The New Husband: A Novel

Okay, that was so good! Psychological thrillers are my new obsession and when I saw D.J. Palmer announce this book, I couldn't wait to read it. I had previously read Saving Meghan and loved it, so I was very excited when I got an advanced paperback copy of The New Husband in the mail. Nina and her family's life has been upended with the disappearance of her husband after his empty fishing boat is found. Quickly Nina learns her husband was not at all who she thought he was. How can she have lived with someone for the past fifteen years and not know who they truly are? Very soon after Nina's husband's disappearance, she runs into Simon Fitch, a teacher at her daughter's middle school. He is like the perfect man, attuned to Nina's every need and doing and saying all the right things. Before she knows it, he is completely ingrained in her and her children's lives. How did it all happen so quickly? Is it too soon for her to be with another man when her husband's body has never been found? And is she wrong to place her trust in this new man that she barely knows? After all, she thought she knew her husband, but all signs point to him leading a life she knew nothing about. D.J. spins a twisted tale that I couldn't put down. I was totally immersed in this story, trying to figure out early on what was really going on. And then as chapters were revealed and the reader gets to see behind the curtain, I was so invested in how this storyline was going to play out. I felt like a fly on the wall, observing all that was going on and wanting to help this family, but having no voice to get their attention. The story was a tad slow for me in the beginning but gradually gains momentum until the heart stopping conclusion. I absolutely loved the character of Maggie, her chapters were my favorite. If Mr. Palmer wants to write more about her in the future, I would not mind one bit. If you're looking for a page-turning psychological thriller, this story fits the bill perfectly! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Even when my allergies were in full force and I couldn't see through blurry eyes and constant sneezes, I still powered through because I HAD to know what happened! Bravo, Mr. Palmer!! Another amazing read! Many thanks to St. Martin's press for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Content Rating: 18+ Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Thriller Published: April 14, 2020, by St. Martin’s Press Do we ever really know what our spouse is capable of doing? We love them, we trust them, we raise children with them, and we sleep next to them every night. But do we know what they are capable of doing? The New Husband is the book that will have you looking over at your spouse and wondering what secrets they are keeping from you. The author of The New Husband, D.J. Palmer, is not new to writing and has written many books under the name Daniel Palmer. I found this book to be well written, and the characters carefully crafted. The story is told from two narrators, Nina and her daughter Maggie who are totally at odds with each other. And then toward the end, we hear from a third narrator. This book is a slow burn, however about halfway into the book, the wickedness is revealed, sometimes a bit over the top, but that’s one of the things I liked about it. The New Husband is a twisted psychological thriller that will have you on edge, wondering what will happen next. Has Nina found her one true love.? Nina Garrity, the mother of two, is happily married to her husband, Glenn. Glen goes fishing, on Lake Winnipesaukee, one morning and doesn’t return. His boat is found with a large amount of blood on the deck, and his dog, Daisy, but no Glenn. It is revealed that maybe Glenn was not the perfect husband; Nina finds out he has lost his job and has been having an affair. Glen has left Nina not only emotionally devastated, but also her financial situation is precarious at best. In this vulnerable state of mind, Nina falls for the sweet, sincere Simon Fitch, and seventeen months after her husband’s disappearance, they are moving in together. “If someone had told Nina a few years ago that she would end up living with the social studies teacher from her daughter’s middle school, in a new house they bought together, she would have broken into a fit of laughter.” Nina’s daughter Maggie is not happy; first, Simon is the social studies teacher at her school, and secondly, she sees something in him that doesn’t feel right. “I hate him. I absolutely, positively hate him. Maybe, if after a year or something, Mom had wanted to go out on a date, sure, fine, go do it.” However, Nina’s son Conner likes Simon and embraces him as part of the family; this causes somewhat of a clash between the two siblings. Despite all the turmoil, Nina and Simon are determined to make this new family work. That’s all I am willing to tell you about this story, as I don’t want to ruin all the creepy fun you will have while reading this book. But what I will say to you is that Daisy was the hero, in my opinion. The New Husband is a story about obsession, lies, and deception that will twist and shock you. It’s a story about wanting something so much you will go to any lengths to get what you want. At times this book pushed the limits of what is plausible, but that is what made this book fun to read. What I didn’t like about the book was the epilogue, The New Husband went from an edgy, creepy read, and then it came together a bit too cleanly. Although this book does start slow, it delivers in the end, so don’t give up, stick with this book to the end, and happy reading. * Please note the quotes in my review are subject to change once the book is published. * ** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and D.J. Palmer. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. **

An amazing book that kept me up until the wee early morning hours. It was a little slow to begin with but once I got into the story I could not put it down. Told in numerous voices, I think Maggie was my favorite. i could feel her pain for what she knew and she could not share. Simon was wicked, too perfect to be true. If you like psychological thrillers, then this is a must read.