The Marriage Betrayal

by Shalini Boland

‘Daddy has been lying.’

Faye Townsend has planned the perfect summer trip for her family. But returning to the small seaside town her husband grew up in does not go to plan, the rain pours and the long days become stifling. And then the unthinkable happens…

Her husband Jake and her six-year-old son Dylan go for an early morning walk along the beautiful, windswept clifftops. They don’t come back.

As the hours tick by, Dylan’s red baseball cap is found on the beach and Faye finds herself being questioned by the police. They want to know everything about the man she married - is Faye ready to face her husband’s dark past? Or will she have to confront her own secrets first?

And just how far will a mother go to save her only child?

From the million-copy-bestselling author of The Secret Mother and The Perfect Family, this utterly gripping psychological thriller will make you gasp out loud as you race towards the unforgettable twist. If you loved The Girl on the Train and The Wife Before You this book is for you.

What readers are saying about Shalini Boland:

‘Completely and utterly mesmerising!... I read it until the early hours… I literally couldn’t put it down!!… had my heart beating so fast I thought it would burst! The suspense and tension was amazing.’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘Without a doubt one of the best books I have read this year… truly a rollercoaster of a book that I couldn't put down… full of twists and turns until the very last page… superb.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘Wow what a brilliant book… Deliciously dark and totally compelling it grips you from page one and then just messes with your head until the final pages… certainly a thrill of a ride with its twists and turns… Excellent.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘The perfect psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end… I could feel the tension building… I felt myself wanting to scream… a twisted story that will leave your mouth hanging open. Oh that ending, you just wait for that ending!’ It’s All About the Thrill, 5 stars

‘OMG The queen of killer twists has done it again!!... had me tearing through the pages… my heart was pounding. The story delivers lots of thrills right up until the last page… an exhilarating page turner of a read… will take you by surprise and have you hooked until the very last word.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘I literally had to pick my jaw up off the floor…!!!! This is a book that messes with your head (as I told a friend earlier!)… a perfect psychological thriller!!!... to say you’re going to thoroughly enjoy this one is an understatement... Hold onto your hats, you’re in for a hell of a ride!!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘ALL the stars!!!...

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Thriller Suspense

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2019

About the author

Shalini Boland is the USA-Today bestselling author of twenty psychological thrillers. With three million copies sold, her titles are published by Amazon Publishing, Audible, Bookouture, and Grand Central Publishing.

Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her family and their increasingly demanding dog, Queen Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).

She is also the author of two bestselling SFF series.

www.shaliniboland.com

Now available:
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
THE HONEYMOON
THE SCHOOL REUNION
THE SILENT BRIDE
THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
A PERFECT STRANGER
THE FAMILY HOLIDAY
THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS
MY LITTLE GIRL
THE WIFE
ONE OF US IS LYING
THE OTHER DAUGHTER
THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL
THE PERFECT FAMILY
THE SILENT SISTER
THE CHILD NEXT DOOR
THE SECRET MOTHER
THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE
THE BEST FRIEND
THE GIRL FROM THE SEA
The OUTSIDE SERIES - a thrilling dystopian adventure
The VAMPIRES OF MARCHWOOD series - a romantic fantasy adventure
A SHIRTFUL OF FROGS - an evacuee timeslip adventure

Reviews

[Dem · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a surprise this twisty and fast paced Psychological thriller turned out to be, short, fast paced and twisty, just the book for a summer/holiday read.

My first novel by this author and I randomly chose this one from Audible list as I needed something for a quick weekend listen while travelling and this certainly didn't disappoint. I literally read the description and took a chance on it and it held my attention and kept me guessing from start to finish. I wanted a quick and fun read that wasn’t going to be too taxing and this ticked all the boxes for me.

“Faye Townsend has planned the perfect summer trip for her family. But returning the small seaside town her husband grew up in does not go according to plan, the rain pours and the long days become stifling and then the unthinkable happens..........

This isn't the Thriller of the year Novel for me but it certainly is entertaining well written and lots of twists and turns to keep the reader entertained. I listened to this one on audible and the narration by Katie Villa was very well narrated.

