Internationally bestselling author of the “gripping” (Lisa Jewell) Three Perfect Liars, Heidi Perks is back with a thrilling new novel.
Dark secrets are revealed when a therapist becomes obsessed with her troubled new patients, for fans of Alex Michaelides and The Golden Couple.
When Erin and Will walk into Maggie’s office for a marriage counseling session, Maggie believes they are an ordinary couple with ordinary problems: communication, intimacy, the usual. But as Maggie struggles to get the couple to open up about what brought them here, she begins to sense that not all is as it seems.
When Erin mentions something connected to Maggie’s past that she couldn’t possibly know, Maggie is disturbed and confused. Why does Erin know anything about Maggie’s long-missing sister? Erin is connected to her somehow, and Maggie is no longer trying to fix the couple’s marriage–she’s trying to uncover her own truth. Maggie knows her code of ethics as a therapist should immediately stop her working with this couple, but she’s desperate for answers about her sister’s disappearance, and she can’t resist using her position to delve deeper into Erin’s memories and what she might know. Erin and Will might not be what they seem–but neither is Maggie.
This dual-perspective psychological thriller will keep readers turning pages until every last secret comes to light.
Heidi Perks lives on the south coast, spending her time writing by the sea. She gets all her inspiration for her books from the beautiful towns on the coast, imagining dark things happening in the most prettiest of places. Apart from one all her books are set along the south of England.
Heidi's seventh books, SOMEONE IS LYING is out March 2025. Her other six books include three Sunday Times bestsellers, Now You See Her, Come Back For Me and The Whispers, and two Richard and Judy picks including The Last Resort.
She is currently writing book eight which will be out in 2026.
Just SIX months earlier, Will was lovingly waking his wife Erin on Valentine’s Day, with a kiss and a delicate necklace, to celebrate their love, and their toddler daughter, Sadie. But, when he tries to fasten it around her neck she flinches, and feels a fear she can’t explain.
Then the “unthinkable”happens that evening.
While Will is supposed to be watching Erin’s beloved dog, Coco, he loses her. And, searching the neighborhood and posting signs, brings no results. Erin is inconsolable, and when she isn’t able to forgive Will for being so careless, a downward spiral begins.
They seek marriage counseling to try and save their relationship-and their family.
When Erin and Will walk into Maggie Day’s office for the first time, Maggie believes they are an ordinary couple with the usual issues, including an overbearing mother-in-law and a son who won’t acknowledge that fact.
But soon Maggie begins to sense that Coco was just a trigger for issues that started many years prior.
As they delve into Erin’s troubled past, she mentions something which could tie in to the therapist’s own personal traumatic experience years prior.
Maggie knows her “code of ethics” as a therapist should have her immediately stopping her work with the couple, but her own desperation keeps her pushing for answers, and she can’t resist using her position to delve deeper into Erin’s memories to find out what she might know.
The book continues to count down the time from SIX MONTHS ago to the PRESENT DAY and opening prologue which foreshadowed Erin being rushed to the ER-the Victim of a hit and run.
This is mostly told through the alternating perspectives of Erin and Maggie, which allows us to get to know both women well.
This story captured my interest from the opening page, and I was completely engaged throughout! And, it remained plausible without being predictable which is a big plus for me!!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title!
Your therapist may not have your best interest at heart...
Erin and Will’s marriage is on the rocks. Erin finds herself unable to trust Will. In fact, you could say she fears him! But why? What has gone so horribly wrong to cause this reaction that seemed to come out of nowhere?
Realizing they can’t fix the situation themselves they seek out assistance from licensed therapist Maggie. And that’s when things really go skidding off the rails. You see, Maggie has her own agenda and is about to cross some ethical lines!
Oh my gosh, this was delicious fun! This was one of those books that I snuck in a chapter every chance I had!
So many questions: Why was Erin so distrustful? Was Will hiding a dark side? And seriously…what’s up with Maggie!?💁🏻♀️
Heidi Perks delivers a taught, captivating thriller that will keep you reading late into the night! I was absolutely hooked from beginning to end.
I realize this is my first read by this author. Not sure how I missed her previous books. Rest assured I’ll be fixing that right now! I’m off to add her previous books to my list!
Well, I've read previous books by Heidi Perks which I thoroughly enjoyed, so when I saw her name on the cover as an auto-approved author, I jumped at the chance to read this psychological thriller that left me with complex feelings.
