Title: The Vow by Debbie Howells
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Suspense
Length:368 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Everything was perfect. And then her fiancé disappeared…
Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops Amy in the street and warns her she’s in danger. Then that night, Matt, her fiancé, doesn’t come home. Desperate, Amy calls the police – but when Matt fails to emerge, she’s forced to call off her wedding day.
Then another man is reported missing, by a woman called Fiona – a man meeting Matt’s description, who was about to leave his fiancée for her. He was supposed to be moving in with her – but instead, he’s vanished.
Amy refuses to believe Fiona’s lover can be her Matt – but photos prove otherwise, and it soon becomes clear that Matt has been leading a double life. As the police dig deeper, two conflicting, yet equally plausible stories emerge from two women who allegedly have never met.
The wedding day never happened. But the funeral might.
Review:
The Vow by Debbie Howells is a twist-filled domestic mystery.
Amy Reid is excited about her upcoming wedding to fiancé Matt Roche. Almost all of their plans are in place, but inexplicably, two weeks before they exchange vows, Matt disappears. Amy is frantic with worry both before and after reporting him missing to the local police. WPC Page is sympathetic as she tries to calm her fears as she opens an investigation. But when another woman, Fiona Rose, reports her partner missing, WPC Page quickly deduces Matt has been living a double life. As suspicions turn her way, Amy, her daughter Jess and Amy’s best friend Cath try to uncover the truth about Matt before it is too late.
After going through a divorce when Jess was five years old, Amy and her daughter live a quiet live. Amy is an herbalist with a successful business. It is not until Jess is about to leave for university that Amy begins dating Matt. Their relationship quickly becomes serious with Matt moving in with her and Jess. Even after learning Matt about the “other woman”, Amy still remains loyal to her fiancé. But after unexpected secrets come to light, Amy’s faith in Matt begins to dim.
Jess is initially very happy for her mum but she soon has concerns. Pushing aside her doubts, she instead tries to focus on her mum’s happiness. However, after Matt vanishes, Jess does not hesitate to reveal what she witnessed to WPC Page. Although the officer takes her seriously, Jess will do anything to save her mum.
At first, Fiona is reluctant to become involved with Matt and she does tries to attempt to stop seeing him. After he explains his situation with Amy, she relents and eagerly awaits the day he is fully hers. Fiona cannot come up with an explanation about his disappearance. But based on what Matt has told her about Amy, Fiona is convinced she is to blame for whatever has befallen him. But as the investigation continues, WPC Page and DI Lacey have serious questions for Fiona that need answers.
The Vow is a multi-layered mystery that is absolutely riveting. The storyline is quite clever and moves at a brisk pace. Amy is a complex woman but her loyalty to Matt is a little frustrating. Fiona is an interesting character but she is not easy to like. Jess is a powerhouse who absolutely refuses to stand by and wait for the police to find the missing pieces that might lead to finding Matt. With diabolical twists and stunning revelations, Debbie Howells brings this suspenseful domestic mystery to a very shocking conclusion. Greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this intricately plotted mystery to fans of the genre.