An easy and entertaining read and a new author to add to my Thriller/mystery list.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faye Townsend has planned what she thinks will be the perfect surprise trip for her husband Jake's birthday. She's booked a large house overlooking the sea in the seaside town of Swanage in Dorset where he grew up and invited Jake's sister and family along with her own young son Dylan. However, once they get there Jake is sullen and withdrawn and clearly not happy to be back in Swanage. The holiday mood does not improve and they decide to go home early but the day they are due to leave Jake and Dylan disappear. A search by police and volunteers will find Dylan's red cap but no hints of where they might be.

This is a very twisty psychological thriller. On the surface Jake and Faye seem to have a perfect marriage and family but there are secrets in the marriage and secrets in Jake's past in Swanage which all contribute to the current events. Ms Boland always seems to have a surprise killer of a twist up her sleeve that you don't see coming and she doesn't fail to deliver here, although I did think the plot was a bit unrealistic and extreme in the circumstances.

With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC to read

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shalini Boland has become to me one of those authors that when I get on a bit of a meh streak and need something I can count on to pick me up I look for one of her books in my queue. Definitely an author I am working my way through her catalog and have enjoyed every one I’ve read so far and thankfully this psychological thriller, The Marriage Betrayal, was no exception.

Faye Townsend only wanted to make some beautiful memories with her family when she came up with the idea to plan a vacation to the seaside town her husband and his sister grew up in. Enlisting the help of her brother in law the surprise trip slowly fell into place as Faye tried to hide her excitement in the surprise.

Faye, her husband and their son along with Faye’s in-laws and their girls, all packed up and headed to the mystery destination only to have the siblings reaction to be not quite what the spouses expected when planning the trip. Faye still tried her best to get everyone to enjoy themselves but her husband was determined to head home. However, he agreed to take their son out on one last excursion before packing up but when they didn’t return Faye began to uncover the many secrets of the past in that town.

The Marriage Betrayal was again another book by this author that took very few page turns until I was quickly entranced in the story. The author has this captivating way of peeling back layer and layer as she tells her stories with plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep a reader guessing. And of course you never discover that last little twist until it’s all over. Another great story I would recommend.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I have never read a Shalini Boland book that I have not loved, this is no exception! The Marriage Betrayal is one twisted psychological thriller that I could not put down.

Faye surprises her husband Jake on his birthday with a trip to his childhood town. The gorgeous town lined by cliffs and ocean seemed like a fantastic getaway to Faye. Except her husband seems less than thrilled to be returning to the close knit town he grew up in. Does he have something to hide in his past? When he and his son go missing during a hike, Faye can't help but wonder if they have had an accident or did someone want Jake gone?

Oh my word, this book had me guessing all the way until the very end. I was on edge the whole time wondering what was going on with Jake. He seemed to want to get out of town as soon as possible, what on earth was he hiding? The more I learned about Jake and his sister Lainey, the more I began to question what had happened in their past. Neither seemed to ever want to talk about their childhood, much less revisit it on a vacation. Did Jake just get mad and leave or did something far more sinister happen?

As the story escalated I couldn't believe the direction it took. Was this really happening? I was completely floored at the finely twisted web that unraveled at the ending. I must say my detective skills failed me again as I never saw it coming. This is exactly why I find myself grabbing this author's books as soon as I can get my hands on them, because I can always count on a fantastic read!

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make Sure This Is On Your Reading List For 2019 Or You Will Have Missed Out On A Really Different Domestic Thriller!I

Two sets of family and in-laws are taking a birthday surprise vacation for Faye's husband Jake along with his sister Lainy and her husband Tom and all their children. Faye and Tom planned the trip in the beachtown where Jake and Lainy grew up. Unbeknownst to Faye and Tom, the town holds many secrets and memories that both families are not prepared to handle, and Jake becomes moody and distant on their arrival and Faye appears very nervous and uncomfortable about the strange reactions of her husband and sister-in-law. This is just the background information that sets the foundation of many twists and turns along with a feeling that a dark storm is brewing and waiting to let loose with a torrential downfall. Shalini Boland really knows how to grab your attention from the first page and holds on tight up to the final ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for the creepy tension, the mysterious location of the story and also the feeling that there is something very wrong with all the relationships yet you are unsure if you are on the right track. The writing is so very good and will make your jaw drop, when reach that final ending!

