My Husband's An Author: A Psychological Thriller

by James Caine

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Thriller

254 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2025

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another 5-star read by James Caine. I appreciate the clever storytelling and multiple perspectives that kept me intrigued and guessing until the very end. “As the writer of a fictional piece of work, you have to live it. You have to believe it. You need to know all the small details.” This thriller will have you scrutinize every detail as you journey toward the truth. The smart clues and subtle humor added to my enjoyment of this edge-of-your-seat thriller. I highly recommend this twisted tale to all thriller addicts. Thank you Booksprout and the author for my copy.

[Elise a.k.a. PAPERNERD · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I didn't like the wife, being super naive and annoying...
but then...

You gotta find out for yourself !

WOW !
How things can turn in the blink of an eye (or the writing of a few words...).

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY HUSBAND'S AN AUTHOR BY JAMES CAINE.
Release date set for the 11th of December 2025.
Absolutely 5 huge ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s
Ohhh you know it's going to be a cracking book when the prologue alone grabs you by the throat.
I read this book so quick.
The premise was great and really came together perfectly.
"Then you have reader reviews. You read those and it either puts a smile on your face or breaks your heart" I hope my reviews always puts a smile on your face ☺
I think we are all a bit messed up somewhere IYKUK.
This book was truly brilliant. I've loved every single second of it.
Totally unreliable narrator.
I ended up being suspicious of many characters and didn't really have a scooby do where it was going to go and then like a RKO out of know where comes them twists.
Best book to date Mr Caine.
Absolutely fantastic 👏

[Dave Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

James had his own style but i found this one a bit different not in a bad way just a bit different to previous books.

Still has great characters and storyline to get your teeth into. It's hard to say much about the story line that's not in the details without giving spoilers so I won't add to that just to say a good read with some breathtaking twists.

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

Emily meets Stephen at his book signing. They hit it off, and their life together begins. Stephen writes exciting thrillers while Emily loves romance novels. They seem happy, but who will tell their love story?

A twisty thriller with a great ending. This should definitely be your next read.

I received a copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Barbara Behring · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Caine is a terrific writer and I really enjoy his plots and characters. Unfortunately, this book just did not do it for me. I think the subject matter was too close for comfort. I didn't like either Emily or Stephen and adding a third person half way through made it a little difficult to follow. It was still a good story just.

[NomadicReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written, twisty domestic thriller. The author's perspective on marriage issues is relatable and realistic... up to a point. The main character, Emily, comes off as really naive in the beginning, but she evolves as a character in the best way. As I was reading this novel, my mind was racing with so many different ways the plot could unfold, but I was not prepared for the ending I was given. From the use of misdirection to the shocking and explosive plot twists, this novel will have you second-guessing everything. If you're a domestic thriller fan like me, do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR today.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Booksirens and James Caine, for the arc.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Husband's an Author is A thriller by James Caine. In my opinion, James Caine writes intense, unexpected thrillers. Emily is married to Stephen, a thriller author. I found the prologue to set the tone of the book perfectly. The author takes the reader on a wild ride. Just when I thought that I had figured out the ending, the author flipped the story. WOW, I was surprised. Then, another twist that I did not expect. This book should be on everyone's TBR list. Prepare for an unexpected story… it will keep you guessing! I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Heather Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. Loved. This. Book. It’s so freaking amazing! Emily is married to Stephen, who is an author. Things haven’t been the greatest lately but Emily is sure they will work it all out. That’s until she looks at his search history, divorce, life insurance and getting rid of your wife. This has to be research for his book, right??? Her friend, Amanda, convinces her to follow him to find out what he is up to. What do you think she found? This book had so many twists and is absolutely amazing!

[Tina A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greedy, Paranoid, Addictive Domestic Thriller!

James Caine’s books are all so addictive and fast-paced reads! This one had me going back and forth wondering which spouse was telling the truth and which was gaslighting. Towards the end I had the nervous popcorn munchies! And then I cleared my internet search history!

***I received an advance reader copy from Inkubator Books via Booksprout. The thoughts expressed are my own.***

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily’s husband is a psychological thriller author who often disappears for hours on end to “find inspiration.” But when she stumbles across his recent Google searches—divorce, claiming life insurance, how to murder your wife and get away with it—she starts to wonder whether he’s gathering ideas for a book… or planning something else.

