This thriller has everything I love—an intricate mystery, a complex marriage, and a psychiatrist at its core. I’m drawn to thrillers with therapists, and A.R. Torre nails it, adding a layer of psychological tension that kept me hooked.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and The Pulse for the gifted ARC!

This was... INSANE. In the best way possible. Dinah and Joe are certified looney tunes but I could not stop reading their twisted story. This is one of those books where the beginning will have you asking "what the heck is even going on?" and as you get further into the story your question is answered but definitely not in the way you were expecting.

Torre continues to prove she is a powerhouse author in the thriller genre, no one writes unhinged thrillers quite like she does.

A Happy Marriage pub date is June 24.

3.5 rounded up. This one was fun… very unreliable narrator which I love and tons of twists.

A lot of character dislike but that’s what helps this story!

Overall couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the advanced copy!

Whoa - this book was WILD!! I love me some twisted, demented characters; and this book definitely delivered. At first I was thinking I made a mistake by requesting this one, as I'm not typically a fan of detective POV chapters, but I am so glad I stuck it out. It quickly went off the rails in the best possible way. I did guess one of the major twists early on, but it did not take away from how great it was. Easy 5 stars!

This is a crazy, far-fetched story that has just enough mystery to keep you guessing.

Dinah is a homicide detective, married to Joe, a psychiatric doctor. Their marriage, on the outside, is perfect, but any little tilt of the tides can cause chaos and perhaps worse.

This is a quick read with a twist at the end. I didn’t love this book, it was a little too out there for me, but I think the premise is a good one.

This was not my favorite A. R. Torre book but it was worth the read. Dinah and Joe have been married for ten years. And if you ask either one, they would say they have A “Happy Marriage.” So what’s their secret to keeping that marriage on course? Dinah is a homicide detective, presently working a case involving a woman possibly murdered in her own home, and her teenage daughter missing. Joe is a psychiatrist. He teaches classes as well as running his own private psychiatric clinic. Both are still head over-heels in love with each other. And everything will stay peachy-keen just as long their secrets don’t come to light. I thought this book was twisted and diabolical. Throughout this book I never knew who to trust and I was on the edge of my seat. It was addictive and pretty fast paced. One thing I’ll say is that it felt pretty plot forward, which I don’t mind but I do think the story would’ve benefited from a bit more backstory on Joe and Dinah. That being said, it wasn’t a dealbreaker and I enjoyed this book!

I love a deranged, unforgettable first sentence to set the tone. This book is so gruesome and vivid and dark! I love that Torre isn’t afraid to go there to provide a disturbing read! This one was perfect to read around February, providing the most toxic love story! Watching all the pieces click into place was so fun!! And so many times, my mind was blown by little details and revelations throughout! I love how Torre writes domestic thrillers, the dynamic of the relationship between the married couple was so interesting to me! I would recommend going in blind, and also am not giving away a lot of details in my review because I feel like it will make this reading experience that much better!!

This is a very twisted story about… well, the title says it all. There are so many things that you don’t see coming and an ending that you don't expect. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

Will read anything from this author and this book didn’t disappoint. Started right off the back and held my attention the whole ride. Highly recommended! Thank you NetGalley for this arc

Wow! This book was so good! A.R. Torre did not disappoint! This book had me hooked and I couldn’t wait to see what happened. The craziness of this story made this book so good! I definitely recommend!

Dinah and Joe seem to have the perfect marriage. Dinah is a detective, and Joe is a psychiatrist. When their careers collide, their marriage is put to the ultimate test.

The plot to A Happy Marriage is a bit different than any book I have ever read, and the characters are far from likable. However, that is what makes this book a little different. It kept me guessing until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of A Happy Marriage.

A HAPPY MARRIAGE was such an odd and twisted book, slowly devolving into madness that you knew would be coming and yet were still somehow surprised by. There were parts that didn’t make a ton of sense but it was still an enjoyable read, with a fitting ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review A HAPPY MARRIAGE.

3 stars
Expected publication date - June 24, 2025

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

Dinah and Joe seem to have successful careers as a police detective and psychiatrist, and a very happy marriage. But, things aren't always as they seem behind closed doors, and you definitely don't want to be the person behind their closed doors!

This was a very quick read for me, but it left me feeling kinda 'blah'. Some more information on previous missing persons and patients would have made things more interesting to me.

ARC review • pub date 06.24.25

A.R. Torre is one of my favorite authors and this new novel did not disappoint

I think you should go in blindly on this one and buckle up & enjoy the ride. She knows how to write characters that you love to hate, and books you want to pick up every chance you get. Definitely give this one a read.

