Fantastic I loved how it kept the reader guessing right until the very end. Full of twists, suspense, tension and atmosphere, I didn't know what to think or who to believe. I loved it

Another great piece by CL Taylor, that kept me up at night. Intriguing plot with no clue till the end what was happening. Great when I can't guess the end.

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I found this book really easy to get into from the start, I liked the short chapters as it meant I could pick it up and put it down when I had a few minutes to spare.

I always enjoy books that are told from multiple character perspectives.

Although the story did keep me reading, I did find it a little slow.

What a page turner!

I could not put it down. The book is engaging from the first page, live how it's told from different POVs.

I loved the short chapters which just made me race through to the end

I am a big fan and read and loved all of C L Taylors work!

Oh my god this book is incredible. I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t tear myself away from this. So many twist and turns. It will keep you guessing right until the very last page.

Yet another brilliant book from this author. It centres around a small group of young mums who get to get her and love to gossip . They all have secrets, some they shared to each other some are still a secret. Someone knows some of their secrets but who.
Is it one of them or someone outside of their group.
Fast paced book with so many twists to keep you guessing right up to the end.

A good read with lots of intrigue. As ever, this author does not disappoint. Will continue to look forward to her books.

Another great psychological thriller from C.L. Taylor. This one has a dark and twisted plot based in a quiet town.

Told from the multiple POV’s of Victoria, Sorrell, Jude and Andy. I really liked having the different insights from the characters and what they were really thinking.

Jude is new to the area and as she begins to learn more about the town of Lowbridge she discovers everything is not as it seems. She strikes up a friendship with single dad Will but he seems to have his fair share of enemies in the town.

I really enjoyed how this one turned out, the ending was really good.

Thank you to the publisher for my ARC via Netgalley.

A truly gripping and twisty novel that keeps you guessing until the last page! For fans of thrillers and true crime, it is perfect at building the suspense and making you guess, at times leading you in the wrong direction, which makes the reveals all the better!

Well this was a deliciously gossipy take on the playground mafia mummy’s that we all know and “love”! Every school has that one group of women that we take a perverse pleasure in seeing their downfall and It’s Always The Husband does pack in plenty of those moments! It’s an enjoyable and engaging psychological thriller where you are never quite sure who is the “bad guy” because they are all such unreliable and unlikeable characters!
If you liked Big Little Lies then you will love this!

Ahhh this book had so many twists and turns. Fast paced and kept me guessing throughout. The mums and the town gave me serious desperate housewives vibes. I thought I would struggle with the many different perspectives but the characters became so real to me. Highly reccomend this thriller!

I love C L Taylor's books and look forward to reading her new ones. This was no exception,
it starts off with the typical school run with the usual clicky groups meeting for drinks etc and ends with a murder being solved. There were a few twists and turns along the way and I had no idea. Thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this early.

A physiological thriller with twist and turns about a mother and daughter who move to a new area.
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the previous books I have read by this author.
I felt there were too many characters giving their point of view and I found this confusing.
Thank too to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review

I’ve read a couple of C.L. Taylor books and really enjoyed them, but I thought this was not one of their best book.
The plot was a bit far fetched, but having said that I did enjoy the writing and the book itself.
The writing and storytelling was great, the twists and plots were thrilling and full of suspense, and the book kept me hooked till the end.
Thank you to the publishers Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this ebook and giving me a chance to review this book!

I'm a huge C.L Taylor fan and have read all of her work. This was a book with a ton of character perspectives, and yet they were so easy to follow due to the way in which it was written. You got to know everyone, had ones you love, ones you love to hate (cough Victoria cough) and ones you were so conflicted about due to the opinions of the characters. Whilst I did enjoy this immensely, I was quite disappointed with the ending. Was it predictable? 10000% NOT. But I felt like it was a bit too far out there and not totally cohesive with the rest of the book. I'd still recommend it though, Callie's writing is phenomenal as always

The Blurb 📖
One dead wife is unfortunate, a second looks suspicious.

When Jude moves to a small town, she's attracted to Will, the father of her daughter's best friend. But the rumour mill suggests that Will is dangerous. You could ask his first wife, or his second, but neither are around....

Jude doesn't want to believe the rumours and sets out to discover the truth for herself. Is she going to be the third victim?

