The next electrifying novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind The Wife Between Us.

Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all—until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband. Enter Avery Chambers.

Avery is a therapist who lost her professional license. Still, it doesn’t stop her from counseling those in crisis, though they have to adhere to her unorthodox methods. And the Bishops are desperate.

When they glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.

I’ve read and enjoyed a couple of Sarah Pekkanen books, but this was the first one I’ve read where she co-authored, and I really enjoyed it.

I’m a huge fan of domestic thrillers where you really can’t trust anyone, and this was 100% one of those books. Believe me when I say I was suspicious of every single character. I didn’t trust anyone, and that’s exactly how I like it.

The story centers on Marissa and Matthew Bishop, a wealthy couple living in the Washington suburbs. From the outside, they look perfect. Beautiful home, successful careers and an eight-year-old son. But underneath all that polish, their marriage is falling apart. Marissa has been unfaithful and she has a lot of guilt around that. She wants to fix things. She loves her husband, and she wants to keep their family intact, but traditional therapy hasn’t worked for them. At the recommendation of a friend, they turn to Avery Chambers, a woman who used to be a licensed therapist but lost her credentials. She still counsels people in crisis, but she does it through unconventional methods.

The Bishops are desperate, so they agree to work with Avery, but the second Marissa confesses her infidelity, all three of them are set on a collision course. Because the affair is just the surface. The real secrets are still buried, and it’s not just the marriage that’s in danger anymore.

What I loved about this book is how much it kept me guessing. I had theory upon theory about who was betraying who, who was guilty, who was innocent, and I was suspicious of everyone. Marissa seemed like she was hiding more than just an affair. Matthew seemed too calm. Avery seemed too invested. And the more I read, the more I questioned everything.

It wasn’t until the very end when it all came together that it finally made sense, and I loved that. The reveals were satisfying without feeling cheap, and even though I didn’t see them coming, they made perfect sense once they were laid out.

I also loved that the book didn’t try too hard or overcomplicate things. Some thrillers get so tangled up in their own cleverness that they collapse under the weight of it. This one stayed focused. The pacing was great, the story moved quickly without feeling rushed, and the tension built steadily without dragging. The characters are well-developed and complicated. Everyone has layers and motives and everyone is hiding something.

I also appreciated that the book didn’t wrap everything up in a tidy bow. Some domestic thrillers feel the need to explain every little detail and make sure every character gets exactly what they deserve. This one doesn’t do that. It resolves the main story, but it leaves some things messy and that felt realistic.

This is a solid collaboration between Pekkanen and Hendricks. The writing is tight, the story is engaging, and the characters are complicated enough to keep you interested. If you’re looking for a good mystery with messy characters, definitely check this one out. If you love domestic thrillers where no one is who they seem, or if you enjoy books that keep you guessing until the very end, you’ll have a great time with this. I’ll definitely be looking for more books from this duo.

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