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Madeline Dawkins Mystery #1
Spouse Trap
Blackmail, sabotage, and blood-chilling suspense converge in this psychological thriller meets detective mystery. Madeline Ridley’s perfect world collapses in a swirl of sabotage, blackmail and deceit after awakening in a hotel room, naked and alone, with no memory of how she got there. Witnessing a payoff to a shady PI, she discovers who is systematically trying to destroy her life.
From that moment on, Madeline must deconstruct herself in order to salvage what’s left of her life. In the process, she discovers strengths she never knew she possessed. With that newfound knowledge, she steels herself for the battle of a lifetime.
Spouse Trap is the prequel to the Madeline Dawkins Mystery Series. Full of unexpected twists, a must-read for fans of Ruth Ware, Karin Slaughter, and Mary Stone.
From that moment on, Madeline must deconstruct herself in order to salvage what’s left of her life. In the process, she discovers strengths she never knew she possessed. With that newfound knowledge, she steels herself for the battle of a lifetime.
Spouse Trap is the prequel to the Madeline Dawkins Mystery Series. Full of unexpected twists, a must-read for fans of Ruth Ware, Karin Slaughter, and Mary Stone.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published April 27, 2023
25 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Hamilton
21 books228 followersCynthia Hamilton started writing 2000 as a means of coping with a debilitating illness. Writing gave her lifeline and a way to channel her overly-active imagination. Late-stage Lyme disease turned out to be a blessing in disguise, giving her a career she never imagined for herself, one that constantly inspires her.
Cynthia writes in a variety of genres: mysteries/general fiction/memoir. She is currently working on the 9th book in the Madeline Dawkins Mystery Series, and is still finding tremendous inspiration from her protagonist.
FINDING RUTH, the book she wrote to understand her mother's life from her POV, was the 1st Place Winner in the Firebird Book Awards in the Women's Fiction and Relationships categories.
Cynthia recently attended a book signing Q & A at Chaucer's Bookstore in Santa Barbara. You can click on the link below to watch the interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEaLu...
During an interview on SPEAK UP TALK RADIO hosted by Pat Rullo, she spoke about her books and the role writing has played in her life:
https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/cynt...
Cynthia lives in Santa Barbara, California with her husband and their extended family. She loves reading, writing, discussing books with other book lovers, and walking for hours, especially on the beach. She considers herself immensely fortunate.
You can also find her at http://cynthiahamiltonbooks.com, Twitter (@AuthorCynthiaH), and Facebook: http://bit.ly/2IDnLcF
Cynthia writes in a variety of genres: mysteries/general fiction/memoir. She is currently working on the 9th book in the Madeline Dawkins Mystery Series, and is still finding tremendous inspiration from her protagonist.
FINDING RUTH, the book she wrote to understand her mother's life from her POV, was the 1st Place Winner in the Firebird Book Awards in the Women's Fiction and Relationships categories.
Cynthia recently attended a book signing Q & A at Chaucer's Bookstore in Santa Barbara. You can click on the link below to watch the interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEaLu...
During an interview on SPEAK UP TALK RADIO hosted by Pat Rullo, she spoke about her books and the role writing has played in her life:
https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/cynt...
Cynthia lives in Santa Barbara, California with her husband and their extended family. She loves reading, writing, discussing books with other book lovers, and walking for hours, especially on the beach. She considers herself immensely fortunate.
You can also find her at http://cynthiahamiltonbooks.com, Twitter (@AuthorCynthiaH), and Facebook: http://bit.ly/2IDnLcF
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 7, 2025
Spouse Trap: A Madeline Dawkins Mystery (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 1) by
Cynthia Hamilton is a very clever thriller, and it doesn’t ease off, it holds you captive and I
read it in one sitting. I wasn’t sure what to expect but Cynthia has created something that is
addictive and there was no way I could put it down. I had to know what was happening. It is
a chilling ride and there are plenty of twists that make it psychologically compelling and
thought provoking.
Madeline has the perfect marriage but she never imagined she would be fighting through the
level of lies and deceit that would lead her to fight for her name and life.
I can’t wait to read more of Madelines’ and her besties adventures in this series.
Cynthia Hamilton is a very clever thriller, and it doesn’t ease off, it holds you captive and I
read it in one sitting. I wasn’t sure what to expect but Cynthia has created something that is
addictive and there was no way I could put it down. I had to know what was happening. It is
a chilling ride and there are plenty of twists that make it psychologically compelling and
thought provoking.
Madeline has the perfect marriage but she never imagined she would be fighting through the
level of lies and deceit that would lead her to fight for her name and life.
I can’t wait to read more of Madelines’ and her besties adventures in this series.
February 12, 2024
5 Stars
Have just re-read this entire series. Love Madeline Dawkins and all the adventures and mysteries she gets drawn into. Love Cynthia Hamilton's stories... and can't wait for more!
Spouse Trap is the first book in the Madeline Dawkins series by Cynthia Hamilton. I really enjoyed reading this exciting mystery- Ms. Hamilton’s cleverly crafted story had me avidly reading along trying to piece everything together- whilst rooting for Madeline to find the justice she deserved and win out in the end.
I loved all the tension, drama, intrigue, and suspense that Ms. Hamilton was able to instill in her story- it definitely made for an exciting read. I love when a story captivates me like this- where I lose all sense of time and place because I am so invested in the story, desperately wanting to know how things turn out in the end but also not wanting the story to end because I am enjoying it so much.
This first book certainly sets the whole series off to a fantastic start- leaving me with an addiction and needing my next ‘fix’. So, I have already been on a hunting mission and snapped up the other three books in the series just so I can see what else Madeline gets up to.
Cleverly woven with lots of interconnected elements and complex layers that made this story all the more enthralling. Highly recommended reading!!
Happy Reading...
Thank you, Cynthia Hamilton!
Have just re-read this entire series. Love Madeline Dawkins and all the adventures and mysteries she gets drawn into. Love Cynthia Hamilton's stories... and can't wait for more!
Spouse Trap is the first book in the Madeline Dawkins series by Cynthia Hamilton. I really enjoyed reading this exciting mystery- Ms. Hamilton’s cleverly crafted story had me avidly reading along trying to piece everything together- whilst rooting for Madeline to find the justice she deserved and win out in the end.
I loved all the tension, drama, intrigue, and suspense that Ms. Hamilton was able to instill in her story- it definitely made for an exciting read. I love when a story captivates me like this- where I lose all sense of time and place because I am so invested in the story, desperately wanting to know how things turn out in the end but also not wanting the story to end because I am enjoying it so much.
This first book certainly sets the whole series off to a fantastic start- leaving me with an addiction and needing my next ‘fix’. So, I have already been on a hunting mission and snapped up the other three books in the series just so I can see what else Madeline gets up to.
Cleverly woven with lots of interconnected elements and complex layers that made this story all the more enthralling. Highly recommended reading!!
Happy Reading...
Thank you, Cynthia Hamilton!
June 21, 2023
A mind-blowing thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final sentence. Cynthia Hamilton has a definite flair for keeping up with plots and subplots that enhance the storyline. She also does an excellent job making you see the actual characters. I rarely give a 5 but this book definitely deserves it. Read it now - you will be impressed also.
February 14, 2024
Best revenge book ever! When a husband turns against his wife of 12 years after setting her up with video to nullify the premarital contract, she goes on the offensive and learns how to take care of herself.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews