The Soulmate: A Novel

By Sally Hepworth

“One of the best thrillers of the year”—The New York Times

"The book is many things: a crime story, a psychological study, a blueprint for how and when to mete out information in a thriller. But most of all it is an inquiry into the mysteries of marriage and commitment, and into what we owe our spouses and one another." --The New York Times Book Review

Prepare yourself for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in this next book from the bestselling author of The Good Sister and The Younger Wife.

Picture a lovely cottage on a cliff, with sloping lawns, walking paths, and beautiful flowers. It’s Gabe and Pippa Gerard’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. Over the past several months, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge.

Until one day, 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 façade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel. Because sometimes, the most convincing lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781250229724

Sally Hepworth

Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, most recently The Good Sister (2020) which was an instant bestseller. Her novel The Mother-In-Law (2019) has been optioned for a TV series by Hollywood actress and producer Amy Poehler. Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships, drama and identity. Her novels have been translated into 20 languages. Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family.

Book preview

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.

Gabe is entirely unflappable. He’s your classic run toward a burning building kind of guy. He might emerge a hero. He might not emerge at all.

Where are you going, Daddy? Freya asks as Gabe reaches for his coat.

Going to catch frogs, poppet, he says without breaking stride.

I remove my gloves and drape them over the tap. Sometimes I wonder if I should be a little more like Gabe. More of a hero. Instead, I am a helper. In times of crisis, I am a creator of meal rosters, a collector of donations, dispenser of information. Last year, when news of the pandemic started to filter through, my entire family—parents, sister, sister-in-law, sister-in-law’s parents—all called me with their questions on social distancing, masks, and vaccinations, hanging on my every word and taking notes as if I were an epidemiologist rather than a wills and estates lawyer. I rose to the challenge, dishing out advice gleaned from reputable verified sources and subduing family panic. But the kind of emergency happening outside right now? That is Gabe’s domain.

I call the police from the next room—they don’t need much in the way of an explanation from me anymore. I’ve made seven phone calls like this since we moved to the cliff house, a year ago. Now, I merely say, It’s Pippa Gerard—there’s someone on the cliff, and it’s sufficient.

It’s hard to believe that we’d bought this house because of the cliff.

Imagine sitting outside on warm nights and watching the sun sink into the sea, Gabe had said the first time we saw it. What a dream.

It did indeed seem like a dream. A cliffside home in Portsea, a sleepy coastal town a couple of hours outside of Melbourne, the last in a procession of increasingly exclusive beach towns at the very tip of the Mornington Peninsula? It seemed unfathomable that we’d be able to afford such a place, even if it was a ramshackle cottage rather than one of the sandstone mansions that flanked it. We were shocked to discover we could afford it. Being from the city, we weren’t aware of the notoriety of The Drop, where the tall cliffs had become popular among those wishing to end their lives. By the time we realized, Gabe was too in love with the place to let it go.

Do we really want the girls to be around this, Gabe? I’d asked him. How are we supposed to explain it to them? And what if they wander too close to the edge themselves?

We’ll put a fence up. And if they have questions about the people who come to The Drop, we just answer them in an age-appropriate way.

Gabe had been so calm, so pragmatic, that it was hard to argue. And to his credit, he practiced what he preached. The day we moved in, he had a fence erected around the perimeter of our land and warned the girls they couldn’t go beyond it unless they had a grown-up with them. And in the year we’ve been here, they’ve never gone beyond the fence, and they’ve certainly never seen anyone jump. They couldn’t have, because out of the seven souls who have come to the cliff since we moved in, seven have walked away. Gabe has saved them all.

What does he say to them? Kat asks, joining me at the window. She’s been working today, and her tracksuit pants and fluffy slippers are oddly incongruent with her fully made-up face. This is the first time Kat has been present when someone has visited The Drop, and she is clearly exhilarated by the drama, while trying to remain appropriately somber.

He asks if he can help them with anything. Or he might ask if they like the view. Anything to force them out of their thoughts and back into the world. Then he tries to get them chatting.

We watch as Gabe approaches the woman, and she turns to face him. She is farther back from the edge than they usually are, which I hope is a good sign.

The view? Kat says. That really works?

Apparently.

But we both know it wouldn’t matter what Gabe said. People don’t come down from the cliff because of something he says. They come down because of who he is. When people meet Gabe, they feel safe. Seen. I’ve always thought he would make an excellent cult leader. Or used-car salesman. Last week there’d been an article about Gabe in the local rag—NEW RESIDENT SAVES LIVES AT THE DROP. The article had referred to him as an angel. Gabe had posed for a photo at The Drop, smiling broadly. With his golden tan, blue eyes, and sandy windswept hair, he looked half surfer, half mountain man.

I’ve often wondered if his good looks play a part in his ability to convince people to live. I’m reminded of his good looks daily—not by Gabe but by everyone else.

"How’d you land him?"

"Is that your husband?"

"He is gorgeous."

