When Diana arrives home one evening to find her husband Patrick dead, her world shatters. His mysterious death leaves behind so many unanswered questions.
Meanwhile, miles away, Angie’s husband, Ray, vanishes without a trace, abandoning her and their troubled teenage son.
As both women dig deeper into their husbands’ pasts, they stumble upon a chilling web of lies, deceit, and long-buried secrets. Their separate searches soon collide and dark, twisted revelations force them to face a terrifying truth that threatens everything they hold dear.
Nowhere Man is a heart-pounding psychological thriller that will keep you on edge until the final, shocking twist. In a world of lies, can you ever really trust the ones you love?
Nowhere Man is the new novel from Deborah Stone, bestselling author of Semi-Detached, Me & My Shadow and What’s Left Unsaid.
Deborah Stone is the best-selling author of four gripping psychological thrillers that keep readers turning pages late into the night. Her novels have won multiple awards and critical acclaim, establishing her as a standout voice in contemporary psychological suspense and thriller fiction.
Her latest release, Nowhere Man (October 3, 2024), is available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook. It follows the success of Semi-Detached (April 3, 2023) which was recently honoured with the Chill With A Book Readers' Award.
Deborah’s second novel, Me and My Shadow, received the prestigious Chill With A Book Premier Award, given only to books that earn outstanding ratings across all reviewer categories. Her debut, What's Left Unsaid, won the Runner-Up Prize for Best Book of 2018 in the same awards and remains a reader favourite.
In addition to fiction, Deborah is the author of the highly respected non-fiction guide, The Essential Family Guide to Caring for Older People, a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2022.
A recognised expert on elder care, Deborah frequently appears on BBC, ITV, Sky, and Channel 5, offering expert advice on aging, care planning, and family support. She contributes regularly to national newspapers and lifestyle magazines, helping families navigate the complexities of caring for older relatives.
She lives in London with her husband and their delightfully mischievous golden retriever
This is a gripping thriller that revolves around two couples – Diana and Patrick, Angie and Ray. Diana finds Patrick dead and, at the same time, Angie’s husband cannot be found. You think you know the answer but the author has turned this is into a well-crafted web of interconnecting lies that you will have to pick through to find the truth. It’s brilliant.
Nowhere Man is a suspense thriller which opens with a harrowing suicide that leaves one woman reeling with unanswered questions about her husband.
Another household is also in turmoil. Angie’s husband Ray works away from home for weeks and even months at a time, returning rarely. Meanwhile, Angie struggles to raise their teenage son and longs for the help of his absent father.
The narrative builds each time it hops between these characters with the added diversion of side stories from a handful of other interesting players. Teenager Daniel’s adoption makes him determined to find out who his real parents were, while an elderly lady is grateful of some help with jobs she can no long do herself.
The story leads the reader one way and then another; I was always trying to guess ahead. As the suspense built, there were a few twists and a couple of surprises which I really didn’t see coming.
This was a fascinating read and had a couple of twists that I didn't see coming. I knew things weren't quite as they seemed and initially thought the two women had married the same man. However, it's so much more complicated than that and our journey through the story is a twisty, turny one. I liked the attention to detail and how things unfold in this. You can't help but empathise for the women and the situations that they've found themselves in. It is much bigger than them though and the deception runs deep in this!! The women in this are brilliant and between them manage to piece things together ultimately uncovering the truth while also building a friendship and family together.
This was a multi-layered thriller that was still easy to read. I really enjoyed the strong FMC and their unlikely friendship that formed out of a terrible situation. They were a great team. From the beginning, this story felt like nothing was as it seemed and I enjoyed the twists too.
”Nowhere Man” is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
I enjoyed the plot of this book. It was easy to figure out about halfway through but still entertaining and leaving you intrigued on how they confront said person. It was satisfying having all the different perspectives connect, and I was so happy for the ending! although I will admit the ending did seem rushed and I wanted more details on what happened to the antagonist. Overall, this is a good thriller. Thanks for the ARC through booksirens!
Nowhere Man opens with Patrick consumed by the grim task of preparing to end his own life. His body is discovered by his wife, Diana, who is left devastated, shocked and with a flood of unanswered questions. As the story unfolds, the reader is introduced to a cast of seemingly unrelated characters, each with their own complex narratives. The author skillfully weaves between these characters, drawing the reader into a web of suspenseful twists and turns.
I particularly enjoyed the seamless flow between chapters, with tension mounting as each character’s backstory was revealed. Just when I thought I had worked things out, the story would take an unexpected turn. The climax turns out to be a rollercoaster of surprises adding to the impact of this dark, intricately plotted tale.
If you're a fan of psychological thrillers packed with complex plots and sometimes dark outcomes, Nowhere Man will keep you guessing until the very end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
From the start, I knew I would enjoy this thriller, and I was not disappointed throughout. There are 3 distinct points of views, and I found all 3 really interesting. I had an idea on how they would intersect but I still was partly surprised. I will not say more, just that I enjoyed some of the twists.
In a situation similar to the one Angie and Diana are in, you usually end up rooting for one or the other, especially when you don't have thd full context. Here, both characters were enjoyable and relatable to some extent Having more insights than them, you (I) do wanted to shake them, and start adding 1 + 1 😅. There was at big oversight from the characters towards the end, but I tried not to judge anyone too harshly.
The writing style made it an easy and engaging read, and bonus points: some of the action was in St Albans (where I currently live). It's always fun to project the action somewhere you know!
As for the pace, it was relatively slow, but this wasn't a negative for me, just sharing some information
I greatly enjoyed this book and definitely wanted to keep reading. It opens with a compelling scene and created a situation where the reader wanted to know how it was all connected.
Some parts of the story were obvious and others less so.
The characters were interested but I found myself confused at the time the novel was set in. It was a present day story with WhatsApp and cell phones but sometimes it felt like it was occurring before Google.
There were tons of characters to keep straight. Sometimes I found myself wanting to take notes to keep all the names straight.
The ending though interesting did have a few obvious plot holes that impacted my rating. However, the problems were not enough to spoil the story for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this thriller. It was a quick entertaining read.
This book had me hooked. This is not a genre I read a lot of, but I'm definitely going to start after reading nowhere, man.
The book has a couple of main characters that we follow, including Diana, whose husband Patrick takes his own life at the beginning of the book, and Angie, whose husband goes missing.
I really enjoyed when a new character was brought in, we got their perspective and some backstory from them. This book has so many different twists and turns that all eventually lead to the conclusion of the story and how everything was interconnected.
This book definitely took me on a twisty adventure, and I didn't guess much of what was going on until it was practically revealed in the book.
It was a great story that was engaging and interesting until the very end.
What a great book! So this book follow two families, Diana and Patrick, and Angie, Ray and their son Ben. We start with the sudden death of Patrick and the disappearance of Ray, both events lead to a lot of unanswered questions that those left behind go in search of the answers.
I really enjoyed this book, Deborah has a great writing style and storytelling ability. I found as I got closer and closer to the end I kept wondering how Deborah was going to bring it all together, and I was not disappointed, what a great ending!
This is a strong 4 star read for me and I would definitely recommend!
Gaslighting, blackmail,, blatant lies, and a common crook/conman. Not a unique premise, but one well played! It made me feel ill the more I read and figured out what was going on behind the scenes. This had to be a sociopath, because there was no guilt. They felt it was owed to them. I empathized with the people , because they felt helpless and hopeless in their given situations . Twists and surprises that are stunning. Satisfying conclusion. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.
4.5 stars! Well, this read was full of twists and turns! Some were more unexpected than others. I was hooked from page one and read it in one setting just to find out what happens next.
I thought it was written well, and the villain really was evil, which I loved. I like a boom that brings out all the emotions, and this did not disappoint.
The story unfolds from multiple points of view, which at first seem to be unconnected. However, they come together in an explosive ending. My only criticism is that the ending felt rushed and left some unanswered questions. But it did bring things full circle.
The plot was engaging, and I was totally invested. I loved Ben and Julia!
With thanks to the author and Love Book Tours for providing a copy of the book. This is my honest opinion, which I'm leaving voluntarily.
