Death Do Us Part

by Phil M. Williams

A home invasion ends in murder. Was it a burglary gone bad, or was it personal? Mild-mannered professor, James Harris, met his future wife, Rachel, when she was a student in his class. Despite her age, she was more an adventurous vixen than an innocent schoolgirl. They hid their illicit affair until Rachel graduated, and then James made her an honest woman. Rachel was the town it girl. The woman who all the men wanted and who all the women wanted to be. Even when she manipulated men for personal gain, they smiled and came back for more. But Rachel set aside her immature past to become a brilliant psychologist, who treated the most violent offenders. All that beauty. All that intelligence. All gone. Taken from the world during a brutal home invasion. James could’ve stopped the attack. He could’ve at least tried, but he froze. The police and Rachel’s family suspect there’s more to the story than James is telling. All James knows is what he heard while he hid. The conversation between Rachel and the home invader leaves more questions than answers. Did Rachel know the home invader? Was it one of her psych patients? Was it an obsessed ex-boyfriend? Am I next? James must answer these questions before he joins his dearly departed wife in this unputdownable crime thriller full of twists from bestseller Phil M. Williams that will keep you guessing until the very end. Grab your copy today and find out the truth!

Genres: Thriller

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

About the author

Phil M. Williams is the author of twenty-five books primarily in the thriller genre. His thrillers span many subgenres, such as: murder mysteries, political, domestic, dystopian, legal, psychological, and technothrillers. His stories often feature regular Joes and Janes in extraordinary situations that are ripped from today’s headlines.

Williams lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife, Denise. When not writing, he can be found tending their permaculture farm.

If you’d like to read two of his thriller novels for free. Go to http://PhilWBooks.com.

Reviews

[AR bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taken too soon, his wife is killed in a home invasion. And yet, in a tangle of deceit and lies, she may have had a part in her own death.

In this masterful mystery, the author weaves story lines full of detail and complexity, character flaws and involvement. It’s a true puzzle to unravel.

I had a hard time putting this book down; told myself I’ll sleep later.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I love this story. I read it in a day. I am glad I found this author and I’m going to read more by him. It was exciting from beginning to end.

[Megan Uhrynowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast-paced thriller that kept me on my toes from the beginning. Wife was killed in a home invasion while the husband did nothing to save her (when he could have). There were a lot of possible suspects, so I was intrigued to see who did it and how it played out..

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Harris is a mild college professor who is polar opposite of his wife. When they start having issues and his wife comes home from drinks with a friend with a bruise on her cheek and no good explanation, James starts to wonder and goes to sleep in the guest room. That same night men break into their house and James hides, he can hear the men talking to his wife asking where he is that they were told he’d be in this room. James’ wife accidentally gets shot and killed, now James wants to find out why and more importantly was he the target.
This was a wonderful book with tons of suspense. James is a great character and I am glad he found someone in the end that loves him for him. The audio book was great as the narrator took you right there to watch the story like Scrooge, it was a fun ride if not a bit hilly. I really liked this book a lot it is a true thriller.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read from this author and it definitely will not be my last. If it wasn’t for juggling school and work, I definitely would’ve finished it a lot sooner (only took me a week to read anyways). There were so many plot twists that I couldn’t put the book down. The way the story was written I was able to imagine every detail and play it out in my head like if I was watching a true crime documentary. I’m excited to see what else this author has up his sleeves and have already ordered 3 more books from Phil M. Williams. Definitely recommend this book!

[Kevin Cannon (Monty's Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil M. Williams is a master of the psychological thriller. 'Death Do Us Part' is an edge of your seat tale that you won't want to put down until you discover the shocking truth.

Great characters, a gripping twisted plot and a sense of anticipation throughout that doesn't disappoint.

Narration on the audio book is top class

[John Haslam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Phil M. Williams.

Having read several Phil M. Williams books I can honestly say that I have never been disappointed. Death Do Us Part is no exception. An adult novel with explicit sex and violence scenes, that are both thought provoking and a guaranteed page turner.

[Ann Keeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil M. Williams has written a thriller with unique characters and a fantastic storyline. The reader is drawn into the story and not released even when the novel ends. You'll find yourself thinking "what if?" or "I wonder". A definite must read.

[Brenda Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

I am a fan of Phil M. Williams. He can weave a great story with so many twists and turns! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! Did you know a girl in high school who had all the guys hot for her? Want to see her get what’s coming to her? This book is for you!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible story of love, mystery, twists and turns. Phil Williams grabs your interest right away and has you hooked. You think you know what will happen next but you don’t. It’s great right up to the end. A definite must read.

[Saundra Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit for Phil M. Williams!

Grab this book for thrilling entertainment, and leave it with so much to ponder. This author writes some of the most thought-provoking books. His plots are twisted and unpredictable, his characters completely believable. If you haven’t read him yet, start now.

[John M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to first THANK Goodreads and the author Phil M. Williams for the giveaway. I loved the book and I had a difficult time putting it down. I like how it all ended and all the twists and turns along the way! Thanks again and looking forward to book 2.

[Lucas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry but... What?

Uh... Huh.,.
This is a shining example of how not to write a thriller. There's no mystery, there's no suspense, it's just plot point, information on plot point, the book literally telling you everything through expositional paragraphs, and resolution.
That's it. And it's not good at it either, it does so with such a shallow slog. The only redeeming quality of this book is that it can be read very quickly (some chapters being about a page long), and the pacing is done in a way that you can open it at lunch and be disappointed by dinner.
Terrible story, simplistic and overdone plot, expositional information where the book has to tell you that something exists with literal and direct words instead of information through plot (the new girlfriend picked up a gun and aimed it. She took gun training a long time ago... Just like that, literally telling you something to justify why it happened), and characters that were impossible to care about.
Overall, 0.5/5, but that's not an option so 1 it is.

[Cmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read this genre, but when I do they're often Cowboy Western Mysteries with ten gallon hats, horses, and a little shamanism thrown in... ie: the Longmire series or by the ones narrated by one of my favorite actors Richard Armitage, the Jackman and Evans mysteries, but even those have horses 😆. But Aethon Marketing is now publishing mysteries and I had to try one. This book is a straight up mystery, no horses found here.
It's a story where James Harris finds himself frozen in terror the night his house was broken into. Hiding he listened while his wife was murdered. It is the story of a traumatized man overwrought by shame for not stepping in and saving her. Plagued by nightmares and the what if's, like a record on repeat. And as James Harris tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered life he starts his own investigation. Find the answers by getting and reading this book.
Ohhhh I found Gary Bennett to be a good storyteller.

[Amelia.S]

Phil M. Williams delivers a masterful psychological thriller in Death Do Us Part, weaving moral ambiguity, grief, and guilt into a chilling portrait of love turned lethal. The story grips readers from the very first scene a brutal home invasion and refuses to let go until every shadow of motive and deceit is unearthed.

Through James Harris, Williams captures the haunting paralysis of fear and the devastating weight of uncertainty. The tension between what’s said and what’s hidden propels the narrative with razor-sharp precision. Rachel’s complex duality an alluring figure of brilliance and manipulation adds psychological depth that lingers long after the final page.

Death Do Us Part is more than a thriller; it’s a psychological dissection of human frailty, obsession, and the secrets that bind and destroy. Smart, dark, and utterly absorbing, it’s a standout work of suspense that rewards readers who crave both intellect and intensity in equal measure.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Years ago, criminology professor James Harris married one of his students, Rachel. She is now a psychologist practicing out of an addition to their home. During a home invasion, Harris hid in a crawl space in the house and didn't come out to help Rachel from the 2 gunmen. She was killed and one of the gunmen killed his partner too.

The writing was not as sophisticated as many of the authors I read but it was ok for me. Readers have to seriously suspend disbelief, and I do mean seriously, but after all, we're reading a fictional story. Details should have been addressed by the cops but weren't. I'm obviously a stickler for details. However, what's revealed near the end explains some of this. I thought Detective Banks stole the show at the end and saved the story.

I received a Kindle copy in a Goodreads giveaway. I believe this is the only format out there right now.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is fantastic. I was up way too late listening. I had to finish it before I could get any sleep. So many twists and turns. Several suspects. I know this author will ruin or even kill off his leading characters. So, I really was on the edge of my seat the whole way! I plan to go back and listen to it all again. Now that I know how it all shook out, I need to understand better how it all happened. A truly puzzling book.

Gary Bennett has a great reading voice. I enjoyed listening to him. I did feel like he could have brought more feeling to the story by expressing more excitement in tense times, etc.

Thank you, Phil, for this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This my honest review.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: This story was engrossing. James Harris was a professor. His wife, Rachel, had once been a student of his. James overheard a conversation between a home invader and his wife that raised more questions than James had answers. This became the catalyst for James to search for the answers. There were many twists and turns. There were several possible suspects. Once the audiobook started, I had to listen until the end as I was so absorbed into the story. Gary Bennett's narration was fine, and his performance kept my attention. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which included my opinions.

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil M Williams serves up a fraught tale of home invasion that ends in murder but that's not the end of things for James Harris. The author takes his character on a rollercoaster of a ride through this novel. Phil M Williams creates characters that get under my skin like no other author I've read. This is a great read for fans of gripping crime thrillers just be warned there are some more graphic moments of sex and violence along the way.

[Carole Stinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping is accurate!

This book takes you through an unimaginable horrifying crime and all the questions we have if we are unable to protect, save, or even respond in the heat of the moment.

Are we part of the problem or the solution? Do we bury our heads in the sand or be courageous.

The $2,000,000 insurance payment at the end left me a little confused - or was it doubling down on James was found not culpable for his wife's murder by an independent investigation.

[R.W. Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a dull moment!

This was an exciting novel, never letting the reader relax for one minute! Don't let this thriller pass you by because it will entertain you until the last page. I also enjoyed the SHORT CHAPTERS that made the reader keep turning the page for the next exciting action to happen.

[Nicole Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great break from my regular reading genre. The book was short enough to finish in like 3 hours, it was long enough to complete the story. About half way through I thought I had it all figured out, boy was I wrong.

[Jasmine S Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The books was a good read. It kept me engaged the whole time; however, it was a bit choppy at first and there were details that I just felt were either missing or rushed. The overall storyline was good and I had multiple theories as to what happened before I zeroed in on my final guess.

[art pajak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil M Williams gets better and better

Phil M Williams gets better and better with each book. Best story yet in his simple yet elegant way. I couldn't put it down until I was finished.

[Melissa Jenkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring. Terrible writing.

[Taylor Mess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well that was boring

[Taylor Burdo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but ehhh it might just be me but it was average. I’ve read better thrillers.

[Heather Hawks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting twist at the end - 1st book I’ve read by this author and look forward to reading more.

[Tiffany Hailstones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little drug out toward the end and too much back and forth. Overall, still a good read with some twist!

[Melah · Rating 3 out of 5]

For not knowing I was reading this book for 50%, it was pretty good!! It was entertaining the whole time, however I felt as if it was just too busy & it was a little overwhelming at times.