Buying Options
Kindle Price: | $4.99 |
includes tax, if applicable |

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle Cloud Reader.
Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

![The Second Marriage : An utterly gripping psychological thriller by [Jess Ryder]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41DZFpCmXDL._SY346_.jpg)
The Second Marriage : An utterly gripping psychological thriller Kindle Edition
by
Jess Ryder
(Author)
Format: Kindle Edition
Jess Ryder (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial |
‘They’re lying,’ my little stepson whispers, his blue eyes shining with tears as I tuck him into bed for the first time. ‘They think I’ve forgotten, but I remember everything. I know my mummy is still alive.’
My best friend warned me that it was too soon to marry Edward, a widower with an adorable but troubled little boy. She said we were moving too fast. But all I could see was a kind, loving man, struggling with grief, who needed my help.
Yet as storm clouds gather above our small wedding ceremony, my hopes and dreams fall apart. None of my husband’s family turn up to support us. Instead of a honeymoon, we have a quiet night in. My wedding bouquet is placed on his first wife’s grave. And then my new stepson tells me he’s sure his mother is still alive.
What does Noah remember and why is his father trying to make him forget? Have I been completely wrong about my husband? What happened to the woman who came before me, and how far will he go to stop me finding out the truth?
An utterly unputdownable, gripping, twisty psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Before I Go To Sleep, The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl.
What everyone is saying about The Second Marriage:
‘Sweet JESUS what a story. Holy smokes I was NOT prepared. This was incredibly great.’ Read with K8, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘WOW! Just WOW! Gobsmacked by the twist!! really, really, really good. I raced through this brilliant, twist filled book. It was completely engrossing, impossible to put down and the twist floored me…The plot was brilliant and consistent throughout, it's an unputdownable psychological thrill ride.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Wow this is another unputdownable book which once it had its claws in me I couldn’t stop reading. This is such a twisted story... I loved it!’ Book Lovers Anon UK, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A gripping domestic thriller that you won't be able to put down… an unputdownable domestic thriller with a twist that you'll never see coming… Once I started this book, I could not put it down… I was blown away by the ending of this book… 5 explosive stars’ Layton Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book is absolutely amazing!! Read it in one day I couldn’t put my phone down I just had to keep reading it!! It was a page turner when you thought you had it all figured out you didn’t !!! Love love love this book!!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This was so twisty & enjoyable I could not stop turning the pages… Jess Ryder's writing is so compelling and suspenseful making this novel a great reading experience… this was one crazy ride!... an amazing book!’ Oh Happy Reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A gripping, page-turning thrill of a read. Do you trust him- or don’t you? A wonderful rollercoaster, a fabulous plot and a great ending.’ Linda Strong Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This one sucked me in quickly!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The story was engrossing. I was completely transfixed until the last page. Highly recommend’ Washington Post Mag, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow. I could NOT put this one down. Perfect for fans of B. A. Paris, this is a purely addictive domestic thriller… The end is so intense it will have you at the edge of your seat until the chapter ends.’ Ludwig’s Thrillers
My best friend warned me that it was too soon to marry Edward, a widower with an adorable but troubled little boy. She said we were moving too fast. But all I could see was a kind, loving man, struggling with grief, who needed my help.
Yet as storm clouds gather above our small wedding ceremony, my hopes and dreams fall apart. None of my husband’s family turn up to support us. Instead of a honeymoon, we have a quiet night in. My wedding bouquet is placed on his first wife’s grave. And then my new stepson tells me he’s sure his mother is still alive.
What does Noah remember and why is his father trying to make him forget? Have I been completely wrong about my husband? What happened to the woman who came before me, and how far will he go to stop me finding out the truth?
An utterly unputdownable, gripping, twisty psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Before I Go To Sleep, The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl.
What everyone is saying about The Second Marriage:
