Coffee Break with Helen Monks Takhar: The Marriage Rule

Ever wondered what happens when you break the unspoken rules of marriage? Nadine Matheson launches an exciting new segment called "Coffee Breaks" – 20-minute conversations with authors about their latest works that feel as intimate and refreshing as catching up with friends over coffee. In this debut Coffee Break episode, psychological thriller author Helen Monks-Takhar discusses her chilling new release "The Marriage Rule." The premise hooks you immediately: what happens when a woman wakes up disoriented in a hotel room next to a dead man, who isn"t even her lover? Helen reveals how she crafted this dual-timeline narrative that explores both the immediate mystery and the events leading to this shocking moment. The episode closes with Helen"s passionate call for more open conversations about normalised violence against women, challenging the victim-blaming question "Why did you stay?" through her character Elle"s journey. Her hope that readers will not only be entertained but also prompted to reflect makes this thriller"s purpose clear, to entertain while illuminating difficult truths. Starting in Season 4, Coffee Breaks will become a regular feature, including listener questions for authors. Send your burning questions to theconversation@nadinematheson.com to have them answered in future episodes! The Marriage Rule What’s the one thing you need to do to stay married? Elle never dreamed she’d end up with a man like Dom. He’s handsome, successful, the perfect father to their baby girl. But Elle doesn’t feel the joy she knows she should. She"s struggling with being a mum, failing at work, even her post-baby body doesn’t feel like her own. Not that Dom cares. He worships Elle and craves intimacy as deeply as troubled Elle wants to shy away from it. Elle starts relying on red wine and the attention of new colleague Gabriel to get through her day. But the morning after a team away day, a bewildered and hungover Elle wakes up with a lifeless body in her bed. She knows devoted Dom is the only person who’ll give her any Send us a text Support the show "Enjoying "The Conversation"? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going. https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson Don"t forget to subscribe, download and review. You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Follow Me: www.nadinematheson.com BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinematheson Instagram: @queennads Threads: @nadinematheson Facebook: nadinemathesonbooks TikTok: @writer_nadinematheson