My Husband Next Door: A totally gripping psychological thriller with a heart-pounding twist

by K.L. Slater

A totally gripping psychological thriller with a heart-pounding twist

The perfect way for us to live. The perfect way for him to hide…

My husband Matt and I are an ordinary married couple in every way but one. At the end of each day, we return to our own homes and our own spaces. Some people think this arrangement is odd, but for us it’s perfect.

But beyond the fairy lights I string at my window, darkness is pressing in. Two local women have gone missing, and I don’t want to be alone. With Matt away for work, I find comfort in chatting to my new neighbour Brenda, who drops in regularly with casseroles and groceries.

Sipping our coffees, looking out of my kitchen window, I soon notice how observant Brenda is. So when she tells me that perhaps my husband isn’t simply working late, something cold takes root. I think of Matt’s recent vague tone, the way he brushes off my questions. Brenda thinks I should pop by when Matt’s not at home. Just to check everything’s as it should be.

I should be able to trust the man I married. But when I do go through my husband’s things, I discover that our perfect living arrangement is hiding a shocking secret…

A completely compelling and twisty page-turner from number 1 bestselling author K.L. Slater. Fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden will be hooked by My Husband Next Door.

What everyone is saying about K.L.

‘OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!! Wow!!!… had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end… omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!!… What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve-wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh. My. Goodness. What a book!… It kept me awake when I should have been asleep… I couldn’t put it down!… Kept me hanging onto every single word… I just needed to know what happened.’ Stardust Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was hooked from the first page and finished this book in one sitting… I devoured this book, I could not put it down, I just had to keep on reading… I was sat on the edge of my seat. As for the ending OMG it was a shock… I loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This. Book. Is. Amazing. I dropped everything and read it in two sittings. It’s addictive, it’s dark and twisty, it’s deceitful, you think you’ve worked out what’s going on and nope… twisty again… Everyone needs to read this.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely brilliant! I sat and read the book in a day and did not want to put it down!… I even text my mum when I was halfway through telling her it was a book she NEEDED to read!!… Without a doubt 5 stars – I LOVED it!!!’ Donna’s Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I want to take it and scream from the rooftops. I want to make everyone I know read a copy. I want to knock on doors and leave this book in mailboxes… Enthralling, fast-paced and dark… I read this one into the night, I left the book open on my bed so I could try and absorb more as I slept… if yo

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense

348 pages, Paperback

Published October 23, 2025

About the author

Kim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.

Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson

Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor

Reviews

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Married couple Sylvie and Matt live in separate houses, it’s odd, but somehow it works for them. When their daughter Jess has her first baby, she stays with her mum Sylvie for a few days. Then there’s Brenda, the nosy, stalker-like neighbour who’s new in town and quickly becomes a bit of a nuisance.

This book really packs a lot! There’s a missing girl, Ellie, Jess’s murdered friend, and two detectives working the case. With multiple POVs, the story unfolds into a very intricate plot. There’s quite a bit of ground to cover, but KL Slater absolutely nails it!

I did find Sylvie’s monologue a little repetitive at times, but the overall flow of the story makes up for it. The mystery factor in this book is off the charts, it pulls you in completely, and then PLOT TWIST! Pretty good read!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping, shocking, twist filled and brimming with secrets! Some married couples sleep in different beds and/or in different rooms, but not Sylvie and her husband Matt! Sylvie and Matt live in entirely different houses on the same street. It's unconventional but it works for them. Things on their street seem fairly normal until two women go missing. With Matt being away for work, Sylvia has found a new friend in her new neighbor, Brenda. She is nice to speak with and is even helpful with Sylvie's new grandchild.

With K.L. Slater, you know there is going to be a fair number of twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed this mystery thriller which had me changing my mind concerning my suspect list with each page I read. I enjoyed the mystery, the tension, the differing POV's and the investigation into the missing women.

My Husband Next Door kept me on my toes, turning the pages, and enjoying every second. Another thrilling and gripping book by K.L. Slater.

