"A wickedly dark, compulsive and gripping thriller pulsing with secrets. Loved it." Gytha Lodge, author of Sunday Times bestselling, She Lies in Wait.
They shared a terrible marriage, now they share a murder
Mia and Rami's marriage is dead. They're in their thirties and reeling from a miscarriage, but love left long ago. Rami, a fantasist, believes they can revive it, but Mia has reached her limit.
On a rainy drive, she finally asks for a divorce, but in the ensuing argument they cause a tragic accident. Terrified of the consequences, they make the best bad choice, to work together and cover it up.
Will this be the worst decision they’ve ever made, or the one that resurrects their marriage?
Until Death Do Us Part is a domestic thriller about a failing marriage, an accidental killing, and the toxicity of secrets.
Mia and Rami are struggling in their marriage. They are on their way to a party after deciding what the future holds for them when something terrible happens. Their lives are forever changed. Will they still be together forever?
The characters are horrible people, but you will be invested in them as they try to untangle the mess that they got themselves into. A must read domestic thriller.
I received a copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mark Boutros makes a bold choice: telling the entire story from the culprits' perspective. Mia and Rami's marriage is dead. On the way to a friend's birthday party, Mia finally asks for a divorce. During the argument, she hits a motorcyclist while drunk. What follows is a desperate attempt to dispose of the body and motorcycle while avoiding suspicion, and the toxic alliance it forces between them. What impressed me most is the psychological authenticity. Having interviewed offenders for years, I recognize the rationalization, panic, and self-preservation instincts Boutros captures. Mia's cold pragmatism versus Rami's conflicted desperation creates genuine tension, and both feel like real people making catastrophic choices rather than crime fiction archetypes. The dual POV structure gives each character a distinctly authentic voice, I could identify whose chapter it was without the header. Rami's fantasy that this crisis might save their marriage versus Mia's detachment creates dark irony that drives the narrative forward. The tonal balance is exceptional. Boutros incorporates laugh-out-loud dark humour, particularly through Lyn, Mia's wild-card friend, without undermining the stakes or trivializing the crime. That's a razor-thin line to walk, and most writers either go too dark or too comedic. Boutros nails it. Rami's character development is genuinely satisfying. His growing independence and shifting perspective on Lyn feel earned rather than convenient. The writing is gripping, especially in the second half when the consequences accelerate and the couple's toxic dynamic intensifies. This is sharp, confident storytelling for readers who appreciate moral complexity, psychological authenticity, and dark humour that makes you laugh while questioning what you'd do in an impossible situation. For fans of Gillian Flynn's dark wit and the moral ambiguity of You.
ARC Review-BookSirens Until Death Do Us Part by Mark Boutros Star Rating: 3.5⭐️ Pub Date: Dec 29, 2025 Genre: Domestic Thriller
This is a story about a failing marriage between Rami and Mia. I really disliked Mia and one rainy day they go on ride and an accident happens and she asks for a divorce. Since the accident they have no other choice to work together to keep the deepest secret to keep them both safe from the consequences. This is a dark domestic thriller with lies and secrets. I disliked the characters so much but they aren’t supposed to be liked but omg I raged so much at Mia… and nothing really gets resolved about the accident that happens.. bleh. It was interesting tho
This is not my core genre to read but when a friend recommended it I had to give it a go and I’m so glad I did! What a fun, well-written page turner, I definitely did not see where it was going half the time meaning there were some gasps of incredulity along the way! I can so easily see this book being a short series or film, the characters aren’t necessarily likeable but all the more engaging because of it. Really glad I gave it a go :)
can't remember the last time I was so hooked by a book. I simply devoured it. perfect balance of thrill and laugh over the absurd situations that life imposes. absolute must read
Until Death Do Us Part by Mark Boutros is a dark, unsettling look at a deeply dysfunctional marriage between Mia, a manipulative and emotionally abusive wife, and Rami, her naïve, fact-driven, and painfully devoted husband. The novel opens in couples counseling, where it is immediately clear that Rami is far more invested in saving the marriage than Mia. Later that same evening, as the couple heads to a friend’s birthday party, Mia abruptly announces that she wants a divorce. Rami asks to be taken home, and on the drive back, a shocking event occurs. From there, the story unfolds around whether this moment will completely fracture their marriage or bind them together in an even more disturbing way. As the saying goes, misery loves company.
I devoured this book. It was gripping from start to finish. The alternating point of view between Mia and Rami was especially effective, allowing the reader to experience the full emotional imbalance of their relationship. While I know some readers may find Rami frustrating, I felt genuine sympathy for him. He is utterly devoted to Mia and willing to sacrifice almost anything to keep their marriage intact, while she repeatedly undermines, belittles, and manipulates him. Boutros does an excellent job crafting Mia as a deeply unlikable character. I would be surprised if many readers found themselves rooting for her.
The pacing is fast and relentless, making this a truly unputdownable read. Both characters make morally questionable decisions that force you to confront who they really are, and by the end, you may find yourself questioning whether either of them deserves sympathy. That said, I firmly believe Mia is the toxic force in the relationship, while Rami’s greatest flaw is his inability to stand up for himself out of fear of losing her completely.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, the structure, and the character development, even if “enjoyed” does not necessarily mean liking the characters themselves. I was also pleasantly surprised by the ending. I worried the story might veer into predictable territory, but Boutros took it in a direction that felt satisfying and earned. Throughout the book, I couldn’t help but think how well this story would translate to film. The scenes were so vividly written that I could picture everything clearly, which speaks to the strength of the storytelling.
Thank you to Mark Boutros and BookSirens for providing an advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I went into Until Death Do Us Part fully expecting a typical domestic thriller—one with no real surprises and characters so irritating you’re just waiting for it to be over. I’m happy to say Mark’s book is nothing like that.
This story is edgy from the start. The dynamic between Rami and Mia is messy, trite, and emotionally cold. At first, Rami comes across as weak and passive—but that perception doesn’t last long. And Mia? She’s a piece of work. These two shouldn’t even be married, which only adds to the tension and dysfunction simmering beneath the surface.
Then, during a drive in dangerous, inclement weather, everything changes. What follows forces both Rami and Mia to resort to actions and decisions neither of them ever believed they were capable of. From that point on, the suspense tightens and refuses to let go.
The plot is solid, the tension is relentless, and while the characters aren’t likable, they’re compelling—and that’s what makes this story work so well. Add in a truly satisfying ending, and you’ve got a domestic thriller that delivers on every level.
Highly recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers sprinkled here and there with humor, this book is for you.
The first thing I noticed was precisely that humor—sometimes it feels strange to chuckle in a dark moment, yet at the same time everything is so well woven into the story.
The characters are delightful. Well, some of them make you want to smack them, but let’s gloss over that detail.
Personally, I liked Rami quite a lot, with one exception at a certain point—you’ll catch on to what I mean. At the beginning, he’s portrayed as not very masculine and rather “soft,” but over time this changes.
As for Mia… well, let’s just say I’m not particularly upset about the fate she had.
There are also other interesting and unexpected characters who fit perfectly into the overall picture. Taken as a whole, certain aspects of the book reminded me of Crime and Punishment, but I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you feel the same.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.