Plus, receive recommendations and exclusive offers on all of your favorite books and authors from Simon & Schuster.
Table of Contents
About the Book
She married for love. He married for trust. Specifically, her trust fund—the one with the iron-clad “no divorce, no matter the circumstances” clause her mother insisted on.
Sterling (not as good as gold) has always come second to her family’s wealth—but unlike her mother, she’ll do anything to protect her three children. For years, she’s kept up the perfect family illusion to shield them from their manipulative, gaslighting father. But now her husband is becoming more reckless, and her children more exposed. And when her daughter’s fiancé says he wants a marriage just like hers, Sterling knows her charade has gone too far.
To free herself, she must outwit her husband and the legal ties meant to trap her—before it’s too late. Because in this family, there’s only one way out: One of them must die.
Product Details
- Publisher: She Writes Press (October 20, 2026)
- Length: 312 pages
- ISBN13: 9798896361800
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"An absorbing story of the family ties that bind . . . and constrict."—Kirkus Reviews
“Filled with unexpected insights and twists, One of Us Must Die is hard to put down . . .”—Midwest Book Review
“Fans of B.A. Paris's Behind Closed Doors will absolutely devour this tense, slow-burning thriller . . . the chilling final chapters are completely unforgettable.”—Readers' Favorite, 5-star review
“One of Us Must Die is a taut domestic thriller about generational wealth, marriage, and the slow erosion of morality. A truly chilling and thought-provoking read!”—Wendy Walker, USA Today best-selling author of Blade
“Tense, sharply written, and buzzing with suspense, Zelly Ruskin’s One Of Us Must Die is a compulsively readable peek into a world of privilege and simmering grudges. Clear your calendar and lock the doors, you’ll be turning pages late into the night to find out what happens next.”—Heather Gudenkauf, the New York Times best-selling author of The Overnight Guest and The Perfect Hosts
“One of us Must Die offers a unique window into the darker side of privilege. It begs the reader to explore whether great wealth can fortify or fracture a family. Don’t miss this one!”—Jennifer Sadera, author of I Know She Was There
“Will the husband die, and if so, was it the wife? Dark humor runs through this novel, which makes it as fun as it is unsettling. Death by marriage has never been such a page-turner.”—Lainey Cameron, author of The Exit Strategy
“Zelly Ruskin has written another absolute stunner of a novel. It felt like I was right next to Sterling, kept in suspense as she uncovered layer upon shocking and twisty layer of her marriage. I can't wait to read Zelly's next book.”—Barbara Bos, managing editor of Books by Women
“Zelly Ruskin delivers a deeply satisfying domestic suspense set in the deliciously toxic world of the one percent, full of scandalous rich people behaving badly and mile-a-minute twists and turns. This is the definition of a ‘good for her’ story—readers won’t be able to stop cheering or put it down!”—Ashley Winstead, author of This Book Will Bury Me
“In her latest page-turner, Zelly Ruskin proves she’s a powerful storyteller who’s not afraid to look at the dark side of marriage. One of Us Must Die is a fresh, propulsive novel that will make you think long and hard about that oft-repeated vow, "till death do us part.”—Camille Pagán, Washington Post best-selling author of I’m Fine and Neither Are You
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
-
Book Cover Image (jpg): One of Us Must Die
Trade Paperback 9798896361800
-
Author Photo (jpg): Zelly Ruskin
(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit








