Absolutely this book is a gripping read. It is a masterclass in tension and suspense, expertly weaving themes of obsession and revenge that keep you on the edge of your seat. Taylor's clever and original storytelling hooks you from the very first page, making it impossible to put down. Each twist feels spine-chillingly unpredictable, leaving you breathless as you unravel the characters' dark secrets. If you love writing that immerses you in a world of intrigue and emotional depth, this author is one to watch! Highly recommended.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Jude moves next door to Will but rumors are that Will murdered his wife and lover. Does she need to worry as she feels them getting closer?
A group of people pick up their children each day and there are always the gossips. They tell her to stay away from Will etc.
can Jude uncover the truth about Will or should she worry she will be the next?

I am a huge fan of all C L Taylor work and have read all her books and met her in person so was delighted to be able to read her new book ahead of publication.
This book did not grip me like all her other books,I was bored and the group of women aside from Jude were just people you would hate if you met them in real life. I definitely would not want to live in that town as they are all back stabbing bitches who have nothing better to do but gossip.
For me there were too many characters that I found it hard to work out who was who and what their relationships were with one another.
Whilst I did finish the book I can't say I was satisfied or felt I had read a good book,If C L taylor name wasn't on the cover I doubt i would of finished it. In the past her previous works have been fun,interesting,gripping but this one left me feeling bored and Overall did not really enjoy it but hope her next book is better as I haven't given up hope on her.

Thanks netgalley for a early copy, most appreciated

It was interesting that this was told from different viewpoints as it enabled the reader to get to know the characters to a greater depth. It begins with a new to the school mam on the school run, trying to find her place in the school yard hierarchy and her blooming relationship with a single dad. Rumours start to build about Will, the dad, and how his first wife died and then his partner went missing. Jude tries to investigate, using a diary and clues from the other mams, with lots of red herrings and misdirection along the way. We learn that Victoria is not quite the alpha female she comes across as and that Sorrel is not the mouse she first seems. There are maybe a few too many characters, which was confusing at times to keep up with. The ending is a good twist, even if you had already worked it out!
Thanks for the ARC NetGalley.

(3.5 stars rounded down to 3)

Having read and enjoy many if this authors books in the past I always look forward to checking out their latest offering!

Whilst this wasn't my favourite it was still an intriguing and twisty read.

There were plenty of red herrings and turns that kept me guessing until the end.

I enjoyed the alternating chapters featuring the main characters and it helped build tension. However I did find there were a few too many side characters and at times found it hard to keep up with who was who.

I'm also not sure if the ending was the payoff I was hoping for but overall this was still an enjoyable read by an author who excels as domestic thrillers!

You can always rely on C.L. Taylor to create multi-layered psychological thrillers with well-developed characters. It’s Always The Husband is narrated from the points of view of several school mums, but the principle one is Jude, who arrives in small-town Lowbridge after a recent divorce. She’s thrust straight into the school gate dramas when she befriends Will, a single father. Gossip is rife because Will has suffered the loss of two partners. There are plenty of twists and turns and surprising plot developments. At times, I found it hard to keep up with all of the different characters. There are a lot of them, and this book requires more concentration than many thrillers, but it’s worth the effort.

Thank you to C.L. Taylor, Avon Books and Netgalley for my advance copy.

I have read all of C. L Taylor’s books so couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one and wow wow wow it was absolutely fantastic and definitely her best one yet.

Jude and her daughter Betsy are new to the area of Lowbridge and Jude has to face the dreaded school run and the clique of mothers. She soon gets talking to Will single dad to Millie who seems to be the hot topic of gossip and rumours.

What follows is a rollercoaster of a story which I couldn’t put down, it was just so well written.
The characters are excellent and my opinion of some of them changed dramatically as the book progressed.

The story was told from multiple viewpoints which I think really added to the suspense of the story and gave a much better insight into some of the characters.

Overall this is a fantastic 5 star read which will have you gripped from the first page.

Thanks to NetGalley, C.L Taylor and Avon Books UK for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

The book follows Jude, who moves to a small community and follows her and the pta moms whose friendships are complicated and everyone has something to hide. Jude becomes acquainted with Will, many who are suspicious that WIll had something to do with the deaths of his first 2 wives. Can Jude trust him? She digs deeper into his life before and tries to uncover the truth

This is a fast-paced thriller, filled with secrets, scandals and shifting perspectives. I enjoyed this from the beginning and it kept me wanting to read more. It had some twists that keep you hooked. I liked the characters and even the crazy moms! This one is worth the read

I have really enjoyed the author's previous psychological thrillers so was looking forward to reading It's Always the Husband. It's set amongst a group of school gate mums and told from the point of view of three of them ; Jude who has just arrived at the school with her daughter and becomes involved with Will, another parent, Sorrell an outsider to the group and the group's 'Queen Bee' Victoria. The novel starts off well and I liked the characters of Jude and Sorrell and the intrigue around Will. The author gives a convincing portrayal of the school mums clique and what it's like to be the focus of their gossip. I thought the mystery aspect of the novel started off well but I felt that the last quarter of the novel became too chaotic and unbelievable- but I loved the ending! There does seem to be a lot of 'school gate' psychological novels being published at the moment and I'm not sure if It's Always the Husband stands out. However this was was a compelling read that I raced through over the course of 24 hours so I would recommend if you are looking for a gripping thriller.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
3.5 stars

Wow wow this was such a great psychological thriller which I could not put down. I loved everything about it the characters the writing style and the suspense from start to finish. I felt I was on a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish I was hooked with so many twists I could not predict how it was going to end and wow what a great ending it was. This author if so talented to write a book that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let u stop trading until the final page. I will definitely be recommending this fantastic thriller to everyone can’t wait to read more from this author. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great book.

