Dirty Laundry

by Cori Nevruz

Dirty Laundry by Cori Nevruz invites readers into the fragile world of Samantha, a former perfectionist whose once-orderly life spirals into chaos with the addition of a husband and children. As the facade of her perfect suburban existence cracks, Samantha's insecurities deepen, fueled by her husband’s relentless criticism and impossible expectations.

Beneath the surface of cheerful smiles and staged social appearances lies a woman teetering on the edge, her hidden turmoil spilling into the pages of a secret journal. But when Samantha confides in a new friend, her carefully constructed life unravels, exposing dangerous truths that threaten both their lives.

What dark secrets could shatter the illusion of Samantha’s seemingly perfect life? Dirty Laundry is a fast-paced, suspenseful journey into the mind of a mom on the edge.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 13, 2021

About the author

Cori Nevruz is a suspense and thriller author known for her unique, gripping narratives and psychological depth.

She has penned six novels:
Phantom Drop, Saving one life puts everyone she loves in danger–because no good deed goes unpunished; Murder Manor, Reserve your stay at the manor, but beware: not every guest checks out;
The Unwelcome Guest, An island escape, a mansion of dreams... and a nightmare hiding within;
Making a Killing (previously published as Noxious), a chilling tale of a lethal, female assassin targeting retired pensioners;
Left Without Answers, which follows a mother teetering on the edge of madness in her quest for revenge; and
Dirty Laundry, a fast-paced thriller that delves into the unraveling mind of a mom pushed to her limits.

Cori resides in Wilmington, NC, where she balances her writing career with family life alongside her husband and three sons. When she's not crafting thrilling stories, she enjoys reading and following her favorite sports.

Reviews

[Elizabeth McLamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured the book in a day!

[Joel Tesch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirty Laundry is an excellent character examination of what goes on behind the closed doors of a seemingly stereotypical "suburban housewife." While two beautiful children, a successful husband, and a new home may initially lead one to picture the "good life", "Dirty Laundry" goes to effective lengths to explore what hides beneath that veneer. Nevruz writes in a very direct, fast-paced style...a manner that gets right to the action, but also delivers tons of detail. An emotional examination of the pain, anguish and conflict that often hides beneath an outwardly pretty picture, the book presents multidimensional characters (no comic book heroes or one-note villains here) with a compelling story that engrossingly and heartbreakingly builds towards (and more than earns) it's dramatic climax! Highly recommended.

[J. Leigh Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read! A tale of suburbia with twists and turns that will keep you guessing right to the very end. This is a psychological thriller that will bring you deep into the main character’s life. You’ll see it all from coffee and waving the kids off to school to dinner out with lively new neighbors…or will you? No spoilers here, but scratch the surface of the main character’s beautiful life and it won’t take long to find the dirty laundry—is that a bloodstain? A great read if you like a thrilling, unpredictable plot and a story that sticks with you even after you close the book.

[Bob Fendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review

Dirty Laundry
by Cori Nevruz

Excellent ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was completely gripped by this psychological thriller by Cori Nevruz; I absolutely loved it.

A truly intriguing story that slowly builds up to a tense and suspenseful ending with a totally unbelievable twist I didn't see coming. The characters are so believable and real that I felt the tension growing stronger throughout the book as I got acquainted with them and their relationships.

Samantha is a confident, athletic, and self-conscious woman who prides herself on her appearance. That all changes when she marries Roger and has a couple of children.
The artificial smiles and happiness Samantha shows socially mask her true feelings and depression, as her confidence is crushed by Roger, who lays the blame for everything on her, breaking her down.
Under the stresses she is suffering at the hands of her husband, Samantha decides she's had enough and needs to get her life back from Roger's obsessive behaviour.

An amazing gradual build-up to the intensity of the completely unexpected conclusion in this captivating psych thriller, which had me hooked.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[M.A. Quigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirty Laundry is a good portrayal of what goes on behind closed doors. On the outside, Samantha and her successful husband seem to have it all: two beautiful children, a nice house, etc. The book is fast-paced and gets to the action quickly. Samantha wears a mask to the world but her journal reflects her inner pain and torment. A compelling story with an interesting climax which I'm sure the majority of readers won't see it coming.

[Anders Kingsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book with an ending I didn’t see coming.

A psychological thriller / family drama that follows the life of stay-at-home mom Samantha.
It was really easy to get into the story and the writing style was perfect for this kind of story. I also loved the short to mid-sized chapter lengths.

I know the author also writes kid lit but I hope the author will write more adult fiction.

