Author: Susannah Glenn
Publisher: Pantera Press
Genre: Domestic, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Year of Release: 2024
Release date: 30/07/24
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
TW Domestic abuse tactics, Gaslighting, Coercive control, Trauma, Death, injury to pet.
Synopsis
A couple moves to far north Queensland looking for a fresh start, but will their dark secret be exposed?
On a cold, dark night, two cars collide …
Inside the vehicle at fault, Jennifer Ashby survives with barely a scratch. In the wreckage of the second, the occupants are not so lucky. Jennifer’s good character helps her escape jail, but she is traumatised by the event. Desperate for a fresh start, and with her marriage buckling under the stress, she convinces her husband, Jon, to make a sea-change and move with their young son to Far North Queensland.
As Jon spends long hours at his new job and Jennifer makes secret plans to absolve her lingering guilt, cracks begin to form in their idyllic new life. Will their dark secret be exposed? And what really happened on the night of the accident?
Review
Late one evening after leaving her mother’s sixtieth birthday party Jennifer Ashbry’s car collides with another vehicle. Jennifer is lucky she survives the accident, with barley a scratch the other vehicle and its occupants aren’t so fortunate, Jennifer may have survived being prosecuted by the legal system. However, she has taken it upon herself to hideaway in self-imposed exile so traumatised by the events of that fateful night Jennifer is unable to shift the trauma she struggles to be inside a car the thought makes her physically ill.
Jennifer and her husband Jon, decide the time has come for a fresh start, in Far North Queensland with their young son Jasper. Jennifer is hopeful the sea change will stop her marriage from buckling under the pressure of the last few months, whilst allowing her to move forward in her life.
Jon spends hours at his new job at the council, allowing Jennifer the time she needs to make plans in secret to free herself from her ever-present guilt it doesn’t take long for cracks to appear in their idyllic life will Jennifer find the answers she has been looking for, or will her search for freedom lead Jennifer to a much more sinister truth she could’ve thought possible? Will Jennifer ever find the courage she needs to be able to truly face what happened the night of the accident or will the truth remain in the fog just out of reach?
The saying maybe never Judge a book by it’s cover but this reader is drawn to palm trees as they symbolise warmer climates and holiday destinations throw in A dark night. A darker secret as your tagine and consider me sold.
Susannah Glenn has done an outstanding job to bring characters to life any reader will care about one way or the other. Even managing to create a character this reader despised from start to finish.
This reviewer was able to see the changes in our narrator, and lead protagonist. Jennifer goes through as the story unfolds. They may only be subtle in the beginning, however as the story progresses to the conflict and resolution chapters we discover the biggest changes in Jennifer become more obvious; she is no longer willing to not stand-up to for herself, and is no longer willing to be the only one at fault if and when a problem should arise in the marriage no matter how connivant it may be for Jon to have a scapegoat every time, something happens whether that be because it’s manufactured or accidental.
Another example readers will see; Jennifer develop as a character is she’s no longer willing to let certain details go unanswered when it comes to her husband Jon’s past. The exceptional character develop is the reason behind my high four-star-rating.
I am certain I am not alone when I say I cannot stand anyone who thinks they have a right to carry out actions and behaviours such as, physical abuse. Although in this case minor and mind games that have the potential to cause long-term physical and emotional harm. Domestic abuse tactics behaviours such as Gaslighting, Coercive control, leading to self-doubt which can result in others experiencing long-lasting trauma, because of this Jon is awarded my most hated character of 2024 even though he may be fictional he made my blood boil.
The minor cast of characters suit their roles perfectly, each one has a place it is evident in Susannah’s sharp skilled writing that she has put just as much time and effort and detail into the minor characters and their roles within the story sometimes it can feel as if all the detail and backstory is given to the protagonists and although there is absolutely nothing wrong this it makes for a much more well-rounded novel when all parts are given a little more detail, rather than letting the reader to their own imagination inn this reviewers opinion.
The tension in this book is evident in Between Husbands and Wives right from the first page the short chapters also allow for the story to develop quickly without boredom taking over and giving a reader the opportunity to let their mind wonder. The sole focus becomes just one more chapter, rather than the dreaded question for a reader when does this book end?
this doesn’t always happen.
Having now completed this book I can say I really enjoyed my time amongst these pages; thanks to the authors attention to detail when it comes to the setting and location. I could see the beach and the Ashby house clearly in my mind, bringing the book to life even further for this reader. Between Husbands and Wives didn’t just tick all the visual boxes for me, darker topics such as gaslighting, coercive control, trauma and death are approached and placed within this story with sensitivity and care.
Darker topics being approached with sensitivity, and care is certainly a detail that will always stand-out and be appreciated as a reader should they arise in any book or genre; not only that but the authors skilled writing and the sharp character development evident through-out this knock out of a debut novel I look forward to reading future titles from this author soon.
Subplots included in Between Husbands and Wives:
- Gaslighting
- Coercive Control
- Death
- Domestic abuse
- Remorse
- Minor physical abuse
- Female friendship
- Dysfunctional family
- Reconnection of friendships
- New friendships
- Grief
- Death
- Motherhood
- Self-acceptance
- Lies
- Secrets
- Revenge
- Light bulb moment
- The big reveal
- Self-doubt
- Self-blame
- Self-discovery
Tropes included in Between Husbands and Wives:
- Death
- Minor physical abuse
- Domestic abuse
- Female friendship
- Dysfunctional family
- Grief
- Motherhood
- Lies
- Secrets
- Lightbulb moment
- Unforeseen twist
- Revenge
- The big reveal
I had high expectations for this book especially the ending, and thankfully Susanah Glenn delivered her final unforeseen but, certainly hoped for by this reviewer a twist with what can only be described as much needed force without giving future readers of this book any spoilers I will say living well really is the best revenge.
I wasn’t expecting Between Husbands and Wives to hit me with almost all the emotions, I was wrong by the time I closed the book, but I realised I had experienced the following emotions:
- Grief
- Sadness
- Trauma
- Loneliness
- Anger
- Fear
- Hope
I highly recommend Between Husbands and Wives to a mature reader fan of the Domestic, Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense genre should defiantly add this novel to their bookshelves as soon as possible if they haven’t already. Perfect for weekend of reading at home, or away on a holiday this book will certainly surprise you.
With Continued thanks to Pantera Press and author Susanna Glenn for sending a physical copy of this book to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.