Never Coming Home

This psychological thriller gives readers a front row seat into the life of a manipulative, villain-of-a-husband. Lucas has spent years meticulously planning his wife's demise so he can inherit her money. Once the deed is done, he thinks he's in the clear and will be a very rich man. But when he receives a cryptic note, he's not so sure the murder went off as planned.

What stands out for me the most with this thriller is the unique POV of a killer. Lucas is a guy you'll love to hate, but he's got a dark sense of humour and a smidgen of good in him. Just a smidgen - he is a murderer after all. I enjoyed the detail McKinnon gives his backstory and while my initial suspicions of whodunnit were correct, I still felt like I was kept on my toes in the first part of the story. 

But the middle of the story slowed down for me as we get stuck in Lucas' internal dialogue and things became more and more implausible. Unfortunately, I found the ending to be disappointing and contrived. I won't lie, it was kind of satisfying, but it was so unbelievable that it wasn't the strong finish I was expecting.

Top marks for a unique POV and a strong start but it faltered for me with its big but improbable reveal.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for my complimentary digital copy of this book given in exchange for my honest review. 

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon

Genre: Suspense, Canadian

Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

First Published: May 24, 2022

Book Description from GoodReads: First comes love. Then comes murder.

Lucas Forester didn't hate his wife. Michelle was brilliant, sophisticated and beautiful. Sure, she had extravagant spending habits and that petty attitude, a total disregard for anyone below her status. But she also had a lot to offer. Most notably, wealth that only the one percent could comprehend.

For years, Lucas had been honing a flawless plan to inherit Michelle’s fortune. Unfortunately, it involved taking a hit out on her.

Every track was covered, no trace left behind, and now Lucas plays the grieving husband so well he deserves an award. But when a shocking photo and cryptic note show up on his doorstep, Lucas goes from hunter to prey.

Someone is onto him. And they’re closing in.

Told with dark wit and a sharply feminist sensibility, Never Coming Home is a terrifying tale of duplicity that will have you side-eyeing your spouse as you dash to the breathtaking end.