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 rattling peaceful Lexington, Alabama, Jessie and Hubert Wiggins’ steadfast calm and devotion to each other reassures everyone that faith will see them through. But the Wigginses have paid a terrible hidden cost to maintain their façade . . .

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, Hubert’s attempts to keep Jessie in the dark, plus his jealousy and need for satisfaction drive him to reckless extremes—and desperate risks.

Jessie believes her marital struggles will all be worthwhile if she can connive Hubert to finallyconsummate their marriage. 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 is 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 against each other, their next move will either bury their deceptions for good—or reveal the one truth they can’t escape . . . - (Lightning Source, Inc. Ebooks)

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.