I devoured this thriller! Great characters, subtle twists. Kim is struggling as a freelance designer and waitress at a club with a sick dog when she is contacted by an anonymous Stranger with a way to come into a bunch of cash. However, things get complicated when Kim realizes she not only knows but used to be in love with the target they have given her to take out.
All of the characters, even the unlikable ones, were so fun and I finished this one in a day & a half.

Kim is a waitress at a New Jersey country club and she is living a double life. Her dog needs a life saving surgery that will cost ten thousand dollars and she is desperate to get it for him. A mysterious figure called The Stranger contacts her and offers her lots of money to put a pill in a member's drink. The target ends up being her bad boyfriend from high school. She hasn't seen him in 15 years and now he goes by a different name. He's also a millionaire and has a gorgeous girlfriend, PJ. He doesn't know it but PJ also wants to kill him. Many layers of deceit have to be peeled back to find the truth. There are many twists in this book. It was very enjoyable. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

3.5 rounded to 4.
Honestly, no better motive for murder than protecting your pet. I too would do anything for my pets.
A little predictable. Overall a fun fast paced thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The synopsis is great and the novel starts of strongly, unfortunately it quickly loses its way- which made it difficult to finish.

Kim Valva, a graphic designer, works as a waitress at a country club on the Jersey Shore to make ends meet. After high school, she moved away from Brooklyn to distance herself from her boyfriend, Tony Fiore, a local troublemaker. Her beloved dog Murphy is now ill and needs surgery. When someone identified only as "The Stranger" contacts Kim through a burner phone left at her home, she is offered $20,0000 to poison a new member of the country club. It's the money she needs to save Murphy. Desperate, she agrees. However, when she sees her target, Anthony Fuller, a multi-millionaire, Kim instantly recognizes him as Tony Fiore, her first love. Deciding she cannot go through with the murder, Anthony's young fiancée, Poppy Jade "PJ" Walsh, suddenly collapses and dies at the table. What is happening? Through alternating flashbacks and present-day events, it is revealed that PJ was not her real identity, having created a double life to take revenge on Tony/Anthony: "Find him, marry him, destroy him, kill him." Who is "The Stranger," who killed PJ, and is Kim the next target?

Their Double Lives by Jaime Lynn Hendricks was such a fun psychological thriller. It's fast-moving, clever, and engaging. The story is packed with twists and unexpected turns. You won't want to put this book down.

4.25 stars.

Thank you to my partners, Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, NetGalley, and Scarlet Suspense, and the author. I appreciate the gifted eARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily!

1. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐚𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐨 • These type of plot lines always make me question what it would take for me to accept a proposition such as Kim receives. When push comes to shove, I’d choose myself and what’s important to me.

2. 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 • The past and present were a perfect mix to bring the story together. I loved seeing how PJ’s feeling changed throughout her time with Anthony. And then to see how what he uncovered changed him at the same time. I think this story needed to be told in this alternating fashion.

3. 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 • It felt like whiplash quite often while reading this one. Everyone is hiding something and I was there for every revelation and recourse. I loved how so many seemed to think they were pulling the wool over the eyes of another, when in reality, they were not!

4. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 • The reader is left to figure out just who is behind the situation Kim finds herself in. I went back and forth between knowing and not knowing…until the realization started to present itself! And I was spot on! What a great twist into the betrayals that so many felt.

5. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 • It’s truly amazing how some people just have the ability to charm anyone. Anthony seems to have this ability right up until the end. Kim almost finds herself back in his clutches and it was difficult to decide what was in her best interest.

This was such a fun popcorn thriller! It was a quick read and I enjoyed alternating between both POV’s. I also liked all of the characters and found them entertaining.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4⭐️
THEIR DOUBLE LIVES
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller
📖 304 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 💊🥂☠️🐕💰🚔✉️😱
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 5/20/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ then/now chapters
◽️ revenge
◽️ suspense

🩵𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲🩵

Thank you @jamielynnhendricks for the #gifted copy! @thrillerloversthepulse loves this one!

What a wild ride this thriller turned out to be! Told through multiple POV, the story masterfully weaves together perspectives that constantly shift your understanding of what’s really going on. The “then and now” chapter structure adds a gripping layer of suspense, drawing you deeper into the mystery with each turn of the page. Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, making it nearly impossible to stop reading—just when you think you’ve figured something out, the narrative throws you another curveball.

