First off, I have to say, I love psychological thrillers with a domestic twist! And The Second Honeymoon is precisely that: a story that delves deeply into the intricacies of marriage gone wrong.

When husband, Andre, takes his wife of ten years, Becca, on a romantic cruise, she doesn’t suspect that he has sinister intentions. In fact, she hopes he’s rekindling the flames of romance, when in actual fact he’s plotting to get rid of her.

Something I enjoyed in this book was the short chapters that switch seamlessly from Becca to Andres point of view. This shifting, third-person perspective allowed me to get into the mindsets of both characters, which was eye-opening, to say the least! The author does an excellent job of capturing Andres voice as a malignant narcissist (at least, I believe him to be one). He’s egotistical, arrogant, and utterly convinced he’s got everything under control, which made me root for Becca’s character even more.

Honestly, it’s hard to find a thriller that’s this entertaining and convincing in terms of plot structure all at once! Moreover, the narrative is carefully structured, with both on-board, on-land, and in-courtroom scenes that kept me glued to the pages throughout.

It’s hard not to have empathy with Becca’s character, and I think the contrast between her and Andre in terms of outlook make for entertaining reading. There’s an excellent variety of supporting characters, too, from Becca’s best friend, Stella, to Andres female accomplice, who helps him carry out his dastardly plan to get rid of his unsuspecting wife once and for all.

I think fans of psychological thrillers, or possibly even crime fiction, will really enjoy this book! I’ll definitely be reading more of this author’s work in future. Recommended!

19 responses to “Book Review: The Second Honeymoon by McGarvey Black”

  1. Dave Astor Avatar

    “The Second Honeymoon” sounds intense, Ada! Andre will not be on many readers’ holiday card lists. 🙂 Excellent review!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The Introverted Bookworm Avatar

      Thanks, Dave! Yes, it was intense and also extremely entertaining! I agree, Andre is a dastardly villain; the author captures his unique voice perfectly! I love thrillers that keep me hooked with plenty of plot twists. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Ilsa Rey Avatar

    Sold by the tagline and image! Eerie from the get-go.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The Introverted Bookworm Avatar

      Hah, yes, I know what you mean! I really liked this book; it kept me hooked at every turn! Thanks for commenting and checking out the review! 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Yeah, Another Blogger Avatar

    This book sounds like a candidate for being turned into a mini series on Netflix or the like.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The Introverted Bookworm Avatar

      Hah, yes, I know what you mean! I can totally see that! Thanks for stopping by to check out the review.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Resa Avatar

    This sounds like a terrific book, Ada! I do enjoy psychological thrillers … with any kind of twist… who dunnits and courtroom drama.

    Thanks for the review!

    I just checked the library, but they don’t have it. I will check again!

    Be well! ✯ ꧁🌹꧂ ✯

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The Introverted Bookworm Avatar

      Hi Resa, thanks for stopping by and checking out the review! Yes, this author writes fantastic psychological thrillers. I’m definitely also going to check out more of her books! Yes, perhaps they will stock it in the library in future. Like you, I also love a bit of high-stakes courtroom drama! Hope all’s well with you and you have a great weekend🌼🦢🌼

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Resa Avatar

        You have a fab weekend too, Ada!
        LOVE that courtroom drama!
        ༻💙༺

        Like

  5. mjeanpike Avatar

    Oooh, this sounds like something I would definitely like 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The Introverted Bookworm Avatar

      Hi Jean, thanks for stopping by to check out the review! Yes, in terms of psychological thrillers, I really enjoyed this! Andre is one of those love-to-hate characters, and the plot was fast-paced and suspenseful. 😊

      Like

      1. mjeanpike Avatar

        That’s just the way I like them 🙂

        Like

  6. Mary K. Doyle Avatar

    Hi Ada, this sounds like a well-written book with an enticing spot. I hope all is well with you.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. The Introverted Bookworm Avatar

      Hi Mary, yes, I really enjoyed this thriller! The characters were three-dimensional and easy to relate to, and full of twists! I like domestic thrillers, so this ticked the boxes for me! What I liked most, though, was the author’s way of making the narrative accessible, with short, suspenseful chapters (perfect for when I was tired and in need of relaxation!). Hope you are well and enjoying the last days of summer 🌸🌼🦢

      Liked by 1 person

  7. ourcrossings Avatar

    That’s a wonderful review, dear Ada. The book sounds like a fun and easy thriller. I am a big fan of books about courtroom drama because they create a natural stage with high stakes, clear rules, and intense conflict where characters must face truth, lies, and final judgment. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

    Liked by 2 people

    1. The Introverted Bookworm Avatar

      Hi Aiva, thanks for stopping by to check out the review and for your thoughtful comments! Yes, fun and easy is definitely how I’d describe this one. Indeed, facing the truth in the courtroom is a pivotal moment in this book for Andre, which had me glued to the pages! There are loads of twists throughout, which kept me on the edge of my seat. Hope you have a lovely weekend. 🌼🦢🌸

      Like

  8. liliessparrowsandgrass Avatar

    Hi Ada, your wonderfully engaging review certainly piqued my interest! The premise sounds so suspenseful, and your enthusiasm for the characters and the carefully constructed plot made me want to read it. I was delighted to discover that I could borrow the eBook at no additional charge through Prime—so I have already borrowed it! Thank you for putting this book on my radar.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The Introverted Bookworm Avatar

      Thanks so much for checking out the review for for your kind words! Glad to hear you were able to borrow it in Prime! I’ll definitely check out other books by this author in future; her stories are really engaging, with the shifting points and view and plot twists along the way. There were some pretty funny moments of black humor, too, which were unexpected! Hope you like it as much as I did. Happy reading! 🌸

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Diana L Forsberg Avatar

    Great review and it sounds like a book I might like!

    Like

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