Horrible Husbands by Jessica Huntley

Horrible Husbands by Jessica Huntley
Published on 23 January 2025
by Joffe Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller ~ Domestic Thriller

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Three best friends.
Three women who will do anything for each other.
Including killing their horrible husbands.

Penny, Holly and me. We’ve been best friends since we were seven years old. We tell each other everything. Well . . . almost everything. I haven’t told them about Simon. The first time he hit me was on our wedding anniversary. He broke down in tears afterwards. That’s the thing about Simon. He’s always sorry . . . until the next time.

I’m not sure why I don’t tell my friends about my horrible husband. Maybe it’s because I don’t want them to worry. They have their own problems. Now we’ve descended on Penny’s stunning country home for a rare girls’ weekend. As the cocktails flow, the truth starts to come out. It turns out I’m not the only one keeping secrets. Bloody hell, we sure can pick them.

As I find out about the awful things Penny and Holly’s partners have done, we make a pact: we’ve put up with our good-for-nothing husbands for long enough. It’s time to put things right. Permanently. “Here’s to our horrible husbands. May they get what’s coming to them.” We clink our glasses and drink.

It seemed like such a good idea at the time. To kill our lying, cheating, murderous spouses. But now what’s going to happen . . . ?

Trigger Warning:
Please note this book contains themes of domestic abuse that some readers may find upsetting.

Jessica Huntley is an author of dark and twisty psychological thrillers, which often focus on mental health topics and delve deep into the minds of her characters. She has a varied career background, having joined the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, then left to become a Personal Trainer.

She is now living her life-long dream of writing from the comfort of her home, while looking after her young son and her disabled black Labrador. She enjoys keeping fit and drinking wine (not at the same time).

You can find out more at Jessica Huntley Author and on Facebook, Instagram and X

My thoughts on this book

Horrible Husbands was an engaging and unexpected read for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author, Jessica Huntley, was new to me, and I’ll admit I probably wouldn’t have picked this book up if it hadn’t been part of a book tour. But I’m so glad I did!

The story follows three lifelong friends – Penny, Holly, and Lisa – who reunite for a rare girls’ weekend. On the surface, it’s a chance to relax and catch up, but even before the weekend begins, it’s clear there are secrets simmering under the surface. As the drinks flow, the layers of their lives are peeled back, revealing hidden truths. Each woman has suffered mistreatment from her partner, but out of shame, fear, or pride, they’ve kept their pain to themselves – until now.

The dynamics of their friendship are beautifully written. Despite drifting apart over the years—living far away and communicating mostly through WhatsApp—they still share an unspoken bond. Once together, their old familiarity resurfaces, allowing them to read between the lines like no one else.

After one too many drinks, the women hatch a bold, reckless plan: to reclaim their lives by getting rid of their toxic, manipulative husbands—permanently. What starts as a wine-fueled fantasy takes a dark turn the next day, spiraling into a dangerous reality. Even with their pact in place, their unspoken truths continue to bubble beneath the surface, threatening to derail their plans.

The plot was gripping, blending dark humor and suspense to create a story that kept me hooked. I particularly appreciated how the author captured the complexities of female friendship—especially how even the closest bonds can be strained by shame and silence. The premise—while far-fetched—is a cheeky, dramatic “what if” that many might joke about on a girls’ night, but here it’s taken to thrilling extremes.

If I had one critique, it’s that some twists felt a touch predictable. That said, the engaging execution and the rich interplay between the three women more than made up for it. Overall, this was a compelling and entertaining read.

If you’re in the mood for a mix of dark secrets, suspense, and the power of friendship, I’d highly recommend it!

I really enjoyed this thriller. Yet another book I would not have come across without having the opportunity to be part of the book tour with Zooloo’s Book Tours, thank you Zoé! The book tour runs 23-29 January.

Tags: #HorribleHusbands #JessicaHuntley #JoffeBooks #ZooLoosBookTours #VirtualBookTour #PsychologicalThriller #BookReview

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