What makes this even more addictive is the abundance of red herrings & hidden motives. Trust becomes a slippery concept, & I found myself second guessing every character’s intentions. The twists kept me guessing until the very end, & the tension never let up. If you’re a fan of twisty, edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this is one you absolutely can’t miss. Mark your calendars for its release on 5/20/2025—you’ll want to be first in line for this one!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Kim Valva, a struggling waitress, is offered a life-changing sum of money by a mysterious figure to poison a new country club member. The target turns out to be her high school ex, Tony Fiore, who is now a wealthy businessman engaged to a much younger woman, PJ Walsh. Unknown to Tony, PJ has been plotting to marry & kill him for his fortune. When Kim hesitates to go through with the poisoning, PJ unexpectedly dies at the table instead. Now caught in a deadly web of deception, Kim must uncover the truth before she becomes the next target.

#TheirDoubleLives #giftedbooks #thrillerlover #thriller #mystery #suspense #kindle #bookaddict #whattoreadnext #botwxbs #bookcollector #booksaremylife #booksonbooks #crimewithaclaw #cozycorner

A funny, engaging thriller with had me hooked from page one. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the story kept me guessing right until the end!

Someone check on JLH, because if she's drawing story inspiration from her real life she has some crazy ass dinner parties.

Kim is in desperate need of money. Her dog Murphy, the one thing she loves, is sick and needs surgery. So when she begins getting anonymous messages from someone calling themselves The Stranger she only hesitates for a minute before agreeing to poison someone in exchange for $10k. But when her Mark walks into the country club on the night she is supposed to poison his dessert, she can't get through with it--it's her high school boyfriend. Unfortunately it appears someone is impatient though, because that night Anthony--the potential victim--is sitting next to his fiancé when she dies. And now Kim doesn't know what to think.

This book was twisty twisty twisty and full of good life lessons about why lying is bad. Finding Tessa is still my favorite Hendricks book, but this is a close second.

I needed this thriller! This was so good! I loved the entire book and I flew through this one! Lies, revenge, secrets and twists are what you are going to get with this thriller gold! This was such a fun psychological thriller. I had suspicions of who did what and why but could never fully nail it down!

This was my first from Jaime Lynn Hendricks and it will absolutely not be the last. Her backlist is being added to my TBR immediately! Everyone at The Pulse was so excited for this one and now I know why!

Thank you to the author, Scarlet and Penzler Publishers for allowing me early access to this one! This was fantastic! Do yourself a favor and add it to your TBR and preorder it because it will be in my top thrillers this year!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Hendricks takes readers on a wild ride through the glamorous yet treacherous world of New Jersey's elite country clubs. At the center of this gripping narrative is a waitress whose life spirals out of control. Hendricks masterfully illustrates the desperation of a woman at her lowest point, caught between financial ruin and moral quandaries, making Kim a compelling and relatable protagonist.

Hendricks excels at creating a cast of characters that embody both charm and malice, emphasizing the duplicity often found in high society. The blend of adrenaline-fueled suspense and sharp social commentary is seamlessly woven throughout the plot, inviting readers to reflect on themes of betrayal, ambition, and the lengths one will go to secure happiness. Each chapter is brimming with unexpected twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Kim navigates a labyrinth of lies, ultimately realizing that not everyone can be trusted, including The Stranger.
This novel is thoroughly addictive. Hendricks's prose is crisp and engaging, making it difficult to put down; once you start, you'll want to see how the tangled web of deception unravels. The pacing is impeccable, providing just enough tension to escalate the storyline without overwhelming readers. The climactic moments are both shocking and satisfying, reminding us that in the pursuit of happiness, alliances can shift and loyalties can waver.

In conclusion, Jaime Lynn Hendricks has crafted a tale that is as intricately woven as it is explosively entertaining. "Their Double Lives" promises a whirlwind of excitement, making it a crowning achievement in the genre of domestic thrillers. Buckle up for a ride filled with deception, betrayal, and a shocking revelation that you won't see coming!

Double lives indeed! This is a twisty-can’t-trust-anyone type of read. It seems like everyone is double crossing everyone. These characters don’t act out of impulse. Every detail of revenge is carefully orchestrated and a faux persona is used until the timing is just right.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. For both books I go into them feeling neutral, but by the middle I’m fully engrossed and breezing through to the end. This is told through multiple POVs and timelines, which I always enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Scarlet for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date May 20 2025

This was a fun, twisty book! The fast pace and unreliable, manipulative characters made for an entertaining read. The book alternates POV and timelines to uncover who the true villain is, It kept me guessing until the end and was well executed,

Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I truly don't feel that Jamie could write a book I would not love. Their Double Lives couldn’t be a more fitting title for this book, and you will be shocked and appalled by the things that happen. I think I enjoyed PJ’s POV the most and could totally see where she was coming from and also where she ended up. I would recommend going into this one as blind as possible and I think me going off the author instead of the synopsis worked in my favor. The twists and turns were fantastic, and the ending was so brilliant .Don't read the whole synopsis of this book! I rarely go in blind, but I'll read anything this author writes and trust that I'm going to be entertained. I didn't know the motivation of one character in particular, and that made the book so much more thrilling to me. Read it just read it you wont regret it.

