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Коханка її чоловіка
Луїза втратила чоловіка і дітей. Вона хоче почати все з початку: нове помешкання, нова робота, нове кохання.
Коханець Софі загинув в автокатастрофі, вона будь-що має захистити їхню спільну дитину.
Ці дві жінки не зупиняться, доки одна з них не знищить іншу. Кожна має свою історію, але котра з них правдива?
Майстриня психологічного трилеру занурює читача в емоційну гойдалку домашнього терору, і хтозна, чи подібне не відбувається десь зовсім поруч із вами?
Коханець Софі загинув в автокатастрофі, вона будь-що має захистити їхню спільну дитину.
Ці дві жінки не зупиняться, доки одна з них не знищить іншу. Кожна має свою історію, але котра з них правдива?
Майстриня психологічного трилеру занурює читача в емоційну гойдалку домашнього терору, і хтозна, чи подібне не відбувається десь зовсім поруч із вами?
416 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
February 6, 2017
* Thank you to www.shotsmag.co.uk for my paper copy of the book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review*
Expect the unexpected, and you won't be disappointed with this excellent psychological thriller from Julia Crouch.
Louisa was already on the point of losing her husband Sam to his lover Sophie, when tragically he was killed in a car accident - an accident in which Louisa also lost her two children, and in which she herself suffered serious injuries.
This tragedy would be enough to rob even the strongest of people of their sanity, but for Louisa it doesn't end there, because Sophie now wants to take everything that Louisa has left - her reputation and her inheritance. Sophie wants the life she believes she would have had if Sam hadn't died.
This is certainly one humdinger of a tale! It's very dark and very twisted, with truly frightening characters that you really wouldn't want to meet in reality. The plot leads you to believe first one thing, but then twists it around until you won't actually believe what you're reading. Nothing is what it seems!
It's clever, shocking, disturbing, thrilling, and impossible to put down. Seriously, just read it for yourself and discover what an intelligent, cleverly crafted narrative this really is.
Expect the unexpected, and you won't be disappointed with this excellent psychological thriller from Julia Crouch.
Louisa was already on the point of losing her husband Sam to his lover Sophie, when tragically he was killed in a car accident - an accident in which Louisa also lost her two children, and in which she herself suffered serious injuries.
This tragedy would be enough to rob even the strongest of people of their sanity, but for Louisa it doesn't end there, because Sophie now wants to take everything that Louisa has left - her reputation and her inheritance. Sophie wants the life she believes she would have had if Sam hadn't died.
This is certainly one humdinger of a tale! It's very dark and very twisted, with truly frightening characters that you really wouldn't want to meet in reality. The plot leads you to believe first one thing, but then twists it around until you won't actually believe what you're reading. Nothing is what it seems!
It's clever, shocking, disturbing, thrilling, and impossible to put down. Seriously, just read it for yourself and discover what an intelligent, cleverly crafted narrative this really is.
August 11, 2017
SYNOPSIS
After the horrors of the past, Louisa Williams is desperate to make a clean start. Her husband Sam is dead. Her children, too, are gone, victims of the car accident in which he died.
Sam said that she would never get away from him. That he would hound her to death if she tried to leave. Louisa never thought that he would want to harm their children, though.
But then she never thought that he would betray her with a woman like Sophie. And now Sophie is determined to take all that Louisa has left. She wants to destroy her reputation and to take what she thinks is owed her - the life she would have had if Sam had lived.
Her husband's lover wants to take her life. The only question is will Louisa let her?
REVIEW
Blimey, what an extraordinary and indulgent read this is! I am honestly blown away with this one, an immensely good piece of psychological thriller writing. This genre is flooded at the moment, but this book to me rises above many others.
This book is special for many reasons. Firstly, I love Julia's writing style. It's sharp, engaging and certainly, knows how to plot a tremendous story. The book flows from chapter to chapter with excellent dialogue and a great deal of quirkiness splashed in. All this makes for a real, exciting page-turner. At some points, I thought there wasn't much going on, but in the back of my mind the plot was creeping up and I never knew when a moment was going to make my jaw drop, but it did, on many occasions, I just never saw them coming.
The two female characters, Louise or Lou and Sophie are brilliant. They are both on the edge of neuroticism but in completely different ways. This makes for a very interesting and toxic relationship as the story progresses and they can become very scary at some points. All the characters are very believable and I found myself very absorbed with them all. Their interaction, personalties, and realism are a credit to the author.
Overall, this is a cracker. One that will stay with me for quite a while.
I don't have even have to think about giving this 5/5 stars ***** Brilliant!!
After the horrors of the past, Louisa Williams is desperate to make a clean start. Her husband Sam is dead. Her children, too, are gone, victims of the car accident in which he died.
Sam said that she would never get away from him. That he would hound her to death if she tried to leave. Louisa never thought that he would want to harm their children, though.
But then she never thought that he would betray her with a woman like Sophie. And now Sophie is determined to take all that Louisa has left. She wants to destroy her reputation and to take what she thinks is owed her - the life she would have had if Sam had lived.
Her husband's lover wants to take her life. The only question is will Louisa let her?
REVIEW
Blimey, what an extraordinary and indulgent read this is! I am honestly blown away with this one, an immensely good piece of psychological thriller writing. This genre is flooded at the moment, but this book to me rises above many others.
This book is special for many reasons. Firstly, I love Julia's writing style. It's sharp, engaging and certainly, knows how to plot a tremendous story. The book flows from chapter to chapter with excellent dialogue and a great deal of quirkiness splashed in. All this makes for a real, exciting page-turner. At some points, I thought there wasn't much going on, but in the back of my mind the plot was creeping up and I never knew when a moment was going to make my jaw drop, but it did, on many occasions, I just never saw them coming.
The two female characters, Louise or Lou and Sophie are brilliant. They are both on the edge of neuroticism but in completely different ways. This makes for a very interesting and toxic relationship as the story progresses and they can become very scary at some points. All the characters are very believable and I found myself very absorbed with them all. Their interaction, personalties, and realism are a credit to the author.
Overall, this is a cracker. One that will stay with me for quite a while.
I don't have even have to think about giving this 5/5 stars ***** Brilliant!!
June 28, 2017
This is a dark psychological thriller that involves two women. Louisa and Sophie.
The book starts with a gripping lead.
An accident that involves Sophie, her children and her husband.
The accident only left Sophie, she had serious injuries.
She lost her husband Sam and children.
I am not giving anything away by telling you this as this is nothing to what you discover as you read more and more.
Sam had a lover Louise. He was going to leave his wife Sophie for Louise.
Sophie wants to take away and strip bare everything Louisa ever had from Sam.
Her inheritance, her reputation, and everything she stand for, even her life.
Louisa is heartbroken, Sophie is pregnant.
Louisa, the wife and Sophie the pregnant mistress.
This is a story darker than dark. You think it would be straight forward, jealousy, revenge, but no.
WHAM.
The ending will get you between the eyes, leave you gasping.
Then you stop, then you realise just how addictive this book was.
Superb.
My thanks to Headline in providing me with my copy.
The book starts with a gripping lead.
An accident that involves Sophie, her children and her husband.
The accident only left Sophie, she had serious injuries.
She lost her husband Sam and children.
I am not giving anything away by telling you this as this is nothing to what you discover as you read more and more.
Sam had a lover Louise. He was going to leave his wife Sophie for Louise.
Sophie wants to take away and strip bare everything Louisa ever had from Sam.
Her inheritance, her reputation, and everything she stand for, even her life.
Louisa is heartbroken, Sophie is pregnant.
Louisa, the wife and Sophie the pregnant mistress.
This is a story darker than dark. You think it would be straight forward, jealousy, revenge, but no.
WHAM.
The ending will get you between the eyes, leave you gasping.
Then you stop, then you realise just how addictive this book was.
Superb.
My thanks to Headline in providing me with my copy.
June 7, 2017
HER HUSBAND’S LOVER by Julia Crouch is a tense and dark psychological thriller. A woman has to stop her husband's lover from ruining her life.
“She stole her husband. Now she wants to take her life.”
Her Husband’s Lover focuses on two protagonists Louisa the brokenhearted widow who not only lost her husband Sam, but her two children in a car accident, and Sophie the pregnant mistress. The story is told from both Louisa and Sophie’s POV, past and present which works well for this novel. Both characters were well flushed out, and my opinions of both sides kept changing right until the end. I found neither character likeable, but I was drawn to the story to see where the author would take me.
“Sam said that she would never get away from him. That he would hound her to death if she tried to leave. Louisa never thought that he would want to harm their children though.”
“But then she never thought that he would betray her with a woman like Sophie. And now Sophie is determined to take all that Louisa has left. She wants to destroy her reputation and to take what she thinks is owed her - the life she would have had if Sam had lived.”
I found that this was not a fast-paced novel, but the story is unravelled slowly on a need to know basis, slowly building up the tension and will pull you in until the end. Nothing is what it seems in this novel and that’s what I enjoyed the most about this book.
Julia Crouch has written a brilliant and compelling psychological thriller that I would highly recommend to lovers of psychological thrillers and domestic noir. My only reason for not giving a 5-star review is because it's quite a long read, and I felt that certain parts could have been cut down.
Many thanks to author Julia Crouch, Headline publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.
“She stole her husband. Now she wants to take her life.”
Her Husband’s Lover focuses on two protagonists Louisa the brokenhearted widow who not only lost her husband Sam, but her two children in a car accident, and Sophie the pregnant mistress. The story is told from both Louisa and Sophie’s POV, past and present which works well for this novel. Both characters were well flushed out, and my opinions of both sides kept changing right until the end. I found neither character likeable, but I was drawn to the story to see where the author would take me.
“Sam said that she would never get away from him. That he would hound her to death if she tried to leave. Louisa never thought that he would want to harm their children though.”
“But then she never thought that he would betray her with a woman like Sophie. And now Sophie is determined to take all that Louisa has left. She wants to destroy her reputation and to take what she thinks is owed her - the life she would have had if Sam had lived.”
I found that this was not a fast-paced novel, but the story is unravelled slowly on a need to know basis, slowly building up the tension and will pull you in until the end. Nothing is what it seems in this novel and that’s what I enjoyed the most about this book.
Julia Crouch has written a brilliant and compelling psychological thriller that I would highly recommend to lovers of psychological thrillers and domestic noir. My only reason for not giving a 5-star review is because it's quite a long read, and I felt that certain parts could have been cut down.
Many thanks to author Julia Crouch, Headline publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.
December 28, 2016
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
This is an absolute cracker of a read and what a compelling and unsettling thriller Her Husband’s Lover by Julia Crouch turned out to be. I have read numerous novels that have been described as domestic noir, but this one takes you somewhere much darker, it’s disturbing and uncomfortable at times, but it’s a hell of a twisted tale and one that was difficult to put down, I was so caught up in this novel I was reading it at every possible opportunity.
Her Husband’s Lover concentrates on two protagonists Louisa the poor heartbroken widow who not only lost her husband, but her two children in a car accident, and Sophie the pregnant mistress, the stark contrast between the two make them even more intriguing. I love an unreliable narrator in a story, but the author goes one better here and gives you two! The story is told from both Louisa and Sophie’s POV, past and present which really works for this novel. I have to applaud the author on her character development both characters are complex, and I found my sympathies towards each character constantly shifting for reasons I’m not going to go into, as I don’t want to give away spoilers, suffice to say by the end of the book I was absolutely astounded that my opinions of the two were reversed completely. Neither character are particularly likeable I found them selfish, manipulative and very unreliable, which normally means I struggle with the whole concept, but thanks to authors skilful writing I was desperate to learn more about these two.
Sometimes I find a novel told from two characters POV and past and present can appear disjointed, fortunately this wasn’t the case and the author goes between the two very skilfully. I wouldn’t consider this to be a fast paced plot, as the story is unravelled slowly building on the tension and suspense until it reaches fever pitch, but it’s one that will pull you in and keep you in its clutches to the very last shocking page. As the plot builds in momentum the author reveals more shocking events, it’s then you realise what a well constructed and dark tale Her Husband’s Lover really is. Nothing is what it seems in this novel and that’s what I enjoyed the most about this book, what the author does brilliantly is play with the reader’s sympathies, she pulls you in one direction and then throws a spanner in the works, making you question everything you believe. Julia Crouch has written a brilliant and compelling psychological thriller that I would highly recommend to lovers of psychological thrillers and domestic noir.
This is an absolute cracker of a read and what a compelling and unsettling thriller Her Husband’s Lover by Julia Crouch turned out to be. I have read numerous novels that have been described as domestic noir, but this one takes you somewhere much darker, it’s disturbing and uncomfortable at times, but it’s a hell of a twisted tale and one that was difficult to put down, I was so caught up in this novel I was reading it at every possible opportunity.
Her Husband’s Lover concentrates on two protagonists Louisa the poor heartbroken widow who not only lost her husband, but her two children in a car accident, and Sophie the pregnant mistress, the stark contrast between the two make them even more intriguing. I love an unreliable narrator in a story, but the author goes one better here and gives you two! The story is told from both Louisa and Sophie’s POV, past and present which really works for this novel. I have to applaud the author on her character development both characters are complex, and I found my sympathies towards each character constantly shifting for reasons I’m not going to go into, as I don’t want to give away spoilers, suffice to say by the end of the book I was absolutely astounded that my opinions of the two were reversed completely. Neither character are particularly likeable I found them selfish, manipulative and very unreliable, which normally means I struggle with the whole concept, but thanks to authors skilful writing I was desperate to learn more about these two.
Sometimes I find a novel told from two characters POV and past and present can appear disjointed, fortunately this wasn’t the case and the author goes between the two very skilfully. I wouldn’t consider this to be a fast paced plot, as the story is unravelled slowly building on the tension and suspense until it reaches fever pitch, but it’s one that will pull you in and keep you in its clutches to the very last shocking page. As the plot builds in momentum the author reveals more shocking events, it’s then you realise what a well constructed and dark tale Her Husband’s Lover really is. Nothing is what it seems in this novel and that’s what I enjoyed the most about this book, what the author does brilliantly is play with the reader’s sympathies, she pulls you in one direction and then throws a spanner in the works, making you question everything you believe. Julia Crouch has written a brilliant and compelling psychological thriller that I would highly recommend to lovers of psychological thrillers and domestic noir.
February 10, 2017
I love the way Julia Crouch plots her stories – always something to look forward to because they are tightly knitted to perfection, keeping things unexpected and utterly riveting.
Her Husband’s Lover has that in spades as we follow Louisa and Sophie on a rather twisted journey towards a totally draw dropping conclusion. Talk about your unreliable narrators, both these characters have a beautifully imagined edge to them, so much so that even when things seem clear they turn out to be inevitably murky. Still waters run deep and all that – the author has her eyes on the prize throughout, that moment when you go huh? Blimey! Well if you are me anyway. The pay off in this novel is just terrific, one of those moments when you look back on what you have read and see the nuances that should have given you the clue all along.
Its not as easy as it sounds to achieve those moments in this genre – I read everything in it I can get my hands on because often you find the most divisive and memorable characters within, but it is true that you have to read a lot to find the clever ones, the ones that can still surprise you. I would happily put this in that category because you get so caught up in it that time flies and Julia Crouch is superb at that misdirection thing and that memorable character thing – Louisa and Sophie are sharp and unforgettable, two for the price of one.
Then BAM the ending.
