My Husband's Killer

by Laura Marshall

Three couples. One murder. A holiday to die for . . .


We arrived at a villa on the Amalfi Coast, ready to enjoy a sun-soaked weekend with our oldest friends - and one new face.

By the end of the weekend, my husband is found dead.

But how can I mourn him, when on the day of his funeral I discover he was having an affair?

The only suspects are the women we went on holiday with. My oldest, closest friends.

I really want to dig into my husband's secret? Do I really want to know who betrayed me?

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

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 29, 2022

About the author

Laura Marshall is the bestselling author of four psychological thrillers. Her debut novel, Friend Request, was a Kindle No.1 and Sunday Times bestseller, with over half a million copies sold in the UK. Laura's books have sold in twenty-four territories around the globe.

She grew up in Wiltshire, studied English at the University of Sussex and currently lives in Kent with her family.

For more information visit Laura's website www.lauramarshall.co.uk or find her at www.facebook.com/lauramarshallauthor or on Twitter @laurajm8.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the day of Andrew’s funeral as he’s presumed drowned in the Tyrrhenian Sea though his body has not yet been found. Instead of being able to grieve his loss on this difficult day his wife Liz is steaming angry after making a discovery which shocks her. Which one of her oldest friends has betrayed her on their holiday in Amalfi? Does she really want to know? In the light of her find is his death accidental or intentional? The novel is told in the present day and from three months ago in Italy with several perspectives which works very well.

The dynamics between the holidaying friends are fascinating, often being alcohol fuelled exchanges but always sparking intrigue. It transpires nothing is what it seems, on the surface all looks fine and dandy but they all have issues or problems of one description or another. There’s everything from envy and jealousy to anger and barely bubbling under resentment with a measure of anxiety and desperation. Some of them have got secrets which turn out to be pretty huge when the revelations begin to roll in. There’s tension aplenty, you can often cut the atmosphere with a knife and often bears are deliberately poked for reactions which sends ripples like shockwaves through the group. It’s becomes very intense and claustrophobic especially in Amalfi and these are the sections I enjoy the most as you’re full of questions concerning what lies at the heart of all the angst and drama. When it begins to emerge piecemeal it’s pretty twisted with shocks and surprises that keep on coming and gluing you to the pages.

There are a lot of novels of this type at the moment but I think Laura Marshall really pulls it off in this entertaining psychological thriller.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Compelling*

This book although compelling, for me the characters were all unlikeable. They all fly off to the Amalfie coast to stay with Staffie and Todd.

Liz
The main character who loves her husband and family and thinks they have no secrets. She also comes across a touch naive in the way she trusts everyone around her.

Andrew
He is married to Liz and his best friend friend is Owen who is secretly carrying a torch for someone and Andrew has secrets of his own

Saffie
She is an Instagram queen and is living the life she always wanted with wealthy Todd. She is a superficial materialist character, Is her life as rosy as it looks? Is she holding on tight for the lifestyle she has with Todd, or she blinkered?

Todd
A wealthy businessman who seems to be controlling and is bank rolling the trip for the group to celebrate his 50th birthday. He also wants everyone to like him and puts up a facade to their faces. What lies beneath his facade?

Trina
Ex girlfriend of Andrew is married to Julian who appears to adore her. Is he aware of the explosive secret she is carrying? Something from her past is coming back to bite her, who will it affect?

Julian
He is a black and white character and has no grey areas. Trina is everything to him. How will he act if Trina’s secret ever comes out?

Poppy
She is a single mother who is chaotic apart from work. She is Liz’s best friend and business partner of Andrew. She holds many secrets, is a huge secret about to be revealed? She is also contemplating an indecent proposal….

Owen
He was married to Saffie but she has an affair and leaves him for wealthy American Todd. He is bitter that he was the wronged one but feels left out in the cold as the group apart from Andrew and Liz seem to have chosen Staffie, he holds secrets but one secret is about to be revealed, how will he react?

As the group go off to Italy and settle in as the alcohol flows tensions rise. The group go way back to from university and the story is told from multiple points of view.

One member will not be returning. Is it an accident or is it something else?

