Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow this book was very good, it's hard to believe its a Debut Novel and I will certainly be looking out for more from Samantha Downing. The story is told from the point of view of the husband. We follow him from when he fell in love with a cold and mysterious woman, Millicent on a flight. We see how their relationship developed and now in the present day they live the typical middle-class life she is a realtor and he is a tennis coach and they have 2 teenage children. However all is not as it seems, they have a very dark hobby. I won't say more as anything further will spoil the reading experience. If you like thrillers then definitely read this book its a solid 5* read.

This book started so good, one of the best starts I've seen lately and I must confess it wasn't bad. However the "twists" was a bit predictable.
Parts in the middle of the book, until the events "took a different turn" the story stalled a bit, but I think overall this was a good thriller and I am glad I read it.
It would have been excellent, 5 stars if Millicent was explored and developed a bit more. But this is a debut and I would be very interested to read a second book from Downing.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

* spoiler alert ** I might be the only person who didn't like this book.
I found it dull and repetitive... such a shame for what sounded like a great idea.
It picked up about three quarters of the way through,but I'd pretty much given up caring by then.
I know it's a pretty far out there idea anyway,to have a married couple as serial killers.... but everything just seemed unlikely.everything.

My Lovely Wife, a chilling thriller about a seemingly ordinary family hiding a dark secret, will grip you and never let go!!

Despite the far-fetched premise, I really enjoyed reading My Lovely Wife. Ms Downing definitely knows how to grab her reader's attention. I was hooked just after reading the first chapter, when a deaf guy meets a stranger in a bar...

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast paced and quick read.

Many thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

#My lovely Wife#Netgalley
oh my god you really can’t miss this book, after a read the first chapter and Jane really caught my attention, a dark twisted plot you will devour in one sitting. It’s not just about serial killer it’s about, neighbors family and friends. You really think you know people and true every marriage has its own secrets, this is just literally a unputtable down book. If you don’t read this book you will regret it. I believe it’s going to be one of the most talked about books this year. Superb book absolutely fantastic

An unusual but addictive read this follows the story of a married couple with 2 teenagers living in suburban America. She is a real estate agent and he is a tennis pro at the local country club but beneath this façade of normality lies a sinister and twisted reality.
It's not an easy book to review as sharing any of the plot will inevitably lead to spoilers which would remove the absolute "shock value" of the story.
All I will say is read this phenomenal book which is thrilling, twisted and disturbing but oh so good!!
5 huge stars for this absolute beauty - an author to watch for me!
Thanks to Netgalley UK, publishers and author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a cracker of a book! The initial premise is utterly unique. It’s laid out in the first chapter, grabs you by the lapels and doesn’t let go. The smooth writing delivers a wonderfully twisty, dark, well-paced plot. The characters are well developed and the denouement troubling and yet extremely well executed. It’s really hard to say more without spoilers, but I thought this book was a masterclass of a thriller and would wholeheartedly recommend. I picked it up on a particularly busy week and still couldn’t put it down. Many thanks to the author, Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Ever wondered what drives someone to become a serial killer? This book will offer an unhealthy insight into this.

 

Unlike many other thrillers we are offered the premise at the start of the book. There is no guessing and expertly removing layers to find out the what/where/who but rather left with the why and when to ponder.The stage is set, and the curtain has risen, we are offered the guilty at the start but for duration of the book we search for the ‘why’ and it isn’t easily offered to us. At least that’s what I assumed until a shocking turn of events about 60% in turned the course of direction this book was taking around. 

 

I like books that keep the reader guessing and just when you think you are comfortable, they drop a bombshell and you have to retract your entire course of thinking. It was expertly done in my lovely wife and a great way to add a little more adrenaline and suspense. 

 

I liked the authors decision to use the male character as the weaker of the two. Usually it is the woman who is shown to follow and be the weaker counterpart, so this was a breath of fresh air and in my opinion made it that more sinister. The narrative is told from the husband’s perspective (again very rarely done) and it flowed with good consistency. 

