I started reading it, but didn't feel the urge to finish it. The writing style isn't very good, this is very much a "tell not show" author. The characters are cliched - we're obviously meant not to trust the husband so of course in the first scene he keeps giving his wife inexplicable hard, angry looks - you know, just so that we realise we're not meant to trust this man that absolutely everyone else adores and worships. The events that happen don't ring true at all (come on, can a true crime fan really waltz into a crime scene to have a look just because she knows one of the investigators?!) I don't mind sensational fiction but it has to have a grain of truth or it's a huge turnoff for me and ruins the entire story. This author seems quite prolific, but maybe the books are rushed out before they're ready?

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a slow burn in the beginning but I kept going. The story was just not for me. I found the characters a bit unbelievable as well as the story.

Another deliciously thrilling book written by Cole Baxter, psychological suspense author extraordinaire. I discovered Cole a few years ago after I became a reviewer for Zooloo's Book Tours and fell in love with his style of writing because he writes spine tingling, deliciously thrilling psychological suspense. The Hollow Husband was a whirlwind crazy roller coaster ride of a novel. From beginning to end, I was riveted. Reading his stories always sends chills up and down my spine and leaves me breathless once I read the conclusion that ties up everything with a cherry on top. If you enjoy Cole Baxter, try out books written by his brother Theo Baxter as well as Miranda Rijks, Emily Shiner, Robin Mahle, Kiersten Modglin, TJ Brearton, Cathryn Grant and Lisa Hall. Excited for the next Cole Baxter novel.

Amazing book!
I was thoroughly engaged throughout this book and I didn't want to put it down! The author captured my attention from the get go! Five stars from me :)

This book had a good synopsis that got me interested in it. The whirlwind romance led to Stella marrying David who the author always made us feel that something was off in him. When gruesome murders became in the small town, Stella finds herself in the middle of the investigations since she's an amateur detective. The process of reading took me a bit since it's a slow start. The dynamic of Stella and David bothered me slightly has I couldn't if the relationship was truly controlling or gaslighting. This made it difficult to read. I did love the murders and solving them. The twists at the end was surprising but a bit predictable. Even though this wasn't my favorite story, I will still read Cole's books since the murder/solving part I did really enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I am writing this with mixed feelings.

I read an entire set of thrillers by Cole Baxter that I was an enthusiastic fan of, however this one, not so much.

For one thing, it includes a few relatively graphic sexual scenes that I am purely not a fan of, and I just didn't find the mystery as knife sharp as Baxter's amazing boxed set.

Stella’s new husband David is perfect. He is attentive, charismatic and loving as any husband should be. There is a serial killer on the loose and David spending long nights away home. Stella suspects he is having an affair, or worse, is he the serial killer? Stella is determined to find who the serial killer as all of the victims are men she shares a past with. Stella begins to question if she who knows who her husband truly is.
#NetGalley

I am really mixed on this book. Stella, I could NOT stand her character. The neediness, the insecurities just drove me to the brink of putting the book down and walking away. I hated her from the start, and it just got worse.

Decent book, aside from character above. Interesting premise and theme follow-through. Decent thriller, but not over the top.

Title: The Hollow Husband
Author: Cole Baxter
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Pub date: Dec. 6, 2023

Stella has gotten away from a troubled relationship and is married now to her charismatic and successful husband. She is starting to wake up to see her husband just may be a little more controlling than she can justify to herself. The next thing you know is there are men who are dying around her. She is a true crime buff so, she sets out to uncover the truth and the killer regardless of the consequences.

If you can allow yourself to believe that a cop would let her in on the investigation, Stella will walk you through her reasoning behind the killer. The killings get pretty close to Stella.

Can she solve the case before it’s too late?

There are lots of viable suspects that will have you questioning who the killer is. If you like to think you are a crime sleuth and the possibility that your opinions matter to the police, this story may be all you could hope for.

Thank you #NetGalley and #InkubatorBooks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I thought I knew where this was going but I was wrong! A great, punchy read that kept me gripped throughout! Thr husband really got on my nerves, a sign of a well written character!!

I loved every single minute of this book! I couldn’t put it down and read it in a day. The book was suspenseful, loved the characters, and loved that the author had me guessing right till the shocking end!

The narrative is repetitive and childish. The protagonist is unrealistic, they would never have access to crime scenes as the story suggests. She also doesn't really have any friends, choosing to share info with her boss. There were also so many irrelevant details about boring mundane events and the food they were eating which I was expecting plot twists on given the effort dedicated to them. I am generally a fan of the genre but this one was boring, though not as predictable as I first thought - a totally unrelated curve ball.

Another great read by Cole Baxter, I thought this was going to be a predictable read but I was shocked at the end. The main character is Stella, a true crime fan who becomes obsessed with the latest murders happening. She’s convinced there is a serial killer but as she investigates further, could her husband be the one who is doing all the killing? This book had me hooked from the beginning.

I enjoyed reading this psychological thriller, it has plenty of twists and turns, and the suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat It’s a page turner that you can’t put down, you just want to keep reading. The characters were good, the story itself was very enjoyable and the style of writing was perfect. I have read many books by this author and have enjoyed them all. I would recommend this to anyone who likes reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

This was a fast paced thriller. I would give it 3.5 stars.
It was different than I expected, given the title. It was entertaining and filled the bill for an honest to goodness thriller that kept me guessing until the end. That said, there were a few things about it that kept it from being a five star read for me.
One is some degree of implausibility. The character was a true crime aficionado. While I liked that, her ability to go to crime scenes with the police was very improbable and there were a few times that there was a passing reference to that but it was not really believable.
I really liked the plot line about the father but the author withheld any real information until pretty late, and while I understand why, I think it was then just revealed all at once. Had there been more information earlier, it could have built up suspense. It was pretty evidence that the author was pointing the finger at a certain person but there were clues that were a bit too obvious because the main character ruminated on them in the text. I would have preferred a bit more finger pointing by events (they seemed to peter off) but without the character's thoughts about it (let the audience draw the conclusions).
That said, the book did draw and keep my attention and I would read more of the author's books.

Wow! I LOVE Cole Baxter’s books!

The Hollow Husband did not disappoint.
This story is pretty darn gory to say the least. And yet I couldn’t put it down.

This is a thriller, about trust in a relationship and friendship. About revenge and a sick twisted mind.

It’s a must read. I promise you’ll love it!

I really enjoyed this book and found myself reading it at every available opportunity. I liked the way I was kept guessing all the way to the end. Just when you think you know who did it, there are more twists! That said - I felt the story didn't have a final ending and there was too much unsaid and the killers motives where not really explained. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a page turning thriller.

Wow! This book blew me away! Indont want to give any spoilers, but I was blown away by the twist in this one! Give it a chance, you won't regret it! Thank you NetGalley for a copy of an arc in exchange for my honest review

Very much an interesting book with a bunch of twists and turns that I didn't see. Definitely recommend this book!!

Oh I do love a Cole Baxter book you just disappear into it - he writes proper thrillers that just absorb you. Yes there are strange plot points - but who cares when you just want pure escapism.
He is one of my go to authors when I just want 'cheering up' and escaping from life.

This book was no different, not going to do the plot as others do it better but just loved the idea of it.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.