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The Divorce Lawyer
Divorce can be murder . . . and divorce lawyers can get murdered.
I'm Kim DeLuca—assistant to Ollie Spalding, Connecticut's most successful divorce lawyer. I'm the one who keeps his empire running while he charms his way through every courtroom in the state.
Ollie isn't just my boss. I was a foster kid, so he's the closest thing I've ever had to family. There's nothing I wouldn't do for him. He's also the most feared divorce lawyer in the state. He took on people with money, power, and tempers that scared even the police.
Now he's dead. And the police want to know who his enemies are. There are more than I can count.
But I'll find out which one killed him.
AN EXHILARATING BLEND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE, NAIL-BITING TENSION, AND A MIND-BLOWING FINAL TWIST.
Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, T. M. Logan, Patricia MacDonald, and Shari Lapena.
I'm Kim DeLuca—assistant to Ollie Spalding, Connecticut's most successful divorce lawyer. I'm the one who keeps his empire running while he charms his way through every courtroom in the state.
Ollie isn't just my boss. I was a foster kid, so he's the closest thing I've ever had to family. There's nothing I wouldn't do for him. He's also the most feared divorce lawyer in the state. He took on people with money, power, and tempers that scared even the police.
Now he's dead. And the police want to know who his enemies are. There are more than I can count.
But I'll find out which one killed him.
AN EXHILARATING BLEND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE, NAIL-BITING TENSION, AND A MIND-BLOWING FINAL TWIST.
Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, T. M. Logan, Patricia MacDonald, and Shari Lapena.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2026
About the author
McGarvey Black
33 books455 followersSuspense/Thrillers
THE SECOND HONEYMOON - August 2025
He's planned the perfect cruise - and the perfect murder. His new girlfriend (my replacement) is waiting in the wings.
Our luxury cruise ship departs from Florida. Its destination - paradise. A surprise gift from Andre. Our first proper vacation in five years. A second honeymoon.
He's bought me the perfect outfit. The champagne is flowing. Everything's going to plan. Andre's plan.
He thinks he'll get away with it. But he doesn't know what I'm capable of. Not yet.
Also,
—THE BABY I STOLE
—MY SISTER'S KILLER
—THE FIRST HUSBAND
—WITHOUT HER CONSENT
—THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS
—TRUST ONLY ME
—TWICE ON CHRISTMAS
—THE GIRL WHO KILLED HER MOM
Romantic Comedy;
— LOVE ON THE LINE (original title— THE FUSSY VIRGIN).
Morality Tale
—A FAMILIAR STRANGER "It's a Wonderful Life" meets "Wall Street". This novel is a parable of our times.
All my stories are character driven. I try to throw in lots of twists and turns to keep the reader interested and guessing. Most of my writing is inspired by real people or events that trigger my imagination.
I am married with two children and currently live in Connecticut where many of my stories take place. I'm happy to FaceTime or Zoom into your book club if our schedules permit. Reach out and I'll do my best to make it happen.
——McGarvey
You can find me on Facebook or Twitter, too. Thanks for reading my books and if you like them, please leave a review, it helps so much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
September 10, 2026
This was a slow-burn mystery that took a while to pull me in. Was it murder or a very unfortunate accident? There was suspense and tension, but I wish there had been more. The narration did well at bringing the story to life. Thank you NetGalley for my audiobook.
August 2, 2026
Intriguing story and I loved every moment of it. This story definitely had multiple layers to unfold and it gave me several moments of distrust. I doubted myself numerous times regarding who was the true antagonist in this story. I loved how it kept me guessing and held my attention the entire time. This domestic thriller was full of twists and shocking turns that I did not expect. We follow Kim DeLuca as she searches for the truth behind the murder of her boss and mentor, Ollie.
The audiobook narration was amazing and I will be looking up more books that Sofia Willingham narrates. Her narration brought the characters and tension to life, making it easy to become completely absorbed in the story.
Overall, very well written and this was my second read by McGarvey Black. I definitely plan on continuing more of their catalogue. Thank you NetGalley & Joffee Books for an advanced reader copy and Tantor Media for an ALC
The audiobook narration was amazing and I will be looking up more books that Sofia Willingham narrates. Her narration brought the characters and tension to life, making it easy to become completely absorbed in the story.
