The Soulmate

by Sally Hepworth

Genres: Women's Fiction; Domestic Thrillers

Synopsis

"Listeners will be captivated as the narrators create tension and drop hints about the real problem in this “ideal” family." —Booklist on The Younger Wife

"Narrators Barrie Kreinik and Jessica Douglas-Henry enhance the air of anxiety by weaving an engaging web of emotion. Their Australian accents aid in the immersive nature of the narrative and their fast-paced delivery will keep listeners on the edge of their seats."- Library Journal

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

Release date: April 4, 2023

Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

Print pages: 352

Sample

Gabe is standing much closer to the woman than he usually would. Closer to the edge, too. This is against the rules – his own, and the police’s. The cliff is precarious enough for one person. Chunks of it fall into the ocean all the time. And on a night like this, the wind alone could force an unsuspecting person over the edge. Gabe has always been diligent about following the rules, despite his run towards the burning building mentality. I wonder if this is a sign of how it’s going. If so, it’s unlikely to be a good sign.
I glance briefly towards the street to see if the police are near. They won’t have sirens or lights on. Like Gabe, they prefer a more subtle approach, not wanting to surprise or crowd anyone.
‘Mummy,’ Freya says, ‘Asha is looking at me.’
‘Asha, stop looking at your sister,’ I say, my eyes still on the window.
Gabe takes a step towards the woman, which is also against the rules. ‘Don’t advance on them,’ he always says. ‘Persuade them to come towards you, towards safety.’
When Freya screams, I think I might faint. ‘For heaven’s sake,’ I say quietly, as I see the prongs of the fork pressing into Freya’s thigh and Asha’s huge brown unworried eyes. I grab the fork. ‘Asha!’
‘Come on girls,’ Kat says. ‘I’ll read you a book. Let’s go pick one out.’
I turn back to the window. In the dark it takes me a moment to locate them. When I do, I don’t understand what I’m seeing. The space where the woman had been standing is now vacant. Gabe is alone at the cliff’s edge. His arms are outstretched, palms facing the empty air.