The novel opens explosively with the gory murder of charismatic TV newsreader Andrew Page, stabbed to death, with both his wife Caroline (Caz) and his ex-wife Louise, standing over him, covered in his blood. But which one killed him? And why?

This was such a gripping read, fast paced, well written and impossible to put down. The opening scene occurs after a family party to celebrate Louise's parents' golden wedding anniversary. Not only have Louise and her brother Luke and their children been invited to spend the weekend at a fancy hotel on an island off the Devonshire coast, but also Louise's ex-husband Andrew and his new wife Caz, despite the ongoing hostility between Louise and Caz.

The events leading up to the party are told through alternating chapters by Caz and Louise, interspersed with police interviews following the murder as they try to work out which of them killed Andrew. Switching between the viewpoints it's easy to sympathise with first the spurned wife and then the new wife, who will always come second, but neither is a reliable narrator, both have secrets and both can be very devious indeed. It's really the kids you feel sorry for in this situation, 16y old Bella, whose parents haven't noticed that she's not doing too well and 4y old Tolly, who are shunted between homes at the whim of their parents. Meanwhile Andrew is trying to be Mr Nice Guy, trying to defuse his wives' animosity and placate two women, but is he as blameless as he seems?

This is one of the best psychological thrillers I've read this year. Utterly compelling with an excellent twist in the tail.

Rating: 5 thrilling stars

Tess Stimson has written a hum-dinger of a psychological thriller. How many older parents invite their ex son-in-law and his new wife to their 50th wedding anniversary party? It may seem strange, but that is just what Louise’s parents did. That is how Andrew, his new wife Caz, and his ex-wife Louise along with their children and various other family members are together at Burgh Island off the coast of Devon.

The book opens with a bang. After hearing screams, people burst into a room where they find Andrew stabbed to death and lying in a pool of blood. Both his wife and ex-wife are found in the room, covered in blood. Obviously, someone killed Andrew. Who did it? Both women become prime suspects.

Caz and Louise alternate narration of the story, with some police interviews interspersed. Who is telling the truth about their history and actions? Is one, or both of them, lying? My sympathies for the women ping-ponged back and forth as each narrator told their side of the story. It turns out that Andrew was no prince. So why did the women have the history with each other that they did?

I’m not saying any more about the plot. I do not want to spoil anything. Just trust me. What a thriller this is. It will blow your socks off. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good psychological thriller or mystery. The pages seemed to turn on their own as I devoured this book. It is my first foray into Ms. Stimson’s work, but it will not be my last. Do not miss this one!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book and will give it a huge thumbs up. With a great story line and excellent main characters - I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of One in Three.

Great book but man, the relationship between Andrew’s current wife Caz and ex-wife Louise is one I couldn’t stand!! These two were at each other’s throats and some of the things they did to each other were terrible! I couldn’t even imagine having to deal with an ex of my spouse, let alone one as ruthless as Louise. However, the real villain in this book was Andrew but, as in real life, no one ever blames the husband. It’s always the wife and/or mistress! When Andrew is murdered within the first chapter or two, you really wonder who is the murderer and the more you read the more confused you get as to who it could be! In the end, I was really surprised and then the final twist had me shocked!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of One in Three by Tess Stimson.

Louise and Caz share one thing in common, and that's Andrew, Caz's husband, and Louise's ex-husband. But Louise never wanted to be separated from Andrew and has been making Caz pay for it ever since. And having blended families makes it all the more complicated.

But tensions hit an all-time high around the time of an ill fated party and Andrew has been murdered. No one is talking, and everyone is pointing fingers. Was it the embittered ex-wife, or the disenchanted current wife?

This was a quick paced summer thriller that was easy to hop on and coast through. Nothing about it really threw me for a crazy loop, or deep dive. But for what it was, it did the job, and I had a lot of fun with it.

Such interesting characters and amazing storyline that keeps you engrossed in the narrative of the book. The MCs have such depth and life in their description that the emoting with words is so effective that you keep falling in the story and the timer of the story itches you to find out what exactly is going to be the outcome. Build up keeps you invested and doesn't let you leave for even one second.

Louise and Caro only have one thing in common Andy, their husband, or should I say Louise’s ex-husband and Caro’s current husband. But which woman murdered him?

Tess Stimson has written a deliciously wicked account of the extreme women will go to get one over on their rival. But this book offers so much more than I first thought. With each page I turned I became more entrenched in Louise’s and Caro’s lives. I never knew whose side I was on, mainly because I kept getting side tracked from the cruelty they were inflicting on each other with their underlying redeeming qualities and the love they both had for the children.

Make no mistake this is not a light-hearted read. It is a full-blown psychological thriller that touches on many hard-hitting subjects that are dealt with in a sympathetic manner relevant to the character they relate to.
I must admit, I was mostly clutching at straws trying to second-guess the author and that ending???? I will say no more as I do not want to spoil anything, and this book is more than capable of stealing anybody’s thunder!

Toxic wife and ex-wife fighting for the attentions of Andrew....