Thank you to Bookouture 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 📖

[L.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* "A totally gripping psychological thriller with a heart-pounding twist. The perfect way for us to live. The perfect way for him to hide…
My husband Matt and I are an ordinary married couple in every way but one. At the end of each day, we return to our own homes and our own spaces. Some people think this arrangement is odd, but for us it’s perfect."
Sylvie lives a couple houses down from her husband. Her daughter Jesse has moved in for a few days with her newborn. She notices changes in her daughter with weight loss, no appetite and zeal for life.
Two women are missing and appear to be connected to them in some form. Designed well for a domestic thriller.
What a book!! OMG the twists! This was nerve-wracking and the narrator Clare Corbett captures the tension perfectly. There was a lot going on and I could not tell what I should be tense about first. The neighbor Brenda captured my attention with her intrusion at all times of the day in some of the most inconvenient times. She plants doubt in Sylvie that her husband may not be faithful to her, so Sylvie investigates his home one day and is shocked to find clues of one of the missing girls. It gets stranger from there when Brenda begins to intrude more and more and even rearranges Sylvie's house.
A fabulous thriller with a lot of dynamics in drama and lies. When the cover-ups come off, the real characters are revealed.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woke to a great surprise in my mailbox! Thank you, Bookouture, for sending me this ARC. I've read many K.L. Slater books, and they consistently hit the mark for me.

You bet I started this one right away. This one was kind of a wild ride and had some fun twists. A little predictable to me, but that didn’t take away from any of the enjoyment. The mystery aspect kept me completely hooked. I found all the characters to be interesting, and I loved the layers/depth of the storyline. Highly recommend trying this author out if you haven't yet. All her books are fun, quick, and twisty reads.

Pub Date Oct 28 2025

As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

K.L. Slater continues to impress me!

This is my tenth book, and while it may not be my favourite of hers, Slater still entertained me with a twisty read that kept me guessing from cover to cover.

This psychological thriller centers around control, in particular, “people wanting to control other people; who gets to live, who gets to love and who needs to die.”

The quiet street in a Nottinghamshire subdivision is not prepared for the upheaval the new renter will cause. When nosy Brenda Howard moves across the street from Matthew Tyce in #41 and his wife, Sylvia, in #45, she inserts herself into their lives. Yes, you read that correctly. Matthew and Sylvia’s lifestyle reflects the LAT movement - Living Apart Together - where couples commit to each other but remain separate. I can tell that you know there’s going to be a problem here, and you are not wrong. You’ll have to keep reading to find out what nosy Brenda uncovers!

I enjoyed the focus on regrets, control, and betrayal. I was reminded of the danger there is in (1) judging someone simply on appearances and (2) in underestimating someone with a grudge.

Slater took me on a wild ride and I was flipping pages trying to keep up with her well-plotted narrative. I gasped and I yelled, “no way!” a couple of times.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the love of God, people need boundaries in their lives. These people - all of them - had zero boundaries and it was driving me nuts in this book!

This is definitely entertaining, though occasionally your brain goes numb in a sort of why are these people so stupid kind of way.

The housing situation between husband and wife...I mean, I know it was explained (also he was NOT next door, he was two houses down), but it made no sense to me.

I did largely enjoy the read. It's popcorn.

* ARC via Publisher

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sylvie and her husband live separately. The arrangement is unconventional, but she believes their bond is strong. Gradually an unwelcome feeling begins to bloom whenever she thinks about her husband. Are her feelings warranted, or is her imagination working overtime? Secrets, deception, and betrayal saturate this twisted tale. Everyone is under suspicion as a constant sense of foreboding intensifies. The lines between guilt and innocence blur as the story unfolds, reaching a shocking conclusion. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this gripping thriller.

[Alisonbookreviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I actually enjoyed this domestic thriller. I haven't read much of KL Slater.
Sylvia lives beside her husband? Apparently it's the new thing going and it suits Sylvie and her husband Matt perfectly.
While a young woman goes missing Sylvie is helping out with her new granddaughter.
All seems fine until Brenda the new lady across the street shows up. She pushes her way into Sylvies life and takes over organizing her.
Matt doesn't like this at all. Thinks Brenda is a nosy busybody
Lots of twists in this book which were kind of predictable but still a good story.

[momaddictedtobooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really enjoying this at first but I guess my mood changed and I was just ready for it to be over 😔

[Andreia Butterfly ❤️Audible listener since 2013 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars! Extremely well-written but I did not like the ending and the outcome of the story. Boring, used many times before in a lot of books. OUTSTANDING narration on Audible - Clare Corbett is the BEST!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go, My Husband Next Door by K.L. Slater is a must-read. I recently finished it, and it was such a fun, twisty ride. It’s a light, well-constructed read, and delivered exactly what I was wanting. If you want a book that you can get lost in over a weekend, this is definitely the one. 🫡😊

[daniela weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

my first k.l slater book
and I'm so glad there are
so many others: loved the
rhythm, the characters and
the emotional intensity. ♡

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw the cover I presumed I knew how this book would go…I was wrong,whilst it’s true the book revolves around married couple Sylve and Matt who are ‘LAT’s’(Living Together Apart’s) this is just the start of the story,we then have many mysteries that unfold on their street that are linked to the couple and their unusual living arrangements

We meet Brenda,ex nurse and for all intents and purposes a stalker of her neighbours who,when the chance arrives,establishes herself in Sylve’s house,more or less running her life…..I LOVED her character,she got under my skin and rattled me,but to read about she was wonderful….we also have a running story of a missing local trainee nurse that could be something to do with the street and its residents

It really is full of unexpected happenings and red herrings galore and the shock ending was for me unexpected and really well done

An all round exciting thriller with characters like Brenda that stand out and keep you page turning

Once again a fab read by this author

[Kitty Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally read romance but every now and then I step outside the comfort zone for a change of pace. This book sounded really intriguing. I really enjoyed it. The writing style was crisp and really engaging. And it was just generally crazy in a good way. I did figure out who did it. I'm not sure if everyone would or if that's just how my brain works. Was happy to be right.

[Chi Nguyen · Rating 2 out of 5]

ez read, unbelievably stupid characters i would say. sylvie still trusting matt after finding that earrings is so weird and also matt still trying to deny the affair? and why is ed part of ts when hes like barely in the plot, no character development like at all? at least if u get him as the main villain, GET THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN 😭😭😭 actually so dissatisfied and disappointed with the ending. and why did jess hooked up with matt's friend? what the actual hell
idk bro, read it if u want but i do not recommend

[Lori Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Husband Next Door is a thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. K.L. Slater books are always gripping and hard to put down and My Husband Next Door was indeed! Matt and Sylvie are married, but live 2 houses apart on the same street. Matt inherited his grandfather's house and that's when he met Sylvie. They had an immediate connection and ended up getting married. Sylvie has an adult daughter, Jess, from her first marriage and Matt is a bit younger than Sylvie with no kids. Everything seems to be perfect, even the living arrangements. They get together most nights at his or hers unless they have other commitments with work or friends. It works for them and they're both happy. Are they, though?

A young woman has gone missing very close to home and Sylvie is worried for Jess. Jess is pregnant with her first child and doesn't want her to take any chances. The young woman vanished on her way home from college. A few weeks later another young woman goes missing and this one hits close to home for Sylvie and Jess. Can the police figure out who's doing this before another woman is missing? Matt's away for work a good bit and Sylvie has a new neighbor across the street. Brenda, a retired nurse, has moved in and rented her neighbor's house while they're in Portugal. Brenda turns out to know a lot about everyone living on the street and takes a keen interest in Sylvie, Matt, and Jess. When Brenda tells Sylvie that maybe her husband isn't working all the time he's away it gives Sylvie a bad feeling. She's always trusted Matt, but lately he's not answering her calls or texts as quickly as he usually does when he's away. Should Sylvie be worried?

Sylvie decides to take Brenda's advice and go into Matt's house while he's away. She doesn't want to believe he's keeping something from her, but decides to do it after drinking too much wine one night. What Sylvie finds will change everything. What is Matt hiding and should Sylvie be worried? Why does Brenda know so much? Is her new neighbor who she claims to be? Why is Jess losing more weight and looking so tired after having her daughter? What's bothering Jess? Settle in and get ready to devour My Husband Next Door as it is impossible to put down! I rate My Husband Next Door 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of My Husband Next Door in exchange for a fair review. #MyHusbandNextDoor

[Book Night Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Husband Next Door was a thrilling slow paced story of a woman, Sylvie in a living apart agreement with her husband Matt.

It was interesting to read this story. Sylvie and Matt's agreement and the love they shared while equally respecting their privacy was good to read. It was thrilling to read how the story progresses from this adorable romance between the two to the rise of suspicions and betrayal.

