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The Good Husband
“This is an outstanding novel with an unexpected and horrifying twist . . .” —Anita Waller, author of Mortal Green
A zealot sends his grief-stricken son on a murderous mission, in this heart-pounding novel by “an intriguing new voice in the psychological thriller world” (damppebbles ).
A shopping trip on Black Friday shoppers leads to Elsie’s tragic death—and leaves Jack, her husband of thirty-seven years, devastated. Unable to cope with his grief, he flees to his childhood home to be with his father, an overbearing religious zealot who puts his faith before everything—even his son.
Jack’s father convinces him that Elsie had not died in vain. Her life was sacrificed to give Jack the strength he needs for his to rid the world of greed. Embittered by his loss, Jack soon sets out to punish the depraved and eradicate the sinners from the world. The greedy killed his wife, and now they must pay. But how far is Jack willing to go to fulfil God’s plan—and how many innocent people will die?
“Gripping and original.” —TG Reid, author of the DCI Bone series
A zealot sends his grief-stricken son on a murderous mission, in this heart-pounding novel by “an intriguing new voice in the psychological thriller world” (damppebbles ).
A shopping trip on Black Friday shoppers leads to Elsie’s tragic death—and leaves Jack, her husband of thirty-seven years, devastated. Unable to cope with his grief, he flees to his childhood home to be with his father, an overbearing religious zealot who puts his faith before everything—even his son.
Jack’s father convinces him that Elsie had not died in vain. Her life was sacrificed to give Jack the strength he needs for his to rid the world of greed. Embittered by his loss, Jack soon sets out to punish the depraved and eradicate the sinners from the world. The greedy killed his wife, and now they must pay. But how far is Jack willing to go to fulfil God’s plan—and how many innocent people will die?
“Gripping and original.” —TG Reid, author of the DCI Bone series
360 pages, Paperback
Published July 13, 2022
36 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 18, 2022
In a Nutshell: I didn’t expect to be as blown away by this book as I was! It was not perfect in its writing, but it kept me hooked from start to end. Not everyone’s cup of tea though. Check out the triggers.
Story Synopsis:
This was a very uncomfortable read. The writing makes you feel claustrophobic right from the start. The story in the first half comes from a “Now” and “Then” perspective. The “Now” reveals Jack’s grief over Elsie’s death and his father’s extreme reaction and suggestion about cleansing humanity of evil souls. The “Then” reveals Jack’s childhood and his life under a bigoted bully. The second half of the book merges the two timelines and focusses on Jack’s action plan and its aftereffects. The two timelines and the unfolding events are so intense and creepy that I was just horrified at what I was reading. Most of the characters will leave you either dismayed or disgusted.
(As a practising Christian, the whole situation became more personal and I was pained to see, yet again, how religious extremists twist biblical values with their weird and half-cooked interpretations.)
Yet I was glued to the story all the way through!
I began this book on Saturday morning, and had life not got in the way, I am sure I would have had a marathon binge and completed it in one go. The situations were so riveting that keeping the book aside was tough. The book is quite fast-paced and this also helps sustain the interest.
The title appears very simple and before I had read this, it just looked like a typical psychological/domestic thriller title. I still feel it is too simplistic, but now I also believe that it suits the book well. It satisfied all my requirements for a thriller – fast pace, shocking incidents, unpredictability, a gripping story. I don’t care for flowery writing in thrillers as they take away from the tempo. So this was just my kind of thriller.
The writing isn’t perfect. There are a couple of angles raised for which there’s no answer provided even until the end. There are some instances where the characters’ reactions feel very repetitive. This is especially applicable to Jack who seems to hover between wanting to listen to his inner conscience and wanting to accept and obey his father’s thinking. Despite these flaws, I was so caught up by the story that I was ready to let go of these fallacies. It has been a long time since I have willingly ignored writing errors because of the brilliance of the story.
There were many things I refused to accept at first. I simply couldn’t see how whatever occurred was possible, especially given that Jack wasn’t a youngster but a middle-aged man. But the final section of the book settled all my queries, and how! I never saw any of that coming! The last chapter has to be one of the most impactful I have ever read. What an outstanding decision to end with that scene!
You know how the audience can have two kinds of positive reactions after a movie/play – they immediately rise and give a standing ovation, or there is a stunned silence, which speaks much more than applause IMHO. My reaction to the end of the book was the latter. For a few minutes, I just sat gazing in the distance, going “Wow!” and unable to state/think anything else.
All in all, I relished this twisted read despite its minor writing issues. I can’t say I "enjoyed" it, but the unusual story had me in its tentacles throughout. However, I strongly feel that this book won’t work for everyone. The main plot point is quite a delicate topic, and you need to suspend disbelief for a few scenes and go with the flow. Sensitive readers might do better to stay away.
No regrets though. I am ecstatic this book came my way. I had almost given up on the psych thriller genre because of the umpteen disappointments I have had; this book gives me hope that there are still good thriller writers out there.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for a complimentary copy of “The Good Husband”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Triggers: child cruelty, domestic abuse, parental abuse, forceful religious indoctrination, religious bigotry, torture and murders, death, extra-marital affairs (off the page), homophobia, gender discrimination, racial discrimination, mental health.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Fifty-five year old Jack Danvers has just lost Elsie, his wife of 37 years, in a tragic incident on Black Friday. His grief is too much for him to bear and he can’t figure out why God took away someone who was so good and caring. Jack’s religious fanatic of a father tells him to see it as a sign from God, that Elsie’s death was a divine direction for Jack to rid the world of greedy humans. Soon, Jack sets out on this moral crusades, setting him on a dangerous path that might up end up with unforeseen consequences.
The story is written in a limited third person perspective.
This was a very uncomfortable read. The writing makes you feel claustrophobic right from the start. The story in the first half comes from a “Now” and “Then” perspective. The “Now” reveals Jack’s grief over Elsie’s death and his father’s extreme reaction and suggestion about cleansing humanity of evil souls. The “Then” reveals Jack’s childhood and his life under a bigoted bully. The second half of the book merges the two timelines and focusses on Jack’s action plan and its aftereffects. The two timelines and the unfolding events are so intense and creepy that I was just horrified at what I was reading. Most of the characters will leave you either dismayed or disgusted.
(As a practising Christian, the whole situation became more personal and I was pained to see, yet again, how religious extremists twist biblical values with their weird and half-cooked interpretations.)
Yet I was glued to the story all the way through!
I began this book on Saturday morning, and had life not got in the way, I am sure I would have had a marathon binge and completed it in one go. The situations were so riveting that keeping the book aside was tough. The book is quite fast-paced and this also helps sustain the interest.
