My Husband’s Mistress Is Dead

by Saundra

In this riveting domestic thriller for readers of Jeneva Rose, Kimberly McCreight, Kimberly Belle, and Shanora Williams, one woman’s seemingly perfect marriage is shattered by a shocking revelation. Now, how far will she go to learn the whole truth—and will it be enough to outrun the lethal consequences?

Growing up as a foster child, Brooke Perry has known more than her share of hard times. Securing a successful financial career and marrying Andre, a wealthy businessman, is far more than she ever dreamed she could achieve. And though she's suffered two miscarriages—losses that shook her and Andre to their core—she's content to create the happiest of futures . . .

. . . Until a mysterious other woman, Erika Jones, swears Andre fathered her baby, claimed the child was dead—and made her disappear. Brooke refuses to believe her—until Erika is killed in a sudden, extremely suspicious house fire. Then Brooke discovers Andre's first wife didn't in fact die from an illness.

Now Brooke is determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. Even if it means lying to the police—and facing arrest. Even if it takes all her courage to go up against Andre's formidable—and ruthless—mother. And as more of Andre's secrets and double life surface, Brooke will piece together a nightmare beyond mere lies and betrayal, a lethal hall of mirrors where she can believe nothing . . . and the stakes are higher, and deadlier, than she ever imagined.

Genres: Thriller

273 pages, Paperback

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

Saundra grew up in Cleveland, Mississippi, and now resides in Indiana with her husband and children. She started writing screenplays at the age of twelve and as an adult her need to create intensified. Saundra’s stories highlight fearless females who hustle to get what they deserve. Her debut novel, Her Sweetest Revenge, began the series that won praise for being a “roller-coaster ride” and “drama at its best.” Saundra is currently at writer at Kensington Publishing and loves to hear from readers.

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Reviews

[Darcy J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vicious. Lies. Proof. Very calculating. Sooo much proof. A baby?! A horrible parent. Past relationships. Questionable friends. Evidence. Sooo much evidence. A friend. An enemy.

The wife in this book has all the evidence around her…has all the proof around her…everyone is telling her about this husband of hers. Even her own internal thoughts are on point most of the time and her response? “But I love him and I don’t feel like he’s a liar even with this proof.”
GIRL!
This one had me screaming…

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Husband‘s Mistress Is Dead by Sandra, in the book we meet Brooke she grew up as a foster child with no real place to call home and as an adult she’s a fierce accountant and that is what she focuses most of her time on well with the exception of girls night out with the BFF jazz. When she meets Andre Perry all bets are off their couldn’t be a more perfect man again with one exception his mother Vivian a real B space I space T C Hspace! in the past seven years their marriage has gone from strength to strength and even when she had her miscarriages it seemed to only make them stronger. So when a woman arrives at Hanks in Wilbur accounting and tells Brooke that she not only had an affair with Andre but they had a baby as well a baby that Andre claims is dead but Erica knows she’s still alive. Erica tells Brooke she knows this looks crazy asking the wife for help but she knows if Brooke knew the real Andre she would be more than willing and just the knowledge of Erica starts Brooke looking at Andre in a whole new way. So when Erica is found dead in a burn down house Brooke knows it will be up to her to get to the truth and this includes something the police is also leaning on Brooke to find out. I noticed a lot of people in their reviews said they didn’t like Brooke but I really did like her I did fine most of the things she did was logical and although there were times she was quite naïve like always giving Vivian the benefit of the doubt when she should’ve given her a slap to her face but I guess that’s what makes Brooke classy and me not. In the beginning of the book they mentioned a reference to them being African-American but even when she became partner at Hanks and Wilbur there was no mention of that which I found odd. The only time they mentioned it was when describing how they looked and usually to me that is a plus because the race of someone is irrelevant but IDK it almost made the book generic in a way but having said that I still really enjoyed this book especially the great twist at the end and the twist twist at the end end a definite recommendation.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #Sandra, #MyHusband‘sMistressIsDead,

[Tia Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Husband’s Mistress Is Dead is a twisty domestic thriller you won't want to put down! A self made woman discovers her marriage is built on terrifying and deadly secrets after her husband's mistress dies in a mysterious fire. With a horrible mother-in-law and a husband she can't trust, she has to uncover the truth before it's too late. Highly recommend!

