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A Happy Marriage
7 hours, 28 minutes
What holds a strong and loving marriage together? Lies and secrets in a novel of twisting psychological suspense by a New York Times bestselling author.
Los Angeles homicide detective Dinah Marino may have a complicated relationship with her family, but her psychiatrist husband, Joe, makes her feel safe, secure, and happy. She couldn’t want for a more loving or trusting man. But throughout their ten-year marriage, she’s been keeping a secret from him—a secret she’d take to the grave.
Dr. Joe Marino loves his wife more than anything in this world, but there are things he’s learned to keep close to the chest. When a missing woman tied to his wife’s latest case is admitted to his hospital, doctor-patient confidentiality lands their marriage on some new and uneven ground.
As Dinah digs deeper into her case, tension works its way inside their picture-perfect home. Now the carefully constructed lies between them don’t just simply threaten the delicate balance of their marriage—they could kill.
What holds a strong and loving marriage together? Lies and secrets in a novel of twisting psychological suspense by a New York Times bestselling author.
Los Angeles homicide detective Dinah Marino may have a complicated relationship with her family, but her psychiatrist husband, Joe, makes her feel safe, secure, and happy. She couldn’t want for a more loving or trusting man. But throughout their ten-year marriage, she’s been keeping a secret from him—a secret she’d take to the grave.
Dr. Joe Marino loves his wife more than anything in this world, but there are things he’s learned to keep close to the chest. When a missing woman tied to his wife’s latest case is admitted to his hospital, doctor-patient confidentiality lands their marriage on some new and uneven ground.
As Dinah digs deeper into her case, tension works its way inside their picture-perfect home. Now the carefully constructed lies between them don’t just simply threaten the delicate balance of their marriage—they could kill.
Audible Audio
First published June 24, 2025
4891 people are currently reading
38396 people want to read
About the author
A.R. Torre
12 books10.9k followersHi there—welcome to my little corner of Goodreads! I'm AR Torre, and I write dark, twisty fiction that digs into the messiest parts of human nature. Whether it's psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, or stories about love gone dangerously wrong, my books tend to explore the line between good and evil—and what happens when people cross it.
You might know me from The Girl in 6E series, which follows a reclusive cam girl with violent urges, or my standalone domestic suspense novels that blend complex female leads with secrets, drama, and a few dead bodies. I’m drawn to morally gray characters, layered relationships, and plots that keep you flipping pages late into the night.
Outside of writing, I live in Key West, Florida, where I spend my days plotting murders (on paper), drinking (and roasting) coffee, and soaking up the sunshine. I’m also Alessandra Torre in my other author life, where I write romance.
Thanks for visiting—please follow me here on Goodreads where I read every single review. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts (good or bad!) on my books. I sincerely appreciate the feedback and support.
You might know me from The Girl in 6E series, which follows a reclusive cam girl with violent urges, or my standalone domestic suspense novels that blend complex female leads with secrets, drama, and a few dead bodies. I’m drawn to morally gray characters, layered relationships, and plots that keep you flipping pages late into the night.
Outside of writing, I live in Key West, Florida, where I spend my days plotting murders (on paper), drinking (and roasting) coffee, and soaking up the sunshine. I’m also Alessandra Torre in my other author life, where I write romance.
Thanks for visiting—please follow me here on Goodreads where I read every single review. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts (good or bad!) on my books. I sincerely appreciate the feedback and support.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,872 reviews
March 4, 2025
Ooof okay, I actually really enjoyed this story lol so don't let the 3 stars fool you. I just had a couple of issues that dropped it down a bit.
I don't want to go into any real summary of the plot because there's so much that I don't want to give away or say. But, we follow our FMC, Dinah and her husband, Joe - she's a police detective in the LA County area, he's a psychiatric doctor of some kind.
This could have totally been a me thing, but, as soon as we jump in, I was a little confused at first. There's a lot of names thrown out and it took just a little bit to get my footing, as to who was who etc. But once I did, it was off to the races.
The story had me hooked right away and I was flipping through the pages like a mad woman, I had my theories lol and while I was correct in some things, I did get some twisty surprises.
Unreliable narrators at every turn. Unlikable characters galore. Loved.
Honestly though, I'm just a little conflicted with how I feel about this one, because it went a little like this :
While reading the story I was hooked and couldn't wait to find out what happened even though things seemed a little wild, my theories a little out there, I still couldn't put the book down.
After finishing the book and reflecting, it feels messy, over the top and ridiculous.
A Happy Marriage is an addictive and compulsive read. An unhinged and over the top entertaining story from cover to cover... just prepare to suspend your disbelief.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the complementary advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own. 💐
I don't want to go into any real summary of the plot because there's so much that I don't want to give away or say. But, we follow our FMC, Dinah and her husband, Joe - she's a police detective in the LA County area, he's a psychiatric doctor of some kind.
This could have totally been a me thing, but, as soon as we jump in, I was a little confused at first. There's a lot of names thrown out and it took just a little bit to get my footing, as to who was who etc. But once I did, it was off to the races.
The story had me hooked right away and I was flipping through the pages like a mad woman, I had my theories lol and while I was correct in some things, I did get some twisty surprises.
Unreliable narrators at every turn. Unlikable characters galore. Loved.
Honestly though, I'm just a little conflicted with how I feel about this one, because it went a little like this :
While reading the story I was hooked and couldn't wait to find out what happened even though things seemed a little wild, my theories a little out there, I still couldn't put the book down.
After finishing the book and reflecting, it feels messy, over the top and ridiculous.
A Happy Marriage is an addictive and compulsive read. An unhinged and over the top entertaining story from cover to cover... just prepare to suspend your disbelief.
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the complementary advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own. 💐
September 9, 2025
oof. this is not good.
theres hardly any mystery to the story, so it never feels like there are high stakes. and when there is some element of surprise, it falls completely flat because the characters are lacking any sort of depth or characterization, so i just couldnt find myself to care. not to mention the writing feels uninspired and is missing the usual engaging quality that ART usually writes with.
really, the only positive thing i can say about this is its a quick read, so fortunately i didnt waste a lot time on it.
that being said, every author is bound to have a dud at some point, so im just gonna put this one away and move on. im still a fan of ART and look forward to her next book.
↠ 1.5 stars
theres hardly any mystery to the story, so it never feels like there are high stakes. and when there is some element of surprise, it falls completely flat because the characters are lacking any sort of depth or characterization, so i just couldnt find myself to care. not to mention the writing feels uninspired and is missing the usual engaging quality that ART usually writes with.
really, the only positive thing i can say about this is its a quick read, so fortunately i didnt waste a lot time on it.
that being said, every author is bound to have a dud at some point, so im just gonna put this one away and move on. im still a fan of ART and look forward to her next book.
↠ 1.5 stars
June 24, 2025
Los Angeles homicide detective Dinah Marino has been happily married to Dr. Joe Marino for ten years.
Each will tell you that TRUST plays a big part in their success and yet, Dinah has never revealed her biggest secret to Joe, and she isn’t inclined to tell him about the good looking new rookie, Freddie Hodgkins, who has been assigned to trail her on her latest case.
Joe is a loving husband who remembers every Anniversary, all of Dinah’ s preferences and every item on his “honey-do” list. But, he also remembers every misstep-every mistake, and he isn’t very forgiving when Dinah doesn’t follow the rules that they have agreed upon together.
And, Dinah’s new case, involving a Mother who has been found dead under questionable circumstances, and her daughter who is now missing, will threaten the delicate balance of their happy, happy marriage….
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
This book started out strong, and it hooked me right away with Torre’s engaging writing style, DISTURBING premise, and short, snappy chapters, which allow you read “just one more”!
I was ALL-IN.
But, unfortunately, at the 50% mark, the story lost its way.
It focused on one “over the top” plot point while failing to flesh out the others. I was left with MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS, and I wanted more background on how Joe and Dinah got together, what happened to her former partner, Oley, and what was happening with Freddie Hodgkins involvement in the case.
At only 254 pages, this story felt INCOMPLETE-and for that reason, it was a bit of a MISS for me.
🏝️-Me! This was a buddy read with DeAnn, MarilynW and Mary Beth. Although, they were also left with questions, they scored this higher, so be sure to read their reviews for additional opinions.
Prior to reading this book, I have read SIX others by the author, with FOUR earning 5 ⭐️, so I suspect I will probably love her next book which, as always, I will look forward to reading!
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Thomas & Mercer for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
Each will tell you that TRUST plays a big part in their success and yet, Dinah has never revealed her biggest secret to Joe, and she isn’t inclined to tell him about the good looking new rookie, Freddie Hodgkins, who has been assigned to trail her on her latest case.
Joe is a loving husband who remembers every Anniversary, all of Dinah’ s preferences and every item on his “honey-do” list. But, he also remembers every misstep-every mistake, and he isn’t very forgiving when Dinah doesn’t follow the rules that they have agreed upon together.
And, Dinah’s new case, involving a Mother who has been found dead under questionable circumstances, and her daughter who is now missing, will threaten the delicate balance of their happy, happy marriage….
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
This book started out strong, and it hooked me right away with Torre’s engaging writing style, DISTURBING premise, and short, snappy chapters, which allow you read “just one more”!
I was ALL-IN.
But, unfortunately, at the 50% mark, the story lost its way.
It focused on one “over the top” plot point while failing to flesh out the others. I was left with MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS, and I wanted more background on how Joe and Dinah got together, what happened to her former partner, Oley, and what was happening with Freddie Hodgkins involvement in the case.
At only 254 pages, this story felt INCOMPLETE-and for that reason, it was a bit of a MISS for me.
🏝️-Me! This was a buddy read with DeAnn, MarilynW and Mary Beth. Although, they were also left with questions, they scored this higher, so be sure to read their reviews for additional opinions.
Prior to reading this book, I have read SIX others by the author, with FOUR earning 5 ⭐️, so I suspect I will probably love her next book which, as always, I will look forward to reading!
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Thomas & Mercer for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
February 7, 2025
Can you keep a secret?
Dinah and Joe have been married for ten years. And if you ask either one, they would say they have A “Happy Marriage.”
So what’s their secret to keeping that marriage on course?
Dinah is a homicide detective, presently working a case involving a woman possibly murdered in her own home, and her teenage daughter missing.
Joe is a psychiatrist. He teaches classes as well as running his own private psychiatric clinic.
Both are still head over-heels in love with each other. And everything will stay peachy-keen just as long their secrets don’t come to light.
Is it just me, or are the most devious male characters in thrillers all named Joe?😂 Makes me give every Joe I know the side eye!
A.R. Torre once again delivers an unputdownable domestic thriller that I devoured in just a couple sittings.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer
Dinah and Joe have been married for ten years. And if you ask either one, they would say they have A “Happy Marriage.”
So what’s their secret to keeping that marriage on course?
Dinah is a homicide detective, presently working a case involving a woman possibly murdered in her own home, and her teenage daughter missing.
Joe is a psychiatrist. He teaches classes as well as running his own private psychiatric clinic.
Both are still head over-heels in love with each other. And everything will stay peachy-keen just as long their secrets don’t come to light.
Is it just me, or are the most devious male characters in thrillers all named Joe?😂 Makes me give every Joe I know the side eye!
A.R. Torre once again delivers an unputdownable domestic thriller that I devoured in just a couple sittings.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer
June 26, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand, I devoured it in a little over a day, so Torre was clearly weaving her usual magic! I tend to be a very distractible reader, so a book that keeps me planted and turning pages for hours at a time is a rarity, and I can unequivocally say that I was entertained. Was I satisfied at the end? Yes and no.
First, a short recap:
Dinah and Joe Marino are, by all appearances, a happily married couple of eight years. She’s a detective for the LAPD and he’s a clinical psychologist and college professor. She’s been called to the site of a woman’s death which she’s all but rubber-stamped as a suicide, even though the woman’s twenty-year old daughter Jessica is now missing. Freddie, a young, wet behind the ears trainee shadowing her doesn’t think it’s that simple. When Freddie makes an unexpected revelation one day to Dinah, her carefully constructed world with Joe is threatened. They’ve been keeping their own secrets, and things are about to get very messy!
I’ll leave it at that. The less you know the better. I’m going to sharemini rant about what didn’t work for me but it’s hard to do without saying too much, so I've put most of my thoughts under spoiler tags. DON’T CLICK ON THOSE IF YOU’RE GOING TO READ THIS BOOK!!!
********************************************
Tone: Was Torre going for dark humor a la Samantha Downing or was she playing this straight, albeit OTT?
Speaking of Downing:
Also, the whiplash:
Believability: Just chuck it. Oh, and watch your step. You might trip on some plot holes. Who needs everything to make sense in a thriller?
Dangling Thread: That was disappointing.
The Ending: Really? Just gonna let all that go, huh? 🤦♀️
*****************************************
Final Thoughts:
I had some major issues with aspects of this book, but as I said at the beginning, I was also thoroughly invested and entertained, and at the end of the day that’s what’s most important, right? Despite my issues, I still liked the book and would recommend it to those who enjoy a bonkers psychological thriller. I can’t wait to see what comes from Torre’s mind next!