[Atlasi Khoramani · Rating 4 out of 5]

۳.۵
سه زوج به تعطیلات می‌رن اما از بین این شش نفر فقط پنج نفر به خونه برمی گردن.
لیز بدون همسرش اندرو به خونه برگشته. اندرویی که توی دریا غرق شده و مرده.
اما لیز به جای این که بتونه برای شوهرش عزاداری کنه چیزی رو کشف می‌کنه که باعث زیر و رو شدن تمام باورهاش نسبت به شوهرش و دوست‌های صمیمی‌ش میشه. حالا لیز باید علاوه بر فقدان شوهرش با این واقعیت رو به رو بشه که همه‌ی دوستاش و یا حداقل بیشترشون چیزهای بزرگی رو ازش پنهان کردن. رازهایی که شاید اگر افشا می‌شد حالا بچه‌ها بدون پدر نبودن.

کتاب واقعا جذاب و خوبی بود. کاراکترهای زیادی داره و شاید اول کمی آدم رو گیج کنه اما به مرور دیگه به اسم‌ها و نقش‌هاشون عادت کردم و تونستم از کتاب خوب لذت ببرم. گرچه جوری نبود که بعد تموم کردنش انگشت به دهن بمونم اما از خوندنش پشیمون نیستم اصلا. کیفیت خوبی داشت.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven of us arrived at a villa on the Amalfi Coast, ready to enjoy a sun-soaked weekend with our oldest friends - and one new face. By the end of the weekend, a terrible accident will leave my husband dead, But how can I mourn him, when on the day of his funeral I discover he was having an affair? The only suspects are the women I went on holiday with. My oldest and closest friends.

What a completely engaging and gripping read this book is. The pace is fast throughout, it's unpredictable, and very twisted. The chapters alternate between the weekend away and the events that happened in the past, and it's told from multiple perspectives. I suspected everybody of Andrew's murder. The characters were well developed but not likeable. There are some surprises along the way in this well written and sensitive read. Things aren't always as they seem. The ending was also a surprise.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #LornaMarshall for my ARC of #MyHusbandsKiller in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times intriguing, at times confusing ( re the biggish cast list and how they all interacted with each other, most of them over decades ) this ‘Whodunit’ for me was solved in my head about half way through, I was crowing I was right, and I was but then the last chapter kinda changed all that….I will say no more
This book so far has great reviews, for me it was a theme have read quite a few similar of recently, friends meet up abroad at a villa for a weekend, secrets, lies and more of both are itching to be set free and when they are choas ensues
The author does cover grief very well and only when reading the acknowledgements did I realise why and found this quite moving
The setting in Italy is beautifully described and with all things considered it was a goodish read that proves again this authors talents ( Friend Request her first book I still think about now )

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

What an addictive read that was. I started it late on Saturday night and binged the rest the next day. These so called friends were so unlikeable and out for themselves. Wow, how anybody could be friends with these people is beyond me.

You might think that you have read this storyline before, but believe me when I say that you haven’t read it like this. A group of friends since uni days spend a weekend away at a luxury home on the Italian coast. One doesn’t come back. Liz is grieving her husband’s death when she find something in his belongings that makes her rethink everything and everyone. What really happened that weekend in Italy? It seems that they were all hiding something and would do anything to keep their secrets.

A fast paced, twisty page turner. This will suck you in and before you know it the day has gone. Highly recommend.

Thanks to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes November 29th.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having previously enjoyed this author, I knew I was in for an entertaining, engaging read.

I really liked the structure of this psychological mystery.

The novel opens with Liz preparing for her husbands funeral.
Rather than grieving, she discovers something in one of his pockets that indicates that he had been having an affair...

After the initial hook, the story jumps back three months as the two are holidaying in Italy with a couple of groups of friends.
Seeing the dynamics between them all as the trip will end in tragedy really ups the stakes.

Plenty of secrets and mystery surrounding the aftermath of Andrew's death builds with plenty of twists.
The location was perfectly described and reveals kept me hooked.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
My Husband's Killer by Laura Marshall was so good, fast paced and unputdownable! So many secrets, twists and turns and a clever storyline.

Seven friends spend the weekend at a villa on the Italian Coast. By the end of the holiday Liz’s husband Andrew is dead, presumed drowned and all her friends are a suspect. It appears he may of been having an affair with one of her girlfriends. If you can’t trust your friends who can you trust?

Honestly I couldn’t wait to start reading this book each evening, if I didn’t have other commitments I wouldn’t of been able to stop.

Highly compulsive reading and I can’t wait to read more by this author who also wrote Friend Request. I highly recommend this one thriller fans and would be surprised if you didn’t love it!

Publication Date 29 November 2022
Publisher Hachette Australia (Imprint Sphere)

Thanks so much to the fabulous team at Hachette Australia for an early copy of this book 🙏

[Mana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy intrigues, secrets, and tangled friendships, My Husband's Killer is the book for you.

After a weekend in Italy, the group of friends comes home without Andrew, who was presumed drowned in the sea. His wife, Liz, finds herself not only grieving but also burning with rage because she senses that one of her friends is lying. Saffie, Todd, Trina, Julian, Poppy, and Kitty; they’ve all lied to her about something. And all she can think about is Andrew and what he's been keeping from her.

Who knows what is going on beneath the surface? Nobody ever knows every single thing about another person, even those closest to them. Everything is not as good as it seems.

A compelling and intriguing read, full of tension and emotional twists between friends. The novel is original; the characters are well-developed, and the themes are always relevant: love, fear, grief, greed, power, control, and obsession.

An enjoyable read that I would recommend.

[Zoe Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mid

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book to review. This is my first read by this author and Im already looking at the backlist. This is a story about friends who went to university together and catch up on a holiday on the Amalfi Coast. Told by 6 POV - Andrew , Poppy, Trina, Kitty and Sadie. It has a past ( when they were at university) and present timeline. Its a book that will have you turning the pages to find out whats happening with twists and turns all the way through. For me any book that has unpredictable ending is a winner in my eyes. This book will keep you on your toes guessing who it is.

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Husband’s Killer is a curious affair. A thriller with little focus on thrills. This is a slow burner, with a large cast of characters who are not particularly likeable or easy to keep track of.
The story focuses on a tight-knit group of friends who’ve known each other since university, and who have headed to Italy to celebrate the birthday of one of their partners. The dynamics between them are all off, primarily because of the break-up of one relationship and the hidden secrets that have been kept.
While on holiday things bubble and one of the party ends up dead. His widow is convinced he was having an affair before he died and that it was with one of her friends. The truth is even more bizarre!
This started well but as we got to know the characters I found myself increasingly irritated by their selfishness and couldn’t wait to find out exactly who’d done what. I wasn’t even that surprised by the ‘shock twist’ as these particular characters were behaving in a way that made you instantly suspicious.
I’m grateful to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this but I think this will be a tough one to recommend. Guaranteed that some will love it for the very reasons I haven’t!

[Karen Chong · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Given the little reviews the book had I didn’t really know what to expect- so I thought why not go and read it myself, enjoy the journey it takes me on.

The start was a little difficult to get into, you’re immediately introduced to a lot of names connected to one another and constantly having to remind yourself who is who. It’s like you’re at a party trying to remember the names of everyone that has been introduced, only to forget them once they’re name is mentioned. But also connecting the dots on people and often having re read a few bits to figure out who they are. Once you get over that stage its an easy page turner and time flies. It does it get weird when the book does jump back to different times - which did effect how I expected the book to end.

This book felt like friendship school drama poured and moulded into the real life drama mixed with friend holiday drama. This lowkey feels like the typical holiday drama meets death kinda book.

If you like the whole drama fuelled relationship scandal this is your cup of tea, if not it’s like drinking tea with salt.

[Nicola Rogerson · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was a lot of hype around this book on social media, but having read it, I don’t really understand why!!

The plot is very cliché and I had to check I hadn’t read it before. A group of friends on holiday, one is murdered suspicion about affairs, money problems and lies from
the past.

The characters are dull, unlikeable and it’s just poorly written with extraneous detail and wordy descriptions. I should’ve given up but skim read the last few chapters, where rather than a “twist”, it just got ridiculous.

Don’t waste your time.

[Chloe Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

An addictive read that I’ve devoured in the sunshine this afternoon!

It’s the day of Andrew’s funeral…although his body has not yet been found, he is presumed dead due to drowning in the sea whilst on holiday in Italy with his wife, Liz, and their friends. Moments before the funeral begins, Liz finds a condom in the pocket of the shorts he was wearing on the day he went missing, and suddenly Liz fears that her friends might be hiding secrets of the very worst kind.

We flash back to the holiday and meet the group in more detail. There’s Saffie who is hosting the holiday with her new partner Todd, who has paid for everything. Saffie cheated on ex husband Owen with Todd, and it’s safe to say that the group have not yet fully warmed to Saffie’s new relationship. There’s husband and wife, Trina and Julian. Liz’s best friend Poppy, and Todd’s daughter Kitty. All of these people have many secrets that come hurtling out at full speed, and this book is definitely NOT short on drama! I kept thinking ooo just one more chapter to find out what’s going on here, and before I knew it I had finished the book!

Their long weekend away is plagued with tension, arguments and secret conversations. Andrew leaves for a walk one night feeling frustrated at the group’s disregard for best friend Owen, and he never returns. Was it an accident? Or did someone there kill him? Back in the UK, Liz sets about finding the truth about how her husband met his demise, and the secrets she uncovers along the way are not pretty!

A great twist at the end, although a frustrating one as Liz had chosen to forgive that particular character when they didn’t deserve true forgiveness, but Liz will forever remain in the dark about it.

Overall, a great twisty read with infuriating characters who you just can’t get enough of!

[ღ Marlous ღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ✨

[Kate Ayre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to the book because of its Amalfi Coast setting and I enjoy the domestic crime genre. The final 2 chapters gave unexpected twists which was needed after feeling a little let down by the author’s attempt to create suspense. Some descriptions of characters’ feelings or thoughts were repetitive and needed more ‘show’ not ‘tell. But otherwise, an interesting read!

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 ….. I so enjoyed Friend Request, I realise it is hard to follow up such a successful book but … I had to check I hadn’t read this book before as it was such a template of so many other books I’ve read . Plot / friends on a vacation, sexual tension , missing body !

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read 📚

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a book festival earlier this year and have just gotten around to reading it and what a great read it was. My first by this author and not my last. A closed room mystery in more ways than one - who was the victim having an affair with? And was he murdered if so by whom? Well plotted and well written with red herrings although as it was written from multiple POVs and in the past and present you were given hints, should you pick up on them.

Briefly, in the past; Liz and Andrew were invited to a weekend villa in Italy to celebrate the birthday of Todd, the boyfriend of the soon to be divorced Saffie (from Owen who is not there but is Andrews best friend). Also invited were Trina and husband Julian, Poppy who was Andrews business Partner and Todd’s twenty four year old daughter Kitty. What we know is that on the Saturday night Andrew went missing, presumed drowned, and now it is the day of his memorial service. However, whilst dressing Liz finds something in one of his pockets that makes her believe that Andrew was having an affair.

What an unlikeable bunch of characters, Liz needs to choose her friends more wisely in the future. As the book progresses It became clear that each one of the party had a secret which they are determined to hang onto and could provide a motive for murder and the more Liz digs the more comes to light culminating in a shocking climax. A very readable psychological thriller and once I started it it was difficult to put the book down, one more chapter syndrome. A very good read. 4.5⭐️

[Jacob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Marshall knows how to write an engaging first chapter. I’ve read all of her novels, and I loved her latest, My Husband’s Killer.

We meet Liz, whose husband, Andrew, has recently been killed in a tragic accident, while they were on holiday in Italy with friends. But Liz is left even more bereft, when she finds evidence that her husband may have been having an affair on the day of his funeral. It puts Liz in an impossible situation. How can she mourn Andrew now, when all she can think of is the idea of Andrew cheating on her? Will she ever find out what was going on now that he’s dead?

The set-up to this book was very engaging. I wanted to know what was going on in Andrew and Liz’s lives before Andrew’s death. As Laura Marshall begins to reveal what happened, she introduces the rest of her cast, Liz and Andrew’s friends, who were on holiday with them in Italy. There was no one in the group who I particularly warmed to, as I was reading this book. They were all fleshed out well and there were some intense scenes between them, making this book really engaging. I wanted to know more about what was going on in their private lives, and if there was any more to Andrew’s death than what first meets the eye.

I loved the setting of the Amalfi Coast. Laura Marshall captures the beauty of the setting well, but she also creates a sense of menace. I got the feeling that there was something more going on here behind the scenes, especially as Laura Marshall reveals her character’s true colours. And there are some nasty character’s in this book.

