Because he's not anybody else's man. He's mine. I'll do anything to keep it that way...

A shocking standalone short story from Daniel Hurst, the bestselling author of UK #1 The Doctor's Wife

MY THOUGHTS:

A super quick read at 47 pages, this took me just 45 minutes to finish. And still have time to put on a Midsomer Murders or McDonald and Dodds.

Mel is busy cooking dinner; spaghetti carbonara, Harry's favourite meal. And although he has a busy high finance job with long hours and not much downtime, tonight he's promised to be home early after the past couple of nights working late. She's looking forward to sitting down to the meal, sharing a bottle of wine and then snuggling up on the sofa watching TV together.

But when Harry arrives home, he's tired and not up for anything but dinner and bed. A jog was on the cards but after dishing up a heavy bowl of pasta that is now off the table. He leaves the room to shower and Mel awaits his return. Only he doesn't. So she tiptoes to the bedroom and is about to walk in when she hears his voice on the phone. Leaning closer to find out who he could be talking to, she hears a lot more than she bargained for.

He's seeing somebody else. How could he just give up on them without a fight?

Mel is determined to find out who she is and to put a stop to this nonsense. Harry is her man. Her's. No one else's. And she will do anything to keep it that way.

This was an OK read. He's delivered better but there are still a couple of surprises along the way though nothing earth shattering. The previous short story "The Body" is by far my favourite. The most annoying thing about this one was every second paragraph Mel keeps calling Harry "my man". My man walks to the bar...he comes home to me every night because he's my man...my man is like that...my man this, my man that. It was bordering on nauseating. And very irritating.

The reveal was a nice twist. And then there is another twist before the end. A nice quick easy read.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Body by Daniel Hurst

The Body (Shocking Short Stories #2) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Short story, Quick reads

Read: 11th January 2026

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 13th December 2025

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A short story with a shocking twist...

As my wife's body lies on the floor of our home, I know it's not going to be easy getting her from the house to the woods where I can bury her without anybody seeing me.

It's going to be hard to get away with this. But I could never have imagined just how hard it would be.

One body is bad enough. But what happens if there's two?

A shocking standalone short story from Daniel Hurst, the bestselling psychological thriller author of the UK #1 The Doctor's Wife, My Neighbour's Affair and The Couple's Revenge

MY THOUGHTS:

Oooh now I liked this one!

Short, snappy and darkly shocking this is one of Hurst's better short stories (though it will take a bit to outdo "The New Years Party" which I loved!!) It is very cleverly written and at only 54 pages it certainly packs a punch. 

We meet each new character with every chapter as the story snowballs from something relatively simple into something far more complex...in just 54 pages! For the most part I didn't think any of the characters were going to be named which would have made it even more genuis. With each chapter a new perspective unfolds as one event leads to the involvement of several others and the repercussions of each. Ending with the Hurst trademark twist with a BANG! Didn't see that one coming either!

Twisted, tangled and thrilling this short story is unpredictable and very very clever. Loved it!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: If He Finds Us by Daniel Hurst

If He Finds Us (Shocking Short Stories #1) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Short story, Quick reads

Read: 11th January 2026

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 6th December 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

He's looking for us. What if he finds us?

When I arrive at the house and see the man who lives there, I feel safe. I feel like he can protect me. He has two children. They seem safe too. So I hide with them. I hide from the man who wants to find me. But if he does, I've just put a whole family in danger. If I have, I might not be able to save them...

A standalone short story with a shock ending from Daniel Hurst, the bestselling author of UK #1 The Doctor's Wife, The Couple's Revenge and Til Death Do Us Part

MY THOUGHTS:

Not sure what I expected with this short story but I was pleasantly surprised. I'd talked myself into NOT liking it when I saw it was set in Texas as I read British authors because I prefer British settings. However, Hurst has surprised me with this quickfire offering of just 70 pages which barely had enough time for surnames to be exchanged. It had an estimated read time of 1 hour and 40 minutes. I think I was done in an hour. It was a very quick read. And to the point.

But that point goes off on a bit of a tangent that I, a seasoned thriller reader, didn't see coming which placed this little quick read up a notch.

Sherry is running from an ex who wouldn't let her go and Marcus, with his two children Elsie (8) and Theo (5), is also running from the past. Thrown together, they make the perfect family. All of them in hiding together.

After three months on the farm, it's like Sherry has always lived there and the couple, still unsure of the future, find themselves attracted to each other. Plus Sherry adores little Elsie and Theo and spending time with them.

But then a trip into town for supplies threatens to become deadly for them all. Will they escape alive?

