Thank you Netgalley, St Martin’s Press and D.J. Palmer.
WOW. WOW. I absolutely loved this book.
I could not put it down, page turner, suspenseful, terrifying, jaw dropping.
I love your books and will read anything you will write.

Thank you so much.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It completely blew my mind. Nina’s husband disappeared and was presumed dead. She meets a new man who seems perfect and begins her life anew, but can he be trusted? Her daughter Maggie doesn’t think so and does everything on her power to prove it. Is she just having a hard time accepting her dad will never come back or is she right? Read this book right now! It’s a roller coaster of emotions and twist after twist!

I was so excited to be able to read this one early thanks to #netgalley
I read Saving Meghan by the same author and it was one I really enjoyed, when I found out he had a new book coming out I was all over it.
In The New Husband Nina meets Simon shortly after her husband goes missing from his fishing boat. Simon is perfect and checks all of Nina’s boxes. Nina has two teenaged children Connor and Maggie, and while Connor loves Simon, Maggie is not warming up to him and thinks he has ulterior motives.
This book was Splash Mountain.... I didn’t get soaked at the end... but it had a really slow build where you’re just moseying around looking at the singing woodland animals and then it starts to get all dark and creepy and then boom you’re being hurtled down a 52’ drop and then it’s done and over with.
I hate Splash Mountain.... so I did enjoy this book a little more than I like the ride, but the ride is exactly how this book is... it’s a verryyyy slow build AND THEN EVERYTHING HAPPENS ALL AT ONE TIME AND IT’S REALLY CRAZY and then it’s done. I enjoyed the book, it was entertaining, but I don’t think it will be one that sticks with me for a really long time...

This was an easy book to read with some suspense. Even though the story was interesting enough to keep me turning the pages, the plot was predictable and unoriginal. I also had issues with the characters. I just didn't like any of them (except for Daisy). This book was not bad, but could be better.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and D.J. Palmer for a copy of "The New Husband" in exchange of an honest review.

This was one exciting book about a father and husband who has disappeared and what happens to his family afterward. Nina and her children, Maggie and Connor, don't know if he is dead or alive, as the police have not found his body.

And isn't it convenient that a teacher from the kids' school steps in to help Nina, moving into the household in what seems like record time? He's always there to help, always understanding, always...

Creeping out teen-aged Maggie, who sees the cracks in her mother's new boyfriend's personality first. But how often do adults listen to their teen-aged children? In this case, it was much easier to write off Maggie's fears, saying she just missed her recently disappeared father.

By this time the hairs on the backs of readers' necks will begin to tingle.

At least 13-year-old Maggie has her new friend, Benjamin, to help her through her daily suffering. As their friendship grows, Benjamin's wits get them closer to answers about Maggie's and Connor's father.

It's a hair-raising ride from start to finish.

The New Husband by DJ Palmer

Almost two years ago, Nina’s husband disappeared from his fishing boat, leaving her and her two children behind. No body was ever found, was he dead or did he flee? Now in a serious relationship with her daughter’s social studies teacher Simon Fitch, she starts asking more questions, digging more for answers...in which she finds out things from the past and present...

I really enjoyed this book, more so the last half, once things took a turn. I loved Palmer’s writing style, and I loved how I could picture myself there along characters in the story. One of my favourite things about a thriller is to feel like I’m there, so actually see things that are described. And this book did just that. I loved Nina’s daughter Maggie’s POV in the story. I also loved how the story kept me engaged throughout. I definitely think this could be a movie. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I wanted more from that ending. I felt like it ended too easy. And it was also somewhat predictable. I wanted to shake Nina at times...you should always listen to your children if they have a bad feeling about someone!

Thank you to DJ Palmer, Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Nina Garrity is just trying to rebuild her life after her husband mysteriously disappears off his fishing boat one afternoon, leaving her with two children and no inheritance. Nina is low on options when she meets Simon Fitch, a teacher from her daughter’s school. Simon is immediately taken with Nina. But something doesn’t add up with Simon, and Nina searches for the truth about who Simon really is: just a devoted husband or someone dangerous.