It’s not that I’m unattractive. In high school, a group of boys ranked me 7/10 for looks (which got them ranked 10/10 for assholery), but I think the 7 was accurate. I have a nice smile, wavy blond hair, a well-proportioned figure … and I also have a larger than average forehead and smaller than average eyes. I do my best with what I’ve got, and with makeup and heels I could probably get as high as an 8.5. Still, the fact is, most mornings I wake up looking like Shrek while Gabe wakes up looking like Chris Hemsworth, and there is no use denying facts.

Gabe and the woman appear to be talking animatedly. Gabe is using a lot of hand gestures. Admittedly, he’s partial to a hand gesture, but there are even more than usual today.

What happens if they don’t want to look at the view? Kat asks.

I shrug. Thankfully we haven’t had to face that problem yet.

The first time we saw someone on the cliff, it was midafternoon on a Sunday and the girls were on the grass playing in the blow-up paddling pool because Gabe and I couldn’t be bothered walking down the zillion steps to the beach. We’d just moved into the cliff house. It was a sunny day, with a gentle breeze off the water. Gabe and I had gin and tonics and were in the midst of congratulating ourselves on our clever sea change.

Mummy, Asha said, that man is very close to the edge. He might fall.

I looked in the direction of her pointing finger. The man was indeed very close to the edge. His toes were over the edge, and he held the flimsy branch of a moonah tree in his right hand. It wouldn’t save him. If he stepped off the edge, he’d take the tree out by the roots.

Girls, I think I saw some ice cream in the freezer, Gabe said, understanding before I did. Maybe you and Mummy should go and get some?

The quiet that came over Gabe made me feel safe and panicked all at once. I took the girls inside and sat them in front of the television (one of the benefits of minimal screen time is that when you do turn it on, no natural or unnatural disaster can tear their attention away) and stole glances at the scene through the kitchen window. Gabe sat way back on the grass, I noticed, at least ten meters away. After a few moments, the man turned around. Gabe’s body language was relaxed, as if he had nowhere to be. Five hours later, Gabe was in the same spot. So was the man, except his back was to the cliff now and he was talking, sometimes passionately, sometimes despondently. Around hour six, he was crying. When it got to hour seven, Gabe stood up and opened his arms. The man walked right into them. Later, Gabe told me the man had got so far into debt with his gambling problem that he couldn’t face his wife and kids.

What did you say to him? I asked.

Not much. Mostly I just listened. When he finished, I told him I was sorry.

When the police arrived, we’d been reprimanded for not calling earlier. They’d also praised Gabe’s efforts. It was nothing short of miraculous, they said, for a layman with no experience to talk someone down. A couple of the cops even asked Gabe for tips. Now we always call the police immediately, but it’s still Gabe who coaxes them away from the cliff, while I watch anxiously from the kitchen, my stomach plaited, wishing we’d never bought this damn house—just like I’m doing now.

The sun has set in the short time they’ve been out there. It happens quickly at this time of year. Under the lamplight, I can see that the woman has a dark ponytail and is wearing a black knee-length puffer jacket. She throws her arms up, the way Gabe does when his footy team loses.

Has Daddy catched the frogs yet?

Kat and I both startle, look down. Asha is standing at our feet holding, randomly, a fork. Freya stands worriedly beside her.

Oh, I say. Not yet, poppet.

Does he need a fork? she says, aggressively stabbing the air with it.

I wonder sometimes if I should be concerned about Asha’s mental health. I remember doing an online survey Is Your Partner a Sociopath? and answering the question Have they ever caused harm to animals? I felt smug as I reported that Gabe adores animals. (Well, most animals. He has a strange set against llamas—something to do with an incident at the zoo—but he wouldn’t cause harm to them, and that was the point.) As for Asha, I’m choosing to believe that even if she would harm a frog now, she will grow out of it. Surely! According to Mum, All little kids are psychos. It’s a necessary, important phase of growth. Except for those who don’t grow out of it, I suppose.

I look back through the window. 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 day 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 toward 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 toward 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 toward the woman, which is also against the rules. Don’t advance on them, he always says. Persuade them to come toward you, toward 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 now. His arms are outstretched, palms facing the empty air.

2

PIPPA

(NOW)

I throw open the sliding doors. It’s bitterly cold, and the wind is wild. I jog across the grass in my Ugg boots and let myself out through the gate. Gabe hasn’t moved from the edge, though his hands are now in his pockets.

Gabe, I say, when I’m close enough for him to hear. Baby, it’s me.

When he turns, his face is eerily pale. He’s almost certainly in shock. The air feels charged and fragile, like we should whisper.

She… He points over the edge as if he can’t believe it. He rakes his hands through his hair.

I know. Come away from there.

He doesn’t move, so I take his forearm and guide him toward me. It calms me, taking control like this. This is why I’m a helper, not a hero. The world needs helpers for moments like these. And I’m already making a plan. I’ll get him back to the house, get a hot drink into him. Something sugary. I’ll wrap a warm blanket around his shoulders, like they do on TV. I’ll google all the other things you’re supposed to do in this situation.

We start toward the house, but we only make it a couple of steps before Gabe sinks to his knees and vomits on the grass.

I drop to my knees beside him. This is the exact situation I’d worried about. I’d worried, of course, for the poor soul who wanted to end their life, but even more than that I worried for Gabe, the poor soul who wanted to save it. The thing about Gabe is that he is a beautiful contradiction, as fragile as he is brave. What makes him a hero is also what compels him to run toward danger, and what threatens to break him.

For over a year, I’d watched with bated breath each time someone appeared on the cliff, wondering if this would be the one that ended badly. But person after person came, and person after person walked away. And as crisis after crisis was averted, he started to change. His eyes became clearer. A new confidence radiated from him—not the false bravado he’d once sported, but a true happiness and comfort in his own skin. It was clear that he had found his calling. I got so caught up in it, I thought he could save everyone. I suspect Gabe had started to think that too, even if he’d never admit it. But now this.

A light mist of rain coats us. Through the window I see the police have arrived. Kat is in the kitchen talking to them and pointing outside at us. Heaven knows what the girls are thinking.

Gabe has stopped vomiting, at least temporarily. He looks up at me.

Are you okay? I ask.

But my question is lost in the crash of the ocean, and the sound of the sliding doors as the police and paramedics file outside. I recognize them all. Johnno and Aaron; Fiona and Amir. They’re not my friends, exactly, but definitely acquaintances. We’ve drunk countless cups of tea together at the end of evenings like this. I even purchased a packet of English Breakfast tea after Johnno turned up his nose up at my Lady Grey. But on those nights, there was never a body at the bottom of the cliff.

Johnno and Aaron walk directly to the cliff’s edge with torches. They know as well as we do that there is no point, but they go through the motions anyway. No person who’s jumped from The Drop has ever been retrieved alive (I’d read that in the news article, but having seen the cliff I would have known that anyway). Still, I suppose they need to be sure.

Have you called out? Aaron asks.

Gabe and I shake our heads. Gabe is trembling visibly now.

Tide’s in. We’ll have to call Water Rescue, Johnno says.

Hey, Gabe, says Fiona, one of the paramedics, kneeling beside him and wrapping a blanket around his shoulders. Why don’t we go inside and get you something warm to drink?

Gabe allows her and Amir to help him to his feet.

As we step inside, I hear the bath running. There is no sign of Kat and the girls, and I thank my lucky stars for my sister. Knowing Asha, she’s likely to be dishing out some tricky questions and there’s no one I trust more to field them than Kat.

Fiona and Amir settle Gabe on the couch, still wrapped in the blanket, and I bring him a glass of water and wet facecloth to clean up. I flick on the kettle, then find a large plastic bowl in the kitchen and put it at his feet, just in case. Gabe nods his thanks, even smiles a bit, but he’s still worryingly pale.

After a few minutes, Johnno and Aaron come inside.

No signs of life, Johnno says. Water Rescue is on their way. They’ll have to retrieve her via the beach.

Anything we can do to help? I ask.

He shakes his head. The crime scene team will be here soon. They’ll do as much as they can tonight: photographing and fingerprinting—if there is anything to fingerprint. They may have to come back in the morning when it’s light.

We all nod soberly. I wonder what the girls will make of it, having the house swarming with police.

We’ll need to get a statement from you, Gabe, Johnno says after a moment. Are you okay to do that now? It’s better to get it sooner rather than later.

Gabe nods, and Johnno pulls out a chair from the dining table and sits. Aaron also drags out a dining chair. Gabe stays on the couch. I deliver cups of tea to everyone.

So, what happened? Johnno asks. In your own words. Take your time.

We saw a woman on the cliff. I don’t know what time it was, but Pip called you as I headed outside. Gabe is gazing straight ahead, at the coffee table, and his fingers are steepled together. As I got near, I asked if I could help her with anything.

Johnno picks up his tea and blows on the top to cool it. Can you describe the woman?

Dark hair, in a ponytail. Clothes were all black. Black pants. A black puffer jacket.

Young or old?

Youngish… Gabe says. Maybe thirty-five? Forty? Maybe even fifty. She was … well looked after. Seemed young at first but then you realize she’s older than you thought, you know?

Johnno nods his understanding. Sweet Johnno. I think of all the times he must have showed up on doorsteps in much worse circumstances than these. Situations where he has had to give people bad news, telling them that they have lost a loved one. It reminds me that someone is going to be getting bad news soon about this well-maintained woman aged thirty-five to fifty. A husband, partner … maybe even a child?

Johnno makes a note, then looks up. Did you get her name?

Gabe shakes his head.

Then what happened?

Gabe looks at his own cup of tea but doesn’t pick it up. She said her husband was unfaithful.

Johnno writes this down. Did she say his name? The husband?

No. Gabe goes on: It was hard to hear her, because of the wind. I think she was mostly ranting about her husband. I came closer, to see if I could talk to her. And she just turned and… He inhales, closes his eyes. It was so fast. She was there and then … a scream … and she was gone.

