A twisty tale of domestic suspense filled with every type of drama from secrets, lies, blackmail, sex parties to murder.

Behind the doors of the lovely brownstone homes in the wealthy section of Park Slope are married couples and families. Some of them are happy, but many have problems that they've hidden from the world and also from themselves. "But sometimes it's easier to stay married if you pretend. Willful blindness."

The peaceful enclave is shattered when one of the wives in that exclusive group is found dead at the foot of the stairs in her home after a party in the neighborhood. Amanda was married to Zach Grayson and he is soon arrested and held over without bail at Riker's. An old law school friend, Lizzie Kitsakis, is engaged to handle his case. Lots of intrigue in this complicated plot where nothing is as it seems and everyone is desperate to protect their lives, marriages and children. NO SPOILERS.

I've become accustomed to reading about people I don't like, and this was no exception. I never grew attached to any of the characters, but the story was quite entertaining and this was a fast-paced read that I found hard to put down. I enjoyed the speculation while I kept changing my mind about who killed Amanda and why. It's always fun to see if you can figure it out before the big reveal! For the most part, I found the plot believable, but there's a bit or two within that required some suspension of disbelief. I've read both other adult novels by this author and I'll continue to put her on my TBR list. I liked the narrative style and it kept me guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

The Good Marriage is part legal thriller and part domestic suspense and does not disappoint! This was a perfect read during the current COVID-19 crisis. The reader is pulled in at the very beginning when Lizzie receives a call from her former law school classmate, Zach, from Rikers Island prison needing her help as his wife was found murdered and he is the primary suspect in her death. This page-turner is full of hidden pasts, deception, secrets and twists! It makes you question how well can anyone really know another person.

Ok, this was really good. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I will keep it brief. Well written, twisty and turns, great ending! Read in one sitting, if that helps!!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lizzie hears from an old law school friend who has been charged with the murder of his wife. As she begins her investigation, she discovers that everyone has something to hide and also has to face the secret she herself has hidden.

There are lots of twists in this plot. I loved the book.

A GOOD MARRIAGE glitters with all the hallmarks of a Kimberly McCreight novel: wonderfully drawn characters (even when they're unlikeable), an enticing premise and a whole constellation of twists and surprises in the plotting. An intelligent, enthralling thriller which is the perfect escapist read for these long, long days.

This was a really satisfying read. It centers on Lizzie, a prosecutor-turned-corporate-lawyer, who gets a call from a college buddy, Zach, who is in jail having been accused of killing his wife. Lizzie agrees to meet with him and through a series of events, ends up representing him, though she doesn't want to. Alternating chapters are told in the voice of Amanda, Zach's wife, in the days leading up to her death.

There are a lot of characters in this book, and many of them aren't really likeable, but I thought it made for a great read, and I didn't have any trouble keeping them straight. I also thought they were well-defined. I was irritated with Lizzie sometimes regarding the situation with her husband, but at other times I was empathetic. There is a side mystery going on around an email hacking campaign at the school their kids all attend, and it was fun to figure out how the pieces fit together.

I was surprised by the ending, which is hard to do- usually I can see it coming. Lizzie figures out a few secrets along the way, beyond what happened the night of the murder, and I thought that it all came together in a clear and exciting way. Even the things that seemed like they weren't connected all fit together.

All in all, this was a great read- part domestic suspense, part mystery, and part legal thriller. I'd recommend to readers of any of those genres.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A thriller that will keep you guessing. Murder in an upscale Brooklyn neighborhood reveals more unhappy people in marriages than you thought possible.

“A Good Marriage” by Kimberly McCreight is a dark tale that focuses on the secrets we keep and how damaging they can be to our relationships. Zach is accused of murdering his wife Amanda, and hires his old law school friend Lizzie to defend him. While searching for alternative suspects, Lizzie meets some of the parents of the prestigious school that the children attend and find out there is someone blackmailing them through email. It seems that every couple has a secret, including Lizzie herself, and these secrets could ruin families, fortunes and lives.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley.com for an ARC copy of this book.

When I settle in with a Kimberly McCreight book, I know I'm in for a ride.! I will love and hate every character involved in the story (except Zack - he's just a prick) - they grow as the story progresses, every person is flawed but you're still rooting for them because they're so human.

The plot twists and turns and everyone's secrets come to the surface - its what makes a great book that you don't want to put down.

