Oh my goodness what an absolutely brilliant read this was. From the first page this book took a tight hold of me and I felt I was holding my breath a lot as I turned the pages. There were times I didn’t want to turn the page for fear of what I was going to discover next. This book is one of those you will not want to put down. A completely tense and gripping psychological suspense thriller.

Wow! This is such a great book! I was very intrigued by the description but I feel that doesn’t even do it justice. I assumed it would be a run of the mill thriller, where a woman marries her sons killer to ruin him, but he doesn’t know who she is. Nope, they know each other, they both know who they’re marrying. So that’s such a crazy twist. The book is written from several viewpoints & times. It’s super fast paced & you can easily tear through the chapters, they’re the perfect length. I couldn’t figure out exactly what was going on & it was driving me crazy but in a good way. Definitely a fun, twisty novel, I highly recommend.

Captivating read! This one sucked me in and I was hooked! This was a tense wild story! With characters who will suck you in and mess with your mind!
I was in awe with the writing I enjoyed how committed I was and I didn't want this book to end!

This was quite a shocking book to read. I felt that the twists were not as fast-paced as I would like, but they were sufficient enough to keep me engaged. throughout the story.

Surprises galore in this unputdownable book! Thomas Billingshurst and Jesse Wilson grow up as best friends from the time they were toddlers. One night when they are out drinking, they get into an argument, Jesse pulls a knife and Tom punches him. Jesse falls and hits his head on the cement and dies. Tom is an amature boxer so he is sent to prison for 10 years. Jesse's mother, Bridget Wilson, takes part in a prison program of forgiveness and connects with Tom. They subsequently fall in love and get married in prison just before his release. This story is told in a nonlinear format with multiple narrators and it is an outstanding read that I just could not put down. If you are looking for a real thriller with lots of twists and surprises, you will not be disappointed in this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this fantastic book which is one of my favorite reads so far this year.

What first pulled me in on this one was not only was it written by K L Slater but look at the first blurb line.

She married the killer, the killer of her son.

Totally enthusiastic to get to this one.
So many questions running around in my head.

Was I disappointed?
No
Not at all did this book release me to go off doing something else or thinking of something else, the words on the pages just kept on delivering and I was totally lost in it.

It’s a 5* for me as just lately with so much going on in my life this took my thoughts from it, it delivered just what I needed.

A great storyline that hooked me.
Fast enough pace so it didn’t lag.

Characters that were totally and utterly believable.

Ten years ago my darling son Jesse was murdered and our perfect family was destroyed. My strong, handsome boy, so full of life, became a memory, a photo I carried with me everywhere. But today I’m finally close to finding happiness again. My ash-blonde hair has been curled into ringlets. Carefully placed white flowers frame my delicate features. The small, drab chapel has been prettied up with white satin, and there are tiny red hearts scattered on the small table where I will soon sign the register with my new husband. My friends and family can’t understand it. My neighbours whisper in the street whenever I walk past. How can I love a man like Tom?

This is a good read and one that provides a lot of twists and turns along the way. From the premise alone I was hooked, it sounds so twisted and dark, I knew I was going to be gripped and I really was. Slater builds this extremely taut atmosphere, I never really knew anyone's motives or intentions until the very end, this kept me turning the page and guessing what was going to happen next. If anything, the book has a bit too much going on and could possible have lost a bit here and there to really fine tune it but this is an intense, thrilling read.

Slater writes this from multiple character perspective which really enable me to get to know them and get an understanding of who they are. Although, referring to my earlier point, we do not really know the truth until near the end. I thoroughly enjoy multiple character perspectives in books but again, Slater includes too many different characters in my opinion. Some of them could have been taken away and I do not think the book would have suffered. Still it always great to read a book set out like this. Bridget and Tom are two very interesting characters, I was fascinated by their story and kept second guessing everything they said or did, they kept me hooked and you will enjoy discovering their truth as well.

'The Marriage' is an electric, page-turning read that will keep you guessing until the end. Speaking of the end, I did think the ending for this book was rushed and more time could have been spent on it. This aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this read that was packed with twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy.

Yet another brilliant book by this oh so talented author. I was really involved in finding out how this book would end; the story was enthralling and compelling. Great plot and believable characters.

Hands down one of the best books I have read this year. I am floored, rendered speechless. I totally underestimated just how much I would love this book. Yes, it was that good. Just read it!

The Marriage by K.L. Slater (out May 20)
4/10, 2 stars

Synopsis: 10 years ago Tom Billinghurst and best friend Jesse Wilson had an altercation outside the night club that resulted in one fatal punch to Jesse that ended his life. After a 10-year prison sentence, Tom walks free... hand in hand with his new wife Bridget Wilson, the mother of his late best friend and victim from 10 years prior.

For me, this one fell flat. I was really intrigued by the plot when I first started reading, but I felt that Slater tried really hard to make this psychological thriller have a happy ending. The bad guy got put away and all the good guys lived happily ever after. The plot didn't hook me as much as it did before I started reading, and the writing style wasn't for me either. The constant shifting of POVs when it suited the plot as well as the changing of time periods felt too convenient. Additionally, I had higher expectations for the ending and the plot twist, and again, it fell flat for me.

