4.5 stars
Wow! I quite liked this story of a newly widowed woman trying to move beyond a devastating tragedy and betrayal. It's goint to be really hard to review this without spoilers, so this may be short. I wouldn't want to spoil a thing.

This psychological thriller/ family drama isn't my typical read, but the description looked interesting and I was in the mood for something suspenseful. I defintely got that with The New Husband. From the start of the story, Simon seemed like a creep but only the daughter sees the deep level of creepiness. Nina and her son Connor are almost clueless. It's not easy recovering from Glen's disappearance and betrayal.

The story is told in multiple point of views, and I liked that about the story because it kept pulling me forward. There are some cliched scenes in this that seemed like they were out of a made for TV movie, but I really didn't mind that. It did take a while for the story to really get rolling, and once I got to that point, the story really took off and I couldn't put this down. The second half of the book is quite good in terms of pacing and tension and I found myself cheering at the point one of the clueless actually start waking up!

I really did enjoy this story and found myself staying up late to get to the ending (which I loved) and even re-reading bits I read too quickly in my haste to find out what happened. Those are good indicators for me when gauging my enjoyment of the story.

So, overall, a good story. There's a bit I didn't see coming and I loved that about it. The first half of the book is a little slow, but the second half more than makes up for it. Loved the ending. This was my first book from this author and I would definitely check out future titles.
An ARC was provided. This is my honest review.

OMG! What. Did.I.Just.Read. This was the third book of 2020 that has earned 5 stars from me. The New Husband had me hooked from the first chapter. This is how you write a psychological thriller.

Nina Garrity is a wife and mother of two children, Maggie and Connor when her husband goes missing. he was presumed dead but his body was not recovered. Then Simon Fitch enters Nina's life. Simon is a teacher at Maggie's school. Can I say Maggie was the real MVP of this book! Sometimes as women we ignore red flags or our woman's intuition when entering into new relationships. Nina was completely CLUELESS! Simon was way too good to be true. Maggie saw right through Simon immediately and repeatedly tried to warn her mother. I was yelling Nina, you're in danger girl, throughout this book.

We as readers were privy to things that the family was not aware of and they were alarming. An honorable mention goes to Maggie's friend Ben. When Maggie was frustrated with her mom for not listening to her claims about Simon, she had Ben to speak with and to vent to about her total mistrust of Simon. I forgot to mention that her dad, Glen had been missing for two years and Nina moved the family into a home with Simon, way too quickly in my opinion. This worked to Simon's benefit because Nina had money issues due to Glen's disappearance. Everyone around the family had their misgivings but as I stated, Nina had her blinders on and was determined to make this new arrangement work. I cannot say more without including spoilers. All I will say is if you feel like something is wrong it probably is and trust your instincts. Nina missed a lot of the warning signs but ultimately she redeemed herself in my eyes.


There are not enough adjectives to describe how much I absolutely LOVED this book. I highly recommend this book for any book club. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Nina Garrity’s husband, Greg, has disappeared. Greg loved to fish and one day, his boat is found on a New Hampshire lake with their dog, Daisy, and some blood. But no body has been found, so is Greg dead or has he just taken off? Simon Fitch, a middle-school teacher has befriended Nina to the point that, nearly 2 years after Greg’s disappearance, they have bought a house and moved in together - Nina is not quite ready to marry Simon but it all makes financial sense. Greg and Nina’s children, Conner (in high school) and Maggie (8th grade), react totally differently to the new man in the house. Conner is very accepting while Maggie will have no part of Simon as she thinks her dad will return. Nina bends over backwards to make living with Simon more than just physical, but Maggie won’t let go of her dad which causes all kinds of issues within the house. The book starts slowly, but builds to a can’t-put-it-down pace as secrets are revealed and Nina comes to her senses. As the title suggests, the new husband isn’t all that he appears to be. And if I have a criticism of the book, Nina drove me crazy with her naïveté. until she finally shed it. Don’t miss this one. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

The New Husband by DJ Palmer was a thrilling and engaging read that had me at the edge of my seat. What is the truth and who can you trust? Nina was devastated when her husband disappears and she loses everything and discovers his secrets. But now she seems to finally be moving on with the perfect man. But is there such a thing as a perfect man? Her daughter and friends do not believe so. What follows is a story full of twists and turns and that will keep you captivated.

