Till Death Do Us Part

by Marley Quinn

Claire Johnson’s seemingly ordinary life takes a chilling turn when she wakes up hungover on a Sunday morning with a foggy memory and no recollection of how she got home. She tries to hide her indiscretions from her husband, but this becomes increasingly difficult when she discovers that a man she knows has gone missing and all signs point to her.

As the evidence mounts against her, Claire questions her innocence and grapples with the terrifying possibility that she may be a killer. However, as she delves deeper into the mystery of the man’s disappearance, she questions whether someone is framing her, and if so, who? With time slipping away, Claire embarks on a desperate race against the clock to unravel the truth of that night’s events before she finds herself behind bars. As she edges closer to the truth, she realizes that nothing is as it seems.

Till Death Do Us Part is a suspenseful psychological thriller that will leave you questioning every character’s motives. For fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, this gripping page turner will not disappoint. Brace yourself for an exhilarating ride with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the final shocking revelation.

Genres: Thriller

170 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2023

About the author

Marley Quinn is an exciting new voice in the world of psychological thrillers. By day, she navigates the intricate twists and turns of the legal world, but by night, she weaves captivating stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats. A lover of literature from a young age, Marley’s voracious appetite for books eventually led her to pen her own thrilling narratives.

When she’s not immersing herself in the world of her characters, Marley can often be found savouring a glass of rich red wine. She also enjoys the simplicity and tranquility of long walks, as well as unleashing her energy in the boxing ring. But above all, Marley cherishes spending time with her loving family, who provide the support and inspiration necessary for her creative endeavors.

Reviews

[Mags Hayward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marley Quinn’s fast paced novel opens with the aftermath of Claire’s latest night out with her lover, Brad, and her inability to remember how she got home. When it transpires that Brad has gone missing, Claire’s life begins to unravel - she’s now a suspect in Brad’s disappearance.
Told I’m the first person, present tense, the author uses past tense flashbacks to reveal lies already woven into Claire’s life while, threatened with a possible murder charge, she continues to lie and cheat in the present.
Claire is not a likeable character but her flaws are relatable. She’s not inherently evil and the well-written ensemble of characters she interacts with are no angels either. Claire treats husband, Jon appallingly but he’s lied about his job, potentially bankrupting them. Best friend, Shelly loses Claire’s trust but the pair of them mirror each other’s bad behaviour. Even Claire’s work clients are shady.
The story is a psychological thriller with multiple characters taking centre stage as the focus of suspicion over Brad’s disappearance. The final twist isn’t altogether a surprise but is satisfying enough and neatly ties up this intriguing and sometimes unexpected tale.
This is an easy and enjoyable read.

[Amanda Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Till Death Do Us Part by Marley Quinn is a gripping psychological thriller that had me glued to my e-reader, and when I wasn’t able to sit down and read, I was thinking about this book and wondering what happens next and, more importantly, when could I continue reading it. I couldn't read it quickly enough.
Claire has a reasonably comfortable life. She’s a massage therapist, lives in the beautiful city of Vancouver (I’ve been there and I love it) and she is reasonably well-off. The only part of her life she isn’t happy with is her marriage, and it’s this that sees her embark in an affair with the handsome Brad.
Then Brad goes missing, presumed dead and this is when Quinn ramps up the mystery, and the disturbing realisation that nothing Claire can do will get her out of the trouble she is in.
The twists and turns in this book are awesome. Every time I though I had it figured out, the author threw something else into the mix and I was back to square one.
The cover is also simple, but perfect. A spider’s web to get caught in pretty much sums up Claire’s life.
Marley Quinn is an author to watch out for and I’ll be looking out for another book by this brilliant writer.

