The Other Couple

by Claire McGowan

A relationship on the rocks. A body on the beach. A secret they can't escape.

For Beth and Vince, on the brink of a break-up, their island getaway was a last-ditch attempt to save their crumbling marriage. Instead, it’s left them with a haunting the discovery of a young woman’s body on the beach, and Vince’s arrest by suspicious local police. Now back in London after an alibi freed him, they’re desperate to move on—until a familiar face from that terrible night reappears on their street. One they hoped never to see again.

Detective Alison Hegarty was on the scene too, drawn into the case during what was meant to be a relaxing babymoon. Now she’s also back in London, heavily pregnant but in a race against impending maternity leave. Can she unravel the lies that connect the holiday murder, a long-ago crime and a new suspicious fall?

As Beth and Vince are forced to face up to the choices they made that night—and the lies they’ve told one another—one thing seems you can run away from your secrets, but the truth will always find you.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 17, 2026

About the author

Claire McGowan grew up in a small village in Northern Ireland. After a degree in English and French from Oxford University she moved to London and worked in the charity sector. THE FALL is her first novel, which is followed by a series starring forensic psychologist Paula Maguire. She also writes as Eva Woods.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Other Couple by Claire McGowan is a psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of fast-paced, short-chapter reads. Told through the alternating perspectives of Beth, Alison, and an unnamed male character (“Him”), the narrative keeps the reader guessing as secrets unravel between two couples brought together by circumstance.

The multiple POVs offer a layered view of the story, and the short chapters make it easy to fly through the book. For readers who enjoy switching perspectives and keeping track of different voices, this format is a definite plus.

The main body of the book is engaging, with some strong moments of tension and intrigue. While the plot occasionally drags in places, it mostly holds your attention and builds anticipation for the resolution.

Unfortunately, the ending is where the story falters. It feels rushed and attempts to tie up multiple loose ends too quickly, which undermines some of the suspense built throughout the novel. The final chapters could have benefited from more depth and a slower pace to do justice to the complex threads woven earlier.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

This flits between POVs and time periods, and whilst I like both narrative devices, I know some people (my mother included) would struggle with it. Honestly, I did struggle more than I normally do but I did get to grips with it and from then on it was seamless.

I started reding it one evening and after about 90 minutes I was halfway through, it was so absorbing. And I devoured the second half as soon as I woke up the next day.

You have six main characters, some nicer than others, and some with bigger roles than others, but they're all well written. You're not sure who to trust and whose side you're meant to be on. Everyone becomes a suspect and you end up tying yourself in knots trying to figure it out.

It is fast-paced and tense, multi-layered with so much depth to it. There's twists and turns and surprises and it really keeps you on your toes.

I have always been notoriously terrible at working out thrillers and whodunnits, but even I was surprised by the reveal in this. I had my suspicions that kept changing throughout but I didn't see the ending coming.

The chapters are short (which I like) and snappy and fast-paced which helps add to the manic nature of the characters and the situation.

The one thing I'm not sure of is the ending. I mean, I didn't see it coming, which is good in a thriller. But it also seemed to come out of the blue and it was all done in a handful of pages, like something needed to be tied up but she didn't quite know how.. I liked it, don't get me wrong, the ending was good, I just wish it had been drip fed slightly earlier so it felt like part of the main story instead of just this added-on end.

This is my second of Claire's books I've read, the first being This Could Be Us, which is as far away from a thriller as you can get. Thrillers are my most read genre and I will definitely be putting Clare's name on my list of thriller writers to look out for.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh! I feel horrible giving a below-par review, but this book was a huge miss for me. The story was extremely slow and dragged to the point of boredom. I had to keep putting it down due to lack of interest. It took me about four days to finish it, which is highly unusual for me. Somewhere around the halfway point, Beth's 'then' POV started all over again, repeating everything from the beginning but with a few more details that were purposely left out. These many chapters could have been summed up into one or two instead of dragging the story out with unnecessary filler. And since I could not relate to her overly weak character at all, this was very painful for me. I also didn't understand why the author provided us with the POV of Him. Yes, it was a mysterious addition to the plot, but it immediately called out the guilty party for not being any of the characters that were under suspicion. This completely ruined the element of surprise for me. I did like DI Hegarty's role, as always, and will continue to be a fan. Overall, the first half of this book held promise with the exception of Him, but the second half was a total letdown. Some other readers seemed to have really enjoyed it, so I would recommend only to form your own opinions. I'm hoping that the author's next book hits the mark for me.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK | Thomas & Mercer for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author's books; you can always count on a twisty, addictive read. Alison and her husband Tom, both police officers, are on holiday in Tenerife, taking a break before their baby arrives. Beth and Vince are also staying at the same hotel. One morning, Vince discovers a dead woman on the beach, and Alison gets involved in the case, much to the annoyance of the Spanish police. When they return to London, their lives become intertwined. It's a fantastic read with plenty of twists!

