I love all of K. L. Slaters writing and this one was just the same! This took me a bit to get through but it wasn't due to lack of interest because it was thrilling the whole way through. It wasn't super fast paced but I found the characters and the plot so fascinating that I didn't mind and wanted to know everything about their lives past and present. The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is because I didn't love the last little twist. I thought it was just kind of randomly thrown in and would have been better if it was someone else that was involved. I did like the main plot twist but was able to predict it beforehand so I wasn't shocked. I did find the Bridget and Tom dynamic to be pretty weird and uncomfortable though given that she helped raise Tom and this felt like grooming and I was afraid that's where the twist was headed. I was very happy when it didn't. Jill was also a bit of a nutter and most of her actions frustrated me up until the every end. Despite those things I did really enjoy this and found myself wanting to keep reading.

A big fan of KL Slater, The Marriage had me hooked right from the start! It kept me turning the pages right to the end of the book, I could not wait to find out what happened, what was going to happen and more importantly who to trust! The author teases us with nuggets of information in every chapter and reels us in slowly but surely.

Bridget, 48, marries 28 year old prisoner Tom in HMP Nottingham. Tom’s sentence has nearly come to an end having been imprisoned for ten years for the manslaughter of Bridget’s son and his best friend, Jesse. Everyone is shocked by this and more so than anyone, Jill, Tom’s mother is surprised and upset when she finds out. She doesn’t trust Bridget, is very suspicious and feels Bridget is trying to get her revenge on Tom and is worried about what plans she has for Tom. The story is told mainly from Bridget and Jill’s perspective. There is also Jesse’s son Ellis and his mother Coral who cannot stand the sight of Tom!!

Secrets and lies and plenty of shocking twists in this one! Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this in one sitting and I actually gasped while reading this complex, twisty and dark novel.

I was immediately grabbed by the description
“Ten years ago he killed my son. Today I married him”
This book does not disappoint! Creepy and claustrophobic and well observed on how far some will go for revenge. A great psychological thriller!





I was thrilled to be given an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, The publisher and K.L Slater for an ARC in return for an honest review.

“Ten years ago he killed my son. Today I married him” what an eye-catching blurb! It was one of the reasons why I chose to read this book. Not only am I a big fan of K.L Slater but the front cover and blurb intrigued me and instantly caught my attention.

This book is hard to review without giving away any spoilers. I was hooked from the first page and read it in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down.

The story was so intriguing, interesting and thrilling! This book has lots of twists and turns with a masterful plot. I was unable to guess the ending which made me love this book even more. I can’t remember feeling genuinely satisfied after reading a book. Everything came together at the end. It’s dark, creepy and totally captivating. This book is brilliantly written. If I could give it more than five stars, I would.

The caption on the book cover drew me in right away, and I knew that I HAD to read it! The twists and turns up until the very end did not disappoint. Jesse and Tom were childhood friends whose relationship ended with a fatal punch. Bridget and Jill used to be best friends until Tom went to Jail for Jesse's murder. This may sound like a 'spoiler' but it is just the tip of the iceberg as it relates to the back story of everyone. Don't believe me? Read it for yourself!! #goodreads #ARC #netgalley

Absolutely fantastic read. I have loved this and been completely unable and unwilling to put this one down.
This is a great read which I will be highly recommending.

If you can get past the hard to believe premise of this book and a few unlikeable characters, the story is pretty good. I figured part of it out very early on, and I was so annoyed with Tom and his mother that I almost put this one down. I kept going though, and I was rewarded with some fun twists towards the end.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Thanks to the publishers for sharing this one. I've really enjoyed all of KL Slater's books so far. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

A fatal punch in 2009 between two best friends changes their families' lives forever. Jesse dies while Tom goes to prison for his manslaughter. Now in 2019, Tom and Jesse's mother Bridget have found love and marry but face the disbelief and rejection of their families. Tom's mother Jill believes Bridget only wants revenge...
The Marriage is a compelling psychological thriller. Two families have been torn apart by the events of a decade ago but nothing prepares them for the upheaval in the present day. I was instantly distrustful of the marriage between Bridget and Tom but it soon becomes apparent that there are other secrets.
The majority of the book is shown through the first person perspectives of Bridget and Jill but there are other chapters in the third person viewpoint of Tom and police officers in the past and present.
Bridget and Jill used to have a strong friendship but the death of Jesse drove them apart. Now they are forced even further apart as they battle for Tom's affections. Using their first person perspectives, it was easy to see both sides of the situation as well as Tom stuck in the middle. Bridget has been through the devastation of losing a child while Jill lost hers in a different way. Both women had hopes and dreams through their children that will never be fulfilled.
The Marriage was hugely enjoyable and entertaining. The dilemma facing the families was dramatic and engaging, and I could imagine the plot premise appearing in the tabloid papers! It was clear that a twist was on its way and I guessed a character involved in but the actual reveal was surprising.

The Marriage is my second K.L. Slater book, the first being The Apartment. I have enjoyed reading both novels. I feel like she could become the next Ruth Ware. She is a fantastic author who has really thrown me for loops. What I like most about her writing is that she will lead you down a path where you think to yourself, "I see where this is going." Then before too long, you have been M. Nighted!

