“Three couples. One murder. A holiday to die for . . .

We arrived at a villa on the Amalfi Coast, ready to enjoy a sun-soaked weekend with our oldest friends – and one new face.

By the end of the weekend, my husband is found dead.

But how can I mourn him, when on the day of his funeral I discover he was having an affair?

The only suspects are the women we went on holiday with. My oldest, closest friends.

Do I really want to dig into my husband’s secret? Do I really want to know who betrayed me?

And as I start to unravel their secrets . . . do I really believe his death was an accident?”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of My Husband’s Killer by Laura Marshall. My Husband’s Killer is published by Sphere Books today (that’s Tuesday 29th November 2022) and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow next year. I chose to read a free ARC of My Husband’s Killer but that has in no way influenced my review. My grateful thanks to Becky and the team at Sphere for sending me a proof copy.

Earlier this year I read The Anniversary by Laura Marshall and loved it! I went in blind, having not reminded myself of the blurb before starting, and was gripped from the very first page. As a result, I downloaded all of the author’s earlier novels and have been looking forward to the newest book from Marshall with bated breath. And what a treat it was! My Husband’s Killer is another cracking psychological suspense novel from a new favourite author of mine!

A dream holiday with close friends on the Amalfi Coast turns to a nightmare when Andrew, husband to Liz, and father to Ethan and Josh, goes missing. After an extensive search, no sign of Andrew is found. Local authorities presume he drowned after a drink-fuelled night in an unfamiliar location. So his friends and family return home without him. On the day of his funeral Liz makes a shocking discovery which turns her world upside down. She comes to realise one of her closest friends has a devastating secret they’ve been keeping from her. It’s the ultimate betrayal. She can’t help but question everything they’ve been through over the last 25 years and where their loyalties really lie. But in discovering who has deceived her, Liz may unwittingly find out exactly what happened to Andrew that night. And if it wasn’t an accident it raises the biggest question of all. Which of her friends killed Andrew…?

My Husband’s Killer is a suspenseful psychological thriller which I powered through keen to discover whodunit. Marshall’s writing is once again excellent. The plot builds beautifully over the course of the book, with red herrings and well-placed touches of misdirection to keep the reader guessing. There are a lot of characters in this story and my poor addled brain did lose track of who was who and how they were all related at times. But as the story progresses and you get to know the characters in a little more depth, it all becomes clear. Particularly as many of the main characters get to tell some of the story themselves. The core group of characters have known each other for a long time and have been friends/lovers since university (most of them are in their 40s now). So there is a lot of history here which I thought the author conveyed incredibly well to the reader. You really get a feel of what’s what in this friendship group before tragedy struck and I appreciated the clear and thorough backstory. The multiple timelines helped a lot in this respect. The reader gets to witness life at university for the group and the beginning of several long-term relationships, the tragic holiday to the Amalfi Coast which is the beginning of the end for Andrew, and how utterly devastating life for Liz and the boys is after Andrew’s death. The way the author provides such a believable starting point for her characters and then builds upon it, giving the reader glimpses into their lives, made me feel as though I had been on the journey with them.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed My Husband’s Killer and flew through it keen to discover who was responsible for Andrew’s demise. I did manage to guess the culprit but I think I got there only a minute or two before Liz did. The plot was intriguing and kept me turning the pages. There are a lot of characters which did feel a little confusing to start with, but I soon became used to the different names and relationships. To the point where the main characters, by the end of the book, felt familiar to me. The majority of them aren’t particularly likeable but that makes them all the more interesting I feel! I enjoyed their stories. All in all, this is a suspense filled thriller which I devoured in a few short sittings. EVERYONE is a suspect, they ALL have something to hide and I was very much caught up in the mystery. A very readable, tense, compulsive novel which I recommend to fans of psychological suspense thrillers. Particularly those who like a domestic thriller.

I chose to read and review a free ARC of My Husband’s Killer. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

My Husband’s Killer by Laura Marshall was published by Sphere Books on 29th November 2022 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | Foyles | Book Depository | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Laura Marshall is the bestselling author of four psychological thrillers. Her debut novel, Friend Request, was a Kindle No.1 and Sunday Times bestseller, with over half a million copies sold in the UK. Laura’s books have sold in twenty-four territories around the globe.

She grew up in Wiltshire, studied English at the University of Sussex and currently lives in Kent with her family.

For more information visit Laura’s website www.lauramarshall.co.uk or find her at www.facebook.com/lauramarshallauthor or on Twitter @laurajm8.