I want to thank the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read "The Marriage Betrayal".

I highly recommend this gripping story and have given 4 Very Dark ✴✴✴✴ Stars!!

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bestselling author Shalini Boland returns with an explosive psychological thriller with so many earth-shattering secrets and skeletons in the closet simply dying to reveal themselves. Ms Boland knows exactly how to hold you in a vice-like grip from first page through to the last. It's a quick, easy and thoroughly entertaining thriller and one I loved a lot more than some of the author's previous novels. In The Marriage Betrayal, she seems to have found the perfect formula comprising, intrigue, mystery, deception and secret aplenty. I couldn't tear myself away, and I can guarantee you won't be able to either!

It centres around a missing husband and son, Jake and Dylan who disappear whilst out looking for seals by the coast, and long-buried secrets which led to Jake and his sister Lainey's swift departure from their hometown of Swanage. But do the dark deeds of the past have anything to do with the sudden vanishing act or is it merely a coincidence? This is a cleverly plotted and structured story with so many rapid-fire twists and turns that repeatedly prove your predictions wrong; Boland is massively adept at keeping you guessing. I got a rather large shock at the major surprise at the end and couldn't have predicted it. A super domestic thriller. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from Shalini Boland. As usual the story was fast paced and addictive and I read it quickly. If you have ever read anything by this author you know that you are always in for a twisty adventure with an ending that you won't see coming. The Marriage Betrayal is no exception.

Faye has planned a family summer holiday back to where her husband Jake grew up. Along for the trip is Jakes sister and her family. But all is not as she had imagined and Jake is not enjoying being back home. They plan to head back to London early but before they can Jake and their 6 year old son go missing . The police are called and the town comes out in force to help search for them. As the investigation continues Faye finds out that her husband is not the man she believed that he was.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faye's husband Jake is about to celebrate his thirty fourth birthday. She decides to take him and their son, Dylan back to Jakes hometown, Swanage. Jake's sister Lainey, her husband Tom, and their two daughters tag along. But Jake and Lainey haven't been back to Swanage for almost twenty years. They left several secrets there, so it's not surprising that the siblings are not happy at being back. Jake decides to take Dylan out early one morning to see if they can spot dolphins and seals. But they don't return. Faye and Tom go out searching for them, but they are nowhere to be seen.

The story is told between the present and past. The past gives us an insight into what had happened in Swanage when Jake and Lainey were kids. OMG e en though it's just a story, I was on the edge of my seat, willing them to find Dylan safe and well. There is also some occasional chapters from a man we know nothing about. I was not sure where this story was going,so I had to keep reading to find out. Just when I thought I knew what had happened, it would change direction. This is a cleverly written and well thought out plot. I was hooked from the beginning. The suspense builds up slowly, but the twist at the end, I definitely did not see coming. I read this book in one sitting. Shalini Boland certainly knows how to pull in your attention and keep it there. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Shalini Boland for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I've read almost every book by this author, so I was excited to get my hands on her latest, The Marriage Betrayal. The premise sounded intriguing and Boland has a knack for exploring what happens to ordinary people in less than ordinary situations. It wasn't quite as gripping as I hoped it would be, and I guessed the ending and a number of twists and turns, which slightly took away from my reading pleasure. It also bothered me that the word "mousy" was used rather often to describe women, which I think wasn't necessary. It's not a bad book by any means and I read it over the course of three days, but it's not my favorite by Boland either. That being said, it was entertaining as a holiday read and I will continue to read her books in the future.

Thanks to Bookouture for providing a copy of The Marriage Betrayal in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across the writing of Shalini Boland about a year ago and can't get enough of her books. Her books are full of suspense and I frequently finish them in one sitting due to the excitement she generates throughout. This one was much the same, fairly simple plot but an entertaining psychological thriller.
Faye Townsend has planned a family holiday to the small seaside town where her husband grew up. What should be a perfect get away turns out disastrous when her husband Jake and six-year-old son Dylan go for an early morning walk along the clifftops and don’t come back. The search for her family begins and when her sons cap is found on the beach the worst possible outcome is feared. Faye is questioned by the police and they want to know everything about the man she married. The book switches between present day and the past, telling of Jake and sister in their teenage years. The suspense builds and builds as details of the past are revealed which may explain the reasons for her husband and sons disappearance.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow, wow! Shalini Boland is one hell of a story teller. I think I may still be in shock after reading this. I really don’t know how she does it but yet again she has totally knocked my socks off.