The Marriage is written from multiple characters' POV. When reading books in the mystery genre, I find that numerous POVs help keep the book more engaging. Yes, I may not get the most in-depth detail about the individual characters, but I find it more interesting to have different perspectives. The Marriage is about Bridget, who is a mother who marries the murderer of her son. I know, hard to wrap your mind around! The main perspectives are from Bridget, Tom (Bridget's husband), and Jill (Tom's mother) throughout the book. Each view offered a new insight into the fateful night when Tom killed his best friend, Jesse.

I thought I had the book figured out until the last few chapters. Even then, I did not see the additional piece of knowledge the author had kept hidden from the reader until the very last page. If you are a fan of Ruth Ware or B.A. Paris, I would highly recommend reading some of K.L. Slater's works.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

The Marriage is a very enjoyable book.
I was intrigued by the story : how a mother can marry her son's killer? I thought I knew what to expect but I was wrong!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange from an honest review

Thankyou to NetGalley, the publisher and KL Slater for the advance review copy of The Marriage,

The synopsis of this book really grasped my attention from the get go. A woman who is about to marry her son's best friend. The man who murdered her son - not your average wedding huh?

At the start of the book we witness two best friends fighting at a nightclub. They've been friends since they were tiny, and despite being very different in terms of personality and upbringing, they are incredibly close - so are their mothers. A knife is pulled and Tom (a semi professional boxer) punches Jesse in retaliation - a punch that ultimately leads to his friends death. Bridget, his mother is heartbroken, compounded by the fact that Jesse's girlfriend is pregnant with his child. Whilst she may never hold her own son again, she raises her grandson Ellis like the grandmother she was always destined to be.

Tom serves a long prison sentance and during his time there, a restorative justice programme puts Tom in touch with Bridget.. Out of the blue they fall in love and knowing that their friends and family are unlikely to give their blessing, they marry in prison, with Tom announcing the revelation to his Mum upon his release.

Tom's mother Jill is gobsmacked. Not only is Tom young enough to be her son (she'd changed his nappy for goodness sake!) but Tom killed her only child. Convinced the wedding is a sham and that Bridget has plans to destroy Tom, she sets about revealing the truth and helping show Bridgets real agenda.

Someone witnessed the night Jesse died and knows the truth... why did the boys fight that night? Did Tom mean to kill him? Does Bridget really love Tom?

This book was a bit of a slow burn for me and I have to admit I found the repeated versions of the same events from different timelines a little annoying at first. I must have read about 10 times about the charity that Bridget set up after her sons death, and this made me almost want to read on or skip parts in frustration.

The second half however picked up pace considerably, with lots of twists and reveals that did keep me hooked till the end.

Overall an enjoyable thriller but takes a while to kick in - stick with it!

Could you marry the man responsible for the death of your child? That’s the basis of this book. It has twists and turns throughout as is the norm with this author. A pleasure to read on a sunny afternoon.

K. L. Slater has become one of my favorite authors to read. The depth of the characters, along with the story line, make for a suspenseful read every time. The Marriage is no exception. Why would a woman marry the man who killed her son? A man who is so much younger than she is? What revenge does she have in store for him? From the very beginning, I attempted to deduce the answer to these questions and so many more. The writing in this story had me on the edge of my seat, turning pages trying to determine what would happen next. This is a great psychological thriller that you will thoroughly enjoy as you are pulled into the lives of the characters. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

The Marriage by K.L.Slater is an easy and enjoyable novel that has a unique plot line. At times I found it difficult to believe some of the twist and turns that take place as the novel progresses. What is it like to have your best friend’s son killed by your son? How does this even happen? I’m glad that I continued reading because there was quite a bit to think about as the plot thickened. What about forgiveness? What secrets come to light by the end? I did not have any inkling as to how the novel would end and what surprises were in store. Be sure to read to the very last page! I would like to thank K.L.Slater, Bookouture, and netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I've read a few now by this author and this is another great example of her work

Lots of twists and turns

A great summer read

The Marriage by K.L. Slater again shows what a skilled writer the author is. While the premise of the book is rather implausible, Slater pulls off the impossible and writes a compelling and gutsy story. I felt the characterizations were good and while the twist wasn't totally unpredictable, it took a while(at least for me) to see it. I was misdirected somewhat. Anyway, solid writing and overall a good story.

Totally gripping from the first sentence.
The female characters - Bridget and Jill are complete opposites. Their sons grew up together, becoming best friends until Tom punches Jesse outside of a nightclub following a disagreement - resulting in Jesses dying.
Whilst in prison - Tom marries Bridget resulting in an irreparable relationship breakdown between the mothers. What follows is. a story that has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster - it's edge of your seat reading.

The characters are believable and the end has a magnificent twist that I did not see coming.

3.5 Stars

K.L. Slater did it again with another unputdownable thriller. I must say I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning with this book, it was a very fast-paced, easy read that kept my interest throughout. The twists throughout had my head spinning, I really thought I had it all figured out but yeah I was wrong. Really I had no idea by the end and that final twist through me for a loop altogether.
The Marriage is very well-written, alternating from the past to the present as well as from various viewpoints. It was a gripping, nail-biting story that I would recommend if your looking for a fast-paced thriller with some good twists.

Really good book! I started it, thinking, oh this is way to predictable....I could not have been more wrong! It totally took me by surprise. Excellent, easy read.