Matchmaker

by S.E. Lynes

She’s looking for love. I know the perfect man. My husband.

Cat is young, and pretty, and shy. At work, she blushes almost every time I talk to her. She reminds me sometimes of how I used to be – before marriage, before children. Before I was afraid.

So when she tells me, nervously, that she’s considering dating again, and asks if I have any friends who might suit her… I know exactly what I’m going to do.

I’m going to set her up with my husband.

I think I’m being so clever. No one would do what I’m doing, so neither of them will suspect a thing. Least of all him.

But I don’t know Cat as well as I think I do. She took this job with me for a reason.

I have no idea what she’s really looking for.

Because it isn’t love…

A completely gripping psychological thriller about love, marriage, secrets and revenge that will leave you gasping at the twists. Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Gillian Flynn and Claire Douglas.

See what readers are saying about Matchmaker :

‘Oh holy smokes!… impossible to put down. Packed with secrets, lies and a whole lot of misdirection… fantastic… Huge 5 stars from me!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A MASTERCLASS IN SUSPENSE… dazzling, pulse-pounding… a thrilling ride… twists and turns that’ll leave you reeling… impossible to put down.’ sapphirenst9ne, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What the what the. What a delicious read that was… exciting and intense and compelling. I was genuinely smiling at how good this was… it gripped me alllllll the way and I love it… a true gem… I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want to. There was no way the pages were stopping from turning… Amazing. Read this.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Will keep you up past your bedtime… each chapter lures you into reading just one more… I had trouble putting it down! … kept me hooked from start to finish! It really was a cracker!… boy, was I blindsided!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Completely unputdownable… had me side-eyeing everyone and questioning everything… The twists kept coming… multiple “wait… WHAT?!” moments that completely caught me off guard… keeps you flipping pages late into the night.’ Katie Is All Booked Up

‘Hooked me straight away… intense in the best way… absolutely making it onto my top reads of the year… perfect one‑sitting read.’ Bibliophilemom, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Brilliant… will keep you gripped from start to finish… Highly recommended.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One of my go-to authors!… had me hooked from the very start… loved.

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 13, 2026

About the author

S. E. Lynes is the #1 Amazon best selling author of THE HOUSEWARMING, and 'intelligent and haunting' psychological thrillers, VALENTINA, MOTHER, THE PACT, THE PROPOSAL, THE WOMEN, THE LIES WE HIDE, CAN YOU SEE HER? and HER SISTER'S SECRET
Formerly a BBC producer, after gaining an MA in Creative Writing, she became a Creative Writing Tutor at Richmond Adult Community College and now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published three children's books in Italy.

Reviews

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matchmaker turned out to be such a refreshing surprise for a thriller girlie like me. I went in with pretty low expectations mostly because I’ve been binge‑reading mystery and thriller books back-to-back for the last three years. The premise hooked me straight away, and the characters were so well-developed that I found myself invested from the first few chapters.

The author executed the plot smoothly by adding in twists and turns that felt sharp and intentional. It gave me that familiar Freida McFadden energy but with a fresh new voice that kept things exciting. The mind‑bending moments were intense in the best way even when I managed to predict a few things, I was still left impressed. This is absolutely making it onto my top reads of the year.

What I enjoyed:
• Fresh new voice (for me) in the mystery/thriller space
• Mental health themes handled with care
• Domestic violence portrayed sensitively and realistically

What didn’t work out:
• The villain’s intense behaviour may be overwhelming for some readers
• The big secret felt a bit heavy to carry and unfair
• Repetitive descriptions of the villain that hinted at certain twists too early

Ratings Breakdown:
• Setting: 4⭐️
• Characters: 5⭐️
• Writing: 5⭐️
• Message: 4⭐️
• Overall: 5⭐️


To sum it up, this is a solid recommendation for fellow thriller girlies who love a good mystery with a whodunnit vibe. It’s the perfect one‑sitting read that's gripping, fast-paced, and satisfying. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and SE Lynes for my copy. As always, this does not influence my honest thoughts and opinions.

