This author is amazing. I’ve read many books written by her and have yet to find one which I didn’t love! The Marriage is a story told mainly from the perspectives of Jill, Bridget and Tom. Tom is just about to be released from prison after serving 10 years for the manslaughter of his best friend Jesse. Bridget is Jesse’s mum and has spent the last 10 years coming to terms with what happened to her son. Jill is eagerly awaiting the release of her son Tom, but she is not expecting the shocking news that Tom and Bridget have got married…

This book was gripping and mesmerising. I didn’t want to tear my eyes away from the pages for fear of missing something! I wasn’t sure what to feel about any of the characters if I’m to be honest, and struggled to work out which one, if any, had a hidden agenda! The storyline was tense and suspense filled and I felt like I was waiting for something to blow at the turn of every page! I liked Tom and thought he was very remorseful over his actions. He was friends with Jesse from a very early age, and I thought it was so sad with what happened. Obviously, things aren’t as clear cut as they seem, and as the book moved on events are recalled and the truth comes tumbling out. I thought I had it worked out from quite early in the book where the story was heading, but as I’ve read books by this author before I should have known better!! There are lots of twists and turns and shocks along the way, leaving me with lots of jaw dropping moments!

As the story continues, we are treated to plenty of resentment, frustrations, guilt, anger, deceit and lies. The pace is good, not too fast where you can’t keep up, but not too slow where you lose interest, and the chapter ends leave you wanting more. I found myself reading into the early hours to finish it as there was no way I was able to put it down! Along with the obvious question of whether Tom and Bridget should have married in the first place, this book gave me so much else to think about and it did leave me feeling chilled by the end! With plots twists that you just won’t see coming, I was hooked from start to finish. Would definitely recommend!

The Marriage, by K.L. Slater, is a multi point of view roller coaster ride, culminating with a twist that was hard to see coming!. Tom and Jesse were best friends, growing up together and celebrating life's ups and downs. Their mothers, Jill and Bridget, also became best friends, due to how close their boys' were. When the boys were 18, an unfortunate incident occurred, where Jesse died, and Tom was charged with his death. Tom spent 10 years in prison for his role in the death.

Fast forwarding 10 years, Bridget (Jesse's mother) and Tom have reconciled, and fallen in love. They get married in prison, and just wait for the fall out of emotion from friends and family about the unusual situation. As predicted, Jill (Tom's mother) does not take his choice of wife well and rebels against his decisions immediately. As other events unfold, it is difficult to know what characters motives are, and where the story will be leading.

Told in multiple points of view, we have parts told by primarily Bridget, Jill and Tom, but with complimentary chapters in the point of view of Jill's friend Audrey and the police department investigating the crimes that had been committed. I enjoyed the multiple points of view, as the book needed them to tell a full story. Despite many chapters and different view points, it was easy to keep the characters apart, and I didn't have confusion on who was who.

Overall, I was entertained, and this was a "hard to put down" book for me. It took unexpected paths, and told a story that I was not expecting (in the best possible way!) I would certainly recommend this book to those who like unexpected thrillers, that take twists and turns that are outside of the formulaic domestic thriller genre. This kept my attention, and even surprised me in the last chapter, after I thought the story was resolved!

Another great read from K.L. Slater.
I didn’t think I’d get my head round the idea that a woman marries her son’s killer, but I kind of did.
I admit to be suspicious of her motives, like her husband’s mother was, as a twenty year age gap is a pretty big deal.
Bridget and Tom say they fell in love whilst working through a programme together when he was in prison but I was still sceptical.
You’ll have to read the book to see if it is all as it seems....
There’s some great secrets revealed in this book and I didn’t see that outcome coming at all.
This is a great psychological thriller that will definitely keep you guessing.
I love K.L. Slater’s books and highly recommend them to all readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book has such an amazing premise and I was super excited to read it.
Unfortunately is promises more than it can deliver.
The characters are pretty one-dimensional and even though it's obvious every single one of them has a secret I wasn't particularly interested in these secrets. Like, keep them please.
After the final "twist" is delivered you're neither shocked nor surprised. It's not particularly scandalous, it's not twisty enough to make you clutch your pearls or even gasp silently.
The ending is very meh and sugary.
Also, not enough secret agenda!

I also had a huge problem with the writing. The dialogues were ok, but omg so much info-dump. Show, don't tell! I have to admit that I skimmed these pages and pages of backstories that were just dumped onto me.