One thing I enjoy in a thriller is the presence of a good stalker. In this story, it's Brenda, the new neighbour of Sylvie, who instills herself in everyone's lives. I felt suffocated to read of Brenda and knew her role in Sylvie's life was going to cause issues and as usual, we have the character of Sylvie that is unable to stop Brenda.

The major plot of this story and what initially made me read this, was the disappearance of a woman named Ellie and the subsequent unrest in the area. Everyone wondered what happened to Ellie and Sylvie is personally haunted, owing to the closeness of the disappearance with her locality. That is when a murder occurs and seeds of doubt start to crawl on Sylvie's mind.

I've enjoyed reading this story owing to its stress on characters. The book mainly focuses on Sylvie, with all other characters being secondary. As a result, we see her as a loving wife, caring mother as well as going through difficult circumstances. The disappearance of Ellie and the investigation is mostly seen through the perspective of Sylvie. As a psychological thriller, it was definitely good!

My only concern of the story was the slow pace that it took throughout, while the ending felt a bit rushed. I was able to guess who kidnapped Ellie but still there were so many loose threads in my mind. So I'm excited that the story didn't reveal much in the beginning.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Husband Next Door is a psychological thriller that’s boiling over with secrets.
K.L’s books are always so addictive, fun and full of twists.
This one has that and is a solid read.
A girl named Ellie goes missing setting off a chain of events that involve many.
Sylvie and Matt are married and live in seperate houses in the same street.
Then their daughter Jess has a baby and moves into Sylvie’s house.
Across the road, Brenda moves in.
Brenda is lonely, meddlesome and inserts herself into the family opposite.
What is her agenda…..
This all untangles in an elaborate plot.
A domestic suburban drama with many unlikeable characters but I found this intriguing.
I did guess the who but was surprised by the why.
Short chapters that pack a punch with lots of tension.

[Josephine Jarman]

I have never been disappointed by K L Slater and this blew me away. It felt long but not not without cause. The premise was so carefully written i was gripped as the story seemed to be different substories and then bang as always it came together. There is a young girl who vanished and then there is the main characters who are married but do not live together and the new neighbor who seems like there is more to her than meets the eye and jess and her partner. This was a slow burn i did care there were so many twists it required real concentration. It made everyday life vanish and me read long into the night trying to work out what was really happening. I have to day the final reveal blew my mind it was so far away from my own thoughts. This is a 5 star read full of flawed characters each with their own secrets and agendas that will keep you glued till the end. Look forward to the next one. Thanks so much to netgallery, publisher and author. This is perfect for all thriller lovers so gripping.

[Catherine Victor Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars
My first K.L Slater book after lurking around should I read a K.L Slater book? Yes! yes you should! It was highly enjoyable and did not disappoint.
A domestic whodunit type book with a short closed group of characters. We follow a street where a husband and wife live in separate houses 2 doors down, a nosy new neighbour who inserts herself into their lives too easily, a new mother, a missing girl and a body found. Who Dunnet and why, are they connected or not and what secrets are these people keeping?
An easy read, addictive and suspenseful. I had my theories throughout and did ultimately guess but not until a lot further along. Points deducted for rushing the ending. Seems to me once we got to the action is was over in a flash and then everything was summarised police style. Could have executed the ending better.
Overall highly enjoyable and recommended.

Many thanks to Bookouture who provided me with a copy of the book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Pheadra · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are basically five venues in this tale- 1) Sylvie's home, 2) Her husband Matt's home two door down, 3) Her daughter Jess's flat, 4) Her new nosy neighbour Brenda's place and lastly 5) an abandoned building housing a missing girl and her collaborator. These somehow must tie together. 

Was this a page-turner? Yes. However, too many implausible characters, behaviours, and convenient connections weakened the story, though I did like the investigating police duo. 3 and a half stars

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one and raced through it! It begins with college student, Ellie being kidnapped, and then suddenly we're in the midst of a Book Club that meets regularly. Sylvie is the "leader" and her daughter, Jess has just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Brenda is a woman new to the neighborhood who has just moved in across the street and becomes friendly with Sylvie, but often overstays her welcome and tries to organize Sylvie's belongings so Sylvie vows to keep to herself more. And then things REALLY get out of hand! Read on my friends and be prepared for anything; this book is a gem!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Melanie Mansfield · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all “Scarlett Mae” isn’t a double-name you want to read a thousand times in a book. Cumbersome. Totally ruins the flow of a sentence.