Firstly, this book moves really fast, with different timelines focusing on two main characters: Erin, 34, happily married, a stay-at-home mom taking care of her three-year-old daughter, Sadie, and working on children's fantasy books; and Maggie, a marriage counselor, happily married to Richard with no kids, and dealing with a problematic relationship with her mother since her little sister Lily's murder twenty years ago.
The opening with Erin's hit-and-run accident that puts her in a medically induced coma in the middle of nowhere after midnight raises suspicions about her motives. It's an intriguing and hooking beginning that drags you in right from the first chapter.
Then we see snippets of Erin's marriage to Will, including how they celebrate Valentine's Day. Will's surprise gift creates a weird and repulsive reaction in Erin, especially when he touches her neck to put the pendant on her. Erin becomes convinced that her husband is involved in her dog Coco's disappearance. Her husband's behavior seems to change in an instant, and she begins to suspect him even though she has no concrete proof.
Their communication stalls, and they can barely stand each other's presence. They decide to see a marriage counselor, Maggie, who also has her own baggage related to her sister's murderer. During their sessions, Erin drops a bombshell that implies a connection between her husband and Lily's murder. Maggie can't believe what Erin is suggesting. Could her clients be connected to a twenty-year-old murder?
As the story progresses, Erin remains in a coma, her husband is agitated, and Maggie is nowhere to be found. The police start investigating the hit-and-run incident, and Erin's estranged parents arrive at the hospital, making things even more complicated.
Did someone try to kill Erin? Could Erin and Will be connected to Lily's murder case? And where the hell is Maggie?
The pacing of the book and its short, action-packed, heart-pounding chapters are the highlights, but I still have some reservations about giving it four stars, even though I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting.
Firstly, both of the heroines are quite unlikable. Erin starts making remarks about her husband out of nowhere, which even makes her best friend question her credibility. I even thought there might be a supernatural explanation for her behavior, like Erin being possessed by Lily's ghost seeking revenge, to fill the plot holes in a different way. Unfortunately, this is not a paranormal thriller, so my conspiracy theory is out of the question.
Maggie is a neutral character I didn't connect with much, and in the second half, I found myself wanting to punch her. She really rubbed me the wrong way.
The conclusion is good but not perfect. There is an explanation for Erin's changing moods, but I didn't fully buy it, as the outcomes aren't as fair for all the characters.
Overall, this book is still an exciting page-turner and heart-pounding popcorn read. You won't get bored for a second, flipping the pages faster to find out the resolution of the big mysteries. However, the characterization and the reasoning behind the characters' actions felt strained and far-fetched, making it challenging for me to fully believe in the story. There are still unanswered questions in my mind that prevented me from fully enjoying the execution.
I'm still looking forward to reading more works by the author, but I have to admit I didn't enjoy this book as much as her previous ones.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
What leads up to the hit-and-run accident that leaves Erin Harding‘s life hanging in the balance? Six months ago her life with husband Will and daughter Sadie is good but things fall apart and they consult counsellor Maggie to try to mend things between them. Maggie herself is carrying a burden, but that’s a whole other story. Or is it? The story is told in two timelines and from several perspectives.
The first two thirds of the novel are really good within an indefinable sense, a frisson of something very off kilter and the undertones are fascinating. The mystery of why Erin is where she is when the life-threatening incident occurs leads to many questions and you try to make sense of the little that is revealed.
The counselling sessions with Maggie are good, they’re very really revealing on the Harding’s fourteen year relationship, the growing lack of trust between them, the doubts, the divisions, and the “he said, she said“ scenario. You have no clue who to believe as Will’s story conflicts with Erins and the wider extended families dynamics are interesting too.
As the novel progresses several layers of storytelling emerge, such as the state of the marriage and Maggie’s tale. They author creates some good red herrings and blind alleys to lead us down and there are the usual good plot twists and turns. It’s definitely becomes a suspend your disbelief read, as there are just too many coincidences to be entirely plausible but on the other hand, it is very entertaining. Though none of the characters are especially likeable, in fact, two of them are downright unlikeable, they are very well portrayed.
However, the plot hinges on one question which Maggie asks (I can’t say as it’s a spoiler) and when she asks it, I do a double take as it seems so random but it’s absolutely integral to what happens! So, it’s just go with the flow situation. The pacing is irregular, especially in the second half and because of the number of points of view there is some repetition. I can’t see the point of at least two of the narratives as they had nothing to the plot.
