This was an interesting read for me and, while I was reading it, I kept going back and forth on whether I was enjoying the ride or not. I thought it was a valiant attempt at a thriller, with twists both expected and unexpected along the way.

I felt the true downfall of the book was actually what was supposed to be the main character. She came off very clueless and didn't do all that much to solve any of the mystery behind her husband's death. Her self aware and self centered thoughts, especially in the beginning, were distracting and lessened her genuineness to the reader. I appreciated the character of Cara and wished that she was placed more in the main character role and that Paula had been downsized. Thomas Gadd's death could then be looked at more of a true vendetta for Cara and Paula being one of the players adding intrigue.

All in all, this was an interesting and different book. I liked the paths it brought you on and enjoyed that the author took some risks with the number and type of twists. Even though it got convoluted at times, I still appreciated the great effort.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

After He Died
By Michael J. Malone
Description
You need to know who your husband really was . . . When Paula Gadd’s husband of almost 30 years dies, just days away from the seventh anniversary of their son Christopher’s death, her world falls apart. Grieving and bereft, she is stunned when a young woman approaches her at the funeral service and slips something into her pocket. A note suggesting that Paula’s husband was not all that he seemed. When the two women eventually meet, a series of revelations challenges everything Paula thought she knew, and it becomes immediately clear that both women’s lives are in very real danger.
The book is based in Scotland. Read like an American book. I enjoyed the few characters, just seemed there were too many. It was a bit slow in spots, yet all in all a good read. Have some suspense and ugly people you had to dislike.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me the chance to read and review this book.

There were pages/chapters that had me drawn in and there were also parts that I was really not into the story. I think I was most disinterested when the whole mob scenario was introduced. Overall, 3 stars. I liked the dark setting of Ireland and the author definitely has quite the imagination for a thriller!
Thank you #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Posting on goodreads as well.

I love that the book was set in Scotland. It was a dark book but the main setting beginning with a funeral. Interesting characters. I found that I was really only drawn to about three of them. The rest were dislikable characters although they did have positive elements to them. I was rooting for the main protagonist to solve the mysteries surrounding her husband's sudden unexpected death. A man she truly did not know. But there was much more than meets the eye to both her husband and the mysteries surrounding him. What a twisted web a family life can be. The brothers were all involved in different aspects of their interlinked lives. With Thomas truly being the only financially successful one. Parts of this book did run a wee slow. And I didn't like the introduction of an underground life aspect of it, but it was very well written and the characters were drawn-out very well; richly detailed and interesting even if I didn't like some of them. I love how the character development and speech of the characters ran true to their origin and where they lived, she didn't try to English them up with their speech and tone.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book and definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley/the author/the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Trafalgar Square Publishing for an e ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. when you believe that your life is laid out, and then suddenly, everything changes, how do you cope? Do you run headlong into possible danger, to get answers and closure? Or do you hide your head in the sand, so that your past isn't tainted? A mom loses her only child, only to lose her husband years later. Are the two related? Who can she trust? this is a good book, although I didn't love the plot at times, it did keep me reading and drawn in.

A riveting domestic noir. After the sudden death of Paula’s husband she is left a note from a stranger. What Paula unravels and plenty little plot twist this read will keep you turning pages well into the night. Enjoy!

Paula Gadd is bereft when her husband of three decades dies, she’s still never really recovered from the death of their son. Now, she feels herself drowning in grief. But her sadness turns to confusion when a woman passes her a note telling Paula she never really knew her husband. Determined to uncover the truth about the man she thought she knew, Paula turns to his family for answers even though they have never really been on close terms. Malone makes readers wait to uncover all the skeletons in the closet, building up almost unbearable suspense. And when the answers are revealed readers will agree the surprise was worth the wait