The Bigamist: The True Story of a Husband's Ultimate Betrayal

Written by Mary Turner Thomson

Narrated by Mary Turner Thomson

Now airing as the three-part documentary series The Other Mrs Jordan on ITVX.

From whirlwind romance to gaslighting campaign: this is truth far stranger than fiction.

When Mary met Will Jordan online, she was a single mother who’d given up trying to find Mr Right. And yet here he suddenly was: articulate and attractive, with a fascinating background. Soon they were in love, and when he proposed after a month it seemed recklessly romantic.

Caught up in a whirlwind, Mary accepted that Will’s work often took him away from home, out of contact. She was his rock, supporting him emotionally when a misunderstanding led to criminal charges, and even selling everything when blackmailers threatened to kidnap their children. Together, they took on the world.

And then one day the phone rang, and a woman introduced herself as ‘the other Mrs Jordan’…

In this raw account of deception on a grand scale, Mary Turner Thomson recounts what happened after she discovered every word he’d said, from the very first moment, was a lie. This is her painful, humiliating truth—but she tells it for one reason: she too was once a strong, independent woman who would have read all this and thought It could never happen to me…

Revised edition: Previously published as The Bigamist: the true story of a husband’s ultimate betrayal, this edition of The Bigamist includes editorial revisions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Sep 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781713527046

Mary Turner Thomson

Mary Turner Thomson grew up in Edinburgh. She has a BA Hons in Creative and Performing Arts, as well as diplomas in marketing, business advice and literature/creative writing. She worked as a business adviser, marketing consultant and motivational trainer before deciding to write The Bigamist, a memoir of her marriage to a con man and bigamist. Mary is also the co-author of Trading Places (2009), the true story of how Natalie Hutchison suffered domestic abuse but took her life back by starting her own business, even winning the Trading Places award in 2006. She has also written a comedic book about what sociopaths say and what they really mean in The Sociopath Subtext. Mary is currently working on her first novel, a psychological thriller. If you want to find out more, sign up to Mary’s website or follow her on Facebook and/or Twitter: Website: www.maryturnerthomson.com Facebook: maryturnerthomson Twitter: @TheBigamistBook

Reviews for The Bigamist

[Sarah Alj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a mad, mad, mad, telling of a ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ tale. Maybe I’m too harsh but any person that accepted being continually stood up by a stranger, a person they never really met (e-mails DO NOT COUNT) will stay for more, he knew that and absolutely used it. I do love that she stepped up and went completely public to save anybody, past and future, from his viciousness. I’m still shaking my head though.

[Karen Simmons · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am a sucker for anyones memoir. I’ve seen this author criticized for being so gullible, and I too wondered how she believed so many outlandish lies. But I also understand how hard it is to see the truth from the inside. Rather than criticizing her I’m just thankful it wasn’t me.

[Emma Martin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an astounding account of Mary's life. Being married to a bigamist was only the half of it.

[Carol Waggonner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was married to a sociopath. Oh, how I wish I had come across this book before I married him. It would’ve helped me so much and I would have avoided so much pain and grief-so would have my children. This author is a saint for sharing her truth.

[Mark Bridgman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is quite an incredible and intriguing story which is read by the author in a very genuine and honest way (Plus her accent is very easy to listen to).
I have seen some similar traits to the perpetrator of the story in an acquaintance. This story has opened my eyes to this murky world of deception by obviously highly intelligent con artists.
Wishing the author every success in to the future.

[Benjamin Birch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an interesting story! I learned a lot from this. I can say that I have had similar experiences to some of what she had been through also from someone online. Bad people are out there. They will hurt you if given the opportunity. People don't believe (even I wouldn't have had I not been through it) how far a master manipulator will go to keep control. Thank you for writing this. I only wish I read it before my experience ?

[julie moorhouse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Respect, Mary, you are amazing. Email [e-mail] message me. I have a couple of incidents with dating app catfish and a narcissist boyfriend ?‍♀️? ❤️

[Julie Evans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very thought provoking book, well written and read with relevant emotion at times.

A must read for those who has met or meets someone who has a less than believable or excuse ridden lifestyle

[LynneGauthier · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very honest and vulnerable account of what it is like to be drawn into a love con and to have a relationship with a psychopath.

[Jamila Sids · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very well written, honest, vulnerable and brave... Read the other book from the same author and it was very educational, did not sound preachy or self deprecating. Love the narration as well.

[Rachel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved it. Honest, insightful and inspirational. Incredibly well written also.

[brenda joseph · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

it was spellbinding. I enjoyed this well done and informative

[jeangve · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you for your testimony, very courageous of you to come forward and explain manipulation from the inside. Those who don’t understand how you didn’t quit earlier must never have faced it in any form. It is so insidious! Even when your brain screams to « face the facts », when you have a soft heart you always fear to misjudge, you’re always ready to give the person a chance to explain themselves - which they do so well! And then you become disoriented, entangled in a cobweb of lies and deceit… Terrible situation indeed!

[lorikboyd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting book. True story that makes it even crazier. Single mom falls in love and marries a very convincing con man. This leads to bankruptcy, legal issues not to mention a host of other issues. Heart goes out to this woman, and her children, and all the other women duped by this man. The books is a memoir, but it is written devoid of emotion, almost to the point of being boring. I found myself getting frustrated with the writer for ignoring so, so many warning signs. She was ghosted so many times, did not check out anything he said...some lies, especially his work stories, were completely over the top, and willingly took money needed to feed her family, and gave it to him. The hardest for me to understand was when she heard he was a pedophile, she still allowed her around her/their children. Yes, I understand that it’s easy for me to say this when I’m on the outside looking in, and know what’s going on. I can only assume that ‘Will’ found her most vulnerable and used that to his advantage. But, in some ways, she allowed it to happen and escalate. Thanks to Ms. Turner Thomson, Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.