Overall, this is a page turner that’s for sure as the author makes you want to know the outcome.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Bizarre book and bizarre plot. It’s a very strange book, and I don’t actually know if the psychology of the book is correct or not but everything is off in this book. I think the one thing annoyed about is this constant unknown that is displayed in front of us but never addressed, and then neatly revealed. I know it’s found in every book but right from the start is where we are dangled with it and it just gets super repetitive.
The book is a story about a couple Will and Erin, who on Valentine’s Day Erin receives a gift from her husband of a necklace. When he begins to reach out to help her wear it, she flinches and feels a deep rooted fear that makes her scared. More bad things happen when her dog Coco vanishes under Wills care. And this begins the downwards spiral where Erin believes that Will is responsible, their marriage begins to fall on the rocks. They both agree to see a therapist that ‘saves’ marriages called Maggie Day. But Maggie struggles to believe who is being truthful. Than one day Erin is involved in a hit and run, figuring for her life and everyone wants to unravel the truth.
I was kind of annoyed at the level of boundaries the therapist took going against the code of ethics which I found bizarre. At points there’s bits that are just filler pages which didn’t really serve a purpose. Overall, I was intrigued by the book due to how little the blurb revealed and the reviews. But personally I don’t see the hype in this book. It’s a strange one that I don’t see realistically happening.
FOR THE LAST TIME had me playing detective. I didn't know if Erin was really mentally unstable or her husband, Will, was making her feel the way she did. I liked how the author built up the suspense, she gave little hints along the way, but never enough to fully solve the mystery. Through the different points of view I was kept engaged and it kept me racing to end to get my answers. Overall, this was a well written thriller and one of the best I've read to date by Heidi Perks.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) on Pub date.
This twisty tale captivated me from the start and kept me hooked.
The story begins with a hit-and-run accident, leaving Erin as the victim. It then shifts between the events leading up to the accident and the present day.
Erin and Will appear to be content with their lives. Their marriage is going well, they have a daughter, and they share a cherished dog.
On Valentine’s Day, Erin receives a necklace from Will, but it sends a shiver down her spine. When her dog mysteriously disappears, she begins accusing Will of the most random things. Is this sudden change in behaviour out of the blue, or is there a deeper reason?
Feeling overwhelmed, they decide to seek help from a couple’s therapist, Maggie. They go in with good intentions, hoping to find answers and resolve their issues. However, Maggie is shocked when Erin mentions a piece of jewellery. This revelation brings back painful memories for Maggie, which she has been trying to suppress. Maggie has always believed that she should only see couples as a unit, not individuals.
During one session, Erin’s revelation pushes Maggie to her limits. Desperate for answers, she’s convinced Erin knows something. Determined to uncover the truth, Maggie begins to see how far she’s willing to go to resolve her unresolved past issue. Will this pursuit lead her to the truth, or will it result in unforeseen consequences? Maggie has always said she would only see couples together, but we see the lines beginning to blur as she zones in on Erin.
Erin and Will’s marriage is in trouble. Erin is becoming suspicious of her husband but she can’t put her finger on why. Will is becoming frustrated and worn out defending himself. They both agree that couples therapy is the next step; being able to rationally discuss their feelings with a qualified expert is the best way to repair their relationship.
But their therapist, Maggie, finds it difficult to know who to believe, and as she probes deeper into Erin & Will’s past she starts to wonder if this fragmented couple have been brought into her life for a reason. Because, as you’ll soon start to realise, Maggie has secrets of her own..
I’m a huge Heidi Perks fan and let’s start off by saying that she didn’t let me down. She has a great style of writing that I love; short snappy chapters, intriguing characters and prose that instantly leaves you curious. I was desperate to find out more about Erin & Will. Why was Erin so mistrustful of her husband? I was also keen to find out Erin’s backstory, her childhood hadn’t been easy & I was eager to learn more. Then there was Maggie, the therapist. She certainly had more than enough skeletons in her own closet and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out how all these stories joined together.
A fast flowing and compelling read. Heidi Perks, you’ve done it again!
This fast-paced twisty thriller was eye-rolling yet engaging.
Character development was strong and unreliable narrators were plentiful.
I listened to the audiobook read by Lucy Price-Lewis.
Although Lucy Price-Lewis did a superb job with the narration, the story unfolded from multiple POVs and a full-cast audiobook would have elevated my star rating.
Erin and her husband Will are experiencing difficulties within their marriage, though Will doesn’t appear to know the reason. Things have become worse following the disappearance of their dog Coco, and Erin believes that Will was responsible.
