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One of Us Must Die
For fans of Kimberly Belle and Apple TV+’s Bad Sisters, a domestic suspense exploring the lengths a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage by an ironclad trust fund clause will go to in order to escape her greedy, gaslighting husband.
She married for love. He married for trust. Specifically, her trust fund—the one with the iron-clad “no divorce, no matter the circumstances” clause her mother insisted on.
Sterling (not as good as gold) has always come second to her family’s wealth—but unlike her mother, she’ll do anything to protect her three children. For years, she’s kept up the perfect family illusion to shield them from their manipulative, gaslighting father. But now her husband is becoming more reckless, and her children more exposed. And when her daughter’s fiancé says he wants a marriage just like hers, Sterling knows her charade has gone too far.
To free herself, she must outwit her husband and the legal ties meant to trap her—before it’s too late. Because in this family, there’s only one way One of them must die.
She married for love. He married for trust. Specifically, her trust fund—the one with the iron-clad “no divorce, no matter the circumstances” clause her mother insisted on.
Sterling (not as good as gold) has always come second to her family’s wealth—but unlike her mother, she’ll do anything to protect her three children. For years, she’s kept up the perfect family illusion to shield them from their manipulative, gaslighting father. But now her husband is becoming more reckless, and her children more exposed. And when her daughter’s fiancé says he wants a marriage just like hers, Sterling knows her charade has gone too far.
To free herself, she must outwit her husband and the legal ties meant to trap her—before it’s too late. Because in this family, there’s only one way One of them must die.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2026
About the author
Zelly Ruskin
2 books87 followersZelly Ruskin is the award-winning author of Not Yours to Keep (She Writes Press, 2024). She writes domestic suspense that explores the secrets families keep—and the resilience that carries them through. A former social worker and adoption consultant, Zelly is also a (sometimes) artist and a passionate volunteer for brain aneurysm awareness. When she’s not devising twisty plots, she’s likely traveling or hiking—where the next idea often finds her. She lives in New York City with her ridiculous doodle, Strudel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 17, 2026
A domestic drama that is focused on psychological manipulation, but loses its way in the execution.
Sterling has been married to Keith for 20 years. Keith is a monster who uses gaslighting and manipulation to control Sterling, yet continues to live the life he wants to live. He knows that Sterling must stay in the marriage due to a weird clause in her parents trust fund that she will lose all her inheritance if she divorces. Sterling knows that he is cheating, and on the eve of her daughter's engagement to a man who wants "a marriage like yours and Keith's", she decides that she has had enough.
What I liked:
Sterling's growth. She starts out accepting that her marriage is all show. She adores her children and always wants what is best for them (although they are a little narcissistic!). She reconnects with her old friend Whitney. Keith had not liked their friendship, so Sterling had ended it at the beginning of her marriage, but now she decides that she wants life on her own terms.
There is a darkness to the novel, but also a bit of humor. The conversations between Whitney and Sterling were entertaining, and I chuckled out loud at a few of Sterling's internal dialogues.
What I struggled with:
The trust fund clause. What parent in their right mind would want to trap their child into an unhealthy relationship??? This really put the whole story on a surface level, because they were all living lives that were fake- perfect on the outside, but a simmering pot of resentment, lies, narcissism- making sludge soup.
The middle part dragged. We know what is going on, and it really is a pretty straightforward story. So it got a bit repetitive. Add to this the fact that Sterling did not want her children to lose the life of luxury that they have become used to, so she is creating selfish, shallow kids even though this is what she wants to get away from- this did not align with the story narrative.
Overall, I was entertained as it was a quick read with some humor and a "bit" of a mystery, but frustrated with the lack of depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Get Red PR| She Writes Press for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Sterling has been married to Keith for 20 years. Keith is a monster who uses gaslighting and manipulation to control Sterling, yet continues to live the life he wants to live. He knows that Sterling must stay in the marriage due to a weird clause in her parents trust fund that she will lose all her inheritance if she divorces. Sterling knows that he is cheating, and on the eve of her daughter's engagement to a man who wants "a marriage like yours and Keith's", she decides that she has had enough.
What I liked:
Sterling's growth. She starts out accepting that her marriage is all show. She adores her children and always wants what is best for them (although they are a little narcissistic!). She reconnects with her old friend Whitney. Keith had not liked their friendship, so Sterling had ended it at the beginning of her marriage, but now she decides that she wants life on her own terms.
There is a darkness to the novel, but also a bit of humor. The conversations between Whitney and Sterling were entertaining, and I chuckled out loud at a few of Sterling's internal dialogues.
What I struggled with:
The trust fund clause. What parent in their right mind would want to trap their child into an unhealthy relationship??? This really put the whole story on a surface level, because they were all living lives that were fake- perfect on the outside, but a simmering pot of resentment, lies, narcissism- making sludge soup.
The middle part dragged. We know what is going on, and it really is a pretty straightforward story. So it got a bit repetitive. Add to this the fact that Sterling did not want her children to lose the life of luxury that they have become used to, so she is creating selfish, shallow kids even though this is what she wants to get away from- this did not align with the story narrative.
Overall, I was entertained as it was a quick read with some humor and a "bit" of a mystery, but frustrated with the lack of depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Get Red PR| She Writes Press for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One of Us Must Die is very much a slow-burn exploration of a fractured marriage, family dynamics, and the long-term effects of manipulation and control. From the beginning, the tension in Sterling and Keith’s marriage is immediate, with a simmering sense of dread quietly building as the story unfolds.
At its core, it's an intimate look at what it means to be trapped in a marriage with a narcissistic, self-serving partner. The relationship is built on appearances, a carefully maintained charade for the outside world, while behind closed doors we see the years of gaslighting, control, resentment, and emotional erosion that have shaped Sterling into someone who barely recognises herself. Watching that unravel was one of the strongest aspects of the novel.
The story also explores generational expectations, motherhood, wealth, and the ripple effects toxic relationships can have on an entire family. I especially appreciated how closely the book examines marriage under a magnifying glass rather than from a distance, showing not only the damage done to Sterling, but also the impact on her children and sense of self.
Readers who prefer faster-paced thrillers may find this one a little slow at times. There were several moments where I thought, ooh, this is it, expecting tensions to finally erupt, only to feel slightly let down when things pulled back again. Still, the underlying dread kept me engaged because it always felt like something inevitable was looming.
In the end, its ultimately a story about what remains in the aftermath of a toxic marriage and the complicated road toward reclaiming yourself. Not a chaotic, twist-heavy thriller, but an emotionally layered domestic suspense with an impending sense of doom that will likely work best for readers who enjoy slower-burning tension.
Thank you to Get Red PR/She Writes Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
At its core, it's an intimate look at what it means to be trapped in a marriage with a narcissistic, self-serving partner. The relationship is built on appearances, a carefully maintained charade for the outside world, while behind closed doors we see the years of gaslighting, control, resentment, and emotional erosion that have shaped Sterling into someone who barely recognises herself. Watching that unravel was one of the strongest aspects of the novel.
The story also explores generational expectations, motherhood, wealth, and the ripple effects toxic relationships can have on an entire family. I especially appreciated how closely the book examines marriage under a magnifying glass rather than from a distance, showing not only the damage done to Sterling, but also the impact on her children and sense of self.
Readers who prefer faster-paced thrillers may find this one a little slow at times. There were several moments where I thought, ooh, this is it, expecting tensions to finally erupt, only to feel slightly let down when things pulled back again. Still, the underlying dread kept me engaged because it always felt like something inevitable was looming.
In the end, its ultimately a story about what remains in the aftermath of a toxic marriage and the complicated road toward reclaiming yourself. Not a chaotic, twist-heavy thriller, but an emotionally layered domestic suspense with an impending sense of doom that will likely work best for readers who enjoy slower-burning tension.
Thank you to Get Red PR/She Writes Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One of Us Must Die is an engaging domestic suspense that pulled me in with its dysfunctional family dynamics, secrets, manipulation, and steadily building tension.
Sterling is trapped in a marriage she no longer wants, but leaving isn't as simple as walking away. Her husband has become increasingly manipulative and reckless, and Sterling is determined to protect her children from his behavior. I found myself rooting for her as she tried to find a way out of a situation designed to keep her trapped.
I liked the way the story explored the lengths someone might go to when they feel there is no safe or easy way out. The trust fund clause added an interesting complication, and the question of just how far Sterling would go kept me turning the pages.
There are plenty of twists, secrets, and questionable decisions along the way, and the tension continues to build as Sterling's carefully maintained family illusion begins to unravel.
Overall, One of Us Must Die was an entertaining and suspenseful read with plenty of family drama and enough surprises to keep me guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Sterling is trapped in a marriage she no longer wants, but leaving isn't as simple as walking away. Her husband has become increasingly manipulative and reckless, and Sterling is determined to protect her children from his behavior. I found myself rooting for her as she tried to find a way out of a situation designed to keep her trapped.
I liked the way the story explored the lengths someone might go to when they feel there is no safe or easy way out. The trust fund clause added an interesting complication, and the question of just how far Sterling would go kept me turning the pages.
