A short and engaging thriller that was a fast-paced read and kept my attention, but it needed some special sauce. It had nothing to make it stand out and make me want to recommend it to people. The twists were partially surprising, but not new to the genre. So pretty average in my humble opinion.

The story follows Abby, a woman whose seemingly perfect marriage is disrupted by an ominous letter claiming, “YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR HUSBAND.” This sets off a series of events that forces Abby to question her husband Spencer and his past, including his first wife Shannon, who disappeared seven years earlier.

Unfortunately, the characters in “His First Wife” lack depth and complexity. Abby and Spencer are portrayed in a way that feels somewhat one-dimensional, making it difficult for readers to connect with them on an emotional level. Their motivations and actions often seem driven more by the plot’s need for suspense rather than genuine character development.

Furthermore, the twists and turns in the novel are often hard to believe, straining credibility rather than surprising readers in a satisfying way. The plot relies heavily on convenient coincidences and revelations that feel contrived, which detracts from the overall tension and suspense that a thriller should provide.

While Dane’s writing style is engaging and fast-paced, the narrative’s reliance on implausible plot developments undermines its potential impact. Readers looking for a thriller with well-developed characters and believable plot twists might find “His First Wife” disappointing.

I gave this book the full 5 stars. It was full of mystery, twists, and turns. You must pay attention or you might miss a clue. There were points in the book where I simply knew the second wife was crazy. Or is she?

Abby is happy in her marriage to Spencer, but she is surprised when she hears that his first wife mysteriously disappeared. When she receives a note that says, You don't know your husband", she really takes notice and decides to check him out. If it is a rumor , it won't matter, right? If it is true, is she in danger?
It is set in New York City, near Central Park, the famous green oasis in Manhattan.
The story is full of many surprises and so many twists. You never really know what people are made of, do you?
It thrilled me, made me gasp and forced me to add his other books to my E-reader.
I loved it.
Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book. All reactions and opinions are my own.

His first wife by Jack Dane is a face-paced psychological thriller. Told by 3 points of view it follows it Abby, Shannon and Spencer.

Abby has met the perfect guy and now has the perfect husband, Spencer. Shannon is his first wife, who went missing years ago and has now been declared legally dead.

Murders begin occuring in New York and Abby find out that her perfect husband has not been truthful with her. Could her perfect husband be responsible for the murders?

The last chapter of this book had my head spinning! Just when you thought the book was done and you have read the twist, surprise! This book is great for fans of Frieda McFadden and similar authors.

Special thanks to Jack Dane and xpresso book tours for working with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

#HisFirstWife #NetGalley
Jack Dane delivers a spine-chilling psychological thriller with His First Wife, a suspenseful tale of love, deception, and buried secrets. With an unsettling atmosphere, shocking twists, and an unreliable sense of security, this book keeps readers on edge from start to finish. Abby has the perfect marriage—at least, that’s what she believes. Her husband is handsome, hardworking, and utterly devoted to her. But there’s one shadow looming over their relationship: the whispers about his first wife’s mysterious disappearance. Abby has always brushed off the rumors, trusting the man she married.
That is, until an anonymous letter arrives with a chilling message:
YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR HUSBAND.
Determined to prove the note wrong, Abby starts digging into her husband’s past. But with every new discovery, her confidence in him begins to unravel. Who was his first wife? What really happened to her? And more importantly, is Abby next?
Likes :-
1 Unrelenting Suspense: The novel grips you from the first page, building tension with every new revelation.
2 Creeping Psychological Terror: As Abby’s paranoia grows, the story blurs the line between truth and deception, making readers question everything
Overall :- His First Wife is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the final, jaw-dropping page. If you love dark domestic thrillers with buried secrets and shocking twists, this one is for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Black Alley Press for giving me an advance copy.

This seemed like a pretty short read in what could have had some drawn out segments to just take us deeper into the story.

This book was such a breeze to read. The author's writing style is engaging and fluid, effortlessly drawing you in and keeping you hooked as you anticipate each twist and turn in the plot. Abby is happily married to her dream husband, despite nagging rumors surrounding the mysterious disappearance of his first wife. However, when an unmarked letter reveals unsettling truths about her husband, Abby is forced to confront dark secrets that could threaten her life and their marriage. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would rate it 4 out of 5 stars for its captivating storytelling and well-developed characters. A must-read for anyone looking for a quick, entertaining escape!

What a page turner! I didn't see all of those twists and turns coming at all. I need to read everything by Jack Dane now!

I enjoyed this psychological thriller! My first read from Jack Dane but look forward to reading more.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. His First Wife by Jack Dane is a thrilling and suspenseful story that delves into the complexities of relationships, secrets, and revenge. The plot follows a man who uncovers shocking truths about his first wife, leading to unexpected twists and intense drama. Dane’s writing keeps the reader engaged with a fast-paced narrative and well-developed characters. The suspense builds steadily, making it hard to put the book down. Overall, His First Wife is a gripping psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of twisty, dramatic tales full of surprises.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

His First Wife by Jack Dane is a dark and deeply disturbing psychological thriller that is fast paced and binge worthy. Drawn in from the start, I couldn't stop until I hit the end.

Abby and Spenser are a happily married couple(at least in Abby's mind). When an ominous note is left outside her door, Abby's perfect scenario of her life starts to crumble. Who would leave this warning and what do they know about Spenser that she doesn't. Determined to find out if she had been duped by Spenser from the start, she starts following him. What she discovers leads to more uncertainty, and for the first time she begins to wonder what actually happened to his first wife.

This story is such a deliriously evil psychological thriller, I felt like I was on a roller-coaster ride from start to finish. The ending was so shockingly unexpected my jaw is still on the floor! I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more by Dane.
I highly recommend this book if you love a shocking ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and Back Alley Press for the advanced copy

This book was a page turner I’m grateful I was able to get a free copy and read before its release!! The twist kept twisting I’m so glad that the truth was found out before the new wife got killed the husband was a lie and sneak shady lol but such a great book loved it

Thrillers are my favourite genre and this is a new favourite book! I’ve not read a Jack Dane before but he is definitely a new automatic author. The book is clever, twisty, fantastically written. If you love Freida McFadden and John Marrs, you’ll love Jack!

Such a great book. Couldn't stop reading it. Thank you for my advance reader copy. Can't wait to look up other books from this author.

ARC Review: His First Wife by Jack Dane
I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing "His First Wife" by Jack Dane. Here is how I felt about it.

His First Wife is a rollercoaster of suspense that hooks you from the very first page and refuses to let go. Jack Dane masterfully crafts a psychological thriller that had me questioning every character, every motive, and every seemingly innocent detail.

Abby’s descent from blissful newlywed to someone questioning everything about her “perfect” husband is chilling and all too believable. The anonymous letter is the perfect catalyst for a slow burn of dread that builds with every chapter. I found myself holding my breath as dark secrets unraveled, and just when I thought I had it figured out—bam! Another twist I didn’t see coming.

If you love the unsettling tension of Freida McFadden or the gasp-worthy reveals of Kiersten Modglin, this book will be your next obsession. It’s sharp, fast-paced, and genuinely terrifying in the best way possible. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a thriller that will keep you up way past bedtime!

—ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, smart thriller, which can sometimes be a hard find in a genre that’s been inundated with “churn and burn” stories as of late.

The author Jack Dane has an accessible writing style that kept me interested and flowed naturally for the characters without being simplistic. There also weren’t an endless amount of characters in the story, which was a breath of fresh air for the character list I kept. Between the writing style and relatively small cast of characters, “His First Wife” was a quick but engaging read.

I did not see any of the twists coming, of which there are multiple, and really enjoyed how the book ended. The loose ends were tied up and I didn’t have any lingering questions.

I’m interested to check out any other domestic thrillers Dane writes in the future and hope he enjoyed writing “His First Wide” enough to do another.

This is my second time reading from this author, and while it wasn’t my absolute favorite, they’ve definitely become an instant read for me.

Starting off with the first half of the book

↓

I really couldn’t tolerate reading from Spencer’s point of view. His actions were so frustrating and self-serving that every chapter from his perspective felt unbearable. We get glimpses of his past with his first wife, and some of the things he says raise red flags, bordering on emotional manipulation—maybe even narcissistic, as his psychiatrist suggests. As the story progresses, it becomes clear just how much of a man-child he really is. By the end, I had lost interest in his character, and I wasn’t invested enough to care about his outcome.

As for Abby, in the words of her best friend, "You can't possibly be this dumb." And honestly? She wasn’t exactly proving them wrong. Love really does make you blind, but sometimes you need to take off those rose-colored glasses and see someone for who they truly are—especially when the truth is right under your nose. At least, by the halfway mark, she finally wised up.

The storyline surrounding the first wife’s disappearance had a lot of potential and could’ve been explored more deeply. I was hoping for more details or conversations to really flesh out that part of the mystery.

To be honest, someone was crying in every other chapter—by the end, I was so annoyed, I felt like crying too.

And now the second half and ending

↓
↓

Big oops. Oh well as they say “you never truly know someone.”

Justice for Shannon, she was literally the best and only tolerable character in this book..🥰

I made a joke to myself last night while reading in bed, tossing out a few theories about what the twist might be—only to find out by the end that I was right? So, yay me, I guess? But then, when we get to the very end and the reveal about the first wife’s disappearance, I realize I actually did guess that too, even though I was just throwing out random ideas for fun. Regardless, I still enjoyed how it all played out. It wasn’t exactly a surprise, but the execution kept me hooked.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a fast-paced, popcorn thriller that’s easy to digest as a palate cleanser, give it a go and see what you think.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💌💐

A fantastic thriller book. Truely addictive that keeps you guessing until the end. The different POVs are written in a clear and concise manner.

The twists and turns keep coming and it keeps you guessing right until the end when the biggest twist and turn occurs.