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The Widower's Wife
Ana Bacon, a beautiful young wife and mother, tumbled off a cruise ship into dark and deadly waters. Ana is gone--leaving behind her wealthy husband and adorable daughter--but not everything about her disappearance adds up. What secrets did she leave behind?
Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten-million-dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall, and the official ruling seems to hold up.
Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana’s life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall.
Investigator Ryan Monahan is a numbers man. So when his company sends him the Bacon case, which could net a ten-million-dollar payout, Monahan doubts that her death is just a tragic accident. But the husband has a substantial alibi and a number of witnesses claim to have seen Ana fall, and the official ruling seems to hold up.
Still, the more Monahan uncovers about Ana’s life, the more he realizes how many people would kill to keep her secrets hidden. And the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the odds grow that he, too, will take a fatal fall.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 9, 2016
1892 people are currently reading
5569 people want to read
About the author
Cate Holahan
16 books890 followersCate Holahan is a screenwriter and USA Today Bestselling author of psychological suspense books. Her sixth novel, The Darkness of Others, was published in 2022. She has had books named to Kirkus' Best Books of the Year and Book of the Month Club's official selections. Notable works include: One Little Secret, Lies She Told, The Widower's Wife.
Her film, Deadly Estate, was on Fox's Tubi in March, and her upcoming film, Dancers on the Darkside, will be coming out this year.
An award-winning journalist and former television producer, she has written for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, and The Record newspaper. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dogs.
She has an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU's Tisch and graduated from Princeton University in 2002.
She is represented by Paula Munier at Talcott Notch Literary.
Her film, Deadly Estate, was on Fox's Tubi in March, and her upcoming film, Dancers on the Darkside, will be coming out this year.
An award-winning journalist and former television producer, she has written for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, and The Record newspaper. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dogs.
She has an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU's Tisch and graduated from Princeton University in 2002.
She is represented by Paula Munier at Talcott Notch Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 583 reviews
August 18, 2017
First I’d like to apologize for being MIA the past week. I missed my weekly wrap up and I am up to my eyeballs in past due reviews. The Humphrey household has fallen apart (between sickness and, quite literally, falling apart) and we are just now functioning again. I appreciate all those who have messaged and checked on me. I finished this book last week and have been dying to review it; I’d also love to discuss things with others who have read it that I can’t review here because of spoilers, but my mind was spinning a bit.
First off- GORGEOUS COVER ALERT. Love it. Seriously. It was what initially made me click that button on NetGalley and bring it home to mama. And before you get all defensive on my rating, a 3 star-in my book-is still an enjoyable read and does not mean I wouldn’t recommend it! I’ve heard that sermon too many times to count. The pacing was absolutely stunning; I literally couldn’t put this book down. I was taking it everywhere with me; the gym, the kid’s school, picking it up during nap time and bed. This was a super pacy read and if you are needing something to completely absorb your attention, this is it baby. I love how the POV switches between the past voice of Ana and the present voice of Ryan. In the first third of the book, the author had my head whipping back and forth trying to keep up with the ever-changing plot and twisty twists y’all. PAGE TURNER.
But then I started having issues. They weren’t the type that would bother everyone; in fact, it seems as though one of the major issues I had with credibility and realistic plot aspect went unconcerned by most readers, so it might just be a me issue. I wish I could write out each issue here, but I can’t due to spoilers; let’s just say once I hit about 50% in, I was calling every single plot twist before they happened. I don’t feel this is due to my intelligence in any means; I think it was simply just a form of reading books with the same plot too many times before. Every time I would catch the beginning of a set up and say “surely this won’t be the answer since its the easiest and most logical/obvious choice”, yet it was. I went back to thinking of that first third that had me so fooled, then I realized most of it was due to ever changing plot. You would be told one thing, but then corrected and told the “actual truth” at a later date. The only conclusion I could come to is that the tidbits that would allude to a twist were not subtle in the least. Mystery solvers who like to piece together the clues will probably not enjoy this one if that be the type of read you’re looking for; however, if you are looking for a suspenseful thriller that will keep you engaged-this is it! I was impressed that, even figuring out the twists ahead of time, this book still captivated my attention in such a grand gesture. Kudos to the author and I will be checking out her previous book; it’s already on my Amazon wish-list! Definitely an author to keep on the radar folks; this girl’s got talent!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
First off- GORGEOUS COVER ALERT. Love it. Seriously. It was what initially made me click that button on NetGalley and bring it home to mama. And before you get all defensive on my rating, a 3 star-in my book-is still an enjoyable read and does not mean I wouldn’t recommend it! I’ve heard that sermon too many times to count. The pacing was absolutely stunning; I literally couldn’t put this book down. I was taking it everywhere with me; the gym, the kid’s school, picking it up during nap time and bed. This was a super pacy read and if you are needing something to completely absorb your attention, this is it baby. I love how the POV switches between the past voice of Ana and the present voice of Ryan. In the first third of the book, the author had my head whipping back and forth trying to keep up with the ever-changing plot and twisty twists y’all. PAGE TURNER.
But then I started having issues. They weren’t the type that would bother everyone; in fact, it seems as though one of the major issues I had with credibility and realistic plot aspect went unconcerned by most readers, so it might just be a me issue. I wish I could write out each issue here, but I can’t due to spoilers; let’s just say once I hit about 50% in, I was calling every single plot twist before they happened. I don’t feel this is due to my intelligence in any means; I think it was simply just a form of reading books with the same plot too many times before. Every time I would catch the beginning of a set up and say “surely this won’t be the answer since its the easiest and most logical/obvious choice”, yet it was. I went back to thinking of that first third that had me so fooled, then I realized most of it was due to ever changing plot. You would be told one thing, but then corrected and told the “actual truth” at a later date. The only conclusion I could come to is that the tidbits that would allude to a twist were not subtle in the least. Mystery solvers who like to piece together the clues will probably not enjoy this one if that be the type of read you’re looking for; however, if you are looking for a suspenseful thriller that will keep you engaged-this is it! I was impressed that, even figuring out the twists ahead of time, this book still captivated my attention in such a grand gesture. Kudos to the author and I will be checking out her previous book; it’s already on my Amazon wish-list! Definitely an author to keep on the radar folks; this girl’s got talent!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
June 18, 2016
I received a copy of The Widower's Wife by Cate Holahan through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to Cate Holahan for the opportunity.
