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The Fiancée: A Novel

Kate White (Goodreads Author)

3.96 · Rating details · 67 ratings · 33 reviews

The New York Times bestselling author returns with an unsettling but riveting psychological thriller about a captivating woman who joins a family and threatens to upend their picture-perfect lives.

They had everything they needed for a perfect family vacation: close-knit relatives, a bucolic setting . . . and a murderer in their midst?

Summer’s looking forward to a break fr ...more

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Paperback, 368 pages

Expected publication: June 29th 2021 by Harper Paperbacks

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Jan 01, 2021 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it really liked it

Ta ta ta taaaa! I’m not only celebrating the first day of the year or binge watching Cobra Kai season 3 on Netflix, I’m raising my glass to share my first book review of 2021! Here we go! Reading challenge already started!

Fast, heart pounding, deliciously intriguing dysfunctional family theme!

An annual family gathering at in-law’s gorgeous estate located rural Pennsylvania: delicious gourmet meals, tennis matches, badminton fun, sipping your refreshments at the pool side seem like a definition Ta ta ta taaaa! I’m not only celebrating the first day of the year or binge watching Cobra Kai season 3 on Netflix, I’m raising my glass to share my first book review of 2021! Here we go! Reading challenge already started!

Fast, heart pounding, deliciously intriguing dysfunctional family theme!

An annual family gathering at in-law’s gorgeous estate located rural Pennsylvania: delicious gourmet meals, tennis matches, badminton fun, sipping your refreshments at the pool side seem like a definition of perfect gateway! A great way of celebration of your picture perfect lives! What could go wrong?

But everything changes as soon as a new member steps into family’s comfort zone: a new fiancée earns everyone’s blessings instead of Summer, our doubtful heroine,who gets suspicious of her motives by catching her big lie at the first moment they met. And as people start to die, their perfect holiday turns into a disastrous nightmare!

This storyline reminded me of Sue Watson’s Sister in Law! A new mysterious girl comes into picture and starts to bother heroine since the first moment she is introduced with her! But in this story there are more brothers, two sister in laws and more likable heroine: Summer, just get married with her hot husband Gabe, raising her new 9 years old, quirky but still adorable stepson, a struggling actress, is still so pleased to be part of big family.

Claire and Ash welcomed her with open hands into their family, acting more genuine, caring than her own reversed parents who has never gotten through from their loss of child.

Keira and Wendy are career oriented, great sister in laws and her brother in law Nick is sweetheart who has real bad luck about love interests but now he brought a brand new girlfriend to the estate and things seem more serious! Her name is Hannah and guess what? She is also aspiring actress just like Summer and everyone in the family adores her, instead of Summer who is so sure they worked at the same theater company two years ago but Hannah insists to deny it!

Summer also gets also jealous of Hannah’s pretentious manners about her new acting gig on Netflix!

And dead bodies start to be found in the estate. Somebody in the family might be the killer. Summer’s bet on Hannah! All she needs to find is someone in the family who may believe in her conspiracy theories about murders! But she has no idea what kind of dangerous situation she put herself into!

It was well written, twisty, thrilling, fast paced page turner and it took me a few tries to find the perpetrator! It was not easy catch! Ending was good but I was still expecting something more earth shattering so I’m giving 3.5 stars but I’m still rounding them up 4 exciting, unputdownable, hate the guts of sister in law stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial/ Paperbacks for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts. ...more

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Apr 04, 2021 Christina rated it really liked it

Another enjoyable mystery filled with twists, turns, and red herrings — as can only be delivered by Kate White.

I’ve read and enjoyed many books by Kate White, so I was thrilled to get an advance copy of this one. She tends to write mysteries in the more classic vein, with a modern Cosmo woman playing Nancy Drew. (Cosmo woman because Kate White used to edit Cosmopolitan magazine so yep, she knows her Cosmo girls. She practically invented them.) Here, we have heroine Summer, married to Gabe, spend Another enjoyable mystery filled with twists, turns, and red herrings — as can only be delivered by Kate White.

