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The Fiancée
The New York Times bestselling author returns with an unsettling but riveting psychological thriller about a captivating woman who joins a family and threatens to upend their picture-perfect lives.
Summer’s looking forward to a break from hustling for acting work in Manhattan when she, her husband Gabe, and Gabe’s nine-year-old son come to rural Pennsylvania for the annual family get-together at her in-laws’ sprawling estate. On the agenda are leisurely gourmet meals, tennis games, and plenty of relaxation by the pool. This year, Gabe’s baby brother Nick, a perpetual bachelor, has invited his new flame Hannah, who’s an actress as well.
In fact, Summer immediately recognizes Hannah from a showcase they once did together, but strangely, Hannah claims not to know her. And that’s not the only thing that seems off. Yet she charms the other family members, and after Nick announces that he’s proposed to Hannah, Summer doesn’t have much choice but to grit her teeth and smile.
Then the reunion is rocked by tragedy when another family member is found dead, and the doctors attribute the loss to natural causes. A grieving Summer believes that they may have overlooked something, and fears that the too-good-to-be-true Hannah is involved, but Gabe and the others keep ignoring her suspicions.
How far will Summer go to expose the truth? As she investigates just what Nick’s fiancée might have done to keep her perfect image intact, she begins to fear that the first death may only be the beginning . .
Summer’s looking forward to a break from hustling for acting work in Manhattan when she, her husband Gabe, and Gabe’s nine-year-old son come to rural Pennsylvania for the annual family get-together at her in-laws’ sprawling estate. On the agenda are leisurely gourmet meals, tennis games, and plenty of relaxation by the pool. This year, Gabe’s baby brother Nick, a perpetual bachelor, has invited his new flame Hannah, who’s an actress as well.
In fact, Summer immediately recognizes Hannah from a showcase they once did together, but strangely, Hannah claims not to know her. And that’s not the only thing that seems off. Yet she charms the other family members, and after Nick announces that he’s proposed to Hannah, Summer doesn’t have much choice but to grit her teeth and smile.
Then the reunion is rocked by tragedy when another family member is found dead, and the doctors attribute the loss to natural causes. A grieving Summer believes that they may have overlooked something, and fears that the too-good-to-be-true Hannah is involved, but Gabe and the others keep ignoring her suspicions.
How far will Summer go to expose the truth? As she investigates just what Nick’s fiancée might have done to keep her perfect image intact, she begins to fear that the first death may only be the beginning . .
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2021
371 people are currently reading
11305 people want to read
About the author
Kate White
53 books2,818 followersKate White is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nineteen novels of suspense: eleven standalone psychological thrillers, including The Last Time She Saw Him (2024), and eight Bailey Weggins mysteries.
A former Glamour magazine Top Ten College Women Contest winner and cover girl, Kate had a long career in the media business, eventually running five national magazines. For fourteen years she was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, which under her became the most successful magazine in single copy sales in the U.S. Though she loved her magazine career, she decided to leave eleven years ago to concentrate full-time on another passion: writing suspense fiction.
Kate’s first mystery, If Looks Could Kill, was a Kelly Ripa Book Club pick, a #1 bestseller on Amazon, and an instant New York Times bestseller. She has been nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award in the fiction category, and her books have been published in over 30 countries.
Kate is a frequent speaker at libraries, bookstores, and conferences, and has appeared on many television shows, including The Today Show, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Morning Joe, and CNN’s Quest Means Business.
She is also the author of several bestselling career books, including I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This and the ground-breaking Wall Street Journal bestseller, Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead but Gutsy Girls Do.
Kate is an avid traveler and spends each winter with her husband at their home in Uruguay. She holds an honorary doctorate of letters from her alma mater, Union College, where she gave the 2022 commencement address.
A former Glamour magazine Top Ten College Women Contest winner and cover girl, Kate had a long career in the media business, eventually running five national magazines. For fourteen years she was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, which under her became the most successful magazine in single copy sales in the U.S. Though she loved her magazine career, she decided to leave eleven years ago to concentrate full-time on another passion: writing suspense fiction.
Kate’s first mystery, If Looks Could Kill, was a Kelly Ripa Book Club pick, a #1 bestseller on Amazon, and an instant New York Times bestseller. She has been nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award in the fiction category, and her books have been published in over 30 countries.
Kate is a frequent speaker at libraries, bookstores, and conferences, and has appeared on many television shows, including The Today Show, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Morning Joe, and CNN’s Quest Means Business.
She is also the author of several bestselling career books, including I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This and the ground-breaking Wall Street Journal bestseller, Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead but Gutsy Girls Do.
Kate is an avid traveler and spends each winter with her husband at their home in Uruguay. She holds an honorary doctorate of letters from her alma mater, Union College, where she gave the 2022 commencement address.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 994 reviews
July 3, 2021
Ta ta ta taaaa! I’m not only celebrating the first day of the year or binge watching Cobra Kai season 3 on Netflix, I’m raising my glass to share my first book review of 2021! Here we go! Reading challenge already started!
Fast, heart pounding, deliciously intriguing dysfunctional family theme!
An annual family gathering at in-law’s gorgeous estate located rural Pennsylvania: delicious gourmet meals, tennis matches, badminton fun, sipping your refreshments at the pool side seem like a definition of perfect gateway! A great way of celebration of your picture perfect lives! What could go wrong?
But everything changes as soon as a new member steps into family’s comfort zone: a new fiancée earns everyone’s blessings instead of Summer, our doubtful heroine,who gets suspicious of her motives by catching her big lie at the first moment they met. And as people start to die, their perfect holiday turns into a disastrous nightmare!
This storyline reminded me of Sue Watson’s Sister in Law! A new mysterious girl comes into picture and starts to bother heroine since the first moment she is introduced with her! But in this story there are more brothers, two sister in laws and more likable heroine: Summer, just get married with her hot husband Gabe, raising her new 9 years old, quirky but still adorable stepson, a struggling actress, is still so pleased to be part of big family.
Claire and Ash welcomed her with open hands into their family, acting more genuine, caring than her own reversed parents who has never gotten through from their loss of child.
Keira and Wendy are career oriented, great sister in laws and her brother in law Nick is sweetheart who has real bad luck about love interests but now he brought a brand new girlfriend to the estate and things seem more serious! Her name is Hannah and guess what? She is also aspiring actress just like Summer and everyone in the family adores her, instead of Summer who is so sure they worked at the same theater company two years ago but Hannah insists to deny it!
Summer also gets also jealous of Hannah’s pretentious manners about her new acting gig on Netflix!
And dead bodies start to be found in the estate. Somebody in the family might be the killer. Summer’s bet on Hannah! All she needs to find is someone in the family who may believe in her conspiracy theories about murders! But she has no idea what kind of dangerous situation she put herself into!
It was well written, twisty, thrilling, fast paced page turner and it took me a few tries to find the perpetrator! It was not easy catch! Ending was good but I was still expecting something more earth shattering so I’m giving 3.5 stars but I’m still rounding them up 4 exciting, unputdownable, hate the guts of sister in law stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial/ Paperbacks for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Fast, heart pounding, deliciously intriguing dysfunctional family theme!
An annual family gathering at in-law’s gorgeous estate located rural Pennsylvania: delicious gourmet meals, tennis matches, badminton fun, sipping your refreshments at the pool side seem like a definition of perfect gateway! A great way of celebration of your picture perfect lives! What could go wrong?
But everything changes as soon as a new member steps into family’s comfort zone: a new fiancée earns everyone’s blessings instead of Summer, our doubtful heroine,who gets suspicious of her motives by catching her big lie at the first moment they met. And as people start to die, their perfect holiday turns into a disastrous nightmare!
This storyline reminded me of Sue Watson’s Sister in Law! A new mysterious girl comes into picture and starts to bother heroine since the first moment she is introduced with her! But in this story there are more brothers, two sister in laws and more likable heroine: Summer, just get married with her hot husband Gabe, raising her new 9 years old, quirky but still adorable stepson, a struggling actress, is still so pleased to be part of big family.
Claire and Ash welcomed her with open hands into their family, acting more genuine, caring than her own reversed parents who has never gotten through from their loss of child.
Keira and Wendy are career oriented, great sister in laws and her brother in law Nick is sweetheart who has real bad luck about love interests but now he brought a brand new girlfriend to the estate and things seem more serious! Her name is Hannah and guess what? She is also aspiring actress just like Summer and everyone in the family adores her, instead of Summer who is so sure they worked at the same theater company two years ago but Hannah insists to deny it!
Summer also gets also jealous of Hannah’s pretentious manners about her new acting gig on Netflix!
And dead bodies start to be found in the estate. Somebody in the family might be the killer. Summer’s bet on Hannah! All she needs to find is someone in the family who may believe in her conspiracy theories about murders! But she has no idea what kind of dangerous situation she put herself into!
It was well written, twisty, thrilling, fast paced page turner and it took me a few tries to find the perpetrator! It was not easy catch! Ending was good but I was still expecting something more earth shattering so I’m giving 3.5 stars but I’m still rounding them up 4 exciting, unputdownable, hate the guts of sister in law stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial/ Paperbacks for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
May 17, 2021
I loved this book! *4.8 for me*
This is a dramatic family mystery crowned with whodunit vibes. It reminded me of the movie
"This is Where I Leave You" with a little bit of everything I love. Four grown sons returning home the same time every year for a family vacation with a collection of exes, wives and a might-have-been. A very powerful, wealthy family guided by highly respected parents Claire & Ash Keaton living on an expansive estate in Pennsylvania with formal gardens, a cozy but luxurious guest cottage, a tennis court, a swimming pool and walking trails...not to leave out the exceptional service people.
Summer, the female protagonist, and rising actress narrates the story with her super sleuth skills. She is married to one of the sons, Gabe, a most unlikable character. When one of the brothers brings home a new fiancée, Hannah, daggers begin to fly. Not only did she date one of the other brothers...a taboo from the start...but when Summer confronts her that they met before....as she is an inspiring actress also....Hannah lies that they have never met before. Hannah digs herself deeper as Summer begins to find new ways to dislike her ...much to her husband's disapproval.
"How in the world are we supposed to brace for this? It feels like someone's taken my life in their hands and is shaking it hard like a snow globe, making pieces come undone."!!!!!
When Claire dies of an apparent heart attack leaving the family in shambles, Summer thinks there is more to the obvious cause of death. As she begins to point fingers, coming unhinged to get her point across, I was right there cheering her on even when her frustration level became torturous, I felt I had her back to solve the case. It's a good thing I wasn't in charge of the Nancy Drew adventures because I was wrong. As another murder and an attempted murder occurs, the pendulum swings leaving me shocked with the truth.
This was well put together. The descriptions and details were incredible guiding you through as if you were touring the premises and vacationing with this sometimes dysfunctional Keaton ménage. I heard all of Kate White's books are this phenomenal, so I'm a new fan!!!!!
Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review!
This is a dramatic family mystery crowned with whodunit vibes. It reminded me of the movie
"This is Where I Leave You" with a little bit of everything I love. Four grown sons returning home the same time every year for a family vacation with a collection of exes, wives and a might-have-been. A very powerful, wealthy family guided by highly respected parents Claire & Ash Keaton living on an expansive estate in Pennsylvania with formal gardens, a cozy but luxurious guest cottage, a tennis court, a swimming pool and walking trails...not to leave out the exceptional service people.
