It’s Always the Husband by C.L. Taylor review: A schoolyard thriller
Never trust the parents in the school playground.
It’s Always the Husband by C.L. Taylor: The key details
- Publish date: 5 June 2025
- Genre: Domestic thriller
- Publisher: Avon
- Available formats: Hardback, ebook, audio
- Series/standalone: Standalone
- Length: 352 pages
Blurb: “Welcome to Lowbridge. Where secrets hide behind every door…
When newly divorced Jude arrives in the small town of Lowbridge, she is soon drawn to widower Will, the father of her young daughter’s best friend. But Will’s past is shrouded in tragedy, with questions that no one knows the answer to – and after two tragedies tore his life apart in just a few short years, gossip and rumours abound about what really happened to the women he loved.
As whispers of murder surround Will, Jude becomes determined to uncover the truth – and with her own father’s tragic fate haunting her, she refuses to let another innocent man suffer. Yet in Lowbridge the darkness runs deep, and nothing is as it seems. Can Jude protect Will from a community out for blood? Or will she become the next victim in this web of deceit?
Because whilst one dead wife is tragic, two starts to look like murder…”
It’s Always the Husband by C.L. Taylor: The review
With a name like It’s Always the Husband, I expected C.L. Taylor’s latest thriller to be more based in the home. It is, sort of, but it’s also another suspense novel to revolve around the school gates and the friends you make as a parent. I couldn’t help but be reminded of A.A. Chaudhuri’s The School Gates thanks to the lingering threat of other parents persisting throughout the book. You really don’t know who you can trust.
Our main character here is Jude, a single mother who sparks up a relationship with school dad Will. Some of the other mums have thoughts about Will, however: his wife, and the mother of his daughter, died, and his last partner disappeared. Is there a valid explanation, or is Will very guilty of foul play? The school mums think the latter, and they’re not afraid to let their feelings show.
Other important characters here are Sorrell and Victoria. Sorrell’s married to Finnley, but with him suffering from depression, it’s not the happiest marriage. Victoria has just separated from her partner Andy – and she’s the sort of person who simply has to be involved in everyone’s business.
We’ll also get to know some of the other school mums, as well as learning more about the husbands too. Andy is a police officer who tried to prosecute Will for the murder of his ex partner – and it seems that sort of grudge doesn’t fade overnight.
As It’s Always the Husband unfolds, we’ll learn new and messy ways in which the lives of its characters overlap, constantly surprising and keeping you on the edge of your seat. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, however, so it’s easy to get a little confused about who’s who unless you’re giving your full attention. You will want to give your full attention, though, because this is a thrilling read which gets its hooks in you immediately and doesn’t let go. Taylor’s pacing is perfect to dole out just the right amount of twists, surprises and shocks to keep you gripped throughout.
Perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, Claire Douglas and Lisa Jewell – domestic thrills at their best.
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