Overall, very well written and this was my second read by McGarvey Black. I definitely plan on continuing more of their catalogue. Thank you NetGalley & Joffee Books for an advanced reader copy and Tantor Media for an ALC
July 12, 2026
𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁... 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.
What started as a series of seemingly unrelated divorce cases gradually became the backbone of the mystery. Looking back, the clues were there all along—I just didn't realise I was collecting them.
Sofia Willingham's narration was excellent, and the pacing made this incredibly easy to binge.
The best twists weren't the loud ones—they were the ones hiding in plain sight.
🎉 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸!
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲! 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
Thank you to McGarvey Black, Tantor Media, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
What started as a series of seemingly unrelated divorce cases gradually became the backbone of the mystery. Looking back, the clues were there all along—I just didn't realise I was collecting them.
Sofia Willingham's narration was excellent, and the pacing made this incredibly easy to binge.
The best twists weren't the loud ones—they were the ones hiding in plain sight.
🎉 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸!
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲! 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
Thank you to McGarvey Black, Tantor Media, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 7, 2026
I adore McGarvey's books. She writes a fantastic psychological thriller and this one didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the book. The story was excellent and the concept was extremely interesting.
The cover is good. It's very fitting of the genre. I loved the colours and the fancy house. It was really well done.
The writing is fantastic and the story flows well. The book is written in a mix of first and third person. First person is from Kim's point of view. Third person is multiple points of view. Including Ollie, Joanna and Fitz. I loved this idea and I thought it worked superbly. The story had lots of shocks and twists. I managed to figure out one of the guilty party but how they came about their actions was a shock. This was written so well.
The book of set in the town of Weston, Connecticut. It sounds like a lovely town. The setting was good and worked well.
Oh the characters. They were sensational. They were so well thought out and developed. I loved Kim. She was so smart and tried to the right thing by Ollie after his murder. I loved Ollie too. I was so sad about his death. The side characters were all wonderful too. They were brilliant to read about.
I definitely recommend the book to you all!!
The cover is good. It's very fitting of the genre. I loved the colours and the fancy house. It was really well done.
The writing is fantastic and the story flows well. The book is written in a mix of first and third person. First person is from Kim's point of view. Third person is multiple points of view. Including Ollie, Joanna and Fitz. I loved this idea and I thought it worked superbly. The story had lots of shocks and twists. I managed to figure out one of the guilty party but how they came about their actions was a shock. This was written so well.
The book of set in the town of Weston, Connecticut. It sounds like a lovely town. The setting was good and worked well.
Oh the characters. They were sensational. They were so well thought out and developed. I loved Kim. She was so smart and tried to the right thing by Ollie after his murder. I loved Ollie too. I was so sad about his death. The side characters were all wonderful too. They were brilliant to read about.
I definitely recommend the book to you all!!
July 22, 2026
Thank you McGarvey Black and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this novel.
The story was very enjoyable as there were many suspects to contemplate as I imagine there would be with the murder of a divorce lawyer but I guessed at least part of the ending about half way through.
The ending itself was pretty good. The characters were interesting and have enough backstory to consider their flaws but not so much that all their secrets would be revealed.
The narrator was okay, but as usual for a performance that is a bit too breathy I found it annoying at times. However, the speaking is clear and understandable.
Good read.
The story was very enjoyable as there were many suspects to contemplate as I imagine there would be with the murder of a divorce lawyer but I guessed at least part of the ending about half way through.
The ending itself was pretty good. The characters were interesting and have enough backstory to consider their flaws but not so much that all their secrets would be revealed.
The narrator was okay, but as usual for a performance that is a bit too breathy I found it annoying at times. However, the speaking is clear and understandable.
Good read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had such a good time with this audiobook!
The premise immediately hooked me. Ollie Spalding is one of Connecticut's most successful divorce lawyers, and with success comes enemies... lots of them. After his car explodes and what first appears to be an accident quickly turns into a murder investigation, his longtime assistant, Kim, is determined to find out who killed the man she considered family.
I really enjoyed following the investigation. We get Kim's perspective alongside glimpses from other characters, flashbacks from before Ollie's death, and pieces of the police investigation as everything slowly comes together. Since Ollie handled so many high-profile and emotionally charged divorce cases, there was no shortage of suspects, which kept me guessing throughout.
I also thought the audiobook narration was excellent. It was easy to listen to, engaging and made the story flow effortlessly. I actually listened while working on a diamond painting, and it was the perfect combination; I found myself completely immersed in the mystery.
Overall, this was a well-paced thriller with an engaging investigation, interesting suspects and plenty of twists to keep me entertained. I genuinely didn't see everything coming, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
The premise immediately hooked me. Ollie Spalding is one of Connecticut's most successful divorce lawyers, and with success comes enemies... lots of them. After his car explodes and what first appears to be an accident quickly turns into a murder investigation, his longtime assistant, Kim, is determined to find out who killed the man she considered family.
I really enjoyed following the investigation. We get Kim's perspective alongside glimpses from other characters, flashbacks from before Ollie's death, and pieces of the police investigation as everything slowly comes together. Since Ollie handled so many high-profile and emotionally charged divorce cases, there was no shortage of suspects, which kept me guessing throughout.
I also thought the audiobook narration was excellent. It was easy to listen to, engaging and made the story flow effortlessly. I actually listened while working on a diamond painting, and it was the perfect combination; I found myself completely immersed in the mystery.
Overall, this was a well-paced thriller with an engaging investigation, interesting suspects and plenty of twists to keep me entertained. I genuinely didn't see everything coming, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
September 19, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
April 10, 2026
What an absolutely explosive opening to this story… 😳
In the dead of night, Joanna and Ollie are jolted awake- only to be met with a terrifying sight: their brand-new car engulfed in flames. Before they can even react, the fire intensifies, the heat roars… and then an explosion rips through the silence - killing Ollie. 🚗 🔥
Before his death, Ollie was a successful divorce lawyer living a great life - well liked by many… but with more than a few enemies made along the way. So who would be capable of killing him? 🤷🏼♀️
His assistant of over two decades, Kim, won’t rest until the truth comes out. Would Kim ever get the answers she wanted? 🤔
This book had me completely hooked - I couldn’t put it down until I knew who was behind it… such an addictive, gripping, twisty psychological thriller! 📖👀
A massive thank you to McGarvey and Zooloos Book Tours for letting me participate in this tour ♥️
In the dead of night, Joanna and Ollie are jolted awake- only to be met with a terrifying sight: their brand-new car engulfed in flames. Before they can even react, the fire intensifies, the heat roars… and then an explosion rips through the silence - killing Ollie. 🚗 🔥
Before his death, Ollie was a successful divorce lawyer living a great life - well liked by many… but with more than a few enemies made along the way. So who would be capable of killing him? 🤷🏼♀️
His assistant of over two decades, Kim, won’t rest until the truth comes out. Would Kim ever get the answers she wanted? 🤔
This book had me completely hooked - I couldn’t put it down until I knew who was behind it… such an addictive, gripping, twisty psychological thriller! 📖👀
A massive thank you to McGarvey and Zooloos Book Tours for letting me participate in this tour ♥️
June 15, 2026
This book was engaging and easy to read. I really enjoyed Ollie’s and Kim’s character and would’ve loved Ollie to have outsmarted his wife.
However, it did end up being predictable although I didn’t expect for Poppy to get away with what she did and that was unfortunate.
Also two things that irked me- 1) when Kim walked in on Joanna at the office and Kim put her phone in her pocket on “mute” for the detective, how in the world did the detective hear the conversation while the phone was on mute?! 2) Ollie seemed smart and was clear on not wanting to leave Joanna anything if they divorced but was ok with more than half his money going to her if he dies- that’s an easy way to get yourself killed , especially in a marriage where it was for companionship. It just didn’t make sense to me with Ollie’s stance on things.
Overall still a fun read- but attention to detail and predictability is why I gave it three stars.
However, it did end up being predictable although I didn’t expect for Poppy to get away with what she did and that was unfortunate.
Also two things that irked me- 1) when Kim walked in on Joanna at the office and Kim put her phone in her pocket on “mute” for the detective, how in the world did the detective hear the conversation while the phone was on mute?! 2) Ollie seemed smart and was clear on not wanting to leave Joanna anything if they divorced but was ok with more than half his money going to her if he dies- that’s an easy way to get yourself killed , especially in a marriage where it was for companionship. It just didn’t make sense to me with Ollie’s stance on things.
Overall still a fun read- but attention to detail and predictability is why I gave it three stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2026
I had a really good time with this one. The fast pacing kept me completely immersed, and there was always something happening that made me want to keep listening (I consumed this as an audiobook).
The fact that were more than a couple of possible suspects, really made this more interesting. Every time I thought I had things figured out, something new made me doubt myself again.
What I appreciated the most was that the twists actually felt earned. It felt like the reveals came from the characters' choices instead of feeling like they were thrown in just for shock value.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was fantastic. You could actually hear the emotions in the characters' voices, which made the audiobook even more immersive.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The fact that were more than a couple of possible suspects, really made this more interesting. Every time I thought I had things figured out, something new made me doubt myself again.
What I appreciated the most was that the twists actually felt earned. It felt like the reveals came from the characters' choices instead of feeling like they were thrown in just for shock value.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was fantastic. You could actually hear the emotions in the characters' voices, which made the audiobook even more immersive.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 12, 2026
The Divorce Lawyer comes in hot -- Ollie (the divorce lawyer) and his wife Joanna are awakened by their car alarm. Ollie goes outside and the car explodes, killing him. We shift to Kim's POV. Kim is his long time assistant who is determined to figure out who killed her boss, mentor and father figure.
This is where the book becomes a slog. We're introduced to several of Ollie's clients, the happy spouse who got what they wanted in their divorce and the bitter exes who beileve they were cheated out of something. We need to meet these characters to establish a number of suspects, but I do think there were too many details about the divorces that made this part of the book a bit boring and difficult to get through.
By the time we got to the twist, I had half of it figured it out, but the full twist was very clever. The ending felt a bit rushed, a bit whiny, and overall unsatisfying.
This is where the book becomes a slog. We're introduced to several of Ollie's clients, the happy spouse who got what they wanted in their divorce and the bitter exes who beileve they were cheated out of something. We need to meet these characters to establish a number of suspects, but I do think there were too many details about the divorces that made this part of the book a bit boring and difficult to get through.
By the time we got to the twist, I had half of it figured it out, but the full twist was very clever. The ending felt a bit rushed, a bit whiny, and overall unsatisfying.
April 2, 2026
2 stars fot me.
Joanne Spalding wakes up and there's her husband Ollie car on fire.Before help comes,car explodes killing her husband.It's difficult to know who wanted Ollie dead,he was a very good divorce lawyer and had a few enemies.
Will his asisstant Kim and wife Joanne ever get the answers?
It was a mystery filled read.Told from few POV I got very fast a picture what was going on.It left me surprised how the quilty one's were quite dumb,and risk for everyone to see them together.A quick mystery,I liked the beginning but I didn't like the ending.
Thank you netgalley and Joffe books publisher for arc,my review is honest and my own.
Joanne Spalding wakes up and there's her husband Ollie car on fire.Before help comes,car explodes killing her husband.It's difficult to know who wanted Ollie dead,he was a very good divorce lawyer and had a few enemies.
Will his asisstant Kim and wife Joanne ever get the answers?
It was a mystery filled read.Told from few POV I got very fast a picture what was going on.It left me surprised how the quilty one's were quite dumb,and risk for everyone to see them together.A quick mystery,I liked the beginning but I didn't like the ending.
Thank you netgalley and Joffe books publisher for arc,my review is honest and my own.
April 16, 2026
THE DIVORCE LAWYER BY MCGARVEY BLACK
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
Great cover and great title.
This book kept me hooked throughout and I binge read it. I kinda inhailed this book up so quick .
It was cracking. Loved it
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
Great cover and great title.
This book kept me hooked throughout and I binge read it. I kinda inhailed this book up so quick .
It was cracking. Loved it
July 15, 2026
Thank you to RBmedia and NetGalley for the advance copy of The Divorce Lawyer
Ollie Spalding is a prominent divorce lawyer who made his fortune opposing both the richest and the scariest clients to get justice for his clients, earning himself some dangerous enemies. When an explosion takes his life in the middle of the night, his assistant Kim DeLuca is determined to find his killer.
This was my first book by McGarvey black and I enjoyed it! It starts with a (literal) bang and scatters hints throughout, keeping the plot moving and reader engaged, making the twists feel earned rather than for shock value. The characters are well developed and their choices make sense. I did predict the killer in a sense right away, but there were other twists that I didn’t anticipate and I enjoyed seeing how everything unraveled. I also appreciate twists that are earned, it’s always fun to see a thriller actually ends, but it’s extra nice when you can look back and it makes sense.
