The Lawyer's Husband

by Robin James

The killer isn’t in the courtroom. He’s in your marriage.

I’m working the biggest case of my career. If I win, I’ll be the most successful lawyer in Michigan. If I lose, no woman is safe at home, least of all me...

Because, as our first and only witness gives her statement, my whole life begins to unravel.

Every detail she recalls about the killer we’re after is devastatingly his dark, unruly hair, his obsession with crisp shirts and sharp suits, even the restaurants he takes his victims to on dates. I shudder as she describes the red silk ribbon he asked her to wear as a symbol of her devotion.

We haven’t found the real killer. But I know exactly who he is.

The man who swore to cherish me until death do us part. Who tightly tied the crimson bow that I can now feel scratching at my wrist. My husband…

A must-read psychological thriller that will make you stay up all night. Fans of Gone Girl, The Housemaid and The Girl on the Train will be gasping out loud as they read the twists in this!

What readers are saying about Robin

“OMG, this book totally reeled me in and kept me hooked… will keep you on the edge of your seat and gripping it with your nails! Absolutely loved… You will literally feel like a tornado has gone through your mind when you read this… Unpredictable and soooooo good.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Omggggg. I read this book in less than 24 hours. I couldn’t put it down!… Will keep you reading on and on trying to figure everything out.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“AWESOME… I could not put it down. I read it all night. It really had me at the edge of my seat. The ending was a total surprise.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“At least a 10 star book… So riveting… I finished it around 1:15 AM… Will figuratively leave you gasping for air… I was sure I had this all figured out until I didn’t.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“It’s 2am and I couldn’t put it down… Phenomenal.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“5 stars is not enough for this book!!!!… I couldn’t stop… I had to know what happened and loved every nail biting, tear-filled, breath holding moment!!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My oh my, once I started reading, I could NOT put this book down… I finally turned off the TV, no more binge watching my show. I can’t wait to read her others and get hooked on one after another.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 3, 2026

About the author

Robin James, gifted illustrator of the bestselling Serendipity books, was born into a family of artists. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Robin has loved art and animals all her life and has been drawing ever since she could hold a pencil. Through the years, she has done a wide variety of artwork from animal portraits to wildlife paintings and is perhaps most recognised for her children’s book illustrations which she began in 1973. She has illustrated over 75 children’s books, and is published worldwide.

At home on MorningStar Ranch & Gallery in picturesque Snohomish, Washington, one quickly spots Robin’s enormous love of animals and nature that is so evident in her illustrations. Not surprisingly, she and her husband, Randy, live with a happy menagerie of animals - all of whom have inspired her illustrations including Allie and Puppy, both rescued greyhounds, two cats, four horses and a flock of pet chickens!

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lawyer's Husband was one of those thrillers where I constantly changed my mind about everyone. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, another detail would come out and completely shift things again.

The idea behind this book immediately hooked me. A prosecuting attorney starts realizing the details of the case she’s working on sound a little too familiar to her own marriage, and from there the paranoia just keeps building. I loved that feeling of not knowing whether Mina was uncovering something terrifying or slowly losing control under the pressure.

I also appreciated that the story leaned heavily into suspense instead of nonstop shock value. The tension builds gradually, and once the pieces start coming together, it becomes very hard to stop reading. The second half especially had me flying through chapters because I needed to know who was actually telling the truth.

Mina frustrated me at times, but honestly I think she was supposed to. She felt panicked, obsessive, emotionally exhausted, and believable for someone questioning everything around her. I liked that she kept pushing forward even when nobody seemed fully on her side.

There were definitely twists I saw hints of, but there were also several things I didn’t fully put together until the reveal. I also really liked the courtroom angle mixed with the domestic thriller feel because it gave the story something extra beyond the usual husband-wife secrets storyline.

Overall, this was a tense, bingeable psychological thriller that kept me entertained the entire time. This was my first book by Robin James, but it definitely won’t be my last.

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been in a bit of a thriller slump lately as everything I picked up felt flat, predictable, or trying too hard to shock without actually delivering anything meaningful. So I went into The Lawyer’s Husband with low expectations and it surprised me in the best way. This book finally gave me that mind‑wrecking, heart‑pounding feeling I’ve been craving.

The mix of serial killer tension, whodunit mystery, and marriage‑in‑crisis drama worked so well here. It never felt messy or overstuffed, instead, each trope added something to the story. You see the characters' cracks, their doubts, their shifting loyalties, and it makes the twists land harder.

What I Liked:
• The intensity of the plot
• Strong character development
• A twist that actually works

What Didn’t Work:
• Some scenes felt a bit rushed
• A few predictable beats
• Side characters could’ve been fleshed out more

Breakdown:
• Setting: 3⭐️
• Characters: 4⭐️
• Writing: 4⭐️
• Message: 4⭐️
• Overall: 4⭐️

This book was exactly what I needed, a dark, twisty, and addictive without being confusing or overcomplicated. It reminded me why I love thrillers: the tension, the guessing game, the messy relationships, and that one twist that makes everything click into place. Huge thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my advance copy. My views are my own.

~JaNnA~

[Nikki Johal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book is the very definition of gripping. Once I got to the second half of the book I didn’t want to put it down.

I don’t want to give anything away, so I won’t talk about the story. But what I will say is that the pacing is good, the plot was brilliant and twist was chefs kiss.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers and love books that keeps you thinking then I’d 100% recommend reading this. This was my first Robin James book and I’ll definitely be reading more.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for another great read, The Lawyer’s Husband. This was a mind blowing book, Mina was a Fantastic character, I seriously had no idea about Lock. I liked Roy very much and never liked Mark but loved Elena. Great plot, Corinne was a complex person and I felt horrible for her. The only part that was frustrating was when Mina was trying to explain a pivotal moment to Roy but he wouldn’t listen. The ending was Great. Loved it. Thank you again.

[Howard Davis]

This book was recommended to me by the publisher based on a previous book I had read and was not one I had requested. I found this book mediocre at best with repetitive passages and completely far fetched. I struggled to get through the book to a very predictable and not surprising conclusion. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a riveting novel that is unputdownable. Very twisty and you won't want to stop reading until the final reveal.

Loads of red herrings, distrust and the characters 'don't know who their friends are'.

This is the first book I have read by Robin James, and I am looking forward to reading more.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabs you from the first page. Loads happens through out that keeps you reading.
Really liked Mina, didn't know what to think of Locke
Didn't see the ending coming at all.
Highly recommend this fast paced thriller.
Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this book for an honest review

[Doug Yonce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent psychological thriller with a plot like a maze, always leading the reader in one direction only to hit a wall and have to re-evaluate what’s going to happen next. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.