[Janaya Kabamba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely amazing and I can't believe I waited this long tk get started on it! It's well written and complex. The characters are realistic and have real humanity and depth to them. There were so many twists I didn't see coming and I loved all the secrets and lies. It's very cleverly written and has so many layers! I was heavily invested in what happens to the characters and couldn't put it down until I'd seen the outcome. This is my perfect idea of a domestic thriller! A brilliant read

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 Bowl of Bad Life Decisions + Too Many Ounces of Wine is a Good Dietary Source of Head-Feckery
Warning: don’t read this book in bed if you want to actually get some sleep! The pages just turn themselves.
I am a big fan of Gillian Flynn, and I loved this book. It reads really fast—I whirred through the pages, desperate to know what would happen next. And just when I thought I knew what was going on, the story would twist.
Slightly flawed female protagonists are my jam, and Claire is one of those. She is almost an unreliable narrator—not by evil intention, but because she is occasionally a train wreck, and is not really sure what is going on. But she learns and grows, so I forgave her for messing up.
I wish I had found this book right after reading Gone Girl or Woman in the Window, so I could satisfy that give-me-some-more-of-that craving.
If you are going through Flynn-Finn Withdrawal Syndrome, pour yourself some wine (just not too much) and curl up with Till Death Do Us Part.

[brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many twists and turns. Kept me guessing until the end.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent psychological thriller

The story begins after an event that changes Claire’s life, allowing readers to ride along with her on an arduous journey to uncover the truth.

As Claire doubts herself, we also question her innocence but root for her just the same. Though far from angelic, it’s clear that she is a good person at heart.

Suspecting that she was framed for murder, Claire sets out to prove her innocence to the world and to herself. The author weaves many surprises into a fabric of lies and deception.

If you like psychological thrillers, you’ll appreciate the intrigue and intensity that escalates at the author’s skillful hand.

[Marcie Walters, · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book!

I really liked this book. Great characters, & a great story. It kept my interest and kept me reading until I finished it! Very good!

[Kyra McDowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kept me interested, I liked Claire

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

fast paced and enjoyable book

I enjoyed this book and the twists and turns along the way. I couldn’t put it down even during vacation.

[Dennis Krebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the title on the cover of the book, “Till Death Do Us Part,” I wondered whether it was a murder mystery or a book about a broken relationship. I was a bit wary about both. With respect to murder mysteries, I thought, “hasn’t it all been done; how can anyone come up with anything new?” And with respect to broken relationships, I thought, “happens all the time.” I wavered about reading the book, but noticing the spider web on the cover, I thought, “maybe I will give it a go; I love it when people get caught up in webs of deceit.” I am so glad I did. The book is both a murder mystery and a story about broken relationships ingeniously interwoven in webs of deceit. The plot is like a maze of blind alleys and cul-de-sacs. I couldn’t put it down.

I am good at puzzling out murder mysteries before the culprit is revealed, but this one stumped me. First, I thought it was one character. Then another. Then a third. All wrong! And in contrast to classics like Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None,” which has 10 suspects, there are only a handful in this novel, so identifying the bad guy should have been easy.

Marley Quinn’s writing is superb. She has an extraordinary ability to capture the complexity of her characters. A terrific novel by a talented writer. I give it my highest recommendation.

[E.K. Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping read

When the man Claire is having an affair with, disappears following a night out where Claire has gaps in her memory, her life begins to unravel. Is someone trying to frame her for his murder, and, if so, who, or … is Claire actually the murderer? Those are the central questions running through this exciting psychological thriller, which keeps you guessing, right until the end.

It’s an easy read, with a fast pace. The characters are memorable, and the twists come thick and fast. I spent most of the book changing my mind as to who was the murderer. At times, my suspension of disbelief was strained at how silly Claire was, particularly meeting an unknown person in a hidden part of the woods and not even telling anyone she was going there. I don’t like cheaters, but this book does a good job of Claire reflecting on her decisions, and I did feel sorry for her and (mostly) rooted for her. The story also ties back to an earlier event in Claire’s life, adding another layer of mystery.

Overall, it's a great read; it reminds me of Gone Girl. Recommended for fans of psychological thrillers.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short suspenseful read

[Karen Makeham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great psychological thriller!
Claire wakes from a night out into a nightmare!
I love the twists and the way Claire doesn't know who to trust as she investigates what happened that drunken night out. I enjoyed guessing until the end.
Great writing which has you hooked, I kept changing my mind and was far from the truth. I am looking forward to more from Marley Quinn.

