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My Husband the Murderer
She's the only one her imprisoned husband will confess to—but what he has to say may destroy her—in this chilling new novel by the author of A True Crime . . .
Edward O'Connor has been in prison for twenty-seven years. Now he's ready to admit to the crimes the police have always suspected him of. But there's a Edward will only speak to his estranged wife, Maggie.
Since her husband's incarceration, Maggie has tried to live a quiet existence. But with the media relentlessly tracking her down, she's had to repeatedly pack up her life and move with her two sons.
The detectives are desperate for Maggie's help. Only she can unlock Edward's secrets. But during her visits, he wants to discuss their marriage, their holidays, and their sons, leaving Maggie with questions about the past.
As the press begins hounding her family once again and the string of confessions continues, Maggie soon realizes the final revelation might be one she would rather never hear . . .
Edward O'Connor has been in prison for twenty-seven years. Now he's ready to admit to the crimes the police have always suspected him of. But there's a Edward will only speak to his estranged wife, Maggie.
Since her husband's incarceration, Maggie has tried to live a quiet existence. But with the media relentlessly tracking her down, she's had to repeatedly pack up her life and move with her two sons.
The detectives are desperate for Maggie's help. Only she can unlock Edward's secrets. But during her visits, he wants to discuss their marriage, their holidays, and their sons, leaving Maggie with questions about the past.
As the press begins hounding her family once again and the string of confessions continues, Maggie soon realizes the final revelation might be one she would rather never hear . . .
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2024
64 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 25, 2024
Maggie’s has two adult sons and an ex husband who has been incarcerated for over twenty years now because it turns out he was a serial killer and she had no idea. Suddenly the police are at her door telling her that he has cancer and will be dead soon but, before that happens he is willing to confess to Maggie and only Maggie, about the other young women he murdered and where the bodies are. A walk down memory lane may just be her undoing. A creepy and unnerving story.
May 3, 2025
Ok, a positive first is that Charlotte can use English with a broad vocabulary and can write well.
If you want a thriller or suspense, this is definitely not a book for you. I’d say this is more a literature police procedural with a civilian main character instead, but it focusses more on the civilian rather than police work, but most of the book is in police stations.
Now the main points, the problems with the book.
For me, Maggie is well developed in us sort of knowing about the small details in her life, but they become repetitive and boring.
She is old, and I unfortunately often had to ask myself if she irritated me because of her defeatist, warn-down, silly personality or is the character just also very boring because she is in the old person’s body and sort of is this grumpy reclusive and totally irritating person?
Then there are bits when you think the author just quickly read a Criminology book and sort of made Maggie into a sort of cartoon, maybe not a real-life psychological study.
What I mean is this.
Her husband is already a serial killer so she has already mentally gone through the worst and trauma, but everytime she hears of other murders he confesses to she just has more silly relapses as if it were the first time and it carries on and on for pages.
Even at it’s short length so much of this book could have been left out and was so agonizingly dull to get through.
The next problem. Maggie gets help to change her identity from the government, but no psychological help?
So she has a psychologist but can’t tell her her past or what her husband did? Totally laughable, implausible and ridiculous.
Then the ending.
It sort of makes sense, maybe interesting-ish, it is needed to tie the book together, but the book is not worth it.
Maybe the Brits should leave serial killers to the Americans and the larger, more vast and interesting country of America. Americans for me seem to write much better stories about the serial killer phenomenon.
Oh and is it just me, but isn’t it another implausibility, Maggie’s very quite distant relationship with her children and then what we get at the end?
A book is supposed to be a bit of the author and I really don’t know if the author made the character and most of the book irritating on purpose trying to tell a story, or if I should bother reading her other books.
Whatever, honestly, you can really safely skip this.
Now our song. Need to think of something that helps me feel less irritated by mostly the waste of time I feel most of this book was.
On second thoughts, maybe not, because maybe this song fits this book quite well. Afterwards will listen to something else, but this depressing song and boring book fit.
https://youtu.be/pFcZH6HtfPw?si=064vC...
If you want a thriller or suspense, this is definitely not a book for you. I’d say this is more a literature police procedural with a civilian main character instead, but it focusses more on the civilian rather than police work, but most of the book is in police stations.
Now the main points, the problems with the book.
For me, Maggie is well developed in us sort of knowing about the small details in her life, but they become repetitive and boring.
She is old, and I unfortunately often had to ask myself if she irritated me because of her defeatist, warn-down, silly personality or is the character just also very boring because she is in the old person’s body and sort of is this grumpy reclusive and totally irritating person?
Then there are bits when you think the author just quickly read a Criminology book and sort of made Maggie into a sort of cartoon, maybe not a real-life psychological study.