I wanted to read this based purely on the bizarre blurb not to mention I’m a huge fan of K.L Slater. You ever have a book get you in a headlock and not let you go till the last word - well this one did exactly that. There is a dual storyline of past and present and you do need to keep an eye on it as it does go between the 2 so frequently it could get confusing. Such a quick fast flowing read with never a dull moment. I couldn’t put it down and I felt the pace and flow worked so well I couldn’t believe how quickly I had read it. Lots of great characters some you’ll like and some you won’t. Really liked that each chapter was told from a different characters point of view and you were getting snippets of information that really kept you in suspense. It’s an interesting storyline with so many surprises that Slater brings it all together so well. Really good read and would definitely recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC that is published on the 20th of May.

In 2009, Jesse Wilson died because of a fatal blow thrown on him by his best friend, Tom Billinghurst. Bridget and Jill (Tom’s mother) were close when both the kids were young. But the day Jesse died, their relationship cracked. Now, ten years later, Bridget is married to Tom. And a lot of eyebrows are raised.

Jill and Bridget have contrasting characters. Jill is an open book and short-tempered, and Bridget is calculative, and difficult to comprehend her actions. Even their ways of parenting are another side of the scale. Jill and Bridget were not just good friends; they also care for each other’s kids.

As the readers reach towards the end, they peel through each layer of the mystery. Everything is explained to the reader at a gradual pace.
The premise of the book is unusual and touches on a sensitive relationship topic of our times. The central theme discusses contemporary social issues and, common in her all books. Jill, Bridget, and Tom narrate the story through their perspective across multiple timelines.
The story is fast-paced and does not stop being intriguing and addictive for a moment.

The Marriage by K L Slater is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page.

My rating for the book is 4 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced copy.

Right from the beginning I was hooked on this story. I mean - the first line of the book description speaks volumes: Ten years ago he killed my son. Today I married him. Through the entire book, I was wondering what Bridget's angle was for marrying Jesse, the man who killed her son. Was she trying to get close to him for revenge? Or did she truly love him. It was such a page turner with a pretty surprising ending.

The opening line had me gripped right from the start; why is Bridget marrying her son’s killer? What is her ulterior motive? As the story progresses, I can’t tell what the outcome will be; I started to doubt everyone and all of their actions. It kept me guessing and on my toes the entire way through.

The story were told from Jill and Bridget’s perspective. However, Tom, Audrey, Ellis and I think a few other character’s get their voices heard too, which was great to see things from different perspectives.

The premise was really different from any that I have read before, so this kept me interested the entire way through. The conclusion wasn’t something I hoped to be but all in all, it was a good read.

K.L Slater does it again! The mystery of a woman agreeing to marry a man responsible for her child’s death is the focus of this thrilling story. Go and read it!

Bridget and Jill have been best friends since their sons, Tom and Jesse, were young boys. Years later, Tom and Jesse have a heated argument that ends in Tom punching Jesse. Jesse then falls from the blow, hits his head, and dies. After spending ten years in jail for the crime, Tom gets married to Jessie's mother, Bridget!

Jill and her husband Robert are shocked to hear that their son is now married to a lady twice his age and that it is Jessie's mother!! The story is told in both past and present time and from different characters' points of view.

This was an outstanding book. It sucked me in from the first page and I could not put it down. The ending had a twist that I definitely did not see coming. This is a must read for thriller fans, I highly recommend it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have read many K.L. Slater books. As a matter of fact, K.L. Slater is one of the first Bookouture authors that convinced me... you can’t go wrong with choosing a book published by Bookouture. She is brilliant! Any author that begins her story with “Ten years ago he killed my son. Today I married him”... and then follows it up with an intricately woven plot that keeps you turning pages furiously into the night, is bloody brilliant!!!! The best thing about this books is that readers will most likely think... “oh this is predictable but I can’t stop reading” only to find out they had NO idea what was happening. Slater does a masterful job at creating a cast of characters that are deeply troubled and layered. She reveals the plot twists and just the right time and gives readers just enough information to keep them wanting more! I loved this book! Please keep writing!!! The girls at Two Girls and a Book Obsession are FORVER fans!