~JaNnA~

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this is exactly what a thriller should be. There are twist after twist, and you never feel like you can fully trust anyone until the truth is revealed at the very end.

Ellie restores your faith in humanity, and she is the kind of friend everyone needs. I loved Megan and felt so sorry for her and everything she went through. Cat was the most mysterious character. One minute you feel bad for her, the next you think she must be evil, and then you start to feel sorry for her all over again.

I loved the ending and felt it wrapped everything up perfectly. Nothing disappointed me in this book. It was gripping from start to finish.

✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me a copy of this book. This did not affect my review in any way.

[Diane Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrill of a ride through this one .. what a twist and love a happy ending. All in one fast to read unputdownable book.

Thanks to the author the publisher and Netgalley for a early release of this book.

[Charlie Mavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t enjoy the beginning, the last maybe 10 chapters was brilliant but I thought the rest was quite slow

[Kara Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy from Net Galley. This was a new author to me but a true psychological thriller. The character development was well done pulling me into the story of two main female characters. While tragic issues, such as abuse and an eating disorder were explored, it added to the richness of the characters. I was rooting for both of them. This was more of a slow burn than a page turner for me, but the ending was a twist. I recommend and would read others by this author. 3.5-4 range. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Matchmaker
Author: S.E. Lynes
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: March 13, 2026
My Rating: 3.7 Stars
Pages: 390


She’s looking for love. I know the perfect man. My husband.
Yes the matchmaker in this story is the wife.

Told from the POV of Me, Him, Her
Story starts with Megan Greenway and husband Freddie Crowther attention a celebration of Freddie’s outstanding accomplishments.
Meghan and Freddie have two children and Megan is the ideal wife and mother. However at the party Megan cannot help but notice the strong sexual vibe between her husband and her close friend Helena.
Megan is hurt but not totally surprise and decides it is best to leave and go home to their children.

We learn that Megan and Freddie became a couple in high school after her true love Lucas Ashton was sent to prison for fifteen years accused and convicted of murder. While in prison Lucas told her not to visit him but have a life-go to college but don’t come back to see him – which resulted in Megan and Freddie becoming a couple.

Megan works at the library and Cat Gallagher has applied for applied for a position. Cat seems familiar -she is young, pretty, and shy. As they get more acquainted Car tells Megan, that she’s considering dating again, and asks if she knows any friends who might suit her, Megan knows exactly who.

Megan believes she is original in this plans and surely no one would do what she is doing, so neither of them will suspect a thing- least of all him.


I love psychological thrillers and this one was more complicated than I expected. I kept guessing who was telling the story and what really was going on.
In Ms. Lynes “Letter from S. E. Lynes” she tells us when she got this idea she thought writing the story would be easy. She states it wasn’t easy as it isn’t something formulaic. In fact, relates to a child in that it takes a village to write a book. She tells us how rewriting drafts brought out new characters.

This was my fifth S.E, Lynes thriller. I especially liked The Split and loved The Perfect Boyfriend as it was so unique.
To me she does indeed write unique stories.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 13. 2026.

[Sian Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great fast-paced thriller with a few twists to keep you on your toes.

Megan is a married mum of two who works at her local library. She's very aware that her husband is unfaithful but as everyone else seems to be obsessed with him and his good deeds, she ignores it. But when she takes on a new assistant at the library who just happens to be single, she formulates the perfect plan to set her husband up with her and catch them in the act. It's just a shame that her new employee, Cat, is working on her own revenge plan.

This was a classic thriller in the lines of Gone Girl, but it didn't catch me quite as offguard as some do. I had the big twist almost down, but there were some little surprises in there, still enough to thoroughly enjoy reading it and to recommend it to others.

I didn't feel there was a huge mic drop moment at the beginning as you get with some thrillers, it had a slow beginning with more of a creeping sense of suspense and a "what exactly are the characters planning to do?" feeling. The pacing was good but it didn't speed along, it meandered but kept you engaged.

The big moments were well-written and planned. Reading the author's note in the back of the book, I can see how easily even the author can get played by her characters! If they can do that so well, then readers are bound to have the wool pulled over their eyes too!

The representation of unspecified neurodiversity in this book was very interesting - I enjoyed reading about the challenges that the character was facing in the real world without being diagnosed with something.

Now this might be changed in the published copy, but my ARC had no trigger warnings and there should be one for eating disorders. This was heavily featured as a part of a character's development and spiral. It was very realistic and well done, however could be a problem for some readers.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matchmaker, is the latest psychological thriller by SE Lynes. A woman so desperate, that she decides to set up her own husband with a younger woman.

The story is told through the eyes of Ellie, who looks at her young, shy coworker Cat and sees a ghost of her former self. Before the weight of marriage and children and before the “fear” that now seems to define her life, Ellie was just like Cat.
When Cat nervously mentions she’s ready to date again and asks for recommendations, Ellie doesn’t just offer a name; she offers her own husband. It’s a move that felt both brilliant and deeply unhinged. Ellie believes she’s being “clever” that the audacity of the plan is its best camouflage. Surely, her husband would never suspect his own wife is the one orchestrating his infidelity.

As the story progresses the power dynamic shifts, when we learn that Cat didn’t just stumble into this job, she took it for a very specific reason. Watching the “matchmaker” realise she might actually be the prey.
SE Lynes explores the dangerous intersection of trauma and revenge. The book poses the question, how well can you ever really know the people you interact with every day? Ellie thinks she’s found a pawn in Cat, but she’s actually invited a wrecking ball into her home.
The pacing is relentless, and the psychological sparring between the two women is sharp enough to draw blood. By the time the final “match” is made, the explosive consequences left me breathless.

“Ellie thought she was playing God with her husband’s heart, but she forgot that when you play with fire, you aren’t the only one who can get burned.”

Matchmaker is an exciting thriller, dark, sophisticated, and a look at the secrets we keep and the lengths we’ll go to for a distorted version of justice.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by the author. I really enjoyed the book.

It's a very slow start. It wasn't a BAD start though. Just slow leading up to the actual plot of the story. But I still very much enjoyed the backstory. It gave us a good look into the lives of Megan and Cat. It showed us the themes of abuse, infidelity, mental health, and eating disorders. The backstory helped us get to know them and the reasons/causes behind what they are going through.
I was thoroughly engaged about 70% into the book. That's where it became "unputdownable" to me. I loved the twists. Though I absolutely knew it at the first the first contact. Still delighted to read it and see it all unfold. I really loved that nothing truly bad happened to the innocent parties, if anything it was freeing. I was very happy with the way it ended. I was truly rooting for Megan. I was on her side and rooting for her the entire book. I hated Freddie and wanted his downfall. I was indifferent to Lucas and Cat. But I love when I feel so passionately towards characters.
It was very character driven. The plot was almost a hindsight in my opinion.

However, it took me a little while to fully grasp how the perspectives and timelines fit together, especially in the first half, but once everything clicked, the story really took off for me. There were some time lapses / placements where they all finally came together. But that wasn't spelled out so it made the first quarter to half of the book a bit hard to understand. As an American reader, I also learned a new term: ‘people mover,’ which I had to Google since I initially pictured a train rather than a minivan.

Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for this arc read!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matchmaker is one of those psychological thrillers that hooks you from the very first line and keeps tightening its grip with every chapter. S.E. Lynes has such a talent for taking an everyday situation and twisting it into something dark, unsettling, and utterly addictive—and this book is a perfect example.

The premise is deliciously bold: a woman decides to set up her shy, sweet colleague… with her own husband. It’s the kind of decision you can’t look away from, because you know it’s going to unravel spectacularly. What makes it even more compelling is the narrator’s voice—calm, controlled, and convinced she’s several steps ahead of everyone else. Watching those assumptions crack is half the fun.

