Reviewed by Ravii Graves for Readers' Favorite

In One of Us Must Die by Zelly Ruskin, we follow Sterling, a mother who has spent decades putting on a brave face to protect her children from their cold, calculating father, Keith. On the outside, her life in a wealthy New York suburb looks totally picture-perfect, but the reality is a nightmare. Her marriage is completely dead, held together only by a family trust fund that blocks her from getting a divorce without losing absolutely everything. Sterling has patiently absorbed Keith's psychological cruelty for years. But the situation skyrockets when she realizes her husband's deception is getting worse and her children are no longer safe from his games. She needs a way out! But there are legal traps set everywhere. Can she outwit a monster and free her family before it is too late?

As a huge fan of suspense fiction, I have to say, Zelly Ruskin's One of Us Must Die was a great read. The author takes the quintessential trouble-in-paradise angle and makes it feel innovative through brilliant narrative pacing. The wealthy New York setting feels like its own character, acting as a polished, upscale prison for Sterling. The prose has a sharp-edged clarity that cuts right through the typical melodrama of this genre; she doesn't waste time trying to make Sterling's situation sound pretty. Instead, the writing mirrors Sterling's internal mood—it is hyper-vigilant and raw. The character dynamics are really where the knife twists. Keith is an expert in white-collar sociopathy; weaponizing his charm to get what he wants, when he wants it. Watching Sterling try to outsmart him and his schemes kept me on edge from beginning to end. Her character evolution was the most satisfying one to follow. Fans of B.A. Paris's Behind Closed Doors will absolutely devour this tense, slow-burning thriller; it was truly hard to put down, and the chilling final chapters are completely unforgettable. Recommended.