The Second Marriage

by Rebecca de Winter

Emily Brigham had it all. A beautiful home. A loving husband and daughter she doted on. Now she’s locked behind bars.

Marriage was supposed to be easier the second time around. Emily had learned from her past mistakes. So, how did she end up here?

All anyone wants to know is why. Why did she do it? Everyone has a theory. Nobody knows the truth. Until now. Emily is finally ready to tell her side of the story. And the truth is more shocking than her lies…

With dark secrets, betrayal and complex family relationships, this twisty and unputdownable domestic thriller will keep you guessing until the very last page

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Womens, British Literature

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2024

About the author

Hi,

I’m Becky, your favourite Gothic first wife. When I’m not busy haunting second wives, I also write books. Amongst other things…

I have two kids, work in corporate consultancy, and live in suburbia – or as I call it, disturbia. My favourite movie is Thelma + Louise. I have ADHD, I’m deaf, synaesthetic and left-handed. I sometimes rock climb. I love weights and hate running.

My first word was book and as a child I wanted to be both an author and Madonna’s back up dancer. My short stories and flash fiction are published online. I’ve also been a finalist in several national novel writing competitions.

Just like my housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, I’m obsessed with dark, messy, complex, female protagonists – real women. They could be your colleague, your BFF, your wife, or mother, or girlfriend. They can be anything except cookie cutter – unless they are also a serial killer.

I love to write stories about the secrets people keep, the masks they wear – and what happens when their true selves are revealed. I also love to show you why people do the terrible things they do. Or sometimes, leave you guessing.

Books I’ve loved are Girl A, Notes on an Execution, My Dark Vanessa, The Marsh King’s Daughter, Skin Deep, The Push, The Family Upstairs, and of course, Gone Girl.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

UK title is The Second Marriage

2.5 round up

Emily Brigham is in prison for murdering her second husband. What’s the story there? What is Emily? A dangerous killer, a sociopath or even a psychopath or maybe she’s a victim. Maybe Naomi can get to the truth as she interviews her as part of her PHD thesis.

I liked the author’s last book so look forward to reading this. The first half is pretty good but then it derails in the second half with some statements of the blinking obvious, boring extraneous details, multiple rash and foolish actions and some things that are blindingly clear they’re flashing in neon. My eyes are spinning in my head never mind rolling. The pace is fine at first then it’s a plod. I feel no tension or suspense so you can’t class this as a thriller - it’s more domestic drama. I have no sympathy whatsoever with Emily as why she does some things is beyond me.

Overall, I become very bored despite the author chucking in everything but the kitchen sink. I can’t recommend it but I am an outlier so check other reviews if you’re interested in reading it!

Ps I’d you’re not keen on the door being open for some scenes then this isn’t for you.

Kindle Unlimited.

[Jayne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I circled back a second, third, and fourth time in an attempt to finish "The Second Marriage".

But just like many second marriages, it was not meant to be.

The book was all over the place.

I listened to the audiobook read by Tamsin Kennard, one of my favorite narrators.

Although Tamsin Kennard did a superb job with the narration, the book unfolded from multiple POVs and would have benefited from additional narrators.

"The Second Marriage" was my second book and least favorite title by author Rebecca de Winter.

DNF at 53%.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the start.
There’s two timeline and perspectives. Naomi’s perspective and Emily’s perspective. The story is centered on Emily’s life. She’s incarcerated for killing her husband. There’s so many parts of Emily’s life that show how she ended up in that position.

You almost feel bad for Emily. She’s an interesting character.
I wouldn’t say this book is a thriller more family drama or domestic drama.

[desiree(finally back) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this book expecting a psychological thriller, but to be honest, it didn’t deliver on that front. It felt much more like a domestic drama with emotional tension rather than suspense. The synopsis and prologue were promising and initially drew me in, but the momentum didn’t carry through the rest of the story.

Part One was heavily focused on character drama and back-and-forth conflicts, which at times felt repetitive and a bit dull. I didn’t find myself connecting with any of the characters, and while the dialogue was mostly decent, it occasionally veered into cringeworthy territory.

That said, I did enjoy the three untitled chapters (the recordings)—those added a layer of intrigue and stood out as the more compelling parts of the book. I also appreciated the dual POV and dual timeline structure, which helped keep the narrative somewhat dynamic.

