Leah is getting married to her fiancé Matt at his family’s summer home. She is a little leery of getting married there as her first husband, Callum, went missing there years before. Matt, Leah and Callum were all friends and after Callum’s disappearance and him having been declared dead, she fell in love with Matt. They have a three year old son together and are happy to be moving to the next step in their relationship.

Now it’s the weekend of her wedding and as she is celebrating with close friends and family, a note is slipped under the door, a note that looks like it is in Callum’s writing; but how could it be, it must be a cruel joke. As things start to get even more creepy, Leah starts to wonder if Callum really is dead or is planning to show up to her wedding.

This book was interesting right at the beginning, but part way through the story started to drag and not make sense. Overall, it kind of came together but I feel there were some answers that weren’t really addressed. It was an okay read.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read to an ARC of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Leah's first husband Callum disappeared 8 years ago and he has just been declared officially dead. This allows her to move on and marry new love Matt. But the imminent wedding is threatened by a series of unpleasant events and notes...
The First Husband is a psychological thriller set in th UK. The plot is delivered from two timelines: the countdown to the wedding in the present day, and the lead up to Callum's disappearance 8 years ago.
Leah is finally ready to put the past behind her even though she is haunted by not knowing what really happened to her first husband. Callum vanished during a weekend away with friends and family for Leah's birthday. He is not a nice guy and it must have been a relief when he went!
The past timeline reveals mysteries that could explain Callum's disappearance and now the wedding is being held at the same location (why would she agree to this?!) Leah fears that Callum didn't die as everyone believed and is intent on stopping the wedding.
I enjoyed the mystery and revelation of secrets although I would have preferred a quicker pace. Leah's situation does elicit sympathy but I wished she had more gumption to tackle the situations in the past and present. I felt that the ending was quite abrupt and didn't offer as much explanation as I'd anticipated so I was left with some questions.
The First Husband is an enjoyable psychological thriller with a well sustained mystery.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




✨ domestic thriller, a continues loop hole vibe,

✨ narration was great and keeps me gripped while cleaning🤣
✨ a family on holiday, everything was great when a ex husband started to appear in no where when he was supposed to be dead.
Then the next day, is it really happened? Or just a dream?


✨ this story for me is quite different, I thought it will be a similar stories for domestic thrillers but no.
It has kind of headache or mind blowing plot as it felt like it’s on a loophole. If the main character was just dreaming it all or it really is happening.
Must read!!!



✨ Thankyou @bookouture for the opportunity to read this arc for a honest review.




❤️shaye.reads

I loved this book! She thought her first husband was dead, she’s moved on with her life and is remarrying (at the house he disappeared from), what could possibly go wrong. I loved how it went between two timelines, present and day he disappeared. This book totally grabbed my attention and it never waned. Read it!

This book had me from the get-go. “Nobody’s husband is perfect.” It is such a poignant statement! Very true but thank goodness my hubby isn’t that far off from perfect! Hee, hee I loved the character development Elizabeth Carpenter develop and brought to life in her new book - The First Husband. The characters were relatable and I could feel all of the emotions they were feeling as I read the book. I couldn’t put the book down because of the well-written story. An easy recommendation from me to you…you will love this new thriller!

3.5 ⭐️

This was quite a thrilling read. It’s been a minute since a stories has had me on the edge of my seat. I loved this plot was actually a surprise.
This was the first time I wasn’t trying to guess the plot. I just really enjoyed it. I haven’t read anything by this author before. I’m definitely going to check out her other books.


My only feedback would be that the writing didn’t flow organically at times. Mainly at the beginning. It was very written out.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

Elisabeth Carpenter’s The First Husband is a psychological thriller that grabs your attention from the very first page and doesn't let go. This gripping, fast-paced novel is packed with twists and turns, offering readers a thrilling journey through complex relationships, secrets, and unexpected betrayals. Carpenter masterfully builds suspense, keeping readers on edge as the plot unfolds.

The story centers around the protagonist, a woman whose life begins to unravel when she reconnects with her ex-husband, years after their marriage ended. What seems like an innocent reunion quickly spirals into a chilling exploration of obsession, guilt, and the dark side of love. Carpenter does an excellent job of developing the main characters, giving them depth and complexity. The protagonist's internal struggles and the complicated dynamic between her and her ex-husband make for a compelling, emotional read.

One of the novel’s strengths is its pacing. Carpenter skillfully keeps the tension high throughout, never allowing the story to lag. The alternating perspectives and gradual reveals help keep the plot unpredictable, with new information coming to light at just the right moments. The twists, though at times a bit expected for thriller enthusiasts, are still effective and keep you questioning everyone’s motivations.

The emotional depth of the novel is another standout feature. As the characters are forced to confront their past decisions, the novel delves into themes of guilt, self-revelation, and the complexity of human relationships. While the emotional and psychological aspects of the story are well-handled, some readers may find the central conflict slightly familiar or formulaic, especially within the psychological thriller genre.

Despite this, The First Husband is a thoroughly enjoyable and gripping read. Carpenter’s writing is sharp, and her ability to weave suspense into the emotional arcs of the characters elevates the story. The novel delivers a satisfying, if slightly predictable, conclusion that ties up the story’s loose ends.

In conclusion, The First Husband is a fast-paced, psychological page-turner that will keep readers hooked. While the plot may follow familiar territory for thriller lovers, the engaging characters, tense atmosphere, and well-executed twists make this novel a captivating read. Fans of psychological suspense will find plenty to enjoy here.

Quite a slow start told between the then and now. Lots of twists to keep the reader interested. A book well worth reading
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I enjoyed this book which was told over several time frames so flicked between present and some years before. Each one revealed trickles of information at a time. So the book was compelling to keep reading to see what happened.
Interesting characters but a couple I intensely disliked which I think was the point. No real clues although I had my thoughts whilst reading. No spoilers here though.
This was my first book written by this author and I will read more from her.
4 stars

The first husband by Elizabeth Carpenter and Elizabeth Bowen is a slow-burn of a thriller. There are two alternating timelines, both leading up to a wedding in the same location. The first marriage, to Callum ended with him going missing and presumed dead. After waiting the required amount of years for him to be officially called dead , a second wedding takes place to Matt, a former friend to Callum and it takes place in the exact spot that Callum went missing all those years ago.

The book's alternating timelines and multiple characters take a bit to keep straight, but the last 50 pages are so intense! This book is great for fans of Sheri Lapena, but like more of a backstory for the characters.

Thank you to Elizabeth Carpenter, Elizabeth Bowen and Bookouture for working with NetGalley. I received this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I definitely enjoyed the writing style and I overall enjoyed this book. The ending was a bit disappointing. I would have preferred that the reveal of the writer of the notes was more detailed and didn’t end so quick.

I have never come across this author before, even though 'The First Husband' is her eighth psychological thriller.

The main protagonists are Leah and Matt who are about to get married. The novel tells the story of the few days leading up to this event, in the present day sections. We are also taken back to the time eight years ago when Leah's first husband disappeared. The suspense builds because just before the wedding takes place strange things start to happen.

A very quick and agreeable read but not particularly stimulating. As a fan of psychological thrillers I personally found it lacked depth, but is probably a good introduction to newcomers to the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

This author seems to be a hit or miss with me. Unfortunately this one was a miss. It was far too slow , and I didnt enjoy the ending. At times I found it to be repetitive.

Lots of twists and turns with this story and I loved every second of this story. What a thrill ride for sure. A definite recommend

Thanks publisher and netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The First Husband is a slow burn melodrama with an unfortunate saggy middle and a somewhat disappointing ending.
Callum, Leah first husband has disappeared many years ago and has now been declared officially dead.
Leah and Matt are travelling to his parent’s cottage with their three year old son, Noah.
Where they will be finally married after the tragic past.
While celebrating with her brother, his girlfriend and her father a note appears at the door.
The note is from Callum…… hasn’t he just be announced deceased??
The premise came across interesting but the plot was jagged and the flashbacks had a lot of unnecessary words and repetition.
There’s a few loose storylines that don’t make sense and are, or not explained properly or totally irrelevant.
Good luck to those who choose to read and I hope you enjoy it more than I did.

The plot had me intrigued and only a few chapters in I was hooked. Pace was fast, pages kept turning, and it became such a great book to binge.

Dual timelines allowed me to build up a picture of the events leading up to and after Callum's disappearance. I had theories, did a bit of finger pointing, but each twist made me rethink.

Suspense and tension had me hanging off the edge of my seat, and when that ending hit I had to scrape my jaw off the floor.

Leah and Matt along with their 3-year-old son, Noah are heading to his parents’ vacation place, Lakeside Cottage. There, they will finally be married. Leah and Matt have been friends for many years when they first met in college. Leah eventually married his friend, Callum. But he disappeared 8 years ago when they were celebrating Leah’s birthday and it’s believed that he drowned in the lake at the vacation home. However, his body was never found and he was eventually declared dead.

The couple will meet up with Leah’s brother, Jake and his wife Katherine. In addition, Leah’s father will be there along with Matt’s parents.

When they get there, the friends start drinking. But a card is found outside the door and it’s signed from Callum saying he will them at the wedding. What is happening? Could he be alive?

This book was a headache. It’s tedious and repetitious. I was wondering how much of what was happening was due to the copious amount of alcohol being consumed by the characters. I stuck with it though hoping I would prove myself wrong and find that the story had some redeeming features. I’m sorry but this was rather a mess all the way through.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I gave this book 4 stars. I enjoyed reading it. The main character is fixing to remarry after the death of her first husband. Before she does she receives a letter from her " dead" husband. He disappered and was declared dead. However now it is obvious he is not and she must figure out what he wants and if her friends and family are in on whatever is going on.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the chance to read this book!

Wow ok Lot to unpack in this book, but it's a good one. I ended up liking it. The story time lines go back and forth and get a bit confusing at times, Just because there is a couple people missing from one so it's a little hard to keep remembering who is in this one and not in the next. But overall pretty decent once you get through it. There were a few things left unexplained yes, but I'm not one that has to have a bow on things at the end, when it's over it's over so... But i was expecting to find out if a certain someone would get punished for being some kind of accomplice, even though it's vague on what she actually did to help out...

Many thanks to NetGalley, Elisabeth Carpenter, and Bookouture for the ebook. This fast-paced thriller is full of twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat with plenty to unpack.