There are plenty of twists, secrets, and questionable decisions along the way, and the tension continues to build as Sterling's carefully maintained family illusion begins to unravel.
Overall, One of Us Must Die was an entertaining and suspenseful read with plenty of family drama and enough surprises to keep me guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sterling’s mother looked at her rebellious daughter and apparently decided the solution was not therapy, boundaries, or consequences, but a trust fund clause requiring her to get married by twenty-five and NEVER GET DIVORCED. Ma’am, what kind of estate-planning escape room is this?
And that is how Sterling winds up twenty-something years into a marriage with Keith, a man she married for love who seems to have approached the whole thing more like an aggressive financial investment strategy. They have three grown children, a gorgeous life, plenty of money, and the kind of marriage everyone apparently looks at and thinks, wow, goals. Sterling knows Keith cheats. She knows he takes money. She knows he manipulates her and then rearranges reality until she's standing there wondering whether she misunderstood something she absolutely did not misunderstand. But she has spent years making sure the kids see the family she wishes they had instead of the one they actually have.
Then their oldest daughter Ella gets engaged, and her fiancé says he wants a marriage just like Sterling and Keith's. SIR, NO. That is basically the moment Sterling realizes her two-decade performance as Happy Wife With Definitely Normal Husband has worked a little too well. She thought she was protecting her children from Keith, but now one of them is preparing to use this marriage as a blueprint. There is keeping up appearances, and then there is accidentally creating promotional material for the relationship you desperately want to escape.
Keith, meanwhile, is exactly the kind of man who makes you understand why Sterling spends so much time fantasizing about his convenient departure from this earth. He's cheating, siphoning money, gaslighting her, and relying on the fact that Sterling has been trained since childhood to protect the family, protect the money, protect the image, protect everyone except herself. And every time I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and yell FORGET THE TRUST FUND AND GO, the book would remind me that Sterling isn't just thinking about herself. The money belongs to the future she's trying to preserve for her children, too, and Keith knows exactly which pressure points to push.
Also, Whitney. Thank God for Whitney. Sterling reconnecting with the friend she pushed away because keeping Keith happy required making herself smaller was one of my favorite parts, because there is something incredibly satisfying about an old friend returning and essentially looking at the life you've normalized and going, absolutely the hell not. Sterling desperately needs somebody in her corner who isn't financially or emotionally invested in maintaining the Dunham family museum exhibit titled EVERYTHING IS FINE, PLEASE DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING.
This is less "body on page twelve, everybody start accusing the gardener" and more watching a woman slowly arrive at the deeply alarming conclusion that the lawyers have checked the paperwork and death may genuinely be the cleanest available exit. And I kept waiting for Sterling to cross that line. Is she actually going to kill Keith? Is Keith dangerous enough that Sterling needs to worry about who gets there first? Is somebody else in this wealthy, emotionally constipated family about to solve the problem for everybody? There are enough lies floating around that I stopped trusting anyone's version of this marriage, including the version Sterling spent years selling to her own children.
The part that got me is that Sterling genuinely believed hiding everything was an act of love. That's such a painfully believable parenting mistake. She wanted her kids to grow up feeling safe and adored in a way she never did, so she swallowed everything ugly about their father and gave them the edited version. Then she has to face the possibility that protecting children from the truth can also leave them completely unprepared to recognize it. That landed. No margarita joke. It just landed.
I did spend some time in the middle wanting everybody to please advance to the portion of this marriage where we start making actual decisions. There are a lot of family relationships to keep straight, plus jumps through Sterling's history, and occasionally I'd come back into a scene feeling like I'd walked away from the table for another margarita and missed somebody explaining which rich relative was currently causing problems. But once Sterling stops merely surviving Keith and starts seriously considering how she could get out, I was much more invested in seeing exactly how ugly this family was willing to get.
And the ending gave me enough satisfaction to send me out happy, even though I saw some things coming before Sterling did. One of Us Must Die landed at 3.5 stars for me. I came for a wife trapped by the world's most deranged trust-fund clause and stayed because I needed to know whether Sterling was going to escape her marriage, lose her money, kill her husband, get killed by her husband, or finally locate one attorney willing to say, "Your mother put WHAT in the trust?"
Whodunity Award: For Turning "Till Death Do Us Part" From a Wedding Vow Into an Actual Exit Strategy
Thank you to Get Red PR and NetGalley for the ARC. You handed me a wealthy family, a cheating gaslighter, three adult children, generations of emotional damage, and a trust agreement apparently drafted by someone who considered divorce more offensive than homicide. I would like my next inheritance to come in cash with absolutely no terms and conditions.
And that is how Sterling winds up twenty-something years into a marriage with Keith, a man she married for love who seems to have approached the whole thing more like an aggressive financial investment strategy. They have three grown children, a gorgeous life, plenty of money, and the kind of marriage everyone apparently looks at and thinks, wow, goals. Sterling knows Keith cheats. She knows he takes money. She knows he manipulates her and then rearranges reality until she's standing there wondering whether she misunderstood something she absolutely did not misunderstand. But she has spent years making sure the kids see the family she wishes they had instead of the one they actually have.
Then their oldest daughter Ella gets engaged, and her fiancé says he wants a marriage just like Sterling and Keith's. SIR, NO. That is basically the moment Sterling realizes her two-decade performance as Happy Wife With Definitely Normal Husband has worked a little too well. She thought she was protecting her children from Keith, but now one of them is preparing to use this marriage as a blueprint. There is keeping up appearances, and then there is accidentally creating promotional material for the relationship you desperately want to escape.
Keith, meanwhile, is exactly the kind of man who makes you understand why Sterling spends so much time fantasizing about his convenient departure from this earth. He's cheating, siphoning money, gaslighting her, and relying on the fact that Sterling has been trained since childhood to protect the family, protect the money, protect the image, protect everyone except herself. And every time I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and yell FORGET THE TRUST FUND AND GO, the book would remind me that Sterling isn't just thinking about herself. The money belongs to the future she's trying to preserve for her children, too, and Keith knows exactly which pressure points to push.
Also, Whitney. Thank God for Whitney. Sterling reconnecting with the friend she pushed away because keeping Keith happy required making herself smaller was one of my favorite parts, because there is something incredibly satisfying about an old friend returning and essentially looking at the life you've normalized and going, absolutely the hell not. Sterling desperately needs somebody in her corner who isn't financially or emotionally invested in maintaining the Dunham family museum exhibit titled EVERYTHING IS FINE, PLEASE DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING.
This is less "body on page twelve, everybody start accusing the gardener" and more watching a woman slowly arrive at the deeply alarming conclusion that the lawyers have checked the paperwork and death may genuinely be the cleanest available exit. And I kept waiting for Sterling to cross that line. Is she actually going to kill Keith? Is Keith dangerous enough that Sterling needs to worry about who gets there first? Is somebody else in this wealthy, emotionally constipated family about to solve the problem for everybody? There are enough lies floating around that I stopped trusting anyone's version of this marriage, including the version Sterling spent years selling to her own children.
The part that got me is that Sterling genuinely believed hiding everything was an act of love. That's such a painfully believable parenting mistake. She wanted her kids to grow up feeling safe and adored in a way she never did, so she swallowed everything ugly about their father and gave them the edited version. Then she has to face the possibility that protecting children from the truth can also leave them completely unprepared to recognize it. That landed. No margarita joke. It just landed.
I did spend some time in the middle wanting everybody to please advance to the portion of this marriage where we start making actual decisions. There are a lot of family relationships to keep straight, plus jumps through Sterling's history, and occasionally I'd come back into a scene feeling like I'd walked away from the table for another margarita and missed somebody explaining which rich relative was currently causing problems. But once Sterling stops merely surviving Keith and starts seriously considering how she could get out, I was much more invested in seeing exactly how ugly this family was willing to get.
And the ending gave me enough satisfaction to send me out happy, even though I saw some things coming before Sterling did. One of Us Must Die landed at 3.5 stars for me. I came for a wife trapped by the world's most deranged trust-fund clause and stayed because I needed to know whether Sterling was going to escape her marriage, lose her money, kill her husband, get killed by her husband, or finally locate one attorney willing to say, "Your mother put WHAT in the trust?"
Whodunity Award: For Turning "Till Death Do Us Part" From a Wedding Vow Into an Actual Exit Strategy
Thank you to Get Red PR and NetGalley for the ARC. You handed me a wealthy family, a cheating gaslighter, three adult children, generations of emotional damage, and a trust agreement apparently drafted by someone who considered divorce more offensive than homicide. I would like my next inheritance to come in cash with absolutely no terms and conditions.
Review of advance copy
One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin. Thanks to getredpr for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sterling comes from a very wealthy family, but is stuck in a loveless marriage due to her legal inheritance contracts. She’s always tried to protect her children from her gaslighting husband, but it’s gone too far..
A fun psychological cat and mouse, you can’t help but root for the main character despite her flaws. I got into it immediately, the middle did slow down a bit, but it picked up again at the end. I like stories like this where you have a feeling someone is a bad person, but you have to wait for the reveal a bit at a time. I found Sterling’s relationship with her daughters interesting and very realistic. I would love a domestic drama from this author because she writes great relationship dynamics.
