Where Is My Husband? A Jake and Mallory Thriller by Ivanka Fear

I was attracted to this novel by the simplicity of the title, which in the form of a question, provokes dozens of images where this could go.

Ms. Fear sets the pace in the first chapter telling us who the husband is, what he means to her main character, Mallory, and secrets she hasn’t shared with him. It worked for me.

When her husband doesn’t show up after work, Mallory frets he’s with someone else and not returning. She spends a lonely night worrying about where he is, and what he might be doing. Flashbacks and back story tell us how their relationship began and developed during the four years they’ve been together and his missing is completely out of character.

Two friends stand by her during the hunt for her missing husband. They offer comfort but also cause her anxiety as one of them is an old girlfriend of the missing man. Secrets unfold, addictions, questionable strangers at her door, the police, illicit crops, it all adds to the intrigue. Following Mallory as she tries to find a solution to her dilemma, the author tosses in enough twists to keep us in suspense.

A few weak spots are stopping this novel from being great, but it is good and well worth the time to read if you favour thrillers and cozy mysteries. The author uses a more intimate way of telling the story, through the eyes of the main character, which I enjoyed. What Ms. Fear does well is the hook at the end of each chapter compelling us to find out what happens. I look forward to more of Jake & Mallory.

Ivanka Fear is a Canadian writer, born in Slovenia. She earned her B.A. and B.Ed. in English and French at Western University. Prior to pursuing writing full-time, she enjoyed a long career in education. Where is My Husband? A Jake and Mallory Thriller is her second book. Ivanka is also the author of The Dead Lie, A Blue Water Mystery. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers of Canada, and Sisters in Crime. Ivanka resides in Ontario, Canada, with her family and the stray cats that wandered in.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books (Oct. 3 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 286 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1685124461
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1685124465

Allan Hudson

Website

Growing up in South Branch, Allan Hudson was encouraged to read from an early age by his mother who was a schoolteacher. He lives in Dieppe, NB, with his wife Gloria. He has enjoyed a lifetime of adventure, and travel and uses the many experiences as ideas for his writing. He is an author of action/adventure novels, historical fiction and a short story collection. His short stories – The Ship Breakers & In the Abyss – received Honourable Mention in the New Brunswick Writer’s Federation competition. He has stories published oncommuterlit.com, The Golden Ratio and his blog - South Branch Scribbler.