[Teresa Tavener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent storytelling. Characters were well developed and I got to know them well. Her journey kept me going but what a surprise at the end. I kind suspected it briefly but was still shocked. Great read

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast passed read, met Cori at a local book shop and she signed my book “what the heck” it makes sense now! Looking forward to reading more of her books.

[Rachel Mesurier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think my favourite thing about this book was how realistic the characters were.

Everyone knows a Samantha. The one with the controlling husband / boyfriend whose gaslighting and snarky comments chip away at her personality until she's a shell of the person she used to be. The woman who does her best to wallpaper over the cracks in her life and fit in with everyone else around her. Perhaps even the woman who finally cracks and does something desperate in order to protect herself and her children.

I feel like buying this book as a warning to my friend who reminds me so much of Samantha, it was frightening to read.

Does this make me a Charlotte? Now there's a scary thought...

I'll never look at a plastic flamingo in the same way again!

P.S: I'm usually very good at seeing twists before they happen in most books, but the author truly floored me with this ending. I didn't see it coming at all... well done!

[Damen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What the heck?"
This is an engaging "who'll do it" mystery about a rotting marriage. It's worth pondering how things can get this bad.

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Booksprouts for an honest review.

This was a great story! I wasn't sure what to expect at first but was hooked within the first chapter! Part murder mystery and part journey of an abused woman, you wont be disappointed!

Samantha is a suburban housewife, with two kids and an emotionally abusive husband. As a stay at home mom for over 20 years I can understand some of what she goes through within the story. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, it can be lonely and you need an outlet. I am beyond blessed to have a husband who is supportive and understanding. If my husband ever spoke to me the way that Samantha's does, Id have left long before the kids were born. If he did it after the kids, Id take my chances and leave. No one deserves the kind of abuse she endured.

This book is an outstanding view into what goes on behind closed doors. What may seem like your typical perfect suburban life can hide hideous verbal and emotional abuse. This book was fast paced, with short chapters and tons of detail and action. With a twist ending, I never saw coming. I highly recommend this book and will be looking for more from this author.

[Kelly Cook · Rating 1 out of 5]

I almost couldn't believe this had such a high rating until I saw it was based on only 26 reviews. This book read like it was written by an elementary school student and the abrupt ending made absolutely no sense.

[Brooke Chasteen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes very in depth of the back story of Samantha and her controlling husband. I loved how the author gave a clear picture of the abuse and built up resentment Samantha had for her husband. Really enjoyed it!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT character development and total plot twist!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy quick read with a decent story and a bit of a twist at the end.

[Kathryn Zweigenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! Once I started I couldn't put it down. I didn't see the ending coming.

[Lucas Velasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Dirty Laundry* is a gripping psychological suspense novel that explores the hidden struggles behind the picture perfect image of suburban life. Cori Nevruz takes readers into the complicated emotional landscape of a woman whose carefully controlled world begins to collapse, revealing the pressure, fear, and secrets that can exist beneath seemingly flawless appearances.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is Samantha as a protagonist. Her journey from perfectionist to someone struggling under the weight of impossible expectations feels deeply human and emotionally compelling. Through her private journal and internal reflections, readers gain insight into the fears and insecurities that she hides from everyone around her, creating a portrait of a woman fighting to understand herself while trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation.

What makes the book especially effective is its exploration of the contrast between public image and private reality. The cheerful smiles, social expectations, and carefully maintained appearances of suburban life become a powerful backdrop for a story about control, manipulation, and the emotional consequences of constantly trying to meet unrealistic standards.

I also appreciated the suspenseful pacing and gradual unraveling of Samantha's world. The introduction of new relationships, hidden truths, and escalating danger keeps readers questioning what is real and what secrets are waiting to surface. The psychological tension builds naturally, creating a story that is difficult to put down.

*Dirty Laundry* is ultimately a thought-provoking thriller about identity, resilience, and the dangers of ignoring the warning signs hidden beneath a perfect exterior. Readers who enjoy psychological suspense, domestic thrillers, and emotionally complex stories about women navigating difficult circumstances will find this to be a compelling and memorable read.

[Jolene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirty Laundry really got under my skin in a way I wasn’t expecting. On the surface, Samantha’s life looks like the picture perfect suburban dream. But the deeper you get into the story, the more you realize how fragile that picture really is. Watching her slowly unravel felt painfully real. Her secret journal entries especially stood out. They felt honest and vulnerable, like she was finally able to say all the things she’d been forced to swallow.