They had me in the first half, I won’t lie. I spent the beginning of this book hating every single character. There’s Emily, who discovers her husband is having an affair and does absolutely nothing about it. Then there’s Stephen, the man himself, who gaslights and manipulates at every turn. And Amanda, Emily’s pushy best friend, who was just grating from start to finish. There were moments I was ready to DNF purely because the characters seemed to have zero redeeming qualities. I was fully prepared to complain about men writing women—despite the fact that James usually does a great job.

But then we get to part two, and everything flips on its head. I obviously can’t say much without spoiling anything, but it completely changed my mind about the whole book. I still disliked all the characters, except maybe Clara, but it turned out to be a pretty great book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to start 2026 is with a great read. James Caine delivers with this domestic psychological journey where the reader is left questioning everything they know to be true. It's always nice to read fiction about an author, his process and his home life. It would be difficult being married to an author of dark thrillers where you never know what is real and what is research. The authors mind must go to dark places and that is rather scary. But, I loved it.

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

[Kim McFall · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good!! I knew this would be amazing as soon as I started reading!

The shocking twists, unexpected turns, and multiple pov’s had me hooked from the beginning to the end.

The storyline played out beautifully. I definitely recommend reading this one!

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

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen, an author, met Emily at a book signing, and they quickly hit it off, marrying soon after. Emily never had to work since Stephen’s books were selling well, but it’s been years since he’s written anything, and money is becoming tight. Where does he disappear to when he claims to be “doing research” or plotting a book he hasn’t even started? The ending completely shocked me—I never saw it coming! Mr. Caine got me again! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Sandy Goguen-Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the end of this twisted tale. I will definitely be reading more books from this author.

Thanks to Book Sirens for this ARC book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Monica Mil-Homens · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is that a book this interesting and well written was definitely not on my Bingo card for this almost ending year 2025.
Obviously, in psychological thrillers nothing is ever what it seems (that’s part of it), but in this story, everything that may or may not seem true… believe me, it is...

Emily is married to a famous thriller writer, Stephen Dyer, and she always feels like an extra in his life. She begins to suspect his intentions toward her after noticing small things, such as the discovery of macabre searches on the search engine he uses. Is it research for his new book, or is there something more going on?

A couple on the brink of breaking apart, Emily terrified of what might happen to her, and Stephen chasing after his supposed innocence

The thing is, you are not ready for the plot twist this story delivers.
Predictable? Maybe. But very, very well written :)

I can only recommend it, I truly loved it and James Caine do not disappoint!

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

[Krystal Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

My head is still spinning after finishing this book. James is my favorite author, and I've read every single one of his books. This story just made the list of my top favorites of his! It was a little different from his usual books, but it was still phenomenal! I loved every moment of it. The ending was beyond fantastic! I highly recommend this book, and I equally highly recommend reading all of James Caine's books! I'm never left feeling disappointed.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her husband is an author.
She thought it would be enough.
It isn't.

Emily is the wife of an author, and she's unhappy. Her husband, Stephan, was once romantic, but now he is only concerned with his work. Emily does not work, so she has lots of time to sit around and criticize. Her best friend is too honest. Her husband is too caught up in his work. When Emily checks out Stephan's computer search history, she is horrified by what she finds. Is he writing a book or planning something much darker?

Things I didn't love:
❌Okay, so James Caine is the master of the unlikeable protagonist. It is one of his strengths and, true to form, I hated Emily. Everything about her grated on my nerves. In some of Caine's books, this works; I become so immersed in the book's world that I feel everything the characters feel. This time, though, I found myself skimming over Emily's internal monologue, just trying to get through them.
❌The introduction of another female character, Clara, halfway through the book, was interesting but awkward. I don't love multiple perspectives anyway, but adding Clara so late in the book seemed like a copout. The plot may have been stronger if the focus had remained on Emily. Yes, we would have missed out on some things, but in the end, I think it would have worked.
❌The plot felt too rushed and cliché. We are dropped into Emily's life, right as (it seems) she has decided she is unhappy. There is some backstory provided, but could this story have taken place over several years? Could the distrust have built steadily and then exploded?

Things I liked (but still needed some work):
✔ The idea of a journal. Emily uses a journal throughout, and her writing provides important information to both the reader and other characters in the story.
✔ The premise. I always love writers writing about writers and wonder how much is autobiographical.