When Erin is involved in a terrible car crash, the story gives background about the couple’s counselling sessions with Maggie, a therapist, but after several sessions she is unsure who is telling the truth. And Maggie the therapist, has her own demons to deal with relating to the murder of her younger sister Lily some twenty years before, and has her own reasons for keeping therapy sessions running with Erin. Doubts about whether the car crash involving Erin was an accident or deliberate.
For the Last Time is an intriguing domestic thriller by Heidi Perks. I've read this author before and this one was one of her best. A great fun to read chilling mystery featuring dual POV. The end and reveal was shocking and I didn't see coming. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book.
Erin & Will are a troubled couple who seek out therapy to save their marriage. During the sessions, therapist Maggie uncovers secrets pertaining to her long missing sister. Maggie becomes obsessed with Erin & Will in order to find out what they know.
This book moves between the present where Erin has been in a hit and run accident and is currently in the hospital unconscious to the past where her life unravels and leads to the accident. It switches back and forth and the story unfolds throughout the book keeping you guessing as to what happens up until the end.
A few times I thought I knew what was going to happen but I was wrong!
This was a wonderful new thriller from Heidi Perks and my first read by this author but it definitely won't be my last.
Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Heidi Perks for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This domestic thriller is told from multiple pov with interwoven stories, Maggie the therapist who hasn't come to terms with the untimely death of her sister many years ago and the couple who go to see her for couple counselling but felt like a who is telling the truth situation. I especially liked the way the stories are fused together and the ending really blew my mind. it felt like a film in places where the plot went ott and became a bit predictable. It was engaging throughout could have benefit from a male pov in places. It was hard to put it down as there was also 2 timelines before the accident and after the accident and the skillful multiple switch to and from, gave this real depth. Helped also by the same thing for therapist. There were plenty of red herrings which i was victim to a few. This is a highly recommended 4 star read perfect for domestic thriller fans but be warned its very hard to see the wood from the trees. Thanks netgallery,, publisher and author
This was my second book by Heidi Perks, so I am new to this author. However, when I saw The Last Resort was available for review, I could not wait to get my hands on it. This book grabs your attention the moment you open it and refuses to let go before you reach the very last page. I raced through this book and loved every moment. When you reach for The Last Resort you can expect a gripping read that will leave you questioning the characters and never knowing for sure who is telling the truth. This is a five-star read you will not want to miss. A huge thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for this review copy! Heidi Perks crafts a tale that draws you into the lives of her characters with this book and while you are eager to pick sides you are left doubting who you should trust. The character’s emotions draw you in and you are left wanting to interfere. I found myself eager to tell Erin not to believe a word Will was saying. Initially, Maggie left me a little confused – I was not sure what her role was. Yet as you keep reading all is revealed. When Erin and Will start couples therapy, Maggie, their therapist has no idea who is telling the truth. She battles to trust this couple and believes they may be messing with her. However, when Erin is involved in a hit-and-run that lands her in hospital a hunt for the truth starts that unravels everything. I loved the uncertainty of this story. I could not figure out who to trust. While on the surface it seems to be a classic case of gaslighting, the surprise that awaits you will leave your head spinning. The characters in this book were perfectly suited to the story. Erin steals your heart with her insecurity one moment while the next you cannot help but think that Will is right and that the woman has lost her mind. I found myself caught up in Erin's thoughts and could not help disliking Will. This man left me convinced that something was not right. I loved the twists in this book – I did not see them coming at all. I have not been handing out five-star reviews very easily this year. I find the more I read the more I expect from the books I do read – but The Last Resort had everything required to make it a fantastic read – so yes – this one got a five-star rating from me. It’s a brilliant read. If you are looking for a book that will keep you guessing, while forcing you to pick sides and then changing your mind just when you think you have it all figured out, then this is the book for you. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. It is a fabulous read. I have two more Heidi Perks books on my TBR shelf and I cannot wait to make time for them. https://featzreviews.com/the-last-res...
This was a slow burner but it captured my attention. I dont know how i feel about this book. As much as it captured my attention i just couldn't connect to the characters.
The Last Resort is the third book I've read by Heidi Perks. I've enjoyed each of them for very different reasons. Her story's are compelling, rooted in real life struggles by relatable people. The characterisation is always first rate. In this case, just how far are you willing to go to discover the truth? That's the real question that is raised in The Last Resort.
