I tried hard to like and finish this book but it never seemed to go anywhere. At 56%, I tried skipping ahead but it was obvious the point of the book was hidden in the pages I'd skipped. Jumping ahead and back again would have been easier in a physical book but I just had to give up and admit this author's style doesn't work for me. Definitely a DNF after four nights of giving this one a chance to 'go somewhere' -- guess it eventually did but far too slow for me.

I loved the authors’ Frieda Klein series, so was ready to lap up this stand-alone. The twisty narrative as Ellie Falkner seeks to find the truth about husband Greg’s death in a car crash — with an unknown woman in the car — keeps you edge-to-seat and reading through the wee smalls. Did he commit adultery? Was he murdered and if so by whom? The authors have a keen sense of character development — why I loved the Klein series — and how to propel a story through to a stunning end. Mystery-thriller fans will adore this redesigned version, originally published in 2009.

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 22 Jun 2021
#WhattoDoWhenSomeoneDies #NetGalley

Thanks to the authors, William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

I'm not sure if I should actually review this book. I found it so off-putting at first that thought I wouldn't finish it. I flipped ahead and found myself growing more intrigued and enjoyed the last third or so more than I would have expected. So it's really only one third of a review.

As the book opens a woman is told her husband has died in a car accident, and another woman in the car was also killed. The protagonist is distraught and can't seem to process the information. She also has, apparently, a million friends, but she seems strangely alone and it's hard to know who her husband was since honestly, she's one of those unreliable narrator types who doesn't seem to be very trustworthy. Either that or so deeply involved in herself that we see only the dimmest shadow of him as a loving-husband stock character.

Skipping ahead, she turns out to be rather more interesting. Pig-headed, a little off kilter, insistent on challenging authority through sheer stubbornness. Quirky. I began to like her after all, but by then she'd done all manner of odd things though eventually is able to tie together the threads of a very tangled plot while being unhelpfully helpful to the police.

The authors write well, but about a world that doesn't come to life for me. Or rather is not the world I live in, where I can't help but wonder how someone who restores furniture for a living can afford to live in London and has plenty of time to be aimlessly depressed and then get inspired to go out and pursue clues without worrying about paying her bills. I need to work on my disbelief suspension, evidently.

I generally like this author's writing. This story was a bit unbelievable like when she goes to 'work' at the party planners. Ending was a bit abrupt. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Whoever said nothing is as it seems was so true. Fascinating read, well developed characters and suspenseful to the very end

A very engaging mystery from a well-known British author. When a knock at the door informs Ellie that her husband Greg has died in a car accident with a strange woman. Despite all the assumptions that come with that scenario, Ellie persisted in the belief that Greg was not involved with this woman and decided to investigate this on her own.

This is an interesting and twisty read. I really enjoyed the book and tge characters.

Thank you Netgalley for this read.