The title appears very simple and before I had read this, it just looked like a typical psychological/domestic thriller title. I still feel it is too simplistic, but now I also believe that it suits the book well. It satisfied all my requirements for a thriller – fast pace, shocking incidents, unpredictability, a gripping story. I don’t care for flowery writing in thrillers as they take away from the tempo. So this was just my kind of thriller.
The writing isn’t perfect. There are a couple of angles raised for which there’s no answer provided even until the end. There are some instances where the characters’ reactions feel very repetitive. This is especially applicable to Jack who seems to hover between wanting to listen to his inner conscience and wanting to accept and obey his father’s thinking. Despite these flaws, I was so caught up by the story that I was ready to let go of these fallacies. It has been a long time since I have willingly ignored writing errors because of the brilliance of the story.
There were many things I refused to accept at first. I simply couldn’t see how whatever occurred was possible, especially given that Jack wasn’t a youngster but a middle-aged man. But the final section of the book settled all my queries, and how! I never saw any of that coming! The last chapter has to be one of the most impactful I have ever read. What an outstanding decision to end with that scene!
You know how the audience can have two kinds of positive reactions after a movie/play – they immediately rise and give a standing ovation, or there is a stunned silence, which speaks much more than applause IMHO. My reaction to the end of the book was the latter. For a few minutes, I just sat gazing in the distance, going “Wow!” and unable to state/think anything else.
All in all, I relished this twisted read despite its minor writing issues. I can’t say I "enjoyed" it, but the unusual story had me in its tentacles throughout. However, I strongly feel that this book won’t work for everyone. The main plot point is quite a delicate topic, and you need to suspend disbelief for a few scenes and go with the flow. Sensitive readers might do better to stay away.
No regrets though. I am ecstatic this book came my way. I had almost given up on the psych thriller genre because of the umpteen disappointments I have had; this book gives me hope that there are still good thriller writers out there.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for a complimentary copy of “The Good Husband”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Triggers: child cruelty, domestic abuse, parental abuse, forceful religious indoctrination, religious bigotry, torture and murders, death, extra-marital affairs (off the page), homophobia, gender discrimination, racial discrimination, mental health.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
August 18, 2022
A quite unusual book, and quite a difficult one to review.
The bond between Jack and Elsie shone through the book, and his grief at losing her was depicted beautifully.
I loved the 2 timelines, as it showed Jack's relationship with his father from his early life. The trauma described in these chapters was very upsetting to read, and my heart went out to Jack and his mother.
I struggled with Jack's decisions following Elsie's death, as to me it seemed to go against Jack's initial beliefs. Having said that, I know from personal opinion how grief can change someone, and I think it supported Jack's father's mission because he was Jack's only support and Jack was extremely vulnerable and influential at the time.
Once I had made my peace with that, this book makes for very unsettling and disturbing reading. It is written very well, and with such powerful emotion.
The bond between Jack and Elsie shone through the book, and his grief at losing her was depicted beautifully.
I loved the 2 timelines, as it showed Jack's relationship with his father from his early life. The trauma described in these chapters was very upsetting to read, and my heart went out to Jack and his mother.
I struggled with Jack's decisions following Elsie's death, as to me it seemed to go against Jack's initial beliefs. Having said that, I know from personal opinion how grief can change someone, and I think it supported Jack's father's mission because he was Jack's only support and Jack was extremely vulnerable and influential at the time.
Once I had made my peace with that, this book makes for very unsettling and disturbing reading. It is written very well, and with such powerful emotion.
August 8, 2022
3.5 stars for this unique psychological thriller
This unique book alternates between past and present. The story begins with one of the most unusual deaths I’ve read about. Elsie is killed when the chaos of Black Friday leads to a stampede. I stopped attending Black Friday years ago but if I hadn’t, this scenario would make me think twice.
Through small glimpses into his horrific childhood, it’s revealed why Jack’s relationship with his father is so strained. His father is a cult leader who never found his followers.
Jack’s father, a religious fanatic, bullied and abused him throughout his childhood. But the grief from losing his wife is so debilitating that he agrees to return home with him. He is soon inundated with his father’s over-zealous religious ramblings, just like when he was a boy.
BOOK QUOTE:
“Greed caused Elsie’s death. She was murdered by human sin.”
“You’ve been chosen, Jack. Elsie was killed by the very sin you have to stamp out. It’s your destiny.”
This book is like no other I’ve read, but I grew tired of the in-depth religious rants before I reached the conclusion.
Sincere thanks to the author and publisher for providing this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own!
#thegoodhusband #abigailosborne #booktour #booktourhost #bloodhoundbooks #lovebookstours #bookreviewer #booktourstop #giftedbook #honestreview #fortheloveofbooks #ilovereadingbooks #ilovereviewingbooks #thrilleraddict #bookaddict #bookworm #bookaholic #ilovebooktours #psychologicalthriller
This unique book alternates between past and present. The story begins with one of the most unusual deaths I’ve read about. Elsie is killed when the chaos of Black Friday leads to a stampede. I stopped attending Black Friday years ago but if I hadn’t, this scenario would make me think twice.
Through small glimpses into his horrific childhood, it’s revealed why Jack’s relationship with his father is so strained. His father is a cult leader who never found his followers.
Jack’s father, a religious fanatic, bullied and abused him throughout his childhood. But the grief from losing his wife is so debilitating that he agrees to return home with him. He is soon inundated with his father’s over-zealous religious ramblings, just like when he was a boy.
BOOK QUOTE:
“Greed caused Elsie’s death. She was murdered by human sin.”
“You’ve been chosen, Jack. Elsie was killed by the very sin you have to stamp out. It’s your destiny.”
This book is like no other I’ve read, but I grew tired of the in-depth religious rants before I reached the conclusion.
Sincere thanks to the author and publisher for providing this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own!
#thegoodhusband #abigailosborne #booktour #booktourhost #bloodhoundbooks #lovebookstours #bookreviewer #booktourstop #giftedbook #honestreview #fortheloveofbooks #ilovereadingbooks #ilovereviewingbooks #thrilleraddict #bookaddict #bookworm #bookaholic #ilovebooktours #psychologicalthriller
August 11, 2022
The Good Husband is a dark, tense psychological horror/suspense stand-alone novel set in England, about a man driven to murder by the sudden loss of his beloved wife. It’s a well crafted story, but I can’t say I enjoyed it, because of the relentless child cruelty and torture depicted. I’d read some glowing reviews, so was keen to source a review copy, but need to get better at dialling down my FOMO and skipping this genre, especially when I’m mainly curious about the “shocking twist” that usually disappoints.