The audio is narrated by Sophia Willingham and she does a great job bringing it to life and giving characters unique voices - you do have to really pay attention at chapter changes in the beginning to make sure you know what POV you’re getting since it alternates between a few characters and is single narration.
Ollie Spalding is a prominent divorce lawyer who made his fortune opposing both the richest and the scariest clients to get justice for his clients, earning himself some dangerous enemies. When an explosion takes his life in the middle of the night, his assistant Kim DeLuca is determined to find his killer.
This was my first book by McGarvey black and I enjoyed it! It starts with a (literal) bang and scatters hints throughout, keeping the plot moving and reader engaged, making the twists feel earned rather than for shock value. The characters are well developed and their choices make sense. I did predict the killer in a sense right away, but there were other twists that I didn’t anticipate and I enjoyed seeing how everything unraveled. I also appreciate twists that are earned, it’s always fun to see a thriller actually ends, but it’s extra nice when you can look back and it makes sense.
The audio is narrated by Sophia Willingham and she does a great job bringing it to life and giving characters unique voices - you do have to really pay attention at chapter changes in the beginning to make sure you know what POV you’re getting since it alternates between a few characters and is single narration.
July 13, 2026
Thank you to Tantor Media and NetGalley for the early listeners copy of The Divorce Lawyer by MacGarvey Black.
I absolutely loved how this story kicked off and pulled me in and found this to be an average mystery or “who dunnit”. The pacing felt slightly unbalanced about 1/4-3/4 point for me and I had it figured out except for a minor twist. I would have loved to see more of a development of the “finale” and get some sort of wrap up. I finished the novel feeling slightly unsatisfied.
The narrator did a good job providing a unique voice to each character, however, the voice of Kim (main character) was too ASMR whispery and slow for my enjoyment and did not fit the character.
I really wanted to love this one, but it fell a little short.
I absolutely loved how this story kicked off and pulled me in and found this to be an average mystery or “who dunnit”. The pacing felt slightly unbalanced about 1/4-3/4 point for me and I had it figured out except for a minor twist. I would have loved to see more of a development of the “finale” and get some sort of wrap up. I finished the novel feeling slightly unsatisfied.
The narrator did a good job providing a unique voice to each character, however, the voice of Kim (main character) was too ASMR whispery and slow for my enjoyment and did not fit the character.
I really wanted to love this one, but it fell a little short.
August 6, 2026
3.5⭐️ I received this ALC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this audiobook for the most part, but it didn’t keep me in the edge of my seat like other thrillers.
The story starts out with Ollie, the divorce attorney, being killed when his vehicle is set on fire and ends up exploding while he is trying to put the fire out. The rest of the book goes on to explain about his clients and their irate exes, which keeps you guessing about who did it. Although I was able to figure out who killed Ollie, I was not expecting the twist at the end. Overall, it was a good book and the narrator did a great job changing her voice for the different characters. I would recommend this audiobook for a quick and easy listen.
The story starts out with Ollie, the divorce attorney, being killed when his vehicle is set on fire and ends up exploding while he is trying to put the fire out. The rest of the book goes on to explain about his clients and their irate exes, which keeps you guessing about who did it. Although I was able to figure out who killed Ollie, I was not expecting the twist at the end. Overall, it was a good book and the narrator did a great job changing her voice for the different characters. I would recommend this audiobook for a quick and easy listen.
July 16, 2026
This was predictable but fun. I'm friends with lawyers who swear they'll never do family law because the clients take it too personally, where criminal clients are grateful even when they're taken into custody for years. It's just a really personal job.
The characters were exaggerated to add to the drama. I was disappointed with part of the ending but satisfied enough to want to read more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley I got to listen to this audiobook and the narration helped keep it interesting. I finished this pretty fast.
The characters were exaggerated to add to the drama. I was disappointed with part of the ending but satisfied enough to want to read more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley I got to listen to this audiobook and the narration helped keep it interesting. I finished this pretty fast.
July 2, 2026
Love a good thriller. What a twist on the last few chapters but once the twist came there were no more hidden twists. Overall a good easy thriller to ready on a Sunday
September 14, 2026
Man, I just did not like Kim at all. She seemed too conveniently Mary Sue-like, and of course, the final twist was predictable. Rounded up 2 stars because the writing flowed well.
July 11, 2026
an interesting read. I wasnt sure where it was going honestly. nothing super twisty or anything. decent raead i guess.
April 3, 2026
4.5 stars ⭐
I really enjoyed this book!!! I was gripped straight away & liked the court/legal aspect to it with the different divorce cases. I felt it lulled a tad in the middle & I did guess who dunnit but didn't guess another gasp out loud twist nearer the end. I liked the characters especially Kim & Ollie & overall a really good read 📖.
I really enjoyed this book!!! I was gripped straight away & liked the court/legal aspect to it with the different divorce cases. I felt it lulled a tad in the middle & I did guess who dunnit but didn't guess another gasp out loud twist nearer the end. I liked the characters especially Kim & Ollie & overall a really good read 📖.
November 5, 2026
what a stupid book
July 16, 2026
*ARC Review*
I really enjoyed The Divorce Lawyer ! The legal side of the story was interesting, and the pacing kept things moving. I liked that it was told from multiple points of view, it added a lot to the story and kept me wanting to know what would happen next. It kept me interested the whole way through, and I'd definitely recommend this thriller!
I really enjoyed The Divorce Lawyer ! The legal side of the story was interesting, and the pacing kept things moving. I liked that it was told from multiple points of view, it added a lot to the story and kept me wanting to know what would happen next. It kept me interested the whole way through, and I'd definitely recommend this thriller!
April 4, 2026
A gripping crime/psychological thriller that had me hooked! A bit of a slow burner to start with, but it’s essential to capture lots of the details that come to light later in the book. I thought I had an idea about the culprit, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! Loved it, and will definitely be reading more from this author.
June 18, 2026
Very interesting plut, I enjoyed it all the way to the end
June 15, 2026
sorry… only 2 stars
This story only captured my attention in Chapter 40. Chapter 40!!! I had read other McGarvey Black books and thought I’d found my new author. This one did not hold a candle to the previous two in terms of writing and intrigue. I have to wonder what happened with this endeavor.
This story only captured my attention in Chapter 40. Chapter 40!!! I had read other McGarvey Black books and thought I’d found my new author. This one did not hold a candle to the previous two in terms of writing and intrigue. I have to wonder what happened with this endeavor.
May 23, 2026
Good but not a thriller
The story was interesting, but the author doesn’t seem to know how to reveal information. Instead, he just suddenly tells you large chunks of the story. I would not call this book, a psychological thriller.
The story was interesting, but the author doesn’t seem to know how to reveal information. Instead, he just suddenly tells you large chunks of the story. I would not call this book, a psychological thriller.
April 21, 2026
Not bad- I would try another from this author.
July 20, 2026
4/5 🌟
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Non-spoiler review:
My first McGarvey Black book and certainly not my last! I was hooked and couldn’t stop listening! This is a suspense, mystery crime novel with a twist and I devoured it!!
This was ALMOST a 5 star read until the ending. Everything was going so well but the ending seemed to be rushed. I felt like the ending could have gone very differently in any other way than it did. With the way the book was going, it just seemed to fall a bit short as though the author ran out of time or just wanted to end it. I am an attorney so I am biased but I feel like with a bit more research into criminal law and police interviews/detective work, this could be a best seller! I would especially recommend YouTube videos by EWU and the Law and Crime Network. The reason I recommend additional research is in the spoiler review.
⚠️ Spoilers Ahead ⚠️
I loved the twist! I suspected it was the wife conspiring with Poppy, but I definitely didn’t expect the intimate relationship between them! That was surprising but in a good way haha.
Where the story lost me was in the investigation and legal aspects. It is highly unlikely a police department would get away tunnel vision by not looking into Poppy more before they went to trial. Joanna has no experience with bombs and no jury would believe she did it on her own.
Even setting my legal background aside, most true crime fans know investigators don’t want to leave obvious gaps for the defense to exploit. For example, the confession to Kim that was overheard by the Detective would not be enough without physical (direct) evidence tying Joanna to the crime. The only case with physical evidence was James Reed but the prosecution still lacked a convincing motive. A strong defense attorney could have created significant reasonable doubt.
Depending on how the remote was discovered, collected, and processed, there’s also a possibility that evidence could have been challenged or even excluded. I know that’s getting into the legal weeds, and I don’t expect every author to know these nuances. However, with just a little additional research, these plot holes could have been avoided, and this easily would have been a 5-star read for me.
Another issue is the money, if money is being used as a motive then there should have been some explanation of where the money went or how investigators accounted for it. It’s not enough to ruin the case, but it felt like an important loose end that should have been addressed, even briefly.
