My Other Husband by Dorothy Koomson

 

We meet Cleo Forsum Pryce as she is arrested for attempted murder. The story then moves back a few weeks to when Cleo decided to wreck her perfect life. She's a successful writer who's books have been turned into a popular TV series and is happily married to Wallace. Suddenly, with no explanation, she tells her husband she wants a divorce and the production company that makes her TV series that the series must end.

Alongside this we have a glimpse of Cleo 25 years earlier starting life as a student. Cleo strikes up a friendship with Heath. It's obvious that Heath wants to be romantically involved but Cleo is adamant they are only friends. Heath is willing to accept friendship - for now - but is determined that eventually Cleo will fall for his charms. Over time the friendship develops into a romantic relationship. Everything seems perfect until Cleo realises that Heath isn't who she thought he was and ends their relationship.

Back in our current time frame people close to Cleo are being seriously hurt and Cleo realises that Heath will never let her go.

From the opening pages this was an intense read. Right from the beginning, when the main character is arrested for attempted murder, you are wondering what has happened. This then cuts straight to a discussion with a solicitor and the discovery that bigamy can carry a seven year jail sentence and the intrigue really ramps up. From that moment I was hooked.

We see two very different sides of Cleo in the book. Current day Cleo, trying to end her marriage and her job, seems cold and impersonal. She's made a decision and sees no reason to have to explain herself to anyone. It's only as the story progresses that we realise Cleo is doing this to protect people and herself.

The Cleo from 25 years ago is confident, fun and naive; she takes the geeky Heath under her wing. She doesn't want a romantic relationship with him but hopes that by helping him transform from an "ugly duckling" into "a swan" he'll become more attractive to the opposite sex and less focused on her. This really does read like a romantic comedy (and Rom-Com's are even referenced in the book) but you quickly realise that Heath's interest is obsessive. Even as Cleo tries to put distance between her and Heath his possessive and controlling nature continually draw her back in.

You real feel the nightmare that Cleo is living as she tries to cut all ties with her current life as quickly as possible, before Heath hurts more people. She is hampered when the police suspect that recent attempted murders may be linked to her. It becomes a frantic race against time.

My Other Husband by Dorothy Koomson will be published on 18th August 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a review copy.