With serial murders putting peaceful Lexington, Alabama, on edge, Jessie and Hubert Wiggins' steadfast calm and devotion to each other reassures everyone that faith will see them through. But Jessie and Hubert have paid a terrible hidden cost to maintaintheir devout facade and respectable standing. Hubert thought he and his secret lover, Leroy, could continue seeing each other. When Leroy's ex-wife moves back in with him, the men begin taking desperate risks. Jessie is trying to convince Hubert to consummate their marriage; his refusal has her trying a new lover-- who is unexpectedly dangerous. - adapted from jacket - (Baker & Taylor)
"With mysterious serial murders putting peaceful Lexington, Alabama, on edge, Jessie and Hubert Wiggins' steadfast calm and devotion to each other reassures everyone that faith will see them through. But Jessie and Hubert have paid a terrible hidden costto maintain their devout facade and respectable standing. Nothing can allay the guilt they feel--or stop the growing distrust between them ..."-- - (Baker & Taylor)
With their sham of a marriage in danger, Jessie and Hubert Wiggins, desperately trying to maintain their devout facade and respectable standing, must decide whether or not to reveal the person who might be behind the serial murders plaguing their town, which would risk their own web of lies being exposed. - (Baker & Taylor)
Award-winning New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe delivers the latest thrillingly scandal-filled novel in her Depression-era saga of a church-going lady and her oh-so-upstanding husband racing to cover up their many sins—and gambling on one scheme too many. . .
With mysterious serial murders putting peaceful Lexington, Alabama, on edge, Jessie and Hubert Wiggins’ steadfast calm and devotion to each other reassures everyone that faith will see them through. But Jessie and Hubert have paid a terrible hidden cost to maintain their devout facade and respectable standing. Nothing can allay the guilt they feel—or stop the growing distrust between them . . .
Hubert thought he and his secret lover, Leroy, could continue seeing each other on the down-low in peace. But when Leroy’s ex-wife moves back in with him, a heartbroken Hubert is driven to distraction trying to keep Jessie in the dark—and quell his mounting jealousy. And his need for satisfaction is driving Hubert to reckless extremes—and desperate risks. . .
Jessie believes the struggles between her and Hubert will all be worth it if she can connive him to finally consummate their marriage—no matter what she has to do. But his erratic behavior and her frustration soon has her trying yet another new lover, who is as charming as he is unreliable—and unexpectedly dangerous. . .
Now with their secrets out of control—and the police perilously near—Jessie and Hubert discover who might be behind the deaths plaguing their town. But can they risk a pursuit that could expose their own web of lies? When their only choice pits them and their suspicions against each other, their next move will either bury their deceptions deep for good—or reveal the one truth they can’t escape. . . - (Random House, Inc.)
Mary Monroe is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels and six novellas. She is a three-time AALBC bestseller and winner of the AAMBC Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award, the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award, and the J. California Cooper Memorial Award. The daughter of Alabama sharecroppers, she taught herself how to write before going on to become the first and only member of her family to finish high school. She lives in Oakland, California, and loves to hear from her readers via e-mail at Authorauthor5409@aol.com. Visit Mary’s website at MaryMonroe.org. - (Random House, Inc.)
Booklist Reviews
Scandal and sorrow descend once again upon the Wiggins family of Lexington, Alabama. Formerly widowed newlyweds Hubert and Jessie Wiggins finally have a new beginning, but their happily ever after is not what it seems. Jessie is desperate for the intimacy Hubert insists he can no longer give, while Hubert continues to hide his increasingly passionate relationship with a man from a neighboring town. In the wake of the Depression and with WWII looming, their community is struck by racial violence and unexplained disappearances. As Hubert and Jessie plunge deeper into secrecy and deceit, they realize the road to their individual happiness is riddled with guilt and shame. In the third title in her popular Lexington series, following Mrs. Wiggins (2021) and Empty Vows (2022), Monroe extends Hubert's story in a drama laced with suspenseful twists and tension. The novel's gritty narrative delves into themes of moral relativism, intimacy, and sexuality, capturing the intensity of suppressed passion and the discontent of unexpressed expectations in a drama sure to please award-winning and best-selling Monroe's many fans. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.