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this psych thriller, and am a fan of this author! It was a little slow and repetitive at times, but the story and characters were good! 7/10.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author and enjoy every new book of hers that I read, so I knew I'd like this one. It's laid out a bit differently; it starts with Beth's POV in the present and Alison's in the past, and then switches to Beth in the past and Alison in the present. I loved that twist on the timeframes, and it makes you curious about why the author chose to lay it out that way, so keep that in mind. Beth and her husband, Vince, are supposed to be enjoying an island vacation when a woman's body is found washed up on the beach. Vince is arrested but released, and is happy to go back home to London after the ordeal. But that doesn't mean it's over.

Alison is also enjoying a vacation with her partner, but she's several months pregnant, which leaves her unable to enjoy many of the perks, like endless day drinking. As a detective, she does what she does best and observes the other vacationers. She witnesses Beth and Vince arguing more than once and gets a feeling that something's not right with them. She can't let it go, even after her vacation is over, and continues to investigate once she returns home. Also to London. Apparently, it's common for Londoners to vacation in Tenerife, so it's not far-fetched that they would have crossed paths on vacation. As an American, I know nothing about that, but the details about the locals protesting tourism are probably familiar to people all over the world.

It turns out there's more to this than an ill-timed death in paradise, and the characters' stories start to intermingle. The present narrative gets good when all the pieces start to come together, but then it kind of veers off, and I can't say too much more about that. There are events in the past having to do with the present that come out of nowhere and end up being more important than you would expect. And I'm not sure how satisfied readers will be when it's revealed who killed the woman on the beach. But it was unexpected, that's for sure.

I enjoyed Alison's POV more than Beth's - her husband is a complete jerk, and she puts up with way too much when she should be kicking him out. He treats her horribly, and she just makes excuses and coddles him to the point where it's just painful to read. And he never truly redeems himself or apologizes anywhere near enough for the way he treated her. Ugh. If you're going to create such a terrible character, they need to be dealt with accordingly!

Anyway, it's a fun story that would be a great - cliche coming - beach read! Just maybe watch out for bodies in the water.

[The Cookster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 1.8/5

I have had mixed experiences with Claire McGowan's output in the past, so I went into this one hoping for the best, but also prepared to be disappointed. Sadly, it was to be the latter. There was nothing about this latest offering from Claire McGowan that really hooked me, which is a shame, because, at her best, she is a very capable writer.

The setting was potentially fine, although it wasn't long before matters started to stretch credulity. Heavily pregnant detective, Alison Hegarty, is on holiday with her husband in Tenerife when a woman's dead body is discovered on the beach. Rather than leaving matters to the local police, Alison can't help but force herself into the investigation. The manner in which she goes about it is far from professional and I couldn't help but think of the way that amateur sleuths in cosy mysteries inveigle their way into police matters, because they obviously know better than the bumbling local plod.

The narrative is told primarily from the perspectives of Alison (the British detective) and Beth, a British holidaymaker whose husband had discovered the dead woman's body. There are also intermittent chapters from an unnamed male, known only as "Him". The time frame alternates between the holiday in Tenerife and two weeks later with the various parties now back in the UK. I have no issue with dual perspectives, nor with dual time frames, which can work extremely well. However, in this instance there is a lot of repetition, with ground already covered being re-trodden and then gone over once or twice more just for good measure.

Without wanting to stray into spoiler territory, the ultimate unravelling of the mystery is far from satisfying. Claire McGowan comes dangerously close to committing the cardinal sin of pulling a rabbit out of the hat. Strictly speaking, the doer of the deed doesn't quite appear out of nowhere - but it is hardly a glowing example of clever mystery plotting.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire McGowan’s The Other Couple by Claire McGowan is a gripping thriller where relationships and secrets cannot escape the weight of the past.

Beth and Vince have travelled to a luxury island in an effort to escape the troubles from their failing marriage. Instead, they stumble across the body of a young woman on the beach and Vince is quickly under suspicion by local police. He is eventually freed, but a suspicion of doubt remains. They return to London hoping to put the memories behind them but when a familiar face from that night turns up it is obvious they have not yet escaped their nightmare.

Detective Alison Hegarty, who was also present that night, finds herself unexpectedly entangled in the case while on her own holiday. She is heavily pregnant and feels drawn into the case and cannot resist trying to solve it.

