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He Will Be My Ruin
He Will Be My Ruin
He Will Be My Ruin
Audiobook11 hours

He Will Be My Ruin

Written by K.A. Tucker

Narrated by Kate Rudd and Olivia Song

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

Discover the novel praised as a “nail-biting thriller” (Publishers Weekly), a “compelling web” (Kirkus Reviews), “tightly plotted character study” (RT Magazine), and a “dark, twisty tale of lurid secrets, lavish lifestyles, and devastating loss” (Lisa Gardner).

A woman who almost had it all….On the surface, Celine Gonzalez had everything a twenty-eight-year-old in Manhattan could want: a one-bedroom apartment on the Lower East Side, a job that (mostly) paid the bills, and an acceptance letter to the prestigious Hollingsworth Institute of Art, where she would finally live out her dream of becoming an antiques appraiser for a major auction house. All she had worked so hard to achieve was finally within her reach. So why would she kill herself?

A man who was supposed to be her salvation….Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a lethal cocktail of pills and vodka, and never woke up. But when Maggie discovers a scandalous photograph in a lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man Celine believed would change her life.

Until he became her ruin….On the hunt for evidence that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life—and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer. A killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 2, 2016
ISBN9781442388871
He Will Be My Ruin

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Reviews for He Will Be My Ruin

Rating: 4.217783522938144 out of 5 stars
4/5

388 ratings28 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I never would have guessed the ending! Didnt stop until I finished it. Superb!!!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I wanted to enjoy this one more and I do think it had some nice elements to it…but it felt a bit disjointed to me. The author tried to throw some red herrings in the mix to keep you guessing, but per usual always trust your first instincts.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent book. Kept me on my toes. This author never disappoints!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Beautifully written story and a clever twist that keeps you guessing who HE is and just who he will ruin. Kate Rudd and Olivia Song did an excellent job with the narration except for one niggling, often used word that they so oddly pronounce, San Diego as San Di-eggo ??‍♀️ Great book, my second by K A Tucker so far.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    First time reading K.A. Tucker. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading this author’s backlist, and future books.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Kept me on the edge! Wondering. But everything made sense in the end!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very good, entertaining story!! Didn’t figure it out till the end. Lots of twists and turns
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    He Will Be My Ruin just fell a bit short.

    The plot sounded very interesting and the mystery behind it all really intrigued me but the back and forth made me lose complete interest. I zoned out of the book too many times to be bothered to pick it up again. I don't know how it ended because I had no motivation to pick it up again but I'd love to know how the first scene came to be. I just don't want to skip all the chapters to get to that reveal.

    This is not saying all of K.A Tuckers books are like this because I loveeeee her other romance books but this one didn't hit the mark.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Another amazingly fantastic suspencful novel by K. A. Tucker, Thank You!!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Hello, Netflix? Here's another great book, what are you waiting for?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great and interesting read it was very sad how the lady died and sure loved that the killer was caught by the private PR agency! Great to learn more about all the evil that one person can being into others' lives. The only reason because they think they can get away with it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I've been listening to a lot of Amish books and I really wanted to just listen to another crime drama to get myself back in the mood. Really glad I picked this one. I kept assuming it was somebody else expecting the unexpected and I was wrong.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book. If you enjoy a mystery read this book!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Not romantic suspense, definitely mystery/suspense. Well written but depressing.

    3.5 Stars
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    אז הגעתי למסקנה,
    לדעתי קיי.איי טאקר, כשהיא כותבת רומן רומנטי "רגיל" יוצא לה קצת פרווה ?
    אבל כשהיא כותבת רומן מתח היא עולה רמה !
    וכמו שכתבתי בעבר, לדעתי כדי לכתוב רומן מתח טוב, דרוש יכולת לאזן בין הרומנטיקה למתח ואת זה, לא כולם יודעים איך לעשות ??‍♀️

    לא מדובר ביצירת מופת, עבורי הוא היה קליל אבל בהחלט ספר מעניין, מותח ולגמרי לא צפוי ?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! Such a GREAT read! Really kept my attention!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great story, good voice actor. Kinda iffy when she read the Asian woman's role and the black child's role, but other than that it was ok.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    4.5 stars.

    With a labyrinthine plot and plenty of dark secrets, He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker is spellbinding mystery that keeps readers guessing what exactly happened to Maggie Sparkes' best friend Celine Gaonzalez.