An average thriller read for me. Though a quick, easy read, I really didn’t engage with the characters and the plot was just okay. The motivation of one of the main characters was not believable to me and there was too much telling rather than showing.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

A few years ago, I read and loved Hendricks' debut novel, Finding Tessa. I haven't yet read any of her others, but when I read the synopsis of her upcoming book and saw the many glowing reviews it was earning, I quickly requested it on NetGalley. Of course, I was thrilled when they granted me access to it, but I'm disappointed to report that my own ratings aren't quite so shiny.

Kim is a waitress at a Country Club. She has recently agreed to a mysterious request (from The Stranger) to kill a new member via poisoning in exchange for enough money to save her dying dog's life. I love my dogs, so I can understand doing anything to save their life...but killing someone? That seems a bit too far, but still, I suppose I can understand her entertaining the idea. She is shocked when she sees the man she's agreed to murder, and recognizes him as Tony, her first love from over a decade ago. She decides she can't go through with the murder after all, now that it's someone she knows, and will have to do something else to save her dog. But before the evening is over, Tony's fiancee, PJ, keels over dead. Now Kim has to determine who The Stranger is, who murdered PJ, whether Tony has truly left his criminal past behind as he appears to have done, and whether she herself was being set up to take the fall for the murder.

As I mentioned, I did not love this one, but I certainly didn't hate it. What worked for me? The fast pace, the back and forth chapters (told from Kim in the present and in the past, and PJ in the past, along with a couple from Anthony/Tony's perspective) to move the story along, and the twists. I wasn't bored or tempted to abandon it. What I didn't care for as much was a lack of character building. It felt like we were just told who the characters are, and there really wasn't much to show that at all. And things would just flip back and forth; one minute, this character is being shown as 'good', and in the next moment, it's as if a flip has been switched and suddenly they are the opposite. Or someone is head over heels in love with someone else, but suddenly, one little thing makes them do an about face and decide to cheat on them or kill someone, etc...it just didn't fell true to me. Beyond that, much of the plot is far fetched and unlikely, or relies on pure coincidence, which usually doesn't bother me in a novel, but felt like just a bit much here. I also didn't love the writing, and feel it would benefit from more editing to tighten it all up.

Again, though, it was an entertaining book that kept me turning the pages to see how it would all turn out. And that, along with having loved her debut novel, means that I look forward to reading more from Hendricks. I give Their Double Lives three stars, and thank NetGalley and Scarlet for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

RATING: 4.5/5 Stars

Oh my goodness, this was goooood! I could not put this one down as soon as I started it. All the MCs were morally grey in the best way! I am always a fan of multiple POVs & timelines. Plus, Kim had a sweet dog, Murphy. I’m a dog person! This was so twisty & deceptive. There were many webs of lies weaved! PJ was a wild character. I thought I had everything figured out & I was not even close! This was such a binge worthy read & I’ll be recommending it!

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Waitress Kim Valva is desperate for money to save her dog’s life. When she’s offered cash to poison a wealthy country club member, she agrees - but nothing goes as planned.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
This felt like a modern-day Agatha Christie murder mystery, with fun elements like a locked-room setup, a whodunnit, revenge, a long con, and bad men getting their comeuppance.

The action kicked off immediately. I so appreciate a well-edited book that doesn’t waste time, and this was perfectly paced. The past-and-present format added to the suspense, and added just the right amount of intrigue.

I loved how twisty this got - every reveal made me rethink what I thought I knew, and the timing of the twists kept things fun and unpredictable.

I did want a little more from the ending. Not necessarily a happy one, but something more impactful to match the high-energy buildup. While it tied everything up, it felt a little anticlimactic, and I was left wishing for an explosive showdown.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
I found this book so entertaining and highly recommend it for fans of fast-paced, twisty thrillers with plenty of drama and surprises!

Thanks to @Netgalley and
@penzlerpub for access to this advanced readers copy

Oof — what a messy, messy web of lies and deceit in this deliciously salacious story!

Nothing is what it seems in Their Double Lives. Hendricks did an amazing job, intertwining all the characters and their many, many lies in this one!

A server at an elite club would do anything to save her sick dog, and when someone contacts her, offering her a large lump some of money to simply add something to someone’s dessert, she agrees. What she didn’t count on? It being her old high school boyfriend. Can she do it? She can’t. But when someone else drops dead at dinner, all hell breaks lose!

While “the stranger” was a fairly obvious call, there were so many layers to this ending, I devoured it in two sittings - it was un-put-downable!

A must read this summer — it was absolutely awesomesauce 😉🤫