‘Sweet JESUS what a story. Holy smokes I was NOT prepared. This was incredibly great.’ Read with K8, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘WOW! Just WOW! Gobsmacked by the twist!! really, really, really good. I raced through this brilliant, twist filled book. It was completely engrossing, impossible to put down and the twist floored me…The plot was brilliant and consistent throughout, it's an unputdownable psychological thrill ride.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Wow this is another unputdownable book which once it had its claws in me I couldn’t stop reading. This is such a twisted story... I loved it!’ Book Lovers Anon UK, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A gripping domestic thriller that you won't be able to put down… an unputdownable domestic thriller with a twist that you'll never see coming… Once I started this book, I could not put it down… I was blown away by the ending of this book… 5 explosive stars’ Layton Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book is absolutely amazing!! Read it in one day I couldn’t put my phone down I just had to keep reading it!! It was a page turner when you thought you had it all figured out you didn’t !!! Love love love this book!!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This was so twisty & enjoyable I could not stop turning the pages… Jess Ryder's writing is so compelling and suspenseful making this novel a great reading experience… this was one crazy ride!... an amazing book!’ Oh Happy Reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A gripping, page-turning thrill of a read. Do you trust him- or don’t you? A wonderful rollercoaster, a fabulous plot and a great ending.’ Linda Strong Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This one sucked me in quickly!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The story was engrossing. I was completely transfixed until the last page. Highly recommend’ Washington Post Mag, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow. I could NOT put this one down. Perfect for fans of B. A. Paris, this is a purely addictive domestic thriller… The end is so intense it will have you at the edge of your seat until the chapter ends.’ Ludwig’s Thrillers
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication date3 November 2021
- File size926 KB
Money with Jess: Your Ultimate Guide to Household Budgeting
Learn how to get money, how to spend it and how to save it. Shop now
Product details
- ASIN : B09CTVH9S2
- Publisher : Bookouture (3 November 2021)
- Language : English
- File size : 926 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 316 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 1800198507
- Best Sellers Rank: 35,123 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 656 in Psychological Fiction (Books)
- 843 in Psychological Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- 1,131 in Psychological Thrillers (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs, and more
Customers who read this book also read
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customer reviews
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
2,491 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Top reviews
Top reviews from Australia
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in Australia on 15 November 2021
Report abuse
Verified Purchase
Enjoyed this book but the ending was a bit quick. Felt a bit rushed. Having said that it was a page turner and quite tense. Will definitely read this author again.
Helpful
Reviewed in Australia on 6 January 2022
I absolutely loved this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat right through to the end. Every time I thought I knew where it was headed, something new happened to send me in a different direction.
While the basic concept of an older man rushing into marriage with a new younger wife with questions sitting in the background over the mysterious previous wife seems to be a fairly common trend at the moment, this book is a good example of this theme done right.
Too often this kind of book presents us with the naive and/or whiney younger wife who has just been too dumb to see obvious signs in front of her. Instead, this book gives us Lily - a woman who is smart, independent and resourceful. She hasn't married Edward because she needs his money, or because she needs to escape a former life/lifestlye - she has married a man that she genuinely loves and believes she knows.
The slow and steady dawning of the realisation that maybe she doesn't really know this man that she married the way she thought she did is both heartbreaking and believable.
Believable because it's not one sudden thing that triggers it all but, rather, a gradual build up of individual occurrences that lead her down this path. Heartbreaking because we get to bear witness to Lily's journey as she uncovers secrets and needs to make decisions about whether or not she can continue to love and accept her husband knowing what she now does, and can she really trust him or are there still more secrets she has yet to uncover. Who is her husband, really?
Full of twists and turns and unexpected reveals, this book is a 'must read' for fans of suspense and drama.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I listened to the Bolinda Audio version of this book and found the narrator well suited to tell the story.
Am I glad I read it - absolutely, I loved it
Was it a waste of my time - not at all
Would I sit down and read it all over again - absolutely
Would I read more by this author based on this book - yes (few more books in my TBR pile first, but then I fully intend tracking down more by Jess Ryder).
While the basic concept of an older man rushing into marriage with a new younger wife with questions sitting in the background over the mysterious previous wife seems to be a fairly common trend at the moment, this book is a good example of this theme done right.
