This week's new book releases deliver a powerful trio of psychological thrillers, promising to keep readers on the edge of their seats. From a terrifying case of stolen identity in Cornwall to a baffling murder confession, these novels explore the darkest corners of the human psyche.
My Husband's Wife: A Chilling Case of Stolen Identity
In Alice Feeney's "My Husband's Wife" (Macmillan, £16.99, 320pp), artist Eden Fox returns to her home in a Cornish village after a morning run to a horrifying discovery. Her key no longer fits the lock, and inside, another woman who bears a striking resemblance to her is now living there. This woman, named Birdy, is grappling with a recent and serious health diagnosis.
Eden's world instantly unravels as her own husband and daughter seemingly disown her, refusing to acknowledge her identity. What follows is a desperate and chaotic journey to reclaim her life, masterfully unravelled by Feeney. The novel poses a profound and creepy question: ‘Everyone knows their birthday. If you could know your death day, would you want to?’
The Opposite of Murder: A Web of Lies and Manipulation
Master of the unreliable narrator Sophie Hannah returns with "The Opposite of Murder" (Hodder & Stoughton, £22, 368pp). The story begins with Jemma confessing to the murder of her stepmother. However, in a brilliant twist, it is revealed that the stepmother was actually killed while Jemma was at the police station making her statement.
Jemma believes her confession has somehow prevented her from committing the act, but she is being dangerously clever. Hannah populates the engrossing tale with well-developed secondary characters—a husband, an ex-boyfriend, and a detective—each harbouring their own secrets. As Jemma's childhood trauma comes to light, the central mystery becomes not who did it, but who is manipulating whom, and why.
Troublemaker: A Witness No One Believes
In Lesley Kara's "Troublemaker" (Penguin, £9.99, 384pp), we meet Storm, a woman forever scarred by the violent mugging and murder of her brother. The psychological damage has left her prone to panic attacks, which undermines her credibility when she witnesses a murder with eerie similarities to her brother's death.
With no body to be found, the police dismiss her claims. This disbelief marks the beginning of a reign of terror for Storm, as the real killer targets her to ensure her silence. Her only hope comes from an unlikely friendship with Lena, a neighbour and former police officer. This tense and thoughtful narrative sheds light on the ongoing suffering endured by victims' relatives, taking the reader on a far from straightforward path to the truth.
All three thrillers—My Husband's Wife, The Opposite of Murder, and Troublemaker—are available for purchase now from the Mail Bookshop.
