It’s Always the Husband
by C.L. Taylor

This was a quick paced thriller packed with lies and betrayal that I absolutely devoured! C. L. Taylor never disappoints. The ending left me SHOCKED!

C. L Taylor never misses with her books and this one is incredible. I actually think she gets better and better with every book.

C L Taylor rips out another book that I found impossible to put down. The plot, the characters, the whole book absolutely far we expect from this author. Superb!!

This book…… amazing! Such a great mystery and story all the way through. Loved all the characters and the many different little mysteries that were included. I haven’t read much in the last few months but this book has changed that! Can’t wait for the next one by this author!

I didn’t realize how much I’d enjoy a story set in such a small place. Everyone knows everyone, but that just made it feel even more tense. Like every smile was covering something else. It had that kind of pressure that doesn’t come from explosions or action, but from knowing something is off—you just don’t know what yet.

There were so many moments that caught me off guard. Just when I thought I figured out what was really happening, something small would change, and suddenly everything felt different. It kept me paying attention, not in a confusing way, but in a way that made me want to keep going just to find out who was lying—or if anyone was telling the truth at all.

The short chapters made it easy to stay with the story. I’d finish one, say I was done for the night, and then start another without meaning to. It had this rhythm that made it hard to stop, even when I should have been doing something else.

It’s not loud or flashy, but that’s what made it work for me. The tension built up without needing to shout about it. It just sat there, waiting, while things slowly got stranger. I liked that a lot.

Sorry to say but it's the first time I didn't finish a CL Taylor book. ‘The Strangers’ is my favourite of hers.
I like her writing, and even in this book, I kept going until the 19th chapter only because of her engaging writing style. But it’s supposed to be a thriller and nothing significant happens up to that point. Also there are too many characters, each one has something to say. The story is told from four points of view, but unfortunately none of them reveals anything that keeps you hooked or intrigued. It feels like they are all telling their own personal stories.

Sad I didn't want to know what was going to happen; disappointed that it didn't work for me.

I found this book to be very confusing because of all the different characters as well as unrealistic. None of the twists took me by surprise and I wanted more from this thriller.

Maybe because this one just took me a while to read I didn't really know who was who, but it felt like all the characters were the same so I didn't really have an idea of who the killer would be. It wasn't bad, just isn't going to be memorable.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Unfortunately this one didn’t grip me as much as the authors previous books have.
Whilst I still enjoyed it and it was a fun thriller to read, I felt that I didn’t warm to any of the characters and it made me really not care about any of them. I am not a mum so I dojt understand the whole school pick up clique and maybe this is what made me not rate it as high. But the women were so bitchy and fake and I just didn’t like them.
I really enjoy short chapters and the dual narrative. It is still a book I would recommend, but I would recommend others by this author before this one.

Lots of characters made this quite confusing in places but a good story and well worth a read.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest review

‘computer says no!’ I really enjoyed this book, and on more than one occasion, it made me laugh out loud, which as a domestic thriller, was a great surprise. Working through the common hellscape that is the school pick up, the author weaves a relatable story about life as a mom and the social awkwardness that follows some of us into adulthood. A tail is woven, and there are twists and turns a plenty, which really kept me engaged and excited to keep reading the book. I read this is one sitting! The book is well written, and a wonderful addition to the genre. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

I love anything CL Taylor writes, and this one was no exception! Reminiscent of school yard drama in Big Little Lies, this story is told from multiple viewpoints about a group of women who have a loaded past. Murder, mystery, and secrets abound in this book, and I couldn’t put it down! 4/5 stars.

4⭐️
(ARC review) — Thank you to author C.L. Taylor, her publisher Avon. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the June 2025 release of IT’S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND in exchange for my honest review.

Solid thriller! Lots of tension. It’s faced-paced. Addictive read. Drama. Blackmail. Gossip. These women are crazy, clever and unpredictable.

This town is drama central. Brings participating in a PTA to a whole different level. Filled with liars, cheats and all sorts of scandal. Small town feel so while it’s dark at times it’s still a fun read.

This is my first book by this author but I thought it was twisty, entertaining and had that wild factor. It will keep you entertained. Enjoyed this one!!

This was a twisty, suspenseful thriller set in a small town and based around the parents at the local primary school. Everyone knows everything about each other and rumours and secrets are rife.

The story jumps between characters, which keeps things interesting (though a bit confusing at times) but the short chapters and constant suspense make it easy to get through.

A solid domestic thriller with all the classic Taylor goodness!

Another masterpiece from C L Taylor! A superbly dark and twisty thriller with brilliant characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!
Huge thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my arc

I've read all books to date by this author and once again I wasn't let down.

C l Taylor has a gift for weaving a web of deceit so in the end up you don't know who to trust at all!

I read this in two days and barely had it out of my hands! I fear I was not a good holiday companion on these two days whilst I was engrossed!

Another winner and recommended by me as always!

Jude has moved to a new town with her daughter Millie. At the school gate she meets Will. A father to a girl in Millie’s class. They become friends but the school Mums are very quick to discuss the drama surrounding Jude. Will’s first wife is dead and his girlfriend Robyn is missing. All fingers are pointing at Will but Jude wants to find out the truth, not believing Will could be a bad person.

If you know me well you would know I absolutely love short chapters and this book definitely delivered. I found this fast paced and intrigued with the mystery resolving Robyn. Is she alive and is she the one blackmailing everyone? Full of secrets, shady characters, gossip and drama. Another great book by C.L Taylor.

Thank you Avon Books UK and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this book for my honest book review.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I loved the premise and enjoyed the plot, but so many unlikeable characters I couldn't keep up the storylines of them all and their context within the book. I very nearly DNF it but kept going to the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I have read a number of C.L. Taylor's books and have enjoyed 99.9% of them and this is one to add to that number.

I quickly became invested in the lives of the school-run parents and the mystery of various events surrounding them including blackmail, infidelity and possible murder. It's a complex but riveting story told at a steady pace using short chapters told from multiple points of view and whilst this could be confusing, I didn't find it to be so and was able to follow things with ease.

With great characters and an intriguing plot, I enjoyed this one and many thanks to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

This was a lovely fast paced read that made sitting in the garden reading such a pleasure. The characters were excellent, some lovable some certainly not nice. This describes so well the parents who meet each other every day at the school gates when they deliver their children. The whole book describes the small minded people who tend to live in little villages and need to know everything that is going on. Although there was lots of drama, twists, turns and false leads, I did ntr think that this was really a thriller but more an excellent mystery.This was a fully engaging read that kept me uessing right until the end.