Cat, the seemingly timid coworker, is far more complex than she first appears, and Lynes plays with shifting power dynamics beautifully. The tension builds slowly at first, then accelerates into a full‑blown psychological chess match where no one is quite who they claim to be. Secrets, manipulation, and buried motives all collide in a way that feels both chilling and completely believable.

The twists land exactly when they should, and the final reveals are sharp enough to make you rethink the entire story. It’s the kind of thriller you finish in a single sitting because you have to know how far things will go.

A clever, unsettling, and thoroughly gripping read—perfect for fans of domestic suspense with a razor‑edge.

with thanks to SE Lynes, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Brittany Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you go NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!*

2.5 stars rounded up.

Overall, this book ended up being better than I expected it to be. I loved the three different perspectives of Me, Her, and Him. I felt bad for Megan and all that she had endured and was continuing to endure in her marriage to Freddy but at the same time, she was going to sacrifice Cat to get her own needs met. I felt bad for Cat for all of the trauma she went through with her father and losing her brother, plus her own struggles with mental illness. I felt like the auditory hallucinations/delusions were a little unnecessary but it did make Cat's sections and perspective a little more interesting any mysterious. I loved that we did not get the reveal of who "Him" was until closer to the end of the book. That was a great twist. I had an inkling that it might not be Lucas but was not entirely sure. My complaints of this book are that it took until about 20% through until we finally got the plot moving to where the description and book title even applied to the storyline. It then took until about 70% for anything exciting or of note to even happen. I think the plot and back stories were a little drawn out and could be cut down a bit to make the story a little more fast paced because I really struggled getting through the first half of this book. Overall, I really enjoyed the twists, unreliable narrators, multiple perspectives, and the complex storylines. I disliked the pacing and seemingly unnecessary or drawn out chapters leading up to the climax.

[Mary Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Matchmaker by S. E. Lynes was an engaging, easy read that kept me turning the pages, even if it felt more like a low-stakes domestic mystery than a high-tension thriller.
One of my favorite aspects was the use of multiple POVs. I always enjoy when a story unfolds through different perspectives, and here it worked well to slowly reveal character motivations and secrets. It added depth and gave the narrative a layered feel, even when the overall stakes felt relatively contained.
For me, the central tension revolved less around a dramatic crime and more around relational uncertainty — whether the husband would cheat with the Cat, and whether the Cat posed a genuine threat to Lucas. Those questions carried the suspense. While it didn’t feel explosive or edge-of-your-seat intense, it did create a steady sense of unease that carried through to the final act.
I especially appreciated the twists toward the end. They were revealed at the right time and added a satisfying shift to the narrative. Even though the mystery felt subtle throughout, the payoff helped elevate the story.
That said, the writing sometimes felt a bit choppy. It wasn’t bad by any means, but at times the flow felt slightly disjointed, and I found myself wishing for smoother transitions or deeper emotional immersion.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, fast read with solid twists and an interesting multi-POV structure. While it didn’t completely wow me, it held my attention and delivered a satisfying conclusion — making it a solid 3.5 to 4 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and S. E. Lynes for the ARC. I’m grateful for the early read — and, as always, my review reflects my genuine and uninfluenced opinions.

[Sapna Chary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC. I am a HUGE fan of thrillers and this is my first book I read by this author. I found the first 25% of the book to be very confusing, because it is written in both, first and third person. I also got really confused with the timeline because I couldnt tell chapters is from the future but at the begining of the book and repeated itself towards the end. This is not earth shattering if you are able to keep up with the pace of the book. The book revolves around four characters - Megan Crowther, Freddie Crowther, Cat Gallagher, and Lucas Ashton. Lucas is out of prison and happens to be Megan's Ex but Cat for some odd reason wants to meet Lucas about an incident that took place about 10 years ago. Meanwhile, Megan is forming a scheme to entrap her husband, Freddie, with Cat so she can leave him once and for all. Megan does not want to matchmake Lucas because of his ex-con past. So, she has Freddie set Cat up with one of his coworkers, and this is where the story begins..I started to guess what could possibly happen half way through and at 70/75% of the book, the author pulls the rug out from under the reader. Personally, I felt the overall pacing of the book is moderate. So, if you like a fast paced thriller, this may not be for you. The chapters are labled as Me and Her and a sprinkle of Him within the book. I am still wondering who is speaking for Megan, is she narrating her story or is it Cat? Anyways, I digress.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Matchmaker was an interesting read but it ultimately didn't deliver a jaw-dropping ending.