Summer, the female protagonist, and rising actress narrates the story with her super sleuth skills. She is married to one of the sons, Gabe, a most unlikable character. When one of the brothers brings home a new fiancée, Hannah, daggers begin to fly. Not only did she date one of the other brothers...a taboo from the start...but when Summer confronts her that they met before....as she is an inspiring actress also....Hannah lies that they have never met before. Hannah digs herself deeper as Summer begins to find new ways to dislike her ...much to her husband's disapproval.
"How in the world are we supposed to brace for this? It feels like someone's taken my life in their hands and is shaking it hard like a snow globe, making pieces come undone."!!!!!
When Claire dies of an apparent heart attack leaving the family in shambles, Summer thinks there is more to the obvious cause of death. As she begins to point fingers, coming unhinged to get her point across, I was right there cheering her on even when her frustration level became torturous, I felt I had her back to solve the case. It's a good thing I wasn't in charge of the Nancy Drew adventures because I was wrong. As another murder and an attempted murder occurs, the pendulum swings leaving me shocked with the truth.
This was well put together. The descriptions and details were incredible guiding you through as if you were touring the premises and vacationing with this sometimes dysfunctional Keaton ménage. I heard all of Kate White's books are this phenomenal, so I'm a new fan!!!!!
Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review!
July 6, 2021
2.5 Stars, rounded up. I had a feeling that this author would write this type of book, and for that very reason alone I have not read any of her books, until now. I wish I were wrong. Don't get me wrong, this was an okay book. If you are a big time thriller/suspense fan this one will probably fall short for you too. It just read like the type of book that might be for those that don't necessarily read this genre very often, as everything was very predictable and just a bit underwhelming overall. I mean, I've never read a book, until now, in which when the killer is revealed I still didn't believe that they were actually whodunit because it was just too easy...I was waiting for another twist that never actually came. I still think a couple other characters could have, and would have, been a better culprit, and it felt like a couple storylines were wrapped up very quickly, leaving me wanting more. That being said, I didn't like any of the characters, as they were all white and incredibly privileged, which I couldn't connect with. There was even a comment at the end in which our protagonist belittles another character for only earning $50k a year, or at least that's the way I took it. Despite all of the negatives, this was an incredibly fast-paced read, and I can see how White has a fairly large fanbase. I suppose it just depends on how dark and gritty you want your thrillers to be. The darker the better for me! Don't think I'll try this author again. Moving on to better books!!
May 22, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 29, 2021
Summer and her husband, Gabe, look forward to traveling to Gabe’s family estate every year. This year, with Gabe’s son in tow, they are expecting a week full of family reconnections, recreation and relaxation. But when Gabe’s brother, Nick, shows up at the house with a woman named Hannah, a woman he has only known for two months, everyone is in shock. What’s worse is Summer recognizes Hannah, but when she brings it up, Hannah completely denies the two ever met. Summer begins to notice other odd things about Hannah but when she brings it up to Gabe, he brushes it off as jealousy or paranoia. When Gabe’s mother dies of a heart attack and a staff member of the family is found dead on the grounds, Summer begins to wonder if her attitude toward Hannah is really just “jealousy” and “paranoia” as Gabe claims. Could Hannah be responsible?
Kate White is the author of fifteen novels, many of which are prize winning, and she is no stranger to psychological fiction. Her newest foray into the genre, “The Fiancée”, due out in June, is a combination of family drama, murder, and what secrets are worth killing for.
When I started this novel, to be honest, my first thoughts were “oh no, not another one of THESE novels”, in that a young woman, married to a wealthy man from an even wealthier family, has nothing better to do than to investigate the secrets of a woman she met once. I have literally read at least THREE of these types of novel this year, but I expected better from Kate White. Luckily, she delivered. As the novel progressed and the family secrets deepened, I began to thoroughly enjoy the story.
Summer is a character who grows on you, and rest of the family all have their various likable traits (with the exception of Hannah, although White wrote it that way). Little Henry was adorable, and Summer’s role as stepmother is endearing.
The family is quite large, and therefore there are a lot of players to suspect once the bodies start to drop. Obviously, White makes it clear who she wants the readers to think it is, and makes it look likely, too. But fans of this genre will know that the real suspect is always someone you don’t expect. The ending was a complete twist, and I definitely did not predict the outcome.
“The Fiancee” is a great read for those looking for a fast-paced, high-tension family drama, with wealth and jealousy at its very core.
Expected publication date: June 29, 2021
Summer and her husband, Gabe, look forward to traveling to Gabe’s family estate every year. This year, with Gabe’s son in tow, they are expecting a week full of family reconnections, recreation and relaxation. But when Gabe’s brother, Nick, shows up at the house with a woman named Hannah, a woman he has only known for two months, everyone is in shock. What’s worse is Summer recognizes Hannah, but when she brings it up, Hannah completely denies the two ever met. Summer begins to notice other odd things about Hannah but when she brings it up to Gabe, he brushes it off as jealousy or paranoia. When Gabe’s mother dies of a heart attack and a staff member of the family is found dead on the grounds, Summer begins to wonder if her attitude toward Hannah is really just “jealousy” and “paranoia” as Gabe claims. Could Hannah be responsible?
Kate White is the author of fifteen novels, many of which are prize winning, and she is no stranger to psychological fiction. Her newest foray into the genre, “The Fiancée”, due out in June, is a combination of family drama, murder, and what secrets are worth killing for.
When I started this novel, to be honest, my first thoughts were “oh no, not another one of THESE novels”, in that a young woman, married to a wealthy man from an even wealthier family, has nothing better to do than to investigate the secrets of a woman she met once. I have literally read at least THREE of these types of novel this year, but I expected better from Kate White. Luckily, she delivered. As the novel progressed and the family secrets deepened, I began to thoroughly enjoy the story.
