"My Husband the Murderer" by Charlotte Barnes, can be captivated by its intriguing premise, my experience ultimately left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. The story revolves around Maggie, a woman trying to piece her life back together after her estranged husband, Edward O’Connor, a convicted serial killer, reaches out to her from prison. He claims he’s ready to confess to the murders of nine women, but the catch is that he will only speak to her.
The setup hooked me immediately—who wouldn’t want to dive into a psychological thriller that explores the complexities of marriage, trust, and the darker sides of human nature? I found Barnes’s writing to be incredibly immersive. She captured Maggie's inner turmoil and emotional struggles exquisitely, making me feel like I was right there with her, grappling with the weight of her past and the societal pressures of her husband's notorious crimes. The supporting characters were also well-rounded and added depth to the unfolding narrative.
I enjoyed the depth of psychologically exploring Maggie's character and the moral dilemmas she faced. By the book's end, I even found myself feeling a surprising amount of empathy toward Edward—though it was for reasons I won’t spoil. Barnes manages to build a world around Maggie that feels tangible and rich, and I appreciated her ability to articulate Maggie's fears and desires throughout the book.
That being said, I did have a few struggles with the pacing and structure of the story. While I appreciated that the book allowed for character exploration, the slow buildup felt more like a character study than the gripping thriller I was hoping for. I found myself longing for moments that would elicit gasps or surprise. The twist that eventually came was so subtly woven into the narrative that I nearly missed it, which could be a plus for some—but for me, it felt predictable and lacked the punch I was hoping it would have.
As for the tense exchanges between Maggie and Edward, I wished they had pushed their psychological game a bit further. There were very few moments that showcased his manipulative side, which would have added layers to the story. I was left wanting more tension during their visits and felt that the potential for some mind games was not fully explored.
In conclusion, "My Husband the Murderer" raised interesting questions about morality, trust, and the complexity of knowing someone while providing a sympathetic view of its protagonist. However, I found myself wanting a bit more thrill and more dynamic conversations to drive the story. If you enjoy character-driven narratives that poke at the edges of psychological drama, you might find this book appealing. But if you’re seeking a tension-filled thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this might not be your best pick. Overall, it’s a solid read, but I had hoped for something more gripping.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Good storyline wasn’t predictable and left me wanting to find out what happened. Also a storyline I hadn’t really heard of before which is good as some stories can end up sounding similar to others. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I was SO excited for this book - the premise was really captivating. Unfortunately the pace felt off - it dragged. I still enjoyed it, but doesn’t hit top tier read for me.

I could tell there was a lot of thought, research and preparation involved in this book. I do not necessarily think I am the target audience but I could totally understand the idea and potential within this book. It was not at all what I was expecting but I was very intrigued. There was so much emotion in the authors words. She carefully and deliberately wrote such intense feelings delicately. I felt for Maggie and could even relate to her story. I was hooked and could not put it down. I wanted to know what would happen next. I would definitely read more from this author.

I was very excited for this book and I was not at all disappointed.

To keep it short and sweet and of course spoiler free I just want to say how much the author put time and thought into the well written story and how hooked I was from start to finish. The cover is absolutely beautiful and I would recommend anyone to give this book a go.

I thought this was a very well written book. I had never read this author before, but I was immediately drawn in by the blurb on the book. I really felt for Maggie and her boys and what they've gone through because of her husband.

Completely heartbreaking and entirely thought provoking. With careful attention to detail a picture is painted of what is left of a person decades after their world has been shattered and oh how I wished Maggie was stood in front of me so I could give her a hug (and a bit of a shake). Every step of this journey felt real and raw and developed in such a natural way that I could believe every new piece of information presented and I was as torn and shocked as Maggie at the point of the shocking twist.

I definitely went into this book with a preconceived idea of what would happen in the course of events but very little proceeded as I expected. Where I thought the focus would be more based on Edward and the police investigation or even the victims I was very pleasantly surprised to find that instead whilst that was happening in the periphery instead the focus is Maggie.