What is the depth of a lie?.....A lie that reaches the dark abyss of any ocean and spans from horizon to horizon.
Ana and Tom Bacon live in an enviable palatial home in the suburbs. The decorators and craftsmen have been busy tapdancing their way through rendering bolts of materials and installing the finest marble that money can buy. Tom has always seen to it.
But now there is a bit of dust on this once solid marble. Tom has gotten himself into a bit of a skirmish with faulty investments. Time is not on their side and the mailman delivers echoes of bad news. Decisions have to be made in favor of their young daughter, Sophia. Ana has hocked her engagement ring to pay the looming mortgage. Even Ana's parents have been deported and they now live in a dangerous part of Brazil. No light at the end of this tunnel.
Tom's mind reacts like a cornered rat in the alleyways of Brooklyn. He's not going down without the rally cry of a gamer playing the game. He's going to lay his cards out on the table. And we will all see whether the deck is stacked against him or not.
Cate Holahan presents a true thriller with the thundering waves of mega thrills flowing throughout. It's a clever read being approached from quite a different angle. Holahan introduces the character of Ryan Monahan into the mix. He's a former NYPD cop who is now an insurance investigator. Ryan has quite the skill set here and Holahan quotes eye-opening stats that opens the door to the analytical mind of Ryan. Smart stuff.
I've been quite taken with The Widower's Wife for a multitude of reasons. It's fast-paced and gets down to business right away. Holahan provides a peep-hole into the lives of people who have their backs against the wall. You don't even want to blink....you might miss something good.
What is the depth of a lie?.....A lie that reaches the dark abyss of any ocean and spans from horizon to horizon.
Ana and Tom Bacon live in an enviable palatial home in the suburbs. The decorators and craftsmen have been busy tapdancing their way through rendering bolts of materials and installing the finest marble that money can buy. Tom has always seen to it.
But now there is a bit of dust on this once solid marble. Tom has gotten himself into a bit of a skirmish with faulty investments. Time is not on their side and the mailman delivers echoes of bad news. Decisions have to be made in favor of their young daughter, Sophia. Ana has hocked her engagement ring to pay the looming mortgage. Even Ana's parents have been deported and they now live in a dangerous part of Brazil. No light at the end of this tunnel.
Tom's mind reacts like a cornered rat in the alleyways of Brooklyn. He's not going down without the rally cry of a gamer playing the game. He's going to lay his cards out on the table. And we will all see whether the deck is stacked against him or not.
Cate Holahan presents a true thriller with the thundering waves of mega thrills flowing throughout. It's a clever read being approached from quite a different angle. Holahan introduces the character of Ryan Monahan into the mix. He's a former NYPD cop who is now an insurance investigator. Ryan has quite the skill set here and Holahan quotes eye-opening stats that opens the door to the analytical mind of Ryan. Smart stuff.
I've been quite taken with The Widower's Wife for a multitude of reasons. It's fast-paced and gets down to business right away. Holahan provides a peep-hole into the lives of people who have their backs against the wall. You don't even want to blink....you might miss something good.
January 10, 2021
The Widower's Wife by Cate Holahan is a suspense novel written in 2016 and told in several POVs. I'd read another book by this author last year and enjoyed the plot, so I decided to download a few of her previous works. Immediately, this one gripped me as I had to know whether the wife committed suicide, accidentally fell overboard, or was murdered by someone. It's a classic plot, but it was told adeptly and keenly kept my interest.
Ana Bacon was a good wife. Her husband, Tom, was not very good. He messed up at work and lost all their money, and then instead of trying to figure out a way to support his family, he began to drink too much and get angry that his wife left their toddler at home with him while she went out to earn a living. As the story unfolds, we learn they both (or perhaps just one of them, it's unclear purposely) planned a fake death to collect on insurance money, so they could afford their expensive home and other bills. Slowly, we learn that Ana's boss had attempted to sexually assault her. Tom might also have a girlfriend. And when Tom tries to collect on Ana's death payment, after she went missing when falling overboard, an insurance investigator tries to piece the puzzle together.
Wow! From the beginning, I was hooked. Tom was an arrogant jerk, yet I knew he had to have some good in him. I hoped so, at least. Ana was charming, but she fell prey too easily to others. Had they schemed together? Was she really dead? How do her somewhat confusing parents fit in? The neighbors? The daycare who has a different take on why Sophia, the toddler, was always stuck late without a parent to collect her. Switching back and forth from the past and the present, sometimes not even knowing when the date was happening, really amped up the suspense. I thought this would be a 5-star read for me... then came the ending.
I can't spoil it, but I will say, partially predictable and somewhat open-ended, the culmination lacked a bit of shock factor for me. The intriguing part: insurance payout would only be provided under certain circumstances, which meant depending on if it was ruled murder, accident, or suicide, the money might not need to be paid out. When we learn who was telling the truth, and who really played a good game, it was definitely an intense moment, but in the final chapter had an abrupt ending that left readers thinking... hmmm... was all this drama worth it? The actual payoff (not the money) left me a little disappointed, so I backed down to a 4 star rating.
Still very much worth the read, but I think had a little more effort been put into the ending to leave us panicked and breathless, I would've been like "Oh, wow, Holahan went for it and this is AMAZING." Nonetheless, the characters are quite strong, the tone and way to reveal facts were brilliant, and I could feel the tension between Tom and Ana. I knew who should win, but was I happy? You'll need to read it to find out!
Ana Bacon was a good wife. Her husband, Tom, was not very good. He messed up at work and lost all their money, and then instead of trying to figure out a way to support his family, he began to drink too much and get angry that his wife left their toddler at home with him while she went out to earn a living. As the story unfolds, we learn they both (or perhaps just one of them, it's unclear purposely) planned a fake death to collect on insurance money, so they could afford their expensive home and other bills. Slowly, we learn that Ana's boss had attempted to sexually assault her. Tom might also have a girlfriend. And when Tom tries to collect on Ana's death payment, after she went missing when falling overboard, an insurance investigator tries to piece the puzzle together.
Wow! From the beginning, I was hooked. Tom was an arrogant jerk, yet I knew he had to have some good in him. I hoped so, at least. Ana was charming, but she fell prey too easily to others. Had they schemed together? Was she really dead? How do her somewhat confusing parents fit in? The neighbors? The daycare who has a different take on why Sophia, the toddler, was always stuck late without a parent to collect her. Switching back and forth from the past and the present, sometimes not even knowing when the date was happening, really amped up the suspense. I thought this would be a 5-star read for me... then came the ending.
I can't spoil it, but I will say, partially predictable and somewhat open-ended, the culmination lacked a bit of shock factor for me. The intriguing part: insurance payout would only be provided under certain circumstances, which meant depending on if it was ruled murder, accident, or suicide, the money might not need to be paid out. When we learn who was telling the truth, and who really played a good game, it was definitely an intense moment, but in the final chapter had an abrupt ending that left readers thinking... hmmm... was all this drama worth it? The actual payoff (not the money) left me a little disappointed, so I backed down to a 4 star rating.
Still very much worth the read, but I think had a little more effort been put into the ending to leave us panicked and breathless, I would've been like "Oh, wow, Holahan went for it and this is AMAZING." Nonetheless, the characters are quite strong, the tone and way to reveal facts were brilliant, and I could feel the tension between Tom and Ana. I knew who should win, but was I happy? You'll need to read it to find out!
March 26, 2023
While on a dream cruise vacation, Ana Bacon disappeared over the side of the ship into the dark, roiling ocean. Now left to raise their young daughter alone, wealthy widower Tom plays the grieving husband well. But Ana’s supposed accidental death isn’t adding up to former financial crimes NYPD detective turned insurance investigator Ryan Monahan. The more he investigates, the more questions that seem to pop up. What secrets are the Bacon family hiding? And how long will it take for Ryan to get answers?
Ryan is doubtful that Ana died in the devastating accident that was reported on the news following her fall. And, with a potential ten million dollar payout, it’s imperative that he answers all questions before closing the case. The more questions he asks, the more suspicious he becomes. But Tom has a hard and fast alibi that is corroborated by a number of witnesses at the cruise ship pool. Including a seductive redhead. At the same time, Ana was seen falling into the depths. It seems the quickly adjudicated case is holding up. All the same, Ryan has some strong suspicions and refuses to let up until he knows the truth.
The further Ryan digs, the more secrets and lies he exposes. And with each one the possibilities of who would want them to remain hidden grows longer. Would they kill Ana to this end? And, if Ryan don’t stop revealing them, will he be next?
From the get-go, The Widower’s Wife was simply spellbinding. Told in two equally addictive POVs and timelines, this part domestic thriller, part crime fiction novel provided slowly building suspense right up until the end. And how I loved the multitude of secrets, lies, and hidden agendas at the heart of the book. Even better? I couldn’t guess a single one.
My absolute favorite piece of this book, however, was the thoroughly original, analytical, neurodivergent insurance investigator Ryan Monahan. Where some books with this kind of narrator devolve into stereotypical untruths that slant into offensive territory, whereas Ryan’s was anything but that. Instead, he provided an enjoyable counterpoint to Ana’s POV. And, while perhaps he could have had somewhat more character development, I instantly found myself cheering him on to root out what really happened on that cruise ship on the way back to the U.S. Until my allegiances changed and I veered onto Team Ana. And then back again. Because as the details came into focus accompanied by more than just a few top-notch twists, I ended up waffling on who the “good” guy was in the end.
Let’s focus on those twists and turns a little more, shall we? From some that I absolutely should have seen coming to others that took my breath away at their brilliance, each one slowly added to the complete picture. But, of course, not without totally shaking up the many theories that were already swirling around in my head (this will certainly be a hard one for armchair detectives to work out). Happily, enough were so mind-blowing that I found myself ignoring the clock as I became lost in the pages. Right up until the big climax.
Here’s where I ran into just a bit of a snag with my total adoration, however. For despite how well-crafted this literary crescendo was, it also, unfortunately, was just a bit too over-the-top for my liking. To the extent that my shoulders drooped just a bit when the plot overreached just a smidge too far leaving the spell slightly broken. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t keep me from racing through the remaining pages to find out how it all ended, but still…
All said and done, however, even that didn’t ruin The Widower’s Wife for me. From the first page until the last, the story picked me up and carried me away. And be sure not to take your eye off the ball, for if you even blink, you just may miss an all important clue. Now that I’ve finished, I’m delighted to learn that Cate Holahan has a decent sized repertoire of thrillers that I just cannot wait to dig into. Do I recommend this one? Well, what do you think? Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: deportation, attempted sexual assault, blackmail
Ryan is doubtful that Ana died in the devastating accident that was reported on the news following her fall. And, with a potential ten million dollar payout, it’s imperative that he answers all questions before closing the case. The more questions he asks, the more suspicious he becomes. But Tom has a hard and fast alibi that is corroborated by a number of witnesses at the cruise ship pool. Including a seductive redhead. At the same time, Ana was seen falling into the depths. It seems the quickly adjudicated case is holding up. All the same, Ryan has some strong suspicions and refuses to let up until he knows the truth.
The further Ryan digs, the more secrets and lies he exposes. And with each one the possibilities of who would want them to remain hidden grows longer. Would they kill Ana to this end? And, if Ryan don’t stop revealing them, will he be next?
From the get-go, The Widower’s Wife was simply spellbinding. Told in two equally addictive POVs and timelines, this part domestic thriller, part crime fiction novel provided slowly building suspense right up until the end. And how I loved the multitude of secrets, lies, and hidden agendas at the heart of the book. Even better? I couldn’t guess a single one.
My absolute favorite piece of this book, however, was the thoroughly original, analytical, neurodivergent insurance investigator Ryan Monahan. Where some books with this kind of narrator devolve into stereotypical untruths that slant into offensive territory, whereas Ryan’s was anything but that. Instead, he provided an enjoyable counterpoint to Ana’s POV. And, while perhaps he could have had somewhat more character development, I instantly found myself cheering him on to root out what really happened on that cruise ship on the way back to the U.S. Until my allegiances changed and I veered onto Team Ana. And then back again. Because as the details came into focus accompanied by more than just a few top-notch twists, I ended up waffling on who the “good” guy was in the end.
Let’s focus on those twists and turns a little more, shall we? From some that I absolutely should have seen coming to others that took my breath away at their brilliance, each one slowly added to the complete picture. But, of course, not without totally shaking up the many theories that were already swirling around in my head (this will certainly be a hard one for armchair detectives to work out). Happily, enough were so mind-blowing that I found myself ignoring the clock as I became lost in the pages. Right up until the big climax.
Here’s where I ran into just a bit of a snag with my total adoration, however. For despite how well-crafted this literary crescendo was, it also, unfortunately, was just a bit too over-the-top for my liking. To the extent that my shoulders drooped just a bit when the plot overreached just a smidge too far leaving the spell slightly broken. Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t keep me from racing through the remaining pages to find out how it all ended, but still…
All said and done, however, even that didn’t ruin The Widower’s Wife for me. From the first page until the last, the story picked me up and carried me away. And be sure not to take your eye off the ball, for if you even blink, you just may miss an all important clue. Now that I’ve finished, I’m delighted to learn that Cate Holahan has a decent sized repertoire of thrillers that I just cannot wait to dig into. Do I recommend this one? Well, what do you think? Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: deportation, attempted sexual assault, blackmail
August 10, 2016
If you're looking for an engaging domestic suspense thriller with an inventive storyline, look no further.
Tom and Anna Bacon have been accustomed to a lavish lifestyle, the grand mansion, the expensive cars, the wine collection. But now they are facing financial ruin. Tom is unemployed and drinking. Anna is trying to support the family as best she can with a job as an administrative assistant while remaining the main carer for their young daughter, Sophie. But it is hopeless. Foreclosure looms. Credit cards maxed out. The marital relationship strained due to all the pressure.
Ryan Monahan is a former NYPD cop turned insurance investigator who is obsessed with statistics. He is asked to look into the death of Anna Bacon to determine whether her life insurance policy worth ten million dollars should be paid out to her husband Tom.
Told in alternating chapters from Ryan's third-person point of view in the present and from Anna's first-person point of view in the days leading up to her fall off a cruise ship, The Widower's Wife was a real page-turner I devoured within a day.
Author Cate Holahan took a slightly different approach here, which worked very well. I loved Ryan with his analytical mind, frequently quoting probabilities, determinedly wanting to uncover what happened to Anna while trying to get used to his own changed circumstances.
A really exciting plot with intriguing characters and a unique story. The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is down to a couple of things that I found difficult to believe.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tom and Anna Bacon have been accustomed to a lavish lifestyle, the grand mansion, the expensive cars, the wine collection. But now they are facing financial ruin. Tom is unemployed and drinking. Anna is trying to support the family as best she can with a job as an administrative assistant while remaining the main carer for their young daughter, Sophie. But it is hopeless. Foreclosure looms. Credit cards maxed out. The marital relationship strained due to all the pressure.
Ryan Monahan is a former NYPD cop turned insurance investigator who is obsessed with statistics. He is asked to look into the death of Anna Bacon to determine whether her life insurance policy worth ten million dollars should be paid out to her husband Tom.
Told in alternating chapters from Ryan's third-person point of view in the present and from Anna's first-person point of view in the days leading up to her fall off a cruise ship, The Widower's Wife was a real page-turner I devoured within a day.
Author Cate Holahan took a slightly different approach here, which worked very well. I loved Ryan with his analytical mind, frequently quoting probabilities, determinedly wanting to uncover what happened to Anna while trying to get used to his own changed circumstances.
A really exciting plot with intriguing characters and a unique story. The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is down to a couple of things that I found difficult to believe.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2016
I really hate when an author asks me to suspend my common sense and expects me to believe that two people without any common sense at all can successfully defraud an insurance company out of $5 million. I’m giving this book two stars because the author used my favorite word – “penultimate.” I was hopeful at first but as the chapters went on, I became less and less interested in both these characters. SPOILERS: First of all, I despise criminals and defrauding an insurance company is a crime. Second, I’m supposed to believe that two people who didn’t even save enough money from their $1 million+ annual income for their own child’s education, and has spent lavishly on their home, cars and lifestyle, will be able to live off an insurance payout of $5 million for the rest of their lives? They’d blow through that money in a couple of years. The woman is also too stupid to figure out how to use birth control pills, gets pregnant, marries the other genius, and then, again, has unprotected sex and gets pregnant a second time. And I’m supposed to believe these two masterminds are going to walk away with $5 million and not get caught?
August 2, 2016
While on a cruise ship Anna Bacon falls overboard into the sea but how has this happened, was this a terrible accident or something else? The book alternates between Ana, her husband Tom and Ryan Manahan, a former police Financial Crimes investigator sent to find out the truth. So how did Ana fall, was she pushed, did she slip? As Ryan investigates further he discovers both Ana and her husband Tom have life insurance policies and Ana's life is worth ten million dollars. The only problem for Ryan is that Tom has a concrete alibi so what is really going on? A very enjoyable and an intriguing story, one I would highly recommend.
April 29, 2019
Fast paced, great character development, interesting and well told. I liked it a lot, read it in one sitting.
July 28, 2016
While on a cruise ship Ana Bacon falls off into the dark deadly water.
Ryan Moran is the insurance investigator who is sent by his company. He has to work out whether this was just a tragic accident or was Ana pushed.
Tom Bacon will receive a 10 million dollar payout if it is found by the insurance company that Ana's death was a tragic accident. Tom has an alibi and witnesses who claim to have seen Ana fall.
What a wonderful story that mixes past and present with some surprises all through the story that kept me turning the pages.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Crooked Lane Books and the author Cate Holahan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ryan Moran is the insurance investigator who is sent by his company. He has to work out whether this was just a tragic accident or was Ana pushed.
Tom Bacon will receive a 10 million dollar payout if it is found by the insurance company that Ana's death was a tragic accident. Tom has an alibi and witnesses who claim to have seen Ana fall.
What a wonderful story that mixes past and present with some surprises all through the story that kept me turning the pages.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Crooked Lane Books and the author Cate Holahan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2022
This was a different tale about greed, betrayal, and love with surprising plot twists and suspense. Usually, I am not fond of stories where the writer goes back and forth between time periods. In this case, it is only a few months and it seemed to work well. The Mystery builds piece by piece and the characters and locations have the reader feeling like they are there. Overall, a very good mystery.
February 8, 2020
“Investigating rule of thumb: people grumbled about work at home and about home at work.”
― Cate Holahan, The Widower's Wife
This was a pretty good thriller. The premise was pretty good.
So the plot summary is right on the money. You should be able to tell pretty quickly if this one is for you or not.
Ana has vanished. Ryan who is assigned to pay out her insurance policy, senses right away that something is wrong.
The book sort of gives away who did it almost from the start. But this is Ana's story and she is a strong loving woman and a great character to root for. And though we think we might know everything that is far from the truth.