Too often this kind of book presents us with the naive and/or whiney younger wife who has just been too dumb to see obvious signs in front of her. Instead, this book gives us Lily - a woman who is smart, independent and resourceful. She hasn't married Edward because she needs his money, or because she needs to escape a former life/lifestlye - she has married a man that she genuinely loves and believes she knows.
The slow and steady dawning of the realisation that maybe she doesn't really know this man that she married the way she thought she did is both heartbreaking and believable.
Believable because it's not one sudden thing that triggers it all but, rather, a gradual build up of individual occurrences that lead her down this path. Heartbreaking because we get to bear witness to Lily's journey as she uncovers secrets and needs to make decisions about whether or not she can continue to love and accept her husband knowing what she now does, and can she really trust him or are there still more secrets she has yet to uncover. Who is her husband, really?
Full of twists and turns and unexpected reveals, this book is a 'must read' for fans of suspense and drama.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I listened to the Bolinda Audio version of this book and found the narrator well suited to tell the story.
Am I glad I read it - absolutely, I loved it
Was it a waste of my time - not at all
Would I sit down and read it all over again - absolutely
Would I read more by this author based on this book - yes (few more books in my TBR pile first, but then I fully intend tracking down more by Jess Ryder).
TOP 100 REVIEWER
In a lot of ways this book was typical of the genre - rich older man woos younger, inexperienced woman who soon wonders if she has made a mistake. And what really happened to his first wife? Where this book differed, in the best possible way, was in depicting the said younger woman not as a scared, whiny victim of gaslighting but rather a woman who knows her own mind and is not afraid to use it! Yes!!!
Lily Baxendale is engaged as a governess for Edward Morgan’s son, eight year old Noah. Edward also has two grown daughters, Tara and Georgia who have flown the nest. They are a little hostile towards Lily. His first wife, Claire, died five years ago when Noah was only 3 years old. But Noah claims his mummy is still alive and that he remembers everything. Of course such discussion is shut down immediately by Edward who claims the child is prone to panic attacks so he is kept at home, in cotton wool.
Lily is immediately attracted to the much older Edward, as he is apparently to her. They marry after only a few months and that’s when things start to go down hill. It soon becomes apparent that Edward is quite controlling and has been lying to Lily. But she is not having a bar of it and when he tries to stop her from seeing her best friend, Marsha, she flips him off and goes anyway.
When the lying becomes too much, Lily is seriously considering her options and she confronts Edward about it. It’s not too hard to figure out where this might be going but, on the other hand, there were quite a few little surprise twists yet to come. Lily was a wonderful character as she stood up for herself really well. Edward was a bad guy, then a good guy trying to protect his family, then a bad guy until we finally learned what he actually was. Noah was an endearing little lad and I was certainly rooting for him to have a happy life. The older daughters though were quite a surprise packet but I can’t tell you in what way.
Overall it was an enjoyable story with good pacing and strong characters, with just enough suspense to make it interesting. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Lily Baxendale is engaged as a governess for Edward Morgan’s son, eight year old Noah. Edward also has two grown daughters, Tara and Georgia who have flown the nest. They are a little hostile towards Lily. His first wife, Claire, died five years ago when Noah was only 3 years old. But Noah claims his mummy is still alive and that he remembers everything. Of course such discussion is shut down immediately by Edward who claims the child is prone to panic attacks so he is kept at home, in cotton wool.
Lily is immediately attracted to the much older Edward, as he is apparently to her. They marry after only a few months and that’s when things start to go down hill. It soon becomes apparent that Edward is quite controlling and has been lying to Lily. But she is not having a bar of it and when he tries to stop her from seeing her best friend, Marsha, she flips him off and goes anyway.
When the lying becomes too much, Lily is seriously considering her options and she confronts Edward about it. It’s not too hard to figure out where this might be going but, on the other hand, there were quite a few little surprise twists yet to come. Lily was a wonderful character as she stood up for herself really well. Edward was a bad guy, then a good guy trying to protect his family, then a bad guy until we finally learned what he actually was. Noah was an endearing little lad and I was certainly rooting for him to have a happy life. The older daughters though were quite a surprise packet but I can’t tell you in what way.
Overall it was an enjoyable story with good pacing and strong characters, with just enough suspense to make it interesting. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Top reviews from other countries

