A group of women meet on the school run every day. They’re joined by one father whose first wife died and the second went missing. The women think he killed them both but newcomer Jude is prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

The story hinges around affairs, secrets, blackmail and a diary. Having read to the end, I have absolutely no idea what was going on. I got the main bits of the plot, but how it all linked together is a complete mystery.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic domestic thriller from CL Taylor, told from multiple POV, complex and engrossing.
Expect to see this being read on sun loungers this summer!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in return for my honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was a great thriller read. Loved the writing style.

This book is a domestic thriller with a side of gossip—or maybe it's the other way around—but either way, it was a blast to read. Jude and her daughter move to a small town after her divorce, where she starts dating her daughter's new friend's dad, Will. But when the town's gossip reveals details about Will's past, things take a dark turn. One wife dying is a tragedy, but another going missing seems like a pattern. I loved how this book was told through multiple POVs, although at times it was a bit tricky to keep track of them. This domestic thriller was both fun and scandalous, and I couldn't put it down. If you enjoy a juicy thriller with plenty of gossip, this one is for you!
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When Jude moves to Lowbridge for a fresh start, she doesn’t expect the school run to come with murder rumors. But the local mums are buzzing about Will—the handsome single dad with one dead wife and a missing girlfriend.

Naturally, Jude’s drawn in (because of course ), but is Will just unlucky… or hiding something darker?

This was a fun, twisty thriller full of secrets, gossip, and school-gate drama. C.L. Taylor delivers again with short chapters, multiple POVs, and a satisfying ending. Not all the characters are likeable—but that just makes it juicier.

Dark, addictive, and impossible to put down.

After really enjoying another of C.L.Taylor's books recently, I couldn't wait to pick this one up. This was a story of secrets, lies and plenty of drama and it kept my attention throughout, particularly the second half of the book.
There were plenty of twists within the story and I found this really good, as it constantly made me question different characters. I found myself so sure of someone's guilt, to only find that they were innocent!
The characters in the story were so varied and each were going through something behind closed doors. The scenes at the school gates were so true to life and you can imagine the gossiping of Will that was occurring.
This was a gripping thriller that kept my attention throughout and left me turning the pages, wanting to find out who was guilty.

**Listened to the audio book as well as reading electronic version**

I always enjoy a C.L Taylor book, and look forward to a new one each summer. This was another corker! (although not one of my fav books of hers)

As with any great thriller, there were so many twists and turns! The first half of the book went at a million miles an hour and gets the reader super intrigued and straight into a whirlwind plot. Short chapters to keep you reading - love that!
The second half however did get a little bit confusing at times, and it was the second half that stopped me from giving the full 5*. It just went a bit too wild for me!

Overall though a really enjoyable and super fast paced read!

It’s Always The Husband had me hooked from the very beginning with its clever twists and emotionally charged storyline. I was drawn into the complex relationships between the characters—particularly the dynamics between the three women and how their pasts continued to shape their present.

The way Ms. Taylor builds suspense is masterful; just when I thought I had it figured out, another layer unraveled. It’s dark, gripping, and full of tension, with just enough psychological insight to keep you second-guessing everyone.

This was a fast-paced, binge-worthy read that I couldn’t put down.

It’s Always the Husband
by C.L. Taylor

This was a quick paced thriller packed with lies and betrayal that I absolutely devoured! C. L. Taylor never disappoints. The ending left me SHOCKED!

C. L Taylor never misses with her books and this one is incredible. I actually think she gets better and better with every book.

C L Taylor rips out another book that I found impossible to put down. The plot, the characters, the whole book absolutely far we expect from this author. Superb!!

This book…… amazing! Such a great mystery and story all the way through. Loved all the characters and the many different little mysteries that were included. I haven’t read much in the last few months but this book has changed that! Can’t wait for the next one by this author!

I didn’t realize how much I’d enjoy a story set in such a small place. Everyone knows everyone, but that just made it feel even more tense. Like every smile was covering something else. It had that kind of pressure that doesn’t come from explosions or action, but from knowing something is off—you just don’t know what yet.

There were so many moments that caught me off guard. Just when I thought I figured out what was really happening, something small would change, and suddenly everything felt different. It kept me paying attention, not in a confusing way, but in a way that made me want to keep going just to find out who was lying—or if anyone was telling the truth at all.

The short chapters made it easy to stay with the story. I’d finish one, say I was done for the night, and then start another without meaning to. It had this rhythm that made it hard to stop, even when I should have been doing something else.

It’s not loud or flashy, but that’s what made it work for me. The tension built up without needing to shout about it. It just sat there, waiting, while things slowly got stranger. I liked that a lot.

Sorry to say but it's the first time I didn't finish a CL Taylor book. ‘The Strangers’ is my favourite of hers.
I like her writing, and even in this book, I kept going until the 19th chapter only because of her engaging writing style. But it’s supposed to be a thriller and nothing significant happens up to that point. Also there are too many characters, each one has something to say. The story is told from four points of view, but unfortunately none of them reveals anything that keeps you hooked or intrigued. It feels like they are all telling their own personal stories.

Sad I didn't want to know what was going to happen; disappointed that it didn't work for me.

I found this book to be very confusing because of all the different characters as well as unrealistic. None of the twists took me by surprise and I wanted more from this thriller.

Maybe because this one just took me a while to read I didn't really know who was who, but it felt like all the characters were the same so I didn't really have an idea of who the killer would be. It wasn't bad, just isn't going to be memorable.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Unfortunately this one didn’t grip me as much as the authors previous books have.
Whilst I still enjoyed it and it was a fun thriller to read, I felt that I didn’t warm to any of the characters and it made me really not care about any of them. I am not a mum so I dojt understand the whole school pick up clique and maybe this is what made me not rate it as high. But the women were so bitchy and fake and I just didn’t like them.
I really enjoy short chapters and the dual narrative. It is still a book I would recommend, but I would recommend others by this author before this one.

Lots of characters made this quite confusing in places but a good story and well worth a read.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest review

‘computer says no!’ I really enjoyed this book, and on more than one occasion, it made me laugh out loud, which as a domestic thriller, was a great surprise. Working through the common hellscape that is the school pick up, the author weaves a relatable story about life as a mom and the social awkwardness that follows some of us into adulthood. A tail is woven, and there are twists and turns a plenty, which really kept me engaged and excited to keep reading the book. I read this is one sitting! The book is well written, and a wonderful addition to the genre. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

I love anything CL Taylor writes, and this one was no exception! Reminiscent of school yard drama in Big Little Lies, this story is told from multiple viewpoints about a group of women who have a loaded past. Murder, mystery, and secrets abound in this book, and I couldn’t put it down! 4/5 stars.