I Would Die for You

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones
3/25/25; 320 pages
St. Martin's Press

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is a recommended domestic mystery that follows two sisters in dual timelines.

In 2011 Nicole Forbes lives with her husband Brad and eight-year-old daughter Hannah in Coronado, California. When a writer, Zoe, comes to her home asking about her involvement with the scandal surrounding the 80's band Secret Oktober. Nicole left Great Britain and never looked back in order to distant herself from the downfall of the band. She also never told Brad about that part of her past. Later that day her daughter Hannah is picked up from school by her aunt - but she doesn’t have an aunt. Nicole is frantic that there is a link between Zoe's appearance and Hannah's brief disappearance.  Now she may have to tell Brad her secret.

In London in 1986 sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with Secret Oktober and lead singer Ben Edwards. She closely follows the movements of the band, trying to get Ben's attention and get into the backstage parties with her new friend and fellow groupie Amelia. What she doesn't know is that Ben heard her older sister Nicole singing an original song she wrote at a local bar one night and he can’t help but feel drawn to her.

The start of I Would Die for You was compelling and grabbed my complete attention.  I was anxiously waiting for the big secret(s) and what happened in the past The switch in the narrative between time periods and points-of-view worked well. It was looking like a winner but as the novel continued, my enjoyment lessened. You will have to set disbelief aside several times and the ending was a complete disappointment. 

The present day story became bothersome. It is uncertain why Nicole never shared more information about her past with Brad. Yeah, it's newsworthy and maybe scandalous, but she should have at least told him an edited version. For two people that are described as having a good relationship readers will be left wondering what exactly that is based on because the facts seem to belie their devotion to each other.

Following the band in the past and the obsession with them was entertaining but also had some disturbing elements to it. The characters were better developed in this time period and the infatuation beyond reason with the band members is clearly depicted.

This is a 3.5 rounded down based on the ending. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.