Jack Danvers was a happily married middle aged man who had overcome a traumatic childhood at the hands of his brutal father, a religious zealot, until his wife Elsie was killed in a terrible accident at a shopping mall. Overcome by grief, he is unable to resist the pressure from his now elderly father to avenge her death by removing greedy sinners from society, believing he is doing God’s will. Their isolated farm is the perfect place to imprison their victims, but when a young single mother is next on the list, can Jack find the strength to defy his father’s commands?
I found this an uncomfortable read: the first half chapters alternate between Jack’s present, as he undergoes his transformation from grief-stricken mourner to single-minded avenger, and his past as the only child of a weak mother and cruel domineering father who uses his twisted version of Christianity to terrorise his family. Being alerted to the twist by the blurb meant I was looking out for it and guessed early how things would play out. The second half was more exciting, as a semi-sympathetic character is finally introduced and the tension mounts, but I was disappointed by the ending - especially the oddly placed final chapter.
The writing was simplistic and needed better editing - near-miss words like denigrate for degenerate, and some odd sentences. I also objected to a 55-year old man being repeatedly described as “elderly”.
I’m sure many readers will like this better than I did - especially those who love “psychological” thrillers, and can cope with bleak descriptions of brutal physical and emotional child abuse.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the complimentary copy. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Good Husband is available now.
Jack Danvers was a happily married middle aged man who had overcome a traumatic childhood at the hands of his brutal father, a religious zealot, until his wife Elsie was killed in a terrible accident at a shopping mall. Overcome by grief, he is unable to resist the pressure from his now elderly father to avenge her death by removing greedy sinners from society, believing he is doing God’s will. Their isolated farm is the perfect place to imprison their victims, but when a young single mother is next on the list, can Jack find the strength to defy his father’s commands?
I found this an uncomfortable read: the first half chapters alternate between Jack’s present, as he undergoes his transformation from grief-stricken mourner to single-minded avenger, and his past as the only child of a weak mother and cruel domineering father who uses his twisted version of Christianity to terrorise his family. Being alerted to the twist by the blurb meant I was looking out for it and guessed early how things would play out. The second half was more exciting, as a semi-sympathetic character is finally introduced and the tension mounts, but I was disappointed by the ending - especially the oddly placed final chapter.
The writing was simplistic and needed better editing - near-miss words like denigrate for degenerate, and some odd sentences. I also objected to a 55-year old man being repeatedly described as “elderly”.
I’m sure many readers will like this better than I did - especially those who love “psychological” thrillers, and can cope with bleak descriptions of brutal physical and emotional child abuse.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the complimentary copy. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Good Husband is available now.
August 16, 2022
I absolutely loved this book!
When a Black Friday shopping trip ends with a horrific accident which sees Jack landed in the hospital and Jacks wife Elsie killed, somebody needs to pay.
Jack through his grief ends up spending his recovery with his father at the family farmhouse and trying to rebuild a father/son relationship with him.
The book goes back and forth between a then( young jack) and now which was very clever as it makes you know the character very personally quite quickly. There are a lot of religious aspects to the book which generally I find always put Christian beliefs in bad light but the author managed to show how scripture can be twisted and manipulated and it didn’t feel one sided.
This is my second read from this author and she is fast becoming a firm favourite. Fans of Steve Cavanagh I think would enjoy this one.
Highly recommend ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When a Black Friday shopping trip ends with a horrific accident which sees Jack landed in the hospital and Jacks wife Elsie killed, somebody needs to pay.
Jack through his grief ends up spending his recovery with his father at the family farmhouse and trying to rebuild a father/son relationship with him.
The book goes back and forth between a then( young jack) and now which was very clever as it makes you know the character very personally quite quickly. There are a lot of religious aspects to the book which generally I find always put Christian beliefs in bad light but the author managed to show how scripture can be twisted and manipulated and it didn’t feel one sided.
This is my second read from this author and she is fast becoming a firm favourite. Fans of Steve Cavanagh I think would enjoy this one.
Highly recommend ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 29, 2022
Had an advanced copy and so glad I had the opportunity to read and review what a nail biting thriller this proved to be. Part 1 goes back and forth between Jacks today and Jacks childhood and part 2 focuses on present day events.
It was such a shame Jacks life went the way it did coming from a very strict religious upbringing. I found some of it upsetting and emotional but also the plot twist I didn’t see coming!
Overall it was a very good read, quiet dark with topics around death, child abuse , religion but I would read more from this author and recommend anyone to give it a read.
It was such a shame Jacks life went the way it did coming from a very strict religious upbringing. I found some of it upsetting and emotional but also the plot twist I didn’t see coming!
Overall it was a very good read, quiet dark with topics around death, child abuse , religion but I would read more from this author and recommend anyone to give it a read.
July 29, 2022
This book evoked so many emotions in me that I didn't expect to feel from a book like this, but it happened non the less.
It follows the life of Jack, whose wife was sadly killed, and Jack then begins a new life of destruction where he hunts people that have done wrong to others, believing this is God's true path.
It flits between Jack's childhood, to the present day, and at times I found Jack's childhood quite hard to read about.
I did not see the ending coming at all which is a sign of a very good book 😂
Would definitely recommend.
It follows the life of Jack, whose wife was sadly killed, and Jack then begins a new life of destruction where he hunts people that have done wrong to others, believing this is God's true path.
It flits between Jack's childhood, to the present day, and at times I found Jack's childhood quite hard to read about.
I did not see the ending coming at all which is a sign of a very good book 😂
Would definitely recommend.
July 22, 2022
I would like to thank bloodhound books and the Author for my ARC copy of this book. With twists and turns I never saw coming. I absolutely loved reading this book and the ending was just pure genius on the Author's part.
July 19, 2022
Okay so very dark and in the beginning I did struggle a lot but am so glad that I kept going it was worth it. This was such a very different take on the whole genre and it is definitely worth a read.
I was given an advance copy by bloodhound books but the review is entirely my own.
I was given an advance copy by bloodhound books but the review is entirely my own.
August 1, 2022
Imagine if you will that your local football team, for whom you've had a season ticket for about as long as you can remember, reaches the First Division play-off match. The winner will be promoted to the Premier League next season. As you take your seat in the stadium, the atmosphere is so tense that you sense it could be not so much cut with a knife as shattered.
But somehow, perhaps because of this, the first half of the match is unspectacular. While both sides show flashes of just how well they can play, neither comes close to scoring a goal and you leave for the interval feeling just a bit underwhelmed. Obviously, you're pleased that your team isn't losing. But you had hoped for something more.
Somehow, during that interval, something happened. Perhaps both team managers gave very motivating pep talks, perhaps that one player substitution made all the difference or maybe both teams decided for themselves that now was the time to throw caution to the wind. But whatever the reason, all of the players came out and played out of their skins. The next 45 minutes pass by in a blur, after which the score has reached three-all. Our fan almost can't bear to watch, and yet he can't bear not to.