Two families, seemingly unconnected have questions around the mysterious lives of the males in their families. There are lies, deceit and secrets yet to be uncovered as the women seek the truth. This book was so much more of a page turner than I expected. Deborah Stone’s creative writing had many twists and turns and kept me hooked to the very last page. At times poignant, at times enraging I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and can’t wait to read another by this author.
I really enjoyed this book it was absolutely hooked right from the first page. I have previously read a book by this author and I loved it and this was no different.
It is well written with a compelling story line and a cast of characters that are well developed and some of which I found do relatable and likeable, and so e of which I really didn't like. However like them or not they were all so believable.
This book was so tense at parts and full of suspense and mystery. I tried so hard to figure out what was going on and made guesses all the way through none of which were right and the couple of twists at the end really surprised me.
I loved it and can't wait to read even more by the author
This book is a good one. Twisty enough to keep you on your toes. I did have trouble at first keeping the characters straight. The ending is quite a surprise.
A twisty little mystery/thriller. Multiple POVs (which I love) that keeps your attention while this complex web slowly unravels. My first book by this author but definitely won't be my last!
This may be the first book I have read by this incredible author but it most certainly will not be my last!!
'Nowhere Man' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Deborah discusses/includes blackmail, identity theft, child abuse, sex work, domestic violence, suicide, manipulation and sexual assault. Deborah has covered these topics as sensitively as possible to tell the story.
Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done Deborah!!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!!
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading the next book, and the previous one in this series.
I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible author's books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by the incredibly talented Deborah Stone. In this absolutely gripping page turner we meet Diana WHITLOCK (shares my surname, sorry I just had to point that out!!) who is married to Patrick Whitlock. She arrives home one day to discover that he has committed suicide. She has no idea why although he did leave a strange suicide note. Diana runs her own shop 'Gifts And Glamour' while also trying to deal and help her elderly Mother Marjorie who is vulnerable and keeps falling. While working in her shop she meets Ian who offers to help her with the shop. Things go from bad to worse when Marjorie starts receiving visits from a man who states he is from the council offering to help her with her bins and paperwork. We also meet Angie who is married to Ray, has s on called Ben and her best friend is Julie. Ray works with the secret service so is constantly away for long periods of time with no way to contact him. This time he is away longer than usual and Angie and Ben are getting worried about him. When Angie discovers some paperwork hidden away in a cupboard she starts questioning how much she really knows about Ray. What is Ray hiding from her? Can Diana find out who the man visiting her husband is? Why did Patrick kill himself? Well, if you want to know you will have to grab your copy of this page turner today to find out for yourselves and I can guarantee that you will not regret it!! With a storyline ram packed with suspense, lies, family, friendship, blackmail, heartache, secrets and so, so much more what on Earth are you waiting for?? Deborah has done an absolutely amazing job writing this twisty page turner through not only multiple protagonist perspectives but also multiple timelines ensuring readers get to see everything that the characters are. Her vivid and evocative writing skills also ensures the reader can hear, see and feel everything that each of the characters are. She weaves the chapters together perfectly to ensure there is no confusion while we discover the lives of Diana, Patrick, Angie, Ben and Ray. It is scarily realistic and makes you question how much you really know someone!! It also serves a s a reminder to keep a close eye on vulnerable friends and family!! This book truly is an absolutely addictive, nail biting, page turning, heart racing and compelling page turner!! It has so many layers of mysteries and crimes for the reader to be kept guessing throughout. This fantastic thriller is absolutely packed with twists, turns, shocks, crime and red herrings throughout I had no idea who did what until the end. I kept thinking that I had worked out the threads holding the characters together but Deborah proved me wrong time and time again!! I lost count of how many times my jaw literally dropped and I was mind blown. This is an achievement in itself as it is definitely getting harder to surprise me with the amount of crime novels I've read so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO DEBORAH on managing it time and time again!! . There was so many explosive bombshells in this book that I actually lost count on how many times I was shocked which I didn't think would be possible!!! The plot was unique and realistic and Deborah's brilliant descriptions brings absolutely everything to life in front of your eyes. It started straight in the action and kept you going on a roller-coaster ride of suspense throughout. It is so hard to not say too much without giving anything away to future readers but I'm sure once people have read it they will know exactly what I mean. Well done Deborah you did absolutely amazing and everything was tied up perfectly. The twists and turns in this book left me going from one chapter to another!!! I completely devoured it in one sitting as I just could not put it down. Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride!!! I just could not put this book down and I cannot wait to read more books by this incredible author!!!
