The Second Marriage
Jess Ryder
Jess Ryder
‘They’re lying,’ my little stepson whispers, his blue eyes shining with tears as I tuck him into bed for the first time. ‘They think I’ve forgotten, but I remember everything. I know my mummy is still alive.’My best friend warned me that it was too soon to marry Edward, a widower with an adorable but troubled little boy. She said we were moving too fast. But all I could see was a kind, loving man, struggling with grief, who needed my help.
Yet as storm clouds gather above our small wedding ceremony, my hopes and dreams fall apart. None of my husband’s family turn up to support us. Instead of a honeymoon, we have a quiet night in. My wedding bouquet is placed on his first wife’s grave. And then my new stepson tells me he’s sure his mother is still alive.What does Noah remember and why is his father trying to make him forget? Have I been completely wrong about my husband? What happened to the woman who came before me, and how far will he go to stop me finding out the truth?An utterly unputdownable, gripping, twisty psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Before I Go To Sleep, The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl.
My Review:
Few books live up to their descriptions.
But this one….
Unputdownable? Yep.
Gripping? Check.
Twisty? Oh yeah.
We all dream about meeting the perfect guy. And thirty-something teacher Lily thinks she has hit the jackpot when she meets tall, dark and handsome widower Edward. She accepts a position as a private teacher for his son, Noah and soon they fall in love and marry. But when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Lily soon discovers that Edward- and his family- are hiding some pretty dark secrets. What happened to his first wife, Clare? And Fran, the teacher hired before Lily, disappeared under really strange circumstances. Is Edward just an “unlucky-in-love” kind of guy, or is there something more sinister going on here?
While Noah is convinced his mother is still alive, Edward’s daughters Tara and Georgia (reminiscent of the evil stepsisters in “Cinderella”), are masters at making Lily feel uncomfortable in her own home. Why in the WORLD won’t anyone talk about Clare? Why doesn’t Noah go to school? What is everyone hiding?
The secondary characters stay far enough in the background, which allowed the main story to really shine through. While Lily’s friend Marsha and ex- boyfriend Alex add to the storyline, they don’t take up too much room. The real thriller here is finding out why this family is so darn creepy. What are they hiding? Lily decides she won’t stop until she figures it out. Manipulative Edward, becoming so controlling that he begins to isolate Lily from the outside world, is a red flag that is introduced early on in the story. I love that maneuver; the book keeps you guessing from the first chapter and the twist is so much more satisfying at the end. This is NOT a book where you are kept in the dark until the twist blindsides you.
Without a doubt, this is a recommendation to all of my fellow bookworms who love a good thriller. This would also be a great book club selection, as we have all known a guy (or two) who just seems a little too good to be true- am I right, ladies?
Five stars!
Author Bio:
Jess Ryder is the pseudonym of Jan Page, author, screenwriter, playwright and award-winning television producer. After many years working in children’s media, she has recently embarked on a life of crime. Writing, that is. So she’s very excited about the publication of her debut thriller Lie to Me. Her other big love is making pots.
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