 

A great slow burn of a thriller with just enough shock factors to keep your attention firmly grasped.

 

I would like to thank Netgalley, Michael Joseph at Penguin UK and author Samantha Downing for the copy of ‘My Lovely Wife’ in exchange for an honest review.

 

Publication date: 2 May 2019 

 

Zubs

Wow, what an amazing book. It stands out against most of the other books that I’ve read in the last few years. The plot is dark, enthralling and will have you drawn in from page 1. The ending is amazing and very well written. It’s worthy of a big fat 5 stars and I can’t wait to read more books from this author in future.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publishers of this book for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

It's an easy read, it keeps you guessing, you feel you are being led up the garden path but you can't quite work out why.

I can see movie rights being sold for this book.

Enjoyable, intriguing and clever.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I absolutely loved this book and do not want to do a big review to spoil things for others. READ IT

Firstly thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I am so glad I got to read it. If you love thrillers then you will love this book. I can see this being made into a film it is so good. You would never suspect the perfect couple next door of being ab l e to accomplish the murders Millicent was so obnoxious I'm not sure how 'Tobias' (we never find out his real name) ever married her in the first place! At the end of the book it looks like he might start the murders all over again as he uses the phone to reinvent himself as 'Quentin'. Can't wait for another book by Samantha Downing, maybe she could retell the story from Millicent or the kids point of view.

Ty to netgalley and publishers I got the chance to read this novel
It's fun ,well don't get me wrong it's dark and at times I was like scared at wat was happening somewhere to a poor someone by a ruthless calculated and scarily efficient couple.
However as we explore and delve deeper it becomes even more so
Page turner at times I had no idea where this wd lead and did guess but was surprised I guessed so late into the book
Liked the concept alot and enjoyed ty

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK and Samantha Downing for the chance to read and review this book.

What can I say about this book? Well the first words that come to mind are: consuming,riveting, astounding, mesmerising, dark, twisted and unforgettable It lives up to the claim that it is “the next generation of domestic thriller” and is a fresh take on the genre that sets it apart from other thrillers and serial killer books.

“Life goes along like it’s supposed to, an occasional bump in the road but otherwise a fairly smooth ride.”

The story is narrated by Tobias, he’s married to Millicent and they live with their two children, Rory, 14, and 13-year-old Jenna. To everyone they appear to be just another affluent family: they have a happy marriage, a nice house, their children are well behaved and doing well at their private school and they socialise at the Country Club. But underneath this shiny veneer lurks a dark and disturbing secret.

From the beginning we know he keeps things from his wife he knows he should share, and it isn’t long before we find out she’s been keeping an even bigger secret from him. He immediately starts to wonder if she’s hiding anything more, a question that troubles him throughout the book, but ultimately he decides he trusts her.

“You didn’t think we were going to stop did you?”

This book is unusual as it is told solely from the perpetrator’s perspective. I loved this choice as instead of trying to figure out the culprit the reader is instead left to ponder other questions about the crimes, the motive and if the carefully stacked house of cards will come toppling down around him. The first sign that this might happen is when what seems to have been the perfect smoke screen results in their daughter living in fear of her life, becoming obsessed with the news, resorting to violence and even carrying a weapon for protection. The realisation that they’ve damaged their child while protecting themselves horrifies Tobias and results in a shift of his priorities. Suddenly their hidden life isn’t so alluring and all that matters is helping his daughter become herself again. A decision that leads to his whole world unravelling and puts them all at risk.