[Kayla Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Till Death Do Us Part was definitely one of the best books I've read in recent years. There was mystery, drama, suspense, and just when you thought you had everything figured out - surprising twists. One thing I especially liked was that the twists made sense in hindsight; I could look back and think "I wish I'd thought of that!" (It wasn't like some other mysteries I've read, where the twists seemed too random.) I also loved the characters in this book; they seemed real and complex, with many dimensions. There were also some really hilarious moments that made me laugh out loud. I'd 100% recommend this book.

[Carole Harkema · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of us is lying, and it might be...?????

Imagine waking up and not remembering what you did last night or how you got home. Oh yeah, and you have blood on your jeans. This book had so many twists and turns that it made the Orient Express seem straightforward by comparison. If you enjoy a good "who done it," you will not be disappointed. The protagonist is not necessarily someone you will relate to or sympathize with; however, throughout her tribulations, you respect that she acknowledges she is flawed and doing the best she can in a situation that she made or did she?

[Shauntelle (myglamorousreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this debut novel! I was hooked from page one and devoured this thriller quickly. There were so many twists and turns. The story played out well, and I found myself often asking what was going to happen next. There was great character development and I truly enjoyed this authors writing.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to the cover design and from the description, I liked the sound of this book.

This was a good thriller. From the first few pages, I felt a connection with the protagonist, and I felt that she talked to the reader in a way that encouraged them to relate to her, even if her actions were questionable. Once I started reading, I was turning the pages quickly, and I read it in one sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

[Gali · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Till Death Do Us Part" by Marley Quinn is a gripping psychological thriller following Claire Johnson, a 37-year-old physical therapist, who is unhappily married to Jon, an accountant, from Vancouver.

One Sunday morning, Claire wakes up hungover without any recollection of what happened last night. She deflects her husband's probing inquiries with guarded answers and is not entirely honest with him. She has secrets to keep and a past that haunts her.

The plot thickens when a client of hers vanishes without a trace, and the police suspect foul play. As Claire is the last one to see him, she is under a cloud of suspicion. When some bloody items belonging to the victim are discovered near her office, she quickly becomes a "person of interest". Tension spirals as more and more evidence mounts against her. Claire struggles to prove her innocence and shows that she is being framed. Not an easy task when she doesn't remember that fateful night.

I loved the book and found it intriguing. The author guides us with sure hands through a twisted trail where truth and lies are entangled. It is a well-written tale of infidelity, betrayals, lies, and wrong choices. The story is written in the first-person perspective from the heroine's point of view. I appreciated the writing, the development of the characters, and the story itself.

The characters are realistic, and their internal conflicts make them even more believable. Up until the last part of the story, I didn't know what to think or whom to trust. I had my suspicions, but the author managed to mislead me. It isn't the edge-of-your-seat kind of book, but it still held my interest.

I appreciate it when a book demonstrates that life has situations where decisions aren't black-and-white, and a person's actions may not always make sense to others, even though I don't always agree with them. I didn't like the heroine and her weak excuses for her behavior. It takes two to tango, and while she wasn't entirely to blame for her failing marriage, it didn't excuse the poor choices she made. I have to say that although I didn't warm to her, I did root for her.

To sum up, this is a great book, and I definitely recommend it. The story was quite original and left me curious about what would happen next. It kept me excited and interested throughout the novel, and I look forward to seeing what Marley Quinn has up her sleeve next

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

* Review in my Blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...

[Veronica Afonso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mirror to Life's Intrigues: "Till Death Do Us Part"

Marley Quinn's "Till Death Do Us Part" is more than just a gripping thriller—it's a reflection of the twists and turns that life often throws our way, leaving us questioning our own motives and those of the people around us.