I had read one of the writer's other books that I did not like. But THIS book is good reading people! It is a tightly wound thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat , rooting for Anna and for Ryan who gets sucked in to way more then he ever expected.
Great writing and great book. 4.5 stars.
― Cate Holahan, The Widower's Wife
This was a pretty good thriller. The premise was pretty good.
So the plot summary is right on the money. You should be able to tell pretty quickly if this one is for you or not.
Ana has vanished. Ryan who is assigned to pay out her insurance policy, senses right away that something is wrong.
The book sort of gives away who did it almost from the start. But this is Ana's story and she is a strong loving woman and a great character to root for. And though we think we might know everything that is far from the truth.
I had read one of the writer's other books that I did not like. But THIS book is good reading people! It is a tightly wound thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat , rooting for Anna and for Ryan who gets sucked in to way more then he ever expected.
Great writing and great book. 4.5 stars.
September 17, 2017
I have several issues with this book. These people were all stupid, Ana especially. How can you be that fiscally irresponsible? Why not sell the car? Take the loss on the house and move some place you can afford? If he's basically un-hirable in his job field, why not find a new field? Stupid greedy people.
How could she not suspect he was cheating? They hadn't had sex in 6 months. He comes home from a day of being MIA and immediately jumps in the shower. He then admits being out with an old co-worker who was a woman and her light bulb remains dim. Why didn't she leave his ass? He was worthless.
How can you experience morning sickness and pass a pregnancy test taken mid day if you are only 10 days pregnant?
Why didn't she immediately go to the police after her confrontation with Eve?
Why would she want to send her kid to live with her parents if they are being blackmailed by gangs? Why are there gangs anyway? She bought her parents a nice condo. Just gah!
There's a lot more questionable stuff but the absolute kicker was the end where she took her daughter to the plane. What social services org is going to let a non-relative take a 3-4 year old child to the airport? Not to mention said child flying to a different country w/o a guardian?
Just dumb! It pisses me off to think about it.
How could she not suspect he was cheating? They hadn't had sex in 6 months. He comes home from a day of being MIA and immediately jumps in the shower. He then admits being out with an old co-worker who was a woman and her light bulb remains dim. Why didn't she leave his ass? He was worthless.
How can you experience morning sickness and pass a pregnancy test taken mid day if you are only 10 days pregnant?
Why didn't she immediately go to the police after her confrontation with Eve?
Why would she want to send her kid to live with her parents if they are being blackmailed by gangs? Why are there gangs anyway? She bought her parents a nice condo. Just gah!
There's a lot more questionable stuff but the absolute kicker was the end where she took her daughter to the plane. What social services org is going to let a non-relative take a 3-4 year old child to the airport? Not to mention said child flying to a different country w/o a guardian?
Just dumb! It pisses me off to think about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2016
This is a fast-paced read about a woman in jeopardy. I loved the way I never knew what would happen next. There were some really intense scenes and a satisfying villain. I also liked the whole Brazilian angle of the story, which added something unexpected. A good read.
October 25, 2016
Unfortunately I cannot see where all these good ratings came from. I just can't find any reason to rate this higher. The story bordered on boredom at times it moved so slowly. And as we are ending the story, there are just too many things happening that are far to hard to believe. And I am fairly liberal with author's usage of the "unlikely". I'd like a better term, but what comes to mind for this ending is that it is "scattered" leaving many thoughts dangling.
June 29, 2016
Ryan Manahan is a former police Financial Crimes officer now turned insurance investigator after being shot. He is very familiar with numbers including odd statistics that come to his mind frequently. His current case has to do with the payment of a $5 million claim to a man whose wife disappeared overboard during a cruise in the Bahamas.
This story is told with two storylines intertwined. Ryan's investigation in late November and early December is interspersed with Ana and Tom Bacon's decision in October to defraud the insurance company by taking out big policies and faking his death.
Tom is the instigator of the plan. He has lost his very successful job as a trader and they family - Tom, Ana, and three-year-old Sophia - are in danger of losing their million dollar home. Ana has taken a job as an administrative assistant but that doesn't give them near enough to maintain their lifestyle.
Tom convinces Ana that this fraud is essential to save their family. But, when only Ana qualifies for a policy, their plans have to change. It is Ana's death that will have to be faked.
This was an intriguing story as both the past and the present were woven together. There were lots of surprising revelations throughout the story. It was also quite suspenseful as both Ryan and the reader struggle to untangle all the various threads.
I found it a gripping story.
This story is told with two storylines intertwined. Ryan's investigation in late November and early December is interspersed with Ana and Tom Bacon's decision in October to defraud the insurance company by taking out big policies and faking his death.
Tom is the instigator of the plan. He has lost his very successful job as a trader and they family - Tom, Ana, and three-year-old Sophia - are in danger of losing their million dollar home. Ana has taken a job as an administrative assistant but that doesn't give them near enough to maintain their lifestyle.
Tom convinces Ana that this fraud is essential to save their family. But, when only Ana qualifies for a policy, their plans have to change. It is Ana's death that will have to be faked.
This was an intriguing story as both the past and the present were woven together. There were lots of surprising revelations throughout the story. It was also quite suspenseful as both Ryan and the reader struggle to untangle all the various threads.
I found it a gripping story.
October 7, 2018
Great book! Highly recommend!
July 20, 2016
I have to admit...when I agreed to read this book, I didn't know what to expect! But....once I started reading, I didn't want to put this book down. It is quite the page turner. For the last two days I had my nose in this book every chance I got. It was kind of a "Shhh! I'm Reading!" two days at my house this week.
This was a fast paced mystery, the action moves along at a crisp pace.
The author places her characters like playing cards, shuffles them with sleight-of-hand, and time after time I kept pointing to the wrong card. I changed my mind a few times about the twists and turns and didn't figure out where the story would lead me until the very end!
It was a comfortable read for mystery readers who want to spend an enjoyable time with interesting characters. Cate Holahan is a talented writer who knows how to keep the attention of her readers right to the end.
A thank you to the publishers who gifted this book to me to read and review. I did not receive any type of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers and authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
This was a fast paced mystery, the action moves along at a crisp pace.
The author places her characters like playing cards, shuffles them with sleight-of-hand, and time after time I kept pointing to the wrong card. I changed my mind a few times about the twists and turns and didn't figure out where the story would lead me until the very end!
It was a comfortable read for mystery readers who want to spend an enjoyable time with interesting characters. Cate Holahan is a talented writer who knows how to keep the attention of her readers right to the end.
