What a fantastic read that kept me hooked! I am a huge fan of C.L. Taylor, and this one didn’t miss the mark either. There were twists and turns every which way—I loved the multiple POVs, and there was so much to unravel that you never knew who to trust with all the secrets and lies. I would definitely recommend it!

Loved, loved, loved!! So we'll written and masterfully plotted out. I loved the multiple plot points that were perfectly weaved throughout the book. The characters were original and brought to life so vividly. There were twists, turns, secrets, lies, it was an absolute delight to get lost in this story and I couldnt put it down

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Although I thought I had read C.L. Taylor before, it turns out that this was my first time reading her work - and I'm so glad I had the opportunity. I especially love that she's a local author!

Taylor delivers a gripping, well-paced thriller that held my interest throughout. Her ability to build suspense and create complex, believable characters stood out. The story progresses in a way that keeps the reader guessing with plenty of twists.

The dedication - "To everyone who has survived the school run" - sets the tone immediately for some scathing observations on the school gate cliques. Sharp and relatable! I was hooked from the first chapter and often wished I could read on.

There are so many layers to this story, expertly depicting how seemingly flawless lives can hide deep cracks. The author is a master of the red herring, leading to several "WTF!" moments as the plot unfolded!

Around the three-quarter mark, though, I was starting to wonder if there was almost too much going on. The number of possible theories felt a little overwhelming at times. While the book remained a page-turner, the ending felt rushed, a little confusing and less satisfying than I hoped for. Hence the four stars.

Despite this, I found the book engaging and extremely readable. The combination of humour, suspense and sharp social observation made for a compelling and thought-provoking read. Although the resolution wasn't as strong as the build-up, the ride was worth it! I'll definitely be checking out more of this author's work in the future.

It’s Always the Husband by C.L. Taylor is a gripping psychological thriller that expertly explores the complexities of friendship, betrayal, and suspicion. The story follows a tangled web of secrets and lies as a group of friends becomes caught up in a shocking crime. Taylor’s sharp writing and clever plotting create a tense, absorbing narrative that keeps you guessing until the final reveal.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own hidden motives and emotional baggage. The shifting perspectives and timelines add depth to the story, slowly peeling back layers of deception and mistrust. Taylor skillfully builds suspense, and while some twists are more predictable than others, the emotional weight behind them keeps the story engaging. The exploration of toxic friendships and moral ambiguity adds an extra layer of complexity.

The pacing is strong, though the middle section slows down slightly as the focus shifts to character backstory. However, the final act delivers a satisfying and unexpected resolution that ties the threads together well. It’s Always the Husband is a smart and unsettling thriller that offers both psychological depth and sharp twists. A solid 4-star read—perfect for fans of dark domestic suspense.

Fantastic I loved how it kept the reader guessing right until the very end. Full of twists, suspense, tension and atmosphere, I didn't know what to think or who to believe. I loved it

Another great piece by CL Taylor, that kept me up at night. Intriguing plot with no clue till the end what was happening. Great when I can't guess the end.

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I found this book really easy to get into from the start, I liked the short chapters as it meant I could pick it up and put it down when I had a few minutes to spare.

I always enjoy books that are told from multiple character perspectives.

Although the story did keep me reading, I did find it a little slow.

What a page turner!

I could not put it down. The book is engaging from the first page, live how it's told from different POVs.

I loved the short chapters which just made me race through to the end

I am a big fan and read and loved all of C L Taylors work!

Oh my god this book is incredible. I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t tear myself away from this. So many twist and turns. It will keep you guessing right until the very last page.

Yet another brilliant book from this author. It centres around a small group of young mums who get to get her and love to gossip . They all have secrets, some they shared to each other some are still a secret. Someone knows some of their secrets but who.
Is it one of them or someone outside of their group.
Fast paced book with so many twists to keep you guessing right up to the end.

A good read with lots of intrigue. As ever, this author does not disappoint. Will continue to look forward to her books.

Another great psychological thriller from C.L. Taylor. This one has a dark and twisted plot based in a quiet town.

Told from the multiple POV’s of Victoria, Sorrell, Jude and Andy. I really liked having the different insights from the characters and what they were really thinking.

Jude is new to the area and as she begins to learn more about the town of Lowbridge she discovers everything is not as it seems. She strikes up a friendship with single dad Will but he seems to have his fair share of enemies in the town.

I really enjoyed how this one turned out, the ending was really good.

Thank you to the publisher for my ARC via Netgalley.

A truly gripping and twisty novel that keeps you guessing until the last page! For fans of thrillers and true crime, it is perfect at building the suspense and making you guess, at times leading you in the wrong direction, which makes the reveals all the better!

Well this was a deliciously gossipy take on the playground mafia mummy’s that we all know and “love”! Every school has that one group of women that we take a perverse pleasure in seeing their downfall and It’s Always The Husband does pack in plenty of those moments! It’s an enjoyable and engaging psychological thriller where you are never quite sure who is the “bad guy” because they are all such unreliable and unlikeable characters!
If you liked Big Little Lies then you will love this!

Ahhh this book had so many twists and turns. Fast paced and kept me guessing throughout. The mums and the town gave me serious desperate housewives vibes. I thought I would struggle with the many different perspectives but the characters became so real to me. Highly reccomend this thriller!

I love C L Taylor's books and look forward to reading her new ones. This was no exception,
it starts off with the typical school run with the usual clicky groups meeting for drinks etc and ends with a murder being solved. There were a few twists and turns along the way and I had no idea. Thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this early.

A physiological thriller with twist and turns about a mother and daughter who move to a new area.
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the previous books I have read by this author.
I felt there were too many characters giving their point of view and I found this confusing.
Thank too to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review

I’ve read a couple of C.L. Taylor books and really enjoyed them, but I thought this was not one of their best book.
The plot was a bit far fetched, but having said that I did enjoy the writing and the book itself.
The writing and storytelling was great, the twists and plots were thrilling and full of suspense, and the book kept me hooked till the end.
Thank you to the publishers Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this ebook and giving me a chance to review this book!

I'm a huge C.L Taylor fan and have read all of her work. This was a book with a ton of character perspectives, and yet they were so easy to follow due to the way in which it was written. You got to know everyone, had ones you love, ones you love to hate (cough Victoria cough) and ones you were so conflicted about due to the opinions of the characters. Whilst I did enjoy this immensely, I was quite disappointed with the ending. Was it predictable? 10000% NOT. But I felt like it was a bit too far out there and not totally cohesive with the rest of the book. I'd still recommend it though, Callie's writing is phenomenal as always

The Blurb 📖
One dead wife is unfortunate, a second looks suspicious.

When Jude moves to a small town, she's attracted to Will, the father of her daughter's best friend. But the rumour mill suggests that Will is dangerous. You could ask his first wife, or his second, but neither are around....

Jude doesn't want to believe the rumours and sets out to discover the truth for herself. Is she going to be the third victim?

The Good 📖
This isn't my first C.L. Taylor book so I knew what to expect - and this didn't disappoint. Jude was a relatable character, a mum trying to find her way in a new town, doing her best for her daughter whilst navigating the school mums - not always an easy task and I love how this was portrayed throughout the book.

The unofficial leader of the school mums, Victoria, wasn't favourite character. She was portrayed as an adult Mean Girl and I loved seeing her character develop over the course of the book.

The ending felt right, and the relationships that come out of this story felt true to life.

But I wouldn't have wanted to live in that town!

The Meh 📖
There were a lot of characters in this book and it could sometimes be difficult to keep track of who was who. It wasn't unmanageable though and I do think overall it was necessary for the book. It also felt like most of the men were portrayed slightly negatively but not too much to take away from the story overall

The Result 📖
This was an ARC from NetGalley and Avon Books. I whizzed through the book very quickly - always a good sign that I'm enjoying the book and want to know what happens next. If you are a fan of C.L. Taylor this won't disappoint. If you've never read any, why not? Add this to your reading list!

Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.