Madeline goes missing two days after her wedding. Three years later, your husband has your declared dead and he is engaged to your best friend. It all seems a little too coincidental and now it's time to find out the truth. Did your husband and best friend plan this all along? They had the most to gain, but they are far from the only suspects.

I love the point of view that this book is told from. Without giving too much away, I think it added so much to the story. I really loved this thriller. I devoured it in two days and couldn't wait to see what happened next. Definitely a fast paced suspense that I would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of Never Trust the Husband.

This book is full of the elements thriller readers read for! There are very well-crafted twists throughout this story - moments that stop you in your tracks. Tension is built believably via the increasingly risky actions the MC takes, and then the surprises start unfolding - the kind that often are not in the MC’s favor but force taking even greater risks to achieve the goal. I loved the blend of things that go exactly as the MC plans and the things that really, really don’t. It all works so very well together.

The present and past dual POV timelines are the perfect choice for this particular story, and I also loved once again, Jessica’s use of setting - it’s accurate, detailed, atmospheric, and chilling. Always fascinating to see your own locale portrayed in a book when it’s this well done. I love stories set in Seattle and wish there were more of them.

I highly recommend this book and Jessica’s other books too. They are fast-paced, entertaining reads with character relationship dynamics that make you feel - whether it’s shock, anger, indignation, happiness, or empathy - the reader feels a lot throughout because the dynamics come off real. I’ve liked all of Jessica’s books, but this one is my favorite to date!

(This review was supposed to post 2/7/24 and just now noticed it was missing. Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC!)

I love a good whodunnit and this was definitely one.
I definitely recommend this novel it hooked me from the start to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Never Trust the Husband by Jessica Payne in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I love anything Jessica writes so I was so excited to get approved for this book. Believe me, it will not disappoint you in the least. Lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Another home run for Jessica Payne!

I love a great whodunnit trope and this one was the one for me! Fast paced and many plot twist coming left and right and had me hooked!

Never Trust the Husband is a dark, twisted psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page. The story centers on Madeline, a woman who was once in the perfect marriage—until everything crumbled when she was murdered. But here's the twist: while the official story claims she disappeared, someone knows the truth. Madeline is watching from the shadows, and she's not content to let her killers get away with it.

The narrative is deliciously suspenseful, as we follow the silent observer who is determined to avenge Madeline's death. As the story unfolds, we learn about the secrets surrounding Madeline's seemingly perfect marriage to Benjamin, who has fallen into financial trouble and may have had more than just money on his mind. Then there’s Gwyn, Madeline’s best friend, who has always wanted Madeline’s perfect life—and may have played a role in tearing it all apart.

The book excels in creating a chilling atmosphere, with the voyeuristic perspective adding an eerie, almost uncomfortable tension to the narrative. The characters are complex, their motivations murky, and the lines between right and wrong are blurred. The slow, deliberate unraveling of secrets kept the tension high, and the mystery of what really happened to Madeline is carefully crafted to keep readers guessing.

What really stands out is the sense of revenge and justice as the narrator works their way into Benjamin and Gwyn’s lives. The writing draws you in, keeping you hooked as you watch the perfect facade of their lives begin to crack. With plenty of twists and turns, this book is perfect for fans of dark, gripping thrillers that explore themes of betrayal, revenge, and the price of secrets.

If you're a fan of twisted, suspenseful stories that leave you questioning everyone’s motives, Never Trust the Husband is a must-read that will keep you up late into the night.

If you love Freida McFadden you will love this book!

Never Trust the Husband by Jessica Payne is a gripping, psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its twisted web of secrets, betrayal, and revenge. The story follows a narrator, whose life was shattered by the murder of her close friend, Madeline. As Madeline’s ex-husband Benjamin and her best friend Gwyn move forward with their lives, seemingly untouched by the tragedy, the narrator watches from the shadows, certain that they are responsible for Madeline’s death.

Payne’s storytelling is tense and atmospheric, building a sense of paranoia and dread that lingers throughout the novel. The suspense grows as the narrator carefully plots her way into Benjamin and Gwyn's lives, intent on exposing their dark secrets and exacting revenge. The alternating viewpoints and chilling narrative voice give the story an eerie, unpredictable quality, with each chapter peeling back layers of deception.

The novel explores themes of jealousy, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to for money and power. The characters are well-developed, with their motivations revealed through a slow burn of suspense. The final twists are both satisfying and unsettling, making Never Trust the Husband a thrilling read for fans of psychological suspense and dark mysteries. It’s a thrilling, twist-laden exploration of vengeance and the lies we tell to protect ourselves—and those we love.

This is the first book I've read by this author & it won't definitely be my last! This story was full of twists that kept me engaged throughout!

This is my new favorite of Payne’s books! She does “toxic” so well. I was so shocked when the final “who dunnit” twist was revealed. I guessed one of the bigger twists, but the reveal was still so satisfying because it intertwined with a second shock. This truly is a book that you will not be able to put down. I think I finished it in about 4 hours because I was glued to my kindle

I started this book with good intentions, but I kept putting it down. Every time I tried to pick it back up, I reached for a different book instead. Unfortunately, I think it’s safe to say this one didn’t hold my interest, and I won’t finish it.

Jessica Paynes books always make me want to go for a run! I really enjoyed this book. I didn't trust the husband but I didn't trust anyone else either. I loved how just when I thought I had it figured out, I didn't. 5 stars. A great read for anyone that loves a good mystery, and unreliable narrator and a quick 5 miles in the morning.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Just wow. A woman dies on her honeymoon. Fast forward and her husband and best friend are now engaged and getting married. Coming up on the anniversary of her death someone from her past is set to avenge her death and find out the truth. But the truth will truly have you shook. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed Never Trust the Husband. I was a little surprised to find out who the bad guy really was, so bravo to Jessica Payne.

I was so excited to read this book as the premise sounded great; a story about reinvention and revenge. Unfortunately, it was rather slow to get going, had a slew of unlikable characters and I figured out the twist way before it was revealed. Overall, it was an OK read.

You didn’t get your happily ever after, and neither will they…

Another new psychological thriller from Jessica Payne and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Madeline was pushed from a cliff three days after she married Benjamin, during her honeymoon. Rebecca is here to avenge the death of Madeline and to find out what really happened on that fateful night and who was involved. The story is written from both Rebecca and Madeline’s point of views. I found the story flowed well and I didn’t get lost following along. Madeline’s friend Gwynn is now engaged to Benjamin. The same Benjamin that Madeline is married to. Who killed Madeline and why?

I couldn’t stop reading this one. The twists and turns of this story had me very invested. I had to find out what happened to Madeline and who or whom was involved. You can’t trust anyone. Jessica Payne, you have done it again. I will continue to read anything you write.

Thank you Netgalley and bookouture for a gifted copy of this book for my honest book review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest domestic thriller by Jessica Payne. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Madeline wasn't expecting to fall in love, but Benjamin swept her off her feet and they were soon married. Their honeymoon had to be changed because of weather, so instead they took a camping trip with their friends. While taking pictures of the night sky, Maddie disappears and is presumed dead. Three years later, Benjamin is married again to Maddie's best friend, Gwen. Rebecca is trying to avenge Maddie's death and is determined to seek justice.

This was a twisty thriller with alternating timelines. I never figured out exactly what happened and was surprised by the ending, always a treat! There were lots of suspects and questionable behavior from just about everyone.

👀 Book review 👀

When I started reading Never Trust the Husband... the plot felt familiar. Always looking at the other spouse when the other spouse dies right?

Well..... miss Jessica Payne you sure know how to take your readers on one hell of a ride. She definitely has a talent of leading her readers astray in the best way! She turned a typical revenge tail and turned that tail wildly upside down and sideways and other ways haha.

This was a quick and binge-worthy read that I got through in a little over a day! I loved the alternating timelines with Rebecca and kept me turning those pages.

Get your snacks ready to settle in and curl up with this addictive thriller! :)

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Never Trust the Husband by Jessica Payne

Published: March 5, 2024
Bookouture
Genre: Vigilante Justice Thrillers
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free and leave my review voluntarily.

I will read anything this woman writes. I love Jessica so much. Her books never fail to blow my mind, and this was no different.

Fast-paced and wholly original, filled with unpredictable twists and turns, and will leave you speechless.

I devoured this book. I could not read it fast enough, but wow, wow, wow. It is dark, twisted, and full of excellent plot twists.

From the first line, I was captured by the way this story unfolds. There are no words to explain how fantastic this novel is. If you like thrillers, this one will grab you.

Such a page turner! So many twists and turns and surprises along the way. I stayed up way too late reading this. Gripping and made my jaw drop a couple times

I'm fast becoming a big fan of the author now that I've read a few of her books. This one did nothing to dissaude that. Great characters and plot and lots of twists to keep you hooked. Some really good twists at the end.