These are only a few examples of where the story fell short for me. I ultimately docked it one star because this author has clearly mastered the writing itself. The storytelling, pacing, and suspense were excellent. At this stage, I think stronger research into criminal investigations and legal procedure will land her on the bestsellers list!
One possible alternative ending that I think would have been even stronger would have been Joanna dying by suicide in the office. The final chapter could then have focused on investigators using the yearbook, prom date, Kim’s observations, and the other evidence they’d already uncovered to track down Poppy and his accomplice. That approach would have tied together the remaining loose ends while giving the investigation a more realistic and satisfying conclusion.
Overall, this was a fantastic read, and despite my critical review above, I’m absolutely looking forward to reading more from McGarvey Black.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Non-spoiler review:
My first McGarvey Black book and certainly not my last! I was hooked and couldn’t stop listening! This is a suspense, mystery crime novel with a twist and I devoured it!!
This was ALMOST a 5 star read until the ending. Everything was going so well but the ending seemed to be rushed. I felt like the ending could have gone very differently in any other way than it did. With the way the book was going, it just seemed to fall a bit short as though the author ran out of time or just wanted to end it. I am an attorney so I am biased but I feel like with a bit more research into criminal law and police interviews/detective work, this could be a best seller! I would especially recommend YouTube videos by EWU and the Law and Crime Network. The reason I recommend additional research is in the spoiler review.
⚠️ Spoilers Ahead ⚠️
I loved the twist! I suspected it was the wife conspiring with Poppy, but I definitely didn’t expect the intimate relationship between them! That was surprising but in a good way haha.
Where the story lost me was in the investigation and legal aspects. It is highly unlikely a police department would get away tunnel vision by not looking into Poppy more before they went to trial. Joanna has no experience with bombs and no jury would believe she did it on her own.
Even setting my legal background aside, most true crime fans know investigators don’t want to leave obvious gaps for the defense to exploit. For example, the confession to Kim that was overheard by the Detective would not be enough without physical (direct) evidence tying Joanna to the crime. The only case with physical evidence was James Reed but the prosecution still lacked a convincing motive. A strong defense attorney could have created significant reasonable doubt.
Depending on how the remote was discovered, collected, and processed, there’s also a possibility that evidence could have been challenged or even excluded. I know that’s getting into the legal weeds, and I don’t expect every author to know these nuances. However, with just a little additional research, these plot holes could have been avoided, and this easily would have been a 5-star read for me.
Another issue is the money, if money is being used as a motive then there should have been some explanation of where the money went or how investigators accounted for it. It’s not enough to ruin the case, but it felt like an important loose end that should have been addressed, even briefly.
These are only a few examples of where the story fell short for me. I ultimately docked it one star because this author has clearly mastered the writing itself. The storytelling, pacing, and suspense were excellent. At this stage, I think stronger research into criminal investigations and legal procedure will land her on the bestsellers list!
One possible alternative ending that I think would have been even stronger would have been Joanna dying by suicide in the office. The final chapter could then have focused on investigators using the yearbook, prom date, Kim’s observations, and the other evidence they’d already uncovered to track down Poppy and his accomplice. That approach would have tied together the remaining loose ends while giving the investigation a more realistic and satisfying conclusion.
Overall, this was a fantastic read, and despite my critical review above, I’m absolutely looking forward to reading more from McGarvey Black.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: The Divorce Lawyer
Author: McGravey Black
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Sofia Williamham
Publisher: Tantor Media
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Audiobook Pub Date: July 21, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!
Pages: 294
In the dead of night, Joanna and Ollie Spalding are jolted awake- only to be met with a terrifying sight: their brand-new Range Rover car engulfed in flames. Ollie rushes out to put out the fire and yells for Joanna to call 911. Then an explosion rips through the silence.
Detective Brian Fitz with the Westport Police Department informed Joanne that Ollie died instantly in the blast. And then has to give the same news to Ollie’s assistant, Kim DeLuca.
news. The investigation quickly reveals that the explosion wasn’t an accident, it was a deliberate act involving a bomb placed in the car.
Ollie was a successful divorce lawyer living a great life - well liked by many… but with more than a few enemies made along the way. So who would be capable of killing him?
Kim DeLuca has been Ollie’s assistant of over two decades, she won’t rest until the truth comes out.