The beginning portion of the book is great - it keeps you guessing on the connections and the reality behind each character. The characters are deeply and deceptively intertwined, and the author keeps you guessing with an interesting plot.

The last third of the book didn't deliver on the excitement that the first-half built up. I felt like the book set up what could've been a great finale but the plot was actually very straight-forward and it left me feeling a little underwhelmed.

I loved how in-depth the author gets with the two lead female characters - I genuinely felt like I got to know them individually and got to understand the purpose behind all of their actions and sympathize with them.

While I love how the author built out both lead character's inner worlds as individuals, I do wish the author would've spent more time building out the two characters' relationship with one another a bit more authentically, because the dynamic between those two characters and their perverse solidarity with one another was actually some of the most interesting bits of the entire book.

All in all, a solid read that I enjoyed!

[Jennifer Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Matchmaker
Author: S. E. Lynes
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Murder. Prison. Infidelity. Gaslighting. Deception. Revenge. The recipe for The Matchmaker’s premise. Cat wants to find the man who killed her brother years ago now that’s he’s been paroled. Megan has mixed feelings about her husband, Freddie, still having contact with her ex after he went to prison for killing a man, especially after they agreed that they should cut ties. Freddie does whatever he wants and gaslights his wife when she dares to question him on anything. The ex, Lucas, is having issues of his own now that he’s out and it’s anyone’s guess who lives and who dies when the dust settles.

Takeaways:
1. I felt I spent too much time trying to track when it was legitimately Lucas in action or Freddie or Robbie or some unknown who was using one of the names. Part of the ploy to have the reader guessing? Possibly, but it disconnected me from the story at times as I tried to keep it straight.
2. I did guess the twist. It was well written across the chapters it was revealed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on March 13, 2026.

#arc #netgalley #bookstagram @bookouture #matchmaker @selynesauthor

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you introduce two people to each other and they immediately turn out to be a perfect match, can’t you call yourself a matchmaker? You certainly think you deserve that title, and when someone else asks if you can arrange the perfect date for them, you don’t hesitate for a second. You know exactly who would be ideal for this.

Only… you have an underlying reason for doing so. However, you’re not the only one with a hidden agenda.

We are introduced to Megan, who is being manipulated and living a life that doesn’t make her happy. Her husband, Freddy, on the other hand, leads a life where everything is allowed and nothing is required. A third important character is Cat. You’re never quite sure what to make of her. Can she be trusted? Is she seeking revenge, or is she a victim?

It’s a story in which everyone seems to use each other for selfish reasons. Or maybe not…?

As the book progresses, more and more twists come your way. I truly enjoyed discovering them and once again had to admit that I was mostly completely wrong in my assumptions. But that’s not a bad thing at all. As long as everything fits together in the end, I’m satisfied — and I definitely was this time.

My only small criticism is that it started a bit slowly for me. Other than that, it was a very good book.

4 stars.

Thank you

[Caryl Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars

Okay… confession time 🤭 I went into this fully expecting a can’t put it down, stay up too late thriller… and it just didn’t quite hit that level for me.

It took me a while to get into it 📖 the opening felt a little slow and I never got that instant “OMG I need the next chapter NOW” feeling. Once things picked up, there were some intriguing moments, secrets bubbling under the surface, and I can definitely see why other readers loved it 👀✨

The concept is clever and there’s plenty of relationship drama, tension and twists, but emotionally I stayed a bit on the outside. I didn’t fully connect with the characters and the pacing felt slightly uneven for my taste.