Happy reading!

What makes Simon Fitch so perfect?

-He knows all her favorite foods, music, and movies.
-Her son adores him. He was there when she needed him most.
-He anticipates her every need.
-He would never betray her like her first husband.

The perfect husband. He checks all the boxes.

The question is, why?


This store follows a mother and her two kids as they move forward with their lives. Their father and husband went missing, and is presumed dead. After some time, Nina (the mother) tries to move on with Simon Fitch, a teacher from her kids school. He’s perfect in basically every way. He gets along with her son, he dotes and cares for her in a way her first husband never did....but he can’t seem to win over her daughter. Maggie is the only one who isn’t a a fan of Simon. She doesn’t trust him.

My rating— 3.75 or 4 ⭐️ Im debating....


Ok so the first half of this book was a little too slow paced for my taste. However the reason why is because the author really builds up the story to where the second half of the book is gripping! I could not put this book down the second half. I was up until 3am finishing it. While I still think the first half needed just a TAD more amping up, the second half was everything I love about thrillers.

Close to two years after her husband, Glen, goes missing, Nina Garrity is doing her best to put her life back together. She feels betrayed that he would just ditch her and their two children, Connor and Maggie. In spite of this, when Simon Fitch walks into her life, she is charmed by him and suddenly ready to try love again.
Not everyone is pleased with this development. Particularly, her daughter, Maggie, whose precocious perspective we get throughout the novel, alternating with Nina's. Maggie's perspective was definitely my favorite to read from. Sure, she's sassy, but she's thirteen and wise beyond her years. I found her to be an astute judge of character and considering the circumstances, I cherished her defiance.
When Nina and Simon buy a house together, the living environment becomes quite tense. Connor, Maggie's older brother, really likes Simon. He believes his Father is dead and he is looking to move on, just as Nina is. However, Maggie believes her Father is still out there and doesn't understand why her Mother would just give up on him. Allowing Simon into their family seems like a hasty decision, as far as she is concerned, not to mention the fact that the guy is a complete creep. As a result, she's fairly combative.
As a reader, it doesn't take long before you begin to notice that Maggie is on to something. Simon's behavior is definitely far from normal. He's clearly manipulating Nina, gaslighting her and distancing her from her friends, but why? Not only are his behaviors bizarre, they're also dangerous. You start to fear for everyone in that house.
Full of twists, I mean, absolutely full of twists, I really had a fun time with this book. I loved the perspective shifts and seeing the story be pieced together that way was so intense.
I'll agree with some earlier reviewers that it was a bit far-fetched as far as some of the plot twists went, but who cares? It was a wild ride and a great way to escape from life for a while. That's always what I am looking for in a book. I want to get swept up in it, and this definitely provided that.
While it wasn't perfect for me, it was pretty darn close. I find Palmer's writing to be super compelling. He absolutely knows how to pull you in.
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate it and look forward to reading more from this author!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Rating: 18+
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Thriller
Published: April 14, 2020, by St. Martin’s Press

Do we ever really know what our spouse is capable of doing? We love them, we trust them, we raise children with them, and we sleep next to them every night. But do we know what they are capable of doing? The New Husband is the book that will have you looking over at your spouse and wondering what secrets they are keeping from you.

The author of The New Husband, D.J. Palmer, is not new to writing and has written many books under the name Daniel Palmer. I found this book to be well written, and the characters carefully crafted. The story is told from two narrators, Nina and her daughter Maggie who are totally at odds with each other. And then toward the end, we hear from a third narrator. This book is a slow burn, however about halfway into the book, the wickedness is revealed, sometimes a bit over the top, but that’s one of the things I liked about it. The New Husband is a twisted psychological thriller that will have you on edge, wondering what will happen next. Has Nina found her one true love.?