What I mean is this.
Her husband is already a serial killer so she has already mentally gone through the worst and trauma, but everytime she hears of other murders he confesses to she just has more silly relapses as if it were the first time and it carries on and on for pages.
Even at it’s short length so much of this book could have been left out and was so agonizingly dull to get through.
The next problem. Maggie gets help to change her identity from the government, but no psychological help?
So she has a psychologist but can’t tell her her past or what her husband did? Totally laughable, implausible and ridiculous.
Then the ending.
It sort of makes sense, maybe interesting-ish, it is needed to tie the book together, but the book is not worth it.
Maybe the Brits should leave serial killers to the Americans and the larger, more vast and interesting country of America. Americans for me seem to write much better stories about the serial killer phenomenon.
Oh and is it just me, but isn’t it another implausibility, Maggie’s very quite distant relationship with her children and then what we get at the end?
A book is supposed to be a bit of the author and I really don’t know if the author made the character and most of the book irritating on purpose trying to tell a story, or if I should bother reading her other books.
Whatever, honestly, you can really safely skip this.
Now our song. Need to think of something that helps me feel less irritated by mostly the waste of time I feel most of this book was.
On second thoughts, maybe not, because maybe this song fits this book quite well. Afterwards will listen to something else, but this depressing song and boring book fit.
https://youtu.be/pFcZH6HtfPw?si=064vC...
November 10, 2024
The premise of this book is intriguing: Maggie, our main character, faces a tough decision when her ex-husband, Edward—jailed for nine murders—offers to reveal the truth about a missing body and other unsolved cases, but only if she agrees to visit him in prison. For Maggie, who has worked hard to rebuild her life for herself and her two children, this is a haunting proposition.
Unfortunately, the story didn’t live up to its potential for me. Much of the story dragged at a sluggish pace, making it feel less like a thriller and more like a slow character study. When the twist finally arrived, it felt predictable and hackneyed. I kept hoping the book would wrap up with her final visit to Edward, but instead, it stretched on for several more chapters, diluting the impact of the ending.
I was drawn in by the unique concept, but ultimately, this one felt more stale than suspenseful.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, the story didn’t live up to its potential for me. Much of the story dragged at a sluggish pace, making it feel less like a thriller and more like a slow character study. When the twist finally arrived, it felt predictable and hackneyed. I kept hoping the book would wrap up with her final visit to Edward, but instead, it stretched on for several more chapters, diluting the impact of the ending.
I was drawn in by the unique concept, but ultimately, this one felt more stale than suspenseful.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 10, 2024
We first meet Maggie, living a very quiet and isolated life. She works online, has one friend, and volunteers at the local homeless shelter. She has a strained relationship with her sons, and she avoids all attempts by others to delve more deeply into her solitude.
Maggie is actually not her real name, and we find out that years earlier, her husband, Edward O'Connor, was arrested and convicted of the murders of several young women. The knowledge just about destroyed Maggie and her two sons, as they were constantly hounded by reporters, hated by their neighbours, friends and acquaintances. To save herself and her boys, she moved away, and moved each time she needed to to preserve her boys' privacy and safety.
Now, twenty-seven years later, the two detectives in charge of her husband's case, approach her with a strange request. Edward wants to share information about further kills, but won't say anything about them to anyone but Maggie.
Horrified, Maggie initially refuses, but after considering the emotions of the affected families, agrees to meet with him. Edward seems to be playing a game, however, recalling various family vacations with her. This leads her to review family photo albums, and remember these vacations, as well as the progress of her marriage. This resurrection of what should be happy memories of their courtship, love, raising of two children, should be happy, but only serves to further erode her careful hold on her emotions.
Her grown sons are horrified that she is in contact with Edward again, with the elder furious, and the younger quietly supportive.
Maggie begins to suspect that Edward is guiding her to some sort of further horrible revelation about their family, which she does eventually get to, and she must then make a choice between justice, or protecting her family.
Author Charlotte Barnes builds a claustrophobic atmosphere in this intriguing story. This book is not a thriller; rather, it's an exploration of the psychology of a woman whose partner has done horrific things. Maggie wonders how she could have missed all the signs of her husband's darkness, but as a skilled predator, he was adept at hiding much about himself.
His slow spooling out of information was chilling, and we watch Maggie come apart as she reconsiders so much about her understanding of herself and her former life.