I thought the ending of this book was done so well. Laura Marshall gradually builds on the tension as the plot of the novel develops, but when the final revelations came, leading to some shocking, and hard-hitting reveals for Liz, the tension increases and reaches boiling point. I thoroughly enjoyed My Husband’s Killer and I highly recommend it.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
My Husband’s Killer is an entertaining thriller with a gripping and interesting storyline and as the plot unfolds you question all your thoughts until the twist makes you sharply draw breath.
A group of friends.
A holiday that turns to danger.
A murder no one saw coming.
Arriving on the Amalfi Coast for a weekend of fun in a luxury villa, seven people become embroiled in secrets, lies, betrayal, revenge and chaos before ultimately someone is murdered.
Who can you trust?
A whodunnit in an exotic location with many red herrings, a glamorous cast, much drama and a clever, misleading plot.
This is a very creative, imaginative and exciting book.
Thoroughly enjoyed sinking my teeth into working out what happened.
I was immediately drawn into this fast paced tale but it did take me a little bit to get my head around the abundance of characters and all their back stories but once I was there, I was totally invested.
An intriguing, addictive and fun read.

[Zoe Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one starts off at Andrews funeral , who died whilst on holiday with 7 friends in Italy, yet there is no body! This is a whodunnit with layers and layers of secrets throughout. Everyone seems to have something to hide even going back decades for this group of friends.

Fast paced, I read in one sitting and it ticked every box for me.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the author’s previous work in my opinion, but I did enjoy the twist at the end.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I've read by this author, was a good book looking forward to reading more by her.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Husband's Killer by Laura Marshall.
Three couples. One murder. A holiday to die for . . .
Really enjoyed this book. Lots of drama and twists. 4*.

[UnproductiveMother89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven friends go on holiday to italy but only 6 of them will come home.
I wasn't sure on this when I first started it, I've read so many books with friends on a holiday where someone ends up dead so that it was going to be same old same old. However I was thoroughly surprised there's so many secrets between all the friends it made it so intruiging and hard to put down.
Overall another great book by Laura Marshall and with its fast pace and twists and turns you'll not be disappointed to read this.
Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc.

[Rebecca Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this as soon as I saw it as I loved Friend Request and it did not disappoint. A book full of secrets, twists and intrigue that I finished in a day. Some of the characters are completely unlikeable but are tempered by some truly likeable characters.

The twists come quickly in the second half of the book and I couldn't put it down. Laura Marshall became an auto buy author for me with this one.

I would recommend this for anyone who loves domestic thrillers or secluded thrillers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com

Laura Marshall is a Kindle No. 1 bestselling author. I enjoyed Marshall’s debut Friend Request back in 2018 and I have two of Marshall’s backlist titles to catch up on. My Husband’s Killer made its way to me via a review copy from Hachette Australia. Twisty, addictive, puzzling and bingeworthy, My Husband’s Killer is a psychological suspense spectacle not to be missed.

My Husband’s Killer sees a group of old university friends come together for a weekend get together on the Amalfi Coast. All seven members of this party are ready to relax and unwind over the course of the weekend. But when an awful and unexpected tragedy occurs, one member of this friendship group is left for dead, striking at the heart of this close-knit circle. But secrets come to the surface when it is revealed that the deceased was having an affair. Soon all those that were present on the holiday become a possible suspect. Who is capable of murder and betrayal?

Kent based author Laura Marshall is best known for her novel Friend Request. After seeing her books sold in a number of countries across the world, Marshall is back with another gripping new release. My Husband’s Killer is a cutting and addictive suspense noir, that will draw in all domestic mystery fans.

Unfolding via the viewpoints of half a dozen protagonists over the course of this story, My Husband’s Killer is a comprehensive thriller. It did take me some time to come to grips with the various players in this book, their personalities, motivations, fears and possible motives for killing a friend. Once I settled into the groove of Marshall’s book I didn’t really look back. In fact, I polished this one off in just two sittings. My Husband’s Killer is a fast-moving tale, defined by consuming bite-sized chapters that reel you in every time. The pace is never-ending and I appreciated the firm beat. The plot is continual and I didn’t know what to expect, there are secrets around every corner or turn of the page in My Husband’s Killer. I found it hard to work out the whodunnit element of My Husband’s Killer. Marshall definitely tries to keep the reader guessing in regards to the mystery component of the tale. With a clear focus on the impact of grief, loss, betrayal, the lines of friendship and shock thanks to the events highlighted in My Husband’s Killer, Marshall’s latest was very addictive.

Laura Marshall’s My Husband’s Killer elevates this British writer’s good standing in the category of modern psychological suspense fiction.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first novel by Laura Marshall. Set on the Amalfi Coast, Italy seven friends are holidaying in a villa. Liz's husband Andrew vanishes and is later presumed dead, although his body isn't found. A great tale of twists and surprises, the ending is one I didn't foresee. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my request, from Little, Brown via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.