“So where in the past two decades, the essence of who she was had died. Death by marriage.”
Read if you like:
-Gaslighting plots
-Loveless marriage stories
-Cat and mouse
-Trust and prenup tropes
One of Us Must Die comes out 10/20.
Sterling comes from a very wealthy family, but is stuck in a loveless marriage due to her legal inheritance contracts. She’s always tried to protect her children from her gaslighting husband, but it’s gone too far..
A fun psychological cat and mouse, you can’t help but root for the main character despite her flaws. I got into it immediately, the middle did slow down a bit, but it picked up again at the end. I like stories like this where you have a feeling someone is a bad person, but you have to wait for the reveal a bit at a time. I found Sterling’s relationship with her daughters interesting and very realistic. I would love a domestic drama from this author because she writes great relationship dynamics.
“So where in the past two decades, the essence of who she was had died. Death by marriage.”
Read if you like:
-Gaslighting plots
-Loveless marriage stories
-Cat and mouse
-Trust and prenup tropes
One of Us Must Die comes out 10/20.
August 25, 2026
This book was so good and so unhinged! So much suspense. The question is how far will the mother go to protect what’s hers and her kids from the truth? What are you willing to do? This woman had no way out of a horrible controlling marriage. She was trapped in a cage.
Sometimes our parents do things that make it seem like they’re against us, but in reality they’re trying to look out for us. When you read this book, keep a open mind because it’s not what it seems but then it is what it is.
So good I gave it a 4.5!
Sometimes our parents do things that make it seem like they’re against us, but in reality they’re trying to look out for us. When you read this book, keep a open mind because it’s not what it seems but then it is what it is.
So good I gave it a 4.5!
August 27, 2026
A huge thank you @GetRedPRBooks and @ZellyRuskin for this arc.
What You’ll Find:
🏠 Domestic Suspense
🔐 Buried Secrets
💔 Betrayal
🕸️ Control
🧠 Manipulation
🔓 Breaking Free
She married for love, but he married for her trust fund, protected by her mother’s ironclad no-divorce clause.
For years, Sterling has hidden the truth about her manipulative, dangerous husband to protect their three children. But as the cracks in their perfect family façade begin to show, she must outsmart him and the legal ties trapping her before it’s too late. Because in this family, there’s only one way out: one of them must die.
📘ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ…
How much would you be willing to put up with to secure your financial future? And at what point are you doing more damage to your children by staying with a manipulative husband than you would by walking away?
This was quite the thought provoking read. I certainly found myself wanting to give Sterling a good talking to, and as for her mother… what can I say about that mother dearest!
This isn’t so much an edge of your seat thriller as it is a character driven story that gets you thinking. It raises some difficult questions about family, manipulation, sacrifice and just how far you would go to protect the people you love most.
And perhaps the biggest question of all… what would you do if you found yourself facing the same dilemma?
What You’ll Find:
🏠 Domestic Suspense
🔐 Buried Secrets
💔 Betrayal
🕸️ Control
🧠 Manipulation
🔓 Breaking Free
She married for love, but he married for her trust fund, protected by her mother’s ironclad no-divorce clause.
For years, Sterling has hidden the truth about her manipulative, dangerous husband to protect their three children. But as the cracks in their perfect family façade begin to show, she must outsmart him and the legal ties trapping her before it’s too late. Because in this family, there’s only one way out: one of them must die.
📘ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ…
How much would you be willing to put up with to secure your financial future? And at what point are you doing more damage to your children by staying with a manipulative husband than you would by walking away?
This was quite the thought provoking read. I certainly found myself wanting to give Sterling a good talking to, and as for her mother… what can I say about that mother dearest!
This isn’t so much an edge of your seat thriller as it is a character driven story that gets you thinking. It raises some difficult questions about family, manipulation, sacrifice and just how far you would go to protect the people you love most.
And perhaps the biggest question of all… what would you do if you found yourself facing the same dilemma?
October 21, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! I liked the mystery and suspense and was definitely invested in the story to see how everything would unfold.
Sterling was in such an impossible situation being married to a narcissist, especially with all the stipulations of the financial trust making it so difficult for her to leave. Seeing how much the manipulation and gaslighting had affected her over the years really made me feel for her. I didn’t always agree with the decisions she made, but I could understand how complicated her situation was. I appreciated how strong she was as a mother and how much she wanted to protect her children through everything.
I liked how the story explored what was happening beneath the surface of a family that might look perfect from the outside to everyone else. The complicated relationships and the impact of the situation on Sterling’s children added another layer to the story, while the secrets and growing tension kept the mystery moving forward.
This is definitely more of a slow-burn domestic thriller than a fast-paced, twist-heavy read, but I enjoyed seeing Sterling find her strength and figure out a way forward for herself and her children.
Sterling was in such an impossible situation being married to a narcissist, especially with all the stipulations of the financial trust making it so difficult for her to leave. Seeing how much the manipulation and gaslighting had affected her over the years really made me feel for her. I didn’t always agree with the decisions she made, but I could understand how complicated her situation was. I appreciated how strong she was as a mother and how much she wanted to protect her children through everything.
I liked how the story explored what was happening beneath the surface of a family that might look perfect from the outside to everyone else. The complicated relationships and the impact of the situation on Sterling’s children added another layer to the story, while the secrets and growing tension kept the mystery moving forward.
This is definitely more of a slow-burn domestic thriller than a fast-paced, twist-heavy read, but I enjoyed seeing Sterling find her strength and figure out a way forward for herself and her children.
October 14, 2026
📚 One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
Thank you so much to Zelly Ruskin and GetReadPR for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! 💕 This review is entirely my own honest opinion.
Okay, this book had some seriously messy family drama! 👀
Sterling is stuck in a marriage with a manipulative, gaslighting husband, and she’s spent years trying to protect her three children while keeping up the appearance of a perfect family. But when things start getting worse, she realizes she can’t keep pretending everything is fine.
I really liked the premise of this one because the trust fund, the no-divorce clause, and Sterling’s complicated marriage made for such an interesting setup. I kept wondering how she was going to get herself out of a situation where she felt so trapped. And honestly, the title tells you that things are NOT going to end peacefully. 😬
The family dynamics were messy, and I enjoyed the darker side of the story. The manipulation and tension kept me curious about what would happen next, especially with so much at stake for Sterling and her children.
While there were a few areas where I wanted more depth, overall, I found this to be an intriguing read filled with secrets, family drama, and a marriage that makes you question just how far someone will go when they feel they have nothing left to lose.
Tell me… if you were trapped in a marriage like Sterling’s, would you risk everything to escape, or would you play the long game? 👀
Thank you so much to Zelly Ruskin and GetReadPR for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! 💕 This review is entirely my own honest opinion.
Okay, this book had some seriously messy family drama! 👀
Sterling is stuck in a marriage with a manipulative, gaslighting husband, and she’s spent years trying to protect her three children while keeping up the appearance of a perfect family. But when things start getting worse, she realizes she can’t keep pretending everything is fine.
I really liked the premise of this one because the trust fund, the no-divorce clause, and Sterling’s complicated marriage made for such an interesting setup. I kept wondering how she was going to get herself out of a situation where she felt so trapped. And honestly, the title tells you that things are NOT going to end peacefully. 😬
The family dynamics were messy, and I enjoyed the darker side of the story. The manipulation and tension kept me curious about what would happen next, especially with so much at stake for Sterling and her children.
While there were a few areas where I wanted more depth, overall, I found this to be an intriguing read filled with secrets, family drama, and a marriage that makes you question just how far someone will go when they feel they have nothing left to lose.
Tell me… if you were trapped in a marriage like Sterling’s, would you risk everything to escape, or would you play the long game? 👀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📖 ARC REVIEW 📖
One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark, twisty, and wildly unpredictable! 🔪
How far would a mother go to protect her children, especially when the greatest threat comes from within her own home?
Sterling is trapped in a controlling marriage with seemingly no way out. Behind the facade of a picture-perfect family lies a disturbing reality of manipulation, secrets, and desperation. As her husband’s behavior becomes increasingly reckless, Sterling faces impossible choices that will leave you questioning what you would do in her place.
I loved the psychological tension throughout this story! The gaslighting, shifting power dynamics, and unexpected twists kept me guessing, while Sterling’s determination to protect her children added an emotional layer to the suspense.
Nothing is quite what it seems, and sometimes the truth is more complicated than we realize.👀
A gripping, character-driven domestic thriller about survival, sacrifice, and the lengths a mother will go to protect those she loves. Go into this one with an open mind because appearances can be deceiving!
🗓️ Available October 20, 2026.
Thank you to NetGalley and Get Red PR | She Writes Press for providing an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark, twisty, and wildly unpredictable! 🔪
How far would a mother go to protect her children, especially when the greatest threat comes from within her own home?
Sterling is trapped in a controlling marriage with seemingly no way out. Behind the facade of a picture-perfect family lies a disturbing reality of manipulation, secrets, and desperation. As her husband’s behavior becomes increasingly reckless, Sterling faces impossible choices that will leave you questioning what you would do in her place.