Before you start this make sure you clear your schedule because once you pick it up you are not going to want to put it down!!!!
The characters were very realistic, multi layered and well rounded and again their personalities reflected the storyline and how they would act, etc perfectly. The descriptions gave a really good in depth view of how the characters were feeling and what they were thinking. My heart went out to both Diana and Angie for what they were going through with Diana looking after her Mum and Angie practically being a single mum to a stroppy teenager. every one of the characters had their own unique personalities with individual flaws, quirks, secrets, strengths and weaknesses!! They were all well developed, unique and thanks to Deborah's fantastic evocative writing skills they all came to life before my eyes. That is all I will say as I don't want to run the risk of dropping any hints or spoilers. However, whether you love or hate these characters, they all have their own strong unique personalities and they all bring the story to life playing their roles perfectly.
Congratulations Deborah on a fantastic and gripping success that I just could not put down. I cannot wait to get stuck in to your next book. This is exactly why I would like to welcome you to my favourite authors club!!!
Overall an absolute must read, twisty, addictive page turning thriller that will keep you hooked throughout!
Nowhere Man by Deborah Stone. I really did enjoy this book. I loved the cover of this book. That's what drew me to sign up for this tour. I was unsure how Diana and Angie's lives were connected. This was a quick and easy read. I read this book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. The chapters were short and quick to get through. I was very surprised by the ending. I did not expect it to end like that. I would definitely recommend this book.
I read this via an ARC from the author, for Rosie Amber's Book Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.
This is the sort of story that makes you keep turning the pages because, even if you're pretty sure what's going on, you suspect that there might be another twist, and maybe even one more...
Deborah Stone has a relaxed, flowing writing style that made this book an 'easy read'. The plot was well structured, with the complex web of events and deceptions slotting together nicely, and all the intricacies and character history being woven in at just the right time.
I did have a few issues with the novel as a whole, though. For the plot to work as well as it did, both Diana and Angie needed to be unusually insular, with little or no social life, or awareness of anything outside their own tiny corner of the world. The reasons for this are revealed over the course of the book but, having said that, many of the attitudes seemed to come from another era. I wondered, at first, if the story was set in the 1970s or 80s. A secondary character, Julia, I also found problematic; in her first scene she manages to eat almost an entire sponge cake, which was amusingly written, giving the extra detail that fleshes out a secondary character so well. I thought the pudding was somewhat over-egged, though, her self-indulgence being highlighted in almost every scene she was in. I found the dialogue unrealistic, too, with these characters.
The males, however, worked much better. Daniel's story was good to read, while Ben and Patrick were convincing, as was Diana's mother.
To sum up, the plot is compelling, and I did enjoy it - I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a cracking plot and is able to suspend disbelief - but aside from a couple of mentions of WhatsApp, the online world with all its possibilities (especially where scammers, tracking people down and the general gleaning of information are concerned) seemed to barely exist. As a contemporary story, it didn't feel quite feasible.
Last year, I read my first Deborah Stone book (which I think was also hers as well). It was in a newly minted favorite genre - thrillers - but a different flavor - domestic. And this book proves that she is only getting better at those. While the official literature doesn't call this one a domestic thriller, it has all the ingredients of one in my book (pun very intended).
In some ways, this book reminds me of one of the great mystery shows like Criminal Minds - not because it's a detective/mystery story - but because it instills a sense of fear that plagues us all at some point. Do we truly know the people we love? Can we ever really know anyone? How many secrets can even our most intimate friends and loved ones keep?
Building all of that from the inside - instead of from the police angle we normally see - was so incredibly interesting. While we see some glimpses of the "criminal" as well, we see more of the story from those people who get interviewed who say "he was such a normal guy," peeling back the curtain on how that happens.