Tom has served 10 years in prison for killing his best friend, Jesse with one punch, Now at almost 30, Tom is a free man with a new wife and lots of secrets. His new wife happens to be Bridget, Jesse’s mom. Jill, Tom’s mother, doesn’t take the news well. Jesse’s son, Ellis, and his mother don’t handle news of the marriage well either. As the book progresses, it turns out that this marriage is the least scandalous thing this group has to worry about!

I read a lot of thrillers and pride myself on being able to figure things out. This one had so many a surprises and turns in the road that I couldn’t keep up! Great book!

From the description of this book it didn’t sound like the type of story I usually read, but there were good reviews and I thought, “why not?”. I’m glad I did. Narrated from different POVs and from alternating timelines, it was a fast read (one day), with twists and turns, although some of them were easily figured out despite some red herrings. Don’t make up your mind too early about the characters….you might be surprised in the end. So, relax on that beach chair and enjoy. As an aside, just why is it that society doesn’t think twice about a man marrying someone much younger, but has a lot to say when the genders are reversed?

Ten years ago Tom was sent to prison for punching and killing his best friend Jesse. Today Tom has married Jesse’s mother Bridget. Why would anyone marry the man who killed her son?
An interesting read with lots of secrets and twists. Couldn’t wait to find out the truth. The ending did not disappoint.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc

The Marriage by K.L. Slater is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Bridget had a hard life as a single mom to Jesse, but she was a very determined woman, and would do anything to make sure Jesse had the best life he could.

Jill and Robert had a young child named Tom.  They were better off than Bridget, but Jill befriended Bridget at a playground one day,  and soon became close.  The boys grew up to be great friends.

All was good until the day that Tom killed Jesse, and he ended up going to prison.  Both women were devastated.  Both women lost their sons.  Bridget reached out to Jill, but was rejected, so both women dealt with their loss on their own.

Ten years have passed.  Tom is getting out of prison, and his mother is in for a shock.  Jill is unaware that things have changed.  Tom is now married.....to Bridget.

Yes, Bridget has married the man who killed her son.  No one understands how or why this could happen.


My Opinions:   
Well, that was all the blurb promised it would be.  The book is about secrets, and lies, and revenge.  Everyone has an agenda, and they are often at cross-purposes.  There are no true innocents in this book, and the premise is a little "out-there".

The story goes back and forth over various time-lines, and is told from multiple perspectives.

The plot was definitely unique, and although most of the motive behind each individuals behaviour was somewhat predictable, a couple surprised me.   Unfortunately, I didn't really like any of the characters, which made the book hard to get into.  However, as the book progressed, I found myself growing more interested in each one of them.

Overall, it was a fast and entertaining read, and although I started out worrying if it was going to earn even 3 stars,  I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I thought.

The first page hooked me, sadly though it went down hill from there. The characters were extremely one dimensional which made it impossible for me to get into the story. It almost felt like the author was telling a story, for lack of a better example, then letting the reader get immersed into the plot. I have enjoyed other works by this author, this one just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

10 years ago Tom killed Jesse his best friend. Now he is married to Jesse’s mother Bridget.

From the first page I was hooked into a powerful plot that kept me turning the pages into the night.
The plot gives you such scope for your imagination but it does not give up its twists and turns easily
This has the ingredients for a great film/tv series
K L Slater has always been one of my go to writers and this one did not let me down
I will recommend to everyone

I absolutely loved this! Gripped from the start - like with the majority of KL Slater's books! The premise was so original and intriguing. I was hooked, and if I had the time I'm sure I could have sat and finished this in one sitting!
The reason I haven't given this book the full 5* is because of the ending. The plot built so so well, but I found it resolved itself very quickly and I found the 'plot-twist' to be glaringly obvious! So, I just felt I couldn't give the full 5*.
However, I still really enjoyed this book.

I love how Slater writes characters that just feel so real because they are flawed and make mistakes.
I really would recommend this book! Bring on the next KL Slater novel!

Would you marry the man who killed your son?

Ten years ago, Bridget Wilson's world collapsed when her 18 year old son Jesse was killed with one punch by his best friend Tom Billinghurst. The pair had been ejected from a local nightclub for aggressive and violent behaviour, taking their grievances outside. But then suddenly, Jesse was unconscious on the ground and Tom was in handcuffs. What lead two young men who had been best friends for most of their lives to argue so publicly? What lead Tom to throw the one punch that would change his life forever?