Secondly, what kind of convoluted plot line was this??? Who in the heck read the draft and was like, “let’s publish this!” Three totally different plot lines that have no business being in the same book. Psychopathic behaviors allowed to just go unaddressed both relationally AND legally. It’s ridiculous.

The author is a talented writer. I can see that deep within the not-edited-enough lines. But truly, this was just overkill. Literally and figuratively.

Who are the people rating it four and five stars?!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY HUSBAND NEXT DOOR is a standalone domestic mystery thriller novel by bestselling author K.L. Slater. Having read and enjoyed her previous novels, I was anxious to start her new novel.
Novels
Safe With Me (2016)
Blink (2017)
Liar (2017)
The Mistake (2017)
The Visitor (2018)
The Secret (2018)
Closer (2018)
Finding Grace (2019)
The Silent Ones (2019)
Single (2019)
The Apartment (2020)
Little Whispers (2020)
The Girl She Wanted (2020)
The Marriage (2021)
The Evidence (2021)
The Widow (2021)
Missing (2022)
The Girlfriend (2022)
The Narrator (2023)
The Bedroom Window (2023)
Husband and Wife (2023)
Message Deleted (2024)
The Married Man (2024)
The Waitress (2025)
The Lucky Winners (2025)
My Husband Next Door (2025)

This is my review of My Husband Next Door.

Nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors…

Sylvie and her husband, Matt have a unique living arrangement…they are married but they don’t live together. They live at separates residences, just two doors down from each other. They are part of a growing trend known as “Living Apart Together.” (LAT) where couples commit to each other but maintain separate households. This arrangement worked well for them.

When two women in the area go missing, and with Matt away a lot on work, Sylvie finds comfort in talking to her new neighbour, Brenda, who drops in too frequently and starts taking control of the household.

Sylvie soon realizes that Brenda is very observant and tells Sylvie that perhaps her husband isn’t simply working late, and Sylvie’s mind starts to race. Matt has been cold recently and evades any of her questions. Brenda thinks I should pop by when Matt’s not at home. Just to check everything’s as it should be.

Can Sylvie trust Matt? But when she goes through her husband’s things, she discovers there are more secrets…

The story is told from different POV’s in different time frames that gives us more depth into the intention of the main key players.

This is a well-written fast-paced novel with intense descriptions that heighten the suspense level, and give depth to the characters. The tension builds slowly with twists and turns to a satisfactory conclusion. This suspenseful thriller that kept me hooked until the very end…and an ending I didn’t see coming. A great read!

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.

[Nonagesimus Reads [Em] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was super excited for this book because it seemed like such a unique premise. While the book did have some shocking moments and twists, I overall felt rather let down by this book. That’s not to say the writing is bad or the plot wasn’t solid, but it was a little ridiculous at times. One of the most frustrating parts of the books was when her husband told her you can tell me about those ridiculous thriller books you read or the main character was like I’m not living in a thriller novel am I. It pulled me out of the story and made me so annoyed. I didn’t like the fourth wall type of thing they were trying to do. I was also able to figure out who the “bad guy” was almost right away despite the red herrings tossed in to make the reader think otherwise. I was like it’s probably this based on this, and I was right. Also the way there was like slut shaming of the women characters by the males was so gross and uncalled for. I don’t care it was part of the story - it’s always gross. I did enjoy the writing and the subplot of the one neighbor though. This author can write well - I would check out more of their writing. This book just didn’t make the cut for me for the reasons stated above, but perhaps it would work well for newer thriller readers who can’t predict the outcomes so quickly bc they’re newer to the genre.

[Terri Worsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plot with twists you don’t expect.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kim's back with another deliciously devious thriller to whet our appetites of twisted mayhem. With so much happening, there's enough red herrings to sidetrack readers from what's really going on. But once again, it wasn't enough to fool me and though I'm not on top form of late (with RL issues) I still managed to see through her cleverly crafted plot.

Sylvie and Matt are happily married yet living apart. A weird concept that I just can't get my head around but it works for them. She lives in the house she purchased after the death of her first husband with her daughter Jess whilst Matt lives two doors down in the house he inherited from his grandfather.

