Firstly let me say that this is an unusual story, very well written, it covers numerous timelines but it flows well, I found it hard to put down and even harder to wonder how the story would pan out.
It begins with Naomi gaining access to prisoner Emily Brigham, Naomi wanted an interesting subject to interview for her PhD thesis and they didn't come any more interesting than Emily Brigham who was serving a sentence for manslaughter,
Emily had partied her way through college dragging her two friends to salubrious parties with wealthy older men, one such man was Liam who ran the parties, wealthy, good looking and insidiously controlling , Emily was drawn to him like a wasp to a jam pot, the relationship didn't end well.
The second phase of Emilie's life was when she met Pete, steady, loving Pete and they had their adored daughter Anouk. Emily was determined to be the cool wife, everything had to be perfect, a domestic Goddess, the best mum, being perfect ruled her life.........until it wasn't so perfect, two things happened that left her marriage, along with Emily's life, in tatters. Emily was at rock bottom and she was still searching for answers into the death of her best friend Anna, Anna who had always been there for her, had Emilie's actions led to Anna's death? that thought would always haunt her.
Finally Liam comes back into her life and Emily was again in his clutches, had he changed or was he still the deranged controlling character that he always was ? was Emily too involved to see the signs ?
This is a book that is disturbing on many levels, the characters aren't really likeable but I was drawn to them, this is the first book that I have read from Rebecca De Winter but I hope it won't be the last, I did knock one star off simply because I didn't really think that it was a psychological thriller.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, me review is entirely voluntary.

THE SECOND MARRIAGE by Rebecca de Winter was a thrill ride from start to finish. And what a shocking finish it was!

Naomi is working on her thesis and decides to interview Emily Brigham who is currently incarcerated for an ‘accident’ that took place on her wedding night. Emily thought her new marriage would be perfect, having lived through an abusive relationship in the past, but things are not always as they seem. As Naomi continues to meet with Emily behind bars, she learns more of her backstory and the events leading up to the shocking revelations on her wedding night and then what came after. Although we’re told early that there’s a connection between Naomi’s mother and Emily, we are never really sure what that connection is, but it is interesting to contemplate.

When an old flame re-entered Emily’s carefully constructive life, she is, once again led down a path of sexual experimentation and degradation to maintain a relationship she walked away from eight years ago. Will Emily continue with this old flame and re-enter another world or stay where it is safe?

This one had me hooked from early on with twists and turns coming from every direction. I was surprised with the decisions that Emily made and was cheering for Naomi to complete her thesis. The writing was clear and concise which led to an enjoyable read. I have not read Rebecca de Winter before, but will certainly be keeping her name on my list of up and coming authors to watch.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

The Second Marriage
by Rebecca de Winter
Pub Date: Sep 26 2024

The Second Marriage is advertised as A totally unputdownable psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming! I feel it's more of a domestic thriller drama, there is a second marriage but it really isn't discussed in much detail at all. The story follows three different timelines with many twists and turns during each one! The final twist was unexpected!

Synopsis: This twisty and unputdownable domestic thriller about betrayal and complex family relationships will keep you guessing until the very last page. I thought my second marriage would be different. He was everything my first husband wasn't – magnetic, successful… But I started noticing things. Small things at first, then bigger ones.

Many thanks to #TheSecondMarriage #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this 5 star domestic thriller!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the book #TheSecondMarriage by #RebeccaDeWinter. This book brought on feels that you bury deep down. Most women can relate to the things that happened. Emily lived her life to the fullest and always knew what she wanted. At least she thought she did. Something about her second husband doesn’t sit right. She needs to find out what happened long ago at the party that changed everything.

Rape and money and exploitation are three words that come to mind having read this book. Well crafted and thought provoking and a gripping read that demands the readers attention. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

This story had me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. in the back of my mind I kept wondering who the interviewer's mother was. Thankfully that wasn't revealed until towards the end of the story. There were plenty of twists that kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next and I must say that even with the clues, I was surprised at some of the revelations.

I loved it. Very, very hard to stop reading. We know from the beginning that who is the murderer; what we don't know is the motivations. Are the motivations enough to justify the murder? That is a tough question. I am not able to answer it. Will you be able to? It would be best if you read the book to find it.

Twisted betrayal and friendship. I could not put this book down! I read straight through because I had to know what happened!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Second Marriage" and all opinions expressed are my own. The story did keep me interested. Overall I liked it.

This was an ARC I received from NetGalley.

I enjoyed this story, although I felt so bad for the MC Emily. Her life was rough with her mom, but she tried her hardest to provide. All her mom wanted was a better life for Emily. Emily tried. She went to college, she partied, made mistakes, moved past them the best she could, and married a good man. Had a kid. From the outside looking in, she’s the perfect wife, stay at home mom, wealthy, beautiful and has it all.