The Good 📖
This isn't my first C.L. Taylor book so I knew what to expect - and this didn't disappoint. Jude was a relatable character, a mum trying to find her way in a new town, doing her best for her daughter whilst navigating the school mums - not always an easy task and I love how this was portrayed throughout the book.

The unofficial leader of the school mums, Victoria, wasn't favourite character. She was portrayed as an adult Mean Girl and I loved seeing her character develop over the course of the book.

The ending felt right, and the relationships that come out of this story felt true to life.

But I wouldn't have wanted to live in that town!

The Meh 📖
There were a lot of characters in this book and it could sometimes be difficult to keep track of who was who. It wasn't unmanageable though and I do think overall it was necessary for the book. It also felt like most of the men were portrayed slightly negatively but not too much to take away from the story overall

The Result 📖
This was an ARC from NetGalley and Avon Books. I whizzed through the book very quickly - always a good sign that I'm enjoying the book and want to know what happens next. If you are a fan of C.L. Taylor this won't disappoint. If you've never read any, why not? Add this to your reading list!

Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A tense schoolyard psychological thriller. I did not connect with the narrative and the multiple characters confused me. Unfortunately, not quite up to the authors usual standard but an easy read with a neat twist at the end.

I enjoyed the book to begin with but I felt there were too many characters which weren't necessary to the story. I found it got quite confusing as to who was who and what their motivations for their actions were. I found I struggled with this one.

I adored The Guilty Couple and Every Move You Make so I was very excited to read the new standalone thriller from C. L. Taylor.

Jude is new to town and has no patience for the school gate politics. She’s not interested in cliques or gossip – she just wants to get on with things. But after her daughter keeps inviting her friend over, Jude finds herself drawn to Will – her friend’s father.

One morning, Will is attacked outside the school. The other mums just watch – but Jude rushes to his aid. Later, they reach out with a chilling warning. Doesn’t she know about Will’s past? His first wife died and his second vanished without a trace. They’re convinced he’s responsible for both events. After all, it’s always the husband, isn’t it?

What follows is a gripping, twist-filled psychological thriller packed with secrets, suspicion and shocking revelations. This was a fab read, I especially adored the final couple of pages! If you love fast-paced thrillers that keep you guessing then make sure to jump on this one.

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for ARC.

The first thing you need to know about C.L. Taylor’s upcoming novel, It’s Always the Husband, is that it’s basically Motherland on crack—a dark and twisty tale of deceit, secrets, and suspicion set against the backdrop of the typical school run. Scheduled for release on June 5th, 2025, this gripping thriller promises a rollercoaster of twists and turns, told from multiple perspectives.

When newly divorced Jude arrives in the small town of Lowbridge, she is soon drawn to the enigmatic Will, father to her young daughter’s best friend. But Will’s devastating past holds questions that nobody knows the answer to—and after two tragedies tore his life apart in just a few short years, gossip and rumours abound about what really happened to the women he loved. Because whilst one dead wife is tragic, two starts to look like murder…

C.L. Taylor masterfully weaves a narrative that delves into the complexities of small-town life, where the school gates become the epicenter of intrigue and danger. The story’s strength lies in its multifaceted characters, each harboring secrets that unravel as the plot progresses.

Jude’s journey as a newcomer trying to fit into the tight-knit community of Lowbridge is both relatable and compelling. Her interactions with fellow parents, the cliques, and the ever-present gossip mirror the dynamics many experience in real life, adding authenticity to the narrative. Will’s character is shrouded in mystery, with his tragic past casting long shadows over his present, keeping readers guessing about his true nature.

The novel’s pacing is impeccable, with each chapter peeling back layers of deception and building suspense. The multiple perspectives offer a 360-degree view of the events, allowing readers to piece together the puzzle while being wary of unreliable narrators.

Taylor’s writing shines in her ability to blend dark themes with moments of humor, particularly in the depiction of school-run politics. But there are no Julia’s or Amanda’s in this story.

Whilst working full time, and struggling to put this down, it certainly made me savour every last drop of this epic tale.

In conclusion, C.L. Taylor’s latest offering is a testament to her prowess in crafting psychological thrillers that resonate with readers, making It’s Always the Husband a must-read for 2025.