Neat concept, well fleshed out characters. I found it started strong but was then quite slow, it dragged toward the ending. Still, a good mystery with some clever twists.

ARC from NetGalley. DNF at 32%. Was good in the beginning, but I felt it dragged out the storyline. It kept flipping between the present and past. The past had too much detail that was irrelevant to the story. I wanted to continue reading to find out, but i felt myself not interested and skimming it. Sorry!

Wow!! This book was incredible, definitely worth a read. Was suspenseful and constantly had me on the edge of my seat. Read it within a day.

Name :- The First Husband
Author :- Elizabeth Carpenter
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
It is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully combines suspense, family secrets, and emotional tension. Set against the backdrop of a wedding that should symbolize new beginnings, the novel delivers a chilling exploration of trust, betrayal, and the haunting power of the past.
What I like :-
1 Intriguing Premise: The concept of a presumed-dead first husband resurfacing just days before a wedding is undeniably compelling. The suspense builds steadily as Leah’s idyllic plans unravel.
2 Atmospheric Setting: The remote holiday house, filled with old memories and tensions, adds an eerie layer to the narrative. The sense of isolation amplifies the feeling of paranoia and danger.
3 Complex Characters: Leah is a relatable protagonist, torn between protecting her son and uncovering the truth. The supporting cast, with their individual secrets and agendas, keeps readers guessing.
What I didn't like :-
None.
Overall :- The First Husband is an engaging and suspenseful read that will keep readers on edge from beginning to end. Elizabeth Carpenter excels at creating an unsettling atmosphere and crafting a plot filled with secrets, lies, and unexpected twists. While not without minor flaws, the novel delivers a satisfying blend of mystery and emotional depth, making it a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers.
My Rating: 5/5

I have read a few books from this author and this one is definitely my favourite so far. It was excellently written with such well developed characters. I loved everything in it the pace was fast with many twists and turns which kept me gripped throughout.

Leah’s first husband Callum disappeared while they were staying with friends for her birthday. Years have passed and Leah has found happiness again with Callum’s best friend they are on the verge of getting married in the same place that Callum disappeared until Leah receives a letter from Callum saying he will see her soon. Leah thought Callum was dead but now isn’t sure what happened and is she now in danger.

Overall this was a fantastic book which is definitely in my top ten reads this year. I can’t wait to recommend this great book to everyone. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this excellent book.

Thank you so much for letting me read this book. An exciting thriller. I think maybe the ending was a little rushed, and things were revealed a little too quickly.

As a reader, I wish that one of the people mentioned had something to do in the present as well. I liked the book. It was the first book I have read from this author

She’s getting married again with her deceased husband’s best friend. All the people who were involved are present to celebrate the wedding. Until strange things are happening and secrets are revealed.
Interesting story that kept me entertained till the end.

Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the chance to read and review. This opinion is my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a good book!! This one had me hooked from page one! I could t put it down. I loved the writing style of this book. I lived the characters and they had great chemistry.

The First Husband by Elisabeth Carpenter is an addictive psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages. The story unfolds with a fascinating mix of love, obsession, and dark secrets, as the main character, Holly, navigates her tangled past and present relationships. Carpenter’s writing is sharp, and the twists throughout the book were both unexpected and thrilling. The tension builds steadily, keeping you guessing about what’s true and what’s hidden. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with compelling characters and plenty of suspense, The First Husband is a must-read!

The First Husband by Elisabeth Carpenter


Eight years ago, Leah and her husband, Callum were on a holiday weekend away for her thirtieth birthday with their friends; Tania, Jake, Katherine, and Matt who is Callum’s best friend. That weekend ended in a nightmare as Callum walked out of the holiday house angry and drunk, his body was never found.

Now they are all back in the same place for Leah and Matt’s wedding. Leah and Matt have a three-year-old son, Noah. They all arrive on Friday plenty of time to prepare for the Sunday wedding. As the weekend progresses many strange things start to happen… one creepier then the next. Is someone out there playing a sick joke? Or is Callum still alive?

This book is told in two timelines: Now and eight years ago when Callum went missing.

I was hooked from the very first chapter and could not wait to find out who was responsible for all the "jokes". This book was fast paced, and I loved the ending. I love Elisabeth Carpenter books they are all edge on your seat thrillers.


