The End Of Her by Shari Lapena

This near perfect thriller delivers exactly what you are looking for. The End of Her is the fifth domestic suspense niovel from Shari Lapena, and while it may be a plot we have seen before, her pacing and inventive twists keep the pages turning right to the end.

Stephanie is worn out dealing with her colicky four-month-old twins who cry and fuss every single night. She and her husband Patrick are running on no sleep. She has been forgetful—hasn't she?—leaving the door open and losing her purse.

Patrick is shocked to see Erica walk into his office. She was best friends with his first wife, Lindsay, who died nine years ago in a tragic carbon monoxide accident while warming up her car in a snowstorm.

He always felt guilty, as he had a one-night stand with Erica back then. She suggests a drink for old times' sake, and he agrees.

Erica tells him she knows he murdered his first wife; he killed Lindsay to be with her. She was pregnant at the time and he was the father. Patrick is shocked. She demands $100,000, or she will take her accusation to the police. Dazed at the news, Stephanie agrees they will not pay her. Erica thought it was fun to see his reaction. She alerts the police.

With no evidence, the police are wary but conduct an inquest. Patrick received Lindsay's life insurance policy—Stephanie has one too, along with her recent inheritance, and wonders if her husband killed for money. His business partner Niall judges him quickly but is starting an affair with Erica, unaware his wife is already on to him.

Erica has plans; Niall can pay cash to keep his affair quiet, and the couple she secretly sold her baby to can certainly pay another $100,000 if they don't want trouble.

Stephanie and Patrick were a happy, well-off couple a few months ago, and now her life is in tatters. Erica is a liar. Her husband is a liar.

If only Erica were dead.

Very satisfying, this was hard to put down, and when I did, I remained thinking about the characters. This novel was fast-paced with no lag time, a really fun read.

This is my third Lapena thriller, and I will try the others in hopes of a winner like this one.

2020 / Tradeback / 400 pages

My other reviews of Shari Lapena:

Everyone Here Is Lying