Unbeknownst to them, their altercation was witnessed by elderly dog walker Mavis, a retired school teacher, who often walked her dog Harry late at night which helped with her insomnia, therefore allowing her to sleep upon her return. She saw the boys, recognised them but didn't want to get involved. She hurried away and called the ambulance knowing one would be needed in any event, hanging up before her details could be taken. No one ever knew of the part she played or what she saw that night.

Due to the fact that Tom was an amateur boxer, the judge and jury decided he was best placed to cause significant damage with a single punch , his fists being considered a lethal weapon, and therefore found him guilty. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

As part of coming to terms with what he did, Tom took part in a restorative justice programme, bringing the victim's families and the perpetrator together to find peace and move forward. Bridget also signed up to the programme and together she and Tom exorcised their demons of the past, finding forgiveness and friendship in one another. But as their visits increased beyond the programme, Bridget and Tom fell in love and six months before his release, they married in a simple ceremony in the prison chapel.

Now Tom has served his time and is preparing for his release. As expected, his mother is also preparing for his homecoming. She has found him a two bedroom flat nearby, bought him new clothes and even lined up a job for him at the library where she used to work. Jill is in her element when she is in control. But Tom knows it's all going to hit the fan as soon as he tells his parents of his marriage.

And then the whispers begin. Everyone has an opinion on Tom and Bridget's marriage and therefore plenty to say about the match. Tom's parents, Jill's best friend Audrey and even Jesse's former girlfriend Coral who had been six months pregnant at the time with the now 9 year old Ellis. Nobody is happy with the marriage and aren't afraid to tell them. While Jill, Tom's mum, will stop at nothing to expose Bridget and what she is trying to do to her family. But this marriage is just the start of a tangled web of secrets woven into events both past and present that have the capacity to derail all those involved...and beyond.

But the question on everyone's lips - besides the 20 year age gap - is why would you marry the very person who ended your own son's life? His best friend, no less. Does Bridget really love Tom? Or has she a hidden agenda? Has she found the perfect way to move on? Or has she set herself up in a carefully laid plan to get the ultimate revenge on her son's killer?

Told in multiple perspectives - Bridget, Tom and Jill (mainly) as well as Audrey, Ellis, the police and even Mavis - THE MARRIAGE has a wealth of intriguing characters that each bring their sides of the story to the table. Some have secrets while others merely want to expose those secrets. From the start, the reader will most likely assume the obvious motives of each character...but Kim, true to form, instead takes us on a journey tangled with lies, secrets and illusions.

THE MARRIAGE probably has one of the most daring and provocative plot lines I have ever read. Not only was Bridget twenty years Tom's senior, not only was she the mother of the boy he killed, but she was an ever present figure throughout his childhood as his best friend's mother! It is so twisted and so creepy it made my skin crawl. My spidey senses were tingling over the whole scenario whether Bridget was up to something or not. The whole concept is just wrong on so many levels...but gosh, it made for brilliantly twisted reading! And I loved it! Even if it was a tad creepy...

A deliciously disturbing tale, THE MARRIAGE is a treasure trove of secrets and web of mysteries that lead right back to the night of Jesse's death and turn everything on its head.

I read this book in one day. It is that addictive. Despite the whole creepy undertone of Bridget and Tom...together...married...eewww...I just couldn't stop turning the pages, finishing around 3am! I just had to know if what I suspected was true...and it was. But it didn't ruin the story in any way because I love guessing and working out what's what and then seeing if I'm right or not in the end. It's the enjoyment in the ride that the author takes me on...and boy, was this one hell of a ride!

And then there is that ending. The ultimate twist that takes everything up a notch, that is worthy of Shalini Boland, and makes the entire tale worth it in the best possible way. One of the best twists sure to leave you shocked and satisfied in perfect synchronicity that I have read in a while.

A definite step up from her recent offerings which, although still enjoyable, didn't pack the punch that this one did. Ladies and gentlemen, Kim Slater is BACK!!

So make a date for the wedding of the year and ensure you're a guest at what is truly a most extraordinary, explosive and memorable story.

I would like to thank #KLSlater, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMarriage in exchange for an honest review.

What a great book. I was intrigued by the story and was glad I read it. Very good thriller which kept you guessing until near the end. You keep thinking of different scenarios however KL Slater is good at giving little bits of information but not all to keep you guessing.
Well written and enjoyed the different view points. Great characters who each had there own secrets to tell.
If you like psychological thrillers this is definitely for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review