I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for a copy of this for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was right down my alley! The beginning started off a bit slow for me! But like many others it quickly picked up the pace and before I knew it I was done with this great thriller!
Really enjoyed this book! Thanks NetGalley Publishers and author for this great advanced readers copy

I read this book in one sitting! Okay, okay, I had to go run an errand, but I was not happy that I had to put it down. From the very beginning I was hooked! This book kept me guessing and wanting more. The story is well written and flows so nicely. It is also a dual timeline story which is my favorite. I never could have guessed the ending. Definitely put this book on your 2025 TBR!

Leah and Matt and their 3 year old son take a trip to Matt's parents cottage for their wedding. The cottage was also where Leah's husband disappeared from 8 years earlier. Leah isn't thrilled to be back there but Matt's mom insisted the wedding be held there. Caterers show up late, there's invited guests, mysterious notes and texts, and someone goes missing!

This book held my interest the whole time. As always there's reasons to suspect everyone. The whole thing unravels at the very end and it all makes sense.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the advance copy of this book.

Callum was my first husband. Eight years ago, when we were staying at this exact same place for my birthday, he disappeared.

All the people who were with me that terrible night are here for the wedding. My brother. His wife. My new partner Matt: Callum’s best friend. We all had reasons to hate Callum then. We all have reasons to lie now.

The police are sure Callum is dead. But as I look around at my loved ones, I wonder…

Does someone know what really happened that night?

Does someone know what I did?

And if Callum is back, is he the dangerous one… or is it one of us?

This is the first book I've read by this author. It was an OK read for me. I had a bit of trouble getting connected to ghe characters. 3 out of 5 ⭐️

Leah is getting married for the second time. Eight years ago her first husband mysteriously disappeared. Now, on the weekend she is getting married she gets a note that says it's from her missing husband.

But that can't be right? He is missing, presumably dead.

Or is he?


I really enjoyed this book and I was hooked from the start. This was a really great read!

Highly recommend a tense chilling page turner.I was drawn in from first page till the shocking ending.Grab this book.#NetGalley #bookouture.

The First Husband is a thoroughly gripping read! You will suspect everyone but the whole story is fascinating. Well done!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

This started off well with a really sinister atmosphere and interesting backdrop. The characters were meeting for the wedding of Leah and Matt, to be held at the same place where Leah's first husband Callum, who was was also Matt's best friend, disappeared 8 years earlier. The story progresses with flashbacks to the days and hours before Callum disappeared and that worked well, moving between the past and the present. Then things start happening which suggest all is not as it seems and we find out about all of the interlinking relationships between Callum and the others.
I found it difficult to believe that the couple would want to get married in that place due to what had happened there, and the reasons given for that didn't work for me. The little twists within that added interest, but I think we needed more background to why Callum changed and became such a different person from the one that Leah married. I think that would have helped me to feel more empathy with Leah and Matt.
The most interesting part of the book for me was how easily Leah began to suspect all of those closest to her, although again that seemed to happen out of nowhere with no background. So sadly, I felt like there were many gaps in the book.

An ok read for me.
I just couldn't quite get my head around the storyline, some parts just seemed so unlikely.
A decent list of characters with some good twists but it just didn't do it for me.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

The First Husband by E. Carpenter, published by Bookouture, is a full length, stand alone, gripping thriller of its finest.
Masterfully crafted, this book gives all the feels, a raw and gritty, twisty till the last page. 5 stars.
Blurb: In two days’ time, I’m getting married again. It’s bittersweet, after everything that happened. But when I look at my cheeky son and his loving, handsome father, I know I’m doing the right thing in moving on.
Then a card comes.
Two days to go. I can’t wait to see you. I’ve missed you so much. All my love, Callum.
Callum was my first husband. He disappeared eight years ago, leaving only secrets and pain behind. He’s dead.
But as my friends and family gather for my big day – all the same people who were there the night Callum vanished – my fear grows. Things go horribly wrong with the wedding plans. And then an anonymous note threatens my son.
Is someone playing a cruel joke, or is Callum really back? I have two days to find out who’s doing this to me… and learn the truth about what happened all those years ago.
Because I will do anything to protect my son.