Wilson’s latest explores what happens when fiction and reality collide. The end will leave you questioning everything, but sometimes that’s just the point. Perfect for fans of twisty thrillers and blurred reality.
4.5 Stars

This is my six read by the author, which covers almost his entire oeuvre until now. It hasn’t been an even road or even an especially linear progression, after a really good first impression there were a couple of decent but mediocre ones and then it got good, like really, really good. Well above average.
And now there’s this book dragging the quality notch right back to decent but mediocre. Can’t say I’m not disappointed. Mind you, it still entertains. The pacing, the writing…all perfectly good. But the plotting is a let down.
Not only is it fairly trite (that in itself is somewhat forgivable given the genre’s popularity and possibly limited amount of who killed whom and why variations), but it’s nowhere near all that clever or challenging or exciting. It essentially recycles the genre classics but ads nothing original in. Basically it’s kind of like having soup from a can and not adding any spices or extras to it…kinda sad. Especially so, because by now Carter Wilson has proven himself to be such a talented author. Even the title (and cover to some extent) is trite and recycled when compared to his previous book.
So basic (and boy is it) plot involves a Yates family, wealthy, clannish, small, withholding, secretive. Just another waspy well to do family in a small New England town loaded with them. A place Yates’ youngest girl has fled as soon as she was able to, got married, had a boy, wrote a few thrillers with a small publisher which have brought her neither money nor fame and had a fairly plain life, until…well, you know, the title.
Now she’s in dire financial straits and it seems as good of a time as any to come back to daddy with her tail between her legs to accept his charity she has once so vehemently refused and maybe deal with whatever it is that hangs over the Yates girls and their daddy like a dark cloud.
Meanwhile back in Milwaukee, a diligent cop, a devoted son and an expectant father to be, detective Colin Pearson gets positively obsessed with the case and decides to pursue it. Between Colin’s unflagging interest and baby Yates deciding to confess her sins through fiction after two decades of silence…the pressure is on, mistakes will be made, battles fought, etc.
And you might care…but you might not. Because really, it’s a lot and in a very uneven way.
The narrative is split as genre does, but it’s very unbalanced, with Colin who is by far the more interesting and likeable of the two narrators getting an uneven share of the action and an overwhelming share of personal tragedy. It’s difficult not to wish this was just a Colin story. Especially once the Yates family gets into high gear with their melodramatics. Isn’t daddy Yates just so sinister? Isn’t older sister Yates just so wicked? Don’t they just have way too much money and not enough morals?
Anyway, that’s how it goes. There isn’t much in the way of surprises, except one in the very end and most of it you can easily figure out. The book reads easily enough, Wilson’s a pro by now, he can probably do this in his sleep, but this isn’t what you’d hope he’d dream up, especially following up his recent work. Even the ending underwhelms when it was probably meant to delight in its ambiguity. Don’t let this be your introduction to the author. Thanks Netgalley.

This was my first Carter Wilson book and it won’t be my last. After her husbands recent death, Rose decides to move back to her childhood home with her 11 year old son Max. But it’s not a welcoming place after a tragedy occurred in the same house 21 years ago. Desperate to escape her demons, Rose hopes the reunion will quiet her guilt. But can you ever escape your past?

What a exciting and haunting ride! Twisted, gripping, and wildly entertaining - The Dead Husband will have you hooked from start. Wilson’s writing style is engrossing and the twists and turns will have you reading long into the night. So settle in with a drink, as this one will have you on the edge of your seat trying to unravel everyone’s secrets.

Thank you Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Dead Husband" and all opinions expressed are my own. This was an interesting story. I wanted to know what was going to happen to Rose. It was kind of predictable but overall good.

Yet another strong book by Wilson! I love how his books aren't cookie cutter plots and take you on a ride. A lot of creep factor in all the right ways and I appreciate the twists and turns. I will continue to read and recommend Wilson's books!

3.75*
Is it true… you can never go home?

Well, no one told Rose that. As she packed up her son and her life and returned home to Bury New Hampshire. Back to her father’s house. A place she swore she would never return to.

So what made Rose finally come home. Well, perhaps the fact that her husband tragically died. But can she leave the past behind?

Not so fast Rose!

Detective Colin Pearson is hot on her trail. He is convinced Rose is responsible for her husband’s death and will go to any length to prove it.

A family filled with secrets. They are about to be unraveled and no one will come out unscathed.

This was a fast and fun thriller though perhaps not the most memorable in a genre that is currently exploding with wild twists determined to shock the reader. Yes, we did have a few stunning moments but they felt a bit far-fetched.

Overall I enjoyed the writing by this author and look forward to reading more of his books.

A buddy read with Susanne

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for granting my wish.

Review posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Secrets can be deadly.

After Rose’s husband meets a tragic end, she and her son leave Wisconsin in order to escape to her hometown of Bury, New Hampshire, and the family she left twenty years ago, for good reason.

Hot on her tail is a Detective from Milwaukee who is positive that Rose has something to hide, which of course, she does. The question, however, is whether Rose is hiding something about her past, or her present.

A mystery/suspense that was, unfortunately, lacking in the suspense department for this armchair detective as I guessed both plot points from the very beginning.

“The Dead Husband” is the second novel that I’ve read by Carter Wilson and while I enjoyed this, I preferred “Mister Tender’s Girl.”

A buddy read with Kaceey.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Carter Wilson for the arc.

Published on Goodreads and Twitter.

Good read for those that love suspense and the biased narrator. Would recommend to those that love thrillers and small town stories.

This book makes you ask yourself what you would do to protect the ones you love. Rose hoped to forget the secrets of twenty years ago that come back to draw guilt on her when her husband is found dead. With a detective out to prove she is guilty and her home life full of issues including in her marriage, this story takes you on Rose’s journey, learning she can’t trust people and that she will eventually have to face her past. Ultimately, you will enjoy the suspense that builds in the way this novel is written. Really enjoyed the book.

A solid thriller, with a cast of characters you can't help but root for. I liked the premise, the subplots and the narrating voices (the book is told from two points of view). Warning: this is not a "cozy" and some of the descriptions of violence may be a bit too graphic for th emore sensitive reader.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy. Following the death of her husband after a accidental overdose Rose returns to her family home with her son. Memories of a tragic event in the family house haunt her. Then she has a visit from the police suggesting she murdered her husband. A gripping thriller.

Not so much as a who done it this is more about a dysfunctional family and consequences that follow later in life. The story keeps you on your toes when an incident that occurred earlier suddenly is awakened with ramifications for all involved.
Carter Wilson certainly knows how to tell a story that begins slowly with twist and turns that builds to an exciting climax.
Independent review NetGalley / Poisoned Pen Press

Secrets, lies, and deceit seemed like the cornerstone of the Yates family but their motto of "family over everyone else" seemed like the cause of all evil. I can't say more, you just have to enjoy the rollercoaster ride!

Content Warning: Suicidal thoughts, death of pets and people.

Rating: 3.5/5

What did I like about this book?

- Carter Wilson's writing. His words were smooth and the imagery was perfect. At times, I was horrified at the visuals but they were welcomed nonetheless. (Though, I didn't expect it to be that vivid.)
Also, a bonus point for thanking every FrontLine worker at the end! It was humbling. (Also, if you do want to give me a shoutout in your next book, I wouldn't mind! haha)
- POVs presented, the shuffle between Rose (1st person narrative) vs Colin (3rd person) was handled well.
- Plots and sub-plots enough to keep the readers engaged.
- The characters taking the literal meaning of "family over everyone else."

What I didn't like as much?
- 400 pages felt a little too draggy and left me unsatisfied with the resolution. The question of why "some" characters did what they did, didn't seem justifiable to me.
- Perhaps the constant images of Rose's trauma could've been simplified. I wasn't sure until the end if or not Rose was a sane person. She constantly thought and spoke of having done her research but stuck out like a sore thumb with a bulls-eye painted right on her every time she did anything or spoke. Maybe it was the author's way of showcasing her diminishing mental health? I am not sure.
- The constant portrayal of death and suicidal thoughts for both of the main characters.

Overall, it was a nice read. I didn't expect the ending at all. (Maybe I was too distracted by everything that was happening. In that case, YOU DID GOOD, WILSON!) Parts of it kept me hooked in, especially at the end of every chapter!

My very first Wish approved on NetGalley! Thank you so much to the publisher for this opportunity!

This starts out okay enough but it was a lot of back and forth. Colin Pearson, for some reason, fixates on Rose Yates and even travels to Bury to interview her. He remains fixated on her even as his own life spirals down the drain with a traumatic story line involving his own wife. I can understand his unease with the case but he just seemed SO fixated on Rose and her family that it was a little much.
Still a good book and the ending threw me for a loop. Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for a review.