The author does give us a twist in the plot, and this was a little surprising but one I guessed, as it shows a slightly different and unexpected side to Edward. He never redeems himself, however, throughout this novel, but it's the journey Maggie makes, and her difficult and disturbing choice, that makes this book the compelling and tense read that it is.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Bloodhound Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Maggie is actually not her real name, and we find out that years earlier, her husband, Edward O'Connor, was arrested and convicted of the murders of several young women. The knowledge just about destroyed Maggie and her two sons, as they were constantly hounded by reporters, hated by their neighbours, friends and acquaintances. To save herself and her boys, she moved away, and moved each time she needed to to preserve her boys' privacy and safety.
Now, twenty-seven years later, the two detectives in charge of her husband's case, approach her with a strange request. Edward wants to share information about further kills, but won't say anything about them to anyone but Maggie.
Horrified, Maggie initially refuses, but after considering the emotions of the affected families, agrees to meet with him. Edward seems to be playing a game, however, recalling various family vacations with her. This leads her to review family photo albums, and remember these vacations, as well as the progress of her marriage. This resurrection of what should be happy memories of their courtship, love, raising of two children, should be happy, but only serves to further erode her careful hold on her emotions.
Her grown sons are horrified that she is in contact with Edward again, with the elder furious, and the younger quietly supportive.
Maggie begins to suspect that Edward is guiding her to some sort of further horrible revelation about their family, which she does eventually get to, and she must then make a choice between justice, or protecting her family.
Author Charlotte Barnes builds a claustrophobic atmosphere in this intriguing story. This book is not a thriller; rather, it's an exploration of the psychology of a woman whose partner has done horrific things. Maggie wonders how she could have missed all the signs of her husband's darkness, but as a skilled predator, he was adept at hiding much about himself.
His slow spooling out of information was chilling, and we watch Maggie come apart as she reconsiders so much about her understanding of herself and her former life.
The author does give us a twist in the plot, and this was a little surprising but one I guessed, as it shows a slightly different and unexpected side to Edward. He never redeems himself, however, throughout this novel, but it's the journey Maggie makes, and her difficult and disturbing choice, that makes this book the compelling and tense read that it is.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Bloodhound Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
February 3, 2025
A good easy read, infuriating at times cause I wanted it to stop being so cyclical, I did like the twist but tbh it was predictable, I liked how it rounded out at the end, very satisfying
October 11, 2025
2.5⭐️ Not much to say. Kind of boring but few parts made me interested enough to finish.
October 26, 2024
We follow our MC's POV, Maggie. Her ex-husband, Edward O'Connor, is in jail for nine murders he committed throughout their life together. He's willing to confess to some information about a body the police never found and also a string of other murders they did not link to him. There's a catch though; he will only speak to Maggie about it and not the police. Maggie has tried putting all of this behind her for the sake of her own mental health and her two older children. She has a tough decision to make in talking to him and sarcificing the quiet life she has made for herself.
While the idea of this book sounded interesting and unique, the execution fell really short for me. The first 30% of the book was Maggie just deciding if she was going to visit her ex-husband in jail or not. It really dragged on. Then the middle portion of the book was really a lot about her emotions and didn't feel like a thriller book. The twist was disappointing. It felt like it's been done before and was so predictable. I feel like the ending part where Maggie went to talk to Edward one last time should have been the end of the book. Nope, it dragged on for CHAPTERS more than that.
I really was interested in the description of this book, but I'm sorry to say it just ended up being really boring and stale to me.
Thank you Charlotte Barnes, Bloodhound Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
While the idea of this book sounded interesting and unique, the execution fell really short for me. The first 30% of the book was Maggie just deciding if she was going to visit her ex-husband in jail or not. It really dragged on. Then the middle portion of the book was really a lot about her emotions and didn't feel like a thriller book. The twist was disappointing. It felt like it's been done before and was so predictable. I feel like the ending part where Maggie went to talk to Edward one last time should have been the end of the book. Nope, it dragged on for CHAPTERS more than that.
I really was interested in the description of this book, but I'm sorry to say it just ended up being really boring and stale to me.
Thank you Charlotte Barnes, Bloodhound Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
October 17, 2024
I loved this book! I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. This was beautiful and sad. Unputdownable
October 28, 2024
4 ⭐️
What an insane plot twist this had omg 😭
To start, the title intrigued me, so I immediately requested it, and thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the e-arc!
This had me gripped, and the plot twist to this, omg, poor Maggie! I really felt for her. This had me gripped, I was really hoping to delve into Maggie’s now ex husband, who is a serial killer, and is finally ready to confess to his crimes. But the plot twist I did not see coming omg. It kind of made me think, if Edward had a moral side to him; I’m not excusing his behaviour or how he targeting and murdered girls, I wish we got to know more psychologically about why he did it, but I guess it all alluded to the suspense.