Suddenly, from nowhere and with only a few minutes of injury time to go, a player takes a wild shot at goal. It's crazy to think that he could score from there and yet somehow, the ball lands in the back of the net for a spectacular finish. Our fan is ecstatic and even the supporters of the losing team have to acknowledge that they'll remember this game for a while.
I know. I've used this analogy before, and I can only apologise to Abigail Osborne for not coming up with something more original. But I can't think of anything more apt to relate to 'The Good Husband', which really is a book of two halves. 'Part One' introduces us to Jack, who wakes up in hospital following the tragic death of his wife, Elsie. Initially his grief threatens to overcome him, but his father has other ideas. Elsie's death, he explains, signifies the start of a mission from the Lord. Jack must rid the world, one by one, of those greedy, self-indulgent sinners such as those who were responsible for the death of his wife.
Interspersed with these chapters are a series of events from Jack's childhood. We learn that Jack's father is a religious zealot who, sickeningly, twists passages from the Bible into excuses for domestic abuse. There were times when I wanted to put down my kindle, find Jack's father and physically kill him with my own two hands. But these moments were relatively few. Mostly I read 'Part One' of the book with a sort of interested, but cool, detachment thinking that it was going to be a three-star, or maybe a 3.5-star read.
Then, in the first chapter of 'Part Two', everything changed. I hope it's not too much of a spoiler to say that we meet Jack's next victim before he does. Just a few chapters were enough for me to form a sort of bond, in such a way that I spent the rest of the book silently screaming "No, Jack. Noooooo. You can't kill them ..." I raced through the rest of the book with my hopes, and the victim's, being repeatedly raised and then dashed until ... that ending. Wow. I was never even close to seeing it coming and yet it somehow allows everything to fit into place. It really is every bit as outstanding and memorable as a spectacular match and promotion-winning goal in injury time.
There are a few details that could be quibbled over. There's a point at which one speech is enough to achieve something that in reality would probably have taken months, if not years of therapy. Whilst this was necessary for the storyline, it felt a little far-fetched. As did Jack using his father's car in circumstances where there's no way that it could have been driveable. And whilst the final chapter is wonderfully, terribly powerful, I couldn't help feeling that it would have worked better as a prologue.
It's for these reasons, together with my not having that emotional connection at the start of the book that was really needed, that I can't quite give it five stars. It gets a well-deserved 4.5 though, and Abbie Osborne joins the ever-growing list of authors that I want to read more by just as soon as time and my TBR pile will allow.
My thanks to the author, Bloodhound Books and Love Books Tours for the digital copy of this book and for my inclusion on the blog tour. I will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram and my personal blog.
But somehow, perhaps because of this, the first half of the match is unspectacular. While both sides show flashes of just how well they can play, neither comes close to scoring a goal and you leave for the interval feeling just a bit underwhelmed. Obviously, you're pleased that your team isn't losing. But you had hoped for something more.
Somehow, during that interval, something happened. Perhaps both team managers gave very motivating pep talks, perhaps that one player substitution made all the difference or maybe both teams decided for themselves that now was the time to throw caution to the wind. But whatever the reason, all of the players came out and played out of their skins. The next 45 minutes pass by in a blur, after which the score has reached three-all. Our fan almost can't bear to watch, and yet he can't bear not to.
Suddenly, from nowhere and with only a few minutes of injury time to go, a player takes a wild shot at goal. It's crazy to think that he could score from there and yet somehow, the ball lands in the back of the net for a spectacular finish. Our fan is ecstatic and even the supporters of the losing team have to acknowledge that they'll remember this game for a while.
I know. I've used this analogy before, and I can only apologise to Abigail Osborne for not coming up with something more original. But I can't think of anything more apt to relate to 'The Good Husband', which really is a book of two halves. 'Part One' introduces us to Jack, who wakes up in hospital following the tragic death of his wife, Elsie. Initially his grief threatens to overcome him, but his father has other ideas. Elsie's death, he explains, signifies the start of a mission from the Lord. Jack must rid the world, one by one, of those greedy, self-indulgent sinners such as those who were responsible for the death of his wife.
Interspersed with these chapters are a series of events from Jack's childhood. We learn that Jack's father is a religious zealot who, sickeningly, twists passages from the Bible into excuses for domestic abuse. There were times when I wanted to put down my kindle, find Jack's father and physically kill him with my own two hands. But these moments were relatively few. Mostly I read 'Part One' of the book with a sort of interested, but cool, detachment thinking that it was going to be a three-star, or maybe a 3.5-star read.
Then, in the first chapter of 'Part Two', everything changed. I hope it's not too much of a spoiler to say that we meet Jack's next victim before he does. Just a few chapters were enough for me to form a sort of bond, in such a way that I spent the rest of the book silently screaming "No, Jack. Noooooo. You can't kill them ..." I raced through the rest of the book with my hopes, and the victim's, being repeatedly raised and then dashed until ... that ending. Wow. I was never even close to seeing it coming and yet it somehow allows everything to fit into place. It really is every bit as outstanding and memorable as a spectacular match and promotion-winning goal in injury time.
There are a few details that could be quibbled over. There's a point at which one speech is enough to achieve something that in reality would probably have taken months, if not years of therapy. Whilst this was necessary for the storyline, it felt a little far-fetched. As did Jack using his father's car in circumstances where there's no way that it could have been driveable. And whilst the final chapter is wonderfully, terribly powerful, I couldn't help feeling that it would have worked better as a prologue.
It's for these reasons, together with my not having that emotional connection at the start of the book that was really needed, that I can't quite give it five stars. It gets a well-deserved 4.5 though, and Abbie Osborne joins the ever-growing list of authors that I want to read more by just as soon as time and my TBR pile will allow.
My thanks to the author, Bloodhound Books and Love Books Tours for the digital copy of this book and for my inclusion on the blog tour. I will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram and my personal blog.
August 9, 2022
From the very beginning The Good Husband had me hooked. The opening chapter was unexpectedly emotional with Jack in hospital, discovering that his wife Elsie had died. These opening scenes were so raw and gut wrenching, and I could almost feel Jack’s grief myself. Jack’s father is there to get him through, but immediately I took a dislike to him, and we soon find out that my instincts were correct.
The chapters rotate between then and now, taking us back to Jack’s childhood, which was ruled by his abusive father, and his very serious dedication to his religion. His father regarded himself as one of God’s most loyal followers, but actually his take on the word of God and God’s teachings is so warped warped and twisted, it is terrifying. That terror shaped Jack’s childhood, and had an effect on the rest of his life. The abuse that Jack and his mother were subjected to was unimaginably cruel and horrific, but his father believed he was delivering these punishments in line with the word of God. I felt so sorry for Jack and his mother, who dealt with trauma that nobody should ever have to.