What should have been a lovely family holiday turns out to be Faye’s worst nightmare. Her husband and son both disappearing. Luckily for her they went with her sister in law and her family so she has someone to lean on.

The story flicks from present day to the past when Jake and his sister were in their teens. It’s obvious that something has happened in the small seaside town but just what, I had no clue and we are fed bits throughout the main story of the disappearance of Jake and Dylan whilst waiting for this revelation.

Yet again I loved the build up of suspense as to what has happened to Jake and his son. I really felt for Faye and her sister in law and what they were going through. The further into the story we get the more my heart started pounding as I know how the author loves to play with her readers mind and yet again she did not fail me.

The Marriage Betrayal is a gripping story that will send your heart racing. It’s another of her books that I can’t wait for all my friends to read so I can talk to them about it and see if they saw any of the revelations coming, as I certainly didn’t. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

In true Shalini Boland style this 8th psychological thriller is ‘one you start and don’t want to stop until you reach the end’
The author is prolific but the stories just keep coming and this is every bit as good as those gone before
Meet Faye and Jake, happily married with a son Dylan, enter Lainey ( Jakes sister ) and Tom ( her hubby ) and their 2 kids and off they go for a ‘surprise’ holiday for Jake’s birthday.....except Jake is horrified, Swanage has all kinds of memories from his past he has no desire to rekindle......
But they all make the most of it
Well they do until Jake and Dylan disappear
And are found via CCTV
AND THEN. the story really starts and grrrrr I cant say anymore because it might give away what then turns into a 360 degree twist and turns the book upside down!
Chilling ending and even chillier epilogue to this outstandingly clever story
Not always that easy to surprise me in books but this did, a few times!!
Loved it being set in Swanage and Dorset and loved the characters and the way the author fooled the reader with the characters!!!!
A great read that will have you wrong footed, reeling and thrilled!
10/10 5 Stars

[Elisa Glendenning (on hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Hooked from the beginning with a twist I didn’t see coming. Perfect beach read!!!

[Namita · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
Faye Townsend has planned a surprise family holiday to small seaside town of Swanage, where Jake and his sister, Lainy, grew up but didn't anticipate her Jake’s reluctance to be back home .What should be a perfect birthday outing though turns out to be a nightmare when her husband Jake and six-year-old son Dylan go missing. While the cops and the community jump in to help search for them secrets come tumbling out and Faye soon realizes that she might have not known her husband at all.
The Marriage Betrayal is a twisty psychological domestic thriller.Told between alternative timelines and POV’s this is another fast moving , gripping addictive read by Shalin Boland.
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Marriage Betrayal by Shalini Boland was a psychological thriller that was hard to put down.
Faye has planned a surprise trip for her husband Jake's birthday. They are going away with their young son and Jake sister, her husband and their two daughters.
Jake and his son go out one morning and disappear. The police think that they may have had an accident.
This story has many twists and turns.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture, for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another brilliant book from Shalini Boland. Shalini is one of my favourite authors and her books are excellent. This book was so interesting and full of gripping twists and turns. When you think you’ve figured it all out another twist comes and completely flips the story upside down. It was incredibly well written and had so much going on. I liked how it went from the past and to the present. There were plenty of surprises and i thought all the characters were really interesting. I definitely recommend this book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL is a gripping psychological thriller by bestselling author Shalini Boland.

Her Novels Include:
A Shirtful of Frogs (2012)
The Girl from the Sea (2016)
The Best Friend (2016)
The Millionaire's Wife (2017)
The Secret Mother (2017)
The Child Next Door (2018)
The Silent Sister (2018)
The Perfect Family (2018)
The Marriage Betrayal (2019)
The Other Daughter (2019)
One of Us Is Lying (2020)
The Wife (2020)

Faye Townsend has organized a surprise summer getaway birthday for her husband, Jake and seven- year- old son, Dylan. They are also joined along with Jake’s younger sister, Lainy, husband Tom and two young daughters, Annabel and seven- year- old Poppy, to the seaside town of Swanage where Jake and Lainy grew up. But everything doesn’t plan out as intended.

