2021 Book Review #5: The New Husband

 

I believe this is the first novel I've ever read by this author  and it won't be the last.

This was one fast-paced, page turner of a story that had me staying up way too late to "read just one more page". 

STORY SUMMARY

Nina Garrity was married to Glen Garrity and they lived in the town of Seabury, NH.  They had 2 young teens:  Connor,age16, a football player at the local high school, and Maggie, age 14 and a lacrosse player.  They appeared to be an upper middle  class family, with Nina running the household, and Glen who worked in finance and also loved to fish on his boat.  One Saturday Glen took the boat out to Lake Winnipesaukee with their dog Daisy. Daisy came home.  Glen disappeared.

Nina learned the hard way that her husband...now  considered missing (since no body was found in the lake) was leading a double life.   And with another woman!  She cannot confront him about the affair as he's either drowned or gone somewhere.  But it's now 18 months later and Nina has found love again. She is hoping to put her and the kids' shattered lives together again. 

Simon, who is a science teacher at Maggie's middle school, and a widower, is still grieving the death of his wife Emma whom he says committed suicide.  His first wife, Allison, left him. He thinks he has finally found his dream girl....Nina. Connor totally embraces Simon as a father he wishes his real dad had been.  Maggie, however, doesn't like Simon and thinks there is something "off" about him.  She sees a dark side to him that no one else can seem to see.

Nina's two best friends, Susanne and Ginny, don't really care for Simon either.  They think he is too controlling and possessive. 

How can Simon know Nina so well? they wonder. 

When Nina begins to question herself and begins to see that some things are just not adding up when it comes to Simon's history, she begins to think that maybe she shouldn't have rushed into buying a new house with him and moving the kids clear across town. She thinks "Just because you love someone, doesn't mean you know them".

And then the unthinkable happens:  Maggie gets a text message from her Daddy.  It's Glen. And yet he swears her to secrecy and says things can get bad if she tells anyone they are texting.

Things begin to spiral at home into dangerous situations.  NIna's therapist ends up beaten and almost dead at the hands of a burgler just the day after Nina gets Simon to agree to go to therapy with her.  Emma's brother, Hugh, who has told Nina that she isn't safe with Simon, ends up dead of a supposedly overdose.  

And then Nina finds out the real truth about Allison....and Emma...and...could she be next??

What is SImon planning on doing to Nina and the kids??  and where is Glen??

MY THOUGHTS

This book is a fast paced story.  Each chapter had me turning to the next chapter with bated breath as I began to wonder what was going to happen next.

The character development is so well executed and rich in details.  We read this story in Maggie's voice, Nina's voice and then......Glen's.  When you find out just exactly what happened to Glen and how Simon is involved, you will have trouble putting the book down!

The various themes in this story are all interwoven in among the family and Simon:  Fear of abandonment, drug addiction, suicide, depression, loneliness, Autism Spectrum Disorder,  bullying, single parenthood, career vs family life;  emotional and physical abuse. 

I don't want to ruin the plot for you and give anything away but this is a must read if you like thrillers with a bit of mystery and family drama. 

I was cheering for Nina and Glen at the end and most of all for Maggie.  

There was one quote that really jumped out at me.  It is in the voice of Maggie:

"I believe we all want the same things out of life. We want to be loved, accepted,  to belong to something, or someone, to feel wanted and valued. Sometimes we make poor choices on this journey. Instead of sitting in judgement of those choices, let's help each other get back on the right path......" (pg 373 The New Husband, by D.J.Palmer c. 2020)

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older. (due to some mature content)

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.