A Good Marriage, a fast paced read by Kimberly McCreight, was just what I needed to get me out of my CoronaComa! I love murder mysteries and anything concerning lawyers and their work. This one fit the bill.

Lizzie Kitsakis has a fantastic job at Young & Crane after toiling away as an underpaid federal prosecutor and struggling with her marriage. One night she gets a call from an old law school friend, Zach Grayson, asking for help. He has been arrested and is being held at Rikers without bail for simple assault. But there is a little complication - he was arrested for assault of an officer when they came to investigate his wife Amanda's murder. Amanda was foung dead at the bottom of their staircase in a pool of blood after a neighborhood key party. Zach insists he is innocent but as Lizzie interviews Amanda's Slope Park friends and reads her journals she learns there is so much more to the story.

This book reminded me of Big Little Lies and I have been a fan of Kimberly McCreight since reading Reconstructing Amelia. It has many layers of intrigue that unfold quickly to keep you reading! If you like legal thrillers - this one is sure to be a favorite. Thank you to @Netgalley and @harpercollins for gifting me a copy of this book for review.

This is a book about four couples. Four with their own set of problems. Three of these couples seem very happily married for the most part. But they all have problems. They all have the world at their fingertips but along with that are major problems that lead to one woman being killed and one defending the husband. All of their lives will interconnect and some are the best of friends. Secrets will come to light that none see coming.

This book is so filled with twists and turns. I thought I had it all figured out but boy I was wrong. I truly was not even close.

Amanda, who is married to Zach, is dead. You learn this at the very beginning of this story. Her husband is arrested for the murder. There are several things that make him look ripe for this murder. He’s a bit of a cold man. I didn’t like him at all. He was not one you will connect with. Amanda had anything and everything money could buy and a son she adored with all her heart. The thing she didn’t have was the kind of love and support her two best friends had. Zach was a workaholic and thought that was all they needed.

Lizzie, who is married to Sam, is the attorney who defends Zach. She knew him from law school many years prior. As much as he is unlikable he does deserve a good defense. Lizzie didn’t want the job of being his defense attorney but she has no choice now. She’s a good attorney no doubt. She leaves no stone unturned getting to the bottom of things. A strong and very smart woman who has problems of her own. Sam, her husband, is an alcoholic and is prone to blackouts. Blackouts where he remembers nothing. He does things yet can’t remember them after.

The other two couples, Kerry and Sarah, who have been married a very long time and have three children. They love each other very much and Kerry will do anything for Sarah. Is he as good as he seems or does he had some dark secrets that will come to light. Do they have secrets that need to be exposed? Then there is Sebe and Maude. They do have a great marriage. Problems? Of course. All marriages have problems. But they do have what they consider a great life. Everyone loves going to their parties. Their once a year parties that happen when all the children are away at sleep away camp. That is when all the fun happens and this time trouble...

Most of the characters in this book are so likable. There is something about each that you may relate too. With the exception of Zach who in my opinion is very cold. It’s like he’s dead inside, almost. But does that make him a killer? Maybe, maybe not. This book is very well written and the descriptions are so well developed you’ll feel like you are walking down the tree lined sidewalks or running through the forest and up the steps that Amanda ran. It’s a story of a murder. What appears to be a brutal murder. It’s the story of one woman’s hopes and dreams. Her horrible childhood and there is a touch of mental health issues included. A lot of what being an alcoholic can do to a person and what some love, laughter and just being a friend can do.

I really did enjoy this book. It caught me right from the start and I could not stop until I found out who killed Amanda. It held my attention from the very beginning.

Thank you to #BookishFirst, #NetGalley, #KimberlyMcCreight, #HarperCollinsPublishing for this ARC. My own true feelings are expressed here.

A 5 star book and a very high recommendation.

I was so thrilled to see an adult Kimberly McCreight novel again! And boy is she back and better than ever. This book follows a lawyer as she tries to figure out what happened after a party one night when her client's wife ends up dead, all while dealing with her own issues at home. It's definitely a page-turner! Several times I thought I had it all figured out, only to be fooled and have another curveball thrown at me. I love when this happens! Great read.