Summer is a character who grows on you, and rest of the family all have their various likable traits (with the exception of Hannah, although White wrote it that way). Little Henry was adorable, and Summer’s role as stepmother is endearing.
The family is quite large, and therefore there are a lot of players to suspect once the bodies start to drop. Obviously, White makes it clear who she wants the readers to think it is, and makes it look likely, too. But fans of this genre will know that the real suspect is always someone you don’t expect. The ending was a complete twist, and I definitely did not predict the outcome.
“The Fiancee” is a great read for those looking for a fast-paced, high-tension family drama, with wealth and jealousy at its very core.
April 5, 2021
Another enjoyable mystery filled with twists, turns, and red herrings — as can only be delivered by Kate White.
I’ve read and enjoyed many books by Kate White, so I was thrilled to get an advance copy of this one. She tends to write mysteries in the more classic vein, with a modern Cosmo woman playing Nancy Drew. (Cosmo woman because Kate White used to edit Cosmopolitan magazine so yep, she knows her Cosmo girls. She practically invented them.) Here, we have heroine Summer, married to Gabe, spending some time with her in-laws and extended family, when suddenly people start getting murdered. (I mean, who among us hasn’t been at an extended family gathering where it seemed like murder was the next logical step?) The family is wealthy and there is a sketchy new fiancée in the picture — one who Gabe’s brother has decided to marry after knowing her for only two months. While the creepy fiancée seems the most likely suspect, Summer’s sleuthing uncovers a host of other possibilities (and clever red herrings) that kept me guessing until the surprise ending.
I always enjoy Kate White’s books because she’s one of the few modern mystery writers who can write a modern Nancy Drew tale without annoying me with 1) too much cutesy coziness or 2) a dopey plot. Her female protagonists are always strong, funny, and relatable, and Summer is no exception here. The murders are not totally hard boiled but also not the “my cat and I solved a crime” or the “Miss Scarlet in the study with the candlestick” variety. (No offense to either of those genres; they’re just not for me.)
White is also very adept at making you suspect absolutely EVERYONE, but tying up the mystery neatly at the end. All in all, in the Fiancée, a reliable and fun mystery writer knocks another one out (literally?) for your sleuthing enjoyment.
Read this one if you’re in the mood for a traditional whodunit with a modern twist.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper, and Kate White for the fun and involving mystery that I didn’t have figured out at all!
I’ve read and enjoyed many books by Kate White, so I was thrilled to get an advance copy of this one. She tends to write mysteries in the more classic vein, with a modern Cosmo woman playing Nancy Drew. (Cosmo woman because Kate White used to edit Cosmopolitan magazine so yep, she knows her Cosmo girls. She practically invented them.) Here, we have heroine Summer, married to Gabe, spending some time with her in-laws and extended family, when suddenly people start getting murdered. (I mean, who among us hasn’t been at an extended family gathering where it seemed like murder was the next logical step?) The family is wealthy and there is a sketchy new fiancée in the picture — one who Gabe’s brother has decided to marry after knowing her for only two months. While the creepy fiancée seems the most likely suspect, Summer’s sleuthing uncovers a host of other possibilities (and clever red herrings) that kept me guessing until the surprise ending.
I always enjoy Kate White’s books because she’s one of the few modern mystery writers who can write a modern Nancy Drew tale without annoying me with 1) too much cutesy coziness or 2) a dopey plot. Her female protagonists are always strong, funny, and relatable, and Summer is no exception here. The murders are not totally hard boiled but also not the “my cat and I solved a crime” or the “Miss Scarlet in the study with the candlestick” variety. (No offense to either of those genres; they’re just not for me.)
White is also very adept at making you suspect absolutely EVERYONE, but tying up the mystery neatly at the end. All in all, in the Fiancée, a reliable and fun mystery writer knocks another one out (literally?) for your sleuthing enjoyment.
Read this one if you’re in the mood for a traditional whodunit with a modern twist.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper, and Kate White for the fun and involving mystery that I didn’t have figured out at all!
July 2, 2021
One of my top 5 new books for June 😍
July 12, 2022
3.5
This was my first book from this author and it was better than I excepted. I actually guessed whodunnit fairly quick which is crazy because I NEVER seem to get it right, but I enjoyed the story and will read more Kate White’s books in the future.
This was my first book from this author and it was better than I excepted. I actually guessed whodunnit fairly quick which is crazy because I NEVER seem to get it right, but I enjoyed the story and will read more Kate White’s books in the future.
July 9, 2021
Mindless and predictable with unlikeable and unbelievable characters.
I wish that I did not say "I do!" to this book. I would have saved myself time. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was mediocre.
Author Kate White goes hot and cold with me. This time, she left me flat.
Kate White is a talented author and I most certainly will be giving her future titles a try. This book just failed to "engage" me.
I wish that I did not say "I do!" to this book. I would have saved myself time. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was mediocre.
Author Kate White goes hot and cold with me. This time, she left me flat.
Kate White is a talented author and I most certainly will be giving her future titles a try. This book just failed to "engage" me.
November 8, 2022
DNF
How I say this? The Fiancee is dragging. Too much domestic drama. I got really impatient listening to the audiobook.
Skip.
2 stars
How I say this? The Fiancee is dragging. Too much domestic drama. I got really impatient listening to the audiobook.
Skip.
2 stars
April 13, 2021
I loved this book, but it's one of those reads where I was rather surprised that I loved it, as there are some flaws that would generally annoy me, but didn't in this one for some reason. I have no idea - I'm still scratching my head over my enthusiasm, but oh well, it worked for me!