The novel is told from multiple perspectives and is well paced and full of simmering tension. This is a page turner that I really enjoyed. a police procedural full of intrigue and domestic suspense, that tells of the betrayal and lies between Beth and Vince as they face up to what really happened that night.

Lots of twists and turns made this a very enjoyable read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[A Bookworm Crafts · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Other Couple, Beth and Vince take a last-ditch holiday to an island resort in the hope of saving their crumbling marriage. Instead, they find a young woman���s body on the beach and Vince is swiftly arrested by the local police. Although an alibi eventually clears him, the shock follows them home to London, especially when someone connected to that night reappears in their neighbourhood. Meanwhile, Detective Alison Hegarty, who was also at the resort at the same time cannot let the case go. Back in London and heavily pregnant, she continues to investigate.

This was an enjoyable holiday thriller. The multiple POVs and dual timelines worked well for me and the short chapters made it very easy to race through the book. I really liked the character of Alison, her persistence and the added pressure of her pregnancy which gave some of her sections a real sense of urgency. That said, I did feel a little let down by the big reveal at the end, which didn’t quite land with the punch I was hoping for and felt slightly rushed.

A recommended read for fans of Ruth Ware and Gillian McAllister.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but didn"t love it.

Plot:
Three UK couples go to Tenerife on vacation:
Beth and Vince are a couple whose relationship has has hit a rough patch. Theyre hoping this vacation helps reignite their passion.
Corinna and Joel are influencers staying at the hotel in exchange for reviewing it.
Alison and Tom are detectives who are expecting their first child. Alison loves her job and isn't sure she'll be able to cope when she's on maternity leave with no crimes to solve. Fortunately, before long the singer who works at the resort is murdered and Alison has a crime to investigate.

Vince, who found the body, is a prime suspect, especially after it is revealed that he was a suspect in a similar crime in his youth.

The book is narrated by Alison and Beth who flip back and forth between past and present. I found it quite repetitive.

The second half of the book is definitely more interesting but the book, at 10 hours was really too long. I found my mind wandering and having to replay segments--which made it seem longer, obviously.

This is the first book Ive read by Claire McGowan and I liked her writing. I would try another book by the author.

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pack your bags! We’re off to a magnificent luxury resort! An opportunity to leave all your woes behind and bask in the sunshine. Ah yes, this will be a trip to remember. Especially when a woman’s body washes up on shore.

Our vacationers:

Beth and Vince - a rather ordinary couple struggling in the midst of marital problems, but hopeful a holiday is what they need to get their love back on track.

Joel and Corrina - gorgeous influencers who quickly befriend Beth and Vince. Interesting, since they don’t appear to run in the same circles.

Alison and Tom - both detectives from London on a babymoon vacation. But it’s hard to turn off that detective switch when a crime scene is only a few feet away.

Told in multiple timelines of then and now from both Alison and Beth’s perspectives.

I found this book very intriguing as we get to know all three couples. Even though the energy slowed down midway, it did keep me guessing throughout!

✍️ Claire McGowan
📄 349 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: February 17 2026
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Thriller, police procedural

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Detective Alison Hegarty and her partner are on vacation in Tenerife, Spain for a vacation before their baby's arrival. They meet a couple, Beth and Vince, who are obviously miserable, and when Vince is arrested for the murder of a young local singer. Alison, who misses her job, gets drawn in and attempts to help couple.
When Vince is freed and everyone is back in England Alison is still bothered.by the inconsistencies of the case and instead of the bed rest ordered by the doctor, she ends up investigating an attempted murder Beth is accused of in London.
This is a superb, twisty story that had my head twisted back and forth. I loved the descriptions of Tenerife, with the extreme heat, the anti-tourist protests and the luxurious surroundings ... with the feeling of constant unease. I loved it! I'd love to meet Alison and Tom, her partner, again, to see how their lives are with their new baby. Could their be a follow-up book, pretty please?

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth and Vince take a break in Tenerife. Their relationship is rocky, and the getaway doesn't help.
Detective Alison Hegarty is also away, heavily pregnant, and missing her job. She cannot seem to switch off.
A woman is found on the beach. Dead. Vince is the suspect in her death, because he was first on the scene.
The investigation is going nowhere until Alison gets herself involved.

I love Claire McGowan's books. I don't think I have read a bad one yet.
Police procedurals featuring strong female leads are my favourite. I like Alison's dogged pursuit of the truth in this investigation, and the fact that she does it when she should be resting.
She is an absolute star.
There is great character development, and this is a fast paced page turner. I stayed up late into the night to finish it!
Every character is a suspect, but the killer was a huge surprise.