Amazon customer
1.0 out of 5 stars
Done to death plot
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2021Verified Purchase
The second wife plot has been done to death since Rebecca and this is one of the worse ones
Did Edward kill clare ? Who knows and who cares ! Boring and poorly written definitely not gripping as the blurb said
Did Edward kill clare ? Who knows and who cares ! Boring and poorly written definitely not gripping as the blurb said
12 people found this helpful
Report abuse

AJ Wills
4.0 out of 5 stars
A creepy premise leads to mystery and intrigue
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 November 2021Verified Purchase
Psychological Thriller Fans rating - 64% ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Psychological thriller
Premise: After Lily marries widower, Edward, she is disturbed that his troubled son keeps insisting his mother isn’t dead – but is very much alive and well.
The good: A great premise full of mystery and intrigue
The bad: Lost some of its impetus towards the end
The ugly: Slightly convoluted ending
In summary: A creepy premise that keeps you turning the pages.
The Second Marriage by Jess Ryder hooks you in from the start with a brilliant mystery that has you wracking your brains trying to work out what is going on.
After a whirlwind romance, Lily marries widower Edward, who she met while looking after his troubled son, Noah.
He tells her his first wife, Clare, died after her food allergies were triggered after contact with sesame seeds.
But the real sucker punch of the opening hook comes when Noah reveals to Lily that his mother isn’t dead and that he’s been instructed by his father to lie about it.
The author does a great job of exploiting this hook while building the world around Lily, Edward, Noah and Edward’s two daughters, Georgia and Tara.
Plus there’s Marsha, Lily’s best friend who rather annoyingly takes on the ‘master detective role’ in finally solving the puzzle, when really we want to see Lily crack it herself.
Inevitably, the whole story concludes with a big showdown between all the members of the family and the truth is finally revealed.
No great twists at the end, past the mid-point twist, but a satisfying enough ending.
I found my attention wavering a little towards the end of the book after the mystery had been solved but overall a good read.
Genre: Psychological thriller
Premise: After Lily marries widower, Edward, she is disturbed that his troubled son keeps insisting his mother isn’t dead – but is very much alive and well.
The good: A great premise full of mystery and intrigue
The bad: Lost some of its impetus towards the end
The ugly: Slightly convoluted ending
In summary: A creepy premise that keeps you turning the pages.
The Second Marriage by Jess Ryder hooks you in from the start with a brilliant mystery that has you wracking your brains trying to work out what is going on.
After a whirlwind romance, Lily marries widower Edward, who she met while looking after his troubled son, Noah.
He tells her his first wife, Clare, died after her food allergies were triggered after contact with sesame seeds.
But the real sucker punch of the opening hook comes when Noah reveals to Lily that his mother isn’t dead and that he’s been instructed by his father to lie about it.
The author does a great job of exploiting this hook while building the world around Lily, Edward, Noah and Edward’s two daughters, Georgia and Tara.
Plus there’s Marsha, Lily’s best friend who rather annoyingly takes on the ‘master detective role’ in finally solving the puzzle, when really we want to see Lily crack it herself.
Inevitably, the whole story concludes with a big showdown between all the members of the family and the truth is finally revealed.
No great twists at the end, past the mid-point twist, but a satisfying enough ending.
I found my attention wavering a little towards the end of the book after the mystery had been solved but overall a good read.
One person found this helpful
Report abuse

H
2.0 out of 5 stars
Underwhelming, lacking in the thriller department
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2022Verified Purchase
Bought this book to pass the time on a long journey and sad to say I was pretty underwhelmed. Most of the characters were quite two-dimensional and, as others have noted, the plot was a little lacklustre. I’ve read plenty of thrillers in the past that have quite literally had me on the edge of my seat, unable to stop reading. This wasn’t one of them. Not only was I uninspired by much of the plot, but even the dramatic finale failed to deliver; I wouldn’t have noticed it was the conclusion of the plot at all if not for the page number at the bottom of the screen.
Having said that, the book is a decent length, and for 99p I can’t really complain. If you’re looking for reading material, I’d maybe start elsewhere.
Having said that, the book is a decent length, and for 99p I can’t really complain. If you’re looking for reading material, I’d maybe start elsewhere.
One person found this helpful
Report abuse

Rosy
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 May 2022Verified Purchase
This book started out ok and I thought it was going to be a good story but it took a bad turn and went downhill from there. It is not very believable that somebody would marry someone so quickly without knowing much about them (including their real name and actual identity) and there wasn’t really any attempt on the author’s part to make it believable. At the point where Noah’s grandmother comes in, I just couldn’t understand why she would have told him she was his mother. It was unnecessary and extremely cruel since she said herself she believed her daughter had died. After that I began to lose interest as the plot and characters became more and more preposterous. The ending was ridiculous. This book was not just badly written. It was lazy, rushed and you can tell not much effort went into it.

Shirls
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thoroughly enjoyed this!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2021Verified Purchase
Great plot, well written. I did d find myself getting frustrated with Lily at times and I was worried that the story was going to lead somewhere far fetched. Very pleased with the twins days and turns.
2 people found this helpful
Report abuse