More Than You'll Ever Know

3.5, this needed to be 1/3 shorter but was very compelling at times.

As many of the other reviewers mentioned, it's not a thriller. It's a bit of a drama with a touch of a mystery and I'm not even sure what makes us stay:maybe the human touch. I'd pretty much guessed what was behind the murder early on, but the way it was brought on to the spotlight, the hint that was so obvious at the end and the outcome for Cassie were all interesting choices. A solid 3.5 stars.

More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez is a suspense novel about a woman caught leading a double life after one husband murders the other. The book description from the publisher describes it best: “The dance becomes an affair, which becomes a marriage, which becomes a murder... In 1985, Lore Rivera marries Andres Russo in Mexico City, even though she is already married to Fabian Rivera in Laredo, Texas, and they share twin sons. Through her career as an international banker, Lore splits her time between two countries and two families–until the truth is revealed and one husband is arrested for murdering the other. In 2017, while trawling the internet for the latest, most news reports, struggling true-crime writer Cassie Bowman encounters an article detailing that tragic final act. Cassie is immediately enticed by what is not explored: Why would a woman–a mother–risk everything for a secret double marriage? Told through alternating timelines, More Than You'll Ever Know is both a gripping mystery and a wrenching family drama. Presenting a window into the hearts of two very different women, it explores the many conflicting demands of marriage and motherhood, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing someone–especially those we love.”

Gutierrez's debut suspense novel is about a woman leading a double life being married to two men, one of which eventually murders the other, and the investigative reporter who becomes obsessed with her story. Gutierrez masterfully plots this slow burning story, showing the lives of both women in detail—what motivates and tantalizes them—leading to an effective plot twist and story reveal. The novel takes a while to get going, but ultimately gives a satisfying conclusion. Gutierrez does an effective job of showing the gray areas we all live in and that everyone is a combination of the good and bad choices they make. It can be difficult to pigeonhole the protagonists and antagonists in a story when their whole lives are revealed. What would lead a person to live such a deceitful life? As Gutierrez demonstrates, it's complicated. Kudos to Gutierrez for writing in both English and Spanish in such a realistic way, as is the way in Texas. Bonus points for local landmarks and fixtures in Austin, San Antonio, and all the way down to Laredo, Texas.

I enjoyed this book and I recommend it. I would give this book 5 stars.