When they arrive at the house they have rented, they are greeted by the owner…which was strange. The house is old and Jake doesn’t seem to want to be there. Was this trip a mistake?

Faye is an artist who put aside her career when she fell pregnant, and now illustrates and designs web pages for her husband’s company.

They celebrate Jake’s birthday out for dinner in town, but soon agree to head back home later the next day, but after Jake has taken Dylan out to the cliffs to view the dolphins, and the women and children have spent the day at the beach.

Jake and Dylan go for an early morning walk along the beautiful, windswept clifftops…but they don’t come back!

As the hours tick by, Dylan’s red baseball cap is found on the beach and Faye finds herself being questioned by the police. They want to know everything about the man she married - is Faye ready to face her husband’s dark past? Or will she have to confront her own secrets first?

How far will a mother go to save her only child?

This utterly gripping psychological thriller will appeal to a wide audience, with a strong plot, memorable relatable characters and an explosive twisted ending. All I can say is sit back and enjoy. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Net Galley for my digital copy.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faye Townsend has the perfect week planned for her husband's birthday. She and her brother-in-law Tom hope that her husband Jake and sister Lainey will enjoy being back in their hometown for a week. However, no one is happy and they decide to return home earlier. The day they plan to leave, Jake and their seven-year-old son Dylan plan to spend the morning touring. They never return.

Panicked Faye and Tom begin searching. Finding nothing, they go to the police, who take the matter quite seriously. A vast search for Jake and Dylan begins but nets very few clues.

While the search ensues, the story goes back and forth between Jake and Lainey's past. There are things about Jake that are rather unnerving and it is at this point that things begin clicking into place for the reader.

This story by Shalini Boland is told with incredible tension. There are a couple of massive twists in the story that literally had my jaw hanging open. The Marriage Betrayal is a great psychological thriller that just may shock the reader. I love stories where it turns out that nothing is as it seems. That is what happened in this book for me. Finding the "ah" moment was incredibly satisfying.

Reading this book was quite like putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together. I love how it was written and I also love how I was thrown off. Oh, and that ending! This is definitely a Wow! book and easily reminds me why I love this author so much. Discussing this book with another reader was a lovely bonus.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

[• Jodi Bibliophile • · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly this book is so hard for me the rate. It was a solid 3 stars up until the prologue and then went up to 4 stars. I should have known there was going to be more to this book . It’s Shalini Boland and she always delivers a WTF moment in all her prologues. So I’ve settled for a 3.5 star. Not my favourite of hers but it did keep me guessing!

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faye and Jake and their son Dylan, along with Jake's sister, her husband and their two little girls are spending a week in the small seaside town where Jake and his sister grew up.

This was supposed to be a birthday surprise for Jake, but things aren't as much fun as they first thought. Jake is quiet, a bit morose, and he hates surprises. They all decide to leave early as no one is happy, other than the kids.

Jake and Dylan go for an early morning walk, hoping to spot some dolphins in the sea. They never return.

As the hours pass, all Faye can think of is the possibility that they may have fallen off a cliff ... been washed out to sea and drowned ... caught in an underwater cave. When the police spot Dylan's red baseball cap and spots of blood, everyone thinks the worst may have happened.

Faye finds herself being questioned by the police and what the police have found and now tell her spells out something that she would never have imagined. Did her husband have a deep dark secret kept hidden all these years?

This absorbing tale is well written with stand out characters. The suspense is well paced starting at the very beginning and not subsiding until the very unpredictable ending and the huge twist it presents.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Samantha Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book. Shilina is one of my best authors so always excited for a new books
Some times it’s hard to keep the pace of keeping books interesting form a author and so far for me personally, each book just gets better and better

The story goes from past to present.