I loved the psychological tension throughout this story! The gaslighting, shifting power dynamics, and unexpected twists kept me guessing, while Sterling’s determination to protect her children added an emotional layer to the suspense.
Nothing is quite what it seems, and sometimes the truth is more complicated than we realize.👀
A gripping, character-driven domestic thriller about survival, sacrifice, and the lengths a mother will go to protect those she loves. Go into this one with an open mind because appearances can be deceiving!
🗓️ Available October 20, 2026.
Thank you to NetGalley and Get Red PR | She Writes Press for providing an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 19, 2026
thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the ARC!
ehhhhhhhhh. I wanted to love Sterling but I feel like this book was oddly paced and that didn't help me love her. like when it started off, it seemed like it was going to portray one of those like very juicy toxic relationships. but it ended up being a case where Keith was a complete monster and Sterling was its victim. then it felt like the book just kind of wasted time while Sterling either imagined scenarios where Keith died, or where he killed her, or where stuff that wasn't relevant to the plot overall happened. I also kept getting annoyed that the story had such a convoluted way to make Sterling stay in the marriage, and when it tries to "explain" it very late it only annoyed me more.
spoilers -
oh well. I DID really enjoy the relationship between Sterling and her children. also props for mentioning where I work within the first, like, 20 pages lol
ehhhhhhhhh. I wanted to love Sterling but I feel like this book was oddly paced and that didn't help me love her. like when it started off, it seemed like it was going to portray one of those like very juicy toxic relationships. but it ended up being a case where Keith was a complete monster and Sterling was its victim. then it felt like the book just kind of wasted time while Sterling either imagined scenarios where Keith died, or where he killed her, or where stuff that wasn't relevant to the plot overall happened. I also kept getting annoyed that the story had such a convoluted way to make Sterling stay in the marriage, and when it tries to "explain" it very late it only annoyed me more.
spoilers -
oh well. I DID really enjoy the relationship between Sterling and her children. also props for mentioning where I work within the first, like, 20 pages lol
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Publishing Oct 20th
This is half thriller, half woman-discovers-she's-had-enough.
Sterling has been unhappily married to Keith for FAR too long, pretending happiness for the sake of her kids while knowing he's cheated on her repeatedly and stolen money from her trust fund.
I did enjoy Sterling coming to the realization that staying with her garbage husband was just as bad as being controlled by her garbage parents who (though she's repeatedly reminded it was for her own protection?) forced her to stay in her garbage marriage to continue receiving money from her trust fund. I wanted to fight Sterling's mother, and Sterling herself for not deciding she'd rather get a job at McDonald's than live beneath everyone else's thumbs.
Overall, the pacing was a bit slow, some of the plot points are fuzzy, and one massive detail was minimized to the point that I had to go back and reread it to be sure I understood.
Thank you to Get Red PR | She Writes Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
This is half thriller, half woman-discovers-she's-had-enough.
Sterling has been unhappily married to Keith for FAR too long, pretending happiness for the sake of her kids while knowing he's cheated on her repeatedly and stolen money from her trust fund.
I did enjoy Sterling coming to the realization that staying with her garbage husband was just as bad as being controlled by her garbage parents who (though she's repeatedly reminded it was for her own protection?) forced her to stay in her garbage marriage to continue receiving money from her trust fund. I wanted to fight Sterling's mother, and Sterling herself for not deciding she'd rather get a job at McDonald's than live beneath everyone else's thumbs.
Overall, the pacing was a bit slow, some of the plot points are fuzzy, and one massive detail was minimized to the point that I had to go back and reread it to be sure I understood.
Thank you to Get Red PR | She Writes Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2026
📖 Book Review 📖 It’s been a rough week (okay, month)…should I really be bingeing scary movies and psychological thrillers? It’s a questionable move but I’m going to stick with it. Zelly Ruskin’s sophomore novel reminds us that all that glitters is not gold and sometimes even the most perfect family from the outside might just be hiding a lot of skeletons. One of Us Must Die is deliciously twisty, as generational wealth meets dysfunction and unhappiness with a heavy dose of gaslighting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Will write a review shortly!
4 stars
4 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️
*One of Us Must Die* kept me invested in Sterling’s story because I desperately wanted her to get away from Keith and finally reclaim her life. 😮💨 From the cheating and manipulation to the financial control, drugging, and threats, Keith was an absolutely horrible husband and father. Every new revelation made him worse. 🤬
One of my favorite moments was Sterling refusing to let him intimidate her any longer. When Keith tried to convince her that he could accuse her of hitting him unless she did exactly what he wanted, I was so glad she had the video of him cheating with her daughter’s boyfriend’s mother. 🎥 The way she reminded him that castration does not always have to be physical? MIC DROP. 👏🏾
I also found Sterling’s parents and their role in her marriage interesting. They knew Keith was awful and had apparently hated him all along, yet they bribed him to marry her because of the ridiculous trust clause Sterling’s mother had put in place. It was frustrating because that clause could have been changed, but instead it helped trap Sterling in a miserable and dangerous marriage. 💔
Keith’s death was especially interesting because of everything that came before it. He had been far too eager to take control when Sterling’s father was hospitalized and Douglas had not yet arrived. Then Sterling and her mother caught him taking digoxin from the medical cart, which made it seem very possible that he had been trying to harm his father-in-law. 😳
By the end, Keith had a blood clot in his leg that would require amputation, along with heart problems, and his family knew he would not want to live that way. Then we have the nurse injecting something into his IV, the connection to Sterling’s mother’s driver, and the dark green car that hit Keith being similar to her mother’s car. 👀 Did he die from an accident? Was he murdered? Was the nurse injecting the same drug Keith had tried to steal? The book never tells us outright, and I honestly loved the ambiguity. 😭
I was also relieved that the investigation did not ultimately destroy Sterling’s freedom. Keith had set things up so she could look guilty, even though she did not kill him, and she absolutely would have been scrutinized. Her father’s influence helped close the investigation, which was complicated but satisfying after everything Keith had put her through.
What really made the ending work for me was that Sterling did not simply survive Keith. She was able to pursue photography again, the thing she loved but had put aside for her family. 📸 Her relationship with her children improved, and they all seemed happier without Keith’s control and cruelty hanging over them. That was the kind of fresh start I wanted for her. 🥹
Overall, this was an entertaining domestic-suspense read with a truly vile man at the center of it all. 😩 I was happy with the ending and especially happy that Sterling finally had a chance to move forward, rebuild her relationships, and pursue the life she actually wanted. It did not quite become a four-star read for me, but I had a good time watching the truth unravel and seeing Sterling take her power back. 🖤
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy. 💜
⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️
*One of Us Must Die* kept me invested in Sterling’s story because I desperately wanted her to get away from Keith and finally reclaim her life. 😮💨 From the cheating and manipulation to the financial control, drugging, and threats, Keith was an absolutely horrible husband and father. Every new revelation made him worse. 🤬
One of my favorite moments was Sterling refusing to let him intimidate her any longer. When Keith tried to convince her that he could accuse her of hitting him unless she did exactly what he wanted, I was so glad she had the video of him cheating with her daughter’s boyfriend’s mother. 🎥 The way she reminded him that castration does not always have to be physical? MIC DROP. 👏🏾
I also found Sterling’s parents and their role in her marriage interesting. They knew Keith was awful and had apparently hated him all along, yet they bribed him to marry her because of the ridiculous trust clause Sterling’s mother had put in place. It was frustrating because that clause could have been changed, but instead it helped trap Sterling in a miserable and dangerous marriage. 💔
Keith’s death was especially interesting because of everything that came before it. He had been far too eager to take control when Sterling’s father was hospitalized and Douglas had not yet arrived. Then Sterling and her mother caught him taking digoxin from the medical cart, which made it seem very possible that he had been trying to harm his father-in-law. 😳
By the end, Keith had a blood clot in his leg that would require amputation, along with heart problems, and his family knew he would not want to live that way. Then we have the nurse injecting something into his IV, the connection to Sterling’s mother’s driver, and the dark green car that hit Keith being similar to her mother’s car. 👀 Did he die from an accident? Was he murdered? Was the nurse injecting the same drug Keith had tried to steal? The book never tells us outright, and I honestly loved the ambiguity. 😭
I was also relieved that the investigation did not ultimately destroy Sterling’s freedom. Keith had set things up so she could look guilty, even though she did not kill him, and she absolutely would have been scrutinized. Her father’s influence helped close the investigation, which was complicated but satisfying after everything Keith had put her through.
What really made the ending work for me was that Sterling did not simply survive Keith. She was able to pursue photography again, the thing she loved but had put aside for her family. 📸 Her relationship with her children improved, and they all seemed happier without Keith’s control and cruelty hanging over them. That was the kind of fresh start I wanted for her. 🥹
Overall, this was an entertaining domestic-suspense read with a truly vile man at the center of it all. 😩 I was happy with the ending and especially happy that Sterling finally had a chance to move forward, rebuild her relationships, and pursue the life she actually wanted. It did not quite become a four-star read for me, but I had a good time watching the truth unravel and seeing Sterling take her power back. 🖤
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy. 💜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *One of Us Must Die* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
*One of Us Must Die* is a tense domestic thriller about wealth, marriage and what happens when a woman realises that the life she has spent years protecting may actually be destroying her.