I highly recommend this book

[Jennifer TW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison, a brilliant Senior Detective heads to Tenerife with her partner to relax for 2 weeks before the arrival of their much anticipated baby. She notices a woman, Beth, on their first day who is visibly upset and who seems to have a strained relationship with her husband Vince. In the meantime, another couple, two high flying influencers, arrive who seem to take Beth & Vince under their wing. But when a body is washed up on the beach, Alison struggles to stay out of ‘work mode’ and tries to piece together who may be responsible. Who did Alison hear screaming on the night the woman died? Why has Beth got bruises on her arms? And why does Alison’s partner recognise Vince? A brilliant well paced story told from different perspectives that explores how childhood events can carry into adulthood with heartbreaking consequences. And the main question, what if? Highly recommended. Thanks to the Author & publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Big Bertha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tenerife at the height of season, the anti-tourist protesters out in force, the hotels full capacity with foreign tourists its staff overworked and probably underpaid.

Beth and husband Vince's holiday was supposed to bring them closer together instead it took a turn for the worse when he was arrested and taken in for questioning regarding the death of a local woman whose body he discovered on the beach

Staying at the same hotel were fellow Londoners DI Alison Hegarty and her partner Tom, she can't help but take a keen interest in the local police case particularly as she'd witnessed Beth and Vince arguing the night of the incident at the hotel

This multi-narrative thriller was a well paced, quick easy read with interesting characters and a good mix of domestic drama and intrigue. This is the kind of book I like to take on holiday.

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Shawna Briseno · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couples trip to a luxurious beachside resort is a dream come true for most people. Until someone turns up dead. There are plenty of suspects to be found. Vince and Beth…certainly not the picture of a happy marriage. This trip was meant to be an attempt to salvage their struggling marriage. But it’s not working. And then Vince becomes a suspect. There’s also Corinna and Joel, an influencer couple that turned up out of the blue and for some inexplicable reason latched on to Vince and Beth. Is there more to them than meets the eye? And finally we have Alison and Tom. Happily married, yes. She and Tom are taking one last trip before their soon to be born baby arrives. As a detective, Alison can’t resist the allure of a mystery to solve and finds herself caught up in the murder investigation. A good story with some nice twists along the way.

[Saffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed the author’s previous novels and so was looking forward to reading The Other Couple. When Beth and Vince go on an all inclusive holiday they become involved with an influencer couple and Vince is arrested after he discovers a murdered woman on the beach. Detective Alison Hegarty is on holiday at the same resort and back home in the UK soon becomes involved in solving the murder and investigating the links to a past crime.
I liked the synopsis of the novel and it starts out well. It’s told primarily from the points of view of Alison and Beth and I was quickly drawn into the relationship between Beth and Vince and the murder on the island. I loved the character of Alison and hope she appears in future novels. It’s a twisty read that kept me guessing until the end. However it did become a little repetitive as the points of view of Beth and Alison often overlap without offering anything new.
An enjoyable read overall. 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

[Lost Vegas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read.

Told by both Alison, our detective and Beth, a person of interest in the case.

Alison was written so well, I felt like I knew her and I really related to her need to keep investigating things while her husband is desperate for her to relax into her pregnancy.

There is suspense, and excellent mystery and the author manages to tell the story from different perspectives and throw in a secret from years before. I ate this up and whether you read it at home as a cosy winter weekend or on a late sun break, you will be entertained, interested and satisfied at the end. I am off to read previous books by the author, and I’m sure you will be too.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher’s for this eARC in return for an honest review.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

When detective Alison Hegarty and her partner go for their babymoon on an island getaway, they quickly become embroiled in the murder case of one of the hotel staff, where four other Brits are directly or indirectly involved.

Things become even more complicated once everyone returns to the UK, and the heavily pregnant Alison is hellbent on figuring out how each of these people are tied to a Hotel lounge singer's death, and what links if any, there are to an earlier case involving the murder of a school girl...

McGowan keeps you guessing as usual, tying up multiple loose ends most satisfactorily at the conclusion of her story. This one is well worth your time!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Amanda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm very conflicted writing this review! For the most part, I loved it. The writing style was really enjoyable to read and I liked the structure. Also, 'Stodgy-looking man' is probably my favourite character description ever!

I just felt really cheated by the end. Spoiler territory - I was really enjoying the mystery and untangling what had happened with the three couples at the resort, only for the murderer to turn out to be a random character who wasn't even introduced until the end. Really disappointing, and took what could have been a 5 star read for me to 3 stars.

Can't win them all I suppose, I would definitely read more from the author because of how much I enjoyed the first 90% of the book.