★★★ ½
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and author A.R. Torre for this digital ARC to honestly review. It's out now.
On the one hand, I devoured it in a little over a day, so Torre was clearly weaving her usual magic! I tend to be a very distractible reader, so a book that keeps me planted and turning pages for hours at a time is a rarity, and I can unequivocally say that I was entertained. Was I satisfied at the end? Yes and no.
First, a short recap:
Dinah and Joe Marino are, by all appearances, a happily married couple of eight years. She’s a detective for the LAPD and he’s a clinical psychologist and college professor. She’s been called to the site of a woman’s death which she’s all but rubber-stamped as a suicide, even though the woman’s twenty-year old daughter Jessica is now missing. Freddie, a young, wet behind the ears trainee shadowing her doesn’t think it’s that simple. When Freddie makes an unexpected revelation one day to Dinah, her carefully constructed world with Joe is threatened. They’ve been keeping their own secrets, and things are about to get very messy!
I’ll leave it at that. The less you know the better. I’m going to share
********************************************
Tone: Was Torre going for dark humor a la Samantha Downing or was she playing this straight, albeit OTT?
Speaking of Downing:
Also, the whiplash:
Believability: Just chuck it. Oh, and watch your step. You might trip on some plot holes. Who needs everything to make sense in a thriller?
Dangling Thread: That was disappointing.
The Ending: Really? Just gonna let all that go, huh? 🤦♀️
*****************************************
Final Thoughts:
I had some major issues with aspects of this book, but as I said at the beginning, I was also thoroughly invested and entertained, and at the end of the day that’s what’s most important, right? Despite my issues, I still liked the book and would recommend it to those who enjoy a bonkers psychological thriller. I can’t wait to see what comes from Torre’s mind next!
★★★ ½
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and author A.R. Torre for this digital ARC to honestly review. It's out now.
June 18, 2025
A Happy Marriage was a fast-paced page turner for me. Secrets and lies are the name of the game in A Happy Marriage. I flew through the pages, wanting to know more about this highly dysfunctional (that is putting it lightly) married couple.
Dinah Marino is a L.A. Homicide detective who is married to Dr. Joe Marino, a psychiatrist. They have been married for ten years; they love each other more than anything but both have been keeping things from their spouse! While Dinah is busy solving cases, her husband teaches and has his own clinic. When Dinah begins investigating a new case, tension begins to build....
Ever wish that a book had been longer? I know I have wished that some books would have been shorter, in some cases much shorter. With A Happy Marriage, I wanted just a little bit more. Why? There are certain things in this book that are not resolved and other things that I wished had been explored more such as how they met and knew they were the right match for each other because...
Having said that, this was a fun, entertaining, tense, OTT, and riveting read. I was all over the place with how I wanted to rate this book. I could not put it down, but I was left wanting more. I did enjoy the Epilogue but, again, wanted more. If you are looking for pure enjoyment in book form, this one may be for you. I enjoyed the inner thoughts of the characters, their interactions, and their happy marriage.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Dinah Marino is a L.A. Homicide detective who is married to Dr. Joe Marino, a psychiatrist. They have been married for ten years; they love each other more than anything but both have been keeping things from their spouse! While Dinah is busy solving cases, her husband teaches and has his own clinic. When Dinah begins investigating a new case, tension begins to build....
Ever wish that a book had been longer? I know I have wished that some books would have been shorter, in some cases much shorter. With A Happy Marriage, I wanted just a little bit more. Why? There are certain things in this book that are not resolved and other things that I wished had been explored more such as how they met and knew they were the right match for each other because...
Having said that, this was a fun, entertaining, tense, OTT, and riveting read. I was all over the place with how I wanted to rate this book. I could not put it down, but I was left wanting more. I did enjoy the Epilogue but, again, wanted more. If you are looking for pure enjoyment in book form, this one may be for you. I enjoyed the inner thoughts of the characters, their interactions, and their happy marriage.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
June 28, 2025
I’ve waited for this for such a long time. Preordered it from audible and didn’t regret for a second the credit I used to get it. As always there were unusual characters with devious minds, and the story unfolds with perfect pacing, revealing never too much but enough to keep you curios. It was quite an extreme reveal, but it didn’t make my eyes roll.
July 9, 2025
A twisted, twisted tale with a big, old capital T, A Happy Marriage was everything I love in an A.R. Torre novel. Fast-paced, addictive, and deliciously unhinged, the plot delivered quite the dark yarn. With two characters I loved to hate just as much as I loved rooting them on, I found myself wrapped up in this story from the beginning. After all, it started off with a bang and then just jammed down on the gas. A mix of mild police procedural and whacked-out domestic thriller, it had definite Freida McFadden vibes mixed in with Kaira Rouda’s crazy-a** characters. Altogether, it made for a rollercoaster ride of ratcheting, finely tuned suspense that I couldn’t put down.
I do need to warn you that this propulsive, edge-of-your-seat trip into Torre’s talented mind also required suspension of all disbelief. Not even remotely realistic, it was still the best kind of outing. As much of a quick, easy read as it was disturbing in the extreme, I was yet again blown away by the epic twists and turns that this author came up with. Did I guess each of them before their timely reveals? Well…yes. But that didn’t lessen their shock value even the slightest. Besides, it gave me a chance to pat myself on the back for another winning hand at some armchair sleuthing. All I know is that the sharp writing and long-buried secrets delivered yet another utter home run.
All said and done, I’m not surprised in the least that my colleagues and friends in Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse loved this one as much as I did. With well-written multiple POVs and short, punchy chapters, there was no end to the fun times to be had. In fact, it was such an outright rollicking good time that I finished it in one single sitting and had to restrain myself from skimming as I raced through the pages. You see, I never knew who to trust and who to side-eye with out-and-out suspicion. Now I just have to prepare myself for the long wait until I get another book from this truly talent author. After all, I can never get enough of her diabolical characters. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS NOTE: Please please please go into this one blind. While the spoilers in the synopsis aren’t all that revealing, they nevertheless would take away some of the fun. All you need to know is that it centers around a homicide detective and her psychologist husband. While she’s trying to solve the case of a woman murdered in her own home, he’s teaching college classes and working hard to help patients at his private psychiatric clinic. The only problem is that there are some seriously dark secrets in this supposed happy marriage. Cue the incoming explosive disaster…
Thank you to A.R. Torre and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 24, 2025
Content warning: kidnapping, suicide, knife violence, death of a parent, mention of: heart disease, murder, adoption
I do need to warn you that this propulsive, edge-of-your-seat trip into Torre’s talented mind also required suspension of all disbelief. Not even remotely realistic, it was still the best kind of outing. As much of a quick, easy read as it was disturbing in the extreme, I was yet again blown away by the epic twists and turns that this author came up with. Did I guess each of them before their timely reveals? Well…yes. But that didn’t lessen their shock value even the slightest. Besides, it gave me a chance to pat myself on the back for another winning hand at some armchair sleuthing. All I know is that the sharp writing and long-buried secrets delivered yet another utter home run.
