A twisty, darkly funny psychological thriller about obsession, secrets, and the perfect marriage gone very wrong
Release date: June 30, 2026
Publisher: Poisoned Pen
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
From bestselling indie thriller writer Natalie Barelli comes a new deliciously dark novel about a woman who married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare.
Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.
When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy’s past appears―obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah’s death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.
But Jodie won’t be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined―and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.
Review:
This is pure popcorn thriller chaos in the best way. Jodie is completely unhinged—in a way that somehow makes you keep rooting for her even when you probably shouldn’t. She’s witty, sarcastic, impulsive, and wildly unreliable, but she’s also magnetic. The kind of anti heroine you watch spiraling and think: why am I still on your side?
The tone leans darkly comedic in a way that really works. There’s a sharp edge of humor running through the tension, which keeps the story from ever feeling too heavy even when things get disturbing. It’s fast, addictive, and constantly shifting, just when you think you know what Jodie is going to do next, she does something completely unhinged instead.
Is it predictable at times? Sure. Some twists land in the “I saw that coming” category. But honestly, it doesn’t really matter because the ride is the point here. It’s messy, bold, a little over the top, and completely entertaining from start to finish.
This is the kind of thriller you read in one sitting because you need to know how far it’s willing to go.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
- Unreliable, morally gray narrators
- Dark domestic thrillers with obsession and control themes
- Fast paced “read in one sitting” stories
- Black comedy mixed with suspense
- Anti heroines you shouldn’t trust but can’t stop watching
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 