This one started a bit slowly for me. It took me about 50 pages to get into the story and really connect with the characters. But once I did, my sense of dread started to build and I flew through the book waiting for the other shoe to drop. It quickly became a fast-paced thriller, filling me with anxiety as I clung to the page.

The story is told from multiple points of view, with the predominant ones being Nina and her daughter Maggie. As the reader, you’re privy to much more of the truth than the characters. At times I wanted to scream to Nina, and at others, I wanted to scream at her as she makes naive choices and refuses to listen to her daughter and her instincts. I just wanted to give Maggie a hug. I felt so angry for her. She was by far my favorite character.

I thoroughly recommend The New Husband to fans of domestic thrillers! It’s a quick read that will have you clinging to the pages waiting to find out the truth.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the review copy! All opinions are my own.

Slow to build up. How can anyone think anyone is perfect? A red flag should go up then. If it seems too good to be true then it is. Nina should question why Simon is so perfect if it’s just not possible. She should look deeper and do some checkups on him just to make sure he is the way he seems. She’s a widow with a husband that wasn’t perfect and had secrets. She should try to find out if Simon has secrets and what sort of secrets he has.
A good read. Read for yourself to form your own opinion.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The New Husband, by D.J. Palmer, is available at booksellers on 4-14-20. As my first experience with Mr. Palmers writing I had no idea what to expect. Wow. I love a good thriller and that's what I got. Who, what, where, when, how. We're taught this in school as being the basis of a good story & The New Husband covers all of them. Something about the new boyfriend set my teeth on edge when he seemed so perfect, no one is that woke. I'm reminded of the saying "Oh what a tangled web we weave/When first we practice to deceive." There are webs all over this plot. The story runs all over a list of emotions from narcissism to love, and psychopathy to seeing the truth clearly. I fell in love with the Golden Retriever, Daisy, I want that dog. The only con I found was the first couple of chapters dragged, not a big deal but it made me wonder if I should forge on. The answer is yes. I'm not going to give away anymore so you can enjoy this book for yourself. Happy reading

#D.J.Palmer #TheNewHusband #StMartin'sPress #Netgalley #Thriller

This is a very well written, entertaining storyline. There are twists and turns galore. The characters are well developed. A real page turner. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review

Twisty and enthralling and wow. So grateful I had it to distract me from everything going on...but also everything I had to do for an entire day. Fantastic read!

Psychological thrillers give us a peek into the twisted mind of a psychopath.


Things are never as they seem.  This could not be more true than in this new release.  A man is missing, but is he dead or did he run off with someone else?

You know in horror movies when you shout at the screen "don't go in there" or "get out of there now"?  Well, there were several places in this book (especially near the end) where this is what I wanted to shout at Nina.  Especially when everything was coming to a head in the last 15% of the book and my heart was racing fearing for the characters.

This book is told from several POV but primarily Nina, the mom, and Maggie, her daughter.  Maggie believes her dad is still alive even though it has been 18 months and his body was never found and there has been no word from him.  Nina, despite everything, has moved on with her life and has found love with someone new, Simon.  Simon Fitch seems to care for Nina and her children, but does he really or is there something more in his motive?

The story has some massive twists and turns that I did not expect.  Sure some of it might have been a little predictable, but those twists had me questioning everything I thought I knew about this book and the characters.  Simon is not someone to be trusted, but for the first half of the book or so, I thought he was doing everything for Nina and her family because he loved her.  But he had deeper motives than we could have ever expected.  I would have liked to have seen more into Simon's past than the few glimpses we had because I think it would have explained more about him.

While I liked Nina and thought she was doing what she could for her children, I wondered why she waited nearly 2 years before finding a job to support them especially when she discovered that there was no money and Glen had spent it all.  It isn't like the children were young, but maybe it was the grief and everything she went through while searching for Glen and trying to move forward with her life.  I am glad that she started questioning things and didn't take everything at face value.

Overall we really enjoyed this book and give it 5 paws up.

This book is everywhere, you cannot log onto Instagram without seeing it's pretty cover. I have enjoyed D.J. Palmer's previous books and this one was enjoyed too. Do I feel like maybe I've read similar plots, and plot twists? Maybe, but that didn't take away from this book for me.

A man is out fishing early one morning thinking he has the place to himself. But as the sun rises, he sees a boat in the distance with what looks like just a dog in it. Pulling closer and calling out, he sees it is only a golden retriever in the boat but the bottom of it is filled with blood.

Nina Garrity is married to Glen and they are parents to Connor, 16, and Maggie, 13. When the police arrive with her dog in the car, they tell her that her husband has evidently fallen overboard and drowned. An extensive search ensues with nothing found.

Eighteen months later, Nina is carrying on her life the best she can and a lovely man, named Simon, who happens to be a social studies teacher at Maggie’s school, has been dating her. Now, they have moved to another house where all of them will live together. Maggie is very distressed about Simon living with them. She is intent that she does not like him and simply wants her Dad. Connor is handling things better and he and Simon do some sports things together. Simon professes to love Nina. He has money from other investments, in addition to his school teacher salary and can take care of them all without Nina needing to work. But she is determined to get a job and no longer be dependent on a man after some things she learned about Glen. Maggie persists in saying that there is another part of Simon that only shows up now and then and it’s frightening. Could this loving man not be who he seems to be or is the child imagining things?

This book at first seems to drag and you want to roll your eyes at some of the characters as they seem so naive. But as we approach the end of the book, it all comes together and leaves the reader with their mouth open in awe. What a read. I was racing through it at the end and holding my breath. Do not miss this book. It’s so well done.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I'm so tired. Why? I stayed up way too late reading D.J. Palmer's new novel The New Husband. It was so good that I didn't want to put it down.

After reading Saving Meghan (read my review), I couldn't wait to read his new novel. I will admit I had really high expectations for The New Husband.

Right off the bat, you know that Simon is going to be bad. At first, I thought perhaps it would have something to do with Nina's middle school daughter since Maggie is the first to voice her unease with him and her fear of being alone with him. The book is not about child molestation.

It becomes clear pretty really on that Simon is a manipulator and while not physically abusive, yet, he is controlling. Unfortunately, Nina, who is still grieving the disappearance of her husband, does not see, or maybe doesn't want to believe that Simon is anything but caring, compassionate, and loving.

At first, I wondered why Palmer was so upfront and clear about Simon. Unlike in Saving Meghan, where the reader didn't know who to believe or what the truth was, we know enough from the beginning to not trust Simon. Then when we learn that Nina is a social worker and my first reaction was why doesn't she see what is happening. She's trained to work with cases of domestic violence. She should know better than the average person the many forms domestic abuse takes and the warning signs. And that's when I realized why Palmer revealed so much of Simon's personality so soon. He wanted the reader to judge Nina so that the reader could see that the judgment was misplaced.

Just because we know what Simon is from the beginning, it doesn't mean there aren't a few surprises and definitely a big twist that had my jaw dropping.

The New Husband is an excellent suspense novel. I highly recommend reading it.

My review is published at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/04/the-new-husband-by-dj-palmer-review.html

The title gives you a clue that not all is right with Simon, the new husband-to-be. (Which begs the question of that title given that he isn't actually a husband.) But even without that, it becomes fairly obvious fairly quickly that Simon is too perfect and his behavior is suspect. I knew the minute he showed up having "rescued" the family dog that he was bad news! What surprised me was, after the first half of the book alternating points of view between the mom and the suspicious daughter, that a new point of view was added and the story seemed to switch. Normally authors make the reader wait longer before a solid reveal takes place. But, I really enjoyed the approach. It gave more time for the sinister little bits to be brought out instead of being slammed in to the last 20 pages or so. The end result is a reasonably predictable story but told in a unique manner that keeps the reader turning pages.

