Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in Sally Hepworth’s The Soulmate.
There’s a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn’t.
When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral…Did the victim jump? Was she pushed?
And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate…lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel.
What’s it about (in a nutshell):
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is a suspenseful psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat with its slow reveals.
My Reading Experience:
I love that there is an actual psychological disorder in this thriller. I had fun diagnosing one of the characters as the story unfolded, and it was quite a puzzle. In the end, I did have the correct differential diagnosis, which says a lot about the authenticity of the portrayal.
I also loved that this story isn’t just a psychological thriller but also a love story, as the title would suggest. The love stories, and there is more than one, are compelling from start to finish and add an emotional element not often seen in a thriller of this type. The end was truly tragic and has stuck with me ever since.
I enjoyed the pacing of the reveals most of all. There are so many secrets and layers to each secret, and the breadcrumbs are scattered strategically to keep the pace flowing quickly. I, of course, loved the red herrings and subtle twists and turns, aided by a slight atmospheric quality.
Characters:
Pippa married her dream man, and they have a beautiful home with an extraordinary view and two lovely daughters that keep them on their toes. She is an estate planning attorney and the sole breadwinner of the family. But after a tragic event, the secrets she has been keeping begin to reveal themselves, and her whole life is coming unraveled at the very seams.
Gabe is handsome and charming and agrees to stay at home with his daughters after something happens to make the couple relocate. He has developed a reputation for being excellent at talking people away from the cliff and getting their needed help. Until he isn’t, and all his secrets come to light.
Amanda is the other narrator, along with Pippa. She is recently deceased and watching everything happen with the clarity only death can provide. She also offers relevant past information on her life for the reader.
Narration & Pacing:
The story is told by two characters – one of them being the deceased victim – and takes place through each character’s unique timeline – past and present. All of this change confused me at first, but I quickly adjusted to the flow of the story and had no issues following the when, where, and with whom.
The pacing stayed consistent throughout. With short chapters and well-timed reveals, the pace is fast from start to finish. I never felt bogged down by the story or the atmosphere.
Setting:
The novel is set in Australia, primarily in a house on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The characters could afford such a dream home because this part of the cliff is a spot where people on dire straights come to jump. This creates the perfect atmosphere and backdrop for this type of story.
Read if you like:
- Puzzling psychological thrillers
- Tragic love stories
- Fast-paced stories that keep you on the edge of your seat
Overall Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
| Originality | 10 |
| Writing Quality | 10 |
| Pace | 10 |
| Character Development | 8 |
| ‘Couldn’t Put It Down’-ness | 10 |
| Use of Setting | 10 |
Tessa Talks Books 
Sounds like classic Hepworth! Can’t wait. Excellent review, Tessa💜
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It totally is. Such a compelling read.
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Fab review! Edge of the seat reads make my blood pressure go up 🤣
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Sometimes it’s good to raise the blood pressure for a brief time 😁
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Just got the audiobook today!
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Yay, I’ve been waiting for your review, and it’s fantastic! I’m so happy you liked this one!
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I did. It’s so compelling!
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This one sounds really interesting. Thanks for the thorough review, Tessa.
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It’s very good. So many secrets!
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I have read author’s previous books and I enjoyed them. This sounds just as good and I’m already curious to know how Amanda is related to this couple. Amazing review!
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That is pretty much what the book is about – how she is related to the couple. And the answer is surprising 😁
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I’ve just started reading this and I’m enjoying it so far.
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I think you’ll enjoy the love story aspect of it in particular. Hope you enjoy!
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I knew I’d like this when you mentioned it in a WWW post. Sounds like one I’d curl up with for hours.
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It’s the perfect book to curl up with!
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sounds like my kind of read, great review 😊
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It definitely is. So compelling!
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Excellent review, Tessa. I have been reading lots of romance, so it is time to get a good thriller out. You have definitely piqued my interest to find out which character and what the diagnosis might be. I will have to get to this one soon, although I also have a couple other Hepworth books on my stack to read. Maybe a binge read this month.
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Her books are always very interesting and the love story element of this one is such a surprise.
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I am looking forward to it. Yes, love story element would be different for her.
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