Non-spoiler blurb: Dinah is a detective working a case where a woman is found dead in her kitchen, and her 20-something daughter all of a sudden missing. Dinah’s husband is a psychiatrist, and the missing daughter has just been admitted to his mental hospital. Full of twists & turns!

4⭐️

Thanks so much to Thomas & Mercer, Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and NetGalley for my ARC.

Solid 3.5
Was very slow burn until about page 100 and I am glad I didn’t quit because it got very good after that.
Pretty good read and would have been 4 stars if the first half of the book wouldn't have been so slow.

What on earth did I just read? This book was very dark and had too many plot holes. I liked some of the twists, but I just kept shaking my head, wondering how it made sense.

I have lived everything I e read by this author, but this one fell a little short for me. It was unhinged af, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happed next. BUT it felt like a lot of details were left out. I was kind of confused for the first 25% because I kept thinking I was missing pages bi even went back and re-read pages to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind. I do plan on re-reading the final version just to see if anything is changed, but I don’t see my rating changing unless a lot of story is added.

A.R. Torre’s A Happy Marriage is a brilliantly twisted psychological thriller that keeps you gripped from start to finish. Known for her masterful ability to weave dark, complex narratives, Torre is the undisputed queen of unhinged psychological thrillers—and this novel is a shining testament to that title.

The story follows the seemingly perfect marriage of Joe and Dinah, two individuals whose life together appears idyllic on the surface. But as the narrative unfolds, Torre reveals the haunting truths lurking beneath the glossy exterior. This isn't just a tale about love and betrayal; it's a deep dive into obsession, manipulation, and the fragile nature of trust. As Dinah becomes entangled in a web of lies, deceit, and dangerous secrets, Torre’s ability to make the reader question what is real and what is fabricated is on full display.

What sets Torre apart from other thriller writers is her unapologetic approach to creating characters that are both deeply flawed and utterly fascinating. Joe and Dinah are complicated, unpredictable, and disturbingly human, making their actions all the more chilling. Torre’s characters are never one-dimensional, and she continuously surprises readers with their hidden depths and the shocking twists that emerge as the story progresses.

The pacing of A Happy Marriage is relentless, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Torre’s writing is sharp, evocative, and perfectly suited for this genre, making it impossible to put the book down once you’re invested. She excels at building tension and delivering twists that feel both shocking and inevitable at the same time.

While the story is undeniably gripping, there are moments where the narrative feels slightly dragged out, but these minor pacing issues don't detract from the overall experience. The dark, unsettling atmosphere that Torre creates makes up for any minor hiccups, ensuring that readers remain engrossed in the psychological drama unfolding before them.

In conclusion, A Happy Marriage is a dark, disturbing, and unrelentingly addictive read that showcases A.R. Torre’s skill at crafting complex characters and devious plots. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that push boundaries and dive deep into the darkness of the human mind, this book is for you. Torre is, without a doubt, the queen of unhinged thrillers, and this novel proves just how well she reigns in this genre. Highly recommended.

Dinah Marino is a cop in Los Angeles. Her husband of ten years, Joe, is a psychologist.
Dinah's current case is the death of a terminal ill patient. Mom is dead and the college aged daughter is missing. Or she's the killer. Dinah has to find out. Or not...
And Joe. He's pretty busy with things too. Weird things.
We don't really know what to think of either of the Marinos.
Who is the good and who is the bad guy here? Is there a good guy?
What is happening?

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Phew. What was that?
I don't know how to review this book without spoiling anything, because we kinda know what's what in the very very beginning of it. Well, we don't know anything, but we know things. And it gets worse with every chapter. We have no idea what to think or what to believe or hope. But we so need to know how this will end. I can't think of an ending now that I'm only half through the book. Lol.
If you're looking for a very weird and mysterious and creepy and mentally questionable story - this is so the book for you.
I enjoyed reading it - even though I'm more of a happy end romance fan.
It was really weird and crazy and so many things. I would definitely watch the movie!

Detective Dinah Marino and her husband, psychiatrist Dr. Joe Marino, seem at first to have an odd but successful, loving and "happy" marriage... until the pages continue to turn and the reader learns how twisted these two are though Dinah's investigation of a missing girl.

It's hard not to give spoilers because where the book goes from there gets more and more bizarre and you absolutely have to suspend your disbelief in the final 50 pages or so (not easy for how over the top it gets), but I read it in under two hours, so I must have liked it enough since I couldn't put it down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Expected publication June 24, 2025