    Best friends since childhood, Maggie and Celine come from completely different backgrounds and live very different lives. Wealthy heiress Maggie puts her trust fund to good use funding the philanthropic organization she founded. Not content to just write checks and raise money, Maggie also invests plenty of sweat equity in the foundation as she works side by side the other volunteers in some of the world's poorest and most remote regions. Celine, on the other hand, is from humble beginnings and she is barely scraping by as she saves money to complete her degree in hopes of landing a job with a prestigious auction house. Maggie is stunned to learn of Celine's shocking death and she cannot accept that her friend committed suicide. While packing up Celine's apartment, she discovers stunning secrets that convince her there is more to Celine's death than meets the eye. Maggie hires a private investigator to help uncover the truth but she puts herself in danger when she continues investigating on her own.

    Maggie is quite idealistic but with her wealthy background, she is rather insulated from the realities of normal life. Tenacious, determined and strong willed, she refuses to give up on finding out the truth about what happened to Celine. Maggie's quest leads to her to make some questionable decisions but it is difficult to find fault with her refusal to give up on getting answers about Celine's death.

    Growing up with a single mom who struggled financially, Celine wants a better life for herself. With an astute eye for antiques, she scours estate and garages sales for hidden treasures and her collection of valuable pieces is quite extensive. Too proud to accept Maggie's offers of financial assistance, Celine supplements her meager pay in a somewhat unorthodox manner. Finally on the verge of moving forward with her plans when a major setback occurs, Celine ends up on a crash course with disaster.

    The secondary cast of characters is eclectic and entertaining. Celine's octogenarian neighbor Ruby Cummings is endearing and her astute observations are invaluable. Laidback building super Grady is quite charming and Maggie finds him too sexy to resist. Several clues point Maggie to wealthy, successful hedge fund financier Jace Everett but he does not seem to have a motive to harm Celine. Private investigator Doug Murphy is relentless in his pursuit of answers and his trusty computer expert Zac is rather colorful yet likable.

    He Will Be My Ruin is a twisty, turny suspense laden mystery that is quite riveting. Intricately plotted with clever misdirects and well-placed red herrings, K.A. Tucker brilliantly obscures the perpetrator's identity until virtually the end of the novel. Although a few loose ends are left dangling, this mesmerizing whodunit is a satisfying, smart read that is sure to be a hit with fans of the genre.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I am huge fan of K.A. Tucker, but I have been holding off on grabbing for this one since it was a mystery/suspense. I am not normally a huge fan of thrillers. This was good, but just did not do it for me like her other work. It was not bad by any means, just not something I loved. I did not love the characters. I never connected with Maggie or Celine. I also did not love the romances involved or where they went within the story. The ending was underwhelming and some of the twists and turns were pretty predictable.Overall, this was just good.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up her best friend's belongings. Celine Gonzales has committed suicide which has left everyone stunned. Celine was a beautiful young woman who had an acceptance letter to the prestigious Hollingsworth Institute of Art. She worked so hard to achieve her dreams and they were finally becoming a reality. It doesn't make sense that she'd kill herself. But the police have conclusive evidence - too many pills combined with too much alcohol. The more Maggie goes through Celine's belongings the more she is convinced it wasn't suicide. On her search for evidence that will make the police reopen the case, Maggie puts herself in the killer's path - a killer who has no problem getting her out of the way too.

    It started off good, but after I put it down I struggled to get back into it. It became boring and long. I felt detached from the characters. It was nothing special.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Maggie is rocked upon learning about the supposed suicide of her best friend Celine. As she works on Celine’s estate, she stays in the deceased woman’s apart and learns about some secrets Celine would not have wanted to come out. Nevertheless, Maggie knows Celine would not kill herself and proceeds to investigate the situation further, placing herself at risk. Great book, had some difficulty putting it down at night.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    So boring. I called every single plot twist that happened. It's like the author watched every murder movie on Lifetime ever and put them in one book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker is a 2016 Atria Books publication. He Will Be My Ruin is a dark and shadowy psychological novel of suspense, told in a unique and original style that kept me turning pages, way past my bed time. Maggie and Celine were best friends growing up, but were polar opposites. Maggie came from vast wealth, while Celine’s mother did domestic work for Maggie’s parents. The girls remained close well into adulthood, where their paths separated. But, now Maggie is back in New York to box up Celine’s belongings after her untimely death, which has been ruled a suicide. In the process, Maggie discovers Celine led a double life, harbored intense resentments, and Celine was often a ball of contradictions. But, when she finds a photo of a man hidden in secret place, with an odd passage written across it, Maggie begins to wonder if Celine committed suicide or if something far more sinister happened to her. I love it when authors drop the traditional formula most often used in novels, because the story becomes more of a challenge, forcing me to slow down and absorb those tiny details I may have glossed over otherwise. This story is very atmospheric, with an understated quality that drew me in and held my attention from start to finish. Every character is complex, shrouded in a fog -like cloak making it impossible to penetrate the barriers surrounding them. The story almost has a noir feel to it at times, keeping the suspense level rising, deepening the mystery, leading me down dark passageways and tunnels, not sure which way to turn. The story is intense, but the atmosphere keeps the pace from spiraling out of control, despite those ominous warning bells you hear ringing. I think the effort here is interesting, and certainly left me impressed with the style, the writing, and the way the threads were woven together. Overall, this is a novel fans of psychological thrillers should try. I don’t think you will be disappointed.4 stars
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A young lady (Celine) apparently commits suicide in New York City and her best friend (Maggie) comes to town to deal with her belongings. What first surprises her is that she has amassed a very nice art collection. So initially there are the dual mysteries of did she really commit suicide and how did she get the money for all the art? This, of course, leads Maggie down an unsavory path including a Jane Austin style romance between her and a good boy and a bad boy. The novel has some predictable twists and some I didn't see coming. Nice but no overwhelming.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    “Celine killed herself.” That’s what Rosa Gonzalez, Celine’s mother, had been led to believe. That’s what she lamented to Maggie Sparks who had been serving in a village in Ethiopia. But, Maggie knew Celine like a sister. She wouldn’t kill herself, would she? Maggie returned to New York to Celine’s apartment to clear out her belongings. She finds out that just maybe she didn’t know Celine as well as she thought she did. The first surprise was a closet full of designer clothing. How could Celine afford all this? The second surprise was a wad of money – hundreds and fifties. The third surprise was a photo of a naked man posed seductively. On the back, Celine had written “This man was once my salvation. Now he will be my ruin.”Even though they knew each other like sisters, their backgrounds had not been similar. Rosa was the Sparks family’s housekeeper. While the Sparks were rich, Rosa struggled financially. Financial help had been offered, but Rosa had been too proud to accept; Celine grew up with those values. More than once Maggie had offered to pay for her college. Celine wanted to make her own way. That brings me to the fourth surprise. The diaries Celine had kept for years … but the last one covering the last three months was missing. Suspecting Celine’s death wasn’t suicide, Maggie begins to follow up on any lead the diaries may suggest.With very masterful and suspenseful twists, you won’t know which way to turn and who to suspect. The prologue does exactly what it’s supposed to – it demands your attention and makes you curious to know more. The plot and pacing were perfect keeping certain details hidden until just the right moment. On the side, this is not really romance, per se, but more of a falling into bed instead of falling in love. Parts of the story were from Celine’s viewpoint taken from her diaries. However, therein lay a logistical problem which was too late in the book for me to identify the issue. Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Maggie's life has always been a privileged breeze, being the sole heiress to Sparkes Energy and all. Money has never been a roadblock for her because she's always had it. Her best friend from childhood on the other hand, Celine, led a different life. A life so veiled and desperate that Maggie knew nothing about until discovering her old diaries in the wake of her purported suicide.Upon hearing the news, Maggie uproots herself from her charity work—a self-professed duty only to combat the immorality of her family's money-grubbing energy empire—and moves into Celine's Manhattan apartment to help pack up her belongings. An antiques fanatic at heart and appraiser by trade, Celine left behind pieces that must amass to a fortune, and it's Maggie's responsibility to take care of it all. It isn't until she discovers tidbits of Celine's private life and the things she did to survive in the nasty slew of the city, that Maggie's suspicions that Celine's death was not a suicide are confirmed. Celine had so much going for her, so much to look forward to, both in her professional and personal life. Immediately, Maggie points her finger in the direction of murder, and sets off to find out everything she can about Celine's secret lover—the man she claims was her ruin.He Will Be My Ruin spins the tragedy of an unexpected death into a murder mystery that unfolds with a furor. Maggie is determined to go to any length to find out the truth about her best friend, unknowingly