Overall: I wanted to love this book because it has been a while since I've read anything by Caine, but this just wasn't for me.

I received an ARC of this novel and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bianca Ellerkamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily is married to Stephen Dyer, a bestselling author. She thought their marriage was good, even though Stephen hasn't written for a while, is often far away with his thoughts and regularly leaves the house to let the story develop in his head. But then she sees his search history and wonders if Stephen feels differently about their marriage. When she confronts him, he insists it's for his new book. When she discovers he's seeing another woman, that search history takes on a different meaning. Will this end well, or is it a set-up for a sinister ending presented as a book?
The plot builds slowly, with occasional twists.
The writing style is easy to read, but it's not truly exciting. This is likely due mainly to Emily's endless thoughts, which constantly repeat the same things. The real suspense comes when the chapters are divided between Emily and Clara, Stephen's mistress.
The characters are fairly well-developed; you don't learn much about them, just the bare essentials. Perhaps a little more background on Emily would have provided more insight into her thoughts and life. However, all this doesn't detract from the fact that it's a reasonably easy read, with a very good and unexpected ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Research… or a Rehearsal? What if your husband isn’t researching a story… but rehearsing your murder?

Emily believes she’s living a fairy-tale life after marrying bestselling author Stephen Dyer—until she stumbles across his chilling search history. Stephen claims it’s all research for his next psychological thriller. Emily wants to believe him. Unfortunately, Stephen knows her routines, her fears, and her weaknesses a little too well.

As Emily’s paranoia escalates, the line between fiction and reality begins to blur, and she uncovers a truth far darker than she ever imagined. In this marriage, the most dangerous plot twist is the one you never see coming.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a fast-paced, easy read that pulls you along and makes it hard to put down. While Emily did frustrate me at times, the tension and psychological unease kept me engaged throughout. This is one of those thrillers you finish quickly and immediately want to talk about—but can’t say too much without giving things away.

A solid, entertaining domestic psychological thriller.

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

[Korey · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Husband’s an Author was one of those “okay just one more chapter… oh look, it’s 2 a.m.” reads. The tension is absolutely the star of the show here… where you’re not sure if you should trust the husband, the wife, or your own brain.

I’ve read James Caine before, and one thing he does so well is create flawed characters I don’t immediately love, and that’s kind of the fun. I spent the first chunk of the book side-eyeing both Emily and Stephen, which honestly made the story even more addictive because I was too busy analyzing their every move, and getting aggravated at them, to predict the bigger twists.

The plot isn’t trying to reinvent the thriller genre, but it is unputdownable. The tension builds in that perfect “is she actually in danger or is this all in her head?” way, and the ending was satisfying, solid, and tied up without feeling over the top.

If you want a fast, bingeable thriller that plays mind games without making your brain hurt — this one’s worth the read.

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

[Steven Chatman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most James Caine thrillers, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The story was well told and the characters were very well fleshed out. I always enjoy how James stories come full circle with no stone left unturned to his readers.

The story itself is quite relatable and fairly realistic in nature and makes you think and wonder how people (perhaps yourself or significant other) would react to a situation you never see coming such as infidelity, lies, hidden documents or more. The story being told from the vantage point of multiple character perspectives and journal entries really stood out for me and kept you guessing from start to finish on what was true and what wasn't.

I plowed through this book in just over a day and it was a great ride. There were a few small issues for me with the wording (ex. Its blood spatter not splatter) but nothing that detracts from the great storytelling of the author. I am a James Caine fan and can't wait to see what comes next.

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

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read ever James Caine book to date and there has not been a single bad book! He is quickly becoming my favorite author.

This is another book that I read so fast! Stephen and Emily have been married for a while and like most couples they have fallen into a routine. Stephen is an author, specifically, a thriller author. He often spends time off riding his motorcycle to think and try to come up with more for his current work in progress. However, Emily is starting to suspect that Stephen might be off doing something else. So, she decides to start investigating. She checks the computer for recent searches, checks the bank account and then even starts to follow him. She believes he might be thinking about killing her for insurance money. Is Stephen out to get her or is she just blowing things out of proportion?

This book was so fantastic! It's just one wild ride after another and the twists! I really thought I had things figured out but I was so wrong, and I was pleasantly surprised at the ending! I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.