In this chilling, twisty thriller, D.J. Palmer takes you into the depths of obsession, showing the lengths people will go to keep their family together...or tear it apart.

Have you ever judged, someone? After reading, you may think twice. Things are not always as they seem on the surface.

Check out my Q&A Elevator Ride with the author, to get all the behind the scenes exclusives of THE NEW HUSBAND and more about this talented author. Top Books of 2020

INTENSE, ADDICTIVE, MIND-BLOWING!

I am a huge fan of Daniel and Michael Palmer's books —have read them all. I am certainly enjoying the new titles under the DJ name, including this one and his most recent, Saving Meghan Top Books of 2019.

Perfectly paced, DJ Palmer delivers a modern chilling cautionary tale with a mix of coming-of-age, domestic suspense, psychological and crime thriller, and so much more!!

D.J. Palmer, the multi-talented bestselling author brings the best of both worlds from family, domestic suspense, mystery, medical, and psychological thrillers.

What I enjoy about D.J.'s writing is his ability to cross many genres, his strong character development, vivid descriptions, twisty cleverly crafted plots, and his unique topics and storylines which are relevant, newsworthy, and emotionally charged.

In THE NEW HUSBAND — darkness is often not easy to spot when it is right in front of us. Most good people do not think like evil sinister monsters and overlook the warning signs.

The book opens in Seabury, New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee.

A man is out on his boat fishing on a chilly predawn morning when he spots a boat. However, it appears the captain of the Starcraft is a barking golden retriever. (you had me at Golden Retriever) Where is the owner?

The man investigates further and finds the dog alone. Did the owner fall overboard, a heart attack, or something more sinister? After seeing the blood, he had a feeling it may be the latter.

Meet the Garrity family.

Glen a former banker is now missing. His wife, Nina, children Maggie (13 yr. old daughter), son Connor (16 yr. old son) and Daisy (5 yr. old) Golden Retriever. They had been married for fifteen years.

The novel flashes forward seventeen months later.

Glen has never been found. Turns out their money is gone, and once his photo had been circulated via the news, it turns out Glen may be alive and involved with another woman under a different name. However, he was never found, and all leads had turned cold.

Due to the financial loss, Nina must care for her family. She planned on moving with the kids to her parent’s home in Nebraska, but then Simon came into the picture. Nina felt this was a way to keep her family here in New Hampshire.

Simon was Maggie’s teacher at school. She despises the man. He stepped in Nina’s life and now they are moving in together. He had said all the right things and charmed Nina and worked his way into their lives. On the exterior, he seems perfect. Looks can be deceiving.

Maggie is not happy about the situation and Connor seems to be OK with the new relationship.

Simon wants to get married so he could officially become Nina’s NEW HUSBAND. However, due to the NH laws, she had to wait two years or longer after spousal abandonment for a divorce. His body has not been found.

Little clues about Simon’s dark side began surfacing.

Maggie is the first to notice. He does not want Nina to work, he controls her, keeps her from her friends, he interfered with every family plan and yet Nina could not see these things. He is manipulative. She only sees what she wanted to see. The good side. Maggie attempts to tell her mom, but her mom thinks she is just acting out due to missing her father.

Maggie (also been the victim of bullying at school), finds comfort in a new friend, Benjamin (love him).

With his help, they begin their own sleuthing to follow Simon and find out where is he going, what he is hiding, where his money is coming from, and what actually happened to his past wife (he says suicide) and the woman he was to marry previously. Things did not add up. What is going on at his lake house? This section is unputdownable, heart-pounding suspense.