stepping straight into the high-risk, greed-fueled minefield that got Celine killed in the first place. K.A. Tucker knows how to tell a suspenseful story; the plot moves quickly with surprising discoveries and dark revelations peppered throughout, as Maggie enters this unfamiliar, dangerous game.I had no trouble getting through this book, and was definitely satisfied with its unpredictable outcome and frequent red herrings. So many complicated facets of Maggie's and Celine's lives are introduced to the backdrop of the crime, so while reading, there is no knowing of what matters in the case, and what has no relevance at all. A sizzling romantic distraction muddles Maggie's focus and creates a conflict of interest, while the emotional disaster she experiences when finding out about Celine's secret life almost destroys her.That said, I wasn't particularly affected by most of the layers of the story. The emotional tragedy, I understood, and the unraveling of Celine's murderer, I found chilling, but after I finished the book I felt like not much stuck with me. The characters are rather simple and formulaic (with the exception of the late Celine, who always finds a way to surprise the reader), and Tucker's writing style rather gratuitous with lots of superficial details. Regardless, it's an enjoyable story overall that will have you squirming in the moment as Maggie narrows down the harrowing possibilities in her crime-solving spree.In the end, she is forced to confront the scariest reality of them all: that the one person she trusted could be the person she should most fear, and that when it comes to murder, money, and sex, nothing is really what it seems to be on the surface.Pros: Detailed and thorough in narration // Characters are deeply explored // Suspenseful, fast-paced // Lots of factors introduced that make the mystery unpredictable and complicated // Simple and easy to navigate structurallyCons: Writing style, while effective, is slightly amateurish // I felt like I understood the characters well, but didn't really like any of themVerdict: He Will Be My Ruin combines a blazing tumble of a romance with an emotionally charged murder mystery. Brimming with shocking discoveries and an ominous "sleeping with the enemy" vibe, K.A. Tucker's newest novel grapples with themes of morals and guilt, despair and desperation, and the fine hazards of money and art. While I didn't find this book to be mind-blowing, I guarantee it will keep you glued to its pages until Maggie's mission is complete... if it even ends well, that is.8 hearts: An engaging read that will be worth your while; highly recommended.Source: Complimentary copy provided by tour publicist via publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, TLC Book Tours and Atria Books!).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Celine, a beautiful woman trying to carve out a life in New York, is dead. Her childhood friend Maggie Sparkes flies in from Kenya to pack up her apartment and mourn. As Maggie digs into Celine’s recent past, she finds things that make her believe that Celine didn’t commit suicide. However she will need more than a gut feeling and a risque picture of a man to convince the police to reopen the case.The description calls this a ‘romantic thriller’ and this is definitely more thriller and amateur detective story than a romance, much to my delight. This book flew by, keeping me interested and guessing who the culprit was. Indeed, there was even a doubt in my mind as to whether Celine herself made the final choice. The plot is well laid out and the characters fully engaging.Maggie is heir to a fortune but despises how her family makes their money (which involves turning a blind eye to the environmental pollution their various businesses create). So she has devoted her life and money to various charity efforts. Celine was the daughter of Rosa, the Sparkes’ housemaid when Maggie was growing up. The girls became fast friends and stayed in touch as adults. Now with Rosa seriously ill, aging, and living in California, Maggie is the next logical choice to pack up Celine’s apartment and see to her affairs.Celine was a budding antiques expert and her apartment is filled with her finds from over the years. She was building her collection as an investment for her future and working full time as a secretary. The plot thickens when Maggie finds several of Celine’s diaries and then her hand-written inventory of items. What these things reveal to Maggie, along with the photo of the mysterious man hidden in a lock box, solidifies Maggie’s believe that Celine did not commit suicide.When it comes to possible suspects and their motives, we have several to choose from and this kept me guessing right up to the last hour of the book. There’s the nosy neighbor whose always baking cookies or serving up tea, the mystery man from the photo (who comes from a political family), Hans the antique appraiser (and Celine’s best friend), and Gradey (the building superintendent). With each character, there were good and bad sides, and most had something they wanted to keep private. These secondary characters were well-rounded, keeping my attention held fast as I learned more about each one.There is a touch of romance, but it’s mostly there to move the plot forward. There was one really awkward, not at all planned steamy scene that came off a little ridiculous. It was the only such scene and it was quick, so it didn’t detract from the story. Celine is at the center of most of the romance, she herself being in love with a particular person even as another has a deep attachment to her.I hope the author writes more stories along these same lines. I really enjoyed the suspense!I received a copy at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.The Narration: Kate Rudd and Olivia Song each did great jobs on this book. I don’t know who took on the voice of Maggie and who took on the voice of Celine, however, both were done very well. Whoever performed Celine gave her a light Hispanic accent that was well done. Also, the narrator handled Celine’s emotions with just the right amount of drama or sadness or desperation as the scenes required. The narrator for Maggie was also great bringing Maggie to life as a no-nonsense and determined woman.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Maggie arrives in New York to deal with the aftermath of her childhood friend’s death. She and Celine grew up together, Maggie being the child of very wealthy parents, Celine being the child of the housekeeper/nanny. Maggie used her wealth to create a foundation and spent her days working abroad in countries where the need is greatest while Celine moved to New York City to pursue her dreams of becoming an antiques appraiser. However, there were secrets she kept, and Maggie is convinced that these secrets led to her death. While there are some interesting twists in this tale, I had no trouble putting it down and coming back to it later.