Although Jack and his father had never had the best relationship, especially after Jack put his relationship with Elsie above his father, he took Jack in after the death of Elsie and appeared to be helping him move forward with his life at a time when Jack couldn’t see a way to go on. However, to me it seemed that Jack’s father was using his grief and vulnerability for his own twisted game and beliefs, while making it seem as though he is supporting his son. He puts the idea in to Jack’s head that he has been “chosen” by God to carry out an unbelievable task, and Jack’s grief and rage at the loss of his wife fuels him forward with his “mission”.
Jack is soon finding his victims, and attempting to eradicate the sinners of the world in ways that he deems fit according to the severity of their sins. But that anger insight him begins to fully take over, and he is struggling to keep it under control. I liked that we got to know a little about each of Jack’s victims before he made his move, especially the last couple who we got much more in depth looks in to their stories. It made them seem more real, and also showed a different side to them than what Jack was seeing. Jack became as cruel and twisted as his father in his methods of punishment, all the while being encouraged by his father to continue with his task.
The final few chapters threw some real twists and curveballs that I hadn’t expected. As the story continued, it was clear that Jack was losing touch with reality, but I had no idea just how far gone he was. Then the final chapter, we finally find out how Elsie’s death occurred, and this chapter brought me to tears, it was so difficult to read. Unfortunately, this type of thing does actually happen on days like Black Friday, and it is absolutely devastating how long people will stoop to get a quick bargain. It’s unimaginable how Jack must have felt in that moment, and it does make you understand his anger a little more, but that doesn’t excuse his actions beyond that point.
This book was a real rollercoaster of emotions, that makes it very difficult to put down.
I give The Good Husband a 4 star rating!
The chapters rotate between then and now, taking us back to Jack’s childhood, which was ruled by his abusive father, and his very serious dedication to his religion. His father regarded himself as one of God’s most loyal followers, but actually his take on the word of God and God’s teachings is so warped warped and twisted, it is terrifying. That terror shaped Jack’s childhood, and had an effect on the rest of his life. The abuse that Jack and his mother were subjected to was unimaginably cruel and horrific, but his father believed he was delivering these punishments in line with the word of God. I felt so sorry for Jack and his mother, who dealt with trauma that nobody should ever have to.
Although Jack and his father had never had the best relationship, especially after Jack put his relationship with Elsie above his father, he took Jack in after the death of Elsie and appeared to be helping him move forward with his life at a time when Jack couldn’t see a way to go on. However, to me it seemed that Jack’s father was using his grief and vulnerability for his own twisted game and beliefs, while making it seem as though he is supporting his son. He puts the idea in to Jack’s head that he has been “chosen” by God to carry out an unbelievable task, and Jack’s grief and rage at the loss of his wife fuels him forward with his “mission”.
Jack is soon finding his victims, and attempting to eradicate the sinners of the world in ways that he deems fit according to the severity of their sins. But that anger insight him begins to fully take over, and he is struggling to keep it under control. I liked that we got to know a little about each of Jack’s victims before he made his move, especially the last couple who we got much more in depth looks in to their stories. It made them seem more real, and also showed a different side to them than what Jack was seeing. Jack became as cruel and twisted as his father in his methods of punishment, all the while being encouraged by his father to continue with his task.
The final few chapters threw some real twists and curveballs that I hadn’t expected. As the story continued, it was clear that Jack was losing touch with reality, but I had no idea just how far gone he was. Then the final chapter, we finally find out how Elsie’s death occurred, and this chapter brought me to tears, it was so difficult to read. Unfortunately, this type of thing does actually happen on days like Black Friday, and it is absolutely devastating how long people will stoop to get a quick bargain. It’s unimaginable how Jack must have felt in that moment, and it does make you understand his anger a little more, but that doesn’t excuse his actions beyond that point.
This book was a real rollercoaster of emotions, that makes it very difficult to put down.
I give The Good Husband a 4 star rating!
October 22, 2024
The Good Husband by Abigail Osborne
354-page Kindle Ebook ends on 352
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Featuring: Advertisements for Every Little Breath by Keri Beevis and A New Happy Place by Ruth Hanna, Link to Publisher's Newsletter (Advertisement for free copy of Murder at the Book Club by Betsy Reavley), Author's Bibliography, Parts, Now & Then Format, Death, Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse, Christianity, Zealot, Grief, Racism, Prejudices, Inconsistencies, Family Ties, England, Murder, Widowers, Bible Verses, Violence, Advertisements for The Things I Didn’t Do by Charlotte Barnes
Rating as a movie: R for adult content and situations
Songs for the soundtrack: "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League
Books and Authors mentioned: The Bible, The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Cinderella by Charles Perrault, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⛪️🔨🪓✝️
My thoughts: 🔖Page 28 of 354 Chapter Four ~ Then - It's darker than my usual stories but is interesting so far.
🔖132 Chapter Twenty-Four - I had no idea where this book was set, but I'm going with England based on the vocabulary and spelling. This story is ridiculously intriguing.
🔖168 Chapter Thirty-One ~ Now - This story is crazy, unrealistic, and predictable, but I'm going to take the time to finish it tonight.
🔖302 Chapter Fifty-Two - In Chapter Thirty-Seven, I thought of a twist since we went from having no memories of his wife's death to constantly adding to them. Well, it looks like a part of my idea may be true for the story but the adrenaline rush I got isn't enough to keep me going tonight. Despite the current high action of the story I'll have to wait till tomorrow to see if I'm right.
I was in the ballpark but I wasn't right. I didn't like the last few chapters but I also wasn't mad at them, if that makes sense. I wouldn't have read this based on the description but it was actually good compared to my expectations. It certainly held my interest.
Recommend to others: Maybe. It was better than the other Husband book I read by Frech.
354-page Kindle Ebook ends on 352
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Featuring: Advertisements for Every Little Breath by Keri Beevis and A New Happy Place by Ruth Hanna, Link to Publisher's Newsletter (Advertisement for free copy of Murder at the Book Club by Betsy Reavley), Author's Bibliography, Parts, Now & Then Format, Death, Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse, Christianity, Zealot, Grief, Racism, Prejudices, Inconsistencies, Family Ties, England, Murder, Widowers, Bible Verses, Violence, Advertisements for The Things I Didn’t Do by Charlotte Barnes
Rating as a movie: R for adult content and situations
Songs for the soundtrack: "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League
Books and Authors mentioned: The Bible, The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Cinderella by Charles Perrault, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⛪️🔨🪓✝️
My thoughts: 🔖Page 28 of 354 Chapter Four ~ Then - It's darker than my usual stories but is interesting so far.