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Other Couple is told from multiple points of view, which can often add layers and intrigue, but in this case, it didn’t quite work for me. I found the story rather slow, and I often had to push myself to pick it back up. The ‘Him’ POV chapters, in particular, really didn’t land — they felt unnecessary and added little to the overall story.

As the book moved forward, the pacing shifted from slow to extremely rushed at the end, which left the conclusion feeling unbalanced. I’m someone who really dislikes not finishing a book, but there were definitely moments where I felt tempted to stop. I kept going in the hope that things would pick up, but sadly, it just wasn’t the right fit for me. That said, every reader is different, and I truly hope others get more enjoyment from it than I did.

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose some of what I have to say will count as spoilers, so if you're a baby about such things, don't read on.
Thrillers are my jam! And I love a destination thriller.
I enjoyed this book, it was twisty and gruesome, just the way I like it.
The end twist was a little annoying because it was purposely done in a way so you are completely unable to guess the culprit (which is part of the fun of thrillers and crime novels for me). I understand why it was done, but it loses a star for that.
It kinda reminded me of how I felt cheated when I found out Professor Moody was Barty Crouch Jr. all along. Like how on earth was I supposed to realise that when I'd never even heard of that character until now?

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth and Vince are on the brink of a break-up, so their island getaway is a last resort to save their marriage. But one morning they discover a body on the beach. A murder. And Vince is taken in for questioning. Once back in London, a familiar face from that night appears, one they would like to forget. Detective Alison Heagarty was also on the scene, on her babymoon. Now also back in London, she can't seem to let the case go.
The story was so engaging and moved along at a good pace. I love a good crime mystery and I certainly did not predict the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for this gifted review copy.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was frustrated with all the lies, cover ups but in the end was relieved that no one from the gang did it. The author managed to hook and pulled me towards the end. Give hints at first then explanations near the end. I was able to understand the characters’ behaviors and need to lie. And the murderer’s POV, chilling how someone in real life really thinks like that.
This is a good read, one that I myself would be bringing to a holiday, hoping nothing of sort happens; otherwise, i would be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three couples, one week in a resort and one dead body, so many secrets and lies...
I quite enjoyed 3/4 of this book with the alternating povs of two of the wives, a mysterious "him" pov, lots of twists and shady goings-on. However, things take a turn with the final part of the book, where the story seems to rush through, and the ending is okay at best.
That being said, I do enjoy Claire McGowan's books overall so I'm looking forward to her next read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc copy for review.

[Chella K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other Couple is a fast-paced, gripping thriller that kept me guessing right until the very end. Claire McGowan does a great job building tension and layering in twists, making it hard to put the book down.What I enjoyed most was how the story constantly shifts your suspicions — just when I think I’ve figured out who the culprit is, new details emerge and change everything. The pacing is excellent, with short chapters and steady reveals that keep the momentum going throughout. Overall it's a good read.

[Claire Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley & Amazon for allowing me early access to this book.
I found this an easy bingable book. The only thing for me was the number of people sometimes. I struggle with too many characters, and almost felt the twist we waited for the whole way through this, was a bit flat. I won't say too much because we don't need spoilers but I wanted a shock moment.
Overall 3 stars from me because although I didn't love it I didn't hate it and found myself wanting to know more.

[Melanie Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two couples are on holiday at a resort when Allison, a police officer, notices the other couple, Beth and Vince sitting nearby and Beth seems upset. Allison is concerned about Beth and befriends her. Later in the week, a woman who works at the resort is found dead and Vince is taken in as a suspect. This was a pretty good and fast read.

[Dani Colón · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable multi-point of view thriller.
Overall, it kept my attention and I enjoyed the story- however, I feel a bit conflicted about the end, which took it down a star for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Lindsay Saunders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and Amazon Publishing UK for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book had so much potential! The premise is good... a brilliant police detective and her husband take a babymoon vacation at a luxury resort and meet another couple that raise a lot of red flags for the detective. Detective Alison can't shut off her police mode and tries to get to the bottom of some mysterious circumstances involving this new couple and a body found near the water.
This book has a lot going on. 'Before' flashbacks for multiple characters that tend to drag on, and I found myself getting bored through some of these parts. I didn't love any of the characters except the detective. I really didn't like the addition of the chapters for an unknown male subject "Him". I feel like this definitely took away the shock at the end of the book when we find out who the killer is. It feels like you went through all this work sorting out all of these other characters for absolutely no reason and really know nothing at all about the actual killer.
Overall, this can be a quick read if it holds your interest, but it wasn't the shocking thriller I was hoping for. This is my first book by this author, and I am willing to give another book of hers a chance at some point because I see the potential, but this one just missed it for me.