Published by Poisoned Pen Press, Sourcebooks on 1/27/2026
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 336
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Sometimes, enough is enough…
Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction. Or at least, she did.
These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person.
She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.
And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.
Sometimes, you just reach a breaking point, and Dear Debbie really embraces that idea.
Freida McFadden knows how to create characters who are tough to like, but impossible to ignore. Debbie is emotional, impulsive, and sometimes frustrating, but she always feels real. You might not always agree with her, but you’ll understand her, and that’s what keeps you turning the pages.
The tension builds slowly, with suspicion, gut feelings, and moral questions making things complicated. Whenever you think you know what will happen, McFadden throws in a surprise. Like her other books, there are moments that make you stop and wonder what just happened, keeping you interested until the last page.
In my opinion, and maybe I shouldn’t admit it, but everyone needs a friend like Debbie, just without the murder. We all want someone who believes in us, stands up for us when we’re wronged, and won’t just sit back. But this story also serves as a warning: be careful about crossing that kind of friend, because once you do, there’s no turning back.
Dear Debbie is a slow-burning psychological thriller that’s both uncomfortable and addictive, and it’s unmistakably Freida McFadden.
Reviewed by: Orsayor