I have to say that this was my first introduction to Kate White, and at first, I wasn't sure that I enjoyed her writing style. It's very descriptive - even about mundane things - especially when it came to food. A bit too much for me, so I wasn't sure I was going to get into it, but then I was quickly sucked in! The story opens with struggling actress Summer Keaton, and her husband, Gabe, along with her nine-year-old stepson on their way to Gabe’s parents’ summer home for their annual family vacation. Summer looks forward to the vacation every year as all four Keaton brothers and their partners are all in attendance. However, this year the perfect holiday is marred for Summer by the arrival of fellow actress Hannah Kane, the new girlfriend of one of Gabe’s brothers. Summer immediately recognizes Hannah from a show they both participated in a couple years previous, but Hannah denies it. Summer's spidey senses immediately start tingling (I thought her reaction was perhaps a bit over-the-top, but I went with it), but when she expresses her concern to Gabe, he doesn't seem to think it's a big deal and suggests that her suspicions might be motivated by envy. She tries to let it go, but when a family member dies of what appears to be natural causes, Summer automatically assumes it was murder, and that Hannah had a hand in it. The problem is - she's the only one who thinks that, and just when Summer begins to think maybe she was overreacting - another murder occurs, and the perfect family façade begins to crumble, revealing devastating secrets and lies.
This book has so many red herrings that it made my head spin! I would jump off one rabbit trail and head right down another. There was one character that White never pointed a finger at, so I was certain that was the killer - I was wrong (although I still think my choice of killer made more sense! lol). The majority of the characters were very unlikable - and in my opinion, Summer's husband, Gabe, took the cake in that department; but it was so twisty and fast-paced that it didn't bother me. It probably would have been a 5-star read except for the ending, which was surprising, but I didn't think it totally made sense and still left me with some unanswered questions. Still though, 4 exciting-unputdownable-whacked-family stars all the way!
I have to say that this was my first introduction to Kate White, and at first, I wasn't sure that I enjoyed her writing style. It's very descriptive - even about mundane things - especially when it came to food. A bit too much for me, so I wasn't sure I was going to get into it, but then I was quickly sucked in! The story opens with struggling actress Summer Keaton, and her husband, Gabe, along with her nine-year-old stepson on their way to Gabe’s parents’ summer home for their annual family vacation. Summer looks forward to the vacation every year as all four Keaton brothers and their partners are all in attendance. However, this year the perfect holiday is marred for Summer by the arrival of fellow actress Hannah Kane, the new girlfriend of one of Gabe’s brothers. Summer immediately recognizes Hannah from a show they both participated in a couple years previous, but Hannah denies it. Summer's spidey senses immediately start tingling (I thought her reaction was perhaps a bit over-the-top, but I went with it), but when she expresses her concern to Gabe, he doesn't seem to think it's a big deal and suggests that her suspicions might be motivated by envy. She tries to let it go, but when a family member dies of what appears to be natural causes, Summer automatically assumes it was murder, and that Hannah had a hand in it. The problem is - she's the only one who thinks that, and just when Summer begins to think maybe she was overreacting - another murder occurs, and the perfect family façade begins to crumble, revealing devastating secrets and lies.
This book has so many red herrings that it made my head spin! I would jump off one rabbit trail and head right down another. There was one character that White never pointed a finger at, so I was certain that was the killer - I was wrong (although I still think my choice of killer made more sense! lol). The majority of the characters were very unlikable - and in my opinion, Summer's husband, Gabe, took the cake in that department; but it was so twisty and fast-paced that it didn't bother me. It probably would have been a 5-star read except for the ending, which was surprising, but I didn't think it totally made sense and still left me with some unanswered questions. Still though, 4 exciting-unputdownable-whacked-family stars all the way!
July 18, 2021
Details intended as twists are telegraphed early and often (the second the poisonous foxgloves are mentioned, you KNOW Claire will be killed with them) and then the final reveal comes out of nowhere and couldn’t be less interesting. Wendy, who you haven’t been primed to care about in any significant way, is the killer? Because she was having an affair with a off-page character who has never even been mentioned? The only real surprise in the book is that the protagonist’s husband, who is cold and distant from his wife throughout the entire text, isn’t evil. He’s just poorly written. He fits in well with the rest of this amateurish “mystery.”
Do read this book if you love the idea of salads and muffins being served “on the sideboard,” because you will get to enjoy that exact phrase roughly once every 3 pages.
Do read this book if you love the idea of salads and muffins being served “on the sideboard,” because you will get to enjoy that exact phrase roughly once every 3 pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2021
Is it as God awful as the guest list? No. But damn what is?
The repetitive characters and writing is horrendous which is a shame because the proligue grabbed me right away.
If anyone stared into the middle distance one more time. And lord the main character... she could have been assaulted by all the clues telling her that just maybe what she thought is not what she should be thinking... but what an idiot.
Not to mention her constant idolizstion of certain people despite all the contrary evidence. She obviously is oblivious to so much. 🤷 but ho hum let's spend 3 chapters on how amazing and beautiful the sprawling house, grounds and people are... and holy hell shut up about the food. Unless the chef killed someone or its a cozy mystery. Chapters of this. And nothing really psychological thriller happens till the last 1/4.
Worse, there was a lot of potential here. White plants all these possibilities for fantastic multiple, complicated, believable and devastatingly trash fire endings. But none of them happen.
Instead you get this boring, played out, what the fuck did I waste my life on ending.
The repetitive characters and writing is horrendous which is a shame because the proligue grabbed me right away.
If anyone stared into the middle distance one more time. And lord the main character... she could have been assaulted by all the clues telling her that just maybe what she thought is not what she should be thinking... but what an idiot.
Not to mention her constant idolizstion of certain people despite all the contrary evidence. She obviously is oblivious to so much. 🤷 but ho hum let's spend 3 chapters on how amazing and beautiful the sprawling house, grounds and people are... and holy hell shut up about the food. Unless the chef killed someone or its a cozy mystery. Chapters of this. And nothing really psychological thriller happens till the last 1/4.
Worse, there was a lot of potential here. White plants all these possibilities for fantastic multiple, complicated, believable and devastatingly trash fire endings. But none of them happen.
Instead you get this boring, played out, what the fuck did I waste my life on ending.
August 17, 2021
I don’t think there is anything that excites me quite like a new Kate White book does! I own every book of hers in hardcover (except one that I am still trying to track down!) and they are books I read over and over because they are this perfect blend of intriguing mystery, intricate plotting, strong heroines, breezy banter, and fun settings. They manage to have fairly diabolical villains but somehow stay light. And even when I know who did it, I find myself enjoying re-reads and noting all of the clues I missed the first time. Simply the best escape reads for me!
Imagine you are just getting to a perfect week-long getaway to a sprawling estate in the country. The remote grounds not only boast stunning gardens (which the hostess and her staff expertly arrange into beautiful place settings daily), gourmet meals, a refreshing pool, private tennis courts, and scenic walking trails, but also a gathering with family. Sounds heavenly, right?
Summer can’t wait to get out of Manhattan and take a long overdue vacation. Working as an actress and doing voice work, Summer is stressing about a recent job that didn’t go well. Still, she’s ready to put the incident out of her mind and spend quality time with her husband, his son, and his family.
From the first day Summer and her husband Gabe arrive at his parent’s estate, what promised to be a relaxing week is quickly spoiled. Gabe’s two brothers are in attendance and one has a new girlfriend Hannah. Summer actually recognizes her—she’s sure they both acted in a showcase together a few years earlier. But Hannah insists she was never in that showcase. Why would she lie? Summer can tell something is off about Hannah—she doesn’t trust her, particularly after she verifies with a mutual friend that Hannah was the person in the showcase and learns some troubling information about Hannah and why she may want to keep it a secret.
The week moves along a bit awkwardly, as Hannah continues to do things that raise Summer’s suspicions. But when a member of Gabe’s family unexpectedly dies, Summer begins to question everything. Is it natural causes, or is something else going on? Tensions rise as the family deals with the loss, secrets come to light, and deeply buried rifts among the brothers suddenly seem to surface.
If you’ve read Kate White before, you’ll find this to be another contemporary take on the classic whodunit. I absolutely love her Bailey Weggins books, but I also enjoy her standalones. Summer doesn’t quite have Bailey’s brazenness, but she is just as intelligent and tenacious about uncovering the truth! I enjoyed hearing about her work as an actress—I always think Kate White chooses interesting professions for her leading ladies. I also absolutely loved the setting. Though not quite a locked room mystery, it certainly felt that the remote estate location added an element of unease as things started to go awry and only the family and significant others were present.
This is a perfect weekend read—intriguing mystery, lots of clues to follow along the way, a great reveal, and despite the subject, it manages to stay on the lighter side of thrillers. Another slam dunk by Kate White!
Thank you to Harper for my advanced copy. I loved it so much I bought the hardcover for my collection. Opinions are my own.
Imagine you are just getting to a perfect week-long getaway to a sprawling estate in the country. The remote grounds not only boast stunning gardens (which the hostess and her staff expertly arrange into beautiful place settings daily), gourmet meals, a refreshing pool, private tennis courts, and scenic walking trails, but also a gathering with family. Sounds heavenly, right?
Summer can’t wait to get out of Manhattan and take a long overdue vacation. Working as an actress and doing voice work, Summer is stressing about a recent job that didn’t go well. Still, she’s ready to put the incident out of her mind and spend quality time with her husband, his son, and his family.
From the first day Summer and her husband Gabe arrive at his parent’s estate, what promised to be a relaxing week is quickly spoiled. Gabe’s two brothers are in attendance and one has a new girlfriend Hannah. Summer actually recognizes her—she’s sure they both acted in a showcase together a few years earlier. But Hannah insists she was never in that showcase. Why would she lie? Summer can tell something is off about Hannah—she doesn’t trust her, particularly after she verifies with a mutual friend that Hannah was the person in the showcase and learns some troubling information about Hannah and why she may want to keep it a secret.
The week moves along a bit awkwardly, as Hannah continues to do things that raise Summer’s suspicions. But when a member of Gabe’s family unexpectedly dies, Summer begins to question everything. Is it natural causes, or is something else going on? Tensions rise as the family deals with the loss, secrets come to light, and deeply buried rifts among the brothers suddenly seem to surface.
If you’ve read Kate White before, you’ll find this to be another contemporary take on the classic whodunit. I absolutely love her Bailey Weggins books, but I also enjoy her standalones. Summer doesn’t quite have Bailey’s brazenness, but she is just as intelligent and tenacious about uncovering the truth! I enjoyed hearing about her work as an actress—I always think Kate White chooses interesting professions for her leading ladies. I also absolutely loved the setting. Though not quite a locked room mystery, it certainly felt that the remote estate location added an element of unease as things started to go awry and only the family and significant others were present.
This is a perfect weekend read—intriguing mystery, lots of clues to follow along the way, a great reveal, and despite the subject, it manages to stay on the lighter side of thrillers. Another slam dunk by Kate White!
Thank you to Harper for my advanced copy. I loved it so much I bought the hardcover for my collection. Opinions are my own.
April 14, 2022
2-1/2 stars, rounded up because it's nice out and I'm in a good mood
Sadly, the jacket flap and first couple chapters were the best things about this book. The rest of it was just a mess of meh. After their initial run-in, Summer and Hannah barely interact, so it's obvious that all things Hannah-related are nothing but . I ended up really disliking the passive-aggressive woman-against-woman hate vibe running through this whole book. Summer isn't sympathetic; she's just crazy and apparently not very nice. I usually don't care if a character is "likable" so long as they're interesting, but Summer is kind of sullen and dull. Her one redeeming quality is that she is good with her stepson.