A fun-filled quickfire read that was a little predictable in part...until Hurst throws us a last minute twist that changes everything sending chilling vibes with it.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: You Started It by Daniel Hurst

You Started It by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Short story, Quick read

Read: 16th November 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 4th June 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Revenge takes time....

Alison thought she lived a quiet, normal life with her husband, Damian. But that all changes when an unexpected visitor reveals a shocking truth about her partner. Things will never be the same after that as a deadly game of deceit begins, full of shocks and surprises, lies and betrayal, and ultimately proving that when it comes to revenge, it's best to take your time.

You started it. But who will finish it?

A fast-paced psychological thriller short story full of twists from the bestselling author of UK #1 The Doctor's Wife, The Couple's Revenge and The Passenger.

MY THOUGHTS:

Daniel Hurst has been one of my favourite thriller writers since I discovered him about four years ago (around the time he became a full time author). His thrillers a fast pacy reads with short snappy chapters that keep you swiping (or turning) the pages right to the very end. I have found in recent times that I've enjoyed his earlier offerings more than his latest ones though they are still quick and easy reads even if more OTT than is per usual for his unique style. Of course, I have my ultimate favourites of his which, to be honest, will be tough to beat no matter how good the next book might be. 

I have recently gone through major surgery and am recovering slowly though I do find it hard to concentrate on reading anything too complex. So I thought I would give Daniel's last short story a go which he published a few months back. I figured that it would be an easy enough tale to digest and I wouldn't have to concentrate too much on it. And given that it's a short story, it's a very quick read which I managed to devour in an hour before dinner.

Firstly, I have to say that Daniel hooks us in from the start with a play by play account of Alison's frantic search for her missing husband and subsequent not being taken seriously when first reporting him missing. She and Damian had been happily married for fifteen years sans children so it was just the two of them. But when he didn't arrive home from work by 6pm as is his usual routine one evening, Alison is naturally worried. By 9pm she is understandably frantic. But the police take her concerns with a grain of salt assuring her that he is "probably working late" or "out for drinks with some colleagues and lost track of time" or any number of reasons. However, after a week they finally take her concerns seriously and question her both for information and as a suspect. At any rate, they are no closer to finding him...or whatever's happened to him.

When she receives a knock on her door she runs to open it hoping it will be Damian with some hare-brained reason as to where he's been this past week or the police with some positive update to share. It's neither. It's a stranger. But while he is a stranger to her, he seems to know exactly who she is.

"Hello Alison..."

He greets her with a smile as she opens her front door to him. He goes on to explain who he is and why he's there. She is speechless. He makes her an offer she couldn't refuse. A chance to get answers and maybe even her own piece of revenge. But what she didn't bargain on was the escalation things took when she finds herself framed for murder...and no way of proving her innocence!

I was pleasantly surprised by the journey this short story took me on, despite its OTT nature (that's just Daniel Hurst's way) and thoroughly enjoyed it even after I found myself wanting to bang Alison's head on something hard to knock some sense into her. The woman was gullible not to mention stupid. And while I enjoyed this twisted tale for those most part it was the epilogue ending that let it down. It was off the scale OTT that past the point of any believability or suspension of belief. It was just plain ridiculous. I'm sure Hurst could have construed a better ending than that and it was this that let the entire tale down. I loved that it was different in concept and thoroughly enjoyed it up until that ridiculous epilogue.

However, that being said - it was still a fast pacy read that I enjoyed and I would still recommend it to others for a quick read, which can be easily done so in an hour.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: The Ex Who Came Back by Daniel Hurst

The Ex Who Came Back by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic suspense

Read: 24th September 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 24th September 2025

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Your biggest mistake is your sister’s new boyfriend.

All the family are gathered to meet my sister’s new boyfriend, including my husband Seth, and it should be a happy occasion. But the moment I see him my stomach drops. It’s Mateo. My worst mistake. My biggest secret. I hoped I’d never see him again – why is he here now?

‘It’s nice to meet you,’ he says. As I look into Mateo’s cold green eyes, I know he’s playing a deadly game. My hands tremble. This man can’t be trusted. He’s pretending not to know me… and he knows I have to pretend, too.

I’m caught in a lie with no way out. Mateo is dangerous. I don’t want my sister to get hurt. But if I admit who Mateo really is – what really happened between us – I could lose everything. My gorgeous husband. My precious little boy.

Or even my life…

From number 1 bestselling author and the king of jaw-dropping twists, The Ex Who Came Back is a completely addictive and unputdownable psychological thriller that will have your heart hammering as you flip the pages until the final twist!

MY THOUGHTS:

Your biggest mistake is your sister's new boyfriend...

Five years ago, Corrine made a mistake. And she thought that mistake was long behind her. She was wrong. 

Now Corrine is happily married to Seth with four year old Freddie and her sister invites them to a family dinner too introduce them all to her new boyfriend, who she must be serious about as she never "brings them home" so to speak. But nothing prepares her for who she sees seated next to her sister Georgia. It's him. Mateo. Her one mistake.

But it gets worse when Georgia announces that they are moving in together. Corrine feels sick and she does everything she can to dissuade her sister from making what she knows will be a serious mistake. Mateo is not here for Georgia; he's here for her. To pick up where they left off five years ago. And it only gets worse when Mateo gives her an ultimatum - tell Seth about their night together by the end of the week, or he will. In front of family and friends.

From there, Corrine just seems to dig herself in deeper and deeper. With one bad decision after another. Beginning with her decision to sleep with Mateo in the first place! She has such a good man in Seth, what on earth was the woman thinking? She was wallowing in self-pity is what she was doing. She seriously did not deserve him. And Mateo? He made my skin crawl from the beginning. I couldn't wait to escape his presence...or Corrine's either, for that matter.

But as unlikeable as the characters were, Hurst knows how to keep his readers engaged with his pacing and short snappy chapters. But I wouldn't call Mateo an ex; he was a one night stand. There is plenty of tension, I admit, though the story was predictable. The ending was a surprise.

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheExWhoCameBack in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst

The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic suspense

Read: 15th July 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 17th July 2025

★★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘Something terrible happened to the couple who lived here before…’ My hands shake as I read the warning note I’ve just found hidden in a forgotten corner of my brand new house. My husband told me we’d be the first people to live here. Did he lie?

Moving to this gorgeous house was meant to be a new start for our family. My hand rests on my growing baby bump as I walk through our home, the smell of fresh paint in the air, but my heart no longer feels full of hope for the future.

My husband Christian wraps his strong arms around me and tells me to forget the note; he wants this to be the perfect home for us. But as I look into his blue-grey eyes, I wonder if there’s something he’s keeping from me or if I’m just being paranoid.

Was there a couple who lived here before? And what happened to them?

I try to forget my worries like Christian asked, but then I see something in our next-door neighbour’s garden that I can’t ignore. I know I need to find out the truth if I’m ever going to feel safe again.

Except when I overhear Christian revealing a secret on the phone, I start to question: do I even know the man I married?

As I get closer to the truth of what happened to the couple before us, I realise one thing: I should have run when I had the chance…

Number 1 bestselling author Daniel Hurst is the king of utterly addictive and unputdownable psychological thrillers. The Couple Before Us is a completely gripping, pulse-pounding, keep-you-up-until-3am read perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Freida McFadden and Lisa Jewell.

MY THOUGHTS:

If it seems too good to be true then it probably is...

That's the piece of advice I felt like giving couple Dionne and Christian as they looked around the newly built house on the new estate that still resembled a construction site. Simply put - if you don't feel the house isn't right, don't buy it. Why Dionne gave in to hubby Christian, I have no idea, except maybe to keep the peace and she was heavily pregnant and needed somewhere to call home and soon.

So Christian loved the house, Dionne didn't. Five year old Kai loved the yard in which he could kick a football around and that alone seemed to melt Dionne's heart. And yet she still didn't feel right about the house. Something didn't feel right. A bit like the book. Something was missing that I couldn't put my finger on. It just lacked the punch that Hurst is known for.

And so in their cramped motel room they've called home for weeks, Dionne crumbles and gives in. "Make an offer" she says. Words she will live to regret. And within weeks they are moving in and unpacking their boxes and furniture. But still Dionne cannot still the niggling feeling that something isn't quite right about this house. And then in the corner of the cupboard she finds a note.

"Something terrible to the couple who lived here before..."

This was supposed to be a new-build. They were supposed to be the first people to be living there. So what is the meaning of this note? Who wrote it? And where did it come from?

Suffice to say, Dionne was not going to let things lie and decided to do some investigating of her own. As the story unfolds, she looks to the observer like she's a bit unhinged as she does some really stupid things. 

Despite this being a relatively quick and easy read that was predictable, it had plenty of eye-rolling moments that even I was shaking my head at. It lacked the thrills and tension of Hursts usual thrillers and Dionne was incredibly annoying. 

But don't let this review turn you off Daniel Hurst. He is a great thriller writer and I have devoured over 40 of his thrillers, most of which are edge-of-your-seat entertaining thrill-rides. But even our favourite authors can write books that don't thrill us. That doesn't mean I'll stop reading him because I know the calibre he is capable of.