[Roslyn Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Husband’s Mistress Is Dead is a gripping domestic thriller that plunges deep into the murky waters of betrayal, grief, and the dangerous pursuit of truth. Saundra delivers a layered narrative that blends emotional vulnerability with high-stakes suspense, perfect for readers who crave psychological tension wrapped in family drama. Brooke Perry, a self-made woman who rose from the foster system to a successful financial career, believes she’s found stability in her marriage to Andre, a wealthy businessman. But her world begins to unravel when Erika Jones a mysterious woman claims Andre fathered her child, then lied about the baby’s death and made Erika disappear. Brooke dismisses the accusation until Erika dies in a suspicious house fire. As Brooke investigates, she uncovers disturbing truths: Andre’s first wife didn’t die of illness as claimed, and his mother may be more ruthless than she appears. The deeper Brooke digs, the more she realizes she’s trapped in a hall of mirrors where every revelation leads to another lie, and the stakes are increasingly lethal. Brooke Perry is a compelling protagonist resilient, emotionally scarred, and driven by a need for justice. Her journey from disbelief to defiance is both believable and empowering. Andre is a classic unreliable husband: charming, secretive, and increasingly sinister. Erika Jones, though dead early on, casts a long shadow over the narrative, her story unfolding through fragments and suspicion. Andre’s mother adds a chilling layer of generational manipulation and control, reminiscent of gothic matriarchs. Saundra excels at crafting women who fight back not with brute force, but with cunning, courage, and emotional intelligence. My Husband’s Mistress Is Dead is more than a whodunit it’s a psychological reckoning. Saundra invites readers to question not just the characters’ motives, but their own assumptions about love, loyalty, and survival. For fans of Jeneva Rose and Kimberly McCreight, this is a worthy addition to the domestic thriller canon.

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I just found my new favourite author. The book was unputdownable and it has so many secrets. The author will keep you guessing till the end and you won’t be able to guess the twists. This was such a twisty and mind-blowing book.

Brooke and Andre were happily married until one day Brooke receives a call from Erika and it shakes the foundation of not just her marriage but her life too. She couldn’t believe anything anymore. Along with secrets, betrayal and lies also followed her. As soon as Brooke asked her husband about this woman Erika, more secrets spilled off. But the worst thing was that after everything, Brooke wanted to give another chance to their marriage. Yet more secrets, betrayals, and lies made it worse. Each character has killed someone in this book or they haven’t but you won’t be able to guess who killed whom and also the twists were so unpredictable. The twist at the end was so shocking. I hope the author is writing a sequel or we get to read more of Brooke’s world. The book was multilayered and characters were multifaceted. If you are looking for a gripping read where marriage can’t be perfect and twists you won’t see coming, read this book.

Thanks to the Publisher

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing/Dafina for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

On rare occasions, I enjoy a darker, more tension-filled story than my usual cozy mysteries. My Husband’s Mistress is Dead is a bleak novel that is also tightly-wound, relying heavily on betrayal and danger. What could have been a messy domestic thriller was just “meh” for me.

I did like the fact that this book is a pretty fast read. At the same time, I thought the story wasn’t firing on all cylinders. First off, the protagonist, Brooke, was so unlikeable, had no redeeming qualities, was just a hot mess of a character. I don’t have to identify with a main character, but making her so vile that I just wanted to put the book down or throw it at a wall did not help.

In fact, most of the characters in the book are awful. I don’t know if that was the author’s intent, but I need someone to root for in a novel. Add that to the fact that the twists and turns in the novel, which I assume were meant to be clever, landed like the turkeys in the Thanksgiving episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. The final twist redeemed the story a little bit, but overall, this book was not a good fit for my reading tastes.