In the protagonist Claire Johnson, I found a familiar echo of my own journey. Like Claire, I've experienced moments of uncertainty and doubt, wondering if my actions were leading me down a path of unintended consequences. Quinn's portrayal of Claire's struggle to reconcile her actions with her sense of self struck a chord with me, reminding me of the times when I, too, have grappled with the consequences of my choices.

As Claire delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the man's disappearance, I found myself drawn into her desperate quest for truth. Like her, I've faced moments when the lines between reality and perception blurred, leaving me to navigate a maze of deception and uncertainty. Quinn skillfully captures the essence of this struggle, crafting a narrative that kept me guessing until the very end.

Moreover, the supporting cast in "Till Death Do Us Part" felt like reflections of the people I've encountered in my own life. Each character was imbued with depth and complexity, their motives shrouded in mystery until the final revelation. Just as in real life, I found myself questioning the intentions of every character, wondering who could be trusted and who was hiding secrets of their own.

In essence, "Till Death Do Us Part" is more than just a thriller—it's a journey through the intricacies of human nature, a mirror to life's complexities and uncertainties. Marley Quinn's masterful storytelling and expertly crafted plot make this novel an enthralling read that will leave you pondering its themes long after you've turned the final page. Brace yourself for a literary experience that hits close to home and keeps you guessing until the very end.

[readit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Claire, a massage therapist who is having an affair with a married man. She wakes up the morning after having been with him but can’t remember how she got home. When he goes missing, the evidence soon starts piling up against her. It doesn’t take long for Claire to realize someone is framing her for his disappearance, and possible murder.

This is a good old-fashioned mystery, the type of thriller that I love to read. There are many suspects, each with their own motives. There’s Claire’s husband, Jon. Does he know about the affair? Then there’s the missing man’s wife; Claire’s best friend; a suspicious patient named Steve; and many more. The clues are dropped tantalizingly, and efficiently. I thought I was doing a good job of narrowing down who might be responsible, but as the story progressed, tidbits were revealed that proved me wrong every time. The twisted reveal, when it finally came, was completely unexpected.

This author has created a masterful story full of plot twists, red herrings, and truly shocking reveals. I don’t normally like first person POVs because they’re most often done wrong, but this one is not. Claire’s narrative is bang on. I really felt like I was in her head, feeling all the suspense and anxiety she felt.

I read this in one sitting, unable to stop until I reached the end. The spider’s web on the cover? Perfect! The story is like a web of lies and deception building constantly all the way to the end. If you like a good mystery with twists and turns throughout, I highly recommend this one. And I don’t do that often.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the title on the cover of the book, “Till Death Do Us Part,” I wondered whether it was a murder mystery or a book about a broken relationship. With respect to murder mysteries, I thought, “hasn’t it all been done; how can anyone come up with anything new?” And with respect to broken relationships, I thought, “happens all the time.” I wavered about reading the book, but after noticing the spider web on the cover, I decided to give it a go; I love it when people get caught up in webs of deceit. I am so glad I did. The book is both a murder mystery and a story about broken relationships ingeniously interwoven in webs of deceit. The plot--or more exactly, the network of embedded plots--is like a maze of blind alleys, cul-de-sacs, and detours. I couldn’t put the book down.

I am good at puzzling out murder mysteries before the culprit is revealed, but this one stumped me. First, I thought it was one character. Then another. Then a third. All wrong! And in contrast to classics like Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None,” which has 10 suspects, there are only a handful in this novel, so identifying the bad guy should have been easy.

Marley Quinn’s writing is superb. She has an extraordinary ability to capture the complexity of her characters and craft a tangled, labyrinthine plot. Her style is parsimonious, understated, and dead-on. A terrific novel by a talented writer. I give it my highest recommendation.

