The Widow’s Husband is a tense and addictive psychological thriller that keeps you guessing from start to finish. Natasha Boydell masterfully unravels a story of grief, secrets, and suspicion, where nothing is quite as it seems. With sharp twists and a gripping pace, this is a compelling page-turner that will leave readers questioning every truth. Perfect for fans of dark domestic suspense.

He's meant to be dead. But I think he's back.

After years of being controlled and manipulated by her husband Frank, Maggie starts to come into her own after Frank passes away. After being mostly confined to her house while Frank was alive, now Maggie has the freedom to start to do whatever she wants. Taking walks around her neighborhood, talking with people in the shops, Maggie is ready to do it all. On one of her excursions, she sees a flyer for a psychic supper and decides that this would be a good way to get out and try to make some friends. But what the psychic reveals to Maggie has her questioning everything. As strange occurrences start to happen and the overpowering scent of Frank's aftershave becomes a daily event, Maggie starts to wonder if Frank has come back to control her once more.

This is definitely more of a quiet thriller rather than an in your face action-packed story. The story starts off pretty solid, but I found that it gets a little bit repetitive. Maggie our protagonist is trying to overcome years of gaslighting, manipulation and emotional abuse, so it's understandable that she would be leery and hesitant but it just feels like the pace was pretty slow. I don't know, this one just wasn't for me at this time but I will gladly pick up the next one by Natasha Boydell!

Thank you to NetGalley, Natasha Boydell, and Boldwood Books for this ARC! Publication date June 18th 2025.

Every once in a while, you read a book that slowly tightens its grip until you realize you’re all in, completely hooked, heart pounding, mind racing, and questioning everything. This was one of those reads.

This book had me doubting every single character. At one point, I even questioned if Maggie’s husband was really dead. That’s how deep this one got under my skin.

Maggie is just starting to rebuild her life after years under her controlling husband’s thumb. But a visit to a psychic changes everything. The message?
Frank is back.
And he’s watching.

From creaking doors to flickering lights, I loved how the author masterfully threaded the line between psychological unease and supernatural dread. The tension builds subtly at first, then accelerates as Maggie’s paranoia intensifies.

If you love twisty thrillers where the truth hides in plain sight and almost every character is a suspect, then this might be a really good pick.

Another cracking thriller from Natasha Boydell!

Maggie spent a lot of years being controlled by her husband, Frank. Following his death, she's just beginning to dredge up enough confidence to wander outside her home - a little walk around the village, for instance. That's when she spots the poster for a psychic evening in the local pub; whilst she's not a believer, it may be just the right place to make a few friends. However, the psychic has a message for Maggie - Frank's back! And when strange things begin to happen around the home, Maggie begins to wonder who has it in for her or, has Frank really come back?

Oh, the suspense! The tension just ripples through this one and I found myself quite unable to put it down, reading long into the night (early hours) until I finally found out exactly where it was all going. By the time I got there the bed sheets were twisted and turned several times over. Absolutely gripping and highly recommended, this is easily worth all five sparkling stars.

My thanks to the author for my copy via NetGalley.

This book has me gripped from the start. A real page turner and the whole way through had me guessing and getting it wrong most the time. Twists and turns till the end. Would highly recommend reading it

I read this book in just two days, which is unusually fast for me (maybe the book tour deadline helped 😅), but also a sign of how compelling the story was! It follows Maggie, a widow trying to rebuild her life after years of emotional and physical abuse. Watching her slowly reclaim her voice, her confidence, and her sense of safety was both heartbreaking and empowering.

Just as things start to settle, strange and unsettling events begin to unfold, and Maggie starts to question what’s real and who she can trust. The tension builds in a subtle, believable way that kept me hooked. Her thought patterns felt so raw and authentic—especially how trauma shaped the way she saw the world around her. I found myself really rooting for her.

I loved how the story managed to feel quiet and yet emotionally full, like not much was happening but actually everything was. The writing style was brilliant and very easy to follow. I guessed one twist, but the other genuinely surprised me. A few things didn’t entirely add up for me in the end, but overall, this was a gripping and emotionally rich read.

This was a very readable and enjoyable book. Characters were believable and understand how Maggie felt mentally unable to fully trust. Will be looking for more books by this author
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review this book

Creepy, twisty, and completely addictive! I was suspicious of everyone
At some point! Friends, neighbors, strangers, even Maggie’s husband being alive and I still didn’t see the ending coming. The romance plot with Gary added an interesting layer to all the tension and the slow unraveling of her world had me holding my breath. A chilling, gripping read that’ll leave you questioning everything!

Thank you to Boldwood Books via Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review was posted (Instagram, Goodreads, bookishlytara blog, Storygraph) on June 8, 2025. An additional post (with a reposted review) was posted on Instagram on the publication day as well as an Amazon Canada review. (links below)

From the very first chapter of this book, I was engaged! Admittedly, I'd never read a book that started this way so this felt entirely refreshing and curious. It was also the first time I'd read a thriller and wondered if ghosts were real and a house was genuinely haunted!

I can tell you now, I was suspicious from the get go - the suspense was next level!!!! Not only was this read full of suspense, this novel had layers . A perfect winter read and one I'll definitely be recommending in future.

Thank you so much to Boldwood Books for the e-ARC. This book is such a great representation of this genre.

I enjoyed the book it took a bit of time to understand storyline

Maggie has started venturing out of her house at last. Years of being held as a virtual prisoner by her controlling husband, Frank, she’s now free. She’s just taking little walks in the village, braving smiling at strangers, feeling delighted when they smile back.

Then, on one of her walks, she finds herself drawn to a poster in the window of the local pub, advertising an evening with a psychic. Maggie doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but decides it is the perfect place to finally meet some friends.

But the psychic has news for Maggie. She tells her that Frank is back. And that he’s got a message for her… And when strange things begin happening, Maggie can’t help but wonder – does someone have it in for her? Or could Frank have found a way to come back for her?

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

I love psychological thrillers and I really enjoyed this. It gripped me from the start and had me guessing the entire way through. Great for any fans of Freida McFadden, John Marrs an TM Logan.

The pacing was fast, the plot was twisty and suspenseful.

4 stars.

Fans of Freida McFadden, John Marrs, and Alice Feeny....here is your next read! Keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time, I could not put this one down. Thrilling, mysterious, sinister...this book has it all. You think your husband is dead, but is he really? Considering all the sinister and suspicious things going on, I started to really wonder. The characters are relatable and portrayed very well and this book will send chills down your back.

I can't wait to read what's next from Natasha Boydell!

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Natasha Boydell, and NetGalley for the eARC opportunity. This book is set to be released on June 18, 2025, RUN to get your copy today!

Maggie is newly widowed but doesn’t feel Frank her tormentor of a husband has actually gone, he ruled her life when alive now it seems he is back to further rule and ruin in his demise…..but he’s dead so how can he?

Now, Maggie, what a character for a reader to get to know, she is reassuringly normal and has many foibles ( mainly due to Franks treatment of her ) but I instantly warmed to her, her honesty and vulnerability and the way she spoke and reasoned with herself was not only genuine but she created a feeling of wanting to protect her, it may sound odd but her character and thought processes really dug deep and I wanted her to succeed and be happy for once, the way she delighted in making a friend after so long not having one was touching and I admired her facing her fears and anxieties when so easily the status quo could have stayed

Yep I liked her a lot

As for the story well that builds and builds and gets more intriguing as it goes on, we are also privy to Maggie’s past as various chapters sneek back and look at her life before and with Frank

An emotion driven great read

The Widow's Husband was a slow burn for me. But once I got hooked, I was able to fly through the rest of the book. I love thrillers and this will not be my last book by Natasha Boydell

Natasha Boydell delivers a gripping and psychologically intense thriller in The Widow’s Husband. This twisted tale unfolds with expertly timed reveals, creating a narrative laced with tension, secrets, and emotional depth. The story’s unpredictability keeps readers on edge as it navigates a series of shocking revelations and dramatic turns.

At the heart of the novel is Maggie, a remarkably well-crafted character whose fear and internal struggle are palpable throughout. Boydell captures her voice with authenticity, allowing readers to truly experience her vulnerability and the looming presence of Frank, whose chilling hold adds a deeply unsettling layer to the plot.

With its steady build-up and compelling emotional weight, The Widow’s Husband is a standout in the psychological suspense genre. It’s a riveting read that grips from the first page and refuses to let go—a must-read for fans of dark domestic thrillers.

Another masterpiece from Natasha Boydell! I am yet to read a book of hers I don’t like, but honestly I feel like they just keep getting better! She’s a pro at building suspense and hitting you with multiple plot twists! A must read for all psychological thriller fans!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC

I really enjoyed The Widow’s Husband—it’s a tense and gripping psychological thriller that kept me guessing until the end. Maggie’s story of escaping a controlling relationship and facing her past felt raw and powerful. The eerie atmosphere and the twisty plot had me hooked, blending suspense with emotional depth perfectly. If you like thrillers that mess with your mind and explore trauma, this one’s a solid read!

Thanks so much for the ARC! I grabbed sin e it said to read if we liked Lisa Jewell or Freida M. This was great, and definitely scary! The cover dree me in too. Thank you

This was my first book by this author and I was pleasantly suprised. While it did not hook me from the start, once I was in I was held in suspence, became very suspicious of every single character and just needed answers. A good thriller

The Widow's Husband
by Natasha Boydell
Pub Date: Jun 18 2025

The Widow's Husband is a masterpiece that combines elements of mystery and suspense. It was impossible to put the book down once I started reading it. Full of suspense, plot twists, I absolutely loved the characters, loved the story, can't say enough about this book!

Synopsis: Maggie has started venturing out of her house at last. Years of being held as a virtual prisoner by her controlling husband, Frank, she’s now free. She’s just taking little walks in the village, braving smiling at strangers, feeling delighted when they smile back. Then, on one of her walks, she finds herself drawn to a poster in the window of the local pub, advertising an evening with a psychic. Maggie doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but decides it is the perfect place to finally meet some friends. But the psychic has news for Maggie. She tells her that Frank is back. And that he’s got a message for her… And when strange things begin happening, Maggie can’t help but wonder – does someone have it in for her? Or could Frank have found a way to come back for her?

Many thanks to #TheWidowsHusband #NetGalley & #BoldwoodBooks for providing me an E-ARC of this book.