Before that though the entire tale is completely addictive, one of those books you read fast and don’t like to put down, if anyone is teaching us that the psychological thriller is far from dead it would be that Julia Crouch.
Highly Recommended.
Her Husband’s Lover has that in spades as we follow Louisa and Sophie on a rather twisted journey towards a totally draw dropping conclusion. Talk about your unreliable narrators, both these characters have a beautifully imagined edge to them, so much so that even when things seem clear they turn out to be inevitably murky. Still waters run deep and all that – the author has her eyes on the prize throughout, that moment when you go huh? Blimey! Well if you are me anyway. The pay off in this novel is just terrific, one of those moments when you look back on what you have read and see the nuances that should have given you the clue all along.
Its not as easy as it sounds to achieve those moments in this genre – I read everything in it I can get my hands on because often you find the most divisive and memorable characters within, but it is true that you have to read a lot to find the clever ones, the ones that can still surprise you. I would happily put this in that category because you get so caught up in it that time flies and Julia Crouch is superb at that misdirection thing and that memorable character thing – Louisa and Sophie are sharp and unforgettable, two for the price of one.
Then BAM the ending.
Before that though the entire tale is completely addictive, one of those books you read fast and don’t like to put down, if anyone is teaching us that the psychological thriller is far from dead it would be that Julia Crouch.
Highly Recommended.
October 19, 2016
Holy sh*t balls. This book has so many twists and turns that I now have whiplash. An exceptionally tense and dark psychological thriller which I almost wanted to read with my eyes shut as it was so disturbing in places. I could NOT put this book down, the characters, the storyline, the chilling and gripping plot puts this book into my Top Ten Reads of 2016.
February 24, 2017
I bought my own paperback. I am a big fan of reading about affairs but I just didn't love this story. Normally I give books that I read on this subject five stars but I am sorry to say that overall I think that there has been too much hype of reviews about Her Husband's Lover. There are in fact 472 pages to this story. I think it could have been shortened. I did struggle to read some of the chapters. I have read much better books than this where every word and every sentence has had me glued to every page. But this didn't happen for me in Her Husband' Lover. For me personally my favourite book by Julia Crouch was Cuckoo.
In Her Husband's Lover Sam killed his first wife and kept the shirt with his first wife's blood on. He hit his second wife Louisa and reminder her what would happen to her if she was to ever leave him. Sam was having an affair with Sophie. As Louisa the second wife leaves Sam with her children, Sam chased after them and died as his car crashed. In Sophie's eyes Sam was a good man and she believed Louisa made everything up about Sam hurting her. Sophie starts hounding Louisa in revenge for Sam her lover dying. I did love reading about Sophie, she was my favourite character being interesting with her scheming ways with harassing Louisa. The character Sophie is what made this story the interesting part.
In Her Husband's Lover Sam killed his first wife and kept the shirt with his first wife's blood on. He hit his second wife Louisa and reminder her what would happen to her if she was to ever leave him. Sam was having an affair with Sophie. As Louisa the second wife leaves Sam with her children, Sam chased after them and died as his car crashed. In Sophie's eyes Sam was a good man and she believed Louisa made everything up about Sam hurting her. Sophie starts hounding Louisa in revenge for Sam her lover dying. I did love reading about Sophie, she was my favourite character being interesting with her scheming ways with harassing Louisa. The character Sophie is what made this story the interesting part.
February 3, 2017
HER HUSBAND'S LOVER BY JULIA CROUCH
Whenever there are triangles it is never a good thing. This psychological thriller was a bit long. If I give any advice to somebody who is considering reading thas book; it would be don't trust any of these characters. I actually liked Sam and I liked Adam even more. Louisa was crazy and I could tell by the way she treated her first child Poppy that Louisa was very unstable. Louisa is married to Sam who she leads everybody to believe that Sam ran her car off the road toad with intentions to kill her and their two children. The detective believes Louisa. Sam was wrong for having an affair with Sophie. Nobody believes Sophie who is pregnant with Sam's child because she had a criminal record having to do with the court system not believing her allegations that her photographer raped her when she was modeling.
What I liked about the book was that everything was not as they seemed. I also was impressed that the characterization was so well developed. I like the fact that the more I read my sympathies changed. For instance, at first I felt so bad for Louisa and I thought Sophie was a drug addict without any class. The more I read I didn't feel like Sophie was the vengeance seeking character that we all thought initially.
The story goes back and forth in time. I think that too many psychological thrillers are written in cookie cutter format. I am also getting tired of alternating chapters told through a few character's points of view. I miss a good story told through dialogue pulling us along as the thread is pulled from a piece of fabric. You will mostly hear from Louisa's point of view in this novel. I was entertained and I didn't know how the novel would end. Adam is the most likable character. Adam had many virtual good qualities. I thought that Sophie was a caring mother and that Sam would have wanted to provide for his daughter. One thing I am wondering about that didn't seem realistic was that Louisa inherited all of Sam's wealth and none of it went to his children.
Thank you to Net Galley, Julia Crouch and Headline Publishing Group for providing me with my digital copy for a fair and honest review.
Whenever there are triangles it is never a good thing. This psychological thriller was a bit long. If I give any advice to somebody who is considering reading thas book; it would be don't trust any of these characters. I actually liked Sam and I liked Adam even more. Louisa was crazy and I could tell by the way she treated her first child Poppy that Louisa was very unstable. Louisa is married to Sam who she leads everybody to believe that Sam ran her car off the road toad with intentions to kill her and their two children. The detective believes Louisa. Sam was wrong for having an affair with Sophie. Nobody believes Sophie who is pregnant with Sam's child because she had a criminal record having to do with the court system not believing her allegations that her photographer raped her when she was modeling.
What I liked about the book was that everything was not as they seemed. I also was impressed that the characterization was so well developed. I like the fact that the more I read my sympathies changed. For instance, at first I felt so bad for Louisa and I thought Sophie was a drug addict without any class. The more I read I didn't feel like Sophie was the vengeance seeking character that we all thought initially.
The story goes back and forth in time. I think that too many psychological thrillers are written in cookie cutter format. I am also getting tired of alternating chapters told through a few character's points of view. I miss a good story told through dialogue pulling us along as the thread is pulled from a piece of fabric. You will mostly hear from Louisa's point of view in this novel. I was entertained and I didn't know how the novel would end. Adam is the most likable character. Adam had many virtual good qualities. I thought that Sophie was a caring mother and that Sam would have wanted to provide for his daughter. One thing I am wondering about that didn't seem realistic was that Louisa inherited all of Sam's wealth and none of it went to his children.
Thank you to Net Galley, Julia Crouch and Headline Publishing Group for providing me with my digital copy for a fair and honest review.
December 15, 2016
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Wow people, just wow! This is a cracker of a psychological thriller. The author sure knows how to toy with our emotions. I found myself feeling sorry for one character before suddenly thinking, "no ways", and changing my alliances. There are twists and turns, shocks and more shocks, deranged characters and crazy events. This is a book that won't allow you to settle down onto your favourite couch, comfortable in your love for one character and hate of another. No ways. Nothing is clear cut in this novel. And just when you think you understand the characters, you'll be thrown off course. This is a difficult book to review without giving anything away and so I'm not going to go into too much detail other than to say, read this one! It's great. My only reason for not giving a 5 star review is because it's quite a long read, and I felt that certain parts could have been cut down or perhaps left out entirely, namely events around Adam and the construction site. Also the ending. It was great but frustrating! I'm generally not a fan of loose ends. The ending definitely leaves one wanting more though.
Many thanks to author Julia Crouch, Headline publishers and Netgalley for my review copy. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.