There’s a quiet moment, a respectful silence. Johnno writes furiously on his notepad. After a few more seconds, he looks up again.

She screamed then, did she?

Gabe frowns, then appears to reconsider this. I mean … I think so. It might have been the wind. To be honest, it’s all a little blurry.

Why? I ask Johnno. Is that unusual?

Not necessarily. Just worth noting. Johnno duly makes a note of it. When he looks up, he says, Anything else that might be important?

Gabe frowns as he appears to think about this. After a moment, he shakes his head. His eyes close.

Johnno puts down his pen. It’s not your fault, mate. Frankly, it’s amazing that you’ve saved as many as you have. So don’t blame yourself, okay?

Gabe nods, his eyes still closed. Johnno shoots me a look and I nod as well.

Well, we better go secure the site, he says, and he and Aaron stand. Johnno takes the notepad over to Gabe. Have a read over this, and if you’re happy it’s accurate, sign and date it at the bottom.

The two men make their way to the back door. Just before he slides it open, Johnno pauses. You didn’t see anything, did you, Pip?

It’s an afterthought. His gaze is on me, but light, as if his thoughts are already outside.

The question takes me by surprise. It’s straightforward enough, but I don’t know how to answer it. The fact is, I did see something. I saw Gabe, cliffside, talking to the woman. I saw her throw up her arms, and I saw him take a step toward her. Then I saw Gabe alone, his arms extended, palms forward. The more I think about it, there’s something about his stance that bothers me. I can’t get it out of my head. He was holding his hands the way you would if you’d pushed

Reviews for The Soulmate

[Shelby Wells · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

2.5

This left me feeling very underwhelmed, especially after absolutely loving The Good Sister. There was enough intrigue to keep things moving, but I found that the Amanda sections didn't really add much to the narrative and the ending was pretty...meh.

I usually love Sally's books, so I'm hoping this one was just a fluke

[bookofsecrets · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Are domestic thrillers supposed to be tearjerkers? Because that twist at the end! *cries* This was my first Sally Hepworth novel, and now I want to read all of her books.

In THE SOULMATE, a married couple lives in their dream cottage on a cliff by the sea, except for the fact that the cliff has become a popular location for troubled individuals to jump. Husband Gabe has become skilled at “talking people down” from the edge and saving many lives, until one fateful night a woman jumps anyway. Or did she? What is Gabe hiding from his wife, Pippa?

The short chapters and alternating POVs kept the pace moving quickly. One of the POVs was an especially unique and intriguing voice that added an extra depth to the story. This twisty thriller addresses mental health issues and toxic relationships. How much does someone have to take for the sake of their soulmate? Highly recommended.

[bookanonjeff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Interesting Tale Told In Unconventional Manner. I mean, come on, how often do you get a dual timeline tale with two women - both alive in the past, but one now dead and yet still telling her tale - where both women feature in both timelines? I've read a LOT of books over the past few years alone, and I can probably count on one hand - *maybe* both of them - the number of times I've come across a remotely similar dynamic. So read the book for that alone, as Hepworth makes it work quite well.

The rest of the tale, about both of these women's love for their husbands and the lengths they will go through to save and protect both their husbands and their marriages, is interesting enough to be readable, but for some reason it just didn't hit me as hard as Hepworth's prior works. There was never a real sense of "I *must* know what happens next!", though the ending was quite beautiful in and of itself, and yes, even if you're struggling with the book, you need to read it to get the full beauty of what happens there. Overall, as noted, an interesting tale unconventionally told. Recommended.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's the story of two women who each thought she’d found a once in a lifetime love. One depends on memories to reconcile the partner she thought she knew, who is now suspected of murder. The other one speaks from beyond the grave. The women’s stories are intertwined although we don't learn that right away. Pippa has it all. She has a successful career, two beautiful little girls, a husband, Gabe, who thinks she sets and rises the sun, and a magnificent new waterfront house that sits on a cliff. There’s just one drawback...that same cliff is a frequent location for suicides. Right after they move in, Gabe takes on the role of guardian and has talked multiple people out of committing suicide. One night, a woman, Amanda, approaches the cliff and, despite Gabe’s pleas, jumps to her death. At least, that’s what Gabe told the local authorities who think otherwise. As Pippa reflects on her relationship with her husband, she sees that her life has consisted of many lost jobs and all too sudden moves, as had Amanda's who jumped from the cliff. Past and present soon collide as we learn the reasons for Amanda’s trip off the cliff, and the extent to which Pippa has worked to protect the man she loves. The story becomes complicated and deadly as the author slowly reveals the deadly tale of the lives of the individuals. None of the characters are good, but neither are they really bad. The reality becomes far more interesting and intense, filled with professional ambitions, struggles for power in the boardroom as well as the bedroom and, for Pippa and Amanda, a never-ending quest to understand the men to whom they were devoted. One-character deals with severe mental illness, which is also revealed and analyzed in ways both sensitive and very true to life, and another one holds onto a family secret with disturbing consequences. From the beginning to its final twisted end, the story will keep the reader wondering how well someone can really know anyone, especially their partner.