All said and done, I’m not surprised in the least that my colleagues and friends in Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse loved this one as much as I did. With well-written multiple POVs and short, punchy chapters, there was no end to the fun times to be had. In fact, it was such an outright rollicking good time that I finished it in one single sitting and had to restrain myself from skimming as I raced through the pages. You see, I never knew who to trust and who to side-eye with out-and-out suspicion. Now I just have to prepare myself for the long wait until I get another book from this truly talent author. After all, I can never get enough of her diabolical characters. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS NOTE: Please please please go into this one blind. While the spoilers in the synopsis aren’t all that revealing, they nevertheless would take away some of the fun. All you need to know is that it centers around a homicide detective and her psychologist husband. While she’s trying to solve the case of a woman murdered in her own home, he’s teaching college classes and working hard to help patients at his private psychiatric clinic. The only problem is that there are some seriously dark secrets in this supposed happy marriage. Cue the incoming explosive disaster…
Thank you to A.R. Torre and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 24, 2025
Content warning: kidnapping, suicide, knife violence, death of a parent, mention of: heart disease, murder, adoption
July 3, 2025
WHAT A CONVULTED UNHINGED MESS OF A MARRIAGE
Lies and secrets is the glue holding married couple Dinah and Joe Marino. But when detective Dinah finds her secrets about to unravel she stops at nothing to try and conceal the truth, but is her husband already one step ahead of her?
When it comes to an unhinged woman you can assure A.R Torre is going to deliver every time. The female lead Dinah was so unbearable to read and extremely unlikeable. I’m not saying you shouldn’t love your husband to the moon and back, but Dinah’s sickly infatuation with Joe was straight nauseating!
This is a quick read which started off strong but around the mid mark it felt like everyone was repeating themselves and I found myself zoning out. Serious suspension of disbelief is required for this one which is ok, but I don’t know for this book the over the top-ness just irked me truthfully.
I don’t know if it’s because I feel like I have read a similar plot or character like Dinah before, but I just didn’t care for the characters to much and was slightly unbothered with whatever outcome came.
The chapters are short, the narration was good, and the twists were good, but something was missing for me to make it a fantastic book. I didn’t hate I but I didn’t love it either. It was just an ok read. With that said I love this author and will continue picking up her future releases.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Eeeeeek The blurb just gave me goosebumps!
I absolutely love A.R. Torre books!
I hope this book is a winner!
💙🤍💙
Lies and secrets is the glue holding married couple Dinah and Joe Marino. But when detective Dinah finds her secrets about to unravel she stops at nothing to try and conceal the truth, but is her husband already one step ahead of her?
When it comes to an unhinged woman you can assure A.R Torre is going to deliver every time. The female lead Dinah was so unbearable to read and extremely unlikeable. I’m not saying you shouldn’t love your husband to the moon and back, but Dinah’s sickly infatuation with Joe was straight nauseating!
This is a quick read which started off strong but around the mid mark it felt like everyone was repeating themselves and I found myself zoning out. Serious suspension of disbelief is required for this one which is ok, but I don’t know for this book the over the top-ness just irked me truthfully.
I don’t know if it’s because I feel like I have read a similar plot or character like Dinah before, but I just didn’t care for the characters to much and was slightly unbothered with whatever outcome came.
The chapters are short, the narration was good, and the twists were good, but something was missing for me to make it a fantastic book. I didn’t hate I but I didn’t love it either. It was just an ok read. With that said I love this author and will continue picking up her future releases.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Eeeeeek The blurb just gave me goosebumps!
I absolutely love A.R. Torre books!
I hope this book is a winner!
💙🤍💙
June 1, 2025
As one of the biggest fans of Alessandra Torre’s darker works (though I’ve also enjoyed her romance novels in the past and hope she writes more in the future), I was eager to dive into this twisty thriller. Torre is known for crafting stories filled with deception, secrets, and couples with sinister agendas, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately, this time, I couldn't fully enjoy the wild, batshit-crazy ride, even though the book started off promising—especially the early pages detailing Joe and his future plans for his beloved wife.
The plot follows Dinah, a hardworking Los Angeles cop from a dysfunctional family, who carries deep-seated resentments toward her mother and sister, Marci. She dedicates herself to solving missing persons cases, which have been piling up lately, and finds solace in her marriage to Joe—a respected professor and psychiatrist specializing in treating troubled women. Years ago, Joe even helped Dinah during her darkest moments, pulling her back from the edge. She loves and trusts him completely, believing he is her safe place.
But behind Joe’s polished, hardworking psychiatrist façade, he harbors dangerous secrets—and he’s not the only one. Dinah, too, has a life-altering secret from her past. As she investigates a chilling case involving a terminally ill mother who was murdered just months before her expected death—and her now-missing daughter, Jessica—she’s faced with troubling questions. Did Jessica kill her mother? Was she abducted? Could she be a victim of sex trafficking? Meanwhile, a rookie detective is poking around Dinah’s cases, questioning her every move and putting her career at risk. To complicate matters further, Dinah realizes that the missing girl might have been one of her husband’s patients.
Now, Dinah must choose: does she cross ethical lines to do her job, potentially jeopardizing her marriage, or does she protect herself at all costs? With her deepest secret threatening to surface, she stands to lose everything she’s built.
Overall: I predicted Dinah’s secret early on, as well as the novel’s biggest twist before even reaching the halfway mark—it all felt too obvious. While the story started strong, things took a nosedive midway, with abrupt, underdeveloped twists that ultimately derailed the execution. I struggled to connect with any of the characters, including the victim, which made it difficult to stay invested. That being said, the ending, with its dark sense of humor, made some sense. Still, I expected more.
I’m giving this book a solid 3 stars (rounded up from 2.5) for its promising start and my love for the author’s work. However, I’ll be skipping this one in favor of looking forward to her future books, hopefully with stronger twists and better character development.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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The plot follows Dinah, a hardworking Los Angeles cop from a dysfunctional family, who carries deep-seated resentments toward her mother and sister, Marci. She dedicates herself to solving missing persons cases, which have been piling up lately, and finds solace in her marriage to Joe—a respected professor and psychiatrist specializing in treating troubled women. Years ago, Joe even helped Dinah during her darkest moments, pulling her back from the edge. She loves and trusts him completely, believing he is her safe place.
