They say every love story is unique, but what if the devil is really in the all-too-familiar details? In Marlee Bush’s latest thriller, Darling, You’re Next, it’s the coincidences that might just kill you. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy to review.
When Maren Kamp meets someone who could be the closest thing to a real Prince Charming, even her skeptical nature doesn’t immediately flag anything suspicious about him—including the fact that they just so happened to run into each other again at a grief group. After all, this kind, patient person can’t be faulted for losing his fiancée and seeking the company of others in need of community and understanding . . . can he? But then the questions and similarities just keep piling up, and Maren starts to wonder if Topher’s previous significant other didn’t meet her end in circumstances that were less than accidental. Perhaps more importantly, she begins to fear that she might be next in line for that same fate.
Similar to Bush’s previous novels, Whispers of Dead Girls and When She Was Me, Darling, You’re Next calls to mind the particular elements often found in true crime, including the jaded heroine and the seemingly perfect guy who comes in to sweep her off her feet, only for there to be actual skeletons in his closet. Understandable, considering Bush’s background in criminology as well as English. But where some readers might find these recurring patterns easy to predict or even monotonous after a book or three, the nuances and plot twists that she adds to each story guarantee a unique dive down the rabbit hole. In this case, the dual timelines unfolding one on top of the other make it absolutely necessary for readers to pay close attention. Otherwise, they miss out on the subtle clues that support Maren’s theories and challenge them by turns.
Another area in which Bush really excels is character development, and this narrative is no exception. Take the protagonist; between her grief and her injury, Maren has plenty of baggage to explore even without Topher’s interference. But with the emphasis on her initial loneliness and practical fixation on not repeating toxic, tragic cycles, she becomes a highly sympathetic character: the kind readers want to root for even when they grow a bit frustrated with her blind spots. Watching her grow while barreling to the conclusion of this mystery is a reward in and of itself.
With an upcoming pub day of January 5, 2027, Darling, You’re Next offers complicated dynamics in a chilling clash of the past and the present, and serves as both a psychological thriller and a cautionary tale. Beware fairy-tale beginnings with plot holes; they rarely end happily ever after.