I’ve read and enjoyed many books by Kate White, so I was thrilled to get an advance copy of this one. She tends to write mysteries in the more classic vein, with a modern Cosmo woman playing Nancy Drew. (Cosmo woman because Kate White used to edit Cosmopolitan magazine so yep, she knows her Cosmo girls. She practically invented them.) Here, we have heroine Summer, married to Gabe, spending some time with her in-laws and extended family, when suddenly people start getting murdered. (I mean, who among us hasn’t been at an extended family gathering where it seemed like murder was the next logical step?) The family is wealthy and there is a sketchy new fiancée in the picture — one who Gabe’s brother has decided to marry after knowing her for only two months. While the creepy fiancée seems the most likely suspect, Summer’s sleuthing uncovers a host of other possibilities (and clever red herrings) that kept me guessing until the surprise ending.

I always enjoy Kate White’s books because she’s one of the few modern mystery writers who can write a modern Nancy Drew tale without annoying me with 1) too much cutesy coziness or 2) a dopey plot. Her female protagonists are always strong, funny, and relatable, and Summer is no exception here. The murders are not totally hard boiled but also not the “my cat and I solved a crime” or the “Miss Scarlet in the study with the candlestick” variety. (No offense to either of those genres; they’re just not for me.)

White is also very adept at making you suspect absolutely EVERYONE, but tying up the mystery neatly at the end. All in all, in the Fiancée, a reliable and fun mystery writer knocks another one out (literally?) for your sleuthing enjoyment.

Read this one if you’re in the mood for a traditional whodunit with a modern twist.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper, and Kate White for the fun and involving mystery that I didn’t have figured out at all! ...more

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Jan 22, 2021 Jamie rated it really liked it

I’ve been a Kate White fan for as long as I can remember and this book is no different.
A solid thriller but with predictable twists but overall enjoyable.
Told in the POV of Summer the daughter in law of the family on their annual vacation. Summer is struggling with her acting career and crosses paths with Hannah a fellow actress. Jealousy drives Summer to dig into Hannah’s life revealing that she’s been accused of stealing.
This was a fast paced murder mystery that fans of White will definitel ...more

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Jan 07, 2021 Meghan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library

This book was received as an ARC from Harper Perennial and Paperbacks - Harper Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was drawn to this book from the beginning. The suspense, drama, and anticipation were out of your seat exciting (I think I literally jumped out of my chair at some parts). A shocking proposal turned murder mystery and all suspect the new fiancee is public enemy number one. Jaw-dropping thrill ride that w ...more

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Apr 13, 2021 Denise rated it really liked it

I loved this book, but it's one of those reads where I was rather surprised that I loved it, as there are some flaws that would generally annoy me, but didn't in this one for some reason. I have no idea - I'm still scratching my head over my enthusiasm, but oh well, it worked for me!

I have to say that this was my first introduction to Kate White, and at first, I wasn't sure that I enjoyed her writing style. It's very descriptive - even about mundane things - especially when it came to food. A b I loved this book, but it's one of those reads where I was rather surprised that I loved it, as there are some flaws that would generally annoy me, but didn't in this one for some reason. I have no idea - I'm still scratching my head over my enthusiasm, but oh well, it worked for me!

I have to say that this was my first introduction to Kate White, and at first, I wasn't sure that I enjoyed her writing style. It's very descriptive - even about mundane things - especially when it came to food. A bit too much for me, so I wasn't sure I was going to get into it, but then I was quickly sucked in! The story opens with struggling actress Summer Keaton, and her husband, Gabe, along with her nine-year-old stepson on their way to Gabe’s parents’ summer home for their annual family vacation. Summer looks forward to the vacation every year as all four Keaton brothers and their partners are all in attendance. However, this year the perfect holiday is marred for Summer by the arrival of fellow actress Hannah Kane, the new girlfriend of one of Gabe’s brothers. Summer immediately recognizes Hannah from a show they both participated in a couple years previous, but Hannah denies it. Summer's spidey senses immediately start tingling (I thought her reaction was perhaps a bit over-the-top, but I went with it), but when she expresses her concern to Gabe, he doesn't seem to think it's a big deal and suggests that her suspicions might be motivated by envy. She tries to let it go, but when a family member dies of what appears to be natural causes, Summer automatically assumes it was murder, and that Hannah had a hand in it. The problem is - she's the only one who thinks that, and just when Summer begins to think maybe she was overreacting - another murder occurs, and the perfect family façade begins to crumble, revealing devastating secrets and lies.

This book has so many red herrings that it made my head spin! I would jump off one rabbit trail and head right down another. There was one character that White never pointed a finger at, so I was certain that was the killer - I was wrong (although I still think my choice of killer made more sense! lol). The majority of the characters were very unlikable - and in my opinion, Summer's husband, Gabe, took the cake in that department; but it was so twisty and fast-paced that it didn't bother me. It probably would have been a 5-star read except for the ending, which was surprising, but I didn't think it totally made sense and still left me with some unanswered questions. Still though, 4 exciting-unputdownable-whacked-family stars all the way! ...more

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Jan 22, 2021 Susan rated it really liked it

The Fiancée is mystery that’ll keep you guessing until the end. The Keatons are on their annual vacation when there is a death. Summer immediately suspects the new fiancée. You’ll be glued to the pages until the very end and you won’t believe who did it!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

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Feb 28, 2021 Jana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: giveaway-books, mystery

I could not put this one down!! It had a lot of characters and yet you think you know what is going on spoiler alert you do not!

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Mar 20, 2021 Paul Olkowski rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: classic mystery lovers,

Recommended to Paul by: GOODREADS ARC BOOK

I received THE FIANCEE as an ARC back in February. I had set it aside until I finished Cold as Ice, a FBI crime novel I was then reading. It initially didn't look like a superior book. I thought it was going to be just another mystery; nothing special at all. But I wasn't exactly correct on my assumption. So don't go judging a book by it's cover.
The book starts out with Summer's telling of the discovery of a body while walking through a meadow on the family estate. That sets the starting point I received THE FIANCEE as an ARC back in February. I had set it aside until I finished Cold as Ice, a FBI crime novel I was then reading. It initially didn't look like a superior book. I thought it was going to be just another mystery; nothing special at all. But I wasn't exactly correct on my assumption. So don't go judging a book by it's cover.
The book starts out with Summer's telling of the discovery of a body while walking through a meadow on the family estate. That sets the starting point for the reader. It is now a who done it for the rest of the book. The entire family gathers in Bucks County Pennsylvania, for the yearly family vacation and get together, hosted by Claire and Ash Keaton,(mom and dad) wealthy, well to do folks in their 70's. Their 4 sons and the 3 wives of their sons are along for the yearly celebration and this year the youngest son's girlfriend, who is announced as his fiancée on the first night of the vacation, much to the chagrin of nearly everyone there.
The entire story is told through the eyes of Summer, daughter in law #2, who immediately dislikes the new fiancée ,due to a lie and slight the new girl gives her the very first hour of the vacation. Summer is observant as a hawk and part of the distraction of the book is her overly descriptive narrative about everything, especially about clothes and food. Everything about the vacation that is off or a distraction is blamed on Hannah, the fiancée, at least it is by Summer.
When Claire dies of a heart attack on day 3, Summer's bull's eye is placed on Hannah's back. The rest of the book is in the classic who done it mode, with minute details sprinkled throughout the narrative for the reader to pick up. I'll admit I missed most of them. I never saw the real killer of Claire.
It is a fast paced novel to read and would be great for a beach read or just for some backyard evening ME time. The book was written pretty much for a woman to enjoy more so than for men, but it is interesting . To me personally, it was like eavesdropping on the neighbors while doing some gardening. Something interesting was going on and you had to hang around to find out what it is.
The Author Kate White looks very similar to what my minds eye pictured Summer to look like, only slightly older. Kate White is the former editor in chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, which explains a lot of the overly descriptive food and clothes language in the novel. I felt that it took something away from the story while she told you about a sandwich or how white someone's shirt was, but I'll overlook that and give THE FIANCEE 4 stars for being an enjoyable and entertaining read. ...more

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Apr 03, 2021 Vicky rated it liked it

The Fiancée is a snapshot look into the lives of an extended wealthy family. Every year, the four brothers descend on their parent’s estate for a week long vacation. They wine, they dine, they play tennis and they relax by the pool. And everyone gets along famously. Except this year, Nick brings his new girlfriend, Hannah, the ex-girlfriend of his twin brother, and no one really likes her. Especially Summer.

Summer is the second wife to Gabe and stepmom to Henry. Which totally sets her up as a le ...more

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Jan 01, 2021 Blue rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, us, thrillers, murder-mystery, 4-stars

This is about a family on an annual vacation at their country estate. Claire is the matriarch of the family, her husband Ash, three sons with their wives and last son Nic and his fiancée Hannah whom he met recently. This has Christie vibes in its setting, family gathering together, of course people dropping dead which seem natural deaths but eventually unveiled as murders.

Told in the POV of one daughter-in-law Summer. Summer’s acting career is not going well whereas Hannah just lands in a plum a ...more

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Apr 04, 2021 Nik's Nook rated it really liked it

Summer is looking forward to her family's annual summer vacation at her husband's family estate. She needs a break from worrying about her acting job, or lack thereof since she's mainly been doing voiceovers. Once there, she finds that her brother-in-law has brought a new girl with him, and it happens to be someone Summer knows. When Summer approaches her, though, Hannah acts like she's never met Summer before. Determined to find out why Hannah is lying, Summer starts digging around. And then, w ...more

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Mar 10, 2021 Gloria rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery

Summer is so looking forward to a much-needed vacation with her husband Gabe and his young son Henry. Gabe’s parents, Claire and Ash, have a bucolic estate with extensive gardens and lovely cottages, perfect for rest and rejuvenation. His three brothers and their partners are coming, too, and it’s always a lovely gathering. Something’s not quite right though when Summer, an actress, meets her brother-in-law’s fiancée, Hannah, another actress. Summer knows they have met before yet the alluring Ha ...more

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Mar 16, 2021 blondethrillerbooklover rated it really liked it

Kate White is one of my comfort authors. When I haven’t been reading anything I have liked and I want to grab a book that I know will be good, or when I’m feeling tired or cold or sick and just want to cuddle up with a good book, she is one of my go-to authors. Like the same feeling comfort food brings.
Her books are always quick reads with relatable characters and just the right amount of mystery and suspense.
I have read all of her books and enjoyed every one ✨
________________________________

Su ...more

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Mar 20, 2021 Stacy40pages rated it really liked it

The Fiancée by Kate White. Thanks to @harperperennial for the gifted ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summer looks forward to the family get-together at her husband’s family’s estate every year. When her brother-in-law shows up with his new squeeze, Hannah, things get tense. Summer knows she’s up to something, and matters take a turn for the worse when a family member dies.

This was a fun and entertaining book that kept the pages turning. Although I thought I had figured out the plot twists, I kept turning the pages ...more

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Mar 28, 2021 Mary rated it really liked it

I was lucky enough to win an uncorrected proof of this book before it is released in June of this year. Here is my own personal review.

The Keaton family is gathering for a week long holiday together at the parent’s compound. Most of them know each other with the exception of a son’s new fiancée. We learn that the family appears to get along; the parents are well off and often help financially with their sons’ businesses. Then one of the family members is found dead. Daughter-in-law, Summer, is ...more

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Mar 31, 2021 Ashly rated it really liked it

Shelves: giveaway-review-books

Thanks to work and constant exhaustion, I haven't been reading as much as I would like. When this ARC arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago (thank you publisher and Goodreads giveaways), I knew I wanted to make time for it soon. Finally, I sat down last night to start it...and I proceeded to read it straight through until I finished it at about 2am. It was fast-paced, kept my attention the whole way through, and I just kept wanting to learn more about this family and all the craziness going on. ...more

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Apr 17, 2021 Coley rated it really liked it

Shelves: april-2021, 2021, arc

This novel was a delight to read; filled with lots of plot twists, great characters and a few red herrings as well.

Summer, the novels main protagonist, looks forward to her yearly family vacation at her in-laws sprawling estate. Joined by her husbands brothers and their spouses, her step-son and her picture perfect in-laws, Claire and Ash, the week is usually spent in the pool, on the tennis courts or on the patio, enjoying gourmet cooked meals.

This year, her brother in law Nick brings his new ...more

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Dec 18, 2020 Natalie rated it really liked it

When I see Kate Whites’ name, I always get excited. So great to curl up with a delicious mystery on a snowy day.
When Summer arrives at her husband’s family home for a week vacation, she doesn’t expect to be met with several murders. In fact, what should be a happy family reunion turns incredibly sad as they are faced with death.

The story centered around 4 brothers, their parents and partners examines the complex relationships between family members. Summer has suspicions, but this is a novel o ...more

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Mar 30, 2021 Jenny rated it really liked it

Thank you @harperperennial for this newest Kate White book. It came in the mail when I was on vacation and I pretty much dropped everything and started it! It was a fast-paced page-turning domestic thriller - my favorite genre. I enjoyed the locked room aspect, even if it did take place on a sprawling estate. The cast of characters was varied with plenty of motive and intrigue to go around. The only gripe I had was that the main character sometimes got to wrapped up in logistics of going from po ...more

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Jan 27, 2021 Cheryl rated it liked it

This was a pretty quick read for me. I really don't have a lot to review as I felt that this was a book I may have read many times before. I've always been a fan of Kate White, but this one didn't hold my attention as much as her others ones have. I'm still very grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. ...more

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Mar 13, 2021 Elissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: giveaway

It’s been awhile since I read a Kate White book and The Fiancée was a great one to get me back on track with mysteries & thrillers. I couldn’t put this book down! I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next but didn’t want it to end. Really enjoyed the twists and turns. Great whodunit!

I won this book in a giveaway

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Mar 27, 2021 Rachel rated it really liked it

Love a good "whodunit" and this one didn't disappoint. I was surprised the whole time. I enjoyed the POV just told from one person. At first I was having a little trouble keeping track of all the brothers/spouses but once I got the hang of their names, it was an easy read. I flew through this once in 2 days. Stayed up 'til 2AM.

Thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC. ...more

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Apr 06, 2021 Carrie Shields rated it really liked it

This is going to be the perfect summer read. It's a tense, creepy thriller, almost like a locked room mystery. I love how the characters were developed, and the red herrings were perfectly placed. The action exploded at the end, and I was shocked by the turn of events. I didn't have this one figured out at all 😳🔪 Thank you to the publisher and author for my early copy. ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Chelsea rated it really liked it

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this thriller about families and the secrets they carry. The twist, though unexpected, was a bit TOO out of left field in my opinion, but overall a really good suspense read.

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Jan 27, 2021 Chelsea Peterson rated it it was amazing

This was a page turner for sure! I loved the story line, the twists and turns, and the little details that kept the story going. I read through this book quickly as it grabbed my attention from the first page. I think this book will be a popular read for 2021. I highly recommend checking it out.

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Mar 26, 2021 A.M. Bostwick rated it it was amazing

I always love a Kate White mystery, and The Fiancé did not disappoint. Fast-paced, mysterious and so many red herrings - I truly enjoyed this book that kept me all night turning pages. Thanks, Goodreads, for the giveaway!

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Jan 25, 2021 Hillary rated it liked it

The story and pacing are fine, not exceptional, but not objectionable either. Unfortunately, the characters read like cardboard cut-outs. It isn't offensive, necessarily, but it became tiresome. ...more

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Feb 18, 2021 Kat rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021-published, e-arc, thriller, series, suspense, ebook

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-arc copy of The Fiancee. It is a great addition to the Bailey Weggins series. I think everyone will enjoy its twisted mystery.

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Feb 18, 2021 Candy rated it it was amazing

Very good book. Great characters and settings. This thriller had enough red herrings to keep the whodunit a mystery. The ending was a surprise.

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Feb 24, 2021 Betty rated it really liked it

Twisty, fast paced family drama. Couldn’t put it down!

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About Kate White

Kate White

1,581 followers

Kate White is the New York Times bestselling author of fifteen novels of suspense: seven standalone psychological thrillers, including Have You Seen Me? (an Amazon Editors’ mystery and thriller pick for 2020), as well as eight Bailey Weggins mysteries.

Her next suspense novel, The Fiancée, will be published on June 29, 2021.

For fourteen years Kate served as the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magaz ...more