Not a bad read, but not his best. Still, it held my interest enough to read in one sitting.

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheCoupleBeforeUs in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: My Secret Ex by Daniel Hurst

My Secret Ex by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 20th May 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 12th April 2025

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Some secrets never stay buried...

When I met Dermot, I was finally ready to move on from my troubled past. He seemed like a great guy - funny, charming, handsome - and he was the man I felt I deserved. He was nothing like my ex...

My relationship with my previous boyfriend, Carlton, has been over for years, but that doesn't mean it's been easy to forget about him. Not with how it ended. But I've tried my best. I've also tried my best to make sure my new man does not know about him. It's safer that way...

But as my relationship with Dermot deepens, my past with Carlton begins to intertwine and suddenly, my secret ex is not so secret anymore. Now we're all in danger - me, my son, my new boyfriend - everybody

A fast-paced and twist-filled psychological thriller from the author of The Couple's Revenge, The Baby Swap and the #1 bestseller The Doctor's Wife

MY THOUGHTS:

Some secrets never stay buried...

...and some people are just born stupid. I think just about everyone in this book must have been. It's hard to feel much sympathy for any of them with the situation in which they find themselves completely of their own making.

Marissa is a 37 year old single mum to seven year old George. Life is going swimmingly for them...until it doesn't. If only they'd left things as they had been. If only she never decided to go on that blind date. If only she never slept with Dermot. If only she never told him about Carlton. If only she wasn't so easily led. If only she stayed at home until George was 30. If only, if only, if only.

If only she hadn't met Dermot.

Dermot is a single guy who matched with Marissa on a dating app. He's had his fair share of setbacks in life and now he's put them all behind him and has started afresh. Marissa is his first date since his divorce. And on their date he opens up freely about that and why. And Marissa, being the kindhearted gentle soul that she is, feels his pain and applauds him his bravery at owning up to his mistakes, picking up and moving on. And for trusting her with this part of his life. It's his transparency and their easy camaraderie that cements the knowledge that she is sure to see Dermot again. She likes him and, judging by their easy banter, he likes her too. And he has opened up to her about a very painful time in his life. Which makes her secret sit all the more heavy in her baggage. She's sure than as soon as she reveals that part of her life to him, she can kiss goodbye to any chance with him. He is sure to run a mile.

The fact is both Marissa and Dermot have baggage. A lot of baggage. And it's that baggage - for both of them - that catches up with them, changing the course of their lives forever.

And then there is Carlton. He is serving time in prison for some rather heavy crimes. Until he receives something that sets the wheels in motion for a pretty wild ride. And he isn't stopping until he gets what he wants and comes out on top. No one gets the better of Carlton O'Connor. And no one takes what's his - ever.

OK, I'll be honest. This was not Daniel Hurst's best work. It's not even one of his better books. But it is a quick and easy read. The first half is fairly mundane, switching between Marissa and Dermot respectively on their date. And then when they went home. And then the ensuing days. And their next date...and so forth. Until it got just a little more interesting. Things ramped up a notch more but only slightly. I wasn't overly excited by things and both Dermot and Marissa made some stupid decisions. When she was in that police station asking for protection, nothing (and I mean NOTHING) should have made her leave again! Not until she got the desired result or the police did. And she certainly didn't know Dermot enough to trust him completely...especially given his reaction. And Dermot? Did he really think nothing was going to happen to him if he did as he was asked?

This book was more of a telling of what happened rather than a showing of events and I really felt it was lacking what I know this author is capable of. The twists weren't really twists and I wasn't shocked by anything other than the characters' gullibility. Having said that, I was still compelled enough to read to the end. I did like the final showdown (hats off to Mr Edwards), which was a nice touch.

And unlike others, I certainly hope the story ends there and that there is no book 2. There is honestly nothing more to tell here. End of.

I love Daniel Hurst's thrillers but even our favourite authors can deliver something that doesn't excite us while another of theirs can blow our mind. Specifically "The Passenger" or "The Couple in the Cabin" or "The New Friends"  or his freebie book (when you sign up to his newsletter) "Just One Second"- to name a few.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: 20 Minutes Until it's Over by Daniel Hurst

20 Minutes Until it's Over (20 Minutes #20) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Novella, Quick read

Read: 23rd March 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 21st April 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars 

DESCRIPTION:

The final book in the bestselling 20 Minute Series!

The threat to Earth has never been more real, and as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, there is nowhere on the planet that is safe.