I really enjoyed the twists, turns, and people that got us from Point A to Point Z on this one. I did not expect the twists, though I did pick up the occasional clue and weave it together with others the author so carefully laid out for us. I really enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first. It was even better because I remember the ending making myself and others angry on the first one, whereas this one had a wild twist that left me reeling and maybe vindicated.
Who's It For?
This is a complex, twisting domestic/psychological thriller that will keep you guessing the whole way through until the end. It contains a great number of triggering subjects so keep that in mind when diving in. If you can handle them, this is a book you’ll enjoy.
Content Warnings: Suicide, Sexual Exploitation, Sex Work, Statutory and Other Sexual Assault, Identity Repression, Blackmail, Domestic Violence/Control, Child Abuse, Elder Abuse, Partner Death, and More. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of subjects that may offend or trigger individuals.
I would have given this book 5 stars, if there were more proper editing done. I am not sure if this was self-published, but the writer should really make sure that her next books are edited by a professional.
The following are examples of incorrect sentence structures or just plain errors:
"... my boss is a complete bastard and refused me more any time off."
"... and would definitely not approve of anyone outside the family knowing any their business."
"They are all sort of are, darling,"
There were many more, but lets leave it at that.
Also in chapter 5 Diana's mom wet herself in bed, because she could not move. Then nothing is said again about her mother, but in chapter 10 the mother is suddenly up and about - with no explanation about what happened to her in chapter 5.
Apart from these, it is an outstanding book with an extremely well thought out plot and I only figured out almost at the end of the book what the twist is going to be.
I finished the book basically in two sittings and would have kept on reading if I did not have to go to work.
The chapters are short and keep one's attention. You just want to carry on reading one more chapter.
The story is mainly about Diana and Patrick, Angie & Ray and their son, Ben
Diana comes home one afternoon and finds Patrick dead. He committed suicide and Diana have so many unanswered questions.
In another town, Angie’s husband, Ray, works for MI5, but then stays away unusually long and Angie decides to dig deeper into Ray's business.
A whole web of lies, secrets and deceit is exposed and the two women's lives collide with a terrible revelation.
Nowhere Man definitely keeps the reader on edge until the final twist.
I received a copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved Nowhere Man! I don't often read British literature, but I'll have to make a point of doing so if it's anything like Nowhere Man.
The novel uses various peoples' points of view in alternating chapters to build parallel storylines. But it's not as formulatic as some books - sometimes the same character is highlighted several chapters in a row vs. every chapter featuring a different character. I felt that was effective in building the story behind each person.
For the first third of the book, the reader wonders where these storylines are all leading. I was frustrated with Angie's lack of a backbone with her absent husband, Ray, and her surly teenage son. Diana is a sympathetic character due to her husband's suicide and elderly mother's issues.
Deborah Stone is a master at weaving a compelling story, especially as chapters begin to bring past events to the fore. I was pleasantly surprised at how the novel was woven together.
My only criticism would be that the last few chapters seemed rushed. Deborah Stone took so much time building the background but then used only 58 pages (on my phone's Kindle) to wrap up the entire novel. She seemed to assume that the reader would accept the lack of details in some aspects, but I would have liked her to put in more detail (I don't want to include any spoilers).
But overall, I really enjoyed Nowhere Man and highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When Diana arrives home one evening to find her husband Patrick dead, her world shatters. His mysterious death leaves behind so many unanswered questions. Meanwhile, miles away, Angie’s husband, Ray, vanishes without a trace, abandoning her and their troubled teenage son.
As both women dig deeper into their husbands’ pasts, they stumble upon a chilling web of lies, deceit, and long-buried secrets. Their separate searches soon collide and dark, twisted revelations force them to face a terrifying truth that threatens everything they hold dear.
Nowhere Man is a suspense thriller that immediately pulls you in with its captivating blurb! I love being enchanted by a blurb like that! The multi-POV adds a twist that keeps the story interesting and it's one of my favourite features in a book. The short chapters in this book are perfect for my reading style, making it easy for me to devour this book.
There were moments in the book where I could easily predict the plot, which created a slight disconnect for me. However, the author excels at keeping readers engaged, making it hard to put the book down as the story unfolds.
If you love psychological thrillers that keep you on edge, turning pages late into the night while convincing yourself to read just one more chapter, then this book is definitely worth a read!
Thank you @lovebookstours and @deborahstoneauthor for providing me this opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review
I remember reading Semi-Detached by Deborah a while ago, and I remember how much I enjoyed it. So, of course, when I saw that she had a new book out, I had to read this one too! And, yes. I’m glad I did read it. I think I’m adding her to my auto-read authors from now on.
This was one of those books that makes you question your own life as you read it. It makes you question your own reality. It makes you question your own relationships, and it makes you wonder if you really know those who you think you know. Because the chances are, you don’t. Not really. The chances are, you know only what you are shown, what you want to know, and what you are ready and willing to see. The story takes you by the hand and pretends to be taking you out of the woods. Instead, it takes you to a swamp and tells you it’s a funfair. And then you realize that, in fact, you have always lived with the swamp monsters, and it’s quite possible you might be one of them too. Ok, there are no woods, no swamps, and no swamp monsters. I just don’t want to give any of the plot away and I don’t want to give the final twist away. It just seemed to be the best analogy I could think of to describe the level of gaslighting and lies the story holds.
Deborah Stone's "Nowhere Man" is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the lives of two families and the mysteries surrounding them. Diana and Patrick have been married for years, though Diana’s strained relationship with her mother adds tension to her life. One evening, after returning from caring for her mother, Diana finds Patrick sitting lifeless in a chair. Despite calling 911, she knows it’s too late—her protector is gone. But the question remains: was it suicide, or is someone responsible for Patrick’s death as there was no signature on the note that he left?
Meanwhile, Angie’s son Ben anxiously awaits the return of his father, Ray, who works for the Ministry of Defence. Ray is unreachable during work hours, and when he fails to come home overnight, Angie is reminded of his warning: one day, he might not return, and she would have to accept it.
This novel kept me hooked from the first page to the last. Deborah Stone's writing is sharp and engaging, with expertly woven connections between the characters. Diana, in particular, stood out as my favorite. Each twist in the plot added to the suspense, making it a truly unputdownable read. I can't wait to explore more of Stone’s work.
Thank you @deborahstone_ @KellyALacey @lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter #FreeReview #FreeBookReview #ReadAlong #LBTThriller #LBTReadAlong for letting me be part of this readalong. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the read along this month, loved the questions and thoroughly enjoyed reading nowhere man. It was a great and entertaining read. Nowhere Man is a psychological thriller that gripped me straight the way, and I read it rapidly to find out the ending. The story is well written with fantastic twists that worked extremely well through the book. The ending was good, but I felt like I wanted more in a certain area near the end. Don’t want to give away anything. There are two narratives, one is Diana, who’s married to Patrick. Diana founds him dead which she doesn't understand why this has happened, and her Mum is not well, and she’s trying to help her, but Megan has questions that need to be answered. Then there is Angie, whose husband Ray has suddenly disappeared and her son being hard work to. There are some triggering topics in the book, suicide, sex, child abuse, and violence that is through the book, but the author Deborah Stone deals with them really well in the book. I like how the two characters intertwine with each other. It works extremely well, and I did feel for them both due to what was happening to them both, and I just wanted them to find the answers they needed so they could move on. This is an easy read that will grip you, and the chapters are short as well. This is a spectacular read 5 stars.
Twisted does not even do this one justice. Shew. Diana and Patrick have what seems to be a normal marriage. Nothing out of the ordinary. They each have separate lives during the day, but don’t most married couples? They come home together; they share a bank account. But Diana finds Patrick has committed suicide, left a note and she still doesn’t understand. Same town, Angie is married to Ray, and they have one teenage son, Ben. Ray works for MI5 and has their entire marriage. Angie is determined to get Ray to slow down and retire or take a job that isn’t so secretive. She is tired of being alone. As the story progresses, the gaslighting and lies get deeper leaving Diana and Angie (who do not know each other) with endless questions and more hurt. I love the use of varying POV’s in alternating chapters to build parallel timelines. Oh the frustration! (loved it) The amount of lies and deception layered into this will have your blood pressure boiling. (take your meds and enjoy)