Book Review: The Fiancée | Kate White

Honestly I don’t think there is anything that excites me quite like a new Kate White book does! I own every book of hers in hardcover (except one that I am still trying to track down!) and they are books I read over and over because they are this perfect blend of intriguing mystery, intricate plotting, strong heroines, breezy banter, and fun settings. They manage to have fairly diabolical villains but somehow stay light. And even when I know who did it, I find myself enjoying re-reads and noting all of the clues I missed the first time. Simply the best escape reads for me and The Fiancée is no different!

About the Book

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…

Reflection

Imagine you are just getting to a perfect week-long getaway to a sprawling estate in the country. The remote grounds not only boast stunning gardens (which the hostess and her staff expertly arrange into beautiful place settings daily), gourmet meals, a refreshing pool, private tennis courts, and scenic walking trails, but also a gathering with family. Sounds heavenly, right?

Summer can’t wait to get out of Manhattan and take a long overdue vacation. Working as an actress and doing voice work, Summer is stressing about a recent job that didn’t go well. Still, she’s ready to put the incident out of her mind and spend quality time with her husband, his son, and his family.

From the first day Summer and her husband Gabe arrive at his parent’s estate, what promised to be a relaxing week is quickly spoiled. Gabe’s two brothers are in attendance and one has a new girlfriend Hannah. Summer actually recognizes her—she’s sure they both acted in a showcase together a few years earlier. But Hannah insists she was never in that showcase. Why would she lie? Summer can tell something is off about Hannah—she doesn’t trust her, particularly after she verifies with a mutual friend that Hannah was the person in the showcase and learns some troubling information about Hannah and why she may want to keep it a secret.

The week moves along a bit awkwardly, as Hannah continues to do things that raise Summer’s suspicions. But when a member of Gabe’s family unexpectedly dies, Summer begins to question everything. Is it natural causes, or is something else going on? Tensions rise as the family deals with the loss, secrets come to light, and deeply buried rifts among the brothers suddenly seem to surface.

If you’ve read Kate White before, you’ll find this to be another contemporary take on the classic whodunit. I absolutely love her Bailey Weggins books, but I also enjoy her standalones. Summer doesn’t quite have Bailey’s brazenness, but she is just as intelligent and tenacious about uncovering the truth! I enjoyed hearing about her work as an actress—I always think Kate White chooses interesting professions for her leading ladies. I also absolutely loved the setting. Though not quite a locked room mystery, it certainly felt that the remote estate location added an element of unease as things started to go awry and only the family and significant others were present.

This is a perfect weekend read—intriguing mystery, lots of clues to follow along the way, a great reveal, and despite the subject, it manages to stay on the lighter side of thrillers. Another slam dunk by Kate White!

Thank you to Harper for my advanced copy. I loved it so much I bought the hardcover for my collection. Opinions are my own.