THE FIANCEE by Kate White

 

“A tense, simmering, fast-paced mystery, Kate White’s latest captivating thriller explores the secrets that lurk just under the surface of a picture-perfect façade. I raced through this story about a close-knit family’s annual gathering at an idyllic estate that quickly turns deadly. The Fiancée kept me guessing until the very end, never sure who to trust—or where the danger was hiding.”—Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of The Last House Guest and The Girl from Widow Hills

The New York Times bestselling author returns with an unsettling but riveting psychological thriller about a captivating woman who joins a family and threatens to upend their picture-perfect lives. 

They had everything they needed for a perfect family vacation: close-knit relatives, a bucolic setting . . . and a murderer in their midst?

Summer’s looking forward to a break from hustling for acting work in Manhattan when she, her husband Gabe, and Gabe’s nine-year-old son arrive at the annual family get-together at her in-laws’ sprawling estate. On the agenda are leisurely gourmet meals, tennis matches, and plenty of relaxation by the pool.

But this year, Gabe’s brother Nick has invited his new flame Hannah, whom Summer immediately recognizes from a few years before. Oddly, her brother-in-law’s girlfriend claims not to know her. Yet she charms the other family members, and after Nick announces that he’s proposed to Hannah, Summer doesn’t have much choice but to grin and bear it.

Then the reunion is rocked by tragedy when a family member is found dead. Though the doctors attribute the loss to natural causes, a grieving Summer fears that the too-good-to-be-true Hannah is involved, even as Gabe dismisses her suspicions.

How far will Summer go to expose the truth? As she investigates just what Nick’s fiancée might have done to keep her perfect image intact, she begins to fear that the first death might only be the beginning . . 

MY THOUGHTS: 

I've not read a book by Kate White before and really enjoyed this one. I will read more now.

This book has a lot going on. A whole lot of characters. A family full of secrets. I liked some of the characters and some were just a bit hard to like. The main character, Summer, was one that I really didn't much like. Though she is the main one, the one telling this story, she was just not someone I could connect with. I found her to be a bit judgmental and somewhat jealous of her brother in laws fiancee.. I thought she should have given her a break. Hannah, the fiancee, was new to this family. Though they were both in the same business it just seemed to me that Summer judged Hannah and decided she was not good enough for this family without any real cause. Sure Hannah told a small lie but big whoop. Who could blame her. That is just my thoughts.

There are a couple of things going on here. A couple of murders and an attempted murder. Of course Summer thinks it's Hannah. Personally I never thought it was her. But also I never guessed who it was either. So that made this a great book. I usually figure out who did it. 

This book is very well written and most of the characters are great. Though I didn't connect with any of them, maybe Henry, they were still likable. A bit privileged and snooty in a few ways. They were a family and seemed to come together when they needed too. Except when Summer tried to tell her own husband, Gabe,  her suspicions. I would be upset if mine didn't believe me and of course she was too. But again I thought she was a bit petty. There was just something about her that I didn't like. I did appreciate that she was good and kind to her stepson, Henry. Her mother in law seemed to think she was very special. 

This was an overall very good book. Well written. Great plot. Great summing up of events. I liked how it ended also. I felt bad for one of the women's husband. If you read it you will understand who and why. 

Thank you to #netgalley, #katewhite, #harperperennials for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

4/5 stars. I recommend it for anyone that loves a good thriller.