But a man from her past re-emerges in her life. Right after finding out about her husband’s indiscretions. So the author starts taking us through her history with him. It’s not pretty. It’s dark. It’s ugly. It’s deadly. It keeps you guessing who did what. Who is wrong? What would you have done?

I went into this book believing it was a thriller, but it wasn't. It was more of a domestic drama. The title is not appropriate for the book. The story isn't about Emily's second marriage, It's about her dealing with herself, her massive flaws, and what could have been. Yes, a second marriage takes place, but it's only discussed for a hot minute. The story follows three timelines and the author jumps from one to the other. The transition was not very smooth. There are some parts of the book that are just not believable. Especially Emily's responses to what her first husband does and her relationship with her "friend" Sarah. Yeah, no!!!

I understand the messages the author was trying to convey, but it just didn't work for me. It was well written and I did finish it just to see how it ended. It ended with justice so that was a big plus. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Therefore, 3 stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Can't say enough good things about this book! It twists and turns and just when you think you have it figured out, you're wrong and shocked. If you're looking for a fast-paced book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, read this one!

The book was written very well. I never seen the ending coming. I read the book in one day. I had to know how it ended. It is very addictive. The main character did not grow up in the best situation. She was taught land yourself a rich man and your life will be set. She found herself entangled in a web of lies and betrayal

The Second Marriage by Rebecca de Winter is a captivating psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the secrets we keep hidden. The story follows Emily, who believes she has found the perfect second husband after her first marriage crumbles. However, as their relationship progresses, she begins to uncover disturbing truths about his past.

De Winter's writing is both suspenseful and thought-provoking, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The author masterfully explores themes of betrayal, trust, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. If you enjoy a twisty and unpredictable plot, The Second Marriage is a must-read.

Dealing with themes such as domestic abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, rape and sexual assault. It's not an easy topic to address but I think it was done with sensitivity and tact. Touches on the area of rich white man syndrome "boys will be boys " which is very much in the public eye at the moment.

I found this book thought-provoking, and carry sympathy for Emily's case..

There was a slow start to this story but once it got going, it was a fascinating read. A male dominated world wheresome women buck the trend. is justice served in the end?

Loads of triggers readers, so be forewarned. Emily is a little psycho, she's made so many choices, mostly bad. She's obsessive, easily lead and just a bit too toxic.

The storyline follows Naomi, who is interviewing Emily who is incarcerated for kill8ng her husband. Over 3 timelines, we get a viewpoint of why's of Emily's actions and the other players in herl8fe, Liam, Pete, Anna, Anouk.

This was not a psychological thriller, more of a drama.

#netgalley #TheSecondMarriage

I received an ARC from NetGalley

This was such a great read! The way Emily’s story unfolds with a new twist at every turn of the page. It took hold of me and I could not put it down. I had my suspicions throughout the book but turned up wrong. You won’t be disappointed!

I was a little confused at the start of this book but that didn’t matter as I got stuck into the main story. The main characters were well described and the secondary characters were believable too. I appreciated that the author didn’t need to go into intense detail about the abuse or sexual activity as the inference was clearly present. Good writing and editing.

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

This was OK, not as a thriller, but as a drama. I'm not quite sure why it is titled "The Second Marriage," as the marriage part had next to nothing to do with the story. The main character was pretty unlikable and the multiple timelines were a little hard to follow at times. The book's different perspectives felt disjointed at times, and I really didn't have anyone to root for.

But, I was entertained, and I finished the book. That counts for a lot.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

The synopsis threw me slightly, as it appeared the story would be beginning as Liam and Emily were about to get married. In fact, it starts way before then. Uni student Naomi, has gained access to Emily Brigham, currently serving time for manslaughter, in order to interview her for her PhD thesis. The Second Marriage moves back and forth between Emily's life as a student, then later as a suburban mother, and latterly in prison. Gradually Naomi begins to piece together her complex life, many years of which appear to have been under the influence of the rich, charismatic Liam.
Meeting Liam, Emily soon became obsesed with him, and even though as she related her story to Naomi, it was clear she was convinced they were in love, it was obvious how unhealthy their relationship was, and how she was being used. Being abandoned by him brought her to an all time low, but when Pete came into her life, things appeared to change. The birth of their daughter Anouk saw the couple settling down, with Emily in a new role as suburban housewife, looking after the home and Anouk as Pete's career advanced. However, a shocking discovery changed everything and the temptation to return old ways arose unexpectedly when newly divorced silver tongued Liam movesd into the area.

This well written novel charts the ease with which young, impressionable women can be lured into a partying lifestyle with older wealthy men. In this case an experience which inevitably ended badly with the death of Emily's best friend Anna. When Liam returned years later, Emily appeared to have no sense of danger or memory of what had gone before, and you felt disaster looming. Naomi's investigation gave a whole new interpretation of events which led to Emily being convicted and in some ways showed she was just as much a victim. I have to admit I was glued to this book, reluctant to put down such a gripping story..

I would like to thank Storm, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Second Husband, in exchange for an honest review.