That said, it’s absolutely not a bad read 👍 Just not the gripping, edge of your seat thriller I personally hoped for. If you like slower burn psychological suspense with messy relationships and secrets, this could totally work for you 🖤

#NetGalley Thank you for the ARC!

[Jodie Franken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long adored any thriller by S.E Lynes and this one was no different.
Filled with mystery, intrigue and suspense to keep you guessing.

15 years after a tragedy their friend is about to be released from prison ... Little do Megan and Freddie know their lives are about to be turned upside down and shaken all around.

The multiple POVs help to weave the story together wonderfully (albeit would have preferred less third person narrative personally) and over all this was a good thriller that kept me hooked. I enjoyed all the characters , great identity and development as well as the interconnected interactions …. and could most definitely see this as a screen adaptation .

It was extremely well paced, fast moving and easy to follow with some great twists and turns to keep the reader pleasantly surprised (although I wouldn’t quite say shocked) by the ending.

Fans of the likes of gone girl, the housemaid maid, a simple favour will enjoy this one too!

I’m so thrilled to have been able to enjoy this book as an ARC and absolutely recommend it to fans of the genre. THanks again S.E. Lynes for this opportunity!

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is told through different points of view, which adds layers to the narrative and gradually reveals how everything connects. While I did find it took a little while to fully get into the story, the short chapters helped keep the pace moving and made it easy to read. Themes of guilt and revenge feature heavily throughout the book, driving much of the tension and character motivation. Lynes does a great job of making us really get to know the characters — their flaws, vulnerabilities, and secrets — which adds emotional weight to the unfolding drama. Although the beginning felt a bit slow for me, the final chapters definitely made up for it. The tension ramps up nicely, and there are some good twists along the way that keep you guessing.
While it’s not my favourite by this author and perhaps not her strongest work, it’s still a solid psychological thriller with engaging characters and a satisfying ending.

[A Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matchmaker by S.E. Lynes is a dark and deeply disturbing psychological thriller with a very interesting premise.

Megan is tired and afraid of her philandering and contolling husband Freddie. She decides to come up with a plan to rid herself of him. Not just any plan, but a very unconventional one. She decides to set him up with her new assistant, Cat. Unbeknownst to Megan, Cat has her own agenda and will stop at nothing until she has carried out her plan.

The storyline was downright deranged and hard to guess where it was going. The two female main characters each had their own agenda. The different POV's were a little confusing at first, but were important to the storyline. There were many twists and surprises and the ending was unexpected, albeit very fitting.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

[J. L. Pavich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping story that kept me turning pages late into the night!

Megan feels trapped in her life with her husband, Freddie, who is adored in her community, but is unfaithful, abusive, and controlling behind closed doors. She wants to leave but fears that her husband will turn everyone she knows against her unless she can publicly prove how awful he is.. Enter Cat: a sweet, shy young woman who comes to work with Megan. She is just Freddie's type, but definitely has an agenda that has nothing to do with romance.

The story moves at a moderate pace and I was able to predict some of the twists, but what kept me hooked was the author's nuanced exploration of the characters and what makes them tick. S.E. Lynes gives us a layered representation of domestic abuse and how its ripple effects can unfold over a lifetime.

[Madeleine Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my go to authors who never disappoints! This book had me hooked from the very start and loved all the twists too

The story centres around Megan and Cat. Two women from very different backgrounds but both linked by trauma from the past.

Megan lives with an abusive, controlling and unfaithful husband and struggles to find a way out. And Cat is full of revenge after an incident in her childhood dramatically changed her life

Their lives collide when Cat manages to get a job with Megan at the local library which sets up a whole chain of events

"When there is something wrong at the heart of your existence, bringing that something out into the open is terrifying. It takes more courage than most people have"

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matchmaker by S.E. Lynes, is a slow burn, chilling domestic psychological thriller that really sets on fire in the final third of the book.

It upends the traditional "matchmaking" trope into something far more sinister. The story follows Megan, a woman who appears to have a stable life but is quietly living in fear. When she meets Cat, a young, shy coworker who reminds her of herself at a younger age she decides to play "matchmaker" with a shocking twist: she sets Cat up with her own husband.....