I really enjoyed this for my first psychological thriller!
What an insane plot twist this had omg 😭
To start, the title intrigued me, so I immediately requested it, and thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the e-arc!
This had me gripped, and the plot twist to this, omg, poor Maggie! I really felt for her. This had me gripped, I was really hoping to delve into Maggie’s now ex husband, who is a serial killer, and is finally ready to confess to his crimes. But the plot twist I did not see coming omg. It kind of made me think, if Edward had a moral side to him; I’m not excusing his behaviour or how he targeting and murdered girls, I wish we got to know more psychologically about why he did it, but I guess it all alluded to the suspense.
I really enjoyed this for my first psychological thriller!
September 3, 2025
All about the characters
August 16, 2025
4.5! Loved her writing style, loved the story.
January 3, 2025
The premise had a lot of potential but this wasn’t really for me. Felt like nothing much happened and there was a lot of detail about things I didn’t care about (so much cooking) and basically nothing about the things I was interested in. The protagonist says that her family disapproved of the husband but there’s no detail why. We get no insight into the husband’s upbringing or motivations. I think it would really benefit from a more challenging editor, and maybe from including the perspectives of different characters.
October 29, 2024
Based on the synopsis, I really wanted to love this book. The plot sounded great and the genre is right up my street. However it was so slow paced I almost gave up. There’s a great plot twist but you have to get through the majority of the book before you get to that bit. Unfortunately this book just didn’t live up to expectations. Thank you to NetGalley, Bloodhound Books and the author for the chance to review.
November 4, 2024
This had the potential to be a really solid thriller, and I was excited to pick it up. Unfortunately, it is a very long and slow starter. To the point where I was completely bored and turned off by the time it got to the meat of the story. And by that point, nothing could save it - although the second half is much more interesting than the first. Only try this one if you've got a lot of patience!
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
December 30, 2025
I was able to guess the ending as one of the scenarios I ran through my mind but over all a good book! There are a good bit of characters and at times I felt like I had to go back and make sure I knew what character was saying what(probably just a me thing tho) and I felt like sometimes there were big skips. Like a lot was skipped. However, I would still recommend!!
November 9, 2024
My Husband, the Murderer by Charlotte Barnes offers a unique premise that combines psychological tension with a moral dilemma, but ultimately, the execution left me wanting more. The story centers around Maggie, whose life has been turned upside down by the shocking revelation that her ex-husband, Edward O'Connor, is in jail for the brutal murders of nine people throughout their marriage. Though Maggie has distanced herself from him and the life they once shared, she is soon forced back into his world when Edward, from prison, offers crucial information about an undiscovered body and unsolved murders in exchange for sharing the details only with her.
The concept is compelling: Maggie must decide whether to give up her quiet life and expose further truths, potentially offering closure to other victims' families, or keep her distance from her ex-husband. The stakes are high, and the tension of Maggie’s internal conflict could have created a gripping narrative. Unfortunately, the pacing in the first third of the book felt far too slow. Maggie’s drawn-out decision-making process about whether to cooperate with the police, while understandable in terms of emotional weight, ultimately became repetitive and detracted from the suspense.
The book sets up what could have been an intense, high-stakes thriller, but the twist near the end didn’t pack the punch I was expecting. While the psychological drama between Maggie and Edward is intriguing, the revelation itself didn’t feel as shocking or impactful as the buildup suggested it would be. The book’s slower pacing and lack of a truly mind-bending twist left it feeling more like a drama about personal responsibility than the fast-paced thriller I had hoped for.
Overall, My Husband, the Murderer explores some interesting moral questions, and Maggie is a sympathetic, complex character. However, the book didn’t quite deliver the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat experience I was anticipating. If you’re looking for a taut, twist-heavy thriller, you might find this one falls a bit flat.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
The concept is compelling: Maggie must decide whether to give up her quiet life and expose further truths, potentially offering closure to other victims' families, or keep her distance from her ex-husband. The stakes are high, and the tension of Maggie’s internal conflict could have created a gripping narrative. Unfortunately, the pacing in the first third of the book felt far too slow. Maggie’s drawn-out decision-making process about whether to cooperate with the police, while understandable in terms of emotional weight, ultimately became repetitive and detracted from the suspense.
The book sets up what could have been an intense, high-stakes thriller, but the twist near the end didn’t pack the punch I was expecting. While the psychological drama between Maggie and Edward is intriguing, the revelation itself didn’t feel as shocking or impactful as the buildup suggested it would be. The book’s slower pacing and lack of a truly mind-bending twist left it feeling more like a drama about personal responsibility than the fast-paced thriller I had hoped for.
