While it took some time for me to really get into it, I really enjoyed this book. Oddly, with how crazy the world is nowadays, I could see something like this happening and being turned into an episode of Dateline. People are not always who they appear to be!

The New Husband by D. J. Palmer is a domestic thriller that has some surprising twists.  After finding out that her husband was leading a double life and disappears, Nina meets Simon who saved her missing dog.  Simon know exactly what to say and do to make Nina fall in love with him.  Her son bonded with Simon quickly, but her daughter didn't trust him.  Due to financial issues, Nina and Simon move in together pretty quickly after they started dating to many people's surprise.  Nina realized that the tension in the house was going to have to be solved between Simon and her daughter, or it was going to be difficult to start a life together.

Simon is one of those characters that you want to believe is better than her cheating husband, but somehow you can see the flaws pretty quickly.  You want to tell Nina to listen to her brave and astute daughter who seems to have Simon's number.  I loved her strong personality and persistence to prove she was right about Simon!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read the book for an honest review.  It was a page-turner!

This is a creepy thriller. My Rating 4.25.
Nina is the mother of two teens. Her husband Glen seems to be absent more than at home. Then one day he turns up missing under dark circumstances. Nina discovers more evidence of betrayal and isn’t sure if Glen is dead or faked his disappearance. As she is struggling to get her life back together, a new man appears. Simon is a widower and a teacher at her children's' school. Simon seems to quickly know all of Nina’s favorites. She is on shaky ground and vulnerable to his charm.

Nina’s elder teen son, Connor, is quick to find an attentive friend in Simon. But Nina’s daughter, Maggie, isn’t ready to give up on her father and she isn’t ready to trust Simon. Nina’s friends are worried when Nina begins to cancel plans with them after she moves in with Simon. Nina doesn’t see the signs as easily as those who are a step away. Is Simon really “perfect” or are there unrevealed problems?

When the true situation is revealed to the reader it is likely to catch your breath. From that point, the suspense is thick as the dangers increase.

I did enjoy the intense ride. I liked how Maggie develops a new relationship and was able to question appearances. This made a good contrast element. The writing moved along well and kept me wanting to find out how events would play out. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good domestic thriller. 

Source: NetGalley 2019.

A domestic thriller about a family whose husband and father disappears one morning, not to return. After almost a year, Nina moves on, with her two children, Maggie and Connor. She moves in with her husband-to-be, Simon Fitch, a teacher from Maggie's middle school. Nina is in love and everything seems fine at first, except that Maggie doesn't like Simon at all....

Very suspenseful, hard to put down book which I enjoyed very much. I'd read a previous book by D.J. Palmer and loved it too. I will be looking for the next book by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for review.

You can’t blame Maggie Garrity for not being thrilled with her mother’s new love interest Simon: he’s a teacher at her school.  She also senses he’s not as perfect as the face he shows everyone.  Her mother and older brother seem to be fooled by him, though, so Maggie’s dislike is passed off as typical teen moodiness.  After her father presumably drowned on a fishing trip, the family fell on hard times.  So Nina, Maggie’s mother, can be excused for choosing the security of a new relationship.  Simon must be keeping some secrets, and Maggie is determined to find out what they are before it’s too late.  The story alternates between Nina and Maggie for most of the book, giving both perspectives on Simon.  It’s interesting to see the contrasting views of Simon and to see how events play out as his true nature is revealed.  Lots of twists I didn’t see coming!

There is not such a thing like “perfect”! especially when we talk about husbands. Very good thriller which made me keep reading till the end. I liked that the main character Nina wasn’t behaving blindly and stupid like some of the married woman. 


*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair review.

Nina's husband went missing from his fishing boat two years ago. Leaving Nina and her two kids with no money and the reality of the secrets her husband kept from them. After being faced with the dire straights of the financial situation she and her two children, their future seems secure in the hands of a steady middle school teacher, Simon Fitch. In a new house with a new boyfriend, Nina's life seems to be back on track, but Maggie just will not accept that her dad isn't coming back and that Simon is the new man in their lives. Simon seems to be the perfect solution to all their problems, but is any solution truly perfect?

Written in multiple perspectives, The New Husband is a true example of an accelerating paced thriller. It starts off a little slow, but the pace increases about two-thirds of the way through. Make no mistake the slower-paced parts are not boring and provide the necessary context for the rest of the plot. Palmer reveals just enough information, in the beginning, to keep the reader guessing before showing his hand and bringing the audience along for the break-kneck ride to the end.