[marquis784-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gabe and Pippa Gerard buy a house on the edge of an oceanside cliff in Melbourne. It becomes concerning when mentally unstable appear wanting to jump off the cliff. Gabe has taken it upon himself to act as savior to those he manages to "talk off the ledge". It continues until one day a woman walks up to the cliff and Gabe isn't able to help the woman before she is seen jumping off the cliff. As more information about the woman is revealed, the question arises of whether she jumped or if she was pushed. Gabe begins to take her death hard but suspicions rise when it is revealed that he knew the woman. There are fears about unfaithfulness and secrets being exposed. How does Gabe know this woman and why would she want to jump? Furthermore, why would Gabe want to push her?

[booklover1801 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pippa, a wills and estates lawyer who lives in Australia, meets Gabe Gerard after a devastating breakup with her boyfriend. She marries Gabe, a handsome and charming man, and they have two young daughters. Although Gabe is a devoted dad with a good heart, Pippa finds his mood swings and instability exhausting. Gabe's boss, Max Cameron, is a wealthy businessman who has given his wife, Amanda, everything that money can buy. Unfortunately, Max's obsession with work keeps him away from home much of the time, and Amanda, who is a photographer, fills her days pursuing her own interests.

In "The Soulmate," by Sally Hepworth, Pippa and Amanda tell their stories in flashback and in the present day. It turns out that these women have a great deal in common. They were each thrilled to marry Mr. Right, and are disappointed when their spouses turn out to be far from perfect. Hepworth, who is well-known for her edgy and intense novels of psychological suspense and domestic drama, dissects the troubled relationships of these two couples. Pippa and Amanda learn that love may not be enough to keep a fractured marriage afloat.

"The Soulmate" is marred by too many far-fetched twists and turns. In addition, several of the characters, especially Pippa, are irritatingly clueless, failing to notice and act upon evidence that is staring them right in the face. Among the serious themes that the author tackles are suicide, mental illness, murder, and adultery. The book's opening chapters are intriguing, but its convoluted and incoherent plot elements undermine its plausibility.

[jacsun · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It’s fun, feisty and has the reader on the edge all of the way.

Pippa married a man that has attention deficit. He is hyperactive, restless, impulsive at times, disorganized, has trouble focusing and sometimes has periods of depression. Pippa constantly worries about her husband, Gabe. Yet, she is devoted towards him and her two daughters, Freya and Asha. Her mother said, “family is thicker than water.”

They bought a house close to a cliff near Melbourne. While it breath-taking beautiful with scenic views, it’s a spot where suicidal people jump to their death. Even with the fence they have built, it’s a huge concern especially with their young daughters. Since they have lived there, Gabe has saved seven people from “dropping” off the cliff.

Now, however, there is a woman that is close to the edge. Gabe is there to convince her, like the others, to step back and walk away safely. But this time he fails. He’s not able to save Amanda as he watches her body take the dreaded fall. The police questioned what happened. Gabe was overwhelmed with anxiety and says very little.

The story is told by Pippa from the present into the past and also Amanda in the afterlife. The reader is tempted to look at the last pages to find out what is going to happen but we all know that’s cheating. It’s a quick read and page turner with a series of hints, unexpected twists and turns. This is one book that was a surprise for me with the outcome. With all the books I have stacked up to read, this is the one that I turned to. Sally Hepworth got my attention.

My thanks to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with the expected release date of April 4, 2023.

[sandyamcpherson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyably readable; mostly very engaging. Solid workmanship, though unimpressed with aspects of plot line & 'reveals'. The switches in time (now, then) were a bit distracting and took me out of the story. The narrative flow around compelling events was occasionally too drawn out and the prolonged drama at the ending flat-lined. Author Hepworth has shown in previous novels that she can write a strong psychological thriller with more finesse than one encounters here.

[bragan_8 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This one starts out very promisingly. A couple has recently moved into a house by a sea cliff, after experiencing some sort of difficult times. But they quickly find out why they got a house in such a beautiful spot so much cheaper than expected: the cliff has a reputation as an excellent place to commit suicide. Would-be jumpers repeatedly show up, but fortunately the husband turns out to be very good at talking them down. Until one night he goes out to talk to a woman on the cliff, and through the window his wife first glimpses him standing way closer to her than he usually does, then looks out again to see the woman completely gone and her husband with his hands outstretched as if he just possibly might have been pushing her. And then later it turns out he knew the woman...

So, yeah, I was intrigued, and all ready to settle into a complicated story in which this guy's secrets would be slowly revealed, with lots of tension around the question of whether or not the lady actually jumped.

