“She knows every killer twist.
But she won’t see this one coming…

Bestselling crime author Marian Lane is surrounded by adoring readers when she learns that her husband Dane is dead.

Marian returns home in shock to discover a stranger on her doorstep. A woman who not only claims she’s Marian’s biggest fan but says that she comforted Dane in his final moments.

At first, this woman, Mary, is a source of comfort. Until she admits Dane confessed a secret. One she can’t quite remember; one Marian is desperate to learn.

But Mary is a storyteller too. And though Marian knows every twist in the genre, she won’t see this one coming . . .“

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to hand the blog over to my guest reviewer, Ryan (my husband) who will be sharing his thoughts on The Woman Who Wasn’t There by William Hussey. The Woman Who Wasn’t There was published by Zaffre on Thursday 23rd July 2026 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats. Ryan chose to read a free eARC but that has not influenced his review.

Here’s what he thought…

Hearing about the death of her husband in the middle of a literary festival leaves cozy crime author Marian Lane nowhere to hide. When she returns home, she meets Mary Anne at her doorstep, something the security and house gates just shouldn’t allow. Mary Anne says she was there for the final moments of Marian’s husband’s life but struggles to remember exactly what was said or how to explain why she was there. Slowly, words are remembered, but are they accurate? As Mary Anne becomes further entwined in Marian’s social life and her friends start to question the new relationship, trust becomes a rare commodity.

William Hussey has recently found major success with his Scott Jericho novels, detective thrillers infused with circus lore and a dollop of the supernatural. Hussey also has multiple award-nominated and award-winning Young Adult novels to his name. The Woman Who Wasn’t There firmly cements his reputation as a leading UK crime writer. Not content with a single unreliable narrator, the entire novel is full of twists and turns with the reader constantly doubting who is telling the truth and where some of their stories are leading.

The characters are brilliantly drawn, allowing the reader to slowly get to know them as the plot unfolds. The reader gets a chance to doubt almost everyone at some stage and unfold multiple secrets along the way, leading to a conclusion that I did not see coming.

Would I recommend The Woman Who Wasn’t There? I would. Hussey’s writing is excellent, and this book will keep you guessing until the final pages. If you haven’t read the Scott Jericho series yet and you like your crime a little darker, then pick these up too! A great writer who delivers time and time again.  Recommended.

Ryan chose to read and review a free eARC of The Woman Who Wasn’t There. The above review is his own unbiased opinion.

The Woman Who Wasn’t There by William Hussey was published in the UK by Zaffre on 23rd July 2026 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats (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 | bookshop.org | Apple Books [eBook] x Apple Books [Audio] | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

William Hussey is the award-winning author of over a dozen novels, spanning almost every genre of fiction — from Young Adult thrillers to gripping whodunnits. His critically acclaimed books include the Crime Fest award-nominated Hideous Beauty, The Outrage, and Broken Hearts & Zombie Parts. Born the son of a travelling showman, he has spent a lifetime absorbing the history, folklore and culture of fairground people, knowledge he has put to work in his Scott Jericho thrillers.

With over a decade of experience in schools, William is passionate about reading and creative writing, regularly running events and workshops for young people.
William lives in the seaside town of Skegness with his dog Bucky and a vivid imagination.