Overall, My Husband, the Murderer explores some interesting moral questions, and Maggie is a sympathetic, complex character. However, the book didn’t quite deliver the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat experience I was anticipating. If you’re looking for a taut, twist-heavy thriller, you might find this one falls a bit flat.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
November 6, 2024
4.5 out of 5
Edward O'Connor has been in prison for the last twenty-seven years, convicted of nine young girls. Now approaching death, he's ready to confess all his crimes. But only to Maggie, not the police.
Maggie has done her best over the years to protect her sons from the media spotlight, changing names and houses whenever the attention became too intrusive and overwhelming. If she agrees to help the police, it should start all over again. She will have to be strong to deal with a man she never really knew in order to help other families find their loved ones.
This has a very slow, methodical build-up. No flashy action scenes or graphic descriptions of the murders as they happen. While categorized as a mystery, this book could easily be considered general fiction. At its heart, it is a character study of a woman whose life was ripped to pieces by the man she was supposed to trust and love.
This is definitely NOT my usual type of read, although I am partial to more character driven tales. Yet I found it a welcome distraction when sitting up all night to painfully watch the American Presidential Election, a somewhat comforting presence.
The twist wasn't a total surprise, I admit, even if I still hoped I was wrong. However I might have disagreed with how it was handled, Maggie somehow seemed to find herself again. It ends on a hopeful note, at least for Maggie and her sons, so there's that.
For those with the patience to give this book the time to grow, I would say give it a try. I think you'll enjoy the experience. The first person narrative in Maggie's POV is very well done. Barnes' writing style is easy to absorb, even during the tougher moments. I do find the cover art and blurb to be misleading.
Huge thanks to Bloodhound Books for graciously allowing me access to the ARC through NetGalley! The scheduled publication date is 14 November 2024.
Edward O'Connor has been in prison for the last twenty-seven years, convicted of nine young girls. Now approaching death, he's ready to confess all his crimes. But only to Maggie, not the police.
Maggie has done her best over the years to protect her sons from the media spotlight, changing names and houses whenever the attention became too intrusive and overwhelming. If she agrees to help the police, it should start all over again. She will have to be strong to deal with a man she never really knew in order to help other families find their loved ones.
This has a very slow, methodical build-up. No flashy action scenes or graphic descriptions of the murders as they happen. While categorized as a mystery, this book could easily be considered general fiction. At its heart, it is a character study of a woman whose life was ripped to pieces by the man she was supposed to trust and love.
This is definitely NOT my usual type of read, although I am partial to more character driven tales. Yet I found it a welcome distraction when sitting up all night to painfully watch the American Presidential Election, a somewhat comforting presence.
The twist wasn't a total surprise, I admit, even if I still hoped I was wrong. However I might have disagreed with how it was handled, Maggie somehow seemed to find herself again. It ends on a hopeful note, at least for Maggie and her sons, so there's that.
For those with the patience to give this book the time to grow, I would say give it a try. I think you'll enjoy the experience. The first person narrative in Maggie's POV is very well done. Barnes' writing style is easy to absorb, even during the tougher moments. I do find the cover art and blurb to be misleading.
Huge thanks to Bloodhound Books for graciously allowing me access to the ARC through NetGalley! The scheduled publication date is 14 November 2024.
June 2, 2025
What caught my eye about this book was the title. After that I just had to read it even without reading the blurb of it. So I went into this one with my eyes mostly closed. I watch a lot of Lifetime movies, so I've often said to my husband how awful it would be to discover that the man you love and trust is actually someone you don't know at all...a murderer (or rapist). Such is Maggie's life with her husband Edward who is already in prison as the story begins. Twenty-seven years, in fact.
When Edward learns of his terminal illness and that he only has months to live, he decides that although he confessed to being a serial killer all those years ago, he will now finally give them the details of the nine girls he murdered. Only ONE little catch. He will only give those details to Maggie, his estranged wife of their two sons, if she comes to visit him in prison. She has spent all those years dodging the media and protecting her sons from the vultures as much as possible, so his request was nothing she wanted to do; however, due to various reasons she decides to visit him.
One can only imagine how that would affect a woman whose husband was a serial killer to have to come fact-to-face with him after so many years. What happens is the unexpected...a twist at the end that was (for me) unpredictable. I'm a huge lover of twists that work, so I loved it!
I can't say enough about the characters who were as different as day is night. I thought they were well-developed and each one added something to the overall plot. I didn't find any superfluous ones that should've/could've been left out. I have to say that I wasn't too crazy about Maggie, so she's not a true heroine to me but that didn't change my opinion of the over cast of characters or plot. After all, aren't we all flawed?
