Book Review
Who to Believe by Edwin Hill
Psychological Thriller | Mystery | Suspense
Reader’s Thoughts:
In a coastal town in New England, a shocking murder occurs. Laura Thibodeau has been found brutally murdered in her own home — and of course, her husband is the prime suspect. But everyone in Monreith has something to hide, and gossip and rumors are as plentiful as motive. In the aftermath of a murder, everyone has theories. And everyone has secrets. So the real question is, who do you believe?
Who to Believe is a fascinating psychological suspense novel told from the perspectives of seven different characters: The Shrink, The Patient, The Cop, The Boyfriend, The Daughter, The Minister, and The Dog. With a title this like, you immediately know to question any and all the information given to us by these vastly unlikable narrators — and I had such fun guessing at the truth.
In the opening chapters, I found it a little difficult to piece together the characters’ relationships and how they were intertwined — but I think that was very intentional on the author’s part, as it provided some fun and unexpected turns right from the start. Once I got into the story, I had no trouble differentiating characters, and I liked the unique voices and perspectives they each brought to the book.
Each of the seven narrators recounts similar events and days but from their own perspective. I thought the multiple points-of-view were masterfully layered and woven together, and the author did a great job at slowly revealing secrets and lies while keeping me absolutely riveted. While there was some overlap and repetition between narrators, it never felt dull but rather, essential for revealing key information.
I had no idea how this one was going to play out, and I loved it. This was a very bingeable read and I highly recommend it for fans of thrillers with multiple points-of-view and shifting narratives. This was my first read by Edwin Hill, but with such a fantastic crime novel, you can bet I will be checking out his previous work too!
Recommended for:
Fans of domestic suspense with multiple POV
This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance copy of the book provided courtesy of the publisher, Celadon Books. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the book:
(From the publisher) In this twisting domestic suspense thriller from the acclaimed author of The Secrets We Share , the aftermath of a murder in a quiet New England coastal town reveals a web of dark secrets . . .
Monreith, Massachusetts, was once a small community of whalers and farmers. These days it’s a well-to-do town filled with commuters drawn to its rugged coastline and country roads. A peaceful, predictable place—until popular restaurateur Laurel Thibodeau is found brutally murdered in her own home. Suspicion naturally falls on Laurel’s husband, Simon, who had gambling debts that only her life insurance policy could fix. But there are other rumors too . . .
Among the group of six friends gathered for Alice Stone’s fortieth birthday, theories abound concerning Laurel’s death. Max Barbosa, police chief, has heard plenty of them, as has his longtime friend, Unitarian minister Georgia Fitzhugh. Local psychiatrist Farley Drake is privy to even more, gleaning snippets of gossip and information from his patients while closely guarding his own past.
But maybe everyone in Monreith has something to hide. Because before this late-summer evening has come to a close, one of these six will be dead. And as jealousy, revenge, adultery, and greed converge, the question becomes not who among these friends might be capable of such a thing, but—who isn’t?