But behind Joe’s polished, hardworking psychiatrist façade, he harbors dangerous secrets—and he’s not the only one. Dinah, too, has a life-altering secret from her past. As she investigates a chilling case involving a terminally ill mother who was murdered just months before her expected death—and her now-missing daughter, Jessica—she’s faced with troubling questions. Did Jessica kill her mother? Was she abducted? Could she be a victim of sex trafficking? Meanwhile, a rookie detective is poking around Dinah’s cases, questioning her every move and putting her career at risk. To complicate matters further, Dinah realizes that the missing girl might have been one of her husband’s patients.
Now, Dinah must choose: does she cross ethical lines to do her job, potentially jeopardizing her marriage, or does she protect herself at all costs? With her deepest secret threatening to surface, she stands to lose everything she’s built.
Overall: I predicted Dinah’s secret early on, as well as the novel’s biggest twist before even reaching the halfway mark—it all felt too obvious. While the story started strong, things took a nosedive midway, with abrupt, underdeveloped twists that ultimately derailed the execution. I struggled to connect with any of the characters, including the victim, which made it difficult to stay invested. That being said, the ending, with its dark sense of humor, made some sense. Still, I expected more.
I’m giving this book a solid 3 stars (rounded up from 2.5) for its promising start and my love for the author’s work. However, I’ll be skipping this one in favor of looking forward to her future books, hopefully with stronger twists and better character development.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
medium.com
July 24, 2025
3.75 Super short and super entertaining! Flew through this in 24 hours and a huge fan of this authors writing style, but I will say this wasn’t ‘twisty’ it was more a sequence of crazy events hence not being a higher rating x
August 4, 2025
A marriage full of secrets, and a case that might unravel it all
The first line of this book was what got me intrigued, and it’s literally one of the craziest starting lines I’ve ever read!! And I did enjoy the ride throughout, but I felt the twists to be a bit underwhelming [perhaps they would be shocking for a beginner of the genre].
What can you expect
💉Psychological thriller with unreliable narrators
💉Murder mystery with a missing person’s case
💉 Unlikable characters
💉Detective wife x Psychiatrist husband
💉Betrayal, secrets and lies
💉Toxic marital relationship
💉Multiple povs
What it’s about
Detective Dinah Marino has built her life around control—on the job, in her marriage, and especially when it comes to the truth. Her psychiatrist husband, Joe, is everything she’s ever needed: steady, compassionate, and above all, trusting. But for ten years, Dinah has carried a secret—one she’s buried so deep, not even Joe suspects the weight of it.
When a missing woman tied to Dinah’s latest homicide case is admitted to Joe’s hospital under mysterious circumstances, he finds himself caught between professional ethics and the woman he thought he knew. And as the lines between personal and professional blur, the couple is drawn into a high-stakes game of deception, where every truth uncovered threatens to unravel everything they’ve built.
My thoughts
I’ve read and loved another book by this author but the tone of this one felt so different from the other. While this was equally thrilling and also read fast, it seemed like the author tried to incorporate more dark humor in here which didn’t work for me at times. What worked though was the gruesome and gross imagery at the start cuz the way she juxtaposed the couple eating cereal to flies devouring a body was morbid yet brilliant. Also, from the start, she delivered so much in short, crisp sentences while also hinting us that something was definitely wrong with the couple, and I liked playing detective on the side by noting those deets, which leads to my only gripe in the novel – the twists were predictable!!!! While the book took some dark turns by the end that I didn’t expect, most of the reveals were something you can easily deduce if you paid a bit more attention. But that didn’t hinder my enjoyment, it just left me a bit less satisfied.
Now coming to the characters—Dinah honestly seems a bit obsessed with her husband. And while that wouldn’t normally feel suspicious, the way she constantly thinks about him after every move she makes? Wondering what to tell him and what to keep to herself? It really makes you question if she’s the issue or if he is. Because when a woman’s always overthinking what to hide and what to share with her own husband, that screams red flags!!!
And Joe really doesn’t help ease those suspicions—he somehow seems to know everything Dinah’s doing, even when she’s actively keeping him in the dark. It gave me some seriously unsettling vibes. Plus, the man has a freakishly good memory (like he remembers tiny things she mentioned in passing years ago😭), and he sees right through every single one of her lies. Tell me that isn’t at least a little creepy?!🙂↕️
Whether they’re both tangled up in the case or someone else is deliberately playing them against each other, you’ll have to read to find out. Overall, I’d recommend this if you’re in the mood for a domestic thriller that’s easy to get into, keeps you guessing, and plays with the idea of unreliable narrators in a really clever way. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author!!
✨Pre-read:
Been perusing the thriller/mystery section of KU cuz I'm feeling a slump coming, and then I read the first line of this & was immediately intrigued😍
"I watch my wife eat her cereal and think about the first girl I killed."
Seriously, who wouldn't be intrigued after this starting line?!🤣🤭
The first line of this book was what got me intrigued, and it’s literally one of the craziest starting lines I’ve ever read!! And I did enjoy the ride throughout, but I felt the twists to be a bit underwhelming [perhaps they would be shocking for a beginner of the genre].
What can you expect
💉Psychological thriller with unreliable narrators
💉Murder mystery with a missing person’s case
💉 Unlikable characters
💉Detective wife x Psychiatrist husband
💉Betrayal, secrets and lies
💉Toxic marital relationship
💉Multiple povs
What it’s about
Detective Dinah Marino has built her life around control—on the job, in her marriage, and especially when it comes to the truth. Her psychiatrist husband, Joe, is everything she’s ever needed: steady, compassionate, and above all, trusting. But for ten years, Dinah has carried a secret—one she’s buried so deep, not even Joe suspects the weight of it.
When a missing woman tied to Dinah’s latest homicide case is admitted to Joe’s hospital under mysterious circumstances, he finds himself caught between professional ethics and the woman he thought he knew. And as the lines between personal and professional blur, the couple is drawn into a high-stakes game of deception, where every truth uncovered threatens to unravel everything they’ve built.
My thoughts
I’ve read and loved another book by this author but the tone of this one felt so different from the other. While this was equally thrilling and also read fast, it seemed like the author tried to incorporate more dark humor in here which didn’t work for me at times. What worked though was the gruesome and gross imagery at the start cuz the way she juxtaposed the couple eating cereal to flies devouring a body was morbid yet brilliant. Also, from the start, she delivered so much in short, crisp sentences while also hinting us that something was definitely wrong with the couple, and I liked playing detective on the side by noting those deets, which leads to my only gripe in the novel – the twists were predictable!!!! While the book took some dark turns by the end that I didn’t expect, most of the reveals were something you can easily deduce if you paid a bit more attention. But that didn’t hinder my enjoyment, it just left me a bit less satisfied.