Sterling married Keith believing it was for love, but over time it becomes painfully clear that he was far more interested in the trust fund attached to her name. The problem is that the trust comes with an iron-clad no-divorce clause, meaning walking away from the marriage could cost Sterling and her children everything. After years of putting up with Keith’s manipulation and gaslighting, she finally reaches a point where staying feels just as dangerous as leaving.
I found Sterling very easy to root for. She has spent so long trying to keep the family together and protect her children that she has almost disappeared inside the role she is expected to play. What I liked most was watching that slowly change. Once she starts recognising just how much control Keith has had over her life, the story becomes less about whether she should leave and more about how far she is willing to go to finally free herself.
The wealth and privilege angle worked really well too. From the outside, Sterling appears to have everything, but that money is also the thing keeping her trapped. I liked that contradiction because it gave the story more depth than a straightforward unhappy-marriage thriller. The family looks perfect, but almost every relationship underneath that image is damaged in some way.
The pacing starts as more of a slow burn, but once Sterling begins actively looking for a way out, the tension builds quickly. There are plenty of secrets, bad behaviour and morally questionable decisions along the way. Some parts of the setup felt familiar from other domestic thrillers, but I still enjoyed the way the story explored generational wealth, control and the lengths people will go to when money and reputation are involved.
Overall, *One of Us Must Die* was gripping, satisfying and very easy to get invested in. Sterling’s journey was the strongest part for me, and I enjoyed watching the balance of power gradually shift. A dark and entertaining domestic thriller with a clever premise and plenty of tension.
*One of Us Must Die* is a tense domestic thriller about wealth, marriage and what happens when a woman realises that the life she has spent years protecting may actually be destroying her.
Sterling married Keith believing it was for love, but over time it becomes painfully clear that he was far more interested in the trust fund attached to her name. The problem is that the trust comes with an iron-clad no-divorce clause, meaning walking away from the marriage could cost Sterling and her children everything. After years of putting up with Keith’s manipulation and gaslighting, she finally reaches a point where staying feels just as dangerous as leaving.
I found Sterling very easy to root for. She has spent so long trying to keep the family together and protect her children that she has almost disappeared inside the role she is expected to play. What I liked most was watching that slowly change. Once she starts recognising just how much control Keith has had over her life, the story becomes less about whether she should leave and more about how far she is willing to go to finally free herself.
The wealth and privilege angle worked really well too. From the outside, Sterling appears to have everything, but that money is also the thing keeping her trapped. I liked that contradiction because it gave the story more depth than a straightforward unhappy-marriage thriller. The family looks perfect, but almost every relationship underneath that image is damaged in some way.
The pacing starts as more of a slow burn, but once Sterling begins actively looking for a way out, the tension builds quickly. There are plenty of secrets, bad behaviour and morally questionable decisions along the way. Some parts of the setup felt familiar from other domestic thrillers, but I still enjoyed the way the story explored generational wealth, control and the lengths people will go to when money and reputation are involved.
Overall, *One of Us Must Die* was gripping, satisfying and very easy to get invested in. Sterling’s journey was the strongest part for me, and I enjoyed watching the balance of power gradually shift. A dark and entertaining domestic thriller with a clever premise and plenty of tension.
October 22, 2026
Which domestic trope hooks you faster: a marriage full of secrets or a neighborhood where everyone is lying?
Sterling and Keith have been married for over twenty years. As their oldest daughter is about to be married, Sterling has realized she no longer wants to be married. While she married Keith for love, it has become obvious through the years that he only married her for her trust fund. He is flagrantly cheating on her and Sterling catch him during their daughter’s engagement party. He is also spending all of her trust fund money. Her parents put together a clause in their trust fund that she will lose her inheritance if she gets divorced. How can she get out of this marriage when it looks like one of them must die to end it?
My thoughts on this novel:
• I liked how Sterling found herself throughout the course of this novel. She loved her children and would do anything for them, including staying in an unhappy marriage and trying to make it look like a happy marriage.
• Sterling believed hiding Keith’s bad behavior was a good thing until her almost son-in-law stated that he wanted a marriage just like theirs.
• I liked how Sterling and her former best friend Whitney rekindled their friendship. Keith hated Whitney and their friendship had fizzled because of that. Together Sterling and Whitney investigate Keith and put together a solution.
• I am still puzzled on why her parents have such a terrible clause in the trust fund. Why would you want to trap your child in an unhappy marriage. I was not a fan of Sterling’s mother.
• Keith’s character was one dimensional and just a villain.
• It made me ponder, what lengths would you go to if you felt trapped?
• The ending was very interesting, and I keep thinking about this.
• I would classify this book as domestic drama, psychological drama, psychological suspense, mystery, contemporary, slow burn, and suspense.
Overall, One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin was an engaging domestic suspense novel that kept me guessing until the very end.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2026...
Sterling and Keith have been married for over twenty years. As their oldest daughter is about to be married, Sterling has realized she no longer wants to be married. While she married Keith for love, it has become obvious through the years that he only married her for her trust fund. He is flagrantly cheating on her and Sterling catch him during their daughter’s engagement party. He is also spending all of her trust fund money. Her parents put together a clause in their trust fund that she will lose her inheritance if she gets divorced. How can she get out of this marriage when it looks like one of them must die to end it?
My thoughts on this novel:
• I liked how Sterling found herself throughout the course of this novel. She loved her children and would do anything for them, including staying in an unhappy marriage and trying to make it look like a happy marriage.
• Sterling believed hiding Keith’s bad behavior was a good thing until her almost son-in-law stated that he wanted a marriage just like theirs.
• I liked how Sterling and her former best friend Whitney rekindled their friendship. Keith hated Whitney and their friendship had fizzled because of that. Together Sterling and Whitney investigate Keith and put together a solution.
• I am still puzzled on why her parents have such a terrible clause in the trust fund. Why would you want to trap your child in an unhappy marriage. I was not a fan of Sterling’s mother.
• Keith’s character was one dimensional and just a villain.
• It made me ponder, what lengths would you go to if you felt trapped?
• The ending was very interesting, and I keep thinking about this.
• I would classify this book as domestic drama, psychological drama, psychological suspense, mystery, contemporary, slow burn, and suspense.
Overall, One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin was an engaging domestic suspense novel that kept me guessing until the very end.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2026...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sterling is SUCH a complex character! I honestly didn’t know whether I liked her or not. 😂😂😂 This woman is married to Keith, a man who CONTINUES to disrespect her by getting caught cheating even stealing her money, and I was sitting here wondering WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH?!
But here’s the thing: Sterling can’t just walk away. Her parents have made it clear that if she divorces Keith, the family money that has been supporting her household and providing a financial cushion will disappear… AND her kids won’t get any money either. 😳 So what does Sterling do? She starts collecting EVIDENCE! And let me tell you, the more I read about Keith, the more I DESPISED THIS MAN. 😂😂😂 I just wanted Sterling to HANDLE THAT MAN ALREADY!
Throughout the book, Sterling is trying to figure out how to free herself from this marriage. She talks to different lawyers, weighs her options, and tries to protect her children while keeping everything together (they are adults by the way). But little does she know, the kids she’s been trying so hard to protect have already started to suspect that their parents’ marriage isn’t as perfect as she’s made it seem.
And THAT’S what made Sterling such an interesting character to me. She was complicated, frustrating at times, and clearly trying to find her way out of a situation that wasn’t as easy to escape as it looked from the outside.
BUT THAT ENDING?! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 I’m not going to lie, I was HAPPY to see how everything turned out. KEITH DID NOT WIN! 😂🙌🏽 And the way it all unfolded? CRAZY! I did not see everything playing out quite like that.
Now, I will say that getting to the end took a BIT longer than I would have liked. Y’all know I’m not the biggest fan of a slow burn, and this book definitely took its time. 😂 BUT despite that, it managed to hold my interest, and I wanted to know how Sterling’s story would end.
Overall, this was WORTH THE READ! Sterling had me questioning her, rooting for her, and getting frustrated right alongside her. And honestly? Sometimes you just need to see a woman finally get the outcome she deserves! 👏🏽📚
But here’s the thing: Sterling can’t just walk away. Her parents have made it clear that if she divorces Keith, the family money that has been supporting her household and providing a financial cushion will disappear… AND her kids won’t get any money either. 😳 So what does Sterling do? She starts collecting EVIDENCE! And let me tell you, the more I read about Keith, the more I DESPISED THIS MAN. 😂😂😂 I just wanted Sterling to HANDLE THAT MAN ALREADY!
Throughout the book, Sterling is trying to figure out how to free herself from this marriage. She talks to different lawyers, weighs her options, and tries to protect her children while keeping everything together (they are adults by the way). But little does she know, the kids she’s been trying so hard to protect have already started to suspect that their parents’ marriage isn’t as perfect as she’s made it seem.
And THAT’S what made Sterling such an interesting character to me. She was complicated, frustrating at times, and clearly trying to find her way out of a situation that wasn’t as easy to escape as it looked from the outside.