[Tia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was rough for me. My Husband’s Mistress is Dead has the makings of a juicy, messy domestic thriller — cheating husband, dead mistress, cops sniffing around, and a few twists tossed in. But the execution? Very mid.

The main character, Brooke, was unbearable to read. If the author’s intention was for me to hate her (and pretty much everyone else in this story), then she nailed it. There was no redemption, no growth, and not a single character I cared about except maybe the best friend.

The writing style didn’t help either. Twists landed with a dull thud instead of shocking me. Even the final twist — which could’ve been clever in another book — felt flat because I was already so checked out. Pacing was fine, but I was too detached to enjoy it.

I’ll give credit where it’s due: the ending was a surprise, and the premise had potential. But between the sloppy writing choices, lack of suspense, and characters I couldn’t root for, I didn’t enjoy this read. If I were the type to DNF, this one would’ve been on the DNF pile.

ARC received by NetGalley

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Senior accounting analyst Brooke Perry grew up in foster care so she was used to relying on herself. Six years ago, she married Andre Perry despite his mother Vivian. Andre is rich and owns his own brokerage firm.

Erika comes to see Brooke to tell her Andre has been having an affair with her and she had his baby. Andre told Erika the baby died but she doesn't believe that. She wants Brooke to ask questions. Suddenly, Erika dies in a fire.

The book was easy to read. I liked reading about Brooke and her mother in law. Or should I say monster in law. I have no idea how Brooke was so patient. Vivian is a real piece of work. There was a very unexpected twist about 2/3 in. The ending was fascinating to me. The only thing I really didn't care for was some of the yelling in places.

This story is really a 3.5. It's not as good as a 4 or as average as a 3. But Goodreads won't let me get away with the 3.5 so I'm rating up because I was entertained and I like twists.

[aishareadsnrambles · Rating 2 out of 5]

BOOK: MY HUSBAND’S MISTRESS IS DEAD
AUTHOR: SAUNDRA
PUB DATE: 26TH AUGUST, 2015
👩🏾‍❤️‍👨🏾🔪
REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🔪👩🏾‍❤️‍👨🏾
THINGS I LIKED
1. The storyline had potential
2. It was a fast read.
👩🏾‍❤️‍👨🏾🔪
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
1. The FMC, Brooke, was kinda silly, ambiguous, and confused. There were a lot of things she should have done, but didn't. Sometimes, she's okay. Another time, she acts stupid and naive.
2. The storyline, too, it failed in some ways, from Erika's murder to Brooke finding evidence to the ridiculous police officers and the unbelievable unrealistic solving of the case.
3. The author mentioning designer labels every time, I get it, Brooke is rich.
4. The description also fell off sometimes.
🔪👩🏾‍❤️‍👨🏾
I had high hopes for this book, but I didn't really like it.

[Treasure · Rating 3 out of 5]

****************** ARC REVIEW *****************

Initial thoughts: A new to me author , story can be described as classic rich mommy boy story.
I enjoyed the suspense and the intensity of the journey Brooke was going on. I did predict the killer 63% into the read!

Book overview:
We follow a successful partner at a financial institution called Brooke. Who falls in love with a rich mommy boy (Andre )out of her league and class.
His mother Vivian makes it her business to remind Brooke that she isn’t made for this rich lifestyle as a foster care child .
Brooke never understood Vivian’s overbearingness and the hold she has over her husband, but this fact change very soon.
After miscarrying twice in the 7 years she was married to Andre. His mistress (Erica Jones) appears to Brooke, shuttering the reality she thought was a prefect marriage .
48 hours later, she ends up dead!

Who killed Erica Jones and will Brooke be able to deal with her new reality?

Read this story to find out

[The Urban Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Husband’s Mistress Is Dead by Saundra was one wild ride from start to finish! This book completely exceeded my expectations. I thought I had it all figured out—then the plot twisted in ways I didn’t see coming, making me question everything I knew.

The story follows a self-made woman whose seemingly perfect marriage unravels after her husband’s mistress dies in a mysterious fire. Add in a toxic mother-in-law, a husband who can’t be trusted, and secrets that just keep spilling—and you’ve got a domestic thriller that delivers suspense, betrayal, and chaos in all the best ways.

What I loved most was how the story kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was sharp, the tension was real, and that ending? Completely unexpected, yet satisfying in a haunting way. It’s the kind of “silent ending” that lingers with you long after the final page.

This book deserves way more attention than it’s getting!

[Ladiami · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, the twists were genuinely surprising and kept me turning pages—I love a good mystery that unfolds layer by layer. That said, I found the main character, Brooke, frustratingly ditzy and naïve when it came to facing the truth about her husband. It took far too long for her to see what was right in front of her, which made parts of the story drag. Some plot points felt oddly inserted and didn’t quite connect, making the pacing uneven at times. I was also distracted by the constant name-dropping of luxury brands—it didn’t add much and felt out of place. Still, it was a quick and mostly engaging read. I'm not sure I’d pick up the next installment if there is one, but it wasn't a bad way to spend a weekend afternoon.

Thanks to Netgalley Kensington Publishing | Dafina for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[SheReadsaLot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author.
The way Mrs. Saundra introduced the characters to her audience, had me hooked from the start. It felt like I truly got a better sense of who Brooke was, and why she takes certain actions.

For her idyllic life to get shattered by the introduction of the Mistress, and all that relates to her. I needed to find out what would happen next. The next had me anxiously reading away, from the secrets kept between husband and wife (BIG secrets), between friends (omitting of events), family secrets, and plot twists?! Add to that the way the story flowed?

I most surely will be reading more from Mrs. Saundra's pen!

[Jacknthebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me on a ride. I was so frustrated with Brooke. Like everybody is telling you how your husband is, but she was so determined that her husband was a good man that wouldn't do any of the things being said. She took the meaning stand by your man literally. She stood by him until the bitter end. Andre's mama was a piece of work. I kept thinking something wasn't right with her, and I was correct. She was doing the most just to make sure she had the lifestyle she wanted. The twists and turns in this book had my jaw on the floor. I wasn't expecting half of what was revealed in the last 10%. I hope there is a part two. That ending had me shocked.

[Anniee Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Husband’s Mistress is Dead by Saundra delivers a storyline full of drama, secrets, and betrayal. The title alone sets the tone for a wild ride, and Saundra wastes no time diving into the chaos. The plot has some unexpected twists and definitely keeps you engaged from start to finish.

It’s a bold and intense read that fans of urban drama will likely enjoy for the tension and nonstop action.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this book.
I enjoyed the characters and the concept of this story

I would recommend this book

[RAWFIZZLE · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dragged-out suspense with little payoff—this thriller's sluggish pacing drained all the tension.

Thank you NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this eARC

[J R · Rating 4 out of 5]

generally very good book, although at points it definitely drags and plots oddly. the protag is cool, though. 3.5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ nice thriller

[Suzi · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Angela Bonilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS CLIFF HANGER!?

[Monica B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Hmmmm this book is fast paced and was enjoyable BUT the epilogue fell flat! The brand name dropping was major annoying but overall it was a decent read

[Shavon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the ending though I felt it was a rushed epilogue. I didn’t feel connected too much to the main character and maybe it was the POV. I wish we had Andre or another POV . It had great evil characters and easy to read dialogue !

Thank you Net Galley!

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick ad easy read! I am always looking for a good domestic thriller. The FMC Brooke was infuriatingly naive and annoying, but I honestly credit the author for writing a character so well that I absolutely could not stand her. Overall the story had many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, but the epilogue felt rushed and ended on a cliffhanger. Hoping we get another book that will tie up those loose ends. Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for the arc.