Title: My Husband's Past
Author(s): Shari J. Ryan
Published by Bookouture on September 23, 2024
Pages: 396
Genre(s): Psychological Thriller
Source: Netgalley
Format: eArc
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating:
My best friend disappeared twenty years ago. I thought she was dead. But today I’ve received a message that makes my heart stop. It says it’s from Izzy. And she’s blaming my new husband for her disappearance…
I stare at the email in horror. I’ve only just managed to put what happened to Izzy behind me. My life is so different now. I have two perfect children, and the perfect husband at last.
“I couldn’t just say nothing. You remember I was being stalked? My stalker is your husband. You're in danger.
Run.
”
My blood turns to ice as I look up at my charming, caring husband. Is this some kind of joke? Griffin is kind, he's safe.
But as he smiles at me, the doubt starts to creep in. The way he always asks me about my childhood, pressing for information about my friends. The way he always wants to know where I am…
I thought my best friend was dead. I thought her stalker killed her.
If the email isn’t really from Izzy, then who sent it—and what do they want from my family? But if it is, am I living with the man I’ve feared for twenty years? And if he can’t hurt Izzy, will he settle for me instead—or worse, my children…?
A jaw-dropping psychological thriller that will have your mind spinning as you race towards the final twist. Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Family Upstairs.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Meet Jessica and Griffin, a married couple at the heart of the story. It opens with Jessica fondly recalling her first meeting with Griffin, their romantic dates, and his heartfelt proposal. She’s enveloped in the warm glow of love. However, her joy is abruptly cut short when she receives an email that morning. It claims to be from her best friend, Izzy, who disappeared 22 years earlier. Brace yourself for a riveting journey filled with secrets, deceit, and peril at every turn.
There was a lot happening on this wild ride. This was not one of those thrillers where the answers are clear. The twists, the turns sure had me flipping the pages while attempting to crack the mystery.
The author weaves together elements from both the past and the present, creating a mesmerizing story that holds the reader’s attention. Through Izzy’s eyes, readers explore her mysterious disappearance, while Jessica’s perspective anchored them in the present. Izzy’s chapters deliver a breadcrumb trail of clues, heightening one’s suspicions about the characters in the current timeline. The unfolding drama in the present delivers a series of shocking revelations.
While the story’s development was engaging, the conclusion left me feeling let down. True to the nature of psychological thrillers, “My Husband’s Past” concluded with a staggering cliffhanger, with no hope of a sequel. The conclusion wasn’t what I desired but that’s just a matter of personal taste.
For those seeking a story that promises a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected twists, “My Husband’s Past” is the book to grab. It will ensnare you with its intricate plot; while leaving you tangled in the web of its thrilling tale.
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About Shari J. Ryan
Shari J. Ryan is a USA Today Bestselling Historical Fiction writer. Her desire to write stories revolving Jewish livelihood during World War II stems from being a descendant of two Holocaust survivors. After the passing of Shari’s grandmother, she pursued an active interest in learning more about the inherited stories she yearned to understand better. Shortly after earning a bachelors degree from Johnson & Wales University, Shari began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer. She then found her passion for writing books in 2012. In 2016, Shari began writing her first Historical Fiction novel, Last Words, a story about a lifelong journey through the eyes of a Holocaust survivor, and Shari quickly found a new passion to share untold World War II stories within a fictional setting. In 2023 she will explore her first foray into the world of psychological thrillers with the gripping, twisty The Homemaker… Shari is a lifelong New England girl who lives to make people laugh. She is happily married with two wonderful sons and a spunky Australian Shepard, who fits right in with the family.
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