I really loved reading this book. A nice flow to it. I was interested the whole time of reading and was shocked and kind boggling with some of the story. I really would recommend this book and her other books

[Melissa In The City · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shalini Boland is THE Queen of Twists and Psychological Thrillers! 👑 And this new book is Pure Shalini crazy! I loved every word, page and paragraph! I was hooked and I did get emotional reading it.
This was a definite “nothing is what you think it is” story. I admit, it fooled me, but i’m glad it did.
Put this on your summer must read shelf now!
10 stars!
Thank you #Netgalley, #Bookouture, and Shalini Boland for my free ARC in exchange for me honest opinion.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Marriage Betrayal by Shalini Boland is a psychological thriller. 

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
 

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When Faye Townsend plans a special family birthday trip for her husband Jake, she is surprised that neither he nor his sister are pleased to be returning to the seaside town where they grew up.

When Jake takes their 7-year old son Dylan on an early morning walk to see the dolphins, Faye decides to stay in bed.  Later in the day, her sister-in-law Lainy, along with her husband Tom and their two girls go with Faye to the beach.  Jake and Dylan are to join them later.  But neither Jake nor Dylan return.  The police organize a search, but other than Dylan's red cap, and a small amount of Jake's blood, little is found - initially.

With her world falling apart, Faye is finding it hard to stay strong.  So is Lainey.  There is a lot to Jake's past that no one knows.  Then again, he isn't the only one that has been keeping secrets. 


My Opinions:  
I was a little worried when I started this book, because I didn't like Shalini Boland's last one, but since I've liked all her others, I thought I'd take a chance.  WOW.... just WOW.

This has got characters I loved, a lot of red herrings, and a twist I honestly did not see coming.  The suspense just built, and the whole story just grabbed me.  I could hardly read this fast enough.

The author told the story in multiple time-lines, which gave the reader a glimpse of Jake and Lainy as teenagers, which was a story all it's own!  There is also an unknown narrator in current time who added another aspect to the story.

Bottom line, this was a fast one-day read, and my favorite of all her books so far.  I simply didn't want to set it down.  Highly recommend this one!

For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ 4.5 stars

Shalini Boland is THE Queen of psychological thriller twists! I don't think there has been a book of hers I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. She draws you in right from the very first page and you can't put it down till you've finished. Of course I did take one break to make dinner, but after that I delved straight back into it...and didn't return to the land of the living until I'd finished!

Faye Townsend has planned a surprise trip for her husband Jake's birthday. A week's holiday with their son Dylan, sister Lainy and her husband Tom and their two daughters, Poppy and Annabel in the seaside town of Swanage in Dorset, where Jake and Lainy grew up. The siblings have never returned to the little town since they left when they were teenagers, and their discomfort as soon as they set foot there is apparent.

The old gothic Victorian terraced house they have booked for the week looked a lot more inviting on the website than in reality. Upon opening the door, there is the subtle smell of damp and it looks as if little has been done to maintain the property. Then they are surprised to be greeted by a strange woman descending the stairs upon their arrival. It appears the owner wanted to be there to greet her guests when they arrived...but it left the couples feeling a little spooked. And a bit weird.

While Dylan and the girls raced upstairs to claim their rooms, leaving the adults to settle in theirs, Jake and Lainy showed little excitement. They'd both become quiet and withdrawn and neither appeared to want to talk about it.

Faye and Tom secretly arranged this holiday as a surprise and are disheartened to see their good intentions have fallen flat with their spouses, who look anything but thrilled to be back.

The holiday mood doesn't improve and they decide to return home the following afternoon, after Jake and Dylan return from their planned early morning excursion to see the dolphins. Whilst they are out, Faye and the others decide to head to the beach for a paddle and a picnic, sending Jake a message to let them know where to meet them. By 2pm after reveling in a seaside Punch and Judy show, Faye becomes concerned that the boys haven't returned. By then, they have been gone for 8 hours.

A police search is then underway for both Jake and Dylan - on the clifftop, in the woods and in the water - leaving Faye both frantic and fraught with worry. Tom and Lainy do their best to keep her spirits up but Faye can't help but imagine the worst. And then Dylan's baseball cap and some blood are found on the clifftop...

What happened to her husband and son? Are they injured? Did they fall? Or is this all just a ruse, and they left of their own accord? And if so, how well does Faye truly know her husband?

THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL is Shalini Boland's eighth thriller, I believe, and her knack of of drawing you in, keeping you in suspense throughout and then throwing in a twist that blindsides you will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat and reading into the night in this compelling thriller. One of my favourite authors, Shalini never disappoints as she delivers another thrill-ride that will have you enjoying every moment.

Told primarily from Faye's perspective in the present day, we are fed pieces of the puzzle in flashbacks to Jake and Lainy in their teens when they lived in the seaside town. It is obvious something happened here, but what? There is also an anonymous narrative that is peppered throughout which leaves us wondering who it is and how it is connected. But true to form, Shalini loves to play with her readers' minds and has us tying ourselves in knots trying to work out where it is all leading.

And then...just when you thought you knew where the story was going...there is yet another twist that takes another huge detour...leaving the reader breathless!

I did not see that final twist coming. At all! Well done, Shalini! You've done it again!

THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL comes out on 8th July. Put it on your TBR list. You won't be sorry!

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMarriageBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure about this book. I had a hard time following it and I even tried starting it a 2nd time and got to 39% and gave up. I was not connecting with the characters or the story line for that matter. Lots of others gave it 4-5 stars so maybe it’s just me!

[Agnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 5th book I have read by Shalini Boland and it did not disappoint. I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest opinion and boy this story through me for a loop.

It starts off simple enough. Jake and Faye go on holiday with their son Dylan; taking Jake's sister Lainie and her husband and two girls with them. But their holiday is set back in their hometown when they were kids. A lot of secrets are there so the book goes back and forth from now to then. But it is easy to follow. Before they are ready to leave Jake takes his son Dylan on a morning outing for father and son time and does not return. The story then covers the task of finding out what happened to them. Did they get hurt? Were they kidnapped? The police get involved and everyone is frantic.

So just when you thought you knew where the story was headed....It.Takes.A.Huge.Detour.....
Never did I see this story line coming and was totally thrown off. This book will be out July 8; place it on your TBR list! You'll be glad you did.

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!!! Shalini boland has done it again. Just when you think you can see how the plot unfolds, BAM!!!! ....its all turned upside down.

As with her other books, this was fast paced, gripping and twists and turns galore. Another brilliant read that I can't recommend enough.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Taina Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Boland's books so was excited for this one and it did not disappoint! When Faye plans to surprise her husband, Jake with a trip to his hometown for his birthday, she has no idea why he seems sullen and uninterested when they arrive. And then when he disappears after an outing with their young son the next day, Faye is frantic and worries that something sinister has happened to them. But of course we discover the secrets and lies that are hidden in Jake and his sister's pasts--told in alternate chapters--and we see why neither of them is happy to be back. And nothing is as it seems so there are several twists that you won't see coming. Definitely my kind of book!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big Shalini Boland fan having been recommended her books many times by Gail Shaw a member of TBC. She eventually wore me down and I read my first Shalini Boland book with her other books following at a steady pace! She writes fabulous psychological thrillers and The Marriage Betrayal is no different. It’s a gripping and addictive read that I flew through in one tension filled sitting.

When Faye decides to surprise her husband and his sister with a break in the village that they were brought up in, he doesn’t seem as thrilled as she would have liked him to be! They haven’t been going through an easy time of it lately but that’s marriage isn’t it?! So when Jake takes their six year old son for a walk one morning and doesn’t return, Faye has to look deeper into the past of the man she married. There is a dual timeline here that flashes back to brother and sister during their teenage years in their home village and it becomes obvious that something very disturbing has taken place. I loved guessing what had occurred to make them both go pale with fear when they realised where they were all heading for their break! But I certainly didn’t expect the twists and turns that came one after the other, making me unsure of who to trust and who was telling the truth. Shalini Boland managed to convey perfectly the terror of a mother unsure of what has happened to her child and the tension was slowly built up as her fears increased with every stone that she overturned in her search for the truth.

This was an easy read that just flowed so perfectly that it was impossible to put it down. Shalini Boland always manages to deliver a compelling story that her readers can relate to and this one especially worked well for me. Her characters are so multi layered so that you can just gently peel those layers away until their real intentions are exposed. I became lost within the pages of The Marriage Betrayal and was quite happy not to be found until the very end.

Definitely recommending this one!