🔖132 Chapter Twenty-Four - I had no idea where this book was set, but I'm going with England based on the vocabulary and spelling. This story is ridiculously intriguing.
🔖168 Chapter Thirty-One ~ Now - This story is crazy, unrealistic, and predictable, but I'm going to take the time to finish it tonight.
🔖302 Chapter Fifty-Two - In Chapter Thirty-Seven, I thought of a twist since we went from having no memories of his wife's death to constantly adding to them. Well, it looks like a part of my idea may be true for the story but the adrenaline rush I got isn't enough to keep me going tonight. Despite the current high action of the story I'll have to wait till tomorrow to see if I'm right.
I was in the ballpark but I wasn't right. I didn't like the last few chapters but I also wasn't mad at them, if that makes sense. I wouldn't have read this based on the description but it was actually good compared to my expectations. It certainly held my interest.
Recommend to others: Maybe. It was better than the other Husband book I read by Frech.
August 6, 2022
What a wild ride. I definitely found a new favorite author in Abigail Osborne. I'll admit that some parts of the books were a bit intense and uncomfortable but it felt all too real.
I have worked in retail many, many years and Black Friday is definitely a very demanding and stressful time. When our protagonist Jack's wife Elise dies in a retail event, things go absolutely wrong. Frank is severely hurt and when he wakes from his coma, he is distraught and can't imagine a life without her. The story goes from past to present and the flashbacks are absolutely devastating, Jack's father raised him to fear the lord and obey his every word. The ending was completely unnerving and unexpected! I will definitely be reading more from Abigail.
I have worked in retail many, many years and Black Friday is definitely a very demanding and stressful time. When our protagonist Jack's wife Elise dies in a retail event, things go absolutely wrong. Frank is severely hurt and when he wakes from his coma, he is distraught and can't imagine a life without her. The story goes from past to present and the flashbacks are absolutely devastating, Jack's father raised him to fear the lord and obey his every word. The ending was completely unnerving and unexpected! I will definitely be reading more from Abigail.
August 17, 2022
When I signed up and set out to read The Good Husband I expected it to be just another psychological thriller… this was not the case. I don’t even know if I would place it on n that genre, although I don’t know what genre I would place it in. This book is definitely different from your average thriller.
Jack has lost the love of his life, and doesn’t think he can carry on living, but his Father shows him how this needed to happen for him to complete let’s his life’s calling.
In the first Part of the book the chapters were separated between THEN – when Jack was a young boy and lived a horrific life with his IMMENSELY religious father and the NOW – life after the death of his beloved and the journey into making the world a better place
Not being a religious person myself I did ding some chapters quite hard to read, the writing was brilliant but honestly, I found a lot of it kind of hard to read, like I could imagine that somewhere there are really people as heavily religious as Jacks father.
In the second part we find ourself on the journey into making the world a better place and slowly see a different side to Jack before THE TWIST!!! Well let’s just say I did not see that one coming at all!! This is a bit you right in the face kind of twist.
The Good Husband was hooking from the beginning and I could not put it down. The characters were odd, but in a good way. I loved them even though I know I shouldn’t have and I loved that this was a thriller that was definitely unique.
Jack has lost the love of his life, and doesn’t think he can carry on living, but his Father shows him how this needed to happen for him to complete let’s his life’s calling.
In the first Part of the book the chapters were separated between THEN – when Jack was a young boy and lived a horrific life with his IMMENSELY religious father and the NOW – life after the death of his beloved and the journey into making the world a better place
Not being a religious person myself I did ding some chapters quite hard to read, the writing was brilliant but honestly, I found a lot of it kind of hard to read, like I could imagine that somewhere there are really people as heavily religious as Jacks father.
In the second part we find ourself on the journey into making the world a better place and slowly see a different side to Jack before THE TWIST!!! Well let’s just say I did not see that one coming at all!! This is a bit you right in the face kind of twist.
The Good Husband was hooking from the beginning and I could not put it down. The characters were odd, but in a good way. I loved them even though I know I shouldn’t have and I loved that this was a thriller that was definitely unique.
August 11, 2022
I really enjoyed this book and it had me on the edge of my seat almost the whole way through. The writing was great, the story was compelling and the characters were well developed and I found myself really loving Adina and really sympathising with Jck. It was fast paced and completely gripping.
The book is split into two parts with the first concentrating on Jack as a boy and the impact that growing up with a religious zealot as a father had on him, as well as his present day with part two was centred on the sinners that Jack is focusing on in present day.
This was a twisty and unpredictable read that kept me guessing until the end, I loved it
The book is split into two parts with the first concentrating on Jack as a boy and the impact that growing up with a religious zealot as a father had on him, as well as his present day with part two was centred on the sinners that Jack is focusing on in present day.
This was a twisty and unpredictable read that kept me guessing until the end, I loved it
August 1, 2022
I don’t even know where to start! Everything you think you know at any given point is probably wrong! The complexity of the characters will have you gasping at every turn, and the creativeness of the sinners our “hero” is punishing will have you on the edge of your seat. Characters you will love, hate, empathize with, and root for, with one final shock near the end that will have you reeling. Don’t miss this 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read! It will make you rethink everything and have you looking over your shoulder!
August 11, 2022
Guys, this dad. Creative plot. The twist at the end. Yeah.
Jack loses his wife in a horrible tragedy. He cannot accept life without her. His estranged dad comes to aid. With his help, Jack finds a purpose. Punishment. Murder.
When Jack was younger, his father's obsession with the Bible ruled their lives. Abuse and neglect rampant.
The dad is a lot to handle - yet Jack becomes unlikeable character - Elsie was his guidance, his humanity.
#thegoodhusband #domesticthriller #thriller #thrillerreview #ad #gifted #lbtcrew
Jack loses his wife in a horrible tragedy. He cannot accept life without her. His estranged dad comes to aid. With his help, Jack finds a purpose. Punishment. Murder.
When Jack was younger, his father's obsession with the Bible ruled their lives. Abuse and neglect rampant.
The dad is a lot to handle - yet Jack becomes unlikeable character - Elsie was his guidance, his humanity.
#thegoodhusband #domesticthriller #thriller #thrillerreview #ad #gifted #lbtcrew
July 27, 2022
Wow, what a nail-biting thriller this was. Part 1 flicks back and forth between Jack's childhood and his current situation while part 2 focuses on some of the "sinners" with Jack in present day.
I have to say I did not see that twist coming! It actually made me really emotional, like Adina I understood Jack. What a shame his life went the way it did.
Adina had such strength, a real shining light.
Really fast paced, intense and full of intrigue this is a must read for fans of crime thrillers.