Nina & Glen's marriage struggled with the normal burdens of child rearing & long work hours.  When Glen disappears suddenly & mysteriously, Nina & her two children are naturally devastated.   Learning that Glen had had a secret affair was an even bigger blow to Nina.  As Simon, a local teacher, begins to spend time with Nina, she finds herself less alone & determined not to make the same mistakes she made with Glen.  The relationship progresses & the two buy a house together.  For the most part, Nina's two children, Maggie & Connor, accept the move.  Maggie, however, feels there is something not quite right with Simon.  She chafes at his attempts to get closer to her & his vigorous campaign to get Nina to leave her new job.  Maybe Maggie is more intuitive than Nina gives her credit for?

This was a real thrill ride of a read!  Very well written & creepy enough that, at times, I felt a bit nervous simply turning the page.  Very strongly recommend.

Thank you very much to Netgalley, the author, Daniel Palmer, and the publisher, St. Martin's, for a complimentary copy of this book.  The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Things are not always what they seem to be. Nina's husband had been gone for 18 months. He disappeared on a fishing trip and all that was found was his bloody boat - was he dead or did he run away with the woman he was having an affair with. Now, much to her parents and her best friends dismay, Nina has bought a house with Simon who appears to be the best husband ever. He wants to take care of her and her two children, he is loving and attentive - all the things that her husband hadn't been. Her 16 year old son really likes Simon and they spend a lot of time together. Her13 year old daughter, Maggie, wants her dad and there is no way that she will allow Simon to take her dad's place. Her reluctance to accept Simon is keeping the household in a turmoil and Nina and Simon both work to make her accept Simon but Maggie sees something sinister in him -- is she missing her dad or is Simon not really the perfect boyfriend that Nina thinks he is???

This is a fun book to read - there are lots of twists and turns and even though I guessed the ending early, I wasn't aware of how cruel this person could be (not going to tell you who). My favorite character was Maggie - she knew something was wrong with her Mom's new boyfriend and went out of her way to prove it to her mom. Nina was pretty naive and missed some important clues until things got so bad, she could no longer ignore them. This is a great book to read to take you away from everything that's going on in the world right now.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I have been putting down a lot of thrillers lately but thankfully this one grabbed my attention at the beginning and I read it in a couple sittings! So happy to have found a thriller to enjoy .

This was a good thriller. I found it to be slightly predictable but I do read a lot of thrillers. 

This would be a good thriller if you are new to them.

Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to read/review this book due to other commitments.  I will certainly update this review if/when I have the chance to read the book.  Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

A year after the disappearance of her husband, Simon steps into Nina's life and she finds herself falling in love again. Simon is attentive and caring, Compared to the things she now knows about her first husband he's absolutely perfect, and he wants to build a life with Nina and her two teenage children.  



Nina might have blinders on, but her daughter sees lots of red flags. The plot gets off to an almost painfully slow start, but about halfway through things suddenly get a whole lot more interesting. After that point, it's definitely a page turner. I'm glad I stuck with it.

Have you ever read one of those books that drive you crazy, yet captivate you the entire time? The New Husband by D.J. Palmer is one of those books.

Nina Garrity is moving in with Simon Fitch. He seems so perfect. He knows all about her favorite foods, music, and movies. Her son is over the moon about him. He is always there when she needs him. 

He's a little too perfect.

The thing is Nina's last husband was anything but perfect. She found out he was living a double life and having an affair with another woman. Now that her husband is gone - presumed dead from a boating accident - she wants to focus on her new life and her new husband.

But things aren't as perfect as they seem. Simon can be controlling at times. The very idea of Nina working creates conflict. And not to mention her daughter Maggie is having a lot of problems with him.
Her son, Connor, loves him, though. 

In the book The New Husband we read this story from a variety of points of view. We read the book mostly through the eyes of Nina and Maggie. It's both outraging and thrilling to read the relationship between Nina and Simon. Through the eyes of Maggie, we see a glimpse behind the true nature of Simon's character. Once Nina tries to work and begins to question the things Simon tells her, things begin to fray at the edges. What's outraging at the same time though is that she questions herself more than she questions Simon. So often throughout the book, I wanted to yell at Nina about her self-doubt! But in a loving friend kind of way.

The New Husband is a thriller, but it's also a lesson in abusive relationships. Simon may act like the perfect husband, but he's not. There are signs along the way that he is controlling and abusive. At times, to an obvious point. You notice that the second he doesn't get his way or someone gets in his way, he'll make sure they don't stick around long. 