This is a psychological thriller focused on revenge and how the secrets we keep to protect ourselves can become the very things that trap us.
With an unreliable narrator and well drawn characters it has enough twists to keep you guessing to the very satisfying ending.

4.5 stars

[Lisa Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matchmaker had all the twists and turns that you hope for in a thriller and it will definitely keep you flipping through the pages until you get to the final reveal.

While the beginning of the book was a bit slow, it really allowed us to get a better understanding of the characters and how their stories are all interconnected. I did struggle in the beginning with the she/him/her chapters and trying to differentiate which character’s POV it was, but it did ultimately make sense in the end and helped the conclusion to feel more impactful.

I really appreciated how the story touched on mental health, infidelity and gaslighting. Since the beginning of the book really delved into everyone’s life since the murder took place, it allowed the conclusion to feel extremely satisfying.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This for me was a read that built and built in story and intrigue until the final reveal/ending

It is a book about guilt, identity and revenge and features ( trigger ) subjects that include eating disorders, coercive behaviour in a marriage and family violence

The story is explained well via the present and past and how the 2 are now finding their way to be one and how the character’s we meet are part of both timelines

I loved some of the story being set in a library and pictured it as my fav library in Harborne used to visit every few days many years ago

It is ( in a good way ) a complex strategic read that kept me reading and gave a great unexpected for me ending

Love this author’s books, they are always so different and well written and cover very relevant subjects

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author and the latest book does not disappoint. I love a book that has me convinced things are one way and then the ending spins me through a loop and this book defiantly did. We meet two women from very different backgrounds but linked by a tragedy from the past. One is struggling to live with her unfaithful and controlling husband but feels trapped because of her children and the other one is struggling with thoughts of revenge of an incident that destroyed her life as a child and fighting demons of her own. As the two come together it sets of a chain of events that no one will escape unchanged. Do not miss!

[Cait Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Matchmaker is a very slow-burn thriller that took some time to pull me in. The him/her chapters were a little confusing at first, but I ended up enjoying the multiple POVs.

The pacing was slower than I expected and the overall vibe was a bit “meh” early on, but around the 75% mark I became much more invested. There were several twists I didn’t see coming, and I liked that every character remained a bit of a mystery until the end.

While I didn’t strongly connect emotionally with the characters, the ending was satisfying and made the journey feel worthwhile. I would definitely read more from S.E. Lynes in the future.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan is married; she is trying to offload him onto someone else. Enter Cat, a naïve and shy young library assistant. Or is she?
Megan keeps getting roses left on her driveway, by who and why?
Freddie is the husband who everyone loves and is “such a great guy,” but behind closed doors.
Lucas, an ex-boyfriend from high school, how does he fit into the picture?
This was read in multiple points of view. The ending was definitely a “What!” moment. The final chapters were definitely what made the book. This was my first read by this author, but definitely won’t be the last.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy.

[Emma Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The brilliant premise of this novel - a desperate wife planning to set a young woman up with her husband - hooked me from the very start. But then this novel builds and builds, going deeper and darker, until I had no idea how far it was going to unravel or where it might end.

I really enjoyed the multiple narrative of Megan, Cat and the darkly mysterious 'Him' and SE Lynes uses the different perspectives masterfully to hide and reveal the twists and turns of their stories. Because there are twists and turns aplenty!

The writing is, as always, flawless and Lynes describes a scene in a way that makes it gut-wrenchingly real, taking you deep into the minds and actions of the characters.

A brilliant, clever read with a deeply satisfying ending!

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think a fair 4.5 stars for this, another fabulous read from SE Lynes. I found myself thinking of “Sweet Pea” a lot whilst reading this, especially from Cats character. I was hooked from the start with the fast paced story that had twists. I did have the ending worked out quite early on, I don’t know if that’s just because I’ve read a few books by this author or if there were some tell tale signs, however I still really enjoyed it and would recommend to those who enjoy a thriller.