The Married Man by K.L. Slater
Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller
Read: 26th January 2025
Published: 1st November 2024
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
He was my husband first. Only I know his secret…
Eleven years ago, my husband had to disappear. He told me about the terrible thing he had done, that would put me and our son in danger. We had no choice but to pretend he was dead.
My heart broke for our little son, who missed his father every day. But when you are married you do what you must to protect the people you love.
Every day was a struggle, but I’ve survived because he promised that he would return to us one day. That we would move to a new town and start all over again. But now, I have made a shocking discovery. My husband has a new wife, and a new perfect life. Without us. This was never part of our plan…
After everything I did for him, he’s betrayed me. And now, I have to stop him before it’s too late. Because what he’s done hasn’t just put me in danger, but also our son. I’ll do anything to protect him.
I don’t know why my husband has thrown away everything we’ve worked for. But his secret is no longer safe with me. And he has absolutely no idea just how far I’ll go to get my revenge…
A completely gripping and addictive thriller from the number 1 ebook bestselling author K.L. Slater, The Married Man will have you glued to the pages until the very last twist. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden.
MY THOUGHTS:
Everyone thinks my husband is dead. Just like we planned...
Nothing like a good solid fast paced read from a go-to author to keep you entertained on a quiet Sunday afternoon. And Kim packs a punch with a few twists thrown in that will make your head spin! Seriously, you will think you have this one figured out but you don't. For once, Ms Slater has hoodwinked me. Nicely played.
The story begins with a slow build that soon picks up pace as things begin to go awry. Eleven years ago, Liv's husband Rich disappeared while out with their three year old son Maddox, having taken him to nearby Frog Hill to fly his recently acquired kite from his birthday. At first Liv isn't concerned. But then when they still haven't returned after several hours, she tries calling but it goes straight to voicemail. She isn't completely surprised as the area has notoriously bad mobile signal. So she decides to head up there and take a look for them herself. But upon pulling into the deserted car park the only thing she could see is Rich's locked Mercedes and a fog rolling in with the coming storm. Returning home, she calls Rich's mum Shannon who tells her not to worry they'll turn up before calling the police to report them missing. After a brief search, Maddox is located hiding in a cave but Rich is never found.
Over a decade later, Liv awaits the day she and Rich planned for almost twelve years ago. A day when hers and Maddox's lives will change for the better. But when that day comes and goes bringing nothing with it, Liv begins to wonder if her husband has double crossed her. She has been going out of her mind with worry and Maddox has suddenly grown sullen, slamming himself out of the house at all hours and not telling her where he's going. And when the police come knocking asking for Maddox, Liv wonders what has her son gotten himself mixed up in?
Maddox has always accepted the story his mother told him of his father's disappearance all those years ago. But more recently, his snooping and a chance encounter leads him to wonder if his mum only been lying to him all these years. What he discovers rocks his world and puts him on a path to something far more dangerous than he could imagine.
Across town Kait, who has been married to Daniel for the past couple of years, is beginning to suspect her husband is cheating on her. Cryptic notes he dismisses with a wave of his hand, late nights out, snippets of a phone call caught on their doorbell camera all lead Kait to suspect Daniel is being less that truthful with her. Possibly cheating. Pregnant with their first child, Kait thinks only of her unborn child when Daniel begins being secretive. Before Daniel threw the cryptic note she found out she snapped a photo of it on her phone. And now she calls on her sister to help her unravel the string of numbers and abbreviated message. And it leads her right to Liv and Maddox. What exactly is Daniel hiding? And why does Liv pale when she saw a photo of him?
The story unfolds in the past and present through the various narratives of Liv, Maddox, Rich, Kait and the return of the Nottinghamshire police in DI Helena Price and her sidekick DS Kane Brewster.
This book is my umpteenth I've read by the author (I've lost count...lol) and it is full to the brim with a vast array of characters that each play a part in the past and present stories. Slater has penned yet another entertaining and intriguing fast paced read that had me devouring every page in one afternoon. So many secrets, lies and deception and many twists to give you whiplash.
A cracking read that was entertaining from beginning to end.
I would like to thank #KLSlater, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMarriedMan in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Kim's first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’, actually started life as a dissertation on her English & Creative Writing degree in 2010. She says "the creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!"
Kim first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. Her award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for her MA in Creative Writing in 2012.
Kim is now a full-time writer. She has a daughter and two stepsons and live with her husband Mac in Nottingham and Yorkshire.
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