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A review by beate251
My Wife, the Serial Killer by H.J. Garbett
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.
Fran, an intelligent social worker, is happily married to straight-laced Gareth, a police detective. That could become a problem as unhinged Fran has just killed their new elderly neighbour Gordon O'Neill, and Gareth happens to investigate it. As we get into the story we realise this is already her second murder and she has plans for a third. It soon becomes clear why and that those murders aren't random. Fran grew up in a children's home so hasn't had the best start in life, and she still looks after Angus who is like a brother to her.
We get both Fran's and Gareth's first person POVs, which is very illuminating. They are trying to start a family together and Gareth has some trouble at work, so apart from Fran's murderous tendencies and Gareth coming across some fraudulent activities and being hindered by colleagues, this could be a standard marriage in a new home with a grumpy cat. But it isn't, and Gareth will have to come to terms with the fact he doesn't know his wife as much as he thought and that he will have to make a decision.
This is a straightforward story with no real twists or turns. I guess nosy neighbour Beryl and her mutt Tony provide some comic relief, plus Fran and Gareth have some good-natured banter going on but I wouldn't call it "hilarious" as the blurb does. In fact, it is quite an earnest exploration of childhood traumas and fraudsters with power, the rage about them and the unusual decisions some of us make to help those we love.
Some romantic heroes don't wear capes. Gareth gives new meaning to the "I would kill for you" declaration, and I was so here for it. It makes you question your own morals when you desperately want a happy ending for a killer! I really loved the main characters and how they try to keep the romance alive with tiny rituals and excellent cooking, plus having each others' backs. Minus the murdering this is #couplesgoals!
This is a well-written debut novel about love and marriage with a dark undertone that also holds a light up to the police force in general, but it isn't the book I expected from the blurb. It suffers from uneven pacing and I felt like I was always one step in front of the police and Gareth, wanting to shout "how do you not see the connection?" The ending also solves everything a bit too abruptly and neatly. Still, if you've always wanted to know how people become psychopaths while still maintaining a marriage, this book makes a good stab at explaining it. Stab, geddit?
Fran, an intelligent social worker, is happily married to straight-laced Gareth, a police detective. That could become a problem as unhinged Fran has just killed their new elderly neighbour Gordon O'Neill, and Gareth happens to investigate it. As we get into the story we realise this is already her second murder and she has plans for a third. It soon becomes clear why and that those murders aren't random. Fran grew up in a children's home so hasn't had the best start in life, and she still looks after Angus who is like a brother to her.
We get both Fran's and Gareth's first person POVs, which is very illuminating. They are trying to start a family together and Gareth has some trouble at work, so apart from Fran's murderous tendencies and Gareth coming across some fraudulent activities and being hindered by colleagues, this could be a standard marriage in a new home with a grumpy cat. But it isn't, and Gareth will have to come to terms with the fact he doesn't know his wife as much as he thought and that he will have to make a decision.
This is a straightforward story with no real twists or turns. I guess nosy neighbour Beryl and her mutt Tony provide some comic relief, plus Fran and Gareth have some good-natured banter going on but I wouldn't call it "hilarious" as the blurb does. In fact, it is quite an earnest exploration of childhood traumas and fraudsters with power, the rage about them and the unusual decisions some of us make to help those we love.
Some romantic heroes don't wear capes. Gareth gives new meaning to the "I would kill for you" declaration, and I was so here for it. It makes you question your own morals when you desperately want a happy ending for a killer! I really loved the main characters and how they try to keep the romance alive with tiny rituals and excellent cooking, plus having each others' backs. Minus the murdering this is #couplesgoals!
This is a well-written debut novel about love and marriage with a dark undertone that also holds a light up to the police force in general, but it isn't the book I expected from the blurb. It suffers from uneven pacing and I felt like I was always one step in front of the police and Gareth, wanting to shout "how do you not see the connection?" The ending also solves everything a bit too abruptly and neatly. Still, if you've always wanted to know how people become psychopaths while still maintaining a marriage, this book makes a good stab at explaining it. Stab, geddit?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug use, Infertility, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail