Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse

Usually, a “marriage thriller” isn’t my cup of tea. Why? It frequently seems like everything has already been said. The wife doubts her own judgement and worries constantly about whether her spouse is lying to her. Rarely am I startled, and I hardly ever empathise with the characters. But because of the gorgeous cover art and numerous favourable reviews, I made the decision to give Lucie Whitehouse’s most recent book, Before We Met, a try. I’m pleased I did.

Hannah was very pleasant to me, and I could relate to her story easily. She is adamantly independent, obedient, and motivated to carve out a successful career for herself. Yes, she doubts herself—who doesn’t?—but I thought when she did it was more self-analysis because it appeared credible. She takes action and looks into her suspicions rather than just sitting there moping. This woman is brave. She is around my age, so having life experience to draw from—whether it was for the better or worse—didn’t hurt.

I’ve never read a novel by Lucie Whitehouse before. She is an excellent writer, with tight and powerful sentences. I think it was tasteful and atmospheric when she did add literary flare. With its ugly concrete tooth silhouetted against the sky and light from its green neon sign seeping into the moist air, the Holiday Inn loomed large to the left. Whitehouse creates a weightiness and intense sense of dread more quickly than I ever thought was possible.

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The M4 back into London had also become silent, and just a few little puddles of light were being cast onto the highway in front of her by the streetlamps. She had the startling realisation that she was viewing a vision of her own career, one that was far away, fading, and locked behind glass, through which she could see it but no longer reach, as she looked into offices that had been vacant until Monday and noticed the ghostly shapes of desks, chairs, and computers.

I won’t give away too much of the plot, but suffice it to say that Before We Met contains more levels of suspense and sources of intrigue than I had anticipated from the publisher synopsis, which kept me turning the pages quickly. Unfortunately, I figured out the ending a few chapters before I think the author intended. Despite this, the climax was performed sufficiently nicely for me to remain interested. Although far from flawless, this book has caused me to rethink my opposition to “marriage thrillers.” Lucie Whitehouse has written a page-turner that appeals to both the heart and the mind in Before We Met.

About The Book

A whirlwind romance. A perfect marriage.

Hannah Reilly has seized her chance at happiness.

Until the day her husband fails to come home . . .

The more questions Hannah asks, the fewer answers she finds. But are the secrets that Mark has been keeping designed to protect him or protect her?

And can you ever really know what happened before you met?