Simon has everyone fooled. But Maggie and Ben. He is sly and calculating. A devil in disguise.

However, Maggie needs evidence. She is smart and observant. However, as things begin unraveling and rising the surface, they all may be in danger.

Where is Glen? What kind of monster is Simon? What really happened to his wife Allison? The diary entries tell the tale. How will they escape this madness alive, and find their father?

A fast-paced twisty thriller with some jaw-dropping moments and shockers. If you have read DJ Palmer (Daniel and Michael’s) previous books, you are aware the author is a master storyteller and creates more than a thriller. There is always something beneath the story. A critical takeaway.

When I write reviews and read books, I may a little different than most. Maybe it is my research background. I want to uncover the message. I read between the lines. Some readers miss the critical elements of a book. (for this reason, is why I started the Elevator Ride with the Author. To connect readers and writers).

In addition to THE NEW HUSBAND being a knock-out compelling domestic psychological thriller, there is so much here. A big theme apparent throughout the novel is: JUDGMENT.

As in Nina’s case, and in Simon’s previous relationships, you cannot judge. Everyone thinks what they would or would not do. Until you live it, you do not know.

I really enjoyed the tenacious characters of Maggie and Ben. They were superbly developed, along with Daisy (gosh I miss my golden retriever, Duke). I have noticed DJ interjects determined teen characters into his books which play an integral role in the storyline. I enjoy how he uses different points of view from adults and teens.

Maggie judged Ben in the beginning. Nina judged Glen, among others. Others judged Allison and Nina. However, things are not always as they seem on the surface. This is powerful and thought-provoking. THE NEW HUSBAND would make for a great movie or TV series!

Epilogue: For me, the epilogue (an essay written by Maggie Garrity, daughter, and amateur sleuth) makes this book stand out and a perfect way to end this masterly crafted novel. A lesson for us all, both adults and teens.

Judging others is easy. “However, until you live it, you don’t know what you would actually do.” Don’t rush to judgment. Have humility. Show empathy. Ask: What can I do to help?

Well done! I cannot wait to see what is next!

#JDCMustReadBooks

A special thank you 💕 to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

The New Husband never bored me, but it wasn't a book I was incredibly excited to pick up either.

The first 50% of the novel is so very slow...yet somehow, some way, it kept me reading.

And though there was definitely an underlying creepy vibe throughout the book, my biggest issue with this story was Nina's idiocy. Most of her family, all her friends, and even a stranger or two told her Simon was bad news, yet despite admitting she made terrible choices regarding the men in her life, she kept defending him....and continued to leave her children in his care. Way to drop the ball in a big way, Nina.

But really...what kind of man, with a full-time job, calls his girlfriend at work seven times in one afternoon? That would set off some major red flags for most women...but not our Nina.

I have never been a fan of dumb, spineless characters. One of my biggest peeves as a reader.

Beyond that, I figured out the big twist in the book long before it was revealed, and the only characters I really liked were Ben (Maggie's friend), and Daisy (the dog).

Nothing about this book brought anything new to the table, and it was, overall, a very average read.
2.5 stars

**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Even though The New Husband is based on a premise that I've read in books before, it was still fresh, entertaining and had plenty of surprises. I enjoyed that a good part of the book was from the view of the daughter in junior high. It gave it a fresh perspective and Maggie was a very relatable character. I liked the mother as well. She was a strong heroine. The story kept me turning the pages quickly so I could see what came next. The book had a satisfying ending. I received an advance copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I was a huge fan of Saving Meghan and very excited for the opportunity to read another DJ Palmer book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy.

This was a quick read but the characters were a bit annoying (Maggie’s POV chapters were forcefully young sounding) and unbelievably naive (I’m looking at you, Nina!) and the plot quite predictable from quite early on. Simon exudes creep vibes but it never got TOO dark for what happened.

Overall, a 3 star rating - as I got through it in a day but sadly wished for a couple of surprises or twists in the story.