First of all thank you so much to Netgalley for my advanced copy of The Marriage in exchange for an honest review. I must say, this book is so unlike any other that I’ve ever read! A woman’s son is murdered, years later she marries the man responsible. Bizarre to say the least, am I right? You just know it’s gonna be interesting from the plot. I found it hard to put down because I needed answers, and the ending did not disappoint! Definitely read this book if you’re looking for a unique thriller.

I couldn't put this one down! I don't know where to begin with this thriller thrill ride. Twists and turns, surprises to keep you on the edge of your seat. K.L. Slater knows how to keep readers engaged and guessing,

Imagine a situation where a mother marries her son's murderer - bizarre, right? So, is it true love or is there a hidden agenda?

Bridget Wilson and Jill Billinghurst's friendship comes to a screeching halt when Jesse, Bridget's son is killed in a freak accident and Tom, Jill's son is convicted to ten years in prison for his death. In the ensuing ten years, Bridget has risen from the ranks of a lowly cleaning lady, working three jobs to keep a roof over her head, to a spokeswoman for young men from the working class who died in tragic circumstances. Meanwhile, Jill has dwindled to a shell of her former self, grieving for her imprisoned son, counting down the days till his release and carefully planning for his life after. Little does she expect the bomb that Tom and Bridget drop on her that will have a monumental impact on all their lives. But even as Jill grapples with this news, she suspects Bridget's motive and fears for her son's life.

To say that the blurb was quite scandalous is an understatement. The author maintains a tense narrative right from the start, making the novel hard to put down. While I sympathised with both mothers, I really did not like them - Jill was a helicopter parent who controlled every single aspect of her son's life, while in direct contrast, Bridget was a free spirit who failed to teach her son about responsibilities and consequences. But there is no doubt that both women loved their sons. There were way too many POVs but I did enjoy the plot twist at the end.

Overall, an intense and enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll start by saying I really enjoyed this book. It kept me wanting to read more. I often found it hard to put down! It had good character development and was well written. I enjoy when the chapters are broken down my character point of view.

Although I did not foresee how the book would end, I found myself wanting more. I wanted more twists and shocks. One of the plots that Jill , Tom’s mom, brings up would have been great. I won’t say for the sake of not spoiling the book.

Overall, the book was interesting even if the ending fell short for me. I will read more books from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great description: Ten years ago he killed my son. Today I married him.

Jesse and Tom were BFF growing up as were their moms, Bridget and Jill. Tom and Jesse get into a fight and Tom accidentally kills Jesse. After 10 years in jail, Tom ends up marrying Bridget and comes home. Told in multiple points of view with flashbacks to when the families first met and the boys growing up together. There were several twists and turns from how I thought the book was going to end up. Like watching a sitcom, if only people were honest with each other, life would be simpler.

3.8 stars

I was totally intrigued by the punchline but for me this was a slow burner, within 10%.you knew the plot so was wondering where will this lead to.
It kind of dipped from there on and picked up brilliantly around 50%.

I really didn't know what way this was going to go and I really enjoyed the second half of the story.

An enjoyable read but not one of my favourites from this author.

I like books that trigger an internal question within me, "would I be able to marry the person that kill my son?" that was what hook me in at the beginning. However, every main character in this book had a juicy secret and I kept going back and forth trying to figure it out! I have to admit I did not foresee that ending at all!! I really enjoyed it....and the 2 months later/the guest chapter just cracked me up!

Thank you NetGalley, KL Slater and Bookoutour for this ARC, I really enjoyed reading it!

My first KL Slater book so huge thank you to NetGalley for introducing me!

Bridget lost her only son ten years ago when his best friend Tom punched him once outside a nightclub, killing him with one blow. Now ten years later, Bridget ha her life back in track with her charity, new house and new husband....Tom, the man who has just served ten years in prison for killing Jesse...her only child.

This book had me gripped. I really enjoyed how the characters were fleshed out within the storylines and how the author brought them to life so vividly. I would highly recommend this book and am off
To find more form the author!

The Marriage by KL Slater
I give this book 4 stars

Ten years ago he killed my son. Today I married him.
Ten years ago my son Jesse was murdered and our perfect family was destroyed.
No one can understand it. How can I love a man like Tom?
But they don’t really know me at all…

A story with a theme that immediately intrigued me,once l got into the book l didn’t want to put it down. Set in Nottinghamshire with a believable cast of characters who each tell you their side of a past event intertwined with present day. A well written,twisty read.
With thanks to Netgalley,KL Slater and Bookouture for my chance to read and review this book.

“Ten years ago he killed my son. Today I married him.”

The tagline piqued my curiosity! Was it revenge? What kind of person marries a killer? The book exceeded my expectations.

Two boys and their mothers are friends from play school and grow up loving to be in each other’s home. One night the boys are kicked out of a bar, start to argue, and it results in one of them dead and the other serving a 10-year prison sentence. The accused and the mother of the victim meet through a restorative justice program and 6 months prior to his release, they are secretly married.

This compulsive read kept me guessing. The author, like a juggler, was spinning so many plates that I felt unsure which one was going to come crashing down. It kept me absorbed in the story. I read every line because I didn’t want to miss any clues. In the end, the author surprised me. I can only imagine what K.L.Slater’s plot board must have looked like to be able to pull this off! Congratulations are in order; this is a twisty thriller.

You’ll have to read to discover if they’ve married for love or if there’s another motive!

Publishes May 20, 2021

I was gifted this advance copy by K.L.Slater, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.