Beth Murphy has fled her abusive marriage and is on the run. She has been planning her escape for almost a year; one misstep and her husband will find her.
Jeffrey Hardison returns from a work trip to a messy house and a missing wife. At first he thinks Sabine, who is a successful real estate agent, has a late showing. After cleaning the house and repeatedly calling her, his annoyance is replaced by concern.
Ingrid, Sabine’s twin sister is worried. The pair talk several times a day and share everything—Ingrid knows Jeffrey isn’t as picture-perfect as he looks. You see Sabine is the bread winner, and Jeffrey’s comfortable standard of living is at risk if she doesn’t return.
With a search of the home revealing that she has taken almost nothing with her, and an abandoned car as evidence, the police suspect foul play. Marcus is the officer assigned to the case. With the evidence pointing to Sabine’s husband, Marcus is desperate to find out exactly what happened and to bring Sabine home.
Where is Sabine? Who is “Beth”?
I know what you’re thinking…another domestic thriller with a missing wife. Yes, this has been played out several times before, but Belle’s take is fresh, whip-smart, and expertly executed. Of course there are clues along the way (that’s how this genre works), but I promise that there are several whiplash inducing twists that will completely blindside you.
Riveting from the very first page, the narrative is told through three points of view: Beth’s, Jeffrey’s, and Marcus’s. Not only is the reader trying to figure out who Beth is, but Belle also tasks them with unravelling which wife belong to which husband—there’s even a lover in the mix. And she never gives anything away until it is blatantly obvious.
Besides the flawless writing, what I loved about this book is that it was completely believable. At no point does the reader have to suspend their disbelief. This is so refreshing! I feel that it is a bit lazy of an author to ask this of their reader. If your story is not believable, why am I pretending it is? Belle deftly crafts suspense, delivering a strong narrative that is appropriately paced.
This is an exceptionally executed thriller that is taut with suspense. Without giving anything away, readers will be delighted that the ending is a total surprise.
KIMBERLY BELLE is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of five novels of suspense. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Agnes Scott College and has worked in fundraising for nonprofits at home and abroad.
Belle divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
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