[Dee Osah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I blitzed through this wild thriller because I badly wanted to know how Claire’s story ended. From the start when Claire wakes up from a night out and everything goes crazy, she proceeds to make one ridiculous decision after another, and the clever twists and turns kept me guessing and suspecting everyone. Was it Jon, Claire’s well-rounded bitter husband who murdered Brad? Was it Brad’s wife? Or was it really Claire? It seemed improbable, but she was such an unreliable witness since she couldn’t remember much, and yet she grew on me so quickly that I found myself rooting for her despite her terrible decisions and cheating ways. When she scheduled that bonehead meeting in the woods, I couldn’t believe it, but then I laughed so hard because it wasn’t farfetched considering how Quinn skillfully portrayed the character, which made for several comedic moments.
With few dull scenes, the pages flew by, and I didn’t figure this one out until it neared the end. 4.5/5 just off the pure enjoyment alone.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

free ebook

shes married. got home drunk, doesnt remember whole night before. her knee was bleeding and she has bruise

she emails her lover and he doesnt answer about the lunch they were supposed to have
she gets home and sees on tv he is missing. hes married too

she finds his bloody hoodie in the trunk of her car. she cant remember what happened that night.
her husband is suspicious. she finds out her lovers wife is one of her patients

she gets a lawyer. the cops find blood in the back seat of her car. they arrest her for his murder. but her husband told them he had a tracking device on her car and it had not moved so they let her go. someone is framing her

then her lover shows up and he gets her to let him hide in her cabin. he is doing some life insurance fraud with his wife

but then the cops think she kidnapped him, he double crossed her

it all comes out so she doesnt get arrested again

[Christina Clarry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of the book promised a tale of entrapment, and it certainly delivered!

It is difficult to write in the first person POV (point of view), and Marley Quinn has succeeded admirably. Her main character, Clare, is unfaithful to her husband, Jon, after being lured into a spider's web by her lover. It is a masterful and clever plot with many twists and turns to keep readers guessing what fate befell Clare's lover. There are multiple suspects, each with a credible motive.

The characters are well developed. But as I had little empathy for Claire, and as her husband transpires to be extremely forgiving about her affair, I found this hard to relate to the real world. I had to remind myself that this is fiction, and readers prefer a happy ending.

It is also an exposé on gullibility and its consequences. I look forward to more books from this author and highly recommend this entertaining read.

[Jessica Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read thriller that had twists along the way that I didn’t see coming. The book was a little short for me and some parts were rushed through. I wished there were a few more details in certain areas, mostly around the middle section of the book. All in all it was a good read, it had me hooked from the first chapter. The chapters were short which is always great. This is a great book to get out of a reading slump or to get back into reading in general. I’ll be looking forward to more Marley Quinn books!

[Robert Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute page-turner from start to finish! The suspense was masterfully maintained right up until the last page.

Great creative writing with twists and turns that were both unexpected and perfectly timed. The dilemmas faced by the characters felt incredibly real, mirroring the unpredictability of life itself. Each revelation added depth and complexity to the story, making it a truly immersive experience.

If you're a fan of murder mysteries that keep you guessing until the very end, this book is a must-read.

[Denise Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

When her lover goes missing, Claire is worried. However the last thing she expects is to be accused of his murder. This starts off as a decent story but the ending is weak. I can’t say I particularly liked the main character and the other characters feel a bit two dimensional. It is billed as a psychological thriller but there wasn’t anything thrilling about it.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Marbea Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book could've been way more serious, thrilling, and riveting. This storyline was way too bland and naive for my liking. Every characters character wasn't going far enough to make the storyline edgy, mysterious, and suspenseful enough for my liking. The novel had good thorough ideologies of a romantic mystery thriller, but in a vanilla prospective in my opinion. I just wanted it to be over.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, quick read! I chose this book because the main character has the same name as me and it’s based local to where I am. Very good book for the first or one of the firsts books from this author.
Also, Claire needs to stop cancelling her massage appointments on patients, that line was written over and over and over, girl’s going to have no more clients. 😆

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

This wasn't a bad story. It did have a bunch of twist that kept you guessing. I wasn't happy with Claire, I don't like cheaters and she was one. Like they say "karma is a bi**h", she kind of deserved what happened. Though I think Brad should have went to prison. Thank you.