Now coming to the characters—Dinah honestly seems a bit obsessed with her husband. And while that wouldn’t normally feel suspicious, the way she constantly thinks about him after every move she makes? Wondering what to tell him and what to keep to herself? It really makes you question if she’s the issue or if he is. Because when a woman’s always overthinking what to hide and what to share with her own husband, that screams red flags!!!
And Joe really doesn’t help ease those suspicions—he somehow seems to know everything Dinah’s doing, even when she’s actively keeping him in the dark. It gave me some seriously unsettling vibes. Plus, the man has a freakishly good memory (like he remembers tiny things she mentioned in passing years ago😭), and he sees right through every single one of her lies. Tell me that isn’t at least a little creepy?!🙂↕️
Whether they’re both tangled up in the case or someone else is deliberately playing them against each other, you’ll have to read to find out. Overall, I’d recommend this if you’re in the mood for a domestic thriller that’s easy to get into, keeps you guessing, and plays with the idea of unreliable narrators in a really clever way. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author!!
✨Pre-read:
Been perusing the thriller/mystery section of KU cuz I'm feeling a slump coming, and then I read the first line of this & was immediately intrigued😍
"I watch my wife eat her cereal and think about the first girl I killed."
Seriously, who wouldn't be intrigued after this starting line?!🤣🤭
June 27, 2025
Well this one started out with a bang. The first chapter really set the tone for the book. There was so much going on with this one. A controlling psycho husband. A police officer wife. Secrets. Betrayal. Murder.
This actually was not what I expected it to be at all. I didn’t feel there were any shocking twists, but there were some very dark parts like the box. It was a good story though.
The ending was pretty far fetched, so you should know that going in with this one. It wasn’t realistic, but it was entertaining and I was never skimming or bored once throughout the whole book.
I love this author, but I don’t think this was her best by far, but it was still def worth the read! 🖤
This actually was not what I expected it to be at all. I didn’t feel there were any shocking twists, but there were some very dark parts like the box. It was a good story though.
The ending was pretty far fetched, so you should know that going in with this one. It wasn’t realistic, but it was entertaining and I was never skimming or bored once throughout the whole book.
I love this author, but I don’t think this was her best by far, but it was still def worth the read! 🖤
Currently reading
June 24, 2025I'm so ecstatic to have this book out into the world and in readers' hands. If you are new to my writing, my books are typically set in high-wealth environments, and showcase rich (and crazy) characters with at least 1 dead body in the mix (sometimes more).
A Happy Marriage is no exception and centers around a very happy marriage (honestly it is!) if you overlook the fact that the husband is a possible serial killer and his wife is investigating a crime that may or may not involve him. Joe and Dinah's story is snackable insanity from the very first line and if you enjoyed my other books, I really think you'll love this one.
Thank you for your support! This book is available in ebook, audio, and paperback. Both ebook and audio are free in KU.
💕 - Alessandra
A Happy Marriage is no exception and centers around a very happy marriage (honestly it is!) if you overlook the fact that the husband is a possible serial killer and his wife is investigating a crime that may or may not involve him. Joe and Dinah's story is snackable insanity from the very first line and if you enjoyed my other books, I really think you'll love this one.
Thank you for your support! This book is available in ebook, audio, and paperback. Both ebook and audio are free in KU.
💕 - Alessandra
July 3, 2025
A.R Torre, love your plots! A perfect marriage with no faults does not exist.
August 3, 2025
My thousandth book read!!! That’s really cool to me. I hope I never lose my love for reading.🥹 But anyways…ok I was LOVING this but I feel like it became too over the top without a solid resolution. We had so many exciting plot threads introduced only to just do nothing with them. All of that excellent momentum built up in the beginning only for the second half to be both too much and not enough. It’s fun and a wild ride nonetheless but I’m a bit disappointed. It started so strong!!!
January 26, 2025
4.75⭐️ This book reminded me why I love thrillers so much. It was addicting, intense and disturbing. Unreliable narrators are my favorite to read and this was no exception. I will devour this authors backlist next.
July 1, 2025
Los Angeles homicide detective Dinah Marino is married to Joe, a psychologist currently researching the power of suggestion and influence. Needless to say, there are secrets and lies which could destroy their perfect marriage if revealed.
This is one of those books that it's best to go into without knowing too much ahead of time. If anything, I think the blurb may just confuse you. Much as I enjoyed reading the book, I have mixed feelings about it. It's entertaining and a pretty fast read (gotta love those short snappy chapters) and I always have fun with this author's books so I'm giving it 4 stars but I totally understand why some readers would rate it lower. It's pretty unhinged and unrealistic but still .... it's A.R. Torre!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, via Netgalley, for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: June 24, 2025
NOTE: If you have a Kindle Unlimited membership the book is currently free (in Canada anyway).
This is one of those books that it's best to go into without knowing too much ahead of time. If anything, I think the blurb may just confuse you. Much as I enjoyed reading the book, I have mixed feelings about it. It's entertaining and a pretty fast read (gotta love those short snappy chapters) and I always have fun with this author's books so I'm giving it 4 stars but I totally understand why some readers would rate it lower. It's pretty unhinged and unrealistic but still .... it's A.R. Torre!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, via Netgalley, for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: June 24, 2025
NOTE: If you have a Kindle Unlimited membership the book is currently free (in Canada anyway).
November 2, 2025
I know this book is popular but I didn’t really like it much at all. I thought it was confusing and didn’t really get if the wife or the husband were supposed to be together or not in the hospital’
December 3, 2025
What an over-the-top plot!
Dinah Marino is an LAPD homicide detective leading a new case: a woman has been found dead, and her daughter, Jessica, is missing. Ever since her partner died, Dinah has worked alone—until the department saddles her with rookie Freddie Hodgkins. She is not thrilled.
Dinah’s husband is Dr. Joe Marino, a respected psychiatrist who teaches and runs his own private clinic. On the surface, Dinah and Joe have the perfect marriage—ten years of absolute bliss. The catch? Dinah is hiding an enormous secret, and she knows their relationship only works because of total trust. So what happens when Joe realizes something is off? And how does the current missing-person/murder case collide with that secret?
I have to say—this dysfunctional marriage was wildly entertaining. Their crazy, addictive dynamic had me hooked. I only wish it hadn’t spiraled quite so far out of control. I finished the book with a bunch of unanswered questions.
