Do Not Disturb

The decision of Kirsty Whitehouse and her troubled husband, Adrian, to move with their two school-age daughters from London to Hywelphilly, Wales, has fatal consequences in this disappointing thriller from British author Douglas (Last Seen Alive). Kirsty hopes that converting their new home, the Old Rectory, into a guest house will bring a fresh start following Adrian’s recent suicide attempt. But renovation of the Old Rectory costs more and takes longer than expected, even with the financial help of Kirsty’s controlling mother, Carol Hughes, who will also live there. The guest house has barely opened when items are mysteriously moved and a small noose is hung in the hallway, an apparent allusion to Adrian’s suicide attempt. The tension rises after Kirsty’s estranged cousin, Selena Perry, and other relatives come to stay at Carol’s invitation. The early-morning discovery of a body doesn’t help business. The low-boil action, which focuses on Kirsty’s anxieties, including being overwhelmed by the work required to run a guest house, offers little suspense. Two twists at the finale compensate only in part for the cliché-ridden plot and irritating characters. Douglas has done better. Agent: Jenny Bent, Bent Agency. (Nov.)