BUT THAT ENDING?! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 I’m not going to lie, I was HAPPY to see how everything turned out. KEITH DID NOT WIN! 😂🙌🏽 And the way it all unfolded? CRAZY! I did not see everything playing out quite like that.
Now, I will say that getting to the end took a BIT longer than I would have liked. Y’all know I’m not the biggest fan of a slow burn, and this book definitely took its time. 😂 BUT despite that, it managed to hold my interest, and I wanted to know how Sterling’s story would end.
Overall, this was WORTH THE READ! Sterling had me questioning her, rooting for her, and getting frustrated right alongside her. And honestly? Sometimes you just need to see a woman finally get the outcome she deserves! 👏🏽📚
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you are in an abusive relationship, you need to read this. If you have children that you THINK you are protecting from your marital problems, you need to read this. If you have a friend who is in an abusive relationship and you are frustrated that she won't leave him, you need to read this. If you have escaped an abusive relationship and it is safely in the past, but you are still kicking yourself for staying as long as you did, you need to read this. And I don't necessarily mean physical abuse - emotional, financial - ANY kind of abuse counts. I had an incredibly difficult time getting through the first 25% of the book because it brought back SO many things I wanted to forget. If this were a book I had bought or gotten from the library, I would have quit, but I felt a responsibility to Netgalley to finish it. I had trouble sleeping and had really bad nightmares as I was reading it. And then I got to where her daughter wanted to get married and had disturbing questions about her mother's decisions regarding getting married. Clearly, her child had seen all the things she had tried to kept hidden throughout her marriage. That was like a knife in my heart because my adult daughter suffers from anxiety, and when I told her about this book, it started a LONG conversation about all the questions she had had growing up that she somehow knew she shouldn't ask me. I kind of knew before that that kids saw WAY more than we thought they did, but it had never occurred to me that they would invent their own twisted reasons for why things were as they were, when if I had just told the truth in the beginning, she wouldn't BE this anxious, and I would have found the courage to leave a whole lot sooner. This is a stressful psychological thriller that was well worth reading. It is an extremely accurate description of what it is like to live in an abusive relationship and has so much to offer SO many people.
October 21, 2026
Meet Sterling Richardson. Our girl married for love.
Her husband, Keith? HE MARRIED FOR THE TRUST FUND!
SIR. THAT IS NOT ROMANCE. THAT IS FINANCIAL PLANNING WITH A WEDDING CAKE!
And if that wasn't bad enough, Sterling's mother decided to throw a little extra generational trauma into the family fortune by including an ironclad clause that basically says NO DIVORCE.
EVER. MA'AM, WHAT IN THE RICH PEOPLE NONSENSE IS THIS?!
So now Sterling is stuck in a marriage with a manipulative, gaslighting husband who apparently thinks being a decent human being is OPTIONAL. And Sterling? She's been holding everything together, keeping up appearances, and protecting her three children from the ugly truth. Because nothing screams "picture-perfect family" quite like a marriage held together by money, manipulation, and enough resentment to power a small country.
BUT THEN THINGS START GETTING MESSY.
Keith becomes more reckless, the cracks in their perfect little family start showing, and Sterling realizes that protecting her children might mean finally tearing down the illusion she's spent years maintaining.
AND BABY, WHEN THE ONLY WAY OUT OF YOUR MARRIAGE IS FOR SOMEBODY TO DIE?! WE HAVE OFFICIALLY LEFT THE MARRIAGE COUNSELING STAGE AND ENTERED THE TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY ERA!
What makes this premise so disturbing is that the real horror isn't some masked stranger lurking in the shadows.
It's the person sleeping beside you. The person who knows your weaknesses, manipulates your fears, and uses the life you've built together as a weapon. We're talking emotional abuse, financial control, generational wealth, family secrets, and a woman pushed toward an impossible decision.
And can we discuss the audacity of Keith for a moment?!
Because the confidence of a man who contributes nothing but stress and still believes he's the prize needs to be STUDIED BY SCIENTISTS!
SIR, YOU ARE NOT THE PRIZE. YOU ARE THE REASON WE NEED A REFUND POLICY ON MARRIAGE!
Her husband, Keith? HE MARRIED FOR THE TRUST FUND!
SIR. THAT IS NOT ROMANCE. THAT IS FINANCIAL PLANNING WITH A WEDDING CAKE!
And if that wasn't bad enough, Sterling's mother decided to throw a little extra generational trauma into the family fortune by including an ironclad clause that basically says NO DIVORCE.
EVER. MA'AM, WHAT IN THE RICH PEOPLE NONSENSE IS THIS?!
So now Sterling is stuck in a marriage with a manipulative, gaslighting husband who apparently thinks being a decent human being is OPTIONAL. And Sterling? She's been holding everything together, keeping up appearances, and protecting her three children from the ugly truth. Because nothing screams "picture-perfect family" quite like a marriage held together by money, manipulation, and enough resentment to power a small country.
BUT THEN THINGS START GETTING MESSY.
Keith becomes more reckless, the cracks in their perfect little family start showing, and Sterling realizes that protecting her children might mean finally tearing down the illusion she's spent years maintaining.
AND BABY, WHEN THE ONLY WAY OUT OF YOUR MARRIAGE IS FOR SOMEBODY TO DIE?! WE HAVE OFFICIALLY LEFT THE MARRIAGE COUNSELING STAGE AND ENTERED THE TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY ERA!
What makes this premise so disturbing is that the real horror isn't some masked stranger lurking in the shadows.
It's the person sleeping beside you. The person who knows your weaknesses, manipulates your fears, and uses the life you've built together as a weapon. We're talking emotional abuse, financial control, generational wealth, family secrets, and a woman pushed toward an impossible decision.
And can we discuss the audacity of Keith for a moment?!
Because the confidence of a man who contributes nothing but stress and still believes he's the prize needs to be STUDIED BY SCIENTISTS!
SIR, YOU ARE NOT THE PRIZE. YOU ARE THE REASON WE NEED A REFUND POLICY ON MARRIAGE!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Title: One of Us Must Die
Author: Zelly Ruskin
Publisher: She Writes Press
Pub Date: October 20, 2026
Dates Read: August 10, 2026 – September 2, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: I should preface my review by saying I’m having a very hard time figuring out my feelings for One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin. On one hand, I found it a quick, bingeable read, but on the other hand, it was also very frustrating for me. I didn’t find Sterling to be a very sympathetic character, and most of her decisions drove me absolutely nuts. Imagining all the ways her husband could die also grated on my nerves, and I found myself skimming those sections as the book went on. That being said, she married an atrocious man, and I could never figure out why she didn’t just say F the money and move on instead of marrying him in the first place.
Sterling’s mom reminded me so much of Lorelai’s from Gilmore Girls, and I just kept waiting for that moment where Sterling would speak up instead of rolling her eyes and suffering in silence. It felt like a lot of the drama in the story could have been solved with a conversation our FMC just wasn’t willing to have. This wasn’t in any way a bad book, though, and one of the twists gave me actual chills, which is very rare. I’m sitting somewhere in the minority for One of Us Must Die and definitely recommend checking it out if you think it sounds good!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: N/A
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: N/A
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: .5🌶️
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Zelly Ruskin
Publisher: She Writes Press
Pub Date: October 20, 2026
Dates Read: August 10, 2026 – September 2, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: I should preface my review by saying I’m having a very hard time figuring out my feelings for One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin. On one hand, I found it a quick, bingeable read, but on the other hand, it was also very frustrating for me. I didn’t find Sterling to be a very sympathetic character, and most of her decisions drove me absolutely nuts. Imagining all the ways her husband could die also grated on my nerves, and I found myself skimming those sections as the book went on. That being said, she married an atrocious man, and I could never figure out why she didn’t just say F the money and move on instead of marrying him in the first place.
Sterling’s mom reminded me so much of Lorelai’s from Gilmore Girls, and I just kept waiting for that moment where Sterling would speak up instead of rolling her eyes and suffering in silence. It felt like a lot of the drama in the story could have been solved with a conversation our FMC just wasn’t willing to have. This wasn’t in any way a bad book, though, and one of the twists gave me actual chills, which is very rare. I’m sitting somewhere in the minority for One of Us Must Die and definitely recommend checking it out if you think it sounds good!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: N/A
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: N/A
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: .5🌶️
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 21, 2026
Sterling Richardson and her husband, Keith, have the kind of marriage everyone envies from the outside. Behind closed doors, however, their picture perfect life is a carefully maintained illusion built on gaslighting, lies, threats, and control. Keith has taken more than his share of Sterling’s money. He has chipped away at her sanity, her self worth, and her freedom. Bound by an ironclad trust agreement and a prenup established by her parents, Sterling has spent years protecting her three children while hiding the truth behind a façade of perfection. With her oldest daughter engaged and a wedding on the horizon, Sterling is done playing by the rules that have kept her trapped. She has reached her limit, and the only way out may be the most permanent one.