Ollie earned the title as one of the best lawyers as he is very dedicated and works long hours.
He had lost his beloved wife Grace to cancer. He met Joanna, a younger unmarried beautiful dancer who was a Radio City Hall Rockette and became a good companion. True she never truly replaced Grace, their personalities were completely difference. Joanna is aware of the situation but does enjoy the lifestyle of being a popular lawyer’s wife and throws herself into charity work and shopping,
Kim DeLuca has been Ollie’s assistance for years. Although they are close it was never romantic. Kim was engaged to be married and lost her beloved Pascal in a terrible house fire, he saved her but wasn’t able to save himself. Kim remembers that night vividly and she still misses him terribly.
Story sticks to the title and tells us more about Ollie’s- Divorce Lawyer cases~
The first is about Sophia and Ivan stuck with me but there are three others that become key in the investigation of the bombing.
Sophia and Ivan- Sophia grew up poor in Columbia but things changed when she won Miss Columbia.
She met Ivan a businessman from the New York area. Ivan grew up in an area that was run by a Russian gang. They did help Ivan with his business deals in exchange for helping him. At first Sophia wasn’t aware of this but soon after they married the real Ivan showed his narcissistic ways. They have been married for eight years and have three young sons. Sophia is afraid of Ivan’s abuse and fears their sons will grow up to be like him. She does her research and finds Ollie Spalding is one of the best divorce lawyers on the east coast.
Story kept me curious. I couldn’t put it down. Yikes! Once I found out who was responsible, I was really to jump in the book and make sure justice was done!
Story was better than expected. I liked Kim.
I almost didn't round up to 5 stars, as Kim got to be too much and should have told Fitz something key.
I want to thank NetGalley and Tantor Media for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 21, 2026.
Author: McGravey Black
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Sofia Williamham
Publisher: Tantor Media
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Audiobook Pub Date: July 21, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!
Pages: 294
In the dead of night, Joanna and Ollie Spalding are jolted awake- only to be met with a terrifying sight: their brand-new Range Rover car engulfed in flames. Ollie rushes out to put out the fire and yells for Joanna to call 911. Then an explosion rips through the silence.
Detective Brian Fitz with the Westport Police Department informed Joanne that Ollie died instantly in the blast. And then has to give the same news to Ollie’s assistant, Kim DeLuca.
news. The investigation quickly reveals that the explosion wasn’t an accident, it was a deliberate act involving a bomb placed in the car.
Ollie was a successful divorce lawyer living a great life - well liked by many… but with more than a few enemies made along the way. So who would be capable of killing him?
Kim DeLuca has been Ollie’s assistant of over two decades, she won’t rest until the truth comes out.
Ollie earned the title as one of the best lawyers as he is very dedicated and works long hours.
He had lost his beloved wife Grace to cancer. He met Joanna, a younger unmarried beautiful dancer who was a Radio City Hall Rockette and became a good companion. True she never truly replaced Grace, their personalities were completely difference. Joanna is aware of the situation but does enjoy the lifestyle of being a popular lawyer’s wife and throws herself into charity work and shopping,
Kim DeLuca has been Ollie’s assistance for years. Although they are close it was never romantic. Kim was engaged to be married and lost her beloved Pascal in a terrible house fire, he saved her but wasn’t able to save himself. Kim remembers that night vividly and she still misses him terribly.
Story sticks to the title and tells us more about Ollie’s- Divorce Lawyer cases~
The first is about Sophia and Ivan stuck with me but there are three others that become key in the investigation of the bombing.
Sophia and Ivan- Sophia grew up poor in Columbia but things changed when she won Miss Columbia.
She met Ivan a businessman from the New York area. Ivan grew up in an area that was run by a Russian gang. They did help Ivan with his business deals in exchange for helping him. At first Sophia wasn’t aware of this but soon after they married the real Ivan showed his narcissistic ways. They have been married for eight years and have three young sons. Sophia is afraid of Ivan’s abuse and fears their sons will grow up to be like him. She does her research and finds Ollie Spalding is one of the best divorce lawyers on the east coast.
Story kept me curious. I couldn’t put it down. Yikes! Once I found out who was responsible, I was really to jump in the book and make sure justice was done!
Story was better than expected. I liked Kim.
I almost didn't round up to 5 stars, as Kim got to be too much and should have told Fitz something key.
I want to thank NetGalley and Tantor Media for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 21, 2026.
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