"I always wanted to be more than above average"

A key aspect of this story is the relationship between the couple. Tobias grew up with wealthy parents who were uninterested in him and felt rejected. He started playing tennis to try and win their affection and attention without success and left home as soon as possible. From the moment he met Millicent he was captivated by her and she has always made him feel more than average. It is this that explains why he allows her to control many aspects of their family and their lives, and why he will do anything to make her happy, something Millicent clearly takes advantage of and uses to manipulate him. Their relationship also revolves around their secrets. They have their own version of date nights and secret code. Another reason Tobias enjoys their clandestine activities and brushes aside his concerns is because of how it affects their sex life. Even a simple discussion about it results in them becoming sexually charged and have wild, passionate sex, which increases the allure for him.

“Piece by piece my life is destroyed, like it was never real at all.”

As Tobias finally realises the depth of Millicent’s betrayal he struggles to comprehend how she could be so callous and cold. She isn’t the woman he thought she was. You can almost hear his heart and soul shatter as he realises everything he thought he knew, everything he holds dear, is a facade. The book is expertly plotted and that pivotal moment when the truth dawns on Tobias occurred just minutes after it dawned on me and you are never quite sure where the story is going. At least not until the author wants you to and delivers a breathtaking twist that leaves you reeling. As the walls cave in around Tobias and time is running out the book speeds towards a spectacular, shocking and catastrophic conclusion.

It’s strange to say this about a killer but I loved Millicent’s character. She’s intelligent, manipulative, beguiling, calculating and at times a contradiction. She is unapologetic of her plans and actions while Tobias sometimes wavers. It was interesting to have a dynamic where the woman is the one pulling the strings and the man afraid of displeasing her instead of her being the victim cowering in the corner.

This jaw-dropping thriller is a book you don’t want to miss. It had me transfixed within the first two chapters and didn’t let go. The final line sent shivers down my spine and still haunts me. A debut that reads like the work of a veteran writer makes this author a talent to watch. I for one can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Absolutely brilliant book! Gripping twists and turns and I finished it in one sitting! Had me gripped from the first page. 10/10 would recommend!

Written in the first person from a male point of view, this is a story of obsessive and destructive love. A couple are locked in a relationship which is truly dysfunctional. He is a tennis coach, she (Millicent) is controlling and together they make a lethal combination. It is clear from early on that for whatever reason, their relationship is kept going by their little hobby of murdering young women. After an accidental start to their diversion (the first murder wasn't premeditated) they spend time on their date nights planning who to kidnap next. The man does the pick up and passes on the woman to Millicent who then tortures and kills her. It all starts to go wrong when they decide to put the blame on someone else (Owen) who was thought to be guilty of earlier murders in the town. Terrified by the thought of a serial killer nearby (if only she knew how near!) their daughter begins to have significant behaviour problems. Added to that, their son suspects his father is up to something and starts to blackmail him. What a lovely family! At first I thought I liked this novel but as it went on I found the plot and the twists too preposterous and it became a bit of a chore to read. I never bought into the reason why they did it either. Needless to say the main characters are not in the least bit likeable which is always a bit of a problem for me. Thanks to the publishers and net galley for the ARC.

Really enjoyed My Lovely Wife, it grabbed you right from the start, i found it slowed up a bit in the middle but coming towards the end i was gripped and couldn't put it down until i knew what happened. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

An intriguing plot with a cliffhanger as the very last sentence!
A marriage with a dark exploration the world of serial killers. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and didn’t see the twist coming.

My Lovely Wife is one of those novels that hooked me in from the very start. I've had a bit of thriller fatigue lately as they all seem to be getting quite samey but this book is truly unique. This couple do not have a conventional marriage, they have two teenage children and appear to be normal from the outside but they have a nighttime activity that's just between them. The husband discovers something early on that suggests he doesn't know his wife as well as he thought he did. This book is full of twists and turns and is really unlike anything else I've read- I loved it!

I was excited to receive my copy of My lovely wife from Netgalley and started the book immediately. By the second chapter I had sussed the characters and knew who was hiding what. Maybe I’ve read too many thrillers and figured out what was going on, but it was a massive let down for me. I guessed the story behind Holly looooong before it was revealed. 3* because I did enjoy the writing style.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in return for my review.