The Fiancée

A Novel

By: Kate White

Narrated by: Cindy Kay

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

“A tense, simmering, fast-paced mystery, Kate White’s latest captivating thriller explores the secrets that lurk just under the surface of a picture-perfect façade. I raced through this story about a close-knit family’s annual gathering at an idyllic estate that quickly turns deadly. The Fiancée kept me guessing until the very end, never sure who to trust - or where the danger was hiding.” (Megan Miranda, New York Times best-selling author of The Last House Guest and The Girl from Widow Hills)

The New York Times best-selling author returns with an unsettling but riveting psychological thriller about a captivating woman who joins a family and threatens to upend their picture-perfect lives. 

They had everything they needed for a perfect family vacation: close-knit relatives, a bucolic setting...and a murderer in their midst?

Summer’s looking forward to a break from hustling for acting work in Manhattan when she, her husband, Gabe, and Gabe’s nine-year-old son arrive at the annual family get-together at her in-laws’ sprawling estate. On the agenda are leisurely gourmet meals, tennis matches, and plenty of relaxation by the pool.

But this year, Gabe’s brother, Nick, has invited his new flame Hannah, whom Summer immediately recognizes from a few years before. Oddly, her brother-in-law’s girlfriend claims not to know her. Yet she charms the other family members, and after Nick announces that he’s proposed to Hannah, Summer doesn’t have much choice but to grin and bear it.

Then, the reunion is rocked by tragedy when a family member is found dead. Though the doctors attribute the loss to natural causes, a grieving Summer fears that the too-good-to-be-true Hannah is involved, even as Gabe dismisses her suspicions.

How far will Summer go to expose the truth? As she investigates just what Nick’s fiancée might have done to keep her perfect image intact, she begins to fear that the first death might only be the beginning....

©2021 Kate White (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

An excellent mystery, simply enjoyable

I do at least 3 books weekly. I rarely write reviews unless the author really upsets me because I know these books are the author’s sweat and hard work. I am mindful of this and most books are enjoyable to some degree. Rarely is one so terrible I feel the need to bash the the author. I have read all of Kate White’s mysteries and found each one enjoyable- one thing I appreciate about her mysteries is that she writes without showing me her politics, without having to explain to her readers how she is or isn’t religious by making her characters tell the story and doesn’t bore me to death by trying to make me understand how “WOKE” she is by her characters. I am not sure what some of the reviewers who have given bad reviews want from a simple mystery. In my opinion, Kate White delivers a solid and interesting mystery each time.

Great story, annoying narration

Another fun Kate White thriller. But all whispery voices start to grate after a while—particularly when the narrator tries to assume the male roles.

Narration Ruined This For Me

This is only the second time that I have quit a book before finishing it after paying for it/using a credit. The narrator ruined it so much for me that I could barely concentrate on the storyline. Her voice for every single character is so breathy, almost like all the characters are whispering. I tried to stick it out, but finally just said, "I can't." Literally said that out loud.

The story might be a good one, so apologies to the author.

not sure what to say

Well, that was something.
On one hand, I like the narrator. On the other hand, I hate every single character, so I don’t know if that’s by design or performance related.
This entire story is just... completely unbelievable. All of Summer’s off the rocker clues that no one else on planet earth would have ever picked up on literally killed me.

Listened in 2 Days

Kate White is a solid storyteller. All of her suspense novels keep my interest and have unexpected twists.
I haven’t regret reading or listening to one of her books ever. This novel is a about a suspicious death at a family estate in Pennsylvania. If you enjoy domestic suspense novels, you’ll enjoy this one.

Always surprised

Kate White always bests me in figuring out who done it in her novels.

Nice little mystery

Great story, easy to follow. decent characters however they were not very developed and I won't think of them again. With that said I didn't find out who did it until the end!!

Great easy thriller read

Enjoyed this one very much. The second husband lured me to Kate White’s other books. I can’t wait to start the next.

So predictable

Within the first chapter or two, I had guessed the entire plot. Oh well- it was mildly entertaining for an otherwise boring weekend.

Started slow but picked up

I thought the book was going to be better. It was not a favorite.