My Friend’s Husband by Rupa Mahadevan

4 Stars from me

I was hooked by the premise of this one – a book that starts with a victim reporting their own kidnapping, mid abduction, from the boot of a car… what?!  

Fortunately for the victim, Roshni, her new friend Clara is determined to find her and get to the bottom of who has taken her, and why. Partially altruistic as Roshni has been a good friend to Clara, and partly to stop the police from looking too closely in her own direction.

Everyone has something to hide in this book and Clara is no different – but does that make her the culprit? And will her friend be found alive?

The sad irony of the kidnapping is that Roshni is one of life’s good eggs, she works for a charity supporting women and those fleeing abuse and domestic violence. You’d think this would be the biggest flag for the police as most who work in this industry do so because of what they have experienced first hand. 

Through Clara’s eyes we discover more about Roshni and her life – including the many ways she helped women. We also get exposed to some unpleasant situations around domestic abuse, including culturally motivated abuse. As much as these stories are shocking and uncomfortable, it is good that they are shared as this helps take steps to break the mold.

Clara has her own reasons for fearing police involvement and this adds extra tension to her efforts to find Roshni – overall this was an interesting and exciting read with lots going on and lots to think about which really helped to elevate the story.

I read this having not yet read Nine Dolls by the same author but I will be looking out for it now! This also feels like a good place to drop a link to Refuge, who do such excellent work.

My thanks to the author, Rupa Mahadevan, the incredible Zooloos book tours and Joffe Books for my place on this tour.

Blurb: My best friend is missing. And the police think I did it. But her perfect husband is lying. I’ve spent most of my life getting things wrong. Bad choices. Bad luck. Bad timing. Roshni was my fresh start. She gave me a job. A room. A second chance. Now she’s gone. The day she vanished, she managed one desperate 999 call. “Someone’s taken me. I’m in the boot of a car. Please…”