London, like every other major city, has fallen into a state of disorder, and its inhabitants are having to spend almost as much time worrying about the dangers on the ground as they are about the dangers in the sky.

As the clock ticks down until the moment of reckoning, it’s every man or woman for themselves, and several characters decide to take shelter in the only place they can.

They head underground...

They go back to where it all began…

MY THOUGHTS:

The culmination of events that we have followed over the course of 20 books has come this - the final book. Set three months after "20 Minutes in the Air", this one reads like a Doomsday-prepper's paradise as everyone prepares for the asteroid that was predicted to wipe out the earth and all humanity to come to fruition. I admit, it was very Doomsday-ish for the most part - too much for my tastes - but then in true Daniel Hurst fashion, he pulls the rug out at the eleventh hour and throws us a final twist that we never expected or even saw coming! And for me, it was that that saved this book from a 4 star (or even less) rating.

So. 20 minutes until it's over. Till what's over? The book? The series? Mankind? It actually seemed rather poignant that today I was only reading about how God wiped out mankind in the great flood saving only Noah, his family and two of each kind of animal. God said he would never wipe us out in such a way again. So how would the world end then? With an asteroid hurtling through the great expanse of His universe toward earth? Who knows? But I just found it ironic to read of two ways that mankind was to be wiped out in the same day.

So the people of London have sheltered as they did during air raids throughout the war, in the underground, hoping that it will be enough to save them. But I doubt it. Not with the force that such a space rock will create upon making contact. But one thing is for sure, as you read this final installment, you are wondering how it will all end? Will anyone survive? Or will the asteroid change course at the last minute, narrowly missing earth as it passes? Whatever the outcome, it's here that we bid farewell to those we have come to love (and some we've come to loathe). 

It took me six weeks to binge read the books (in between book tours and real life along the way) and I certainly had some favourite books and some not so favourite. I was certainly invested in the lives of the characters that we came to know in each of them while others made a passing appearance. Things started to go a little awry after the prison riot and I found the series begin to peter out, especially with the introduction of an asteroid on New Years Eve (otherwise I loved that installment!). The next two were nail-biting as things in the air became a little hairy and by the end I was wondering what was going to happen in this final book.

My favourite character? Hands down has to be lovable rogue mischievious Harry. I have a soft spot for him as my dad was also West Ham born and bred. Closely followed by firm favourites Jelena and Bogdan.

I didn't love this book but I certainly LOVED that ending! It was so perfect. And for that reason alone I am giving it 5 stars!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: 20 Minutes in the Air by Daniel Hurst

20 Minutes in the Air (20 Minutes #19) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Novella, Quick read

Read: 22nd March 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 4th March 2022

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

The bestselling 20 Minute Series continues at high altitude!

With several flights having departed and numerous characters in the sky hoping for a smooth ride to their destination, the seatbelt signs are off, and the passengers are free to move around the cabin. But pleasant flights can be interrupted with words like:

Turbulence. Engine Trouble. Mayday.

But if things seem dangerous and deadly on Earth, it's only worse out in space as the race begins to meet the hazard that threatens everything.

What goes up, must come down...

MY THOUGHTS:

The culmination of events that began just thirty minutes before in "20 Minutes Before Take Off" goes up a notch as the race is on for one plane to land safely, another to return to the UK after a medical episode, a serial killer on the loose in mid air as several space shuttles launch simultaneously on a mission to save the planet from total destruction. Yep, it's all happening, folks...even if a little OTT, as is Daniel Hurst's way.

Many characters we have come to know and love are at this very minute above the clouds heading for their destination yet hurtling towards something else entirely. Due to human error by a mechanic on the ground, these passengers will not be arriving in Berlin.

One plane is ferrying our favourite main characters out of the country and to the safety of Belgrade until a medical episode sees them having to return to make an emergency landing back in the UK.

Another plane is on course to the sunny climes of Spain as a gangster flees authorities with his wife and daughter until a shock discovery causes them to change course and possibly return from whence they came. But does he have a back up plan to get himself out of this?

And then a very nasty character we have followed from the beginning is enjoying the on board mile high club the private jet he's on has offered, but then he has something else in mind that will endeavour to make his journey far more interesting...though less so for the others involved.

Meanwhile, space shuttles from the UK, America, Russia and China have all simultaneously launched on a course to intercept the asteroid that threatens to wipe out earth and all mankind in just three months time. And the government are keeping it all hush-hush for fear of creating panic, but one man is intent on getting the news out even if it is the last thing he does!

It's all action in this second last installment as the race to save mankind is on...and all will be revealed in the final book.

Next...20 Minutes Until it's All Over

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads