02 November 2022

This book was my hundredth book read for 2022 (and the book that had me completing my GoodReads reading challenge). I am loving this author’s work at the moment, she writes a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The Marriage is a shocking tale told beautifully. You will battle to put this book down.

K.L. Slater introduces realistic characters that you will quickly either like or dislike as the story unfolds. You are drawn into the characters’ lives and quickly find yourself invested in where all the drama will end. I loved how engrossed I was reading this book. The Marriage is a brilliant escape that leaves you feeling connected to the characters.

Ten years after Jesse was murdered, his mom marries the man who killed him. Tom was Jesse’s best friend – they grew up together and now Tom is starting a life with Jesse’s mom – a woman twenty years his senior.

No one understands why these two ended up getting married. Everyone is speculating and gossiping. How can you ever forgive a man that killed your only child?

This book delivered a shocking story that left me curious. The idea of a mother marrying the man who killed her only child is beyond imagination. The author delivered an intriguing read that left me drawn into the characters’ lives as I eagerly flipped the pages eager to discover what was going to happen next.

The characters in this book are brilliant.

Jill – Tom’s mom – is your typical mother. She loves her son and battles to believe that Tom can do anything wrong. She wants her child to be happy and safe no matter what the cost. She will do whatever it takes to ensure her child’s future. Jill forgets that Tom is no longer a child, and she can be a little controlling – yet that adds to her appeal. Jill’s emotions drop off the pages and you find yourself sharing her concern for her child. The author did a marvellous job with this woman. I loved her.

Robert – Jill’s husband and Tom’s dad – this man is a piece of work. He is distant and from the start, he comes across as cold. I did not enjoy this man at all. The further into the book you get, the more you dislike this man. He is a horrible man.

While you only get to know Jesse through the other characters in the story – this young man did not win any popularity contests. He appeared to be a troublemaker and his death did not cause any surprises. While Tom appeared to be a bit of a follower, he remains a dark character that I battled to form an opinion of. He is not what he appears to be. This man is sketchy.

Coral was a vulnerable bystander, or was she? This woman appears weak and insecure and she has no problem taking advantage of Bridget. I struggled with her lack of independence. Her dedication to her son felt a little too much like a convenience – she finally stands up for her child, but then she returns to old habits all too quickly. However, she was a great addition to the story.

This book was a gripping read that managed to keep me curious from start to end. I loved the characters and the way the author kept me glued to the pages. This was an unusual tale full of surprises along the way.

If you enjoy a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you second-guessing everyone along the way, then this is a book you will want to add to your TBR – I loved it.