A thank you to the publishers who gifted this book to me to read and review. I did not receive any type of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers and authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
July 26, 2016
Ana Bacon drowned after falling off the deck of a cruise ship. Her husband Tom is eagerly awaiting the 10 million dollar insurance benefit. Into this picture comes Ryan Monahan, a private investigator for ISIS Insurance Company, the carrier for Ana's policy. Ryan's gut tells him that Ana's death is no accident. If Ana took her own life the insurance company does not need to pay out but if this is the case how can Ryan prove it? Maybe she was murdered. Tom has a good alibi for the time that Ana's body went into the water. Ryan, an ex-cop, is looking into all aspects of Ana's life and he feels sure that he'll find answers that prove Ana's death was no accident.
Ryan's past is shadowy. We know he served on the police force and was shot in the leg leading to a permanent limp. His wife has left him and taken their daughter across the country. Ryan is a well-spring of statistics dealing with causes of death, reasons for divorce, financial issues, and other interesting topics. His obsession with statistics is interesting and the information he stores in his brain is shared throughout the novel.
Ryan explores all aspects of Ana's life. There are her parents who live in Brazil whom Ana supported. They believe that Tom has been physically abusive to her. There is her lecherous boss who has a 'reputation'. There are several people who are serving as alibis for Tom and swear he was somewhere else when Ana went off the cruise ship. There is the additional fact that Tom has been out of work for close to a year and the Bacons are near bankruptcy. Tom and Ana had been living the posh life of a Wall Street executive until Tom was fired. Ana was trying to support Tom, herself, and their daughter on the wages of an administrative assistant. Creditors are all over their backs and they can't keep themselves above water for long. (No pun intended). She certainly had reasons to give up on life.
I enjoyed this novel quite a bit. It is a quick read and a page-turner. I didn't see the ending coming and it kept me guessing throughout. I enjoy books like this.
Ryan's past is shadowy. We know he served on the police force and was shot in the leg leading to a permanent limp. His wife has left him and taken their daughter across the country. Ryan is a well-spring of statistics dealing with causes of death, reasons for divorce, financial issues, and other interesting topics. His obsession with statistics is interesting and the information he stores in his brain is shared throughout the novel.
Ryan explores all aspects of Ana's life. There are her parents who live in Brazil whom Ana supported. They believe that Tom has been physically abusive to her. There is her lecherous boss who has a 'reputation'. There are several people who are serving as alibis for Tom and swear he was somewhere else when Ana went off the cruise ship. There is the additional fact that Tom has been out of work for close to a year and the Bacons are near bankruptcy. Tom and Ana had been living the posh life of a Wall Street executive until Tom was fired. Ana was trying to support Tom, herself, and their daughter on the wages of an administrative assistant. Creditors are all over their backs and they can't keep themselves above water for long. (No pun intended). She certainly had reasons to give up on life.
I enjoyed this novel quite a bit. It is a quick read and a page-turner. I didn't see the ending coming and it kept me guessing throughout. I enjoy books like this.
July 20, 2016
If you were among the financial elite with a strong hedge fund and suddenly it went all wrong. A deal costing the company billions blasted all over the media what recourse do you have to save your life style and your family from poverty. Looks like these are the opinions facing the Bacon family, Tom, his wife, Ana and their four year old Sophie.
Tom, after months of living on the edge of financial disaster, tom comes up with a plan for insurance fraud. They will take a weekend cruise to the Caribbean and Tom will accidentally fall off the ship. Now this solution might seem a bit over the top but if you were being relentlessly pursued by an insurance investigator as well as the financial crimes police and you couldn't face the humiliation of your former colleagues with a bankruptcy then what options do you have left.
Indeed, death at sea, you don't need a body, just an alibi for the spouse and some one to raise the alarm. Brief investigation by Caribbean police, it's a walk in the park or to be moe exact a swim in the ocean if all goes well.
If all goes well it wouldn't be a mystery, would it.
A great read. A very inventive plot. Believable characters. Leave yourself time to finish the book because you won't want to put it done until you get to the end.
Tom, after months of living on the edge of financial disaster, tom comes up with a plan for insurance fraud. They will take a weekend cruise to the Caribbean and Tom will accidentally fall off the ship. Now this solution might seem a bit over the top but if you were being relentlessly pursued by an insurance investigator as well as the financial crimes police and you couldn't face the humiliation of your former colleagues with a bankruptcy then what options do you have left.
Indeed, death at sea, you don't need a body, just an alibi for the spouse and some one to raise the alarm. Brief investigation by Caribbean police, it's a walk in the park or to be moe exact a swim in the ocean if all goes well.
If all goes well it wouldn't be a mystery, would it.
A great read. A very inventive plot. Believable characters. Leave yourself time to finish the book because you won't want to put it done until you get to the end.
October 2, 2016
If you want a book that will keep you reading way past your bedtime...will have you convinced that you know how it will end and then to find out in the next chapter that you were totally wrong...that has an ending that you won't see coming....If you are looking for all that and more, The Widowers Wife is the book for you.
Ana and Tom Bacon and their daughter live in extravagant lifestyle until Tom loses his job and they no income to support their family. They are in debt over their heads and will soon leave see their house. While on a short cruise, Ana falls overboard and when Tom tries to collect the ten million dollar insurance policy, the insurance company sends Ryan, a former NYC detective, to investigate whether Ana fell overboard or was pushed.
This is an intriguing story with a crisp plot that will keep you rapidly turning pages. The story is told in alternating chapters by Ana about the past and Ryan about the investigation. It was a great way to tell the story so that the reader sees the entire story,
.
Keep an eye on this author, I think we'll see some great books from her in the future.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
Ana and Tom Bacon and their daughter live in extravagant lifestyle until Tom loses his job and they no income to support their family. They are in debt over their heads and will soon leave see their house. While on a short cruise, Ana falls overboard and when Tom tries to collect the ten million dollar insurance policy, the insurance company sends Ryan, a former NYC detective, to investigate whether Ana fell overboard or was pushed.
This is an intriguing story with a crisp plot that will keep you rapidly turning pages. The story is told in alternating chapters by Ana about the past and Ryan about the investigation. It was a great way to tell the story so that the reader sees the entire story,
.
Keep an eye on this author, I think we'll see some great books from her in the future.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
May 4, 2020
Just couldn’t get into it although I did like the insurance investigator.