Nina Garrity, the mother of two, is happily married to her husband, Glenn. Glen goes fishing, on Lake Winnipesaukee, one morning and doesn’t return. His boat is found with a large amount of blood on the deck, and his dog, Daisy, but no Glenn. It is revealed that maybe Glenn was not the perfect husband; Nina finds out he has lost his job and has been having an affair. Glen has left Nina not only emotionally devastated, but also her financial situation is precarious at best.

In this vulnerable state of mind, Nina falls for the sweet, sincere Simon Fitch, and seventeen months after her husband’s disappearance, they are moving in together.

“If someone had told Nina a few years ago that she would end up living with the social studies teacher from her daughter’s middle school, in a new house they bought together, she would have broken into a fit of laughter.”

Nina’s daughter Maggie is not happy; first, Simon is the social studies teacher at her school, and secondly, she sees something in him that doesn’t feel right.

“I hate him. I absolutely, positively hate him. Maybe, if after a year or something, Mom had wanted to go out on a date, sure, fine, go do it.”

However, Nina’s son Conner likes Simon and embraces him as part of the family; this causes somewhat of a clash between the two siblings. Despite all the turmoil, Nina and Simon are determined to make this new family work. That’s all I am willing to tell you about this story, as I don’t want to ruin all the creepy fun you will have while reading this book. But what I will say to you is that Daisy was the hero, in my opinion.

The New Husband is a story about obsession, lies, and deception that will twist and shock you. It’s a story about wanting something so much you will go to any lengths to get what you want. At times this book pushed the limits of what is plausible, but that is what made this book fun to read. What I didn’t like about the book was the epilogue, The New Husband went from an edgy, creepy read, and then it came together a bit too cleanly. Although this book does start slow, it delivers in the end, so don’t give up, stick with this book to the end, and happy reading.

* Please note the quotes in my review are subject to change once the book is published. *


** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and D.J. Palmer. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. **

5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating
I remember saying something about the way the book seemed slow at first to my husband, and boy, did that end quickly....things started getting really interesting very fast! I found myself shaking my head and wondering what in the world was going on and yet, I couldn't put my finger on the problem. Something just didn't feel right. Nina's daughter, Maggie, feels that something isn't right too. She thinks that her mother's new fiance is all wrong and she does not hold her opinions to herself. Maggie hates Simon but the rest of the family loves him.
Compared to her dad, he is a real catch. She should be glad to have someone like him in her mom's life, right? So why isn't she glad? What DID happen to her dad? WHERE is her dad? Is he even alive? No one knows and it's been two years. She's not ready to give up on him the way her mom and brother are though.
This book is really incredible. It is fast-moving and the characters are well-developed. I found myself feeling intense emotions for the characters. The book is a mystery and thriller, which at times borders on horror, in my opinion, but I could not stop reading ! I am not normally into horror so much as I am into mystery and suspense. This book addresses trust, family relationships, domestic violence, murder, and suicide. If you like this type of book, go for it! You won't be sorry. There are a few instances of cussing for those who care to know.
I received a digital ARC of this book from netgalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are my own.

(2.5 stars)

A single mother herself doubting the new man in her life. Along with her uncertainties and her daughter’s refusal to adjust, she deals with the nagging questions of why her first marriage fell apart. Author D.J. Palmer gives readers a story that is laughable in some places in the verbose novel The New Husband.

It’s been two years since Nina Garrity’s husband, Glen, disappeared. She tries to convince herself it doesn’t matter anymore. She has her kids, Connor and Maggie, and now Simon. Simon Fitch, the history teacher at Maggie’s school, has stepped into Glen’s place, or almost anyway.

Simon is thoughtful, kind, and so attentive to Nina and the kids, and he’s been through his own share of tragedy. His wife committed suicide several years ago. Now he’s just trying to move on, and he thinks Nina is the one to help him.

Nina’s drawn to Simon and his story, and before long the two are living together and engaged. The arrangements come as much from necessity as love. Before Glen disappeared, he drained the bank. Nina can no longer afford her home, and Simon is ready to take their relationship to a new level. Buying a house together only makes sense.

If only Maggie could see it that way. While her son takes to Simon with ease, Maggie can’t seem to accept the fact that her father is gone. Nina makes several attempts to help Maggie and Simon get along, and Simon does his best too. For Maggie, though, it’s not enough.

And, Maggie decides, it’s never going to be enough. Simon tries to act like a dad, but he’s not. More than that, he creeps Maggie out. She tries to tell her mom that Simon isn’t as innocent as he seems, but her mom’s always so stressed. With the move and then getting a new job, it seems like her mom is always worried.

The more Maggie watches Simon with her mom, the more she’s convinced that Simon is the problem. He does strange things, like lying about booking family trips, and he acts differently with Maggie when her mom isn’t around. A new friend gives her the courage to do something she never thought she could: find out the truth about Simon and her dad. It’s the only way to make her family whole again.

Author D.J. Palmer sets up the parameters for a solid thriller, only to undo all of them one by one. The writing tends toward too much explanation in many places: rushing to give character descriptions as soon as they’re introduced; reminding readers over and over of the importance of specific locations; spelling out feelings as soon as characters talk about them. It’s as if the point must be emphasized several times before the narrative can let go.

Weak characterization drags down the book even more. Connor, Maggie’s older brother, is mentioned, but he disappears for major portions of the book, coming back only to make the plot move forward. Simon’s motivation for why he behaves the way he does is too simplistic. Glen’s situation, while a surprise at first, quickly devolves into the predictable. Other minor characters, too, enter and exit in bit parts that are almost interchangeable.

Nina and Maggie come across as the most developed characters, although Nina may make readers shake their heads from time to time. Despite working in a field that should have armed her to detect Simon’s true intentions, she questions herself so many times it becomes exasperating. Maggie transforms into the story’s star, but the epilogue dims her contribution. The book would have been better off ending with its climactic conclusion.

The wordiness of the narration as well as the predictability of the story as a whole might make readers want to miss this one. I say The New Husband Borders on Bypassing it.

Nina's husband disappeared some time ago, leaving her with two children. At that time, the teacher of Nina's daughter, Simon, proved to be the knight in silver armor. He was simply the personification of perfect husband and ideal partner, anticipating all of Nina's needs.
But, what would be the real reason behind so much perfection?

A psychological thriller that brings to the end the real reason for so much perfection... and persecution.
3,5 stars

Love is blind and can certainly also be fatal.


Phew. This book. I love this trope honestly. Obsession. Controlling. Needy. The blind woman who JUST DOES NOT SEE IT. And listen, these types of books, you have to suspend a bit of reality for it to be that truly juicy fruit for you to absolutely drool over. I will say that a year and a half isn't a long time so damnnnnnn NINA. (channeling my inner Martin Lawrence for those who get the reference 😉)


I will say that the first 100 pages really dragged for me. I had JUST enough interest (again, because I love this type of story) that I wanted to see where the author took us. I knew from the first few pages where this was going to go (and I was RIGHT) but I really had to see how Palmer fed me this version. It does pick up towards the middle and then ramps up on the crazy.


If you're going to fall in love with a character here, you have to fall in love with Maggie.. and Ben.. let's please not forget about Ben. My favorite parts were with them. The POV does main go back and forth between Nina and Maggie with the occasional other person thrown in but it's never confusing and you know exactly who is speaking and when, which is always nice.


My first Palmer and while it may not have been a home run, I am certainly intrigued enough to want to read more by this author.... and I most definitely will.

This was a DNF book for me. Nina was made out to be a strong, independent woman, so I don’t understand how she could be so unaware when it came to Simon. So frustrating.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

This one was interesting because it wasn’t fully a thriller in my mind. There was a lot of build up to one really tense scene but it wasn’t really the normal faced paced nature of a thriller.

This book showed a case of emotional abuse with heavy emphasis on gaslighting. You just wanted to scream at Nina “he is messing with your head, gtfo out of there!” But I appreciated the real ness of the emotional abuse that was portrayed because as someone who has gone through it, it’s not easy to recognize especially while in a relationship.

Some of the issues I had with the book were, the really slow build up, I felt like something could have happened a lot sooner, the abrupt changing in perspectives was irritating as well. I think it would have flowed more to show who the perspective was on each chapter because it was jarring just going from one perspective to another.

The New Husband was another mesmerizing story by Palmer. I turned page after page trying to figure out what would happen next. Simon's character is scary but captivating in his own way. I can see many women being swayed by his charm. Nina is strong and independent. Her character is one step ahead of the plot. A stunning read for all to enjoy.

I STILL cannot believe that this is a debut novel!!

“Then he looked me right in the eyes, cold as a snake’s stare, and he gave me a wink.”

“You’re not safe.”

“We should talk.”

“That little voice in her head was speaking up again.”

“You need help.”

The Garritys are happily married with two kids, Maggie and Connor, when suddenly their lives are thrown into complete chaos. Glen, the husband and father goes out for an early day of fishing and is never seen again. His boat is found with blood splattered everywhere and the family dog, Daisy, is left aboard desperately searching for her master.

Without a body and zero explanation, the three that are left must come to terms that they may never see their loved one again. How could he just be GONE?!

Nina’s parents and friends believe that she is not only setting a bad example for her children but also moving too fast when she entered a relationship with Simon, the school’s Robotics teacher. In less than a year and a half after Glen’s disappearance they decide to move in together in an entirely new home. A fresh start, Nina thinks. She tries to reassure her kids that this is the right step and while 16 year-old Connor is alright with the change, his younger sister has every doubt in the world. There’s something not quite right about this man, he’s just a little bit off.

“They didn’t have anything against Simon per se, but each had reservations about the speed at which the relationship had evolved.”

Simon’s demeanor is nothing like their outgoing and friendly father but instead a bit concerning. Maggie gets the brunt of his vile personality, but is it just a part of her imagination? Could it be that she is being a tad harsh because she is simply missing her Dad? If he does something she deems as wrong she SHOULD tell her Mom right? She will surely believe her child over this man, she hopes.

“It was brief, just a flicker of a super-disturbing, dark look on Simon’s face that came and went...It was full of hate, but somehow empty , as cold as an ice storm— the only word I could think of was soulless.”

While Maggie is busy doubting Simon, Nina is devastated to find out that Glen wasn’t truly the husband he was made out to be. He had secrets, big ones, and she is determined to find out the truth.

“Her completely ordered world had been shredded and taped back together in a poor imitation of what it had been.”

“ She dated broken guys...Men with issues...They were mysteries, enigmas. Secrets to unlock.”

This story is definitely a slow burn, but it’s worth it so hold on tight. I did set this down a few times and kept coming back to it and I sure am glad that I did! Just before that half way point this baby picks up and after that you’ll never be able to catch your breath!

“I guess when you shine light into the dark...you see it for what it really is, and it loses all power over you.”

Thank you SO very much to St. Martin’s Press for mailing me out an ARC physical copy of this book! The cover and the matching letter that came with it are both beautiful. ( See my Instagram for pic—Link in bio.) There’s just something about holding a book in your hands and being able to smell the pages that is so appealing, call me old school!

Also thank you to Netgalley for approving me to read this thriller in exchange for my honest opinion. Somehow I was blessed twice with this book, therefore I HAD to make sure to read it ASAP! I will be leaving a review there as well.

This book came out on April 14, 2020, I would highly recommend grabbing a copy!

A solid 4 stars, no less, no more.

Reasons why this book was not a 5- star read for me: CONTAINS SPOILERS!!