I have to say I did not see that twist coming! It actually made me really emotional, like Adina I understood Jack. What a shame his life went the way it did.
Adina had such strength, a real shining light.
Really fast paced, intense and full of intrigue this is a must read for fans of crime thrillers.
July 18, 2022
This story has an exciting start and a twist at the end which I didn’t see coming. At times it felt a little far-fetched and it was a little repetitive in the middle, however, I did want to keep reading to find out what would happen. The main character has a very abusive as well as a strict religious upbringing and it was interesting to learn about his back story and his personality. The story is very upsetting and emotional, particularly when he learns what has happened to his wife. The positive influence of his wife and negative influence of his father on his life makes you think about how influential others can be on someone’s life and how nature/nurture can play a part, as well as how very disturbing and distressing events occurring can affect someone. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would be interested in reading more from this author.
I received an ARC copy from BloodHound Books for an honest review, thank you, and all thoughts are my own.
I received an ARC copy from BloodHound Books for an honest review, thank you, and all thoughts are my own.
July 31, 2022
I received this book for free from Bloodhound Books.
Jack Danvers is on a mission to remove sinners from the world.
The book was very absorbing in describing how Jack got to this place.
It was a sad commentary about what people will do and justify in the name of religion.
If I hadn't developed a nasty bug while reading this book, I would have finished it in a day. I was that gripped.
Jack Danvers is on a mission to remove sinners from the world.
The book was very absorbing in describing how Jack got to this place.
It was a sad commentary about what people will do and justify in the name of religion.
If I hadn't developed a nasty bug while reading this book, I would have finished it in a day. I was that gripped.
July 17, 2022
This book was different from most other crime books I have read, in that the reader knows from the outset who the murderer is and why they are killing people. However, don't think for one second that this means there won't be a twist in the tale!
Dual timelines allow us to learn about Jack's strict Christian upbringing, in particular life with his volatile, often violent father and his present-day struggle to cope with the recent death of his wife. Talking to his father provides a focus for his grief, which turns deadly as it involves ridding the world of "sinners" one by one.
It's a very dark story - murders usually are - but the domestic violence element makes it especially tough reading at times. The Bible being used as justification for murdering strangers adds an extra dimension of creepiness!
I will definitely read more by this author, especially as I didn't see the twisty ending coming at all!
Thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for the eARC of this book.
Dual timelines allow us to learn about Jack's strict Christian upbringing, in particular life with his volatile, often violent father and his present-day struggle to cope with the recent death of his wife. Talking to his father provides a focus for his grief, which turns deadly as it involves ridding the world of "sinners" one by one.
It's a very dark story - murders usually are - but the domestic violence element makes it especially tough reading at times. The Bible being used as justification for murdering strangers adds an extra dimension of creepiness!
I will definitely read more by this author, especially as I didn't see the twisty ending coming at all!
Thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for the eARC of this book.
July 29, 2022
The Forgotten husband by Abigail Osborne.
A shopping trip on Black Friday shoppers leads to Elsie’s tragic death—and leaves Jack, her husband of thirty-seven years, devastated. Unable to cope with his grief, he flees to his childhood home to be with his father, an overbearing religious zealot who puts his faith before everything—even his son.
A good storyline. This Is a dark read. Twisty too. This has domestic violence in it. 3*.
A shopping trip on Black Friday shoppers leads to Elsie’s tragic death—and leaves Jack, her husband of thirty-seven years, devastated. Unable to cope with his grief, he flees to his childhood home to be with his father, an overbearing religious zealot who puts his faith before everything—even his son.
A good storyline. This Is a dark read. Twisty too. This has domestic violence in it. 3*.
July 23, 2022
I am sorry to say this book was not for me. It was based in UK , but I kept thinking the story was about a crazed American religious nutter . It did have a good twist that I didn’t see coming. We don’t all enjoy the same books though, so don’t let me put you off.
March 23, 2023
wtf va bra. karaktärerna va så intressanta och älskade att läsa om jacks tankar å varför han gör som han gör. den va spännande hela vägen oxå så har verkligen ingenting att klaga på
August 2, 2022
Review
My goodness this woman can write a book.
Now I must inform you that there are triggers warnings within this book that may leave some readers unable to read further so please DM me if you would like to know what they are.
For me, I found the first part of the book incredibly difficult to read but once I had got past about 40% I sailed through the rest of it and it was an incredible book.
The twists in this book were ones I didn't see coming and they made this book. My heart went out to Jack as he struggled with the death of his soul mate and I found myself detesting Jack's father as the book went.
Abigail is an amazing author who is brilliant at writing psychological stories that leave you wanting more.
A well deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW - Child and Domestic abuse
My goodness this woman can write a book.
Now I must inform you that there are triggers warnings within this book that may leave some readers unable to read further so please DM me if you would like to know what they are.
For me, I found the first part of the book incredibly difficult to read but once I had got past about 40% I sailed through the rest of it and it was an incredible book.
The twists in this book were ones I didn't see coming and they made this book. My heart went out to Jack as he struggled with the death of his soul mate and I found myself detesting Jack's father as the book went.
Abigail is an amazing author who is brilliant at writing psychological stories that leave you wanting more.
A well deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW - Child and Domestic abuse
July 27, 2022
What an amazing story, it’s told with so much love it’s heartbreaking. I loved every page of this book. Jacks meeting with Elsie is so charming, it grabbed my heart. Don’t know what more to say except READ IT! Thank you so much Bloodhound Books for a truly wonderful book.
August 18, 2022
This is a twisty, tense thriller with some dark and disturbing themes. It is written as a dual timeline, alternating between Jack as a child and teenager, where we learn about Jack’s family and upbringing, and Jack in his fifties, beginning where he is reeling from Elsie’s untimely death. I love a good dual timeline and it worked really well for this novel.
There are a few trigger warnings for this book including traumatic death, torture, murder, injury, child abuse, domestic abuse, mental illness and extreme religious views. As a result, it’s not an easy read and quite gruesome in places.
I thought the characters were well written and Jack’s dad was not a character to fall in love with! I felt conflicted about Jack at first, confused that he would so easily fall back into the lifestyle that he had spent decades escaping, but the ending made it a lot more understandable. I was very invested in Adina’s character and she was very strong.
For me, I felt that the timeline was a little bit off in places and I had to go back and reread a couple of sections to check things that had happened, particularly with the Debbie storyline. I also felt that the details of Elsie’s death may have worked better filtered through the beginning chapters, and there were a coupe of minor issues I had with the plot, but that’s just my thoughts. There was a lot of strong religion in the book which could be upsetting or antagonistic for some.
The imagery was good and the descriptive language was strong, I could definitely conjure up images of the farmhouse and characters. The author did a great job of building tension and atmosphere and it was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Jack was obviously conflicted throughout and there was some raw, pure emotion which was very well written. I really liked the main twist, which I didn’t see coming and it really enhanced the storyline.