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
When Edward learns of his terminal illness and that he only has months to live, he decides that although he confessed to being a serial killer all those years ago, he will now finally give them the details of the nine girls he murdered. Only ONE little catch. He will only give those details to Maggie, his estranged wife of their two sons, if she comes to visit him in prison. She has spent all those years dodging the media and protecting her sons from the vultures as much as possible, so his request was nothing she wanted to do; however, due to various reasons she decides to visit him.
One can only imagine how that would affect a woman whose husband was a serial killer to have to come fact-to-face with him after so many years. What happens is the unexpected...a twist at the end that was (for me) unpredictable. I'm a huge lover of twists that work, so I loved it!
I can't say enough about the characters who were as different as day is night. I thought they were well-developed and each one added something to the overall plot. I didn't find any superfluous ones that should've/could've been left out. I have to say that I wasn't too crazy about Maggie, so she's not a true heroine to me but that didn't change my opinion of the over cast of characters or plot. After all, aren't we all flawed?
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
October 25, 2024
This was an interesting take on the serial killer/psychological thriller type of book in that the serial killer is already in prison, so it's not a matter so much of who did it as "What else does he have to confess"? In My Husband the Murderer, Edward the serial killer finds out he has cancer, and only has six months left to live. He decides he will share important information with the police, but only via his ex-wife, who now goes by Maggie. Maggie has changed her name and moved numerous times over the past twenty-plus years since Edward was caught, tried, and imprisoned, in order to protect her privacy and that of her two (now-grown) sons, Otis and Finn. She never knew about Edward's awful crimes, yet still feels she doesn't deserve a life of happiness, so she has few friends, works from home, and volunteers often at a soup kitchen. After much convincing by various detectives on the case--which does seem to drag on for a bit too long in the beginning of the story--Maggie agrees to meet with Edward for one-hour chats about his victims, in the hope of ultimately finding out where the last one's body is located. These chats continue for weeks on end as both Edward's and Maggie's health deteriorate (his from cancer, hers from stress). However, what she discovers and uncovers is more than anyone expected, herself included, and as she continues, various twists and turns help propel the story, albeit slowly, to a satisfying ending.
October 21, 2024
Maggie, which is not her given name, has a secret. She and her two children have had to move numerous times and change their names as her ex-husband is a convicted serial killer. He now only has a few months to live and is saying he will reveal more of his crimes but only to Maggie which is bringing up all sorts of demons. Her relationship with her children and even her sister is tenuous and fragile and Maggie will do anything to protect them but as the police have said this is the last thing she could possibly do to give some relief to the families of unknown victims and one in particular, Lucy who has never been found. Can Maggie get through this whilst protecting her family and find out more before Edwards death?
This is a very clever premise and as ever brilliantly executed by the talented Ms Barnes who knows how to bring tension between the pages to keep them turning. I liked Maggie who had a good heart, despite everything she had been through. A different take on a psychological book with a twist towards the end with a tension you know is there but not quite why until the reveal. A stunningly clever, very different read, I’d highly recommend.
For more reviews please follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @nickisbookblog
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This is a very clever premise and as ever brilliantly executed by the talented Ms Barnes who knows how to bring tension between the pages to keep them turning. I liked Maggie who had a good heart, despite everything she had been through. A different take on a psychological book with a twist towards the end with a tension you know is there but not quite why until the reveal. A stunningly clever, very different read, I’d highly recommend.
For more reviews please follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @nickisbookblog
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November 11, 2024
This book has such a fascinating synopsis and through it's sedate narrative it lived up to all my hopes for a gripping story.
As the book starts we are flooded with all the information we need to understand the rest of the book, about who Maggie is, what Edward did, their sons and those involved in the investigation. Then the pacing slows to a more realistic pace and we live by Maggie's side as she tries to decide what is best for her, her family and the families of Edward's victims!
How far should you push yourself in a quest for the truth when you feel so much misplaced guilt! Obviously Maggie is not responsible for Edward's crimes and yet she feels like with his current demand that she should submit to him and find the truth for those left behind by his actions. Wouldn't most of us feel the same in her situation?
This was a very interesting look at how one person's crimes and desires affect those left behind after and being a pretty gripping thriller, especially in the latter sections, how far would you go to find and reveal the truth?
I really enjoyed this story, the characters were understandable and quite relatable. The story became more gripping the more that was revealed and the ending, well, I'll just say it was satisfying and leave that there!
As the book starts we are flooded with all the information we need to understand the rest of the book, about who Maggie is, what Edward did, their sons and those involved in the investigation. Then the pacing slows to a more realistic pace and we live by Maggie's side as she tries to decide what is best for her, her family and the families of Edward's victims!