Wow people, just wow! This is a cracker of a psychological thriller. The author sure knows how to toy with our emotions. I found myself feeling sorry for one character before suddenly thinking, "no ways", and changing my alliances. There are twists and turns, shocks and more shocks, deranged characters and crazy events. This is a book that won't allow you to settle down onto your favourite couch, comfortable in your love for one character and hate of another. No ways. Nothing is clear cut in this novel. And just when you think you understand the characters, you'll be thrown off course. This is a difficult book to review without giving anything away and so I'm not going to go into too much detail other than to say, read this one! It's great. My only reason for not giving a 5 star review is because it's quite a long read, and I felt that certain parts could have been cut down or perhaps left out entirely, namely events around Adam and the construction site. Also the ending. It was great but frustrating! I'm generally not a fan of loose ends. The ending definitely leaves one wanting more though.
Many thanks to author Julia Crouch, Headline publishers and Netgalley for my review copy. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.
January 6, 2017
Wow! This is one book that will seriously mess with your head! The Queen of the “domestic noir” has taken her reign to the next level with this terrifying and gripping psychological suspense. This book is very VERY clever and you won’t realise how clever till the end-when you will want to stop…wait until your goosebumps have gone down…then go right back to the start to read it all over again!
I was desperate to read this after seeing Julia talk on a panel at Theakstons Crime Festival last year. And whilst there I also received a sampler with the first chapter and from there I was hooked-I needed that book!! But those first few pages did NOT prepare me for the chilling and twisted full length novel that followed! I adore an unreliable narrator so imagine my growing excitement when I realised there was not one but TWO here! The opening chapters where Louisa is coming to terms with the devastating impact of the car accident that has robbed her of her husband and children were so hard to read. And then for her to have to deal with the devious Sophie who has started a terrifying campaign of revenge on top of all that was astounding. But sometimes the more we watch, the less we see. I started by hating Sam, the husband/lover but then I felt sorry for him and then I hated him again and then….well, you get the gist! And this happened with both Louisa and Sophie as well-honestly, I was exhausted from having my emotions pumped up then let down again! These two women are so cleverly created, both remarkable but memorable for very different reasons. I’m sure Book Club’s up and down the country could spend hours having heated debates about their moral differences!
Julia Crouch has created an all-consuming page turner here that is a perfect example of it’s genre and I loved it! In fact I think it’s her best book to date. It’s deliciously dark and intense and you won’t be able to put it down. Outstanding!
I was desperate to read this after seeing Julia talk on a panel at Theakstons Crime Festival last year. And whilst there I also received a sampler with the first chapter and from there I was hooked-I needed that book!! But those first few pages did NOT prepare me for the chilling and twisted full length novel that followed! I adore an unreliable narrator so imagine my growing excitement when I realised there was not one but TWO here! The opening chapters where Louisa is coming to terms with the devastating impact of the car accident that has robbed her of her husband and children were so hard to read. And then for her to have to deal with the devious Sophie who has started a terrifying campaign of revenge on top of all that was astounding. But sometimes the more we watch, the less we see. I started by hating Sam, the husband/lover but then I felt sorry for him and then I hated him again and then….well, you get the gist! And this happened with both Louisa and Sophie as well-honestly, I was exhausted from having my emotions pumped up then let down again! These two women are so cleverly created, both remarkable but memorable for very different reasons. I’m sure Book Club’s up and down the country could spend hours having heated debates about their moral differences!
Julia Crouch has created an all-consuming page turner here that is a perfect example of it’s genre and I loved it! In fact I think it’s her best book to date. It’s deliciously dark and intense and you won’t be able to put it down. Outstanding!
February 6, 2017
Her Husband's Lover opens with a woman, later we discover, Louisa Williams, being chased in her car by her husband Sam. Worse still she isn’t alone in her white Fiat, her two young children are in the back. Louisa wakes up from the resulting coma in hospital, alone and to add insult to injury is told that she is ‘lucky.’ That’s not quite how Louisa sees it! Sam may have lost his life in the crash but Louisa has to live her life without her precious children.
It doesn’t take long, not long enough for the reader to have absorbed the shocking facts of the car crash, that we discover that Louisa’s battle is far from over. Not anywhere near recovered Louisa is visited in hospital:
“If you survive,” the voice says, “if you survive, I’m not going to let you get away with it. If you survive, you’d better watch out, Louisa.”
As Louisa gets stronger and faces the inquest into Sam’s death her name is prefixed with ‘Tragic’ in the media but Louisa is strong, and with the help of her lawyer, Fiona, she moves away from the home she shared with Sam and starts a new life in a new home in a new city with a new job with a new name, no longer Tragic Louisa!
Sam had a lover, Sophie and she doesn’t believe the inquest verdict. As far as she’s concerned the Sam she knew wouldn’t have driven Louisa off the road on purpose but Sophie has lied before, she has form and no-one wants to hear from the devoted mistress.
For a while we hear the outline of the run up to the crash and slowly it becomes clear that this isn’t the straightforward domestic violence storyline you are expecting. Oh no, imagine the darkest books you’ve read in this genre, and then go blacker still. Some of the clues are given by Louisa herself while other parts of the story are revealed by Sophie and somewhere in the middle, perhaps is where the truth lies? You will need to find out for yourselves though…
And that is all I’m going to say about the plot because like all these types of books, the least you know before opening the first page, the more enjoyment you’ll get from the resulting ride which isn’t unlike the opening scenes. One moment you’re travelling along a fairly well-known road, with a bullish husband, a meek wife and a dodgy affair, the next everything is turned on its head before you roll down the slope not knowing which way is up… or down.
What Julia Crouch does to keep the story anchored in reality it to insert scenes that are so familiar that we all have reference points, this is reality. After all many of us may not have been to an inquest, but most of us have started a new job. Some of us may even have started a new job and realised that we have chosen the wrong clothes, as Louisa did. Those of us who are parents may well have attended a mother and toddler group and faced the embarrassment of having the child that is at the ‘grabby stage’ and had to face down the poor subject’s hostile mother. These scenes are so spot on, written in a style that makes them more than just a footnote to the storyline, a means of bonding the reader with the character, the common ground that says ‘I know you’
The plotting is sublime, the use of the information to flesh out the story while at the same time keeping that tension maintained through what is a fairly long book is no less than an art form. All of this contributed to the feeling that although on one level unlikely, this really did happen and Louisa and Sophie exist along with the other incredibly life-like people that inhabit Her Husband’s Lover. This is a stupendous read one that deserves the real world to fade away and let you enjoy the scary journey.
It doesn’t take long, not long enough for the reader to have absorbed the shocking facts of the car crash, that we discover that Louisa’s battle is far from over. Not anywhere near recovered Louisa is visited in hospital:
“If you survive,” the voice says, “if you survive, I’m not going to let you get away with it. If you survive, you’d better watch out, Louisa.”
As Louisa gets stronger and faces the inquest into Sam’s death her name is prefixed with ‘Tragic’ in the media but Louisa is strong, and with the help of her lawyer, Fiona, she moves away from the home she shared with Sam and starts a new life in a new home in a new city with a new job with a new name, no longer Tragic Louisa!
Sam had a lover, Sophie and she doesn’t believe the inquest verdict. As far as she’s concerned the Sam she knew wouldn’t have driven Louisa off the road on purpose but Sophie has lied before, she has form and no-one wants to hear from the devoted mistress.
For a while we hear the outline of the run up to the crash and slowly it becomes clear that this isn’t the straightforward domestic violence storyline you are expecting. Oh no, imagine the darkest books you’ve read in this genre, and then go blacker still. Some of the clues are given by Louisa herself while other parts of the story are revealed by Sophie and somewhere in the middle, perhaps is where the truth lies? You will need to find out for yourselves though…
And that is all I’m going to say about the plot because like all these types of books, the least you know before opening the first page, the more enjoyment you’ll get from the resulting ride which isn’t unlike the opening scenes. One moment you’re travelling along a fairly well-known road, with a bullish husband, a meek wife and a dodgy affair, the next everything is turned on its head before you roll down the slope not knowing which way is up… or down.
What Julia Crouch does to keep the story anchored in reality it to insert scenes that are so familiar that we all have reference points, this is reality. After all many of us may not have been to an inquest, but most of us have started a new job. Some of us may even have started a new job and realised that we have chosen the wrong clothes, as Louisa did. Those of us who are parents may well have attended a mother and toddler group and faced the embarrassment of having the child that is at the ‘grabby stage’ and had to face down the poor subject’s hostile mother. These scenes are so spot on, written in a style that makes them more than just a footnote to the storyline, a means of bonding the reader with the character, the common ground that says ‘I know you’
The plotting is sublime, the use of the information to flesh out the story while at the same time keeping that tension maintained through what is a fairly long book is no less than an art form. All of this contributed to the feeling that although on one level unlikely, this really did happen and Louisa and Sophie exist along with the other incredibly life-like people that inhabit Her Husband’s Lover. This is a stupendous read one that deserves the real world to fade away and let you enjoy the scary journey.
February 23, 2017
4.5 stars
Oh my! What a read. Julia Crouch can now count me as one of her fans. Lou Turner is an accomplished equestrian and a Kick Ass Hotshot Designer amongst other things. Louisa Williams is a wife, mother and alcoholic. Her husband Sam is having an affair with an ex model named Sophie. After a terrible tragedy everyones lives change.
There was something about Louisa I couldn't warm up to. Her thoughts always had a double meaning depending on how you took them. Sophie you could tell was a little unhinged. I didn't know which would get the award for being the Most bad-dung-crazy! Lol. Some people should NOT be parents! I was so angry during certain parts I yelled at the characters. Sometimes I empathized with them as well. This book really had me going. In a good way of course.
I received this copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Oh my! What a read. Julia Crouch can now count me as one of her fans. Lou Turner is an accomplished equestrian and a Kick Ass Hotshot Designer amongst other things. Louisa Williams is a wife, mother and alcoholic. Her husband Sam is having an affair with an ex model named Sophie. After a terrible tragedy everyones lives change.
There was something about Louisa I couldn't warm up to. Her thoughts always had a double meaning depending on how you took them. Sophie you could tell was a little unhinged. I didn't know which would get the award for being the Most bad-dung-crazy! Lol. Some people should NOT be parents! I was so angry during certain parts I yelled at the characters. Sometimes I empathized with them as well. This book really had me going. In a good way of course.
I received this copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
September 17, 2020
This book is so difficult to like because over half of the story is just so painfully slow and the characters are not at all likeable. By the time things start to become slightly interesting I just wanted to be done with it. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 12, 2016
I love an unreliable narrator! And I love a crazy narrator! This book had both, the only trouble is working out who was who. Twisty, addictive, and a read that gets under your skin. :) xx
June 12, 2020
Domestic noir set in LONDON and CAMBRIDGESHIRE
3.75*
As the book opens, Louisa Williams is looking back over her marriage. She has lost both her husband, Sam, and their two young children. The three are dead. He was chasing her tiny car in his Porsche, vowing she would never get away from him. A crash results and the fatalities ensue. Louisa is badly wounded and takes months to recuperate.
“Now” she is trying to get her life back on track. She is wealthy, Sam left her a small fortune, so it is up to her how and where she embarks on her new life. She chooses a flat in London, really high up, overlooking a large building site. Work there comes to a halt as a burial site is found and the archaeologists must carry out their work. A burial plot of plague victims, it seems. Death is following Louisa around. In London now there are scorching temperatures, there is drought and once again the city has its own plague, suffering from the effects of global warming.
In the background lurks Sophie, a successful model who fell foul of drugs, accused her photographer of rape but her story had too many holes and he was acquitted. She has lost everything. However, in recent times she was Sam’s lover and she is determined to make Louisa cough up the inheritance due to the child that she and Sam sired. Louisa sees her as a black, crow-like creature, the epitome of evil.
Teetering from a high rise crane is Adam (he was trying to make a film of the building site, rather than having any suicidal ideation), the most lovely man you could wish to meet and environmentalist to boot. Serendipity brings Louisa and Sam together. He tolerates the clear lies she is telling and supports and protects her as much as he can from Sophie.
As you will have guessed, this is not a simple story and there are many twists and turns along the way, which the author generally handles very well.
For me the characters were a weakness. They were a mêlée of stereotypes – in the main – of ghastly people. The drunkard, the liar, the pothead, the abuser, the philanderer. In general they all (including Adam) felt rather two dimensional and their under-development then made some of the storylines feel a little distasteful. I got a bit fed up with the heat everywhere (yes, I know it added to the cloying storyline) and the alcohol abuse just went on and on, which made the book feel overly long. The “Then” and “Now” got a little confusing at times.
Having said that, I read the book quite happily, I wanted to know how things panned out. The author is a gifted writer and can keep her audience hooked. Could Adam really be the lovely, moral, sweet man depicted? Was Sophie not entitled to some money from the estate as she had a child with Sam – he was, after all on the brink of leaving his wife for her? Who really killed Katie, Sam’s first wife?
Setting isn’t strong as far as TripFiction is concerned.
3.75*
As the book opens, Louisa Williams is looking back over her marriage. She has lost both her husband, Sam, and their two young children. The three are dead. He was chasing her tiny car in his Porsche, vowing she would never get away from him. A crash results and the fatalities ensue. Louisa is badly wounded and takes months to recuperate.
“Now” she is trying to get her life back on track. She is wealthy, Sam left her a small fortune, so it is up to her how and where she embarks on her new life. She chooses a flat in London, really high up, overlooking a large building site. Work there comes to a halt as a burial site is found and the archaeologists must carry out their work. A burial plot of plague victims, it seems. Death is following Louisa around. In London now there are scorching temperatures, there is drought and once again the city has its own plague, suffering from the effects of global warming.
In the background lurks Sophie, a successful model who fell foul of drugs, accused her photographer of rape but her story had too many holes and he was acquitted. She has lost everything. However, in recent times she was Sam’s lover and she is determined to make Louisa cough up the inheritance due to the child that she and Sam sired. Louisa sees her as a black, crow-like creature, the epitome of evil.
Teetering from a high rise crane is Adam (he was trying to make a film of the building site, rather than having any suicidal ideation), the most lovely man you could wish to meet and environmentalist to boot. Serendipity brings Louisa and Sam together. He tolerates the clear lies she is telling and supports and protects her as much as he can from Sophie.
As you will have guessed, this is not a simple story and there are many twists and turns along the way, which the author generally handles very well.
For me the characters were a weakness. They were a mêlée of stereotypes – in the main – of ghastly people. The drunkard, the liar, the pothead, the abuser, the philanderer. In general they all (including Adam) felt rather two dimensional and their under-development then made some of the storylines feel a little distasteful. I got a bit fed up with the heat everywhere (yes, I know it added to the cloying storyline) and the alcohol abuse just went on and on, which made the book feel overly long. The “Then” and “Now” got a little confusing at times.
Having said that, I read the book quite happily, I wanted to know how things panned out. The author is a gifted writer and can keep her audience hooked. Could Adam really be the lovely, moral, sweet man depicted? Was Sophie not entitled to some money from the estate as she had a child with Sam – he was, after all on the brink of leaving his wife for her? Who really killed Katie, Sam’s first wife?
Setting isn’t strong as far as TripFiction is concerned.
June 19, 2017
Quite frankly, between the holidays and everything, I probably would have read this book in two days, not two weeks. However, I did honestly struggle getting into this one. Lou is moving on from an unbelievable amount of tragedy. Her husband and children are lost after a tragic car accident, and despite her husband being abusive, she is distraught to find that his mistress Sophie is pregnant with his child, and wants more.
Along the way there were lots of twists and turns, and added fluff. Lou meets Adam, a passionate protester who also documents the acts in which he protests. While, this maybe was meant to add to the character development, the parts involving the building development LOST me. I had no clue what they had to do with the story as a whole. I doubt I will put myself through reading it again, but I may have missed this....
Overall, the premise seemed good and I was eager to read this. I know many people already love it, it just fell flat for me.
Along the way there were lots of twists and turns, and added fluff. Lou meets Adam, a passionate protester who also documents the acts in which he protests. While, this maybe was meant to add to the character development, the parts involving the building development LOST me. I had no clue what they had to do with the story as a whole. I doubt I will put myself through reading it again, but I may have missed this....
Overall, the premise seemed good and I was eager to read this. I know many people already love it, it just fell flat for me.
March 28, 2017
I have to say I’m quite blown away by this book, I’m not sure what I was expecting when I picked it up but what I got was an intense, suspenseful read that had me totally gripped.
I’ve never read anything by Julia Crouch before and now I’m asking myself why the heck not. Her Husbands Lover opens dramatically, I love when a story starts this way but sometimes you find it kind of sags in the middle but the author has done a fantastic job of keeping the readers attention right the way through the book.
The story is told by two narrators, you have the wife Louisa and the lover Sophie and the story alternates between the two in present times and the past. It’s very cleverly done and makes you want to keep on reading.
It’s actually really difficult to write a review about this book as I really don’t want to give anything away, so what I will say is that Her Husband’s Lover gave me goose bumps, it left me open mouthed, shocked and has a plot that has so many twist’s and turn’s it leaves you feeling dizzy.
I’ll definitely be highly recommending this book and I’m looking forward to catching up with the authors previous work.
I’ve never read anything by Julia Crouch before and now I’m asking myself why the heck not. Her Husbands Lover opens dramatically, I love when a story starts this way but sometimes you find it kind of sags in the middle but the author has done a fantastic job of keeping the readers attention right the way through the book.
The story is told by two narrators, you have the wife Louisa and the lover Sophie and the story alternates between the two in present times and the past. It’s very cleverly done and makes you want to keep on reading.
It’s actually really difficult to write a review about this book as I really don’t want to give anything away, so what I will say is that Her Husband’s Lover gave me goose bumps, it left me open mouthed, shocked and has a plot that has so many twist’s and turn’s it leaves you feeling dizzy.
I’ll definitely be highly recommending this book and I’m looking forward to catching up with the authors previous work.
February 4, 2017
What a twisty book!
We know at the start that Louisa has just been in an accident that has killed her two children and husband, who was chasing them.
Her husband Sam has also left behind a jealous pregnant girlfriend Sophie, who believes that she and especially his child deserves some of his estate. Sophie starts to stalk Louisa to get what she wants.
Both Louisa and Sophie are unreliable narrators, who to trust?
Well, I must admit this book was a little slow for me at the start and I was wondering if it was worth the read....it was! Once it started delving into the now and then chapters, through Louisa's marriage to her new life with a new name, job and home to hide from Sophie, I was transfixed. All of a sudden I was questioning everything I was reading. You start to believe one thing, then something else crops up.
There is no more I can say about this book because I'm sure I'd give clues to what happens, therefore I'll just say that this is what I believe a good psychological thriller is about. It made my heart thump and questioned if I really wanted to read on (more like having a hand over your eyes in a movie).
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review
We know at the start that Louisa has just been in an accident that has killed her two children and husband, who was chasing them.
Her husband Sam has also left behind a jealous pregnant girlfriend Sophie, who believes that she and especially his child deserves some of his estate. Sophie starts to stalk Louisa to get what she wants.
Both Louisa and Sophie are unreliable narrators, who to trust?
Well, I must admit this book was a little slow for me at the start and I was wondering if it was worth the read....it was! Once it started delving into the now and then chapters, through Louisa's marriage to her new life with a new name, job and home to hide from Sophie, I was transfixed. All of a sudden I was questioning everything I was reading. You start to believe one thing, then something else crops up.
There is no more I can say about this book because I'm sure I'd give clues to what happens, therefore I'll just say that this is what I believe a good psychological thriller is about. It made my heart thump and questioned if I really wanted to read on (more like having a hand over your eyes in a movie).
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review
September 16, 2019
Even though I struggled a bit in the beginning of this book I am giving it 5 stars because when I got into it I couldn't put it down. The blurb on the back of the book certainly points you in completely the wrong direction. Lou is certainly a piece of work, she had me completely fooled in the beginning, I was wondering why instead of having an affair why the husband wasn't getting her the help she so obviously needed. When she broke her arm in front of her husband I at first was surprised that he didn't get her committed but when Adam was talking to her mother I could see why, she was obviously very good at getting people to believe her.
I really hope Adam succeeded where others failed in exposing Lou for who she really was but I somehow doubt it.
I really hope Adam succeeded where others failed in exposing Lou for who she really was but I somehow doubt it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2025
I had a hard time with this book. The main characters, Loisa and Sophie, were too problematic for my liking and reading some of their POVs was difficult.
It also didn’t help that a lot of what is described regarding Lou’s relationship with Adam was just plain boring. The end was pretty unsatisfying as well.
A story where not everyone is what they seem, but that didn’t work very well for me.
1,5 stars.
It also didn’t help that a lot of what is described regarding Lou’s relationship with Adam was just plain boring. The end was pretty unsatisfying as well.
A story where not everyone is what they seem, but that didn’t work very well for me.
1,5 stars.
March 5, 2017
Her Husband’s Lover is a twisted and occasionally dark tale of family disharmony, a domestic noir as it were. It is partly the story of a very troubled and complicated love triangle of sorts, and partly a dissection of the resultant mess when the affair is brought to a very difficult and deadly end. It is a textured and layered novel which drew me in and kept me hooked, partly because of the strength of the characters that Julia Crouch had drawn and partly because I just wanted to know what the truth actually was.
This was a difficult book for me to judge initially because you are faced with not one but two unreliable narrators. At least this is how it seems. The two narrative voices used throughout are those of Louisa and Sophie and both have their reasons for being deemed unreliable. Louisa, or Lou as she comes to be known, is suffering a slight memory loss after the accident, and avoiding talking to anyone about what happened or about her children, making relying solely on her point of view almost impossible. But then Sophie has an ulterior motive, and the first time we are introduced to her character she is essentially threatening Lou’s life. Indeed throughout she is portrayed as a spoilt, ex-addict and former model who had imposed herself upon Lou and Sam’s marriage.
Nothing in this book is as it seems. Both women prove themselves untrustworthy for very different reasons at very different times and I found myself switching back and forth between who I believed in, who I trusted, and what my understanding was of what was happening. One of these women is unhinged, the other underhand. Both are guilty in their own way for what comes to pass and I can’t help thinking that if someone had bothered with the simple matter of taking legal advice, the whole thing could have been different. But then the book would have been shorter and a lot less interesting too, so you can’t have everything.
The action flows back and forth between past and present, detailing the months after Lou and Sam’s marriage, through the birth of their children, the symptoms of Lou’s post natal depression, to Sam’s affair and right up to the present day where we see Lou trying to reclaim her life and Sophie trying to reclaim her rights to Sam’s money. Because Sophie has an ace up her sleeve, one which should guarantee her the rights to a percentage of Sam’s estate.
Where I struggled a little was in believing that the very erratic behaviour of one of the two women was never questioned. Certainly there were few people around who knew either of them well, but surely someone would have noticed that something wasn’t right and that there was almost a bi-polar switch in character at times. And it was almost too easy for Sophie to get information on Lou. Yes, I would say that she was clearly nobody’s fool, but for a woman with no money and no contacts, everything just seemed to fall into place almost too easily for her.
This was only a minor niggle, and it is just my opinion. If you can suspend disbelief and perhaps a little resultant frustration, then this shouldn’t affect your enjoyment of the book. The writing is very strong, the characters built of layer upon layer of complexity. The pacing in the book is just right and it did pull me along with the story at a pretty strong gallop. There wasn’t a time I felt I wanted to walk away from the story, and the way in which the truth of the story is drip fed in worked perfectly keeping me guessing right up to the end. The image the reader is given of Sam and Lou’s marriage is one of abuse and manipulation but just where the truth lies is not entirely clear, at least not until the twisted oh so cleverly constructed ending.
I really enjoyed this book, but I didn’t quite love it. I’m not sure why. It is a very good premise and very skilfully told. I thought, on reading the blurb, that perhaps the story was going to be a little less twisty – something a bit more Fatal Attraction-esque. Perhaps it was because I was expecting some of it – I saw some of the tells early on and although there was enough of the misdirection to keep me guessing, I wasn’t entirely surprised by what came to pass. That said, there were still one or two elements that I hadn’t suspected, that threw me and had me applauding the author for the way in which she was able to hide the truth. And then the ending. Yep. A real sting in the tail. Had me nodding in respect because I never would have seen that coming. It was delightfully dark, the detachment of the perpetrator written brilliantly. A clear sociopath if ever there was one. And yes, the book did manage to leave me with a certain amount of satisfaction, knowing that ultimately true justice was likely to be served.
This was a difficult book for me to judge initially because you are faced with not one but two unreliable narrators. At least this is how it seems. The two narrative voices used throughout are those of Louisa and Sophie and both have their reasons for being deemed unreliable. Louisa, or Lou as she comes to be known, is suffering a slight memory loss after the accident, and avoiding talking to anyone about what happened or about her children, making relying solely on her point of view almost impossible. But then Sophie has an ulterior motive, and the first time we are introduced to her character she is essentially threatening Lou’s life. Indeed throughout she is portrayed as a spoilt, ex-addict and former model who had imposed herself upon Lou and Sam’s marriage.
Nothing in this book is as it seems. Both women prove themselves untrustworthy for very different reasons at very different times and I found myself switching back and forth between who I believed in, who I trusted, and what my understanding was of what was happening. One of these women is unhinged, the other underhand. Both are guilty in their own way for what comes to pass and I can’t help thinking that if someone had bothered with the simple matter of taking legal advice, the whole thing could have been different. But then the book would have been shorter and a lot less interesting too, so you can’t have everything.
The action flows back and forth between past and present, detailing the months after Lou and Sam’s marriage, through the birth of their children, the symptoms of Lou’s post natal depression, to Sam’s affair and right up to the present day where we see Lou trying to reclaim her life and Sophie trying to reclaim her rights to Sam’s money. Because Sophie has an ace up her sleeve, one which should guarantee her the rights to a percentage of Sam’s estate.
Where I struggled a little was in believing that the very erratic behaviour of one of the two women was never questioned. Certainly there were few people around who knew either of them well, but surely someone would have noticed that something wasn’t right and that there was almost a bi-polar switch in character at times. And it was almost too easy for Sophie to get information on Lou. Yes, I would say that she was clearly nobody’s fool, but for a woman with no money and no contacts, everything just seemed to fall into place almost too easily for her.
This was only a minor niggle, and it is just my opinion. If you can suspend disbelief and perhaps a little resultant frustration, then this shouldn’t affect your enjoyment of the book. The writing is very strong, the characters built of layer upon layer of complexity. The pacing in the book is just right and it did pull me along with the story at a pretty strong gallop. There wasn’t a time I felt I wanted to walk away from the story, and the way in which the truth of the story is drip fed in worked perfectly keeping me guessing right up to the end. The image the reader is given of Sam and Lou’s marriage is one of abuse and manipulation but just where the truth lies is not entirely clear, at least not until the twisted oh so cleverly constructed ending.
I really enjoyed this book, but I didn’t quite love it. I’m not sure why. It is a very good premise and very skilfully told. I thought, on reading the blurb, that perhaps the story was going to be a little less twisty – something a bit more Fatal Attraction-esque. Perhaps it was because I was expecting some of it – I saw some of the tells early on and although there was enough of the misdirection to keep me guessing, I wasn’t entirely surprised by what came to pass. That said, there were still one or two elements that I hadn’t suspected, that threw me and had me applauding the author for the way in which she was able to hide the truth. And then the ending. Yep. A real sting in the tail. Had me nodding in respect because I never would have seen that coming. It was delightfully dark, the detachment of the perpetrator written brilliantly. A clear sociopath if ever there was one. And yes, the book did manage to leave me with a certain amount of satisfaction, knowing that ultimately true justice was likely to be served.
January 27, 2017
Her Husband’s Lover is a brilliant and chilling Psychological thriller. This is my first book from this great author and makes me wonder why.
This was a bumpy, up and down read for me, I went from liking and hating both lead female characters Louisa and Sophie and Louisa’s husband Sam, and did not know who to believe.
The story is told in chapters between Louisa and Sophie, with both points of view so believable, it will leave your head spinning.
Adam was just adorable.
My only criticism is that I feel that I would have liked an extra chapter to tie things up a bit more.
Her Husband’s Lover is a brilliant 5* read that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Headline and NetGalley for providing a copy of this wonderful book and this is my honest review.
This was a bumpy, up and down read for me, I went from liking and hating both lead female characters Louisa and Sophie and Louisa’s husband Sam, and did not know who to believe.
The story is told in chapters between Louisa and Sophie, with both points of view so believable, it will leave your head spinning.
Adam was just adorable.
My only criticism is that I feel that I would have liked an extra chapter to tie things up a bit more.
Her Husband’s Lover is a brilliant 5* read that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Headline and NetGalley for providing a copy of this wonderful book and this is my honest review.
October 14, 2016
“After the horrors of the past, Louisa Williams is desperate to make a clean start. Her husband Sam is dead. Her children, too, are gone, victims of the car accident in which he died. Sam said that she would never get away from him. That he would hound her to death if she tried to leave. Louisa never thought that he would want to harm their children though. But then she never thought that he would betray her with a woman like Sophie. And now Sophie is determined to take all that Louisa has left. She wants to destroy her reputation and to take what she thinks is owed her – the life she would have had if Sam had lived. Her husband’s lover wants to take her life. The only question is will Louisa let her?”
This book absolutely blew my mind! Poor Louisa, the victim of an abusive husband has really been through the mill. After years of abuse and control in a loveless marriage, she finally escapes Sam when a car chase that claims the lives of her husband and her children. Only Louisa survives and after months in a coma, and six months of intensive physiotherapy and psychotherapy, she is ready to start living again. The inquest rules Sam’s death “Death by Misadventure” despite his lover Sophie’s ridiculous declarations and protestations that somehow, it was all Louise’s fault. Sam wouldn’t hurt a fly according to Sophie, even though new evidence has proven he murdered his first wife Katie. Obsessed and pregnant Sophie can not accept this portrayal of Sam, as she claims she saw a different side to the womaniser. Depressed and alone, Sophie makes it her goal to ruin Louisa’s life, and take back what she feels she is owed – Sam’s money.
I finished reading this book last night and my heart is still racing this morning! This is one of the darkest, twisted tales I have read in a long time and I absolutely loved it. From the start I was totally absorbed in this book. Julia Crouch is a fantastic writer who really messed with my head with her characters, and messed with my emotions. The story is told from mainly two points of view, Louisa and Sophie, but is also split into flashback narrative, between present day and during Louisa and Sam’s marriage. This meant the story was unraveled slowly, but built up suspense and tension well. Going between the present and the past with Louisa and Sophie, the author paints two very different pictures with chilling repercussions. As the pace continues to simmer away it starts to build momentum until eventually it becomes an emotional, atmospheric, roller coaster of a story. When events unfold and get more sinister, the book just continues to throw up reveals and twists that were jaw dropping. A lot I didn’t see coming my way at all.