The slowly revealed secrets are here, but imagine my surprise when right after the cliff incident we start getting scenes from the POV of the dead woman's ghost, and immediately and rather anticlimactically learn the answer to the question of whether she deliberately jumped. Which, admittedly, doesn't tell us what actually did happen, but I found it weirdly deflating (not to mention just plain weird), and never recovered the pleasant sense of tension I felt at the beginning.

And without that... Well, it turns out I actually really just didn't care about these people and their secrets, and infidelities, and mental health issues, and horrible business dealings, and unbelievably poor decisions, and repeated reflections on just much they really, really, really, really love each other. Like, at all.

Rating: I'm giving this one a 2.5/5. Part of me feels bad rating it that low, because I'm sure this novel will be someone's jam, but it's definitely not mine, and I'm not feeling very generous after having just spent 300+ pages in these characters' very uninspiring company.

[techeditor_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sally Hepworth has done it again. THE SOULMATE is the best kind of mystery, with plenty of twisty-turny plot AND characterization.

This book is actually several mysteries written in present and past chapters, told from the viewpoints of two of the main characters. It is easy to follow.

Pippa is in love with her extremely handsome husband, Gabe, in spite of his erratic behavior. Amanda learns to love her filthy rich husband, Max, and asks only for his fidelity. Pippa and Amanda each see the mysteries that make up this story differently. And, more and more, these mysteries are unraveled as the story progresses.

The main mystery involves the cliff outside Pippa's and Gabe's home. This is where many people come to commit suicide, Amanda among them, apparently. Did she really mean to commit suicide? What did she say to Gabe before she jumped or fell? Was this really a murder? What is each of the four of them hiding?

Other reviews of THE SOULMATE call Pippa and Amanda "unreliable narrators." This is true only because they don't know all the facts. Neither does the reader. Even as you try to put them all together, you probably still won't know. THE SOULMATE keeps you guessing.

As past gradually explains present, Hepworth brings the reader closer and closer to the truth. You can try, but I'll bet you don't figure it out until nearly the end.

I won a sweepstakes for THE SOULMATE from AuthorBuzz and the publisher.

[dknight0918 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Glad I chose this as my book of the month club pick and got to read it a month early. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

[baochuan-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is an interesting story, but with a lot of meandering before you can get there. There are a lot of perfect façade as red herring to draw you in and make you wonder. It scratch the surface with mental illness and suicided. The complicated relationship between Gabe and Pippa as well as Max and Amanda made distinguishing lie and truth seems impossible.

[heatherlinc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"The Soulmate" was an enjoyable novel about murder and marriage with lots of twists and turns. Until the last few chapters it was sitting on a 4-star rating but the end was too sugary, unbelievable and rushed for my liking. However, still a good read.

[srms.reads · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

2.5⭐

Pippa and Gabe Gerard move to a cliffside cottage in a scenic coastal town on the outskirts of Melbourne with their two daughters with hopes of starting over after a difficult phase in their marriage. Their new home is close to the edge of a cliff, "The Drop" – an area frequented by those who chose to end their lives. Gabe, a sensitive person who has struggled with mental health issues, has made a name for himself by being able to persuade people from jumping to death. On one fateful night, Pippa sees a woman hovering close to the edge and calls the authorities as Gabe approaches the woman to talk to her. Pippa sees them talking but in a tragic turn of events, the woman plunges to her death and Pippa notices Gabe standing with his hands outstretched, which he later tells her was so that he could try to save the woman. Pippa isn’t quite convinced but chooses to believe her husband. Then it is revealed that the woman was none other than Amanda Cameron, the wife of Gabe’s former employer, Max Cameron – a fact that Gabe had not shared with Pippa initially. Was there more to what transpired that night of which Pippa is unaware? What is Gabe hiding from her and why?

The narrative is shared across “Now” and “Then” (Pippa’s Pov) and “Before" and “After" (Amanda’s PoV). The author touches upon themes of love, marriage and fidelity and mental health, among others. None of the characters are particularly likable, though I could sympathize with Amanda to an extent and Gabe for his personal struggles. On this note, I had serious issues with how the topic of mental health was handled in this story. We are shown that Gabe was receiving professional help, but I found it hard to believe Pippa did not question the initial diagnosis. As the narrative begins to shed light on past events, I thought Pippa, a lawyer by profession who has dealt with Gabe’s past indiscretions and mental health issues in the past, chose to ignore or rather was in denial over the gravity of the situation in the present timeline. With two young children at home, one would expect her to be circumspect and act on it, instead of wishing her troubles away and second-guessing her suspicions. As a plot point, I found this aspect of the story utterly unconvincing.

The author packs a lot into this story - dysfunctional relationships, mental health issues, lies and secrets and ambition with a few surprises along the way but the result is more family drama than domestic thriller and as that too, isn’t quite a satisfying read.

I’ve enjoyed Sally Hepworth’s domestic thrillers in the past and was happy for the opportunity to read an advance copy of her latest offering. Unfortunately, The Soulmate did not work for me. I know I am an outlier here, but I honestly struggled to finish this one. I did not find the plot engaging, and though I was surprised a couple of times (always a good thing!) a few of the so-called twists felt contrived and I found the tension and the absorbing build-up that I enjoyed in the author’s previous works missing in this one.

