Accident or Murder? by Michelle Godard-Richer

Honestly? I often read more than one book at a time, and in this case I had begun a Freida McFadden novel alongside Accident or Murder? It didn’t take long for me to set aside McFadden for Godard-Richer’s gripping domestic suspense featuring a husband and wife whose superficial relationship undergoes a major trial when the past intrudes on their lives. There’s a thin line between accident and murder, love and hate. This psychological thriller explores the complexity of emotions triggered by other peoples’ actions. I’m already a big fan of author Godard-Richer, but this book blows it out of the water (in a really good way). Obsession, secrets, revenge…a tense and suspenseful story where the past intrudes on the present. One plot twist after another keeps the pages turning. I could NOT stop reading. 

None of the main characters were likeable, but I found myself relating to each of them. Eliza can’t get over the grief of losing her sister, Sasha, years ago. Although it was ruled an accident, she is convinced her boyfriend, Kristian, murdered her. Unresolved grief and the need for vengeance is a powerful driving force. Kristian’s wife, Adrianna, loves her husband, but also detests him for his views on a woman’s place in society. Part of me detested Adrianna, as well, for allowing herself to be treated like a common house drudge, but I also respected her for pursuing her own career and seeking independence from a controlling husband. And Kristian, a man who has more wealth than he can spend, a thriving career, a gorgeous home, and a beautiful trophy wife, takes everything for granted as if life owes him all that. Even though he uses people for his own purposes and deserves no pity, I found myself rooting for him as one problem after another destroys his utopia. This is a character-driven thriller reflecting strong emotional struggles on top of being a well-plotted mystery with plenty of intrigue. What really happened to Sasha? Author Godard-Richer is an expert at showing the many sides of her characters, blurring the line between protagonist and antagonist.

From the start, I was drawn into Eliza’s need to avenge her sister’s untimely death and shocked by the lengths she goes to in order to find justice. But her need for revenge remains unquenched, driving her to destroy everything Kristian loves. The plot moves at a fast pace, slipping from one point of view to another. Adrianna and Kristian’s happiness is already threatened as marriage, home, and career issues come to a boil. When it becomes clear that they are also in danger from outside forces, the couple must decide what is most important to them and how far they are willing to go to protect it.

Dark, twisted, and filled with secrets, Accident or Murder? smacked me in the face several times with revelations I did not see coming. Things aren’t always what they appear to be. I love great husband/wife domestic suspense, and this one kept me glued to the pages right through to the final big reveal. A masterpiece of a thriller that you’ll want to put on the top of your TBR list!