Until Death
Theo Barratt is out of options. With his family drowning in debt, a sham marriage to billionaire heir Jessie West feels like the perfect con: play the devoted husband for a few months, split the fortune, and walk away.
But Theo made a fatal mistake. The Wests are as dangerous as they are wealthy, protecting an empire built on secrets people have already died for. Now, Theo is trapped in a marriage he can't escape and bound to a family that destroys anyone who threatens them. The only way out is death. The only question is: whose?
- Theo - Protagonist
- Dianne - Theo’s mother
- Stella West - William’s wife, deceased
- William West - Owner of West Industries
- Jessie - William’s son
- Patricia - William’s housekeeper
- Amy - Theo’s sister
- William offers Theo a promotion if Theo will date Jessie.
- Theo is surprised when he meets Jessie and finds out he is male and not female.
- Theo and Jessie agree to fake date so that Theo can get a promotion at work and Jessie can get William to stop harassing him to settle down.
- Theo and Jessie get married.
- William is not Jessie’s biological father.
- William changes his will to leave his entire estate to Theo.
- Jessie stabs William.
- Patricia is the one who pushed Stella down the stairs - they were fighting because Patricia overheard Stella on the phone saying she was going to divorce William and take everything she could get.
- Theo stabs and kills Jessie when Jessie tries to attack Patricia.
- The police tell Theo they were on the verge of arresting Jessie for multiple murders.
- William dies while being treated for the stab wound.
- Two years later: Amy has a baby.
- Theo turns William’s old house into a home for people escaping abusive partners.
"Until Death" by C.L. Sutton has a unique plot twist that comes early on in the story. The entire narrative unfolds in the present day and is told exclusively through Theo's point of view, making it great for anyone who hates multiple POVs or timeline jumps.
While the book is labeled as a psychological thriller, I do not find it particularly thrilling in the traditional sense. Instead, it reads much more like a suspense novel. The mysterious elements are strong, and the lingering sense of the unknown does a good job of keeping the reader engaged. The short chapters also help drive the narrative forward and keep the pacing brisk without relying on constant, high-octane shock value. It's a decent read for someone who wants something a little different.
- William - Dead - Stabbed by Jessie
- Jessie - Dead - Stabbed by Theo
- Theo - Alive - Trying to make William proud by carrying on his legacy
- Amy - Alive - Happy to finally have a baby
- Murder
- Miscarriage
- Infertility
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN: 9781997302001
Publication Date: February 27, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