Part Two dives into the past, offering some insight into how Emily became who she is. While it added some context, I still struggled to connect with her character. Part Three wrapped things up in a way that was just okay—there was one character’s storyline I liked the resolution of, but pretty much everything else felt kind of meh.

The book does touch on some heavy themes, but I felt they could have been explored more deeply to add real weight to the story. In the end, the plot felt somewhat disjointed, like a series of intense topics thrown together without enough cohesion.

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this one—it wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression. Mostly, I’m just glad to finally cross it off my TBR.

𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💐

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look at a woman's life as she navigates two marriages, a beautiful daughter and manipulating men who are determined to out women :"in their place." Naomi is writing a book about Emily's life and all of its struggles to "fit in," be a party girl, and take all life has to offer--even if it comes at a hefty price! Fortunately daughter, Anouk has better chances at happiness as Emily is in prison and has many regrets. This is a difficult novel to read as you will find yourself aching for Emily and her bad choices but rejoicing as we realize Anouk can learn from her mistakes!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Tina Tamman · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Psychological thriller"? This is what it says on the cover (I read a paperback) but I lasted not even a hundred pages before deciding to give it up. The thought of the fantastic twist at the end - also promised on the cover - did not keeping me going.
To give you an idea what it's all about imagine Sally Rooney writing about relationships with a crime in mind. A criminal "Normal People". Maybe I am simply too old for this.

[Heather Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the book #TheSecondMarriage by #RebeccaDeWinter. This book brought on feels that you bury deep down. Most women can relate to the things that happened. Emily lived her life to the fullest and always knew what she wanted. At least she thought she did. Something about her second husband doesn’t sit right. She needs to find out what happened long ago at the party that changed everything.

[Carina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are several undisclosed book trigger warnings!! Please look them up before reading this book.

I would call this more of a domestic drama with a side of abusive relationships. I went into this novel expecting a thriller with crazy twists and secrets kept by the husband and the wife (Emily), and the mysterious prologue only furthered that conception.

Basically the novel is split between 3 timelines: the early 2000s, where Emily was in college; the 2010s where Emily went from one marriage to her second; and 2023, where Emily is being interviewed by a PhD student while behind bars for some unknown crime. The crime is slowly revealed in the drama of the 3 storylines and their eventual intersection.

I thought the character of Emily was enjoyably morally grey. So many terrible and traumatic things happened to her in her formative years, yet she did some not great things to people who loved her in return. Liam was the unlikeable villain that he was written to be, and I am content with the way his storyline ends.

My biggest qualm with this book was that the first and second halves felt like completely different novels. In the first part, Emily plays the part of a stay-at-home mother and housewife in a small suburban neighborhood. She has a husband, daughter and friends, and it seems really quiet. Then she randomly begins to do some not traditional housewife things and the story is derailed from there. The second half of the story explores her abusive and exploitive relationship with a man from her past. The two halves don't mesh well together at all, despite some attempts to make it a cohesive story, so it felt a bit jarring. Along with that, there were a couple storylines that felt thrown in for fun (Instagram pictures, friendship with Billie, even Anna sort of) that further took away from the main plot.

Overall this was an interesting domestic drama, but I wouldn't necessarily classify it as thrilling or mysterious. It's a quick read so it's a great book for in-between books in a series or to switch up your genres briefly.

Thank you to Storm + NetGalley for this arc!

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tells the story of naomi who visits her mums friend Emily who is in jail for the murder of her husband. Its about how emily ended up there. Told on multiple timelines. This interweaves the truth about being a women at night and in an man's world.
This gripped me from page 1 and became a binge read. I was convinced there was more to the ladies connection. The story was full of emotion and gripping. Each character was flawed and it was powerfully revealed. I was glad of the epilogue because although I was gripped I had gueesed the truth so the epilogue redemmed the characters for me.
I would highly recommend thus as a 5 star read. Thank you so much netgallery and publisher.

[Addie Suckow · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was slightly disappointing for me as I though it was more of a psychological thriller when it seemed more of a drama with some thriller aspects. I was not really on the edge of my seat ever and there weren't any major bombshells that threw me. It was interesting in the plot but definitely important to read the trigger warnings ahead of time as there are some really dark and graphic scenes. I found myself skimming long chapters to push forward and just finish the book which is a sign for me that I'm getting bored with the plotline. The main character was pretty annoying too and at times I wanted to just yell at her to not be stupid. Not a strong showing and probably wouldn't recommend this book.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised to have been gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thankfully this seemed just like the kind of book that I am super into so I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. This book really packed a punch and was consistently leaving the reader wondering what really happened with our main characters Naomi and Emily. The book is in two different time frames the current where Naomi is interviewing inmate Emily about her crime of murdering her husband and the incarceration and then the book jumps to the past where we get to see things really play out. I really enjoyed how it was written this way because it gave the reader more information that our main character might not have been able to see. This also left two complex storylines intertwined which was very compelling as a reader I couldn't get enough of this story. I loved the plot and watching all of the stuff that led up to Emily's incarceration was fascinating. This book is very different from everything that I've been reading currently however I couldn't get enough of this one. I do believe part of what made this so interesting was the fact that there was only two main characters but even so each them was written so strongly that no extras were needed. I think that my favorite part had to be everything that was written through Emily's point of view. Her character was amazing and firstly and everything I love in a novel. I couldn't get enough. I loved this book and found myself flying through it at record speed. Even though Emily did a terrible thing I really found myself rooting for her character and that gives a lot to the author's talent. My emotions were all over the place with this story as things were ever changing. There were so many hard topics covered in this story but I found it not to be overwhelming. Overall I really enjoyed this book and was very sad when I had to put it down. I will definately keep my eyes on this author and any of her future works. Great read I loved every part of it.

[Joanna Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis threw me slightly, as it appeared the story would be beginning as Liam and Emily were about to get married. In fact, it starts way before then. Uni student Naomi, has gained access to Emily Brigham, currently serving time for manslaughter, in order to interview her for her PhD thesis. The Second Marriage moves back and forth between Emily's life as a student, then later as a suburban mother, and latterly in prison. Gradually Naomi begins to piece together her complex life, many years of which appear to have been under the influence of the rich, charismatic Liam.
Meeting Liam, Emily soon became obsesed with him, and even though as she related her story to Naomi, it was clear she was convinced they were in love, it was obvious how unhealthy their relationship was, and how she was being used. Being abandoned by him brought her to an all time low, but when Pete came into her life, things appeared to change. The birth of their daughter Anouk saw the couple settling down, with Emily in a new role as suburban housewife, looking after the home and Anouk as Pete's career advanced. However, a shocking discovery changed everything and the temptation to return old ways arose unexpectedly when newly divorced silver tongued Liam movesd into the area.

This well written novel charts the ease with which young, impressionable women can be lured into a partying lifestyle with older wealthy men. In this case an experience which inevitably ended badly with the death of Emily's best friend Anna. When Liam returned years later, Emily appeared to have no sense of danger or memory of what had gone before, and you felt disaster looming. Naomi's investigation gave a whole new interpretation of events which led to Emily being convicted and in some ways showed she was just as much a victim. I have to admit I was glued to this book, reluctant to put down such a gripping story.

I would like to thank Storm, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Second Husband, in exchange for an honest review.

[TrishAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly let me say that this is an unusual story, very well written, it covers numerous timelines but it flows well, I found it hard to put down and even harder to wonder how the story would pan out.
It begins with Naomi gaining access to prisoner Emily Brigham, Naomi wanted an interesting subject to interview for her PhD thesis and they didn't come any more interesting than Emily Brigham who was serving a sentence for manslaughter,
Emily had partied her way through college dragging her two friends to salubrious parties with wealthy older men, one such man was Liam who ran the parties, wealthy, good looking and insidiously controlling , Emily was drawn to him like a wasp to a jam pot, the relationship didn't end well.
The second phase of Emilie's life was when she met Pete, steady, loving Pete and they had their adored daughter Anouk. Emily was determined to be the cool wife, everything had to be perfect, a domestic Goddess, the best mum, being perfect ruled her life.........until it wasn't so perfect, two things happened that left her marriage, along with Emily's life, in tatters. Emily was at rock bottom and she was still searching for answers into the death of her best friend Anna, Anna who had always been there for her, had Emilie's actions led to Anna's death? that thought would always haunt her.
Finally Liam comes back into her life and Emily was again in his clutches, had he changed or was he still the deranged controlling character that he always was ? was Emily too involved to see the signs ?
This is a book that is disturbing on many levels, the characters aren't really likeable but I was drawn to them, this is the first book that I have read from Rebecca De Winter but I hope it won't be the last, I did knock one star off simply because I didn't really think that it was a psychological thriller.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, me review is entirely voluntary.

[Mamadukes · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE SECOND MARRIAGE by Rebecca de Winter was a thrill ride from start to finish. And what a shocking finish it was!

Naomi is working on her thesis and decides to interview Emily Brigham who is currently incarcerated for an ‘accident’ that took place on her wedding night. Emily thought her new marriage would be perfect, having lived through an abusive relationship in the past, but things are not always as they seem. As Naomi continues to meet with Emily behind bars, she learns more of her backstory and the events leading up to the shocking revelations on her wedding night and then what came after. Although we’re told early that there’s a connection between Naomi’s mother and Emily, we are never really sure what that connection is, but it is interesting to contemplate.

When an old flame re-entered Emily’s carefully constructive life, she is, once again led down a path of sexual experimentation and degradation to maintain a relationship she walked away from eight years ago. Will Emily continue with this old flame and re-enter another world or stay where it is safe?

This one had me hooked from early on with twists and turns coming from every direction. I was surprised with the decisions that Emily made and was cheering for Naomi to complete her thesis. The writing was clear and concise which led to an enjoyable read. I have not read Rebecca de Winter before, but will certainly be keeping her name on my list of up and coming authors to watch.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* An engrossing read despite the absolute deserving beotch that was Brigham. The title is misleading, though.

Hmm. This is a hard one to review, as I hated Brigham and how she treated her friends at 'those parties', how she let her supposed BFF Anna down - then went on to name her daughter after her - how she manipulated people and events, lied, gaslit, schemed and colluded with Drew (shades of MuskRat there, methinks) and Liam. But, it was a strangely mesmerising read because I kept waiting for the shoe to fall, which it did in a too-quick, too-convenient manner, and for the other secret that Brigham alluded to, and I kept wondering how much further she could fall. Quite a lot, actually. But, at the same time, she didn't lie to herself - just others - and she was a Tiger Mom, so there was the tiniest bit of redemption in my book, no pun intended.

The book's title and blurb are misleading and had they been less so, I wouldn't have ended up reading it. I kept waiting for the second marriage that happened so belatedly that it came at 93% of the tale gone. It felt like an afterthought, not the subject of the tale or Brigham's plotted end game. It felt like she got lucky with 2 stupid guys and in vino veritas.

On the plus side, it was well written and the author made someone so unpleasant and unappealing strangely addictive.

ARC courtesy of Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book by the author, the first ‘My Best Friend’ I read last year and loved

I think firstly I would say go way past the title as this book is so so and another so much more than it appears

It is a dark, sometimes very dark read about love, hate, manipulation, male sexual privilege and perceived entitlement, rage, toxic relationships and the word that would describe our main character Emily’s repugnance yet desire of the above

Talking of Emily, I found her hard to like but fascinating to read about and try and understand her motivations and wants, a truly complex person but she did have validity in lots she thought

Most of Emilys problems surround Liam, she was involved once so why is she allowing herself to become involved again and to what cost to her life ( and sanity ) to say he is abhorrent would be underplaying it, he is also as smooth as silk

It is worth saying the book does cover trigger points of sexual and psychological abuse, not shied away from

It is a powerful, unyielding in its narrative book that chilled and brought out strong emotions and the author I feel has set out to challenge readers, in my case it worked and would have to class it as an unforgettable book that will more than niggle you

An outstandingly well written unsettling book

[LindyLouMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rebecca de Winter has written a contemporary novel about how women, even in this modern age are often judged on their looks, before their abilities as a person.

Young women can it seems be so easily be lured into a false sense of security in relationships. This is exactly what happened with the protagonist Emily in this story. As a young woman she had an unhealthy obsessive and abusive relationship with a married man, Liam, whom she was very much in love with. In due course she is abandoned by him and ends up marrying and having a child with another man, Pete. She appears to be happy until Liam suddenly reappears in her life and everything starts to unravel.

It is suggested that this is a thriller, but I feel it fits better into the domestic drama genre. I neither loved or hated it and therefore can only suggest that it is an ok read if this sort of storyline appeals to you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm publishing for the opportunity to read and review 'The Second Marriage'

https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...

[Sarah Woodhouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out with such promise. In the end though, it's too much drama and hardly any mystery. It comes off more as a rant than an actual story.

I cannot in good conscience feel sorry for the MC and I definitely could not relate to her. I finished the entire book hoping things would change, but it promised a lot and did not deliver. There are huge plot holes in this that have not been filled in.

Just a woman's history back and forth that ends up with a woman's death. I'm sorry, but that's not a true mystery.

Emily knowingly ending back up in her own misery makes her very unlikable. Nothing was explained well. Plus, the hypocrisy was just astounding.

I really wanted to like this and I absolutely hate giving bad reviews. But honestly compels me to list why I have such issues with this book.

I do not recommend this book.

Thanks for to Net Galley, the publisher, and to Rebecca de Winter for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are mine and are completely honest.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super twisty story! This covered a few trigger worthy events/situations, so please check before getting into this story. The flipping POVs between Naomi & Emily were a bit confusing at first, and every time I put this book down and picked it back up again it took me a couple of pages to remember what the heck was happening and who was who! Once I could remember the characters and what was going on, I didn’t want to stop reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen!

There were definitely times throughout this story that I just wanted to punch some of the male characters, but the ending wrapped everything up nicely.

If you like twisty stories about marriage, relationships, affairs, toxic relationships and the aftermath of all of these things then this book is for you! This was a crazy rollercoaster of a story but so worth the read! I look forward to reading more books by this author, this was my first book by her. So I’m excited to see what else she writes! This is a must read!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book believing it was a thriller, but it wasn't. It was more of a domestic drama. The title is not appropriate for the book. The story isn't about Emily's second marriage, It's about her dealing with herself, her massive flaws, and what could have been. Yes, a second marriage takes place, but it's only discussed for a hot minute. The story follows three timelines and the author jumps from one to the other. The transition was not very smooth. There are some parts of the book that are just not believable. Especially Emily's responses to what her first husband does and her relationship with her "friend" Sarah. Yeah, no!!!

I understand the messages the author was trying to convey, but it just didn't work for me. It was well written and I did finish it just to see how it ended. It ended with justice so that was a big plus. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Therefore, 3 stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started off loving this book but I’m afraid it didn’t last long. I found the timelines confusing, and I thought Emily was a very, very, stupid woman. She brought so much of what happened on herself and I had absolutely no sympathy for her. Some of her actions were unbelievable, and everything seemed to go on and on and on. There were contradictions in the story too. Just one example: in chapter 4 we read “I never breastfed Anouk.” Then in chapter 10 we read “I’ve been devoted to her – I breastfed …”. OK, it’s just a little error, but it only takes an error or two for me to question the professionalism of the author and to put me off a book altogether. Yes, I know I’m anal at times but I cannot stand to see mistakes in a book. There shouldn’t be any! There were several proofreading errors in this one too – ‘and but then’ is just one of them – and lots of incorrect punctuation. On the positive side I thought the actual writing was great, but I’m sorry I won’t recommending this one.

[Carol Werner Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Second Marriage
by Rebecca de Winter
Pub Date: Sep 26 2024

The Second Marriage is advertised as A totally unputdownable psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming! I feel it's more of a domestic thriller drama, there is a second marriage but it really isn't discussed in much detail at all. The story follows three different timelines with many twists and turns during each one! The final twist was unexpected!

Synopsis: This twisty and unputdownable domestic thriller about betrayal and complex family relationships will keep you guessing until the very last page. I thought my second marriage would be different. He was everything my first husband wasn't – magnetic, successful… But I started noticing things. Small things at first, then bigger ones.

Many thanks to #TheSecondMarriage #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this 5 star domestic thriller!

[Lucille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Domestic noir is my favourite psychological genre and The Second Marriage fits the bill perfectly. It is told from different timelines and the points of view of Emily Brigham, who is in prison, and Naomi, a young woman who interviews her as part of her PhD. Emily was a woman who appeared to have it all: a happy marriage and a daughter who she loves. But one day a former lover appears in her life and threatens to upend the status quo, revealing Emily's sordid past. Lots of twists and turns ensue, culminating in the murder for which Emily has been imprisoned. I especially liked the final twist when Naomi's true purpose is revealed. The writer covers some very topical issues relating to #MeToo and the way powerful men abuse and control women, with Emily hell bent on seeking revenge at all costs. Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Eva Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Second Marriage by Rebecca de Winter in my opinion is an emotional family drama with an ending you would not expect! This book broke my heart! Seriously! Such a sensitive topic!
This book is an emotional overload! This book had me hooked from the start.

There are triple timelines but in general, the story is centered on Emily’s life. It's a sad story in general! The unfairness of life, the power game of others, the naivety of young age...

Naomi who is a PhD student is writing a book about Emily's life and interviewing Emily about her crime. We don't know what she did and why she did but we know she ends up in prison!

I know there is no justification for committing crime but some human beings just deserve to leave the earth!

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this copy!

[CAROLYN Wyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Second Marriage by Rebecca de Winter

The Second Marriage is a domestic thriller that goes between three timelines. The book begins with Emily being interviewed in prison following her arrest after her wedding years before. As she tells her story, you are taken on a roller coaster ride, where anything can happen. The book begins slow, with Emily seeing an ex and feelings resurfacing.

The multiple timelines actually work, keeping you drawn in, waiting to see what happens. The book definitely has a lot of trigger warnings, including con non con, non con, emotional and mental abuse and sa. This is one of those books that actually tell you who the murderer is from the very beginning, but her motives are revealed slowly.

Overall I enjoyed the story. It was slow in the beginning but when it picked up it delivered. The book is dark and twisty with surprises until the end.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4

This book totally drew me in from the first page. I have a hard time calling it a domestic thriller though. There weren't any plot twists or crazy jaw dropping moments, but that being said I devoured this book in one day. This story goes through 3 different timelines of Emily Brigham's life and the toxic relationship she had with Liam a much older man. I would definitely suggest checking out trigger warnings with this book (abuse and grooming), but it also shows the darker side of Emily too. It lets the reader decide how much of a victim she was - and if the things she did should hold her blameworthy as well. Again, it's hard for me to peg this book down, but if you want a toxic dark domestic book I'd recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eARC.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Name of Book: The Second Marriage
Author: Rebecca deWinter
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: September 26, 2024
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 310

Prologue starts with Naomi who is writing her PhD thesis and interviewing women. She states Emily would be perfect and then visits her in prison.
Things had been perfect for Emily perfect life - perfect husband- perfect daughter. However with Emily is now in prison. Not sure if her life had ever been ‘perfect’.

Story was more complicated not sure if that is the correct word but definitely more involved than I expected.

I want to thank to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this early this early eGalley
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 26, 2024.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy of The Second Marriage. Emily was a very complex character. The plot with her and Sarah were definitely farfetched, especially after finding out stuff. Pete definitely had double standards in the way he treated Emily. There was too much “me too” scenarios especially in dialogue with Emily and Anouk. Otherwise this was a good read, very disturbing how she was groomed by Liam and all that happened. I definitely felt bad for the girls at the parties, very sad to me. All in All an honest picture of manipulation and just how much as parents we don’t know what goes on in our young girls lives. Sad feeling when I was finished with this novel.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC I received from NetGalley.

I enjoyed this story, although I felt so bad for the MC Emily. Her life was rough with her mom, but she tried her hardest to provide. All her mom wanted was a better life for Emily. Emily tried. She went to college, she partied, made mistakes, moved past them the best she could, and married a good man. Had a kid. From the outside looking in, she’s the perfect wife, stay at home mom, wealthy, beautiful and has it all.

But a man from her past re-emerges in her life. Right after finding out about her husband’s indiscretions. So the author starts taking us through her history with him. It’s not pretty. It’s dark. It’s ugly. It’s deadly. It keeps you guessing who did what. Who is wrong? What would you have done?

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily seems to have the perfect husband, child, house, etc, and when someone from her past moves to town, she could lose everything. Struggling with her marriage and a small town scandal, Emily goes to great lengths to keep secrets hidden and protect her daughter.

Told from different viewpoints and back and fourth over multiple years, it was easy to follow along. The Second Marriage is not what I expected based on the blurb. While the authors writing style kept me interested in the story, the plot was not what I had imagined. A bit explicit for me and this theme was the focus of the story. Slower paced suspense with a few jaw dropping moments. The author does a good tying up loose ends.