The intrigue and suspense start from the outset and slowly builds with shocks and surprises, leading to a dramatic climax. Who would have thought a school run could create so much drama and be so gripping? I liked the short chapters told from different viewpoints - each with their own version of the truth. I loved how all the characters are believable.
A brilliant read. Highly recommended.

Its always the husband

WOW WOW WOW what a book i could not put this down! Kept me guessing throughout. Quick read and fast paced
I think i have found a new fave author - off i go to read any previous books by this author.

Thanks as always to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc.

Book Review: It’s Always the Husband by C.L. Taylor

C.L. Taylor has done it again with It’s Always the Husband—another chilling, twist-filled thriller that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. As a long-time fan of Taylor's work, I knew I was in for a rollercoaster of suspense, but this book exceeded even my high expectations.

Set in the small, seemingly tranquil town of Lowbridge, the story follows newly-divorced Jude, who quickly finds herself entangled in the mystery surrounding widower Will. Will, the father of her daughter’s best friend, carries a dark past filled with tragedy and unanswered questions. With two dead wives under suspicious circumstances, the town has already made up its mind about Will, and rumors about murder swirl like a storm.

What makes this book so gripping is how Taylor masterfully weaves the tension between Jude’s desire to protect Will and the growing sense of danger surrounding him. As Jude digs deeper into the past, she uncovers secrets that make the town’s whispers even more sinister, all while battling her own demons from her family’s tragic history. The dual narratives of Jude’s investigation and the town’s gossip paint a compelling, chilling picture of how fear, suspicion, and obsession can warp people’s perceptions.

Taylor’s writing is sharp, and she knows how to create a sense of dread that keeps you turning the pages. Her characters are wonderfully complex—Jude’s determination and inner conflict add depth to her, while Will’s silence and secretive nature keep you on edge. The atmosphere in Lowbridge is so vivid that I could almost feel the weight of the town’s gossip bearing down on the characters.

The twists in this book are deliciously devious. Just when you think you’ve figured things out, Taylor throws in another curveball, leaving you questioning everyone and everything. The pace never slows, and the suspense builds to an explosive, satisfying conclusion.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with complex characters, dark secrets, and shocking twists, It’s Always the Husband is an absolute must-read. C.L. Taylor continues to be one of the best in the genre, and this book is a brilliant addition to her already impressive catalog. You’ll be hooked from the first page and, just like me, you’ll finish it in one sitting—unable to look away from the chaos Taylor has so expertly created.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good, spine-tingling thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end!

Welcome to Lowbridge. Where secrets hide behind every door…

When newly divorced Jude arrives in the small town of Lowbridge, she is soon drawn to widower Will, the father of her young daughter's best friend.

But Will's past is shrouded in tragedy, with questions that no one 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.

As whispers of murder surround Will, Jude becomes determined to uncover the truth – and with her own father's tragic fate haunting her, she refuses to let another innocent man suffer.

Yet in Lowbridge the darkness runs deep, and nothing is as it seems. Can Jude protect Will from a community out for blood? Or will she become the next victim in this web of deceit?

Because whilst one dead wife is tragic, two starts to look like murder…

Newly divorced Jude is quickly drawn to a widower when she and her daughter pitch up in a small town. Will is very handsome and charming, but his life is full of mystery, leaving the other school gate mums to give him a wide berth. Whispers about his personal life abound, and that doesn’t stop the mums from teaming up and having more to say on just about everyone. Gossip is currency in Lowbridge and though Jude wants to protect Will, it’s not being made easy for her. Mind you, the other male partners have plenty issues of their own to deal with. In such a small place, who knew how much of a hotbed of intrigue it could be…

Well that didn't take me long another cracking read by C. L. Taylor, a good set of charecters and a twisty turny story that didn't give up until the end

Another brilliantly twisted thriller from Cally Taylor, a right old page turner that I read in one sitting.

Never have I been more happy that school runs are behind me.

Nobody does divisive authentic characters like this author, every time there's at least one that I growl at endlessly through the read, but equally the mystery is always intriguing and clever

Overall a genuinely entertaining read. Loved it.

I’ve really enjoyed C.L Taylor’s other books, so was looking forward to reading to this new one. It certainly didn’t disappoint.
The characters were intriguing, and the plot delivered lots of layers and twists. It’s a memorable book and I’ll definitely recommend it.

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily

Callie Taylor is consistently an author that never disappoints and this one is no exception. Bang on the money with her character portrayal and dialogue and you soon get pulled into this riveting story. Callie really captures the essence of the ‘school gate moms clique’ and it oozes realism. The story told from multiple pov adds real depth with strong solid chapters. There are a lot of twists, turns and red herrings as the author leads us on a merry dance and ends in a frantic conclusion. Then when you think it’s all over Ms Taylor throws in a wonderful last couple of chapters. Wonderful

When newly divorced Jude arrives in the small town of Lowbridge, she is soon drawn to widower Will, the father of her young daughter's best friend.

But Will's past is shrouded in tragedy, with questions that no one 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.

As whispers of murder surround Will, Jude becomes determined to uncover the truth – and with her own father's tragic fate haunting her, she refuses to let another innocent man suffer.

Yet in Lowbridge the darkness runs deep, and nothing is as it seems. Can Jude protect Will from a community out for blood? Or will she become the next victim in this web of deceit?

Loved this book, I devoured it within 24 hours. Told from all different viewpoints but it wasn’t confusing at all. Murder, divorce, blackmail it had it all in and some of the twists were ones I hasn’t guessed at all. They kept coming up until the end which made a brilliant twisty thriller. It was well paced and a page turner, I kept having to read more. I will definitely look out for more from this author. It’s out in June and if you love this type of genre you won’t want to miss this!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this before publication.