I enjoyed this book and couldn't bear to put it down once I was a few chapters in because I needed to know what was coming (and the sheer will power it took to not turn to the end for a sneak peek was more than I knew I had!). Definitely worth a read just be prepared that your heart may break along the way.

I read this ARC through NetGalley

Quite a sad tale really and not the thriller ias expecting. An interesting character study though and a totally ( in my experience) plot which held my interest.

I'd like to thank Charlotte Barnes, Net Galley and Bloodhound Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Husband the Murderer follows our main character Maggie, which is not her real name, a 60-something mother of two who works from home and has moved several times after the arrest of her husband after he turned out to be a serial killer.

Her ex-husband Edward O'Connor, in prison for the murder of 9 women, 1 never found, was diagnosed with cancer and has six months left to live. He decides he wants to confess to everything, more than he has before, but he'll only talk to Maggie.

This book had so much depth to it, I really felt for Maggie throughout this entire book, being a lonely older woman with little family left being put in an impossible situation trying to finally get closure for the families of women Edward killed. That being said the plot is very slow moving, but the book is fast paced. It's easy to fly through the book even if nothing significant happens because the chapters are so short. It's not the most thrilling book I've ever read but it definitely has a lot of heart and I think lovers of crime thrillers who need a change of pace every once in awhile would really love this book.

Trigger Warnings I Gathered: grief, disordered eating, depression, abandonment, vomit, murder, cancer, animal death, death of parent, mentions dementia

This was a really intriguing and tense read with a great premise. The characters were charming and relatable and the ending was satisfying.

Rollercoaster..
Convicted, imprisoned killer on his deathbed is ready to confess to further suspected crimes - but, his proviso is that he will only do so to his estranged wife, Maggie. Is she, or will she ever be, ready for this? Pacy, disturbing and edgy and an often emotional read. Do you, or will you ever, really know the person you married? Emotional rollercoaster.

Everything about this book had me intrigued, from the cover, to the title, to the plot itself! Im in!

Not the usual whodunnit, it follows a different path where we follow Maggie, who's husband got a murdery during their marriage and her recent visits to him to uncover the truth.

I found the book to be really nicely written and very easy to read, the author goes into a wonderful depth which made me feel like I was in Maggie's head, I felt what she felt and all of the emotions with her. Other character were built up nicely and played an integral part in further creating the world around Maggie. I even kinda liked Edward towards the end for... Well for just one reason... You'll get it.

The story itself is easy to follow, I didn't see the twist coming whatsoever, it was so subtly slipped in that I nearly missed it. I would say that I would have liked a bit more action, something that made me go "ooooh whaaaaat theee fffffuuuh" but there were none, the murders were only mentioned as that, no other details really, but that's not what the book was about I guess, that's me being picky now. I think Edward could have played more mind games? We didn't really get much of a conversation between them on the visits, although it was enough to get the jist of the story.

All in all a read that felt smooth and soft... Does that make sense?

Thanks to NetGalley, BloodhoundBooks and the author Charlotte Barnes for the ARC copy.

I really did enjoy this book and thought the ending was well done. Although predictable it did keep my interest once I got to the middle but the first half dragged and I did find myself skimming some parts just to get to the prison scenes.

Good concept though and I really enjoyed it.

This book has such a fascinating synopsis and through it's sedate narrative it lived up to all my hopes for a gripping story.
As the book starts we are flooded with all the information we need to understand the rest of the book, about who Maggie is, what Edward did, their sons and those involved in the investigation. Then the pacing slows to a more realistic pace and we live by Maggie's side as she tries to decide what is best for her, her family and the families of Edward's victims!
How far should you push yourself in a quest for the truth when you feel so much misplaced guilt! Obviously Maggie is not responsible for Edward's crimes and yet she feels like with his current demand that she should submit to him and find the truth for those left behind by his actions. Wouldn't most of us feel the same in her situation?
This was a very interesting look at how one person's crimes and desires affect those left behind after and being a pretty gripping thriller, especially in the latter sections, how far would you go to find and reveal the truth?
I really enjoyed this story, the characters were understandable and quite relatable. The story became more gripping the more that was revealed and the ending, well, I'll just say it was satisfying and leave that there!

My Husband the Murderer

The premise of this book is intriguing: Maggie, our main character, faces a tough decision when her ex-husband, Edward—jailed for nine murders—offers to reveal the truth about a missing body and other unsolved cases, but only if she agrees to visit him in prison. For Maggie, who has worked hard to rebuild her life for herself and her two children, this is a haunting proposition.

Unfortunately, the story didn’t live up to its potential for me. Much of the story dragged at a sluggish pace, making it feel less like a thriller and more like a slow character study. When the twist finally arrived, it felt predictable and hackneyed. I kept hoping the book would wrap up with her final visit to Edward, but instead, it stretched on for several more chapters, diluting the impact of the ending.

I was drawn in by the unique concept, but ultimately, this one felt more stale than suspenseful.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such an intense read that kept me hooked all the way through, the twists and pace were well done.

My Husband, the Murderer by Charlotte Barnes offers a unique premise that combines psychological tension with a moral dilemma, but ultimately, the execution left me wanting more. The story centers around Maggie, whose life has been turned upside down by the shocking revelation that her ex-husband, Edward O'Connor, is in jail for the brutal murders of nine people throughout their marriage. Though Maggie has distanced herself from him and the life they once shared, she is soon forced back into his world when Edward, from prison, offers crucial information about an undiscovered body and unsolved murders in exchange for sharing the details only with her.

The concept is compelling: Maggie must decide whether to give up her quiet life and expose further truths, potentially offering closure to other victims' families, or keep her distance from her ex-husband. The stakes are high, and the tension of Maggie’s internal conflict could have created a gripping narrative. Unfortunately, the pacing in the first third of the book felt far too slow. Maggie’s drawn-out decision-making process about whether to cooperate with the police, while understandable in terms of emotional weight, ultimately became repetitive and detracted from the suspense.

The book sets up what could have been an intense, high-stakes thriller, but the twist near the end didn’t pack the punch I was expecting. While the psychological drama between Maggie and Edward is intriguing, the revelation itself didn’t feel as shocking or impactful as the buildup suggested it would be. The book’s slower pacing and lack of a truly mind-bending twist left it feeling more like a drama about personal responsibility than the fast-paced thriller I had hoped for.

Overall, My Husband, the Murderer explores some interesting moral questions, and Maggie is a sympathetic, complex character. However, the book didn’t quite deliver the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat experience I was anticipating. If you’re looking for a taut, twist-heavy thriller, you might find this one falls a bit flat.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars.

I found the blurb of this story fascinating. Maggie, a mother of two is a successful chef. She then gets a call that her ex-husband, a serial killer, has requested to meet her.

These meetings take a toll on Maggie as it starts affecting her relationship with her sons and also her own health. Somehow I built these conversations up in my head because I don't think that their interactions were particularly stimulating. The husband gave up a whole lot of information quite easily.

The author does throw you for a loop with a surprise reveal, and I found that conversation the best in the book. I think could have been a bit quicker. The long internal monologues went in circles and you for being this long, no character stands out. We also don't get any information on the husband beside him being a serial killer.

All in all, this was a decent one time read. I am still unsure if I liked the curve ball at the end.

I thank NetGalley and Bloodhound books for this E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was amazing! Do you really know who you’ve married? Do you really know the father of your children? Scary questions to ask yourself. I ate this up!!! Such a good story.

Source: Netgalley for an honest review

I was really intrigued by this book. A seemingly ordinary woman with so much on her shoulders. I related to her in a way as I could imagine I would be similar to her in lots of ways. I really liked this book.