Thank you Harper Audio for the ALC and @WunderbooksPR & Harper, #partner, for the advanced copy of The Second Husband in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Harper / Harper Audio
Published: June 28, 2022
Summary:
A woman’s seemingly perfect second marriage is rocked by a discovery about the death of her first husband in this twisty psychological thriller from Kate White, the New York Times bestselling author whom Entertainment Weekly called “impossible to outwit.”
Recovering from the unsolved murder of her first husband, Derrick, thirtysomething Emma Hawke has built a new life with Tom, a handsome, successful, and loving widower who finally makes her feel safe again.
Then one day a police detective shows up at their house on the Connecticut shore, asking questions about Derrick’s death. Emma was sure she’d been cleared in the days after the tragedy. So why is law enforcement taking another look now–and questioning the timing of her relationship with Tom? She hadn’t even met him until after Derrick’s death.
Then Emma is shocked to discover that, in fact, she and her second husband attended the same business dinner two months before Derrick’s murder. Did Tom, unbeknownst to Emma, spot her there? Could he have set his sights on her and orchestrated a plan to make her his wife, whatever the cost.
With twists and turns all the way to the last page, this fast-paced, expertly plotted novel will have you asking that age-old question: how well do you really know the ones you love?
My thoughts:
I have long been a fan of Kate White’s books, having first discovered her when I came across her Bailey Weggins series, which I still really enjoy. Of course, her stand-alones are also very enjoyable – they are engaging, domestic thrillers that I find to be just perfect for summer reading and this latest one is no exception!
I love a book that keeps me on my toes the entire time, wondering who I can trust and where things are heading and that was this book. Every time I thought I had a pulse on the characters and who was trust-worthy, something new would come to light to shake things up. I literally found myself on edge the entire time and that to me is what I enjoy when it comes to reading domestic thrillers. This is the type of book that I just couldn’t put down and ended up finishing it in a day. The clever plot twists and the pacing and paranoia that we start to experience on Emma’s end just add to an already tense read.
This book was just perfect to kick off my summer reading. It really is so addictive and keeps you engaged from start to finish. I know I can count on Kate White for an entertaining, thrilling read and this one definitely proves it.
Audio thoughts:
I had the opportunity to listen to this one and it was just what I needed. The narrator, Leslie Howard, did such a great job keeping me totally engaged in the story right from the start, so much so that I ended up listening to this one in just one day. I found reasons keep listening – the dog and I walked just a little longer, I might have cleaned just a little harder, my closet never looked better, etc. Howard’s pacing and intonation were spot on and I found myself absolutely riveted to her every word – that’s due both to the author and the narration!