The current husband of Caz and ex-husband of Louise.

One family celebration turns into a who-dunnit! Both wives are suspects and found at the scene of the crime.

To tell you the truth, both these wives were pretty annoying and had their own dark moments that led up to a major cat fight.

Just who was it that went down the dark path? Very twisty road and kudos to the author for mixing it up!

I went back and forth between suspects and figured it out... until I was wrong, then right!!

The police interview chapters were also a great addition and added to the intrique.

A great distraction and twisty tale involving these ladies "little revenge fantasy bubbles".

Thanks to NG and Avon books for my late request! This one published on July 9, 2020

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books and Tess Stimson for this e-copy in return for my honest review. I really enjoyed this one, full of twists and turns, very suspenseful.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of One in Three. I wanted to love this novel, but I really hated the two main characters. Louise and Caz were both fighting over this horrible narcissistic man Andrew. Louise was married to him first, then Caz married him after. The whole novel revolves around his murder, and who did it? Was it the wife? The ex wife? Or maybe someone else? The ending was not shocking to me, every twist I was able to predict chapters beforehand. It was a quick read, but I just didn’t love it.

Wow. Wow. Wow. This one completely blew me away. From the very beginning I was gripped by the conflict between Caz and Louise. It’s not often I say this, but I could happily award this more than five stars. Unsurprisingly, this is going into my ‘Top 5 Reads of 2020’!

The narrative is a countdown to the fateful party. The novel opens with a Prologue that introduces the murder scene. Consequently, for the rest of the book, readers are taken on a journey to understand events leading up to it. The chapters switch between Louise and Caz’s perspectives meaning that you get a balanced view of the conflict existing betwixt them. However, what adds to the drama and tension is the fact there are also police interviews regularly spaced throughout the story. We are invited to sit in and witness the suspect questioning and I loved how this revealed gradual details about the finale. Readers are never given the full story and I loved how Stimson carefully and subtly provides intricate details about each character’s past. It all helps build up an image and create a suspect for the reader – although whether they are correct or not is never revealed until the final pages.

This was a dramatic read. I switched loyalties frequently between Louise and Caz. For Louise, she seems to be struggling to cope as a single mother, especially as her own mother is keen to maintain a friendship with her ex-husband. The inevitable meetings between her and Caz made me sympathise with Louise and believe that the second wife (Caz) is as vindictive as Louise feels. However, when we read from Caz’s perspective, we cannot help but feel sorry for the “replacement” who always appears to come “second best”. I sympathised with her frustrations and cheered when she showed a trusting relationship with Louise’s older daughter.

Hooked like a fish, I could not put this book down. I was excited by the story and relished in the details. At some moments I was literally gasping with disbelief – a sign of a good read! I could not fathom who was the murderer and at the end believed that most characters had a motive – poor Andrew! This book takes you on a journey with plenty of twists and turns and it had me captivated for each and every page.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Whoa!!! What a damn book!!! This book is waaaaay too good!! Couldn't put it down until I finished, beginning to end it had me with my mouth open, literally. 🌸 Such an incredible one, since the very first chapters I needed to know more and more and more and aaaahhhhh (*add scream*) it's so intense 🌸 I hated some characters, I wanted to slap them or scream at them!!! It's soooooo good really guys it is gooood!!!!! I was so mad and so stressed, so intrigued and so excited!!!! I bet I was frowning the entire time, I'm sure I hit the table at least five times, I was hitting the air. There are a bunch of twists, I love that. It wasn't predictable at all I swear that even at the very last page I was like nooooooooooo!!!!!!! Nobody did what I was expecting and I love love looooooove that wow I mean just wow. I need the physical copy if this book, I need it in my thriller collection ASAP, for real

Louise and Andrew have been divorced for 4 years and are the parents of Bella, 16, and Tolly, 4. Louise had a very difficult delivery with Tolly and almost died. Just one week later, Andrew left her for Caroline (Caz). They are now married and the parents of Kit. The relationship has been very strained between the two women and Can feels like second best next to Louise.

Louise’s parents, Celia and Brian Roberts are planning a 50th wedding anniversary celebration and have even invited Andrew and Caz. It is to be held at the Burgh Island Hotel. Caz is dreading it and doesn’t want to attend.

Andrew is a very handsome man and goes out of his way to see that Louise and their children are cared for. Caz is angry about it because she feels that they don’t always have enough money to do the things they want. In addition, Caz feels like Louise sets her up to look like the bad guy.

Both women dislike the other but they care about the children. Watch them encounter one another in yet another hate-filled, one-upmanship scene and you will see how jealous two women can be of one another. Is any man worth living your life that way? When we get to the long-awaited anniversary party, that’s when things explode and Andrew lies dead. Who killed him?

Just when you think you have it figured out, bang, you find you are wrong! Whew! What a story. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Raw and gritty. Don’t miss this book because it is what I call a REAL thriller! Well done, Tess Stimson.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Here’s your cast of characters:

Andrew, the husband
Caz, the current young trophy wife
Louise, the ex-wife that can’t quite move on.

