Thriller
The Soulmate
Early Release
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Quick take
When an old acquaintance dies, it dredges up demons of the past that threaten to unravel a seemingly perfect marriage.
Good to know
Psychological
Sad
Rural
Marriage issues
Synopsis
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.
Content warning
This book contains scenes depicting suicide.
Free sample
Get an early look from the first pages of The Soulmate.
The Soulmate
1
PIPPA
(NOW)
“Someone is out there.”
I’m standing at the kitchen sink, my hands plunged in warm soapy water. Gabe is beside me, supposedly drying dishes but mostly drinking red wine and singing to Edith Piaf. He made coq au vin for dinner using every pot in the house, but if there is one thing to be said for my husband it’s that he knows how to create a mood. He’s dimmed the lights, lit some candles, even trotted out his best French accent. If not for the kids and my older sister, Kat—who is perched at my kitchen counter—it might have been romantic.
“Where?” Gabe asks.
I lift my gloved hand and point through the window. It is a woman, I think, though it’s hard to be sure with the sun setting behind her. In any case, I have a clear view of a figure, twenty-odd meters away, beyond the edge of our property where the lawn gives way to a sandy walking path. Millionaires’ walk, the neighbors call it, for both its million-dollar views and the multimillion-dollar homes that line this part of the cliff. On the other side of the walking path is a sheer drop down to the jagged rocks and the beach thirty meters below. It’s not uncommon for people to stop here and admire the view, particularly at sunset, but when they linger it always gives me pause.
“There.”
I keep my voice quiet, steady. I don’t have the privilege of hysteria given the proximity of our curious four-year-olds.
“Call the police,” he says to me as he heads toward the back door.
Why I love it
Rachel Hawkins
Author, Reckless Girls
You think you know this one. The beautiful couple with the perfect house, the perfect life, the perfect marriage. Then something shocking—something violent—happens, and what once looked so perfect reveals itself to be more complicated, messier. It’s the set-up for dozens of domestic thrillers, but after just a few pages of Sally Hepworth’s The Soulmate, you’ll realize she’s taking you somewhere further. In fact, she’s taking you right up to the edge—and over.
Gabe and Pippa have settled into a beautiful cottage by the sea. Only drawback? The cliffs that their house sits on act as a dark lure for people who want to take their own lives. Luckily, compassionate Gabe has developed a knack for talking people back from the edge while Pippa, watching from the window, calls the authorities.
Until Amanda.
When Amanda goes over the cliffs, it’s a tragedy, not a mystery. Or is it? Because Pippa can’t be sure what she saw as Gabe approached the woman on the cliffs that night, and when she learns that Amanda and Gabe knew one another, suspicions begin to spiral into paranoia.
Told in alternating points of view between Pippa and Amanda, The Soulmate is the perfect thriller. Twisty, fun, and compelling in that I know I should go to bed, but this new twist means I’m up until at least 3 AM way. But it also cuts into the murky heart of a marriage, asking questions about trust, fidelity, the secrets we keep, and the things we’ll do for love.
Member ratings (26,637)
Melissa Y.
Dyersburg, TN
I adored this book! I loved how it was written from 2 perspectives and went from “now” to “then” and “before” to “after”. I went through every emotion with the characters and couldn’t put my book down
Erin H.
Liberty lake, WA
Loved the different characters perspectives. Also thought having Amanda’s character in her state was super interesting. Some parts were pretty predictable but overall I enjoyed the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nicole S.
Lochubuie, CO
Really great storyline. Easy to follow and such an interesting way to present characters. Nothing like I expected it to be. Such great twists. Would highly recommend this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Alexandra H.
Earlville, IL
4/5 ⭐️ This book was sooo good! The only thing I wish was different was that there was a huge twist. It was twisty, but while it wasn’t predictable they weren’t huge! I would read again & recommend!
Bethani D.
Redding , CA
I’m stuck between love and like. I read it in a span of a couple of days and it definitely held my attention, I’m just not sure I would categorize this as a thriller. I think it’s closer to a mystery.