As an Alessandra Torre fan, I’ll read anything she writes.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Dinah Marino is an LAPD homicide detective leading a new case: a woman has been found dead, and her daughter, Jessica, is missing. Ever since her partner died, Dinah has worked alone—until the department saddles her with rookie Freddie Hodgkins. She is not thrilled.
Dinah’s husband is Dr. Joe Marino, a respected psychiatrist who teaches and runs his own private clinic. On the surface, Dinah and Joe have the perfect marriage—ten years of absolute bliss. The catch? Dinah is hiding an enormous secret, and she knows their relationship only works because of total trust. So what happens when Joe realizes something is off? And how does the current missing-person/murder case collide with that secret?
I have to say—this dysfunctional marriage was wildly entertaining. Their crazy, addictive dynamic had me hooked. I only wish it hadn’t spiraled quite so far out of control. I finished the book with a bunch of unanswered questions.
As an Alessandra Torre fan, I’ll read anything she writes.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
December 19, 2025
If you read a lot in this genre you will cast a suspicious eye on a character named Joe. The Joes we know and love tend to be a bit unhinged. Are my suspicions justified?
Homicide detective Dinah is married to her psychiatrist husband Joe, and they have a happy marriage built on familiar routines and expectations.
Dinah is working hard to solve a woman’s murder and find her missing daughter, while Dr Joe teaches and treats patients in a private psychiatric hospital.
Both have secrets of course, and things begin to unravel when she finds out she’s the subject of an internal affairs investigation.
And that is all you need to know. It’s so much more fun to go in completely blind.
Pop the popcorn, suspend disbelief and settle in for a fun, wild story. But not once did my eyes roll. It’s just fun! The fact that the book is short & quick works in its favor here. I had to rewind the epilogue and re-listen, then chuckled at how clever the author is.
Excellent on audio.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Homicide detective Dinah is married to her psychiatrist husband Joe, and they have a happy marriage built on familiar routines and expectations.
Dinah is working hard to solve a woman’s murder and find her missing daughter, while Dr Joe teaches and treats patients in a private psychiatric hospital.
Both have secrets of course, and things begin to unravel when she finds out she’s the subject of an internal affairs investigation.
And that is all you need to know. It’s so much more fun to go in completely blind.
Pop the popcorn, suspend disbelief and settle in for a fun, wild story. But not once did my eyes roll. It’s just fun! The fact that the book is short & quick works in its favor here. I had to rewind the epilogue and re-listen, then chuckled at how clever the author is.
Excellent on audio.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 12, 2025
3.5 Stars!
This morning my dad asked me what this book was about and I had to tell him I didn't know.
What!?!
I think I need to read more books by A.R. Torre because this was an experience. I had no clue what was happening or where we were going but I had fun.
This morning my dad asked me what this book was about and I had to tell him I didn't know.
What!?!
I think I need to read more books by A.R. Torre because this was an experience. I had no clue what was happening or where we were going but I had fun.
January 27, 2025
This book was absolutely unhinged from start to finish 😂😂 but I actually loved it.
The husband and wife dynamic once you get the full picture is absolute bonkers but I am here for it 😆 I actually thoroughly enjoyed the ending I thought it was clever and funny and honestly the cherry on the cake.
Jessica was such a sweet character! She has such an innocence and naivety to her, she’s observant and intelligent and yet doesn’t even realize it.
A quick fast paced read that I definitely inhaled in one sitting. Books by this author are always an auto read for me and they never fail to deliver!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and A R Torre for the EARC!
Publish date: June 24th 2025
The husband and wife dynamic once you get the full picture is absolute bonkers but I am here for it 😆 I actually thoroughly enjoyed the ending I thought it was clever and funny and honestly the cherry on the cake.
Jessica was such a sweet character! She has such an innocence and naivety to her, she’s observant and intelligent and yet doesn’t even realize it.
A quick fast paced read that I definitely inhaled in one sitting. Books by this author are always an auto read for me and they never fail to deliver!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and A R Torre for the EARC!
Publish date: June 24th 2025
August 25, 2025
A.R. Torre, you are the QUEEEEEEEEN of the popcorn thriller. This is my second trip to the liburrrrry to snag one of her paperbacks this summer and let me tell you both were an absolute delight. If you like a little far-fetched thrillery fun, she’s your girl. This was truly a you had me at hello right from the very first line . . .
I watch my wife eat her cereal and think about the first girl I killed.
And at around 250 pages, it was short enough for me to read in one go without even ignoring any of my real life obligations.
August 16, 2025
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review!*
3.5 out of 5 stars!
I love A.R. Torre’s psychological thrillers—though I haven’t read every single one just yet, I really enjoyed this one as well.
A Happy Marriage is a gripping domestic thriller that explores the complexities behind a seemingly perfect relationship. The author masterfully peels back the layers of a wealthy couple’s life, revealing secrets, lies, and emotional manipulation.
The story alternates between perspectives and timelines, keeping the reader hooked with its sharp pacing and suspenseful twists. Torre’s writing is clean and compelling, and the emotional tension builds steadily toward a satisfying conclusion. It's a chilling reminder that appearances can be deceiving—and that love, when poisoned by control, can turn dangerous.
3.5 out of 5 stars!
I love A.R. Torre’s psychological thrillers—though I haven’t read every single one just yet, I really enjoyed this one as well.
A Happy Marriage is a gripping domestic thriller that explores the complexities behind a seemingly perfect relationship. The author masterfully peels back the layers of a wealthy couple’s life, revealing secrets, lies, and emotional manipulation.
The story alternates between perspectives and timelines, keeping the reader hooked with its sharp pacing and suspenseful twists. Torre’s writing is clean and compelling, and the emotional tension builds steadily toward a satisfying conclusion. It's a chilling reminder that appearances can be deceiving—and that love, when poisoned by control, can turn dangerous.
August 23, 2025
3.5
Los Angeles Detective Dinah Marino is happily married to her psychiatrist husband Joe but it seems there are secrets between them as Dinah is harbouring a big one. Dinah’s current case, that of a mother‘s suicide and her missing daughter could derail everything this happy pair have built over the last 10 years.
The first three quarters of this novel has me well and truly invested. The first half is very strong and there are some good bombshell revelations in the first quarter of the second half. Then, it seems to me it’s sort of fizzles out and loses its way and in addition, leave me with a lot of questions about this pair.
It’s a good domestic thriller that could’ve been so much better if the author continued to sock it to us and answer some of those questions!!!!
PS, what is it with characters named Joe? 😬
Kindle Unlimited
Los Angeles Detective Dinah Marino is happily married to her psychiatrist husband Joe but it seems there are secrets between them as Dinah is harbouring a big one. Dinah’s current case, that of a mother‘s suicide and her missing daughter could derail everything this happy pair have built over the last 10 years.
