Jude and her daughter Betsy recently moved to Lowbridge, and are trying their best to fit in. Betsy made a new best friend at school, Millie, and her dad Will, is more than just friends with Jude. The Queen Bee of the mum's group Victoria, is keen to uncover the truth about Jude and Will's relationship, but she can't get the gossip going unless she organise a garden party at her residence and pump Jude for the information. Little does she, and her group members, Shahina, Dawn and Audrey know that this one night is going to alter the course of their lives forever.

This book is a perfect example of unputdownable psychological thriller and I cannot recommend this book enough. It has a lot of characters and the reader may be discouraged thinking it will be hard to keep track of everything that is going on, but the ending joins all the dots and makes perfect sense. The title of the book only makes sense when the story reaches its climax. The character development of the main characters are praiseworthy and so is the plot building. I finished the last thirty percent of the book in one sitting, that is how fast paced and nail biting it gets. The book is not more than 400 pages and can be finished in seven to eight hours.

Overall, this book is highly recommended if you're a fan of One of us is Dead by Jeneva Rose or a fan of gripping thrillers. If you know a young adult or adult who enjoys mysteries with closed door spice, this can be a great gift.

I always eagerly await the new book from C.L Taylor so was very excited to read this one. As ever, such a fantastic plot with brilliant characters and you never really know what is going to happen next. So clever. Definitely recommend to all and if you have never read any of C.L Taylor's books before, you are in for a treat.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

A newish author to me

I absolutely loved this

Very suspenseful and twisty turny. Loved it

This is an average read. There are far too many characters to keep up with. And I lost the thread a few times. I would not have finished the book if I wasn’t reviewing it. The plot twists were weak too.

I have been on a real thriller kick recently, and this did not disappoint. The number of characters sharing their POV's could be a tad confusing at times, but also kept the story interesting and engaging overall. I know some people don't enjoy books with unreliable narrators, but I love them and the way they keep me guessing. As a teacher, I loved reading about parents full of drama because I have dealt with my fair share of shady school parents in my 11 years of education lol. I also enjoyed the single mom looking for love aspect as well because I am also (unfortunately) a single mom, and this reminded me that maybe that isn't always a bad thing, because you truly never know some men's motives. I mean, your first wife is dead, and your new girlfriend is missing? Anyone would be skeptical, and these characters were no exception. If you want a domestic suspense rife with drama, twists, gossip, and unreliable characters, look no further.

This book was gripping from the start and I could not put it down, it was extremely fast paced and a real page turner. I thought the writing style was good and I really enjoyed how each chapter perspective worked its way through the group of ‘friends’. Even though there were a lot of different characters, I found myself straight away invested in each of the characters and their dynamic within the group.

In terms of the plot, I wouldn’t say this was anything out of the ordinary when it comes to a group of friends / school mums in a small town kind of thriller, however I did still thoroughly enjoy it. There were lots of twists through the book and I liked the fact no stone was left unturned and all questions were answered.

Overall this was an enjoyable book and I would recommend. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC!

It’s Always the Husband by C.L. Taylor was such a thrilling read! From the moment I started, I was hooked by the suspense and the secrets unfolding between the characters. I loved how the story focused on the complexities of relationships, with Jude’s journey being full of twists and turns. The small-town setting added a nice touch of mystery, and I found myself guessing at every turn, unsure who to trust. The pacing was spot on—just enough to keep me turning pages without feeling rushed. It’s a perfect pick if you enjoy psychological thrillers that dive deep into character-driven suspense and drama.

It’s Always the Husband by C.L. Taylor is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. The layered mysteries and shifting dynamics between the characters made it hard to put down—I constantly wanted to know what was coming next. Taylor does a great job weaving in tension and suspicion throughout. My only reason for not giving it a full five stars is that I figured out the antagonist earlier than I hoped, which took away a bit of the final punch. Still, a very enjoyable read and one I’d recommend to anyone who loves twisty psychological thrillers.

Really enjoyed this story, jude the main protagonist is a likable character and the premise built around the playground and parents cliques was an interesting and relatable one. Enough twists and turns to keep.me engaged.

Too many characters and a slow, plodding pace made it difficult for me to engage initially with this one. There are about 8 “main” characters sharing their POVs in different chapters. At first, each of them sounded about the same: bored suburban moms desperate for something, anything to happen around them. I struggled to keep track of them all.

However, the pace does pick up and I really enjoyed the mystery and the action for the second half of the story. I also love that we’re left with a giant question mark at the end. Was it a little too neat? Sure, but I still liked it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Finished this in a weekend!

It's not my favourite C L Taylor book I've read BUT I still really enjoyed it!!!!

Full of school run drama, blackmail, secrets, affairs and betrayal

There were a lot of characters in this book which I found a bit confusing initially, but once you figure out who's linked to who it's easier to understand!

To sum the book up in a sentence: a group of school parents are full of secrets and drama, but one has a bigger secret - one is a k*ller

The book follows the POV of 3 parents and has some unreliable narrator vibes (especially as one character is a notorious liar) so you're never quite sure who to believe

Welcome to Lowbridge. Where secrets hide behind every door… When newly divorced Jude arrives in the small town of Lowbridge, she is soon drawn to widower Will, the father of her young daughter's best friend. But Will's past is shrouded in tragedy, with questions that no one knows the answer to and after two tragedies tore his life apart in just a few short years, gossip and rumours abound about what really happened to the women he loved! Good book! This book had a few wild twists! It also had good suspense, intriguing, murder, gaslighting, mystery, and a few shocking moments! The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

The question is, ‘ is he innocent OR guilty?’
what do you think?

Well, what can I say but WOW. Another fantastic publication by CL Taylor, I absolutely loved all the twists and turns in this story keeping me guessing with every chapter.
I wasn’t expecting the truth to be so difficult to realise with all the different details involving the school mums and their individual experiences with the guilty party.

Life is not always what it seems behind closed doors and that becomes true when the diary is found, but who has it now? Chinese whispers amongst the mums leads to distrust and questions being asked about where Robyn has gone and is she really dead or living a new life?

Buy this book to find out on JUNE 5TH

Gossip? Or truth?! Better think fast…your life depends on it!
Following her divorce, Jude and her daughter Millie move to a new town. Which means a new school for Millie. And with that comes all the gossip from the moms at the school pick-up!

The latest tidbit from the rumor mill is that Will, the father of Millie’s new best friend may be a murderer! Wait…whaat? Well, his first wife accidentally died😉, and his second partner all but vanished into thin air, so it’s safe to assume she too, is dead.

Uh-oh, I see a pattern developing here!

Maybe it’s time for Jude to take a moment and think about this.
After all, her daughter may be spending time with her bff at Will’s home. And Jude herself is smitten by Will (yup, that happened😅) Maybe she should take these warnings a bit more seriously! Gee,Ya think!?

This was another entertaining thriller from C.L. Taylor. In fact, it’s my fifth read by her. All delivering a great twisty ride that leave me looking forward to her next.

Have you been searching for a fun, light thriller for your next read? Look no further! 🤓🍿📚

Thank you to a NetGalley and Avon Books UK

C L Taylor knows how to pull together a gripping domestic noir and It’s Always the Husband is no exception. Small town claustrophobia is rife and rumours surround Will. His first wife died and his second has disappeared. Three strong female characters provide different narrative points in this multi faceted mystery that’s tense from start to finish. It’s clever to take a seemingly simple situation and turn it into something more sinister. Are any of the characters reliable? What’s true, what’s speculative gossip. Should the newcomer be unsettled by past events? Great escapist fiction, kept me intrigued from the start. Well written and a genuine page turner. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

A great set of very well written characters surround an intriguing storyline. Will is the subject of a lot of school mum gossip after his first wife dies and second goes missing. Is he really guilty? This story is told from the viewpoint of some of the different characters. It never alows down and keeps you gagging to find out what is going to happen next. Thank you for the advance read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jude and her young daughter have recently moved to the town of Lowbridge. She soon makes friends with Will, the dad of her daughter’s best school friend. Both being single parents mean they bond quickly and start a casual relationship. However, Will is ostracized by the other school mums and rumours are rife about the death of Will’s wife and disappearance of his latest girlfriend.
The story is told from various points of view and includes a lot of characters, mainly the school mums and their partners. For this reason, I struggled to follow the plot and what was going on. I also found the plot to be quite dragged out and could have been more tense and gripping. Having read and enjoyed other books by this author, this book wouldn’t put me off reading more by her in the future.

Numerous storylines surround the mums at the school gates in this latest fast paced read by C.L.Taylor. Victoria, the alpha female, has plenty to say about everyone, not least Will, the lone male at the gates. His first wife Ali died and his 2nd,Robyn, went missing a couple of years previous.
Sorrrel's husband Finnley is struggling with depression and when he phones Sorrrel in a state of panic, she's horrified when she gets blackmail messages about an accident Finnley has been involved in.
Jude is a newbie, no previous knowledge of past events she's looking to embark on a relationship with Will, The others are keen to warn her off.
Despite multiple voices and characters this great novel isn't overwhelming. The chapters flow easily, and there are plenty of red herrings throughout. It's intriguing, clever and a unique story.

It’s Always the Husband by C.L. Taylor is a gripping domestic thriller that plays out in the deceptively serene setting of the school run. When newly divorced Jude moves to Lowbridge, she quickly finds herself entangled in a web of gossip, secrets and suspicions centred around the mysterious Will, a single dad whose past is full of unanswered questions.

Told through multiple perspectives, the story weaves together the lives of Jude, Will, and the other school mums and their families. At times, the sheer number of characters and overlapping storylines can be a bit overwhelming, but once you get into the rhythm of it, the payoff is worth it. The drama unfolds steadily, with twists that kept me second-guessing throughout.

This was an addictive read for me. I loved the tension, the secrets, and the way every character seemed to have something to hide. A brilliant pick if you enjoy stories where seemingly ordinary lives mask darker truths.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

**What a fantastic read!** This book dives into the lives of a group of parents who drop their young kids off at school each morning—where all the moms are vying for a spot in the elite inner circle. Gossip flows effortlessly as they meet up for coffee in the park, indulge in wine-fueled dinners, and throw lavish house parties. But not everyone is welcomed equally—some moms (and girlfriends) are clearly on the outside looking in, though they still crave inclusion.

Then there’s the only single dad in the group, who’s been unfairly labeled due to a past accusation he can’t seem to shake. The clique keeps that stigma alive, making sure he doesn’t forget. He’s supposed to be off-limits... until one mom starts getting a little too close—and that’s when the real drama kicks off.

Secrets unravel—affairs, disappearances, a hit-and-run, even murder—everything seems to trace back to the clique. I couldn’t put this book down! And just when you think everything’s been revealed, that final twist leaves you wanting more.

**An absolutely gripping read!** Huge thanks to NetGalley and C.L. Taylor for the chance to dive into this one.