How far should you push yourself in a quest for the truth when you feel so much misplaced guilt! Obviously Maggie is not responsible for Edward's crimes and yet she feels like with his current demand that she should submit to him and find the truth for those left behind by his actions. Wouldn't most of us feel the same in her situation?
This was a very interesting look at how one person's crimes and desires affect those left behind after and being a pretty gripping thriller, especially in the latter sections, how far would you go to find and reveal the truth?
I really enjoyed this story, the characters were understandable and quite relatable. The story became more gripping the more that was revealed and the ending, well, I'll just say it was satisfying and leave that there!
November 14, 2024
Completely heartbreaking and entirely thought provoking. With careful attention to detail a picture is painted of what is left of a person decades after their world has been shattered and oh how I wished Maggie was stood in front of me so I could give her a hug (and a bit of a shake). Every step of this journey felt real and raw and developed in such a natural way that I could believe every new piece of information presented and I was as torn and shocked as Maggie at the point of the shocking twist.
I definitely went into this book with a preconceived idea of what would happen in the course of events but very little proceeded as I expected. Where I thought the focus would be more based on Edward and the police investigation or even the victims I was very pleasantly surprised to find that instead whilst that was happening in the periphery instead the focus is Maggie.
I enjoyed this book and couldn't bear to put it down once I was a few chapters in because I needed to know what was coming (and the sheer will power it took to not turn to the end for a sneak peek was more than I knew I had!). Definitely worth a read just be prepared that your heart may break along the way.
I read this ARC through NetGalley
I definitely went into this book with a preconceived idea of what would happen in the course of events but very little proceeded as I expected. Where I thought the focus would be more based on Edward and the police investigation or even the victims I was very pleasantly surprised to find that instead whilst that was happening in the periphery instead the focus is Maggie.
I enjoyed this book and couldn't bear to put it down once I was a few chapters in because I needed to know what was coming (and the sheer will power it took to not turn to the end for a sneak peek was more than I knew I had!). Definitely worth a read just be prepared that your heart may break along the way.
I read this ARC through NetGalley
November 4, 2024
This is, as you would expect from the title, a disturbing read. It is also gripping and very moving. The author really captures the conflicting emotions of the wife, Maggie, and her sons. The feeing of guilt dominates her outlook, despite the fact that she genuinely had no idea about her husband’s crimes. Shame and fear are abiding sentiments, shared by her sons, who cannot reveal their parentage even to their closest companions. These feelings also seem to create a rift between the mother and her sons. When Maggie is persuaded, against her initial rejection, to speak with her ex husband, one son appears to completely reject her. Yet Maggie’s conscience urges her to try to seek answers in order to provide closure for the parents of one of the victims, Alice. What she discovers is crueller than her worst nightmare. I suspect that readers of the novel will share some of those nightmares as the book reaches its conclusion. A book about love and betrayal, repentance and, possibly, redemption. Read it and prepare to be challenged.
November 8, 2024
3.5 stars.
I found the blurb of this story fascinating. Maggie, a mother of two is a successful chef. She then gets a call that her ex-husband, a serial killer, has requested to meet her.
These meetings take a toll on Maggie as it starts affecting her relationship with her sons and also her own health. Somehow I built these conversations up in my head because I don't think that their interactions were particularly stimulating. The husband gave up a whole lot of information quite easily.
The author does throw you for a loop with a surprise reveal, and I found that conversation the best in the book. I think could have been a bit quicker. The long internal monologues went in circles and you for being this long, no character stands out. We also don't get any information on the husband beside him being a serial killer.
All in all, this was a decent one time read. I am still unsure if I liked the curve ball at the end.
I thank NetGalley and Bloodhound books for this E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found the blurb of this story fascinating. Maggie, a mother of two is a successful chef. She then gets a call that her ex-husband, a serial killer, has requested to meet her.
These meetings take a toll on Maggie as it starts affecting her relationship with her sons and also her own health. Somehow I built these conversations up in my head because I don't think that their interactions were particularly stimulating. The husband gave up a whole lot of information quite easily.
The author does throw you for a loop with a surprise reveal, and I found that conversation the best in the book. I think could have been a bit quicker. The long internal monologues went in circles and you for being this long, no character stands out. We also don't get any information on the husband beside him being a serial killer.
All in all, this was a decent one time read. I am still unsure if I liked the curve ball at the end.
I thank NetGalley and Bloodhound books for this E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2024
An interesting book written from the point of view of a wife of a serial killer.