October 21, 2020
Thrilling with many twists
September 13, 2018
"My husband had planned for me to die."
I really need to stop reading books like this, because if I keep this up, I’m going to swear off relationships entirely.
(The Boyfriend looks at me nervously)
Thankfully, I will know all the various signs that might appear if my mate were trying to kill me.
(The Boyfriend looks at me even more nervously)
Taking a nice cruise sounds like the perfect romantic getaway. But that quickly turns into a nightmare for Tom Bacon (I have yet to figure out if the name is a morbid joke or just unintentionally hilarious) when his wife Ana falls overboard and seemingly drowns at sea. After her death, the insurance company sends out an investigator to determine her cause of death and whether or not the reason is relevant for them to cough up her $5 million policy. Because if there’s one thing we all know about insurance companies, is that they never want to fucking pay. Ryan Monohan is a man of statistics, and his numbers just aren’t adding up in this Bacon case. With no body and a seemingly apparent motive coming to frutation, this game of cat-and-mouse can only end in one way. But who is the cat and who is the mouse.
If you take away anything from this book, it’s these points of advice:
1) If you’re husband/mate suddenly takes out a large insurance policy out on you, chances are they’re probably going to kill you. They may try and pull out the, “Oh, I would NEVER sweetie!” talk on you, but chances are if there are more than six figures besides the insurance policy names, chances are they don’t want you to be above ground for very long.
2) If said mate also happens to be a deadbeat who won’t get off their ass and find work, but then has the intelligent foresight to take out a life insurance policy against you, chances are your marriage (and more specifically, you), is going down the tube.
And finally…
3) If your spouse or mate suggests that you go ahead and fake your own death to collect on the insurance policy, DON’T FUCKING DO IT. IT’S A TRAP!!!!
This book reminds me a lot of A Simple Favor, where I had to suspend the belief that two people could be so freaking stupid to come up with a plan this half-hearted and absurd. You as the reader know it’s never going to work and yet we’re expected to read about two characters who think it’s the best idea in the world and go along with it. Both books feature horrible people doing extremely stupid things, which I personally think should be a subcategory of domestic fiction.
As far as the mystery is concerned, it’s pretty predictable, and the narration of Ryan’s character doesn’t really add anything to the story, other than how the trainwreck derails. If anything, readers should go into it knowing that awful things are going to happen and every single rookie mistake that criminals can and will make are made. It’s predictable, yeah, but knowing what’s going to happen (somewhat), might actually be a fun experience for a reader. This book is the equivalent of a Lifetime thriller in the sense you know that everyone is crazy and it’s going to be awful to a certain extent, but it doesn’t make it any less interesting to watch or read about.
And don’t worry: The Boyfriend has decided to stay… albeit nervously while I read my next domestic thriller.
I really need to stop reading books like this, because if I keep this up, I’m going to swear off relationships entirely.
(The Boyfriend looks at me nervously)
Thankfully, I will know all the various signs that might appear if my mate were trying to kill me.
(The Boyfriend looks at me even more nervously)
Taking a nice cruise sounds like the perfect romantic getaway. But that quickly turns into a nightmare for Tom Bacon (I have yet to figure out if the name is a morbid joke or just unintentionally hilarious) when his wife Ana falls overboard and seemingly drowns at sea. After her death, the insurance company sends out an investigator to determine her cause of death and whether or not the reason is relevant for them to cough up her $5 million policy. Because if there’s one thing we all know about insurance companies, is that they never want to fucking pay. Ryan Monohan is a man of statistics, and his numbers just aren’t adding up in this Bacon case. With no body and a seemingly apparent motive coming to frutation, this game of cat-and-mouse can only end in one way. But who is the cat and who is the mouse.
If you take away anything from this book, it’s these points of advice:
1) If you’re husband/mate suddenly takes out a large insurance policy out on you, chances are they’re probably going to kill you. They may try and pull out the, “Oh, I would NEVER sweetie!” talk on you, but chances are if there are more than six figures besides the insurance policy names, chances are they don’t want you to be above ground for very long.
2) If said mate also happens to be a deadbeat who won’t get off their ass and find work, but then has the intelligent foresight to take out a life insurance policy against you, chances are your marriage (and more specifically, you), is going down the tube.
And finally…
3) If your spouse or mate suggests that you go ahead and fake your own death to collect on the insurance policy, DON’T FUCKING DO IT. IT’S A TRAP!!!!
This book reminds me a lot of A Simple Favor, where I had to suspend the belief that two people could be so freaking stupid to come up with a plan this half-hearted and absurd. You as the reader know it’s never going to work and yet we’re expected to read about two characters who think it’s the best idea in the world and go along with it. Both books feature horrible people doing extremely stupid things, which I personally think should be a subcategory of domestic fiction.
As far as the mystery is concerned, it’s pretty predictable, and the narration of Ryan’s character doesn’t really add anything to the story, other than how the trainwreck derails. If anything, readers should go into it knowing that awful things are going to happen and every single rookie mistake that criminals can and will make are made. It’s predictable, yeah, but knowing what’s going to happen (somewhat), might actually be a fun experience for a reader. This book is the equivalent of a Lifetime thriller in the sense you know that everyone is crazy and it’s going to be awful to a certain extent, but it doesn’t make it any less interesting to watch or read about.
And don’t worry: The Boyfriend has decided to stay… albeit nervously while I read my next domestic thriller.
August 24, 2016
So you know how life sometimes just grabs you and you don’t finish a book. No matter how hard you try it you can't get to the ending?
Well this time that was not me!
It took me 3 weeks to finish this book and it became a challenge. I would not give up, no matter what. I made this decision.
My Experience:
You are seated in a Gone Girl type narration. That person’s turn then the other person’s turn. Which side are you on? Decide!
A retired FBI agent now an insurance policy investigator (much more exciting than it sounds) is called in for a case. A wife and mother Ana fell overboard while on a cruise ship. Apparently, people don’t just fall from cruise ships, though. The odds of it is astronomical and our investigator here is all about the odds being fair.
My usual metaphor (I do this almost with each review so now it has become a label) :
It starts off a bit uncertain. Kind of like a new kid arriving at high school and you are not sure what group this kid will fall in. Will I like them, will they annoy me, will they make my heart beat, are they part dragon, will they like my phoenix feather collection, you know normal questions. Then a bit of time goes by and you learn where they fit in. Nobody is being bullied. No mean girls are picking on them no vampires are trying to eat them whilst pretending to be dating them. So you kind of just go oh, okay. However initially you started to talk to the person so now you have a relationship and you feel obligated to finish the conversation.
