Sandy M’s review of My Loving Husband by Sheryl Browne
Psychological Thriller published by Bookoutour 7 Apr 25
I’ve been into psychological thrillers over the last couple of years, all thanks to Darby Kane, who’s been a favorite of mine for years under her HelenKay Dimon pseudonym. Her new foray into this genre has been the perfect direction for her. So when I saw this book by Ms. Browne (my first by her), I thought maybe I should expand my own horizons. But I’m not sure she’s the right choice for me.
My biggest nitpick with this story is the repetition, each character going over and over the same thoughts and even sometimes conversations until at least three-quarters of the way through. I started skimming through those portions after about the half-way mark.
Maddie has been getting telephone calls and texts that put her on a journey to doubt her husband of eighteen years. They have three children and a love she thought would never die. She eventually does talk to Cole, a neurosurgeon, after she realizes he comes home later and later and other little things that keep her mind occupied with something nefarious going on as far as he’s concerned, but they never far after apologies and interruptions. We do find out Cole does have a secret, but he’s not going to his wife either so they can each talk about all this stuff, despite the gravity of the issues. That’s my next nitpick. Eighteen years of marriage and three kids, and Maddie won’t talk to her husband? She keeps filling her own head with question after question – all bad – until she’s talked herself into believing every text she receives. The same sort of goes for Cole not talking to Maddie, but his secret is a bit more grave.
Cole does his best to put Maddie’s fears aside, once he knows about those texts – and he knows who’s sending them. They both vow to themselves they won’t let anything happen to their family, but, of course, that doesn’t quite work like they hope. They each have a best friend to talk to after a while, but even those two have their doubts. Heck, even Cole’s daughter and mother doubt him. There’s no trust to be had in this family after having a nearly idyllic life up until now. That’s one of the worst tropes for me. At least his daughter eventually comes around, after sharing her own horrible incident with her father.
Now, the best part of the book for me? About the last quarter. Several twists and turns that did surprise me finally occur, and the ending is pretty darned good. But that’s almost too little too late, because by that time I was pretty irritated with everything and everyone. So I don’t think I can recommend this book, especially because it just doesn’t stand up to what Darby Kane does in her thrillers. Proceed with caution.
Grade: C-
Summary:
Can I really trust the man I married?
I take a sip of coffee as I plan my day. My surgeon husband, Cole, slept at work last night, so I had to get the kids ready on my own, again. I can’t complain, though, I’ve loved him ever since we met, long before he became a famous surgeon and the papers started calling him the pride of the hospital.
Our latest family photo hangs on the kitchen wall and I remember that day so clearly. Cole screamed at me over nothing, then apologised saying he was stressed at work. My heart pounded with fear, but I plastered a smile on my face for the sake of my children.
Now, as my phone buzzes on the glossy white kitchen island, I read the message from a withheld number, and nothing could have prepared me for what it says. Your husband is planning to kill you…
You might think you know what I do next, but you’ll be wrong, because Cole isn’t the most dangerous person in this family…
