🎭 Book Review: False Pretenses by Catherine Coulter
A glamorous, high-stakes romantic thriller that blends courtroom drama, corporate intrigue, and psychological suspense—marking Coulter’s bold entry into contemporary fiction.
Originally published in 1988 and now available as a Kindle edition, False Pretenses is the first book in Coulter’s Contemporary Romantic Thriller series. With a solid Goodreads rating of 4.04/5 from over 4,000 readers, the novel is praised for its dramatic twists, strong female lead, and soap-operatic flair.
🧠 Plot Overview
Elizabeth Carleton, a celebrated concert pianist, seems to have it all—wealth, fame, and a powerful husband. But her world shatters when her husband is found murdered, stabbed with an ice pick, and she becomes the prime suspect. Her fingerprints are on the weapon, and the evidence is damning.
Just when conviction seems inevitable, a mysterious psychologist named Christian Hunter testifies that Elizabeth was with him the night of the murder—despite the fact that she’s never met him. Acquitted but bewildered, Elizabeth inherits her husband’s corporate empire and faces hostility from his scheming family.
As she navigates boardroom betrayals, romantic entanglements, and threats to her life, three men enter her orbit—each with secrets, motives, and possibly deadly intentions. Can she trust any of them? Or is one of them the true killer?
💬 Why Readers Are Drawn In
- Strong Heroine: Elizabeth is elegant, intelligent, and emotionally complex—a woman forced to reinvent herself under extreme pressure.
- Corporate Drama: The novel dives into hostile takeovers, boardroom politics, and financial manipulation with soap-opera intensity.
- Romantic Suspense: Coulter keeps readers guessing about who’s a lover, who’s a liar, and who’s a threat.
- Twisty Plot: From courtroom shocks to psychological mind games, the story is packed with dramatic turns.
⚠️ Critiques
- Some readers found the plot melodramatic, with villains and romantic lines that verge on camp (“I want your body, lady” being one memorable example).
- The pacing occasionally dips during corporate scenes, and the romantic entanglements may feel dated to modern readers.
- The resolution, while satisfying, leans heavily on coincidence and dramatic reveals.
🏁 Final Verdict
False Pretenses is a bold, emotionally charged thriller that blends glamour, danger, and romance in true 1980s style. If you enjoy stories of powerful women overcoming betrayal, navigating elite circles, and facing off against charming psychopaths, this one delivers a vintage thrill.