Sylvie regularly hosts a book club meet in which various neighbours and her heavily pregnant daughter Jess take part. It's at the last meet that friend and neighbour Penny drops the bombshell that she and hubby Brian are retiring and moving to Portgual, renting out their house which sits opposite. And in moves Brenda.

Then it all happens at once. Jess goes into labour, has the baby afterwhich both Jess and Sylvie fall ill with separate conditions and are hospitalised. Brenda, a retired nurse, swoops in to help. Soon she has the place running like a well-oiled machine. She cares for the still weak Jess, helps with feeding baby Scarlet and has reorganised Sylvie's kitchen for smoother sailing. Sylvie is thankful for Brenda's quick thinking and for being there when she was unable but now she thinks it's time she took back the reigns. But Brenda doesn't seem to want to relinquish her place in Sylvie's house or her life. In fact, she simply doesn't want to leave!

Despite not living at the house, Matt feels increasingly uncomfortable with Brenda constantly hovering, letting herself in at the crack of dawn and turning up unannounced with bags of groceries whilst continuing her labelling spree. He tries encouraging Sylvie to speak up to let Brenda know that she is no longer needed but Sylvie feels indebted to her and fears offending the kindly woman. Besides, Matt is spending a lot of time away for work and Sylvie finds herself seeking out the comfort of her new neighbour.

But Brenda also has an agenda. She is sure Matt is up to no good and will stop at nothing to protect her new friend from his misdeeds. Even if it means exposing him herself. She knows he has secrets that he is keeping from Sylvie. After all, why else is he happy to continue living in two separate houses? Married couples ought to live together, not separately. And Brenda means to expose him.

Added to the domestic drama, there is the lingering mystery of a missing young woman from the area which adds to the tension. And then another young woman goes missing and someone believes they know the truth!

We welcome back DI Helena Price and DS Brewster, giving the books a sense of connection without being a series as such. Plus it's refreshing not to be bogged down in the procedural whilst still keeping a finger in the investigation.

Unfolding through the various narratives of Sylvie, Brenda and the police, this is an addictive fast paced tale that will draw you in despite the frustrating characters. There are twists, red herrings and plenty of tension as the reader is cleverly guided to a satisfactory conclusion.

I would like to thank #KLSlater, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandNextDoor in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Kayl_may · Rating 5 out of 5]

K L Slater is always an automatic read for me, every time one of her books comes out and this was another 5 star read for me .

The story revolves around an ordinary married couple called Sylvie and Matt, who happen to live 2 doors away from each other. A new neighbour Brenda arrives on the street and starts to put suspicions in Sylvie’s mind about her “perfect” marriage set up.

This was a gripping story full of suspense. I couldn’t get enough of it, it was a typical K L Slater page turner keeping me scratching my head until the very last chapters.

The story is told through Sylvie, Brenda and a couple of others perspectives (I don’t want to give too much away!). This really added to my enjoyment seeing things from different viewpoints when trying to figure out what had happened and who was the true villain of this story.

This was such an engaging read, which I’d recommend to any psychological thriller reader. Easy to read, straight forward and plenty going on to keep you entertained.

The only disappointment is I have to wait another year to read her next one!!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lu thrillskillsandchills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read plenty of thrillers, but My Husband Next Door still managed to catch me off guard. The whole idea of being married but living apart was fascinating enough — and then the missing women, the nosy new neighbour, and Matt’s increasingly strange behaviour all dialled the tension up.

I thought I had it figured out early, but my suspicions were completely elsewhere. The twists blindsided me, which I really appreciated. It’s fast, addictive, and the kind of story you fly through in a couple of sittings.

Dark, clever, and surprising — I really enjoyed this one.

[For The Love of books · Rating 5 out of 5]

K L Slater at her best. The pacing of this book was perfect. Guiding the reader into the lives of Sylvie and her husband Matt, her daughter Jesse has a baby and their bond seems twisted and convoluted. Brenda their new neighbour steps in to help as both Sylvie and Jesse fall ill. Then Jesse's friend is murdered. What does Brenda see that Sylvie is missing ? Is she the over bearing friend or are there things Sylvie has been blind to ? Once the twists started coming they did not stop right until the end, leaving the reader on their toes guessing what was fact or fiction.