1. I found that at times our main character, Nina was very naive.

2. There was a conflicting conversation that occurred between Teresa and Nina on page 188 ( ARC copy therefore it may have been corrected). Nina says “The police were looking for you...You were on the local news as a person of interest in my husband’s disappearance.” But, then on page 189 says, “The police never names you as a suspect or even a person of interest in Glen’s disappearance...So it wasn’t much of a search.”

3. The convenience of Simon mentioning the money and it’s exact location for them to take. A bit TOO easy.

4. I really wanted to know what happened to Allison but that was left open-ended.

5. Why wouldn’t Glen just tell Nina about the problem with his job? It wasn’t really that embarrassing ( his excuse) in fact it was honorable.

6. I wanted more details about “The Coopers” from Nina’s job. They were just kind of thrown in the mix and the reader is never told who is given custody or elaborated on them any more at all.

7. Allison’s diary is just sitting out in the open and Nina taking her good old time reading it—I have doubts that either of these would have really happened. She was trying to be quick while snooping and Simon was way smarter than that.

I was about half way through this book when I encountered one of the top 5 most preposterous plot twists I have ever read. I would have thrown the book across the room if it hadn’t been an audio book. This book is not worth damaging my tech for. Honestly, there is no way I could buy into the premise of this book. Just awful. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

The New Husband is a multi-layered psych thriller that keeps the reader on their toes. You have several narrators over the course of the story which gives you multiple perspectives. This is something I almost always find helpful in this type of book because it's how I pick up on the clues.

Nina is trying to move on after the heartbreaking loss of her husband. While they never found his body, it's assumed he's dead. This leaves Nina with little money and trying to raise two children, Maggie and Connor, on her own. Along the way, Simon is introduced to her and their relationship evolves. Eventually, he moves in with her and the children. He seems to be the perfect man, but is he "too" perfect? Or is she just having a difficult time trusting another man because of some issues still unresolved with her deceased husband?

This was a well thought out storyline with a few "moments" I didn't see coming. It's a quick and easy read. It will be a fun book to read at the beach or poolside over the summer. The New Husband is my first book by D.J. Palmer and I will definitely look to read more of his books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the advanced egalley in exchange for an honest review!
•••
I am going to preface this review by reminding everyone that these opinions are my own and that a lot of people enjoyed this book and those positive reviews can be found all over on bookstagram and goodreads.
•••
Nina, Connor, and Maggie have faced one of the hardest events a family can go through: the disappearance of a husband/father. Although Glen could be absent at times, Nina loved her husband and the kids loved their father. After his disappearance on a weekly fishing outing, the truth comes out about Glen that leads Nina and her children to question who he really was. Insert Simon, a school teacher who provides for Nina and her family both economically and in a sense of safety. Nina and Simon fall in love so quickly after Glen’s disappearance that it is almost too good to be true.
•••
The New Husband has all of the makings of a domestic thriller with mysterious new men and angsty teenagers. What I found most troubling was the amount of time for there to be any sort of action or twist in the storyline. As you are reading, you can sense and almost predict what is going to happen, but unfortunately there are no great drivers for the story until the midway mark. Once you are halfway through the book the story flies by almost with too much action and detailed description to keep track of. I was really hoping to enjoy this book more because I loved the authors first book, Saving Meghan, but unfortunately it fell flat for me with too much detailed description and not a lot of action. Again I am going to reiterate that this is only my opinion and should not deter you from checking out this book if you are interested in a popular domestic thriller.

A little slow to start out but What an absolute wild ride! Loved all of this book! Can’t wait to read more by Palmer!

This book had me guessing the entire time. I had a few ideas as to what the plot twist would be and I got it wrong. I really liked how the the teenage girl could tell something was weird but could not exactly express what it was. As my former co-worker would say, "she had her feelers out" and then imagine a 60+ year old woman pretending to have antennas. :) I miss working with that crazy lady.

Back to the book, The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 was due to the ending and how everything is wrapped up nice and neat. Despite that unrealistic ending, I would recommend this to everyone that enjoys domestic thrillers and likes a thriller with a twist.