Also annoying is that while everyone in this book has a cell phone, the internet and social media don't seem to exist, because at no point does Summer simply Google Hannah and stalk her Facebook/Instagram accounts or IMDB page or whatever (Hannah is a working actress filming a Netflix pilot). This isn't the only book I've read recently where Googling never seems to occur to the characters in order to maintain questions/suspense about another character. But do authors really think you can just ignore the internet out of existence? This plot device drives me bananas.
Bad stuff happens; and to be fair, nearly every character except the kid has a good motive, and I suspected them all at one point or another. This did keep me reading, so that's another reason I rounded the stars up.
But somehow, none of it quite gelled. The characters are all boring. The tension between them felt petty. Their relationships felt shallow. And when all was revealed, there was no sense of "oh, I should have seen that!" but just "ugh, really?"
This was a quick but ultimately disappointing read.
Summer, her husband Gabe, and her precocious 9-year-old stepson arrive at Gabe's parents' country house for an annual week of warm weather fun and relaxation. But this year, Gabe's noncommittal brother Nick arrives with a girlfriend, Hannah. Summer knows she's met Hannah before, but when she brings up the acting/playwriting showcase they both appeared in, Hannah denies knowing what Summer is talking about. Summer is convinced that Hannah must be up to no good. And when tragedy strikes, who else could possibly be behind it?Despite noting the generally lukewarm reviews for this book here on GR, I was intrigued by the premise of Hannah's lying and what the motive might be. Sure, maybe she didn't remember Summer. But there must be a deeper reason for not admitting to being in the play?
Sadly, the jacket flap and first couple chapters were the best things about this book. The rest of it was just a mess of meh. After their initial run-in, Summer and Hannah barely interact, so it's obvious that all things Hannah-related are nothing but . I ended up really disliking the passive-aggressive woman-against-woman hate vibe running through this whole book. Summer isn't sympathetic; she's just crazy and apparently not very nice. I usually don't care if a character is "likable" so long as they're interesting, but Summer is kind of sullen and dull. Her one redeeming quality is that she is good with her stepson.
Also annoying is that while everyone in this book has a cell phone, the internet and social media don't seem to exist, because at no point does Summer simply Google Hannah and stalk her Facebook/Instagram accounts or IMDB page or whatever (Hannah is a working actress filming a Netflix pilot). This isn't the only book I've read recently where Googling never seems to occur to the characters in order to maintain questions/suspense about another character. But do authors really think you can just ignore the internet out of existence? This plot device drives me bananas.
Bad stuff happens; and to be fair, nearly every character except the kid has a good motive, and I suspected them all at one point or another. This did keep me reading, so that's another reason I rounded the stars up.
But somehow, none of it quite gelled. The characters are all boring. The tension between them felt petty. Their relationships felt shallow. And when all was revealed, there was no sense of "oh, I should have seen that!" but just "ugh, really?"
This was a quick but ultimately disappointing read.
June 17, 2021
Nothing like a family gathering at a multi-million dollar summer compound to bring out the murderer in the family. Am I right? Our girl Summer is an in-law and a stepmother in the clan. When the first death occurs, Summer proposes a scenario for murder. Crickets . . . even from her husband. This was an entertaining read and my first by Kate White. I loved the whole summer reunion vibes, especially since they had paid staff for the cooking and serving. Bonus! More time for summer fun. What I thought was weird was the total lack of support that Summer got from husband Gabe during her sleuthing. Their relationship was portrayed as very solid at the beginning of the book. Anyway, I would still recommend this to fans of mystery and suspense. I was totally taken off guard by the big reveal.
Thank you to Harper Paperbacks and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Harper Paperbacks and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2021
My God, Summer was so annoying and ridiculous I almost couldn't finish this book.
May 2, 2022
Lots of family drama and a thriller too. Want to read more by this author.
June 26, 2021
If you’re wanting a good domestic thriller, locked room mystery then this is it! Summer, an aspiring actress, is looking forward to a nice getaway at her in-laws’ sprawling estate. She arrives with husband Gabe and stepson Henry. Things turn sideways when Gabe’s brother, Nick, arrives with his girlfriend Hannah, also an actress. But wait Hannah “ acts” like she doesn’t recognize Summer and the drama soon sets in! Someone is murdered, Summer believes Hannah is involved but no one believes her. It’s twisty & the suspense will keep you on your toes! My review is 4.5 rounded up to 5. Thank you to Harper Perennial for a gifted copy!
January 22, 2021
I’ve been a Kate White fan for as long as I can remember and this book is no different.
A solid thriller but with predictable twists but overall enjoyable.
Told in the POV of Summer the daughter in law of the family on their annual vacation. Summer is struggling with her acting career and crosses paths with Hannah a fellow actress. Jealousy drives Summer to dig into Hannah’s life revealing that she’s been accused of stealing.
This was a fast paced murder mystery that fans of White will definitely enjoy.
Thanks to Edelweiss for my advanced ebook copy.
A solid thriller but with predictable twists but overall enjoyable.
Told in the POV of Summer the daughter in law of the family on their annual vacation. Summer is struggling with her acting career and crosses paths with Hannah a fellow actress. Jealousy drives Summer to dig into Hannah’s life revealing that she’s been accused of stealing.
This was a fast paced murder mystery that fans of White will definitely enjoy.
Thanks to Edelweiss for my advanced ebook copy.
September 5, 2021
Sometimes I understand why others rated books highly and sometimes I’m completely confused.