More than that, there is also a persistent question - what really happened to Nina's ex-husband? That becomes more important than you realize later down the road for this book.

All is not what they seem in this book. If you are looking for an exciting thriller that will also outrage you all at the same time, you will want to read this book. This roped me in immediately and I couldn't put it down.

Purchase a copy of this book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Also, be sure to add this to your reading list on GoodReads.

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer is a stunning thriller. The minute you start reading this book, there is a feeling of foreboding and dread but you don’t know why. Nina Garrity’s husband Glen has disappeared, leaving everyone wondering if he left intentionally or may have met with foul play. She later finds out that he has had an affair with a local waitress. A year and a half later, Nina falls in love again and moves her family in with Simon Fitch. She is thrilled with the new relationship: he seems to know her so well and is devoted to making her happy. Her daughter instantly exhibits dislike towards Simon and her son enjoys spending time with him, making for a tense household. The plot cannot be discussed here but I think that you will not regret reading The New Husband. It is simply unpredictable and an absolute thrill-ride. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an outstanding book from D.J. Palmer!  Many other people didn't seem to like it as much, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!  It was a bit slow to start of with, but ended with a couldn't put down, heart wrenching page-turner!  It was full of secrets, good intentions, misgivings, deception, and a whole host of back and forth!

I knew something was up all along, obviously, it's a mystery book, but I was a bit surprised by some of it, and pretty much saw the rest of it coming and predicted it long before the end!  Simon was the type of character that made you want to root for him!  The rest of the characters were very likable and relatable.

Other than the slow start, this book got off to an excellent finish, one that with the exception of a few small details, that I never saw coming! 

I would like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and D.J. Palmer for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest and unbiased review!

This novel started out like so many other domestic thrillers that it took me a bit to get into it. Not because it wasn’t good or intriguing but because it seemed like the same old trope. Boy, was I wrong! About halfway through the book got very dark and took a twist I was not expecting. What had appeared to be a formulaic domestic thriller was anything but and, suddenly, I could not put it down. The best part about this novel, in my opinion, is that it is realistic and, in some instances, even likely. Most of the situations and secondary plots were entirely feasible and even probable. I greatly enjoyed this slow burn novel with a twist.

When Nina's husband, Glen, goes missing, Nina's world is turned upside down as secret after secret is revealed. Nina moves on rather quickly with Simon. Her older son is happy to have a man around, but her daughter is reluctant and believes her dad to be out there somewhere. Is Simon really a good person?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. From pretty much the first page, you know what's going on. It's a whole different level of nerve wracking to know what's going on when the characters don't. I don't think I've read a thriller that has the reader knowing the outcome, and I found it to be a fun perspective. I was rather surprised when the POV switched to the daughter's, I thought it was unique to have that POV. Overall, I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-galley in exchange for an honest review. 
This psychological thriller was very enthralling. Nina is trying to rebuilt her life after her husband disappears, even though she is not sure if he is dead or ran off. After his disappearance, she found out he was having an affair and this makes her questions their entire marriage. 
Enter Simon, the new man in her life. He seems to be absolutely perfect, anticipating her every need, knowing all of her favorite things. Is she blinded by new love or is he absolutely as perfect as he seems? His only flaw is her teenage daughter hates him, which is not surprising, considering Nina and him started dating not long after her dad disappeared. 
This book took a chapters for me to get into, but once it did, I could not put it down. Even though at times it was a little predictable, it had some twists and turns, some likable characters (I adored Ben) and a lot of suspense at the end. Would recommend it to thriller lovers.

The main character in this story is far too slow at putting the pieces together, no matter how many people tell her to pay attention to her situation. What I found to be particularly frustrating was that she was generally a capable and intelligent woman in all other areas of her life, but around her home life she was clueless. She is even a therapist, but completely ignores the signs or makes excuses. 

I think if the book left the reader wondering what was going on it might not be so frustrating that she doesn't see it, but the reader knows who the bad guy is pretty much right away. There are some minor twists, but nothing really that you are shocked by. 

The last 20% of the book is definitely the best part. I was considering upping my star rating at this point, but it just wasn't enough to make up for the 80% of the book that I found myself waiting for the mom to catch up with us. 

Overall, this wasn't a bad book (despite my earlier complaint!) and it is worth a read. The writing is good and the story is ok. I think you just need to be prepared for the main character missing all the signs and not expect an edge of your seat thriller until the end. I will read more by D.J. Palmer because I did like his writing style.