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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC for an honest review.
This novel was well written, well paced and descriptive. I enjoyed the author's choice to keep us in the present and also allow us to visit the past so we could fully understand the heroines journey. Lucille is a strong, determined character that survives the volatale relationship she had with Matt and the insufferable separation with her son. She fights her way out of prison and confronts the truth of her past in order to finally be free to take on the future. Great read.
This novel was well written, well paced and descriptive. I enjoyed the author's choice to keep us in the present and also allow us to visit the past so we could fully understand the heroines journey. Lucille is a strong, determined character that survives the volatale relationship she had with Matt and the insufferable separation with her son. She fights her way out of prison and confronts the truth of her past in order to finally be free to take on the future. Great read.
Her Husband’s Secrets (formerly The Art Of Deception) is an Orange Is The New Black type of story filled with an accidental murder, in-laws from hell, and young love.
A quick and thrilling read set in Switzerland, find my full review on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://theuncorkedlibrarian.com/currently-reading-february-2020/
A quick and thrilling read set in Switzerland, find my full review on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://theuncorkedlibrarian.com/currently-reading-february-2020/
4 Stars from me
This stand-alone psychological thriller focuses on naive Lucie who runs away from life to work in the Swiss ski resort - where she falls hook line and sinker for the cliched Lothario ski instructor - the handsome and charming Mathieu.
Choosing to ignore many subtle and not so subtle warnings from friends, Lucie believes that she and charming Matt are in love but her rose tinted glasses are soon put to the test when he is no longer quite so charming to her behind closed doors.
This clever psychological thriller feeds the story to the reader along with the knowledge that Lucie is in prison accused of murdering Matt and the story flits between the present and the past as the sordid tale unravels - but who can the reader trust and who is an unreliable narrator?
Battling Matt's family for contact with her son grows increasingly hard as they have custody of him and do their best to make sure he forgets his mother. Her one friend and link with the outside world is very evidently a lifeline to Lucie while she is serving her sentence.
Whether Lucie was guilty or not it was hard not to feel empathy for her having been subjected to years of cruelty and manipulation from such a publicly charming man - but did she do it? Is her biggest crime naivety and falling for the dream of a happy ever after, or is she a murderer?
This stand-alone psychological thriller focuses on naive Lucie who runs away from life to work in the Swiss ski resort - where she falls hook line and sinker for the cliched Lothario ski instructor - the handsome and charming Mathieu.
Choosing to ignore many subtle and not so subtle warnings from friends, Lucie believes that she and charming Matt are in love but her rose tinted glasses are soon put to the test when he is no longer quite so charming to her behind closed doors.
This clever psychological thriller feeds the story to the reader along with the knowledge that Lucie is in prison accused of murdering Matt and the story flits between the present and the past as the sordid tale unravels - but who can the reader trust and who is an unreliable narrator?
Battling Matt's family for contact with her son grows increasingly hard as they have custody of him and do their best to make sure he forgets his mother. Her one friend and link with the outside world is very evidently a lifeline to Lucie while she is serving her sentence.
Whether Lucie was guilty or not it was hard not to feel empathy for her having been subjected to years of cruelty and manipulation from such a publicly charming man - but did she do it? Is her biggest crime naivety and falling for the dream of a happy ever after, or is she a murderer?
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was my introduction to Louise Mangos and if I only go by this novel, I don't know that I'll be reading more. The imagery was great and I love things set in countries that are not my own but that's not enough to keep me interested. The story was slow; it only picked up in the last 20% or so. It's touted as a psychological thriller but I think it sits on the fringes of that genre. There was nothing thrilling about it. The story was rather predictable and there weren't any twists I didn't see coming.
I also had an issue with the characters and their development. I was generally annoyed by most of them, especially Lucie's naivete. Not enough time was spent developing Lucie and Matt's relationship so I didn't care/understand her devotion and professed love. I finished it but I wasn't overly concerned with how it would end.
I can't say I'd recommend this, unfortunately.
This was my introduction to Louise Mangos and if I only go by this novel, I don't know that I'll be reading more. The imagery was great and I love things set in countries that are not my own but that's not enough to keep me interested. The story was slow; it only picked up in the last 20% or so. It's touted as a psychological thriller but I think it sits on the fringes of that genre. There was nothing thrilling about it. The story was rather predictable and there weren't any twists I didn't see coming.
I also had an issue with the characters and their development. I was generally annoyed by most of them, especially Lucie's naivete. Not enough time was spent developing Lucie and Matt's relationship so I didn't care/understand her devotion and professed love. I finished it but I wasn't overly concerned with how it would end.
I can't say I'd recommend this, unfortunately.
A thrilling read which kept me turning the pages, characters you care for and just brilliantly written. Great novel!!
Who is Lucie and why is she in prison? That’s the first question that popped in my mind in the beginning of the book; after a little bit you discover that she is in prison convicted for killing her husband; but she doesn’t want to talk about it, at all… Is she really a killer or there’s something more? You can expect a lot more; this for sure!
Lucie will tell her story; since the moment she met Mathieu and fell deeply in love with him till now, living in prison… The story from the past will tell you some happy and not so happy memories, because Matt is handsome and charming but not all that glitters is gold, he has a secret side that will make you re-think if being near him it is worth the price.
On the other side we have Lucie, she is young and she falls in love with the wrong man, but now she is in prison and can not see her beloved son; you would think that what makes her suffer is the prison, but is not being able to talk and touch her son, because he is living with his aunts and they are not eager to allow any type of connection between them, the less the better.
This is a different type of psychological thriller, yes, there are twists and surprises, but this is more personal, you’ll want to help and hug Lucie, you’ll feel the pain and sadness on your skin.Just thinking about not being able to see my son for a week makes me weak and sad, imagine for more than 6 months! Lucie doesn’t want friends or connections with the women she is cohabiting in prison, but day by day she will start to connect with them and start taking care of them; now she just needs someone to listen to her and help her in the case.
Ready for The Art of Deception?
Lucie will tell her story; since the moment she met Mathieu and fell deeply in love with him till now, living in prison… The story from the past will tell you some happy and not so happy memories, because Matt is handsome and charming but not all that glitters is gold, he has a secret side that will make you re-think if being near him it is worth the price.
On the other side we have Lucie, she is young and she falls in love with the wrong man, but now she is in prison and can not see her beloved son; you would think that what makes her suffer is the prison, but is not being able to talk and touch her son, because he is living with his aunts and they are not eager to allow any type of connection between them, the less the better.
This is a different type of psychological thriller, yes, there are twists and surprises, but this is more personal, you’ll want to help and hug Lucie, you’ll feel the pain and sadness on your skin.Just thinking about not being able to see my son for a week makes me weak and sad, imagine for more than 6 months! Lucie doesn’t want friends or connections with the women she is cohabiting in prison, but day by day she will start to connect with them and start taking care of them; now she just needs someone to listen to her and help her in the case.
Ready for The Art of Deception?
The Art of Deception by Louise Mangos is the first book by this author that I have read. It was a good story but at times a bit slow. For the most part I enjoyed it but couldn't really connect with the characters, finding them all a bit annoying.
Lucie finds herself in a women's prison for the murder of her husband Matt. She desperately wants to prove her own nocence and get her son back. Told from the present time with flashbacks to the past we learn about Lucie and Matt, how they met and got together through to his death. Surviving in prison is a struggle and all she can think about is her son.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Lucie finds herself in a women's prison for the murder of her husband Matt. She desperately wants to prove her own nocence and get her son back. Told from the present time with flashbacks to the past we learn about Lucie and Matt, how they met and got together through to his death. Surviving in prison is a struggle and all she can think about is her son.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
The story flicks between past and present with past leading up to the fateful night that finds Lucie in present day, in prison. It was good to get to know Lucie as a person as the past humanises her as I am sure we have all been blinded by love. As much as I could see the attraction in Matt, warning bells were going off in my head and I knew it could only lead to heartache for Lucie.
I think the thing that stands out to me the most in this story is the bond between Lucie and her son. It’s the thought of being out of prison and being able to be back with her son that keeps her strong and fighting to get released. Unfortunately not everyone wants the same and it has you constantly wanting to look over your shoulder as you don’t know who to trust.
Her Husband’s Secrets is a thriller that had me on edge throughout. The need to know of what happened that fateful night ensured I turned those pages and had me gripped. The author had me routing for Lucie and wanting to see justice for her. I was so caught up in it all that time in the real world escaped me and before I knew it I had come to the climax of it all and it didn’t disappoint. My first book by the author and certainly won’t be my last!
I think the thing that stands out to me the most in this story is the bond between Lucie and her son. It’s the thought of being out of prison and being able to be back with her son that keeps her strong and fighting to get released. Unfortunately not everyone wants the same and it has you constantly wanting to look over your shoulder as you don’t know who to trust.
Her Husband’s Secrets is a thriller that had me on edge throughout. The need to know of what happened that fateful night ensured I turned those pages and had me gripped. The author had me routing for Lucie and wanting to see justice for her. I was so caught up in it all that time in the real world escaped me and before I knew it I had come to the climax of it all and it didn’t disappoint. My first book by the author and certainly won’t be my last!