His First Wife by Jack Dane
Release: February 21, 2025
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Back Alley Press
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Amazon , GoodReads
He’s the perfect husband…if you can forget the rumors about his first wife.
Abby is happily married to her dream guy–handsome, hardworking, and completely devoted.
Sure, there are those nagging rumors about the mysterious disappearance of his first wife. But Abby trusts the man she married.
Until an unmarked letter arrives and upends her life in a single sentence.
YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR HUSBAND.
She has to find out what the letter means. After all, if there’s one person you truly know, it’s the person you’ve married…right?
But the more Abby finds out, the more terrified she becomes. As dark secrets come to light, she realizes that uncovering the truth might be the last thing she ever does.
Fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, and Kiersten Modglin will love this fast-paced psychological thriller that will leave you guessing until the crazy, twisted end.
About the Author:
Jack Dane is the author of twisted psychological thrillers, many of which are set in New York City, where he lives. When not writing, Jack enjoys getting lost in the Park, going to jazz clubs, and people watching for new ideas.
His First Wife Review:
Having read a couple of Jack Dane’s books before, I was curious to see how His First Wife would compare. This is the third book I’ve picked up by him. While it carries his signature knack for suspense, I could definitely sense a difference between this earlier work and the more polished, twist-laden stories he has released since.
The premise itself is intriguing. And the setup promises plenty of secrets, tension, and unravelling relationships. There are moments that kept me invested—particularly the thread of serial killer murders running through the city and how that storyline connects with the main storyline. Dane is talented at weaving external tension into domestic drama, and that’s on display here too.
That said, I didn’t find myself connecting with the characters in the same way as I did in some of his later books. In stories like The New Sitter or Such Lovely Neighbors, I could usually latch onto at least one character I enjoyed following. With His First Wife, however, I struggled to root for anyone. Most of the cast irked me. And the central figure, Spencer, especially came across as frustrating in his decisions and reactions.
The second half does deliver a twist, as Dane is known for, but this time it didn’t quite land for me. Instead of the jaw-dropping shock I’ve come to expect, I found myself questioning whether the reveal really worked within the story. It felt a little far-fetched looking back, and rather than giving me a surprise, it left me unconvinced.
Overall, His First Wife has flashes of the suspenseful storytelling that Dane would later hone. But compared to his stronger works, it lacked the same impact. An interesting read, though not my favorite from him.
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