Erin is madly in love with her husband, Will, until of course she's not. She becomes scared of him - this is all triggered on Valentines day when he tries to put a necklace around her neck and she flinches away from his touch. Then, her precious dog, Coco disappears and Erin immediately blames Will for her disappearance. She even goes so far as to think he might of killed the dog. She thinks she's going mad as everyone around her can't believe the things she's accusing her husband of. Her relationship with her best friend, Zoe also suffers due to it. She questions her sanity but at the end of the day, she knows she feels scared of her husband, something that seemed unfathomable only a few months previously.
Will suggests they see a marriage counsellor. He doesn't want their marriage deteriorating any further. He loves his wife, but she won't stop accusing him of things he knows for certain he hasn't done. What if this counsellor is making things worse though? What if she is leaning into Erin's delusions, what if she breaks her professional code of conduct and starts seeing Erin alone? What does she have to gain by seeing Erin away from her husband?
This story was a little hard for me to swallow. I felt like I had to suspend disbelief a little too much. It's an extremely slow burn and didn't really feel like it heated up until about 70% mark. I felt like the flipping back and forth to different time spots was a tad confusing and felt like the two heroine's were quite unlikable and couldn't really relate to either.
I think this might be Heidi Perks' best book - it's tense and intriguing. (Though I'm not sure what the "last resort" of the title is referring to.)
Erin, a young mother, is in a coma in hospital, the victim of a hit and run. It soon transpires that this event has been the culmination of a pretty terrible six months for Erin, beginning with the mysterious disappearance of her beloved dog. Things have got strange; she's no longer sure she can trust her husband Will, though they've been happy in the past. He's denied all her accusations about his behaviour, though she's certain she's right. Couples counselling with therapist Maggie hasn't proved beneficial, and it turns out there's an unlooked-for connection with Maggie's own family history...
This was a cleverly plotted story which kept me guessing (though I did figure out the "twist" near the end). Erin's distress and confusion about experiences she can't explain or rationalise is well rendered; Maggie was perhaps a little less relatable, though it was certainly possible to understand her need for the truth.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
This was my first Heidi Perks novel and I really liked it!
Erin wakes one morning and begins to have concerns about her husband, Will, and their marriage; the only problem is he’s done nothing to deserve this. With the help of a therapist, Maggie, the couple tries to unearth where Erin’s apprehension is coming from. Maggie has a traumatic history of her own that she battles. As their stories begin to cross paths beyond their professional relationship, Erin, Will, and Maggie will have to come to terms with their realities and the truth.
The storyline was original, the characters and their backstories were flawless, the back and forth timeline and POV style of storytelling were well executed and the writing was fantastic. The pacing was great and added to the suspense. You could really feel the storing building with urgency as it progressed, and I enjoyed how both timelines intersected at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book before it’s expected release date of December 5, 2023. I look forward to reading more books by the author.
With Heidi Perks you know you are in for a real treat. Murder, intrigue, plot twists, amazing characters and a well crafted story, and this was no exception. I LOVED it - it just took me time to get over my book hangover to write a review.
Erin and Will were the perfect couple, and so happy in their marriage. Then Erin's beloved dog goes missing whilst Will is supposed to be looking after it. This is not long after Will buying her a necklace and when he tries to put it on her she has a real feeling of dread. Erin's best friend has taken Will's side and she feels like she has no one to turn to. This is the start of the end for Erin and Will, and they decide to go to couples therapy with Maggie Day, who is herself in therapy.
When Erin is hit by a bit and run driver, and is critically ill in hospital, and Maggie has disappeared, the hunt is on to find out what happened to Maggie and who hit Erin, as it is looking a lot like murder.
A totally amazing book that will put you through the wringer, but you won't be able to put down.
The Last Resort is an amazing thriller told throughout multiple POV's. Erin is the victim of a hit and run and as we go back to the last six months we start to see the true story of what happens through Erin and her husband Will. I didn't see any of the twists coming and I was blown away by how well everything linked up in the end. I couldn't put this down and thought this was a brilliant thriller and a quick read I highly recommend.
What happens when a good marriage suddenly feels wrong. To all their friends, Erin and Will have the perfect marriage. Almost out of the blue Erin starts having conflicting emotions about Will. They agree to see a marriage therapist. Enter Maggie, who takes an odd interest in these clients. Will she help them save the marriage or unearth hurtful secrets, both past and present.