Maggie has changed her name and moved house many times to be able to get away from what her husband did, but she is on edge when he once again begins to hit the headlines. Soon enough, the two detectives that worked the case turn up at her doorstep to explain that they need her help before he dies. They want to find out if he will admit to where the last body of the last girl he murdered is, although he has always denied that he murdered her. Soon enough Maggie finds herself sitting across from him, trying to extract a confession and she gets far more than she ever wanted to know from him.
I really enjoyed this, it was a little bit different to the usual book about murderers. The story flowed so easily and kept me wanting to find out more. A very enjoyable and easy book.
Maggie has changed her name and moved house many times to be able to get away from what her husband did, but she is on edge when he once again begins to hit the headlines. Soon enough, the two detectives that worked the case turn up at her doorstep to explain that they need her help before he dies. They want to find out if he will admit to where the last body of the last girl he murdered is, although he has always denied that he murdered her. Soon enough Maggie finds herself sitting across from him, trying to extract a confession and she gets far more than she ever wanted to know from him.
I really enjoyed this, it was a little bit different to the usual book about murderers. The story flowed so easily and kept me wanting to find out more. A very enjoyable and easy book.
October 30, 2024
This is a thought-provoking read that challenges our perceptions of morality and loyalty. How does one choose to make a life-changing decision knowing a loved one will be prosecuted for a heinous crime yet you also want to protect them?
My heart breaks for Maggie as she navigates the unsettling truth about Edward’s past and the implications of his actions while dealing with her own conflicting emotions.
The topics of deception, the true nature of evil and one’s struggle for self-preservation are explored in depth, making the story not just about the crime itself, but also about the psychological impact it has on the everyone involved.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My heart breaks for Maggie as she navigates the unsettling truth about Edward’s past and the implications of his actions while dealing with her own conflicting emotions.
The topics of deception, the true nature of evil and one’s struggle for self-preservation are explored in depth, making the story not just about the crime itself, but also about the psychological impact it has on the everyone involved.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 14, 2024
I love the way this novel turns the usual thriller on its head. There are no grisly descriptions of the murders, we're not shown why they were committed and I was expecting the twist. However, Maggie's story was so intriguing and gripped me throughout. How does it feel to be the spouse of a murderer? Is it possible to live a normal life and keep things normal for your family? I was fascinated by how she wrestled with guilt, loyalty and the need to atone. With Edward nearing the end of his life, the clock's ticking, adding to the sense of urgency. She needs to know more about Lucy's death but is scared of what she'll find. So well written! It kept me curious and left me with lots to think about.
November 18, 2024
Charlotte Barnes books are always hard to put down with lots of twists and turns, so you know you are in for a good ride. But this book hit it out of the park, that twist at the end was one I didn't see coming at all.
On this book we are not technically looking for the killer, or aren't we?, he's already in prison and dying from cancer, hence he wants to talk to his ex-wife and confess to the rest of his crimes. What happens next, is the finding out of who the real killer is of Lucy and where is her body buried.
With characters that are believable, in their goodness and in their evilness the story makes you feel like you are reliving the traumas and actions of the characters.
Charlotte Barnes is one of my favorite writers, i can't wait to read her next book.
On this book we are not technically looking for the killer, or aren't we?, he's already in prison and dying from cancer, hence he wants to talk to his ex-wife and confess to the rest of his crimes. What happens next, is the finding out of who the real killer is of Lucy and where is her body buried.
With characters that are believable, in their goodness and in their evilness the story makes you feel like you are reliving the traumas and actions of the characters.
Charlotte Barnes is one of my favorite writers, i can't wait to read her next book.
June 19, 2025
This thriller didn’t deliver. I loved the premise—while the murder and thrilling part was supposed to happen already, the premise found ourselves looking back at it. When we were once oblivious, we are now understanding of the truths. However, the actual thrilling part—which I really wanted— did not start until like 40 pages in. This book did really well on the characters, which I do appreciate, it was just not what I wanted. The twists were very interesting, but introduced so stupidly. There were two or three main ones. All of them the character figured out but didn’t really communicate it well, losing thy felling like you just discovered it. Overall, I liked the characters and the premise. It was pretty quick and I got it for free so, I guess it was somewhat worth it.
November 3, 2024
Although this was a slow burn, the unique plot had my attention. Instead of "who did it?", it was "what else do I have left to confess?" The main character Maggie agrees to meet with Edward for 1 hour chats to learn about his victims with the hope of locating the last body. She is the only person he wants to meet with due to his cancer diagnosis and estimated 6 months left to live. As the chats continue, Edward's health deteriorates and Maggie discovers more than she expected. The twists and turns in this book led to a satisfying ending.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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