Summer was really irritating and ridiculous. The foreshadowing (especially with the poem) was so over the top. Not one of the characters were memorable (maybe there were too many?).
Summer was really irritating and ridiculous. The foreshadowing (especially with the poem) was so over the top. Not one of the characters were memorable (maybe there were too many?).
August 3, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
I’ve now read several books by Kate White and, while they don’t reinvent the mystery genre, they are all pretty enjoyable. The fiancée was not the exception. I got immediately hooked up! I love this family reunions gone wrong and here things went really wrong, although it took a while for it to take off.
Summer was a likeable character (I loved that she narrated audiobooks) although too naive at times. Never a good idea to go sharing your suspicions with each and every one! Gabe made me so mad! I’ll never understand when a character dismisses their spouse’s suspicions to believe the word of a person they just literally met.
There’re red herrings all throughout the story, making you doubt everyone in the Keaton family. I for sure did although I suspected one of them quite strongly from halfway through. I got it right but not their motivations.
All the twists and turns made that there never was a dull moment. The plot moved at a nice pace and the narrator of the audiobook did a fantastic job with the characters.
The writing was good and the descriptions made me feel as if I was there vacationing with the Keatons.
There were some things I would have liked a bit better resolved (or explained), especially the one thing that made Summer all suspicious in the first place.
Entertaining family drama/whodunit that will make for a great read by the pool this summer.
I’ve now read several books by Kate White and, while they don’t reinvent the mystery genre, they are all pretty enjoyable. The fiancée was not the exception. I got immediately hooked up! I love this family reunions gone wrong and here things went really wrong, although it took a while for it to take off.
Summer was a likeable character (I loved that she narrated audiobooks) although too naive at times. Never a good idea to go sharing your suspicions with each and every one! Gabe made me so mad! I’ll never understand when a character dismisses their spouse’s suspicions to believe the word of a person they just literally met.
There’re red herrings all throughout the story, making you doubt everyone in the Keaton family. I for sure did although I suspected one of them quite strongly from halfway through. I got it right but not their motivations.
All the twists and turns made that there never was a dull moment. The plot moved at a nice pace and the narrator of the audiobook did a fantastic job with the characters.
The writing was good and the descriptions made me feel as if I was there vacationing with the Keatons.
There were some things I would have liked a bit better resolved (or explained), especially the one thing that made Summer all suspicious in the first place.
Entertaining family drama/whodunit that will make for a great read by the pool this summer.
August 16, 2021
The Fiancee
was unintentionally hilarious, which I'm sure was NOT the author's intention.
I've read previous books by the author before but don't recall any of them as bad as this one.
Where do I start?
I don't want to waste more time on The Fiancee than I already have.
Summer is a ridiculous character, among all the rest of her privileged, entitled characters in the story.
I still have no idea how she immediately jumped to the conclusion that the fiancee is a murderer.
Okay, this woman might be a thief so naturally, she's a murderer?
I laughed every time Summer began rambling about this woman she barely knew (which was on almost every page), assuming she did this and that, and jumping to these outlandish conclusions based on the fact that she might have stolen money at a play a few years ago.
Not one character is likable; they're not detestable, they're just boring. Shallow. One dimensional. You don't care what happens to whom.
I haven't read any recent books by the author, and it was my bad luck that I picked this one.
I won't make the same mistake twice.
I've read previous books by the author before but don't recall any of them as bad as this one.
Where do I start?
I don't want to waste more time on The Fiancee than I already have.
Summer is a ridiculous character, among all the rest of her privileged, entitled characters in the story.
I still have no idea how she immediately jumped to the conclusion that the fiancee is a murderer.
Okay, this woman might be a thief so naturally, she's a murderer?
I laughed every time Summer began rambling about this woman she barely knew (which was on almost every page), assuming she did this and that, and jumping to these outlandish conclusions based on the fact that she might have stolen money at a play a few years ago.
Not one character is likable; they're not detestable, they're just boring. Shallow. One dimensional. You don't care what happens to whom.
I haven't read any recent books by the author, and it was my bad luck that I picked this one.
I won't make the same mistake twice.
June 30, 2021
This was my first Kate White book and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I loved the premise and the isolated setting but unfortunately I found this one to be predictable. I think for people who don’t read many thrillers this would be fun and I have to say that the narration saved this for me, it was excellent
October 17, 2021
I always enjoy Kate White's books, and this was another fast-paced, entertaining story. A family drama/murder mystery that kept me guessing until the end. The book was a bit slow and repetitive toward the middle, and the main character became a little too obsessed (and therefore annoying) in her search for the killer, but still an enjoyable and easy read. 3.5 stars.
August 25, 2021
This book was ok but was a bit of a disappointment for me. It dragged for me and I found myself skimming pages because I was so bored. I loved her last book so I will continue to read her books.
June 25, 2021
My first book by White. I love a great thriller. I was lead to believe that Hannah was the devil the whole time so I was shocked to learn the real killer. I never saw that coming. It was very well written.
4 stars and I can't wait to read more of Whites work.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
4 stars and I can't wait to read more of Whites work.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
August 12, 2021
I always love a Kate White thriller and this is no exception! Family drama and a possible murder keep the pages turning. A great summer read!
July 20, 2021
That was a whirlwind! I needed a pack of Post-its to keep it all straight. Family, murder, deception, and oh, so much drama! This was my first time reading Kate White and it certainly won't be my last. I highly recommend this read for fans of suspense thrillers. So good!
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December 11, 2021
I love a family drama, Kate White nailed it with this one full of characters you are never sure if you can trust. I pointed the finger at all of them at one time or another. A great read with an unexpected ending. Worth ordering from The US
November 13, 2024
It's kind of a long build-up to anything good. I liked the final conclusion but it was kind of hard to believe with what all had happened. The end was ok.
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