Another enjoyable mystery filled with twists, turns, and red herrings — as can only be delivered by Kate White.

I’ve read and enjoyed many books by Kate White, so I was thrilled to get an advance copy of this one. She tends to write mysteries in the more classic vein, with a modern Cosmo woman playing Nancy Drew. (Cosmo woman because Kate White used to edit Cosmopolitan magazine so yep, she knows her Cosmo girls. She practically invented them.) Here, we have heroine Summer, married to Gabe, spending some time with her in-laws and extended family, when suddenly people start getting murdered. (I mean, who among us hasn’t been at an extended family gathering where it seemed like murder was the next logical step?) The family is wealthy and there is a sketchy new fiancée in the picture — one who Gabe’s brother has decided to marry after knowing her for only two months. While the creepy fiancée seems the most likely suspect, Summer’s sleuthing uncovers a host of other possibilities (and clever red herrings) that kept me guessing until the surprise ending.

I always enjoy Kate White’s books because she’s one of the few modern mystery writers who can write a modern Nancy Drew tale without annoying me with 1) too much cutesy coziness or 2) a dopey plot. Her female protagonists are always strong, funny, and relatable, and Summer is no exception here. The murders are not totally hard boiled but also not the “my cat and I solved a crime” or the “Miss Scarlet in the study with the candlestick” variety. (No offense to either of those genres; they’re just not for me.)
White is also very adept at making you suspect absolutely EVERYONE, but tying up the mystery neatly at the end. All in all, in the Fiancée, a reliable and fun mystery writer knocks another one out (literally?) for your sleuthing enjoyment.

Read this one if you’re in the mood for a traditional whodunit with a modern twist.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper, and Kate White for the fun and involving mystery that I didn’t have figured out at all!

The Fiancée is a snapshot look into the lives of an extended wealthy family. Every year, the four brothers descend on their parent’s estate for a week long vacation. They wine, they dine, they play tennis and they relax by the pool. And everyone gets along famously. Except this year, Nick brings his new girlfriend, Hannah, the ex-girlfriend of his twin brother, and no one really likes her. Especially Summer.

Summer is the second wife to Gabe and stepmom to Henry. Which totally sets her up as a less than angelic character for whatever reason. Although in this case, Gabe’s first wife Stephanie, cheated. And was never liked by his mother Claire, the matriarch of their big wealthy family. So in this case, Summer is actually a bit of a Cinderella. Everyone loves her and thinks she’s the most amazing wife and stepmom.

At first Summer tries to like Hannah. But that doesn’t end up working out and she catches her in a lie. It’s all downhill from there. And it isn’t even just Hannah. Because when tragedy strikes, the whole family dynamic is thrown off and no one know what is going on.

Kate White is the former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, which of course, makes her a goddess. And I’ve always loved her books. But while I enjoyed this one, the progression of the story didn’t ring true for me. And I felt like the ending was a bit just tacked on. Still, was a fun look into the decadence and lifestyle of those on the other side.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out June 29. This review will be published on my blog on June 1, 2021.

This book was quite a wild ride. It was rather predictable but engaging enough so that you don’t mind, like riding your favorite amusement park ride for the 10th time. Hannah is a very believed character, as is Summer. Some of the writing was a little drab, but overall, a fun, quick read!

I have been a fan of Kate’s writing since her first book. And, this one again is a must read. It is fast-paced and keeps you guessing up until the very end. Summer, her husband Gabe and step son go to his family’s annual summer gathering. As all the family joins together for a fun week, tragedy strikes when Gabe’s mother suddenly dies. Was it a heart attack or murder? Clues are hidden throughout the plot. Summer is determined to figure it out and will Gabe support her as she seeks the truth.

Kate White is one of my comfort authors. When I haven’t been reading anything I have liked and I want to grab a book that I know will be good, or when I’m feeling tired or cold or sick and just want to cuddle up with a good book, she is one of my go-to authors. Like the same feeling comfort food brings.
Her books are always quick reads with relatable characters and just the right amount of mystery and suspense.
I have read all of her books and enjoyed every one ✨
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Summer has been married to Gabe Keaton for 6 years. She is completely enamored with his big family. The Keatons are fun, sophisticated, welcoming and very wealthy.
They all get together every year at her in-law’s beautiful, extravagant vacation home in rural Pennsylvania.

At this year’s vacation, Gabe’s brother Nick arrives with a new girlfriend and announces their engagement. Summer immediately feels something is off with this woman....

Someone ends up dead.... then another body turns up.... 👀

I do think that there is an audience for this book but it just wasn't for me. Maybe I read too many books like this so this just feel so short compared to others that have been so much better. Sorry.

This one had me turning (or swiping!) every page to see where it went. Very intriguing and interesting drama!

Ooo y'all I already knew I was going to love this novel because of the creepy cover! And I was completely correct. Amazing writing and the storyline was so great. Kept me up all night reading it!