This book takes the reader on a crazy twisty domestic thriller ride. It’s important to keep in mind that I received an ARC of this book, so not the final product. For me, this book seemed about 75 pages too long. I found myself losing interest often. However, I did enjoy the story line and the plot twists were definitely different than I expected. I did have hard time connecting with and feeling empathy for the characters which I believe was the constant stop/start of my reading. I have to believe the final product would be more condensed. First time reading this author, and I would definitely read her again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
Enjoyed this. Another great psychological thriller from Heidi Perks. Loved finding out what was going on between Erin, Will and Maggie… story built up well and at a good pace with a decent outcome and ending.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. This is my 6th book by Heidi Perks and this is another winner. A fast paced read, told in different points of view, full of intrigue, drama, lies, secrets and suspense, with lots of twists. Erin and Will seem to be the perfect couple, until things start to go wrong. Erin suggests they try therapy, which after a number of sessions seems to be making things worse. Erin feels she is going mad, and her best friend seems to be siding with Will, leaving her with no one to talk to. Erin is then hit in a hit and run accident, she is critical, was it an accident, or did someone want to hurt Erin? The police are keen to speak to the therapist that Erin and Will were seeing, she though, Maggie Day, has disappeared ! A clever plot, where the story is woven together and the characters come to life. All psychological thriller fans should add this one to their to read list.
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: When Erin and Will walk into Maggie’s office for a marriage counseling session, Maggie believes they are an ordinary couple with ordinary communication, intimacy, the usual. But as Maggie struggles to get the couple to open up about what brought them here, she begins to sense that not all is as it seems.
When Erin mentions something connected to Maggie’s past that she couldn’t possibly know, Maggie is disturbed and confused. Why does Erin know anything about Maggie’s long-missing sister? Erin is connected to her somehow, and Maggie is no longer trying to fix the couple’s marriage–she’s trying to uncover her own truth. Maggie knows her code of ethics as a therapist should immediately stop her working with this couple, but she’s desperate for answers about her sister’s disappearance, and she can’t resist using her position to delve deeper into Erin’s memories and what she might know. Erin and Will might not be what they seem–but neither is Maggie.
My Thoughts: This book opens with a BANG, pulls you in and takes you along a ride that you must know what happens. This is the first time I have read Parks books and it will NOT be my last. The lies, secrets, betrayals, tension, pacing, and unique plot just puts this thriller ahead of the rest. Just six months ago, they had the perfect happy family, or so it appeared. It starts with a flinch when Will touches Erin, and then Will does the unthinkable, he looses her dog, Coco. A downward spiral of their relationship begins and to save their family, they embark on marriage counseling. Maggie thinks this is a classic case of a far-reaching mother in law and son that won’t stand up for his wife. Both Erin and Maggie have trauma in their past and when Erin starts to provide details of her trauma that overlaps with Maggie’s trauma, Maggie has stepped out of role of counselor and into role of fact finding. Maggie knows she is bound by ethics to turn this over to a different therapist that is not connected, but she has to find the answers. There is not a lot out there on the trope of marriage counseling as the set up, it so unpredictably plays perfect in this psychological thriller.
The story is narrated starting six months ago and present until they line up perfectly, in the POV of Erin and Maggie. The dual perspectives in a thriller is a unique occurrence and coupled with this unique plot really does elevate this book to another level. The story opens up with an accident and then works itself backwards. What has happened to make Erin so distrustful. Does Will have a dark side? And Maggie, when she crosses from counselor to investigator, how does that blur the lines? As our characters present, none of them are likable and unreliable, at best. There were some plot holes with unanswered questions and character’s backstories, behaviors, and reasoning, that did not quite match up. I think the characters could have been explored in a more believable way would have turned the book a little more. Having said this, this is still a popcorn turning book and it will keep you entertained. The author’s write style was twisty, suspenseful, had great pace, and appropriate tension.
This was dark, disturbing, captivating, gripping, captures you, and pulls you into the pages as you look at the next twisty bend. If you loved, The Golden Couple, you will love this one, same premise, different scenario. The chapters are short and leave wanting to do “just one more chapter.” Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend to other readers.
This thriller/murder mystery was all that plus some! I was guessing it was the husband the whole time maybe living a second life or just wanting to start over. The more I read it the more I wanted more! It’s never what I would have thought in the end and I thinks that’s what makes thrillers and murder mysteries masterpieces. You have your readers thinking one thing and plot twist lead to what you would never imagine in a million years! LOVED IT!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Author for allowing me to read this masterpiece! I was not paid to do this arc this review is my honest opinion and I have actually recommended to quite a few people when it releases!