‘The Dead Husband’ by Carter Wilson (Poisoned Pen Press, 370 pages, $15.99)

We don’t get to in-person meet failed entrepreneur Riley McKay in Carter Wilson’s “The Dead Husband” — he actually claims the title role — but he is resurrected time and again throughout this plot-twisting thriller, and most importantly because the way he died is eerily similar to a murder scene captured by his mystery writer wife, Rose Yates, in an earlier novel.

That’s important because it is this, in conjunction with another seemingly coincidental murder in a forthcoming novel, that captures the attention of Detective Colin Pearson. Claims that Riley died accidentally from a cocktail of sleeping pills and alcohol fall short in convincing Pearson that Rose wasn’t involved, and as he digs deeper there’s also something unsettling about Rose, the family she flees to after Riley’s death and the disappearance 22 years ago of 16-year-old Caleb Benner.

First about that family: Rose and her preteen son, Max, are not only estranged from her father, the wealthy financier Logan Yates and sister, Cora — she’s worked a lifetime to forget them. The estrangement is understandable as Wilson crafts the patriarch of all dysfunctional families. Logan, shielded by a lifetime of wealth, knows no filters — he first meets his 11-year-old grandson with a handshake, to which Logan replies, “Son, you shake a hand like that in the real world, and you may as well yank your pants down and bend over.” — and one of Cora’s first homecoming acts is to set up a bookclub group with Rose as the skewered entree.

It’s obvious to everyone, especially Pearson, that the Yates’ family is keeping secrets, but Wilson skillfully maneuvers the plot from one mystery to another, creating a series of paradoxes that overlap until they’re finally unraveled on the last page. An admirable work, “The Dead Husband” is tough and muscular, but reaches all the right emotional notes by its bittersweet end.

Rose and her son, Maxwell, 11, have left their home in Wisconsin to move in with her father, Logan Yates in her old hometown, Bury, New Hampshire. Rose’s husband, Riley, recently died from a mixture of alcohol and sleeping medications. It is assumed to be a suicide.

Rose dreaded returning to her father’s home. Logan Yates is a very wealthy man and very arrogant. Rose has not seen her sister, Cora for years and she treat Rose with disdain. Logan, Rose, and Cora, are all hiding a secret.

Rose is a well-known author who writes about crime under a nom de plume. Detective Colin Pearson and his pregnant wife have moved closer to his mother who, after the death of her husband, has turned to alcohol. Colin is trying to help her. At the same time, he is intrigued by the death of Riley because he is convinced that Rose murdered him. Now, he is out to prove his theory.

Being in her father’s home again brings back bad memories for Rose, but she knows she needs a place to stay until she can find a way to be on her own with Max again.

in reading this story, I found myself frowning a lot. Rose comes off as a bit scatterbrained. For one who has researched talking with law enforcement, she certainly wasn’t cool and smooth with it. Her remarks made herself look guilty every time she opened her mouth. What’s with this immediate crush on Alex? That didn’t add up. The plot is good but writing it and putting it together, left me rather cold in spots. However, if you want to read something borderline gruesome, then this is for you.

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

A fast-paced thriller is made even better with the author’s great use of language. The conflicted main character’s emotional struggle is gripping and realistic. I look forward to searching out this Colorado author’s previous novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC to read and review.

Secrets, the past are in this Carter Wilson novel. Terror, mystery, twists and turns are all on board with this thrilling thrill ride of a thriller. Grab a beverage, put on something comfy and prepare for intrigue.

The interesting story made me pick this up. Interesting it was – but fails to hold you through the full book though.

Rose Yates is a crime writer, and is getting over a tragedy and dark secret which she, her sister Cora and dad hold. Rose moves from Bury, New Hampshire to Milwaukee. Though her books are not exactly hot sellers yet, life seemed to be falling in place. Her husband Riley dies tragically in what appears to be a suicide. Detective Colin Pearson looks at the case and senses there is something troubling Rose. Struggling to cope, Rose feels she needs to move to Bury at least for a short time, though it may mean reliving some of the old pains with her dad and sister.

The characterization is something sketchy and the behaviours of the key people involved is not fully explained. The story gets off to a very good start and does keep you hooked till well past midway, but after that it chugs along, and the last sections could have been much better..

This was definitely a great read, which hooked me like a fish and kept reeling me in until the final page! Definitely creepy, chilling, thrilling. Intense, and shocking! Written in a fact paced, well written way, with amazing character development! I found it to be quite unputdownable, intriguing, and downright scary at times! I would highly, highly recommend to my fellow thrill lovers!

Will buzz around platforms and use low Amazon reviewer number on release!