Many thanks to author Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[silva_44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The plot was fairly engaging, but the author touched on many issues in ways that did not strike a chord with me: suicide, fidelity, mental illness, cheating, lying, feminism, and lesbianism. Not my cup of tea.

[shazjhb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Always an interesting book about people and relationships. A thriller with a twist

[janismack · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gabe and Pippa move to a sleepy coastal town near tall cliffs that people use to end their lives. Over the last few months Gabe comes to their rescue talking them off the ledge until one day he doesn’t.

[geauxgetlit · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh Sally, you have done it again!

Your writing wiggles it’s way into my head and encapsulates my heart. Perfectly written from the hook of the first chapter, to the suspense that keeps building, and THEN when the ending twist happens here I am shedding tears over these characters over a few lines you masterfully crafted!

This is a great one yall! I will remember this book for a long time coming!

[bons_11 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Psychological thrillers can become quite predictable or a bit over the top. The Soulmates crucial plot location seemed very real to me and each time it was revisited. The twist surprised me and entangled me more in the suspense.. This novel moved Sally Hepworth on up the list for me!

[nyiper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As usual.....you just NEVER know what's coming next with a Sally Hepworth novel....terrific---I always grab one of her books as quickly as I can!!!

[reedapnr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you like thrillers/mystery with family dynamics..a bit on the light side..this will be a great read for you....I can't wait to read all of her books...

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a super fast read with an unexpected plot twist.
Pippa and Gabe are married with 2 4-year old daughters. They live on a house high on a cliff above the ocean. Several people have come by, possibly to jump, but Gabe is always able to talk them down. Then one day, a woman comes by, and when Pippa looks out the window, she sees Gabe's arms outstretched, and the woman is gone.
Pippa is shocked, did Gabe push the woman? When it comes to light that Gabe knew the woman, Pippa begins to wonder at her part in the death. Was Gabe trying to protect Pippa? What is the real story.
This novel goes back and forth between Now and Then and is very cleverly crafted. I would be surprised if anyone guesses the finale.
I really enjoyed this super quick read.

[lauigl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gabe and Pippa had reservations about purchasing the cliff house; especially Pippa. They have two young girls and the fear of them falling over the cliff almost prevented them from buying the house. But their love for the location, particularly Gabe’s love for it, wins out. They’d warned the girls never to go near the cliff and that mandate worked out. What they didn’t anticipate was that this precise location, known as “the drop,” was notorious for people intending to end their life. Gabe quickly becomes a bargaining hero at the drop for his skill at talking people down from the cliff. That was until he couldn’t stop a woman from plunging to her death—someone he and Pippa both knew.

I love Sally Hepworth’s books. Her stories are well written and always keep me intrigued and on the edge of my seat. The Soulmate was another page turner with interesting characters, twists, turns and cliffhangers (no pun intended). The story focused on two couples—Gabe and Pippa, Max and Amanda. We get a look into their lives before and after one of them winds up at the cliff. From the outside looking in things seem picture perfect and happy. Gabe and Pippa have two beautiful little girls and a lovely home. Max and Amanda are in love and Max is smart and successful. But as we get to know more about the couples we see a different story of their lives playing out.

I enjoyed The Soulmate. I like how Hepworth tricks us into thinking we’ve got it all figured out and then we find out we didn’t really know the truth. However, the ending of this one was a little lackluster for me. I felt as though I was left hanging (again, no pun intended) regarding a particular situation involving one of the couples. Nevertheless, the book did not disappoint and I definitely recommend it.

[smik_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Since he and Pippa have moved to their clifftop house on the Mornington Peninsula, Gabe has become a sort of Good Samaritan, persuading 7 people who've come there not to end their lives. Until the 8th one jumps. Or at least that's what Gabe says. Pippa is not so sure. What Gabe doesn't tell her, is that he knows this woman.

There are two narrators: Pippa and Amanda, the woman who jumped. The dual narration provide between them a fascinating story. What seemed simple at first becomes a very complex plot with far stretching threads.

Highly recommended.

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Needy women often annoy me. To be fair why single out women? Looking back on this story I remember a sense of disbelief, questioning what I was being told. Off to a good start then. But then the contradictions and questions begin and are compounded and the heap grows, so do you trust your instincts or disregard them and let the story carry you along? Maybe that is what a domestic thriller is supposed to accomplish. At what point do you acknowledge that you may be way off the mark as the story becomes so twisted that logic cannot prevail.

The author warns you “We trust people based on the strangest, most arbitrary things, none of which have any bearing on whether or not you are inherently good.” Now you just have to decide who is capable of what and it will all become clear.

A little less need, a lot less disbelief would have worked better for me. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy.