Zelly Ruskin has crafted a claustrophobic domestic psychological thriller that is impossible to put down and packed with the kind of mind games that make you question just how far someone can be pushed before they finally snap. I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting, and there will not be another character I hate more in 2026 than Keith. The financial entanglements, relentless manipulation, and generational dysfunction create a pressure cooker of secrets and desperation, while watching Sterling’s relationships with her children evolve adds an emotional layer to the chaos. As the wedding draws closer, the tension ratchets up, the lies pile higher, and the frustration is REAL. Holy fright, this man will test your patience, but hot damn, I loved every minute of it. If claustrophobic marriages, toxic family dynamics, and a protagonist pushed to her breaking point are your kind of thriller, put this one on your list. Just know going in that Sterling’s freedom comes with a price, and from the beginning, death feels like the only way out.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
🖤 She married for love. He married for her money. And escaping him might be the most dangerous decision of all.
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! 😳🔥 I was completely hooked by Sterling’s situation and the nightmare of being trapped in a marriage with a manipulative, gaslighting husband. The trust fund clause made everything even more intense because walking away wasn’t as simple as it should be.
The psychological tension, dark family secrets, and perfect-family facade had me invested in Sterling’s fight to protect her children. I loved how unsettling this story felt, knowing there was so much happening behind closed doors.
If you love domestic thrillers filled with manipulation, family drama, high stakes, and characters pushed to their breaking point, you NEED to add this one to your TBR! 🖤🔪
Zelle Ruskin, you understood the assignment with this one!
#OneOfUsMustDie #ZelleRuskin #ThrillerReads
🖤 She married for love. He married for her money. And escaping him might be the most dangerous decision of all.
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! 😳🔥 I was completely hooked by Sterling’s situation and the nightmare of being trapped in a marriage with a manipulative, gaslighting husband. The trust fund clause made everything even more intense because walking away wasn’t as simple as it should be.
The psychological tension, dark family secrets, and perfect-family facade had me invested in Sterling’s fight to protect her children. I loved how unsettling this story felt, knowing there was so much happening behind closed doors.
If you love domestic thrillers filled with manipulation, family drama, high stakes, and characters pushed to their breaking point, you NEED to add this one to your TBR! 🖤
Zelly Ruskin, you understood the assignment with this one!
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! 😳🔥 I was completely hooked by Sterling’s situation and the nightmare of being trapped in a marriage with a manipulative, gaslighting husband. The trust fund clause made everything even more intense because walking away wasn’t as simple as it should be.
The psychological tension, dark family secrets, and perfect-family facade had me invested in Sterling’s fight to protect her children. I loved how unsettling this story felt, knowing there was so much happening behind closed doors.
If you love domestic thrillers filled with manipulation, family drama, high stakes, and characters pushed to their breaking point, you NEED to add this one to your TBR! 🖤🔪
Zelle Ruskin, you understood the assignment with this one!
#OneOfUsMustDie #ZelleRuskin #ThrillerReads
🖤 She married for love. He married for her money. And escaping him might be the most dangerous decision of all.
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! 😳🔥 I was completely hooked by Sterling’s situation and the nightmare of being trapped in a marriage with a manipulative, gaslighting husband. The trust fund clause made everything even more intense because walking away wasn’t as simple as it should be.
The psychological tension, dark family secrets, and perfect-family facade had me invested in Sterling’s fight to protect her children. I loved how unsettling this story felt, knowing there was so much happening behind closed doors.
If you love domestic thrillers filled with manipulation, family drama, high stakes, and characters pushed to their breaking point, you NEED to add this one to your TBR! 🖤
Zelly Ruskin, you understood the assignment with this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One of Us Must Die is a tense, emotionally charged domestic thriller that leans into psychological manipulation and the quiet desperation of a life built on appearances. Zelly Ruskin delivers a story that feels both claustrophobic and compelling, with stakes that are deeply personal from the very beginning.
Sterling is a fascinating protagonist—sharp, resilient, and painfully aware of the trap she’s living in. Her marriage, bound by an unbreakable financial clause, creates a chilling sense of inevitability, and the way she maintains the illusion of the “perfect family” for her children adds a layer of emotional weight that runs throughout the novel.
What stands out most is the exploration of control and gaslighting. The tension doesn’t just come from what might happen, but from the constant undercurrent of what already is—subtle manipulation, shifting power dynamics, and the ever-present sense that Sterling is running out of options. As her husband’s behaviour becomes increasingly reckless, the story tightens its grip, building towards an outcome that feels both inevitable and unsettling.
The pacing is steady and absorbing, with enough twists to keep things engaging without losing sight of the characters at its core. Ruskin balances suspense with emotional depth, making Sterling’s choices feel both urgent and understandable.
Overall, this is a sharp, character-driven thriller about survival, control, and how far someone will go to protect the people they love. Dark, compelling, and quietly intense.
with thanks to Zelly Ruskin, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Sterling is a fascinating protagonist—sharp, resilient, and painfully aware of the trap she’s living in. Her marriage, bound by an unbreakable financial clause, creates a chilling sense of inevitability, and the way she maintains the illusion of the “perfect family” for her children adds a layer of emotional weight that runs throughout the novel.
What stands out most is the exploration of control and gaslighting. The tension doesn’t just come from what might happen, but from the constant undercurrent of what already is—subtle manipulation, shifting power dynamics, and the ever-present sense that Sterling is running out of options. As her husband’s behaviour becomes increasingly reckless, the story tightens its grip, building towards an outcome that feels both inevitable and unsettling.
The pacing is steady and absorbing, with enough twists to keep things engaging without losing sight of the characters at its core. Ruskin balances suspense with emotional depth, making Sterling’s choices feel both urgent and understandable.
Overall, this is a sharp, character-driven thriller about survival, control, and how far someone will go to protect the people they love. Dark, compelling, and quietly intense.
with thanks to Zelly Ruskin, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sterling (not as good as gold) Richardson has been in a toxic marriage for over 20 years. Due to a bizarre trust fund clause, she had to marry by 25 (done...to golden boy Keith Richardson) and never divorce under any circumstances or she and her children would lose her trust fund. Sterling plays the perfect, loving wife but knows Keith is a cheater and potentially wants her dead. As their oldest daughter Ella, a self absorbed influencer prepares to marry, Sterling vows to free from Keith after the nuptials.
What I liked - Sterling evolution from a person with no options to a strong woman was great. She also was a woman who loved her children deeply and wanted the best for them. Sterling also had a wonderful relationship with her old friend, Whitney. The two reconnect years after Sterling ends their friendship, knowing it will make Keith happy. I loved the banter of Sterling and Whitney.
This was a hard read for me. It start out promising and the ending was interesting but it really lagged for me in the middle. It also vacillated between a mystery-thriller and a dark comedy and that just didn't work for me. I thought the idea of the trust fund clause was stupid and part of me just wanted to yell at Sterling to run away from this toxic marriage and let the children know that they may have to sacrifice some luxury but they'd be better people to not be confined by old money.
A thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance of publication for an honest review.
#NetGalley #OneOfUsMustDie
What I liked - Sterling evolution from a person with no options to a strong woman was great. She also was a woman who loved her children deeply and wanted the best for them. Sterling also had a wonderful relationship with her old friend, Whitney. The two reconnect years after Sterling ends their friendship, knowing it will make Keith happy. I loved the banter of Sterling and Whitney.
This was a hard read for me. It start out promising and the ending was interesting but it really lagged for me in the middle. It also vacillated between a mystery-thriller and a dark comedy and that just didn't work for me. I thought the idea of the trust fund clause was stupid and part of me just wanted to yell at Sterling to run away from this toxic marriage and let the children know that they may have to sacrifice some luxury but they'd be better people to not be confined by old money.
A thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance of publication for an honest review.
#NetGalley #OneOfUsMustDie
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really good book that I finished over just a few hours. It centers on Sterling, who now in her late 40s with 3 grown kids, wants to find a way out of her marriage that has really never worked.. The problem is, her uber rich and powerful family put together an ironclad trust that doesn't allow her to walk away without everyone losing the money that affords their lifestyle. Her husband, Keith, is becoming increasingly volatile and Sterling knows she has to do something before it's too late.
This was a fast-paced read and I appreciated that you got Sterling's background through flashback in the current timeline- if you read too fast, you would miss the switch in time, but I enjoyed this because it felt the way that people actually think- when something that happens reminds you a memory or another point in time where you question a decision you made. I do feel, as in many books, that perhaps some of this could have been solved by the right people having the right conversations, but I do also understand the complexity of the situation in which Sterling found herself. I thought the book did a good job at humanizing Sterling and also portrayed a realistic family dynamic with both her parents and her kids. I enjoyed the way it all turned out and thought the ending of the book really worked with the rest of the story.
Overall, this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read that I would recommend to those who enjoy domestic suspense. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fast-paced read and I appreciated that you got Sterling's background through flashback in the current timeline- if you read too fast, you would miss the switch in time, but I enjoyed this because it felt the way that people actually think- when something that happens reminds you a memory or another point in time where you question a decision you made. I do feel, as in many books, that perhaps some of this could have been solved by the right people having the right conversations, but I do also understand the complexity of the situation in which Sterling found herself. I thought the book did a good job at humanizing Sterling and also portrayed a realistic family dynamic with both her parents and her kids. I enjoyed the way it all turned out and thought the ending of the book really worked with the rest of the story.