Thanks to Harper books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This is the first book by Kate White, that I've read though looking at her other books there were some I'm interested in reading. A family get together turns into a murder mystery when people start dying. Everyone assumes it's natural causes for one of the victims except for the main character Summer who is the wife of one of the 4 brothers whose parents own the house and property where the get together is taking place. They are very well off. One of the brothers brings a new girlfriend to the festivities , Hannah. Both Summer and Hannah are actresses and Summer remembers working with Hannah on some play. Hannah plays dumb and acts like she didn't remember it. It should have been no biggie if someone doesn't remember something the same way you do right?. But no not Summer, For some reason this bothers her and she goes out of her way to find out all she can about Hannah. I thought it was very extreme and so unnecessary. When people start dying Summer automatically assumes that Hannah had something to do with it, though she's got no proof or even evidence. Not a lot of the characters were very likable but Summer was a piece of work. She goes looking for trouble when there isn't any. I didn't think the ending made a whole lot of sense and left a few unanswered questions. Since this is my first book by Kate White, I will give read another one of her books to see if they are better than this one.

Very good book. Great characters and settings. This thriller had enough red herrings to keep the whodunit a mystery. The ending was a surprise.

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-arc copy of The Fiancee. It is a great addition to the Bailey Weggins series. I think everyone will enjoy its twisted mystery.

I loved this book. A beautiful country estate, a big, close family gathered for their annual week together, a new fiancee whose sudden appearance upsets the balance -- a great setup for suspicion and murder. Summer, an actress and aspiring playwright married to Gabe, loves her wonderful parents-in-law and gets along well with her three brothers-in-law. But when Nick, the youngest brother, introduces Hannah, his new fiancee, Summer quickly realizes that Hannah is trouble. Before she can convince others, murder turns the whole family's lives upside down, and previously unvoiced animosities begin spilling out. With such a large cast, some characters are inevitably less than fully developed, and the solution may seem to come out of the blue, but the book as a whole is thoroughly enjoyable, with enough twists to please any mystery reader.

This book was a thrilling suspenseful read! I really liked the plot and all the twists and turns that it took. I finished this book in a day and a half because it grabbed my attention from the very first page. I've read most of Kate White’s other books and have really enjoyed them, especially the Bailey Weggins series. She does a great job of writing fleshed out characters and setting up the mystery that will be the basis of the plot for the book. She describes scenes so well, that at times it felt like I was in the house with the Keatons and a part of the story. She keeps the reader guessing on who and why throughout the story. I was left guessing throughout the entire story as to who did it and why. I totally did not see the ending coming and it was spectacular! I hope that there will be more Summer Keaton stories in the future! I would recommend this fast paced, compelling, twisty mystery to anyone who loves this type of book and I think that it will be a popular read for 2021. I’m excited to see what Kate White comes up with next.

We've all been reading a lot during the pandemic so it was not only a surprise, but a delight, to pick up the kind of book you can't put down. Family gathering where one person arrives with the power to change the accepted and expected dynamics. Nothing is as it should be. The favored daughter-in-law suspects the interloper, her brother-in-law's fiancée, thus the title, has not been truthful about far more than small discrepancies but her own husband doesn't believe her, Unexpected death, is it a heart attack or something more? Here's where I have to confess a terrible deed - I got so caught up in this I actually read the last chapter to see how it ended BUT was so intrigued by how author Kate White made this happen, I went right back to where I was and read every word in one sitting. Loved this book.

This was a pretty quick read for me. I really don't have a lot to review as I felt that this was a book I may have read many times before. I've always been a fan of Kate White, but this one didn't hold my attention as much as her others ones have. I'm still very grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

The story and pacing are fine, not exceptional, but not objectionable either. Unfortunately, the characters read like cardboard cut-outs. It isn't offensive, necessarily, but it became tiresome.

The Fiancée is mystery that’ll keep you guessing until the end. The Keatons are on their annual vacation when there is a death. Summer immediately suspects the new fiancée. You’ll be glued to the pages until the very end and you won’t believe who did it!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I've read other books by White and enjoyed them. She does a great job of crafting characters and setting up a mystery. She keeps the reader guessing (on who and why) clear through the story, which doesn't happen with a lot of authors/books. If you're looking for a twisty read, this is one to check out.

Holy cats! This book was so good. I have been a fan of White since her first Bailey Weggins book. I really now want a Summer Keaton series. I really hope we will see more of her and Gabe and Henry. I totally engaged in this book right away and did not see the ending coming at all. It is just enough of the mystery formula to pull a reader in, with fleshed-out characters and interesting twists.

I enjoyed this book! I’ve read Kate White books before and they are always enjoyable. This one had lots of twists and turns. I definitely did not see the end coming, but I liked it! The characters were very real to me and they really popped in my mind as I read the story.