Until Death Do Us Part: A bold domestic thriller

by Mark Boutros

"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. If you like wonderfully terrible characters who are uncomfortably relatable, then this could be for you.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 29, 2025

About the author

Mark is an an award winning writer, having won the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards in 2016 and in been a finalist in 2017.

He's written for comedians such as Romesh Ranganathan, and has written for Sky, Sky Arts, BBC, CBBC, and more.

He's also a screenwriting teacher, mentor, and gamer.

Head over to www.mark-boutros.com if you want more info. You can also get a free book.

Reviews

[Georgia Ody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story from Mark Boutros. Aside from the first “twist”, he kept me intrigued and unsure of the direction of travel throughout, and kept my silly distractible brain engaged consistently.

If I were to criticise anything about the book, I think Mia was a little one dimensional in places. It’s very easy to set up a cheating woman as a villain, and don’t get me wrong she is awful, and written to be incredibly unlikeable, I just think it’s an easy thing to hate a woman and not give her a little more depth.

Considering the story is from both points of view, Rami is definitely the protagonist and a far more well rounded character compared to Mia. It would have been good to feel a little more from her about her miscarriage and the psychological toll of their accidental murder. To have her be so simply emotionless just felt slightly lazy in comparison to how multi layered Rami is written.

All that to say, I would definitely recommend for a very readable and engaging read, that keeps you guessing until the very last page.

[Eileen Murphy-Schmehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[CHRIS CARTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Stormy Shadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Eline · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 :)

[kimberly bledsoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a crazy suspenseful thriller

I don't even know where to begin. This is a wild ride with many colourful characters. It gets a little out there at times but the suspense will keep you reading until the wee hours. It wasn't the ending I expected. I wanted different things to happen but that's usually the way it is. Enjoy!

[Leandro Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrible characters, very funny, pretty dark. You’ll love it!

[Krys · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I pick up a novel from an author who is new to me and, before I’ve even reached the prologue, I’m hit with “If you don’t enjoy the book, let’s just pretend you didn’t read it and all move on”… yeah, no, I am instantly turned off. You cannot be an author if you only want reviews that are going to praise your book. I hate to break it to you, but that isn’t how reviewing works, and I am not going to “forget” that I read your book if I don’t enjoy it. In fact, full disclosure, I had to put this book down and go read something else first, just so I could forget about that (although I made a note so when it came time to review, I would remember to mention it).

That being said, this book is just absolute garbage. Which I hate to say as I know someone put a lot of time and thought into creating it, but wow, this has to be the worst book I’ve read of 2026 so far.

Let’s start off by talking about the characters. First up we have Mia, who displays all the signs of being a psychopath. She uses people for her own gains, discarding them without a backwards glance (or thought to their feelings) once she has decided they no longer serve her. She is also an alcoholic who has no qualms whatsoever about driving while intoxicated. Although, considering Rami (her husband) has no backbone whatsoever and whines like a petulant child all of the time, I can understand not only the drinking but the affair and also why she wanted a divorce in the first place. The man was utterly exhausting. Not to mention it was his stupid choices that led to the accident that irrevocably changed their lives in the first place.

Unfortunately, the background characters were just as bad. Mia is thirty-five years old, so it would make sense for her friends to be as well, yet her closest friend Lyn has no trouble constantly saying “Lyn for the win!” or calling her Instagram followers “Lynstas” and saying “Lynsta Instas Assemble” What grown woman talks like this? Although considering she also is friends with someone who goes by “Gyal Pal” I suppose maturity isn’t high on her list of priorities (and I’ll touch on more of her annoying qualities when I get to the plot).

And last, but certainly not least we have Wilfred aka the other man. His last name is something like Throckmorton, but that name is lost within all of the utterly juvenile and stupid puns he makes about it. Throcky? Throck till you drop? Ready to Throck your world? Honestly, for the life of me I couldn’t see what Mia found so appealing in a man who talked like that. That isn’t to say there aren’t other background characters (the neighbors Jenny and Iris, or the Detectives whose names are escaping me at the moment), but they weren’t nearly as annoying (although Jenny does come close a couple of times) as the ones I mentioned.

Plot-wise, things don’t fare much better.

From the start it was obvious that this author was not an American, which I don’t have an issue with as I read a lot of novels set in the UK and written by UK authors. What I did have an issue with was this line in particular; “Growing up, his uncle had told him the most humane way would be shooting an injured deer in the brain, but this wasn’t America, so he couldn’t exactly pop to the nearest service station and buy a bazooka.” That tells me immediately that this author has done absolutely NO research on gun laws in the United States, because trust me when I said if getting a bazooka of all things was as easy as popping into a gas station, my family would be a lot more worried when I texted them asking them to guess what I just did.

Now, I could overlook that because I know a lot of non-American authors don’t understand or appreciate the second amendment (which still doesn’t grant you the ability to buy any type of firearm at a gas station, but I digress), if the rest of the novel had stood up. But it didn’t.