This book is for you if you love dark, twisty psychological thrillers and don’t mind a bit of torture thrown in! I would definitely recommend it as one to read and I would be keen to read more of the author’s work.
There are a few trigger warnings for this book including traumatic death, torture, murder, injury, child abuse, domestic abuse, mental illness and extreme religious views. As a result, it’s not an easy read and quite gruesome in places.
I thought the characters were well written and Jack’s dad was not a character to fall in love with! I felt conflicted about Jack at first, confused that he would so easily fall back into the lifestyle that he had spent decades escaping, but the ending made it a lot more understandable. I was very invested in Adina’s character and she was very strong.
For me, I felt that the timeline was a little bit off in places and I had to go back and reread a couple of sections to check things that had happened, particularly with the Debbie storyline. I also felt that the details of Elsie’s death may have worked better filtered through the beginning chapters, and there were a coupe of minor issues I had with the plot, but that’s just my thoughts. There was a lot of strong religion in the book which could be upsetting or antagonistic for some.
The imagery was good and the descriptive language was strong, I could definitely conjure up images of the farmhouse and characters. The author did a great job of building tension and atmosphere and it was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Jack was obviously conflicted throughout and there was some raw, pure emotion which was very well written. I really liked the main twist, which I didn’t see coming and it really enhanced the storyline.
This book is for you if you love dark, twisty psychological thrillers and don’t mind a bit of torture thrown in! I would definitely recommend it as one to read and I would be keen to read more of the author’s work.
August 11, 2022
(3.5 ⭐️)
🔪 The book follows Jack who has lost his wife Elise after a tragic accident on Black Friday. Unable to cope with his grief he moves back to his childhood home to his father. Jack’s father is a religious zealot and believes in the proverb “spare the rod and spoil the child.” He convinces Jack that Elise tragic demise is a sign from God that Jack has been selected for a special mission: to rid the world of sinners. How far will Jack go to full fill his mission?
🔪 This book was dark and disturbing. And there were certain things which were quite sickening to read and digest…specially where the religion was used as a justification for killing innocent people….The book alternated between “now” and “then”….The “then” dealt with Jack’s childhood and his upbringing while “now” focused on how he is coping with life after his wife’s death.
🔪 Coming to the thriller aspect we already know who the killer is and the motive behind his killings. But that’s not it…Wait for the ending twist that will make you say “WTF” and it’s definitely gonna leave your jaw on the floor. This book is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but do give it a try if you wanna read something different with a twist you won’t see coming. But don’t forget to check the TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️ in advance.
🔪 Thanks to the author for the ebook in exchange of an honest review.
August 16, 2022
‘The Good Husband’ is a psychological thriller that was compelling, unusual and a twisted read that kept me hooked! I flew through this book - it was an uncomfortable read though due to the subject matter and the decisions that the character makes. But it’s meant to make you feel that and Abigail has done a brilliant job with this book.
Jack has just lost his beloved wife Elsie as she was killed during a stampede on Black Friday. Unable to deal with his grief he retreats to his childhood home and spends time with his Father. Their relationship has always been strained as his Father is a religious zealot and recluse. Jack suffered his whole life but especially during his childhood. His Father now persuades him that Elsie’s death should be used to rid the world of greed. But how far will Jack go on this mission…
The pace of the book was fantastic with chapters swapping between ‘then’ and ‘now’ which allowed the tension to ramp up as the book progressed to its climax. The writing was powerful, especially when dealing with the topic of Jack’s grief. That was handled with care and empathy and was one of the best elements of the book.
My favourite part of the whole book came at the end when we see Jack and Elsie at the shopping centre. That was beautifully and evocatively written and I must admit a tear was shed!
Let me know it you read this one!
Jack has just lost his beloved wife Elsie as she was killed during a stampede on Black Friday. Unable to deal with his grief he retreats to his childhood home and spends time with his Father. Their relationship has always been strained as his Father is a religious zealot and recluse. Jack suffered his whole life but especially during his childhood. His Father now persuades him that Elsie’s death should be used to rid the world of greed. But how far will Jack go on this mission…
The pace of the book was fantastic with chapters swapping between ‘then’ and ‘now’ which allowed the tension to ramp up as the book progressed to its climax. The writing was powerful, especially when dealing with the topic of Jack’s grief. That was handled with care and empathy and was one of the best elements of the book.
My favourite part of the whole book came at the end when we see Jack and Elsie at the shopping centre. That was beautifully and evocatively written and I must admit a tear was shed!
Let me know it you read this one!
August 15, 2022
I was honestly blown away by this book, I found the initial story of an husband loosing his wife and life-line to society really upsetting. Instantly I felt sorry for Jack, and thought I was about to set off on a grief stricken journey.
The opening chapter hooked me straight away, the scene is set in hospital and the emotion is raw. Abigail portrays Jack’s grief in an emotive realistic way, you can almost feel it.
The book goes between a ‘then and now’ setting in which we see the extreme religious life Jack and his mum endured at his Fathers command. We see the relentless childhood cruelty Jack receives as a result of his upbringing resulting in a very tense relationship between Father and son.
This book is dark, twisted and uncomfortable in parts – this all adds to the psychological suspense. The plot twists happen through out, making this book hard to put down.
The characters in this book are really well developed, Abigail provides a really good introduction to Jack’s victims and we learn an in-depth back story which makes it all even more realistic. At times, I felt like I was watching a true crime documentary.
This book is cruel, twisted and gripping. The final chapter is so important and finishes the book off perfectly – it left me speechless.
Thank you Love Book Tours, BloodHound Books and Abigail Osbourne for letting me take part in the book tour and giving me the chance to review.
The opening chapter hooked me straight away, the scene is set in hospital and the emotion is raw. Abigail portrays Jack’s grief in an emotive realistic way, you can almost feel it.
The book goes between a ‘then and now’ setting in which we see the extreme religious life Jack and his mum endured at his Fathers command. We see the relentless childhood cruelty Jack receives as a result of his upbringing resulting in a very tense relationship between Father and son.
This book is dark, twisted and uncomfortable in parts – this all adds to the psychological suspense. The plot twists happen through out, making this book hard to put down.
The characters in this book are really well developed, Abigail provides a really good introduction to Jack’s victims and we learn an in-depth back story which makes it all even more realistic. At times, I felt like I was watching a true crime documentary.
This book is cruel, twisted and gripping. The final chapter is so important and finishes the book off perfectly – it left me speechless.
Thank you Love Book Tours, BloodHound Books and Abigail Osbourne for letting me take part in the book tour and giving me the chance to review.
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