Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "The Second Marriage: A Novel of Suspense" by Jess Ryder

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Review of "The Second Marriage: A Novel of Suspense" by Jess Ryder

Thirty-year-old primary school teacher Lily Baxendale, recently out of a long relationship, needs a new challenge.

So Lily interviews with Edward Morgan, a rich widower looking for a private teacher for his 8-year-old son Noah.

Edward explains that Noah is still traumatized by the loss of his mother several years ago, and warns Lily she can NEVER mention Noah's mum as it will cause a panic attack. Lily enjoys tutoring Noah, a lonely boy who's almost completely insulated from the outside world at Edward's instructions.

Lily also gets romantically involved with Edward, a charming 45-year-old man who claims he fell in love with Lily at first sight.

The couple get married just months after they meet.....

......though Edward's grown daughters, Tara and Georgia, are cool toward the idea.

Lily is just starting to enjoy her newlywed bliss when young Noah makes a shocking confession. Noah secretly tells Lily he 'remembers everything' and that his father and sisters have been lying. Noah goes on to say that his mother is alive and will be coming to get him.

Lily HAS been concerned about Noah being purposely isolated at home, and - with the help of her best friend Marsha - secretly investigates Edward.

Lily learns that Edward has lied to her about many things, and that he may not be the man she thought she married.

For me, Lily is one of those fictional protagonists who are much too compliant with manipulative deceptive controlling men. Though Lily has proof Edward lied about something very important, and her friend Marsha advises Lily to get out, Lily decides she has to give her marriage a chance. Even after Edward exhibits more shady behavior, Lily seems to brush it off.

In fact Lily DOES have some backbone, and continues her inquiries about Edward and his late wife, but she's too naïve for my taste. I can tell Jess Ryder tried hard to make Lily's actions seem brave and sensible, but (for me) she didn't completely succeed.

Lily's (somewhat) gullible attitude aside, this is a thriller that would appeal to many fans of the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jess Ryder, and Bookouture for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3 stars

2 comments:

Carla Loves to ReadNovember 6, 2021 at 9:33 PM
I've been wondering about this one Barb. I have gotten a bit tired of naive, gullible women controlled by the men they are involved in, but it sounds like Jess Ryder tried hard to redeem her in this one. Nice review.
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Barb's Book Reviews

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Review of "The Second Marriage: A Novel of Suspense" by Jess Ryder

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