[lorikboyd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another enjoyable, suspenseful read by this popular author. Pippa and Gabe have the perfect marriage…successful jobs, perfect kids, beautiful house…but with a dangerous cliff. Gabe becomes known for saving 7 people from jumping. But there is that one he just can’t save. Pippa looks out and isn’t 100% sure what she is seeing…to make it more stressful, it’s someone they know and Pippa is feeling guilty. As the story enfolds, the smoke and mirrors clear out till all is understood.

Told in 2 different timelines by two different voices. Easy to follow and adds to the fast paced nature. Mystery unfolds slowly so it keeps your attention. Not the shocking ending I’ve come to expect from this author, but satisfying none the less. Trigger warming: suicide and mental illness.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

[celticlibrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Domestic drama and a mystery with a touch of the supernatural.

Most thrillers or mysteries start with secrets and lies. Many end with revelations that show exactly why things turned out as they did. This is the same.

Pippa and Gabe Gerard live in their dream home on a cliff of a coastal town. Unfortunately, the cliff is a draw for those wanting to commit suicide by jumping off the edge. Gabe has become somewhat of a legend for talking them away from the ledge. Except for this time. A woman falls to her death. Turns out that this woman was no stranger to Gabe or Pippa. Did she fall or really jump, or was she pushed? Surely Gabe, Pippa's fantastically gorgeous and soulmate of a husband, didn't lie about what happened out there...

This was OK but not as compelling or thrilling as I had hoped. A couple of twists, sure, but it all boils down to some weirdness with this couple -- the biggest which is the mental illness angle. I never really liked any of the characters, and what I expected to happen, happened. An odd note that really jarred was the narration from the point of view of the dead woman. While that little trick works in some great novels (The Lovely Bones), it really didn't work for me here. The time shifts of then and now also disrupt the flow of the story a bit. And the conclusion seemed rushed and sort of a letdown after all the buildup, plus not really believable. Moral of this and every story - stop lying.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

[tamidale · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was excited to read Sally Hepworth’s latest novel and it was worth the wait. This is one of those stories where all the main characters have secrets—even those who seem the nicest.

What kind of family decides to buy a cottage that looks out over a cliff that is a popular suicide point? Evidently the Gerard family, who felt the location had more beauty and peacefulness to offset the sordid history of the place.

Eventually Gabe Gerard becomes known for his ability to save individuals from jumping to their death and he is written about in the local paper. But one day, a woman comes to the cliff and Gabe fails to keep her from falling to her death.

The woman was not just any woman. She was someone with a connection to the Gerard family. I loved the point of view the dead woman gives to the story. Each of the characters has something to hide and as the story progresses readers see what a tangled web they have made together.

I was hooked from the start and the story moved at a brisk pace. The ending was one I could not have predicted. Loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I’m happy to recommend this and give my honest review.

[fredreeca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pippa and Gabe have moved to a new home overlooking a cliff. It has wonderful views but it is known as the spot where people like to end their lives. They have even saved a few lives. But, there was one that they could not save. And Pippa is now beginning to wonder if Gabe had anything to do with this lady’s death. Did he push her or did she truly jump?

I flew through this book. It is intense and very addicting. I had several plots rolling through my mind as I was listening. I also found Gabe very entertaining. He is a changeling and the way I perceived him at the beginning is not the way he actually turned out. Same for Pippa. They were not as they seemed.

Now, I will say, I was not a big fan of how this book ended. And this is why I gave it a 4 star and not a 5 star. The ending just didn’t fit. But boy did I enjoy the ride getting there!

The narrators, Barrie Kreinik; Jessica Douglas-Henry, we’re amazing! I love it when there is a tag team. Just makes the story more real!

Need a book which changes on a dime…THIS IS IT ! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[flowerchildreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pippa and Gabe live in a beautiful cottage at the edges of a cliff in a quiet little town. Although it’s an idyllic location, desperate people are inexplicable drawn here who jump to their deaths. After moving here Gabe finds he is able to make a connection with them, to spot someone who hesitates, to quietly approach and engage them and help…until one night he can’t. As Pippa watches from the window it looks like Gabe actually pushes the woman…but that can’t be right?! What’s more confusing is when she realizes Gabe knew her.

Hepworth asks a question “How eywell do we really know the person we’re spending our lives with?”. As we flash back to fill in the beginnings of Pippa and Gabe’s relationship, complicated dynamics that become more apparent as they move past the initial glow, and find out what really led to their move to the “idyllic cottage on the cliff” we begin to wonder if this is a marriage under stress or if there’s something more sinister going on. I love how Hepworth draw me in with settings I want to melt into, characters that are approachable, investing me entirely, before she turns the focus ever so slightly and I realize that I’m sunk until I figure out what’s happened…and it’s never until I turn the last page friends!

The Soulmate is perfect for your upcoming warm weather getaway, or a weekend binge read. I recommend for lovers of suspense fiction, Stacy Willingham, and Rachel Hawkins!

I was thrilled when my friends at @StMartinsPress and @SallyHepworth offered me a chance to read an early digital copy via @Netgalley and didn’t hesitate to say YES!