What I liked:
I liked how it was subtle and kept you guessing until the end. You didn't know where you were standing with the book.
What I did not like:
There was potential for more. I feel like the story could have gone deeper and more cut through. There was still a lot of development left to happen. I feel like the investigator stays the same throughout the story he ponders a lot and he makes good points. Drama happens around him left and right that should lead to some big character development but it doesn't.
I didn't like the lack of conclusions throughout the story.
Rating
* * *
3 snowflakes.
Sincerely
Snow
*******
Finished it.
(Cool face)
Will post review on Wednesday.
Still decding on the rating.
Well this time that was not me!
It took me 3 weeks to finish this book and it became a challenge. I would not give up, no matter what. I made this decision.
We fought we lied we sneak we climbed we did what we had to, to survive. But finished we did.
My Experience:
You are seated in a Gone Girl type narration. That person’s turn then the other person’s turn. Which side are you on? Decide!
A retired FBI agent now an insurance policy investigator (much more exciting than it sounds) is called in for a case. A wife and mother Ana fell overboard while on a cruise ship. Apparently, people don’t just fall from cruise ships, though. The odds of it is astronomical and our investigator here is all about the odds being fair.
My usual metaphor (I do this almost with each review so now it has become a label) :
It starts off a bit uncertain. Kind of like a new kid arriving at high school and you are not sure what group this kid will fall in. Will I like them, will they annoy me, will they make my heart beat, are they part dragon, will they like my phoenix feather collection, you know normal questions. Then a bit of time goes by and you learn where they fit in. Nobody is being bullied. No mean girls are picking on them no vampires are trying to eat them whilst pretending to be dating them. So you kind of just go oh, okay. However initially you started to talk to the person so now you have a relationship and you feel obligated to finish the conversation.
What I liked:
I liked how it was subtle and kept you guessing until the end. You didn't know where you were standing with the book.
What I did not like:
There was potential for more. I feel like the story could have gone deeper and more cut through. There was still a lot of development left to happen. I feel like the investigator stays the same throughout the story he ponders a lot and he makes good points. Drama happens around him left and right that should lead to some big character development but it doesn't.
I didn't like the lack of conclusions throughout the story.
Rating
* * *
3 snowflakes.
Sincerely
Snow
*******
Finished it.
(Cool face)
Will post review on Wednesday.
Still decding on the rating.
November 14, 2016
This was a clever book which was a bit different to the average thriller.
Ana Bacon falls off a cruise ship. Her husband, Tom, is expecting a $10 million life insurance payout. But Tom has not reckoned on Ryan Monahan. Ryan is a former financial crimes officer who, after an injury, investigates insurance claims for possible fraud. Was Ana's fall a terrible accident, a suicide or maybe even murder? Ryan is relentless in investigating the Bacons and soon uncovers financial difficulties and a not very grieving husband already possibly in the arms of another. But does it mean anything?
The story is told from the present POV of Ryan and the past POV of Ana in the weeks leading up to the fall off the ship. As a story-telling device this worked well. The revelations by Ana complement what Ryan discovers as he investigates, draws in helpers and vows to uncover the truth no matter the outcome for his insurance company. But does he? Oh the tangled webs we weave...
The tension builds slowly but surely throughout the book and you are cleverly made to question your own conclusions as the story unfolds. Very enjoyable.
Ana Bacon falls off a cruise ship. Her husband, Tom, is expecting a $10 million life insurance payout. But Tom has not reckoned on Ryan Monahan. Ryan is a former financial crimes officer who, after an injury, investigates insurance claims for possible fraud. Was Ana's fall a terrible accident, a suicide or maybe even murder? Ryan is relentless in investigating the Bacons and soon uncovers financial difficulties and a not very grieving husband already possibly in the arms of another. But does it mean anything?
The story is told from the present POV of Ryan and the past POV of Ana in the weeks leading up to the fall off the ship. As a story-telling device this worked well. The revelations by Ana complement what Ryan discovers as he investigates, draws in helpers and vows to uncover the truth no matter the outcome for his insurance company. But does he? Oh the tangled webs we weave...
The tension builds slowly but surely throughout the book and you are cleverly made to question your own conclusions as the story unfolds. Very enjoyable.
August 10, 2017
A great mystery thriller without one million "F" bombs and unnecessary overly sexualized scenes? Yes please!!! This book is PROOF that authors still can write amazingly entertaining, suspenseful, dangerous literature without sounding like sailors. It was a bit slow to start which I now actually appreciate as other thriller authors often jump in too quickly to the action without properly setting the stage. Although it wasn't insanely difficult to figure out who did what, it was terribly difficult figuring out HOW. I was still in the dark 50% of the way through on who, but I was perplexed until the big reveal as to how. Definitely worth reading!!!! First 70 pages are slow. But once you get past that- around page 130, you won't put it down the rest of the day!!!
August 1, 2016
Loved this book! A really good page turning story that had me right from the start! I couldn't put it down- practically binge read it over the weekend. Liked the alternating chapters from the investigator's viewpoint and Ana's; the story always kept moving forward. Would've given it 4.5 stars, but I had too many questions in my mind about how this would actually work in real life (Okay....I know this is fiction and I need to suspend belief, but still.......)
I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good, quick read!
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane publishers for the opportunity to read an advance digital review copy!
I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good, quick read!
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane publishers for the opportunity to read an advance digital review copy!
March 6, 2017
Actually, this book lost me when her boss tried to force himself on her, and she goes home and immediately has sex with her husband. Right. I did, however, finish the book. I never ended up liking any of the characters, and it's books like this that burn me out, and make me not want to read for a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2016
I literally couldn't put this book down. Many twists and turns. It had me on the edge of my seat.
January 20, 2021
I devoured this! I started it at night and wanted to keep reading, but sadly I must adult in the mornings. So I definitely couldn’t wait today to finish it lol. It was gripping and I needed to know the whole story. What some people wouldn’t go to for money.. that’s all I’m going to say. I loved how we alternated between the main character Ana and the insurance adjuster Ryan. Ryan doesn’t believe for a second Tom is innocent of Ana’s death, but he has to prove that so he doesn’t get her life insurance. What you start to think is a scam set up to make money, turns more deadly and disastrous. I really enjoyed this tale.
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