The first three quarters of this novel has me well and truly invested. The first half is very strong and there are some good bombshell revelations in the first quarter of the second half. Then, it seems to me it’s sort of fizzles out and loses its way and in addition, leave me with a lot of questions about this pair.
It’s a good domestic thriller that could’ve been so much better if the author continued to sock it to us and answer some of those questions!!!!
PS, what is it with characters named Joe? 😬
Kindle Unlimited
December 16, 2025
3.5 stars
"When You Love Someone Lyrics: When you love someone, you'll do anything / You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain / You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun / When you love someone ..." (Bryan Adams)
Certainly our very much in love couple knows and practices this song's lyrics. Dinah and Joe Marino have been blissfully married for ten years. Dinah is a homicide detective while Joe is a psychologist who runs his own clinic and teaches as well. They are the couple that epitomizes what a happy marriage is.
However, there may be some chinks in their armor. Dinah is in the midst of investigating a grisly scene at the death of a woman. It is ruled as a suicide but her daughter is missing so was it a suicide or a case of matricide? Dinah is also be plagued by a new tag along want to be policeman. Freddie is making some judgement calls that both annoy and upset Dinah. She does come home to her beloved but is afraid to reveal that there is the real possibility that she is being investigated by internal affairs and of course she has secrets.
Joe loves the word control and practices it with zest. He also is the bearer of secrets. But they do have oodles of money, a secret home in the woods, and a twisted life to share.
It all comes out in the story and while there were some holes, I did enjoy the guessing game I played with the book's sometimes shady and hidden purpose. I am still wondering about that up in the air ending though!
"When You Love Someone Lyrics: When you love someone, you'll do anything / You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain / You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun / When you love someone ..." (Bryan Adams)
Certainly our very much in love couple knows and practices this song's lyrics. Dinah and Joe Marino have been blissfully married for ten years. Dinah is a homicide detective while Joe is a psychologist who runs his own clinic and teaches as well. They are the couple that epitomizes what a happy marriage is.
However, there may be some chinks in their armor. Dinah is in the midst of investigating a grisly scene at the death of a woman. It is ruled as a suicide but her daughter is missing so was it a suicide or a case of matricide? Dinah is also be plagued by a new tag along want to be policeman. Freddie is making some judgement calls that both annoy and upset Dinah. She does come home to her beloved but is afraid to reveal that there is the real possibility that she is being investigated by internal affairs and of course she has secrets.
Joe loves the word control and practices it with zest. He also is the bearer of secrets. But they do have oodles of money, a secret home in the woods, and a twisted life to share.
It all comes out in the story and while there were some holes, I did enjoy the guessing game I played with the book's sometimes shady and hidden purpose. I am still wondering about that up in the air ending though!
June 24, 2025
the setup…
Dinah Marino is a Los Angeles homicide detective married to Joe, a psychiatrist with his own clinic. She loves her husband who makes her feel special every day of their marriage, unlike her own family. When she gets a call to the scene of Reese Bishop, a woman found dead in her home, Dinah rules it a suicide even though college student daughter Jessica appears to be missing. The detective trainee assigned to her that day feels differently and demands the case be further investigated. But something about this case threatens to sever the marital bliss between Dinah and Joe as secrets from her past begin to rise to the surface.
the heart of the story…
From the start, there was something unnatural about Dinah and Joe’s obsessive style love for each other. I didn’t have a clue how the current case connected but felt certain it would, especially how Dinah handled it and her persistent junior detective. When it’s revealed that Jessica is in Joe’s clinic, I knew I was out of my depth and what felt like a predictable story was anything but.
the narration…
The story is from the points of view of Dinah, Joe and Jessica. Paige Reisenfeld, Jonathan Davis and Charlotte Lobdell gave excellent voice to these characters in a way that made them feel authentic. I enjoyed the storytelling and their individual performances.
the bottom line…
This has Torre’s signature style of psychologically complicated characters who live in spaces of normality. It led me down one path only to abruptly send me on another unguided one. There’s no predictability here with a provocative twist that I did figure out in time. Didn’t matter as there was no certainties in the outcome. I inhaled this in a day as I had to know how it all ended. Sit back and hold on because this ride is weird.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Dinah Marino is a Los Angeles homicide detective married to Joe, a psychiatrist with his own clinic. She loves her husband who makes her feel special every day of their marriage, unlike her own family. When she gets a call to the scene of Reese Bishop, a woman found dead in her home, Dinah rules it a suicide even though college student daughter Jessica appears to be missing. The detective trainee assigned to her that day feels differently and demands the case be further investigated. But something about this case threatens to sever the marital bliss between Dinah and Joe as secrets from her past begin to rise to the surface.
the heart of the story…
From the start, there was something unnatural about Dinah and Joe’s obsessive style love for each other. I didn’t have a clue how the current case connected but felt certain it would, especially how Dinah handled it and her persistent junior detective. When it’s revealed that Jessica is in Joe’s clinic, I knew I was out of my depth and what felt like a predictable story was anything but.
the narration…
The story is from the points of view of Dinah, Joe and Jessica. Paige Reisenfeld, Jonathan Davis and Charlotte Lobdell gave excellent voice to these characters in a way that made them feel authentic. I enjoyed the storytelling and their individual performances.
the bottom line…
This has Torre’s signature style of psychologically complicated characters who live in spaces of normality. It led me down one path only to abruptly send me on another unguided one. There’s no predictability here with a provocative twist that I did figure out in time. Didn’t matter as there was no certainties in the outcome. I inhaled this in a day as I had to know how it all ended. Sit back and hold on because this ride is weird.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
June 25, 2025
If A.R. Torre writes a thriller I will read it and this one did not disappoint! I was gripped and loved the storyline, some more brilliantly written unhinged characters! Definitely would recommend this one! I couldn’t put it down!
January 30, 2025
4.25 stars thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
I thought this book was twisted and diabolical. Throughout this book I never knew who to trust and I was on the edge of my seat. It was addictive and pretty fast paced.
One thing I’ll say is that it felt pretty plot forward, which I don’t mind but I do think the story would’ve benefited from a bit more backstory on Joe and Dinah. That being said, it wasn’t a dealbreaker and I really enjoyed this book!
Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT22GsLQ9/
I thought this book was twisted and diabolical. Throughout this book I never knew who to trust and I was on the edge of my seat. It was addictive and pretty fast paced.
One thing I’ll say is that it felt pretty plot forward, which I don’t mind but I do think the story would’ve benefited from a bit more backstory on Joe and Dinah. That being said, it wasn’t a dealbreaker and I really enjoyed this book!
Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT22GsLQ9/
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