Overall, this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read that I would recommend to those who enjoy domestic suspense. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank You GetRed and the author for an ARC of this domestic thriller.
This was a quick and engaging thriller which goes through the abusive relationship between Sterling and Keith. It is not abusive in the physical sense but in the mental and emotional sense. It is a marriage basically held together by a trust fund promise without any real love at all. Sterling is basically forced to remain in her marriage simply to ensure her children and future offspring financial security, which is wild.
Keith is very much the horrible human being you can imagine, using his wife’s situation for his own gain while being a very bad husband to her and having no care in the world about it. You truly wonder throughout the book if this man ever, at any point, actually even like his wife.
The children live in absolute oblivion! Even believing that this is the marriage they should all aspire too. Which is what actually makes Sterling realize what a farce she has created and promoted because of this trust fund. I don’t believe I could even attempt something like this if I had the choice. Having a miserable life seems like a bad trade off.
As we got deeper into the storyline I truly just wanted to know how in the world we were going to end up solving Al the conundrums! It was a good way to untangle everything when the ending came.
The pacing of the book was good, there were some parts that could have been a bit more consice to speed the plot along but it wasn’t a drawback to the story. This reads like a literary thriller and that’s a genre I enjoy.
This was a quick and engaging thriller which goes through the abusive relationship between Sterling and Keith. It is not abusive in the physical sense but in the mental and emotional sense. It is a marriage basically held together by a trust fund promise without any real love at all. Sterling is basically forced to remain in her marriage simply to ensure her children and future offspring financial security, which is wild.
Keith is very much the horrible human being you can imagine, using his wife’s situation for his own gain while being a very bad husband to her and having no care in the world about it. You truly wonder throughout the book if this man ever, at any point, actually even like his wife.
The children live in absolute oblivion! Even believing that this is the marriage they should all aspire too. Which is what actually makes Sterling realize what a farce she has created and promoted because of this trust fund. I don’t believe I could even attempt something like this if I had the choice. Having a miserable life seems like a bad trade off.
As we got deeper into the storyline I truly just wanted to know how in the world we were going to end up solving Al the conundrums! It was a good way to untangle everything when the ending came.
The pacing of the book was good, there were some parts that could have been a bit more consice to speed the plot along but it wasn’t a drawback to the story. This reads like a literary thriller and that’s a genre I enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Get Red PR She writes Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5)
This was one of those thrillers that keeps you flipping the pages because someone is clearly lying… you just don’t know who. 😵💫 The atmosphere is dark, tense, and filled with suspicion, making it easy to get wrapped up in everyone’s secrets.
The mystery itself was engaging, and I enjoyed trying to piece together the truth alongside the characters. There were several twists that kept me invested, although a few of them felt a little predictable once all the clues started falling into place. I also found myself wishing some of the characters had been explored a bit more emotionally—I wanted stronger connections to them before everything unraveled.
The ending definitely picked up the pace and delivered a satisfying reveal, even if I felt the journey getting there dragged slightly in the middle. It wasn’t a jaw-dropping five-star ending, but it wrapped things up well enough to leave me satisfied.
Overall, if you enjoy locked-room style mysteries, unreliable characters, and constantly second-guessing everyone, this is a fun thriller to add to your TBR. Just don’t expect every twist to completely knock you off your feet. 👀🖤
Would I recommend it? Yes! Especially if you’re in the mood for a quick, suspenseful read that keeps you guessing. 🔍📚
#netgalley #oneofusmustdie
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5)
This was one of those thrillers that keeps you flipping the pages because someone is clearly lying… you just don’t know who. 😵💫 The atmosphere is dark, tense, and filled with suspicion, making it easy to get wrapped up in everyone’s secrets.
The mystery itself was engaging, and I enjoyed trying to piece together the truth alongside the characters. There were several twists that kept me invested, although a few of them felt a little predictable once all the clues started falling into place. I also found myself wishing some of the characters had been explored a bit more emotionally—I wanted stronger connections to them before everything unraveled.
The ending definitely picked up the pace and delivered a satisfying reveal, even if I felt the journey getting there dragged slightly in the middle. It wasn’t a jaw-dropping five-star ending, but it wrapped things up well enough to leave me satisfied.
Overall, if you enjoy locked-room style mysteries, unreliable characters, and constantly second-guessing everyone, this is a fun thriller to add to your TBR. Just don’t expect every twist to completely knock you off your feet. 👀🖤
Would I recommend it? Yes! Especially if you’re in the mood for a quick, suspenseful read that keeps you guessing. 🔍📚
#netgalley #oneofusmustdie
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐
One of Us Must Die
Author: Zelly Ruskin
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: Oct. 20, 2026
THRILLER
MURDER
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
MYSTERY
WEDDING
TOXIC MARRIAGE
Sterling and Keith meet in college, and she is smitten. When they graduate, he doesn’t really want to get married, but she is running out of time to find a husband because, to inherit her wealthy trust, she must be married by 25. Surprisingly, Keith changes his mind, and they get married. Win-Win.
Fast forward twenty years, and there are three children, one of whom is engaged to get married, but Sterling despises her husband, who is a cheater, a grifter, a misogynist, etc. He is a horrid man, but the terms of her trust don’t allow her to divorce. She gains the counsel of a large group of attorneys, and she can prove his adultery, theft, and gaslighting. He is a total psychopath, but she is stuck in her toxic marriage.
It becomes obvious that the only way out is for him to die. This is where the fun begins. I enjoyed the book, and it is a fast read. He’s such a loser that I might have considered hiring a hitman for Sterling. But you will have to read the book to find out how it ends, and the ending is yummy.
Enjoy!
#Oneofusmustdie
@zellyruskin
@netgalley
@simonandschuster
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
One of Us Must Die
Author: Zelly Ruskin
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: Oct. 20, 2026
THRILLER
MURDER
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
MYSTERY
WEDDING
TOXIC MARRIAGE
Sterling and Keith meet in college, and she is smitten. When they graduate, he doesn’t really want to get married, but she is running out of time to find a husband because, to inherit her wealthy trust, she must be married by 25. Surprisingly, Keith changes his mind, and they get married. Win-Win.
Fast forward twenty years, and there are three children, one of whom is engaged to get married, but Sterling despises her husband, who is a cheater, a grifter, a misogynist, etc. He is a horrid man, but the terms of her trust don’t allow her to divorce. She gains the counsel of a large group of attorneys, and she can prove his adultery, theft, and gaslighting. He is a total psychopath, but she is stuck in her toxic marriage.
It becomes obvious that the only way out is for him to die. This is where the fun begins. I enjoyed the book, and it is a fast read. He’s such a loser that I might have considered hiring a hitman for Sterling. But you will have to read the book to find out how it ends, and the ending is yummy.
Enjoy!
#Oneofusmustdie
@zellyruskin
@netgalley
@simonandschuster
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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September 29, 2026Marriages are always high drama. But this one?
One of Us Must Die opens on the wedding day of Sterling's daughter. Sterling is a few mimosas past smart, driving fast, and ready to kill her dang cheating husband. And there he is, like a bullseye, right outside his mistress's place. Lined up perfectly in front of the car. Should she hit the accelerator?
From that electrifying opening, this twisty psychological suspense rewinds until we understand exactly why Sterling is ready to do it — and has been for a while. She's imagined a thousand different ways for her husband to meet his demise. Between the cheating, the gaslighting, and more, she has plenty of reasons to want him dead. But would she actually take it that far? Or is it more that she'd kill to protect her family?
Ruskin keeps us guessing right up until the last pages. The author sets up one perplexing question after another, with fresh, immersive writing and a sharp wit.
Will the husband die, and if so, was it the wife? Dark humor runs through this novel, which makes it as fun as it is unsettling. Death by marriage has never been such a page-turner.
Fans of Jeneva Rose, especially those who loved The Perfect Marriage, will eat this up. One of Us Must Die delivers everything a domestic suspense should: an imperfect husband, a wife with every motive to kill, and an ending that keeps you second-guessing to the very last page.
One of Us Must Die opens on the wedding day of Sterling's daughter. Sterling is a few mimosas past smart, driving fast, and ready to kill her dang cheating husband. And there he is, like a bullseye, right outside his mistress's place. Lined up perfectly in front of the car. Should she hit the accelerator?
From that electrifying opening, this twisty psychological suspense rewinds until we understand exactly why Sterling is ready to do it — and has been for a while. She's imagined a thousand different ways for her husband to meet his demise. Between the cheating, the gaslighting, and more, she has plenty of reasons to want him dead. But would she actually take it that far? Or is it more that she'd kill to protect her family?
Ruskin keeps us guessing right up until the last pages. The author sets up one perplexing question after another, with fresh, immersive writing and a sharp wit.
Will the husband die, and if so, was it the wife? Dark humor runs through this novel, which makes it as fun as it is unsettling. Death by marriage has never been such a page-turner.
Fans of Jeneva Rose, especially those who loved The Perfect Marriage, will eat this up. One of Us Must Die delivers everything a domestic suspense should: an imperfect husband, a wife with every motive to kill, and an ending that keeps you second-guessing to the very last page.
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