[Eva Edge · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My Husband's An Author" by James Caine is a fast-paced, twisted psychological thriller that blurs the line between fiction and reality, turning life into the ultimate domestic nightmare. James Caine skillfully plants seeds of paranoia and doubt in the readers' minds, making you question what is truly happening. The tension escalates quickly, keeping you engaged and flipping pages late into the night.

I love James Caine's writing style; it always draws me in straight away, and this book is no exception. It's impressive how he makes us dislike Stephan without revealing much about him. Meanwhile, Emily has a "poor me" attitude, yet she still comes across as a strong woman. It's evident this is a dysfunctional family, and it's intriguing to see where their story will go. As expected, things take unexpected turns, and the twists come out of nowhere.

This is an absolute page-turner that will leave you satisfied!

[Marissa Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free eARC of this book by BookSirens and am leaving this review completely voluntarily.

This was my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it! I was really drawn in at the beginning—the very first journal entry completely hooked me. The author did a great job keeping me on my toes early on, making me question and feel wary of all the characters. However, by the time I reached the middle of the book, I began to see where the story was heading. Even so, I still enjoyed the execution of the ending and appreciated how everything came together. I especially liked seeing “The Truth” and a quite a few chapters after that to go over some things.
Overall, if you’re not overly analytical and prefer to go along for the ride, I would still recommend this book to others.

Thank you to BookSirens and James Caine for this book 👏🏼

[Steph Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25*
Another epic read by James Caine!
If you like Frieda McFadden, you'll love James Caine!
I was hooked from the first word to the last. I liked how, mid book, the POV changed from the MFC to the new character.
A super charged domestic, psychological thriller. We follow a married couple, Stephen and Emily Dyer, who are struggling with communication and it seems the husband is absent a lot. He is a popular phychological thriller author, in the middle of writing his latest book. He heads off any time of day or night to help get his creative thoughts flowing but his wife starts to suspect he has darker motives after discovering what he has been researching online. She can't quite know if this is really for his book or its the perfect cover up for a gruesome murder!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Judy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Husband’s An Author is another James Caine page-turner! Emily is stunned when she comes across her husband’s search history. Her husband, best-selling author Stephen, explains the dreadful searches as research for his next psychological thriller novel. Adding fuel to the fire, Stephen is often leaving the house to “work” on ideas for his book. Can Emily trust Stephen? Is she just being paranoid?

The plot and surprising twist of James Caine’s latest novel makes for another entertaining, engaging, and intriguing quick-read. I read this book in one sitting and did not see the plot twist coming. This book is for you if you enjoy unputdownable suspense stories with short chapters and unexpected twists.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be careful who you go to bed with
Stephen Dyer is an author, who he himself states that he 'uses the truth to layer lies'. Now, does that mean he intends for this to happen to someone else, or to himself? That is where the true question lies! For if every horror and thriller author/writer did, then every one of them would be going straight to jail! Being a reader of such lovely stories, I cant wait to read the next sentence, chapter, wanting to find out where the story is going to go!
Stephen and his wife do not have any children, and Emily is glad, she does not want any. She just likes a nice home, and her husband not to cheat.
Thank you, James Caine, for a great story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’ALL! This is a paranoid, twisty little thrill ride that had me side-eyeing everyone in my house 😅📚

Emily thinks she married her dream man—bestselling author Stephen—until she finds his search history basically screaming: “How to kill your wife.” Sir??? 🚩🚩🚩

He swears it’s research. She wants to believe him. But the way he knows her routines, her fears, her breathing patterns? Nope. My skin was crawling right along with hers.

Caine’s writing is quick, clever, and wickedly tense. Emily is relatable, messy, and sharp, and when she uncovers the darker truth underneath her “perfect” marriage… OH I FELT THAT CHILL.

Fast, punchy, sinister, and FUN.
A snarky, edge-of-your-seat 5-star read that’ll have you checking browser histories and sleeping with one eye open 😉🔥📖

[Kelly Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily’s husband Stephen is an author and she met him from going to one of his signings. Emily thought she was living a true love story. The question is, is she really living a love story or a nightmare.
This author has done it again and I couldn’t read this one fast enough. I was hooked immediately and read it in one day because I refused to put it down. It’s twisted, insane and keeps you guessing throughout the whole story. The characters are well developed and easy to follow so it makes for a really easy read but be prepared because you won’t get anything done until you’ve finished the whole book!