I loved the way Crouch created her characters. Initially, you are almost envious of Louisa and Sam. Their lives seem perfect. Beautiful house, he’s a handsome, successful alpha male, affluent lifestyle and so on. However, when the veil of domestic bliss is pulled back, the envy turns to disgust. Crouch has written a spectacular book. My Husband’s Lover is a lesson in domestic noir! This book will leave you breathless and speechless, and have you still thinking about it long after finishing it.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes heart stopping thrillers, overall five stars. Thanks to Julia Crouch, Headline and NetGalley for the ARC.
This book absolutely blew my mind! Poor Louisa, the victim of an abusive husband has really been through the mill. After years of abuse and control in a loveless marriage, she finally escapes Sam when a car chase that claims the lives of her husband and her children. Only Louisa survives and after months in a coma, and six months of intensive physiotherapy and psychotherapy, she is ready to start living again. The inquest rules Sam’s death “Death by Misadventure” despite his lover Sophie’s ridiculous declarations and protestations that somehow, it was all Louise’s fault. Sam wouldn’t hurt a fly according to Sophie, even though new evidence has proven he murdered his first wife Katie. Obsessed and pregnant Sophie can not accept this portrayal of Sam, as she claims she saw a different side to the womaniser. Depressed and alone, Sophie makes it her goal to ruin Louisa’s life, and take back what she feels she is owed – Sam’s money.
I finished reading this book last night and my heart is still racing this morning! This is one of the darkest, twisted tales I have read in a long time and I absolutely loved it. From the start I was totally absorbed in this book. Julia Crouch is a fantastic writer who really messed with my head with her characters, and messed with my emotions. The story is told from mainly two points of view, Louisa and Sophie, but is also split into flashback narrative, between present day and during Louisa and Sam’s marriage. This meant the story was unraveled slowly, but built up suspense and tension well. Going between the present and the past with Louisa and Sophie, the author paints two very different pictures with chilling repercussions. As the pace continues to simmer away it starts to build momentum until eventually it becomes an emotional, atmospheric, roller coaster of a story. When events unfold and get more sinister, the book just continues to throw up reveals and twists that were jaw dropping. A lot I didn’t see coming my way at all.
I loved the way Crouch created her characters. Initially, you are almost envious of Louisa and Sam. Their lives seem perfect. Beautiful house, he’s a handsome, successful alpha male, affluent lifestyle and so on. However, when the veil of domestic bliss is pulled back, the envy turns to disgust. Crouch has written a spectacular book. My Husband’s Lover is a lesson in domestic noir! This book will leave you breathless and speechless, and have you still thinking about it long after finishing it.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes heart stopping thrillers, overall five stars. Thanks to Julia Crouch, Headline and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 5, 2016
This is the first book I have read by this author and I'd heard good reviews about it.
The story follows Louisa who is recovering from a car accident after being run off the road by her husband, who dies as a result of the accident and she also loses her two children who were in the car with her.
It's a tale full of twists and turns as it leaps back and forth between then and now and the characters are quite disturbing at times. The ending was a little too abrupt for my liking and I would have liked to see what happened next.
Thank you to Headline for the approval, I will leave my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.
The story follows Louisa who is recovering from a car accident after being run off the road by her husband, who dies as a result of the accident and she also loses her two children who were in the car with her.
It's a tale full of twists and turns as it leaps back and forth between then and now and the characters are quite disturbing at times. The ending was a little too abrupt for my liking and I would have liked to see what happened next.
Thank you to Headline for the approval, I will leave my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.
January 26, 2017
Her Husbands Lover By Julia Croach is a general fiction (adult) read.
She stole her husband.
Now she wants to take her life.
After the horrors of the past louisa Williams is desperate to make a clean start. Her husband Sam is dead. Her children, too, are gone victims of the car accident in which he died.
This was an absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved everything. Had me gripped from start to finish. I loved the ending too. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
She stole her husband.
Now she wants to take her life.
After the horrors of the past louisa Williams is desperate to make a clean start. Her husband Sam is dead. Her children, too, are gone victims of the car accident in which he died.
This was an absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved everything. Had me gripped from start to finish. I loved the ending too. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
June 2, 2024
Received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I found this quite a predictable story, not the thriller full of twists and turns I have seen described unfortunately. I had Louisa worked out quite early on. It seemed to take a long while for this story to get going and just as it did it abruptly ended! Bit confusing to say the least. Unless its been left open for a sequel??
I found this quite a predictable story, not the thriller full of twists and turns I have seen described unfortunately. I had Louisa worked out quite early on. It seemed to take a long while for this story to get going and just as it did it abruptly ended! Bit confusing to say the least. Unless its been left open for a sequel??
October 14, 2016
I was blown away with the twists in this story. We are led to believe something but as the story unfolds we learn more.
Louise/Louisa has a difficult life and Sophie does not help matters.
It was easy to follow past and present and the characters. Loved it!
Louise/Louisa has a difficult life and Sophie does not help matters.
It was easy to follow past and present and the characters. Loved it!
December 30, 2016
Review to follow...
March 14, 2017
Wow, that was a really intense read. The story starts off very dramatic and doesn't really let go until the last page!
Louisa Williams is fleeing her abusive husband with her two young children in the back of her car and she crashes. Her husband's Porsche hits the back of it and promptly explodes. Then you have Louisa waking up in a hospital bed after the fact.
Her story has been a big media sensation. Her marriage a living hell, her unfaithful, abusive husband (Sam) trying to murder her and their children. Her mad dash for freedom...Louisa just wants to forget about it and start a new life with the millions she now has from her husband's company. She moves to London to be anonymous, but also restart the career she gave up for marriage and motherhood.
The only fly in the ointment is her husband's mistress, Sophie and her child that she had with her husband. Sophie is living in a flat bought by Louisa's husband. Although Louisa has let her stay there until now, she is determined to get it back. Sophie wants a stake in Sam's money for their child.
Both women are a little unhinged and it is hard to feel sorry for either of them. Serial adulterer Sam, doesn't garner a lot of sympathy for me either. Louisa is his second wife, he was leaving his first wife (Katie) for Louisa, when Katie was mysteriously murdered and the culprit has still not been brought to justice. Louisa and Sophie take risks with their children to attempt to get what they want.
This is an edgy story and thoroughly compelling. I could imagine it making an interesting movie. I was up very late last night wanting to know how it was all going to play out. The ending is a little ambiguous, but there is little doubt how it is going to all end up.
Louisa Williams is fleeing her abusive husband with her two young children in the back of her car and she crashes. Her husband's Porsche hits the back of it and promptly explodes. Then you have Louisa waking up in a hospital bed after the fact.
Her story has been a big media sensation. Her marriage a living hell, her unfaithful, abusive husband (Sam) trying to murder her and their children. Her mad dash for freedom...Louisa just wants to forget about it and start a new life with the millions she now has from her husband's company. She moves to London to be anonymous, but also restart the career she gave up for marriage and motherhood.
The only fly in the ointment is her husband's mistress, Sophie and her child that she had with her husband. Sophie is living in a flat bought by Louisa's husband. Although Louisa has let her stay there until now, she is determined to get it back. Sophie wants a stake in Sam's money for their child.
Both women are a little unhinged and it is hard to feel sorry for either of them. Serial adulterer Sam, doesn't garner a lot of sympathy for me either. Louisa is his second wife, he was leaving his first wife (Katie) for Louisa, when Katie was mysteriously murdered and the culprit has still not been brought to justice. Louisa and Sophie take risks with their children to attempt to get what they want.
This is an edgy story and thoroughly compelling. I could imagine it making an interesting movie. I was up very late last night wanting to know how it was all going to play out. The ending is a little ambiguous, but there is little doubt how it is going to all end up.
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