And Roger, wow. I have not been that frustrated with a character in a long time. He was absolutely infuriating. The constant criticism, the impossible expectations, the way he chipped away at Samantha’s confidence little by little. It wasn’t loud or dramatic all the time, which somehow made it worse. It felt believable. There were so many moments where I wanted to reach into the pages and handle him myself because of how cruel and dismissive he was. He made my blood boil.

What I appreciated most was how the story didn’t just focus on the drama. It really explored how someone can lose themselves trying to live up to someone else’s standards. When Samantha finally confides in a new friend, you can feel the shift. It’s hopeful at first, but there’s this tension underneath that lets you know things aren’t going to stay simple for long.

Overall, Dirty Laundry is emotional, frustrating, and gripping. It’s the kind of book that makes you reflect on how easily appearances can hide deeper struggles. I finished it feeling unsettled. It definitely left an impression.

[Kelly Berg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would say this has 2.5 stars. There were multiple times I had to put the book down because it just kept going on and on about Samantha‘s depression. I will say the last 50 pages of the book was so much better than the first 200 pages of the book. You finally got into some character interaction between Roger and Samantha and Charlotte that move the story along. However, I would imagine if someone who had depression that this might very much relate to them. I thought the ending was weird. It was very rushed. I would’ve loved to have had 50 more pages of the ending. I’m not quite sure how one of the characters dies in the police station. That scene was all of two pages. They’re needed to be more with that and some definitive reasons this person died. The twist at the end as to who was murdered at the beginning of the book was a good twist. I would have enjoyed the story more if this had played into that setting up the twist a little bit more. But it really was just chapters upon chapters of Samantha‘s depression. The author at one point in time, tried to give Roger some redeeming qualities for about two pages. She did do a good job of what it might be like to live with a husband who has such high expectations. It’s reminiscent of sleeping with the enemy. I have interacted with the author on TikTok and enjoy the interactions with her I do have other books I’ll read from her. But this one took me some time to get through because it made me feel blasé to read so much about her depression.

[Eva Edge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dirty Laundry by Cori Nevruz is an introspective debut that takes a deep, observational look at the complexities and quiet shadows of a toxic marriage. For me, this read felt more like a detailed domestic essay than a high-octane thriller, focusing heavily on the characters' internal emotional landscape. While the writing is steady, the pacing was a bit slow for my personal taste, and I found it difficult to stay fully engaged with the plot at times.

As a first-time author, Nevruz focuses heavily on the emotional toll of a toxic relationship, creating an atmosphere that feels personal and grounded in reality. However, while I appreciate the effort in tackling such a heavy, realistic subject, the final twist unfortunately made absolutely no sense to me. If you enjoy slow-burn stories that prioritise character study and the daily realities of a difficult relationship over fast-paced action, this might be for you. I’m giving this 3 stars out of respect for the debut effort and the important themes explored.

[Karen Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT! I was really able to identify with the main character since I’m a first time mom that has struggled with letting myself go and feeling like my marriage was on the line. My husband was actually the opposite of Roger and I still went through a hard time so I viewed Samantha as a very strong woman who just needed to be hugged, loved, and understood. I felt bad for Charlotte and Prescott but as a MOTHER, we need to do whatever it takes for our kids. Second book I read from Cori and have not been disappointed at all.

[Murphie Mosely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 3 days, ignored all my responsibilities to finish this book. How incredible! Samantha made me feel seen in some of her motherly reflections. Bringing babies home, juggling motherhood and maintaining a healthy marriage can all be trivial. Finding validation and keeping sustaining true friendships is also something that Mothers struggle with. The ending is mind blowing 🤯. Short and concise chapters that you can breeze through. LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! Also supporting Indie authors is something that is extremely important to me. Follow Cori on TT! 🩷

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirty Laundry is a tense, addictive psychological thriller that keeps the pressure building from start to finish. Packed with emotion, suspense, and unexpected turns, it’s a gripping reminder that appearances can be dangerously deceiving.

[L.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters felt real, none fell flat. The book definitely could have been edited better. The last 20 pages gave me whiplash, not going to lie, and I personally think it could have been fleshed out better so it wasn't as sudden.

[Emily Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, definitely will be reading more of hers.

[Elizabeth Gilliard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a relatable read as a SAHM myself. So many moments had me thinking, “okay wow… felt that.” Between the exhaustion, mental load, emotions, and trying to hold everything together, parts of this book hit harder than I expected.

I really loved how messy and real the characters felt, and the drama and tension kept me hooked the whole time. It balanced emotional moments with spice and humor really well, making it both entertaining and relatable. Definitely a solid 4-star read for me.