All three will attend a family celebration, but only two will survive the night!

Told in multiple perspectives including Caz and Louise. Each spilling the beans how the other wronged them. Who are we to believe? Like the old adage…there’s your story, my story, and the truth lies somewhere in between.
I felt like I was watching a tennis match as they lobed volleys toward one another! I sided with each as they explained their take, quickly jumping to the others side when it was her turn.

Neither one is innocent but which one is guilty of murder? It’s for you to decide.

This was a fun, fast-paced thriller that will definitely entertain. Though nearing the end I was hoping for more fireworks after all the build-up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC to read and review.

This is my second book by Tess Stimson, the first one being Picture of Innocence which I read last year.

In this book, One In Three, the hugely dramatic opening scene immediately lured me in. Andrew Page is lying bloodied and dead in the Beach House, a discarded knife nearby. In the midst of the carnage his second wife Caz, and ex-wife Louise, are both standing beside his body, covered in blood...

This was a great example of a brilliant family drama thriller, with its solid plot, diabolical characters and swift pacing. Tess Stimson blew me away with the skill she displayed, layering the book with scenes that made me to and fro as I suspected everyone of having an involvement. All of the action takes place on Burgh Island in Devon where Louise's parents, Celia and Brian Roberts, are hosting a party to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Told from the viewpoints of both wives, Louise and Caz, interspersed with police interviews, the story was chock full of teasing twists. With complex relationships, inner scheming and outer niceties, One In Three was a can of worms where all manner of devious atrocities were on display when the lid was opened. A very highly recommended read and a fabulous ending, to boot.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Avon Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

They say that between love and hate there’s a really thin line… who hated/loved most Andrew to kill him? His wife or ex-wife? Don’t expect to have an easy answer, because it’s not, they hate/love him in the same proportion, but only one killed him, ready to make your bet?
I know that this story can seem familiar, but believe be when I say that you’ll be surprised by this book, how it’s told and all the lies and secrets hidden during the plot, a must read!
The story is told mainly by Louise and Caz, the ex-wife and the wife, because the wives are always the main suspects in a killing, am I right? So, in a family party where Louise and Caz are found near the body, the police will start questioning them. And starting from the past till the present, we will discover their most dangerous secrets and dark thoughts, and be prepared for a few twists, of course!
I don’t think I trusted either Louise and Caz since the beginning, they seem to be so good on one side and witched on the other that I wasn’t surprised of the hate their shared between them. I didn’t understand neither how Andrew could try to maintain this weird balance between both families, I can understand that if you have a child with someone else you want to be a parent to them, but if you still have feelings for your ex-wife, why did you marry just after having the divorce papers? Sometimes I don’t understand humans!
This had been an addictive read, trying to decide which character you hate less and had less motives to kill… it had been a very interesting read! Ready for One In Three?

This was quite the interesting story, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. The narrative shifts back and forth between the points of view of Louise and Caz and we get the "after" chapters as police interviews...I really liked the format and the writing style. This was a very disturbing story, you could feel the characters emotions and kept me in suspense the entire time. The characters were all quite complex and no doubt you will have your favorites while others will try your sympathy. Since the revelations come slowly, you'll need some patience to get at the truth, but it is worth the wait.

If you're anything like me and enjoy a good story that truly pushes you to the edge of your seat in suspense, where you literally can't turn the pages fast enough, then you need to experience Tess Stimson's utterly unputdownable book. It was dark and surprising, yet completely logical and the setup was done very well. I had not anticipated the ending, and yet, it made perfect sense. This is my first book by Tess Stimson...I would definitely read more from this author.

One in Three is an enjoyable thriller. Throughout the book I was thought I figured out what happened but didn't find out until the very end.

One in Three is about a man that gets murdered. His wife, Caz, and ex-wife, Louise, are both in the room when his body is found and blame each other. The story then goes back seven week to explain what lead to the murder. The story is told mainly between Caz and Louise's point of view. Everyone looks guilty throughout the book, so you have to wait until the end to find out what happened and why. This story is character focused and really brings the reader into the lives of the different characters.

I recommend this book to anyone that likes character focused thrillers. There are very few likable characters, so if that bothers you I do not recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really good. It is told in 2 POV's both Caz and Louise sometimes cut through by interview excerpts.

I knew whodunit from the initial chapters but the thrill is never let down. I felt for both the characters. My only problem with the book is the mystery is relies heavily on timing and the place. So if there was a better description of it, the book would have been perfect.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

What a crazy ride. Ok so Andrew leaves his wife a week after their child is born, marries another woman right after the divorce is final and yet wife #2 thinks she is second in line to wife #1. And then Andrew and wife #2 are invited to wife #1’s parents anniversary party. And guess what… he ends up dead. And both women are standing over the body. Confused yet?

We read a number of different accounts as to what happened and my loyalties kept changing.

I really enjoyed this story and all the mayhem that went with it.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.