In fact, from there, the book just goes off the rails. Because even with this shared secret, Rami is still the same pathetic idiot he’s always been thinking this is somehow going to change things in his life and fuse his marriage back together, while Mia is still openly hostile towards him. But of course, they have to work together, which only fuels this back and forth between the main characters.

And then there is Lyn (again). She is told Mia and Rami are going on a romantic holiday to try and fix their marriage, yet she insists on coming along. Then she insists on accompanying them on their late-night romantic picnic because “they need her”. Girl take a freaking hint, if they were actually trying to reconcile their marriage your intrusion would be even more unwelcome than it already was.

But then this is the same woman who immediately jumped to the conclusion that her “boyfriend” had met with some kind of horrific end even though she only thought that because he said he was coming to her birthday party and didn’t show up. She seriously berates the police for not working harder to find said boyfriend, going out of her way to undermine their investigation, when anyone who actually lived in reality would have seen that there was NOTHING for the police to actually investigate. Both parties involved are grown adults who are not “at risk”. Lyn even tells the police that they have only been together for three months, and she doesn’t even know where he lives because he always came to hers, yet she never once pauses to consider that maybe boyfriend of hers just …. got tired of her and decided to ghost her? And the police never bring this up as a possibility? No wonder she called them useless.

Anyway, things happen as they happen and the story just goes from bad to worse. Seriously. The spare guy is suddenly bad, the psychopath tries to poison the neighbors dog (and if I could give negative stars for a book, this is where this one would be at for me by this point), the good guy is still as useless as ever and where was I going with this? Much like the story I don’t know.

By the time the story limped its way to the end, I was well past caring. Yes, things technically “wrap up,” but it felt like the bare minimum effort was put into getting there. Honestly, I was just relieved to be done with it.

This one was a miss in every possible way for me. And that miss was before the author doubled down after the story ended by once again saying "If you didn’t enjoy it, then just pretend you didn’t read it and move on."

And for this author? No, I will NOT pretend that I didn't read this slop, but rest assured, I will add your name to my do-not-read list from here on out.

[T. Wynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Brenda Grimmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until Death Do Us Part by Mark Boutros is a tense and emotionally charged domestic thriller that explores the fragile line between love, guilt, and survival.

The story centers on Mia and Rami, a couple whose marriage has quietly collapsed under the weight of grief and unresolved resentment following a miscarriage. While Rami clings to the hope that their relationship can be repaired, Mia has already reached the breaking point. What begins as a difficult conversation during a rainy drive quickly spirals into tragedy when a heated argument results in a devastating accident.

Faced with the terrifying consequences of what has happened, the couple makes a desperate decision to cover up the incident and protect themselves. From that moment on, the novel becomes a gripping exploration of how secrets can reshape relationships. The lie meant to protect them begins to tighten its grip, forcing Mia and Rami into a partnership built on fear rather than trust.

One of the novel’s strengths is its psychological tension. Rather than relying solely on action, the story digs into the emotional and moral complexity of the characters’ choices. The reader is drawn into the uneasy question at the heart of the narrative: can a shared secret pull a broken marriage back together, or will it destroy what little remains?

Overall, Until Death Do Us Part is a dark and compelling thriller about guilt, secrets, and the unpredictable consequences of desperate decisions. Readers who enjoy character driven suspense and morally complex relationships will likely find this story both gripping and unsettling.

[Stacey Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Alexandra Pencea · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Annette Hatcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This domestic thriller drops you straight into a marriage already cracking at the seams. Rami and Mia are less a partnership and more a powder keg—resentment, denial, and ego quietly stacking up behind closed doors. Neither of them is especially easy to root for, which makes the unraveling feel both uncomfortable and strangely fascinating.

When a disastrous night in brutal weather changes everything, the story pivots from tense relationship drama to full-blown damage control. From there, the suspense locks in. Poor decisions pile on top of worse ones, loyalties blur, and the line between survival and self-preservation gets thinner by the page. There’s even a thread of dark humor running through it, which feels almost wrong to laugh at—but somehow works.

Some readers may struggle with the characters’ choices (and there are plenty to question), but if you enjoy messy relationships, moral gray areas, and a plot that keeps tightening the screws, this one delivers a sharp, unsettling ride.

I received this as an ARC, in exchange for my honest review

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good enough story but I didn't like either one of the main characters. The wife, Mia, was so self-absorbed, Rami, the husband just got on my nerves with the blind faith he had in Mia. Mia treated him so bad. Lyn was the other decent character in this book, and she was "annoying" in the beginning because of all the things that Mia had said about her. The accident didn't bother me, but what did is the fact that they were hiding the body in Rami's room. And then there was the good ole boyfriend. I am not sure who was worst him or Mia. This was just a NO for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lauren Speringo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning was good but then it focused too much on their marriage in an almost cheesy and comical way that I forgot I was reading a thriller.