This is a great suspenseful book, throughout the whole book I kept double guessing and was always on my toes about what was going to happen next! The twist and the turns always got me, Sometimes you can see them coming and other times they are knock you on the floor crazy! I loved it!
Lizzie is working late, she's an attorney, when the phone rings. When this happens she answers it and its a friend named Zack. He's calling because he's in trouble. He is in jail currently awaiting trial for his wife Amanda has been murdered. Zack is saying they both went to a party and Amanda left early. When he returned home he found her dead on the floor covered in blood. When he calls the police naturally he is the prime suspect. This novel has the depth and suspense and its mind blowing good! If you are looking forward to a great novel with suspense with keeping you on the edge of your seat then this is the one for you!

This book kept my interest throughout the story and kept me guessing. The variety of characters and their connections were amazing! I really didn’t figure things out until near the very end! Great book!

It took me about three weeks to read this book, longer than it should have. While reading I could generally become immersed in the story, but once I set it down and then picked it up again later (or closed my Kindle app and then reopened it later), it took a bit to get immersed again as I didn't seem to be retaining much in my head.

Lizzie narrates her part of the story, and relates to us how she receives a call from Zach, an old law school friend, who has been accused of murdering his wife and is currently in Rikers. He is insistent that she represent him, and she is reluctantly drawn into his case. Not because she believes he is guilty, but because she recently began working for a large corporate firm, where associates aren't allowed to bring in cases. To Lizzie's disappointment, her boss, who is a partner, flouts that rule and tells her to take the case.

The narration switches back and forth between Lizzie's story, and Amanda's story, told in third person POV, and going back over the days leading up to the murder. Despite the two being very different women, the narrative voices did not feel distinctive to me. Other than the POV, it was as if the same person were narrating.

The plot got quite convoluted, with a lot of surprises and reveals. But it was Amanda's story that drew me in and kept me reading. Her story was more of a character study than Lizzie's, and I'll take a character driven story over plot driven any day. The more we got to know Amanda the more I felt sorry for her. Referencing my earlier remark about not retaining much in between reading sessions, I actually do still remember quite a lot about Amanda, but not so much about Lizzie.

As for the supporting characters, I had a little trouble remembering which woman was who, as they seemed to run together. But I was able to keep the men straight in my head. And I hated Zach early on, long before we found out whether he was guilty or innocent.

Overall, not an especially memorable story other than some of Amanda's parts, but easy reading to while away some time.

Attorney Lizzie Kitzakis is working late when she gets a call from her old friend Zack Grayson. He begs her to be his attorney and tells her that he's been arraigned for elbowing a police officer in the face, albeit accidentally. What's more, his wife is dead and he's the prime suspect. This thriller has all the twists and turns you'd expect and many you don't.

McCreight's books are always very interesting, somewhat domestic thrillers. This was no exception. I'm excited for the book to come out so others can read this one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This book was just okay for me. I love legal thrillers like this, but I think there was just too much going on in this one. Too many characters with too many secrets and a lot of the secrets ended up being completely irrelevant to the conclusion of the book. A good edit would have made this one a 4 or 5-star read.

A Good Marriage had such Big Little Lies vibes with a PTA scandal, a murder and so many possible suspects. I thoroughly enjoyed this salacious glimpse into the Brooklyn private school world and it kept me guessing as to the identity of the true murderer until the very end. If you are looking for an edge of your seat, page turner of a thriller, this is it.

When attorney Lizzie gets a frantic call one night from an old law school friend Zac, she reluctantly agrees to help him. He stands accused of murdering his wife Amanda. While Lizzie does not personally believe Zac killed his wife, the deck is stacked against him. Lizzie works tirelessly to prove Zac’s innocence, but something doesn’t add up. Before she knows it everyone’s secrets are about to be exposed, including her own.

A Good Marriage is told from three perspectives: Lizzie, an attorney for a big law firm who is hired by Zack Grayson to defend him in his wife’s murder case, Amanda, the wife who was murdered, telling her story in the days up to her death, and grand jury testimonies from other people who were at the party the night Amanda was killed.

I flew through A Good Marriage. The style really worked for me and kept me engaged. It keeps you guessing, unsure who in the story you can really trust, including both narrators. The ending pleasantly surprised me, something I find to be rare for thrillers. On top of the main plot of murder, there’s a subtle element of cybercrime that truly intrigued me.

I thoroughly recommend A Good Marriage for fans of thrillers! Thank you to Harper Collins, Netgalley, and BookishFirst for the review copy! All opinions are my own.