4.5 stars

You know a book has you hooked when you sneak in a few pages at every opportunity, so compelling is the pace and the plot. Throw in a hugely likeable MC, and you’re onto a gold-ribbon winner.

The Wrong Woman is a cut above your regular, plot-driven crime thriller. Yes, the plot is superbly contrived, with multiple threads that bob and weave like shadow boxers. But equally intriguing is chief protagonist, PI Vince Reid, whose mysterious past adds an extra layer of fascination to the story.

Reid has been hired by an insurance company to investigate a fatal car crash that killed the passenger and left the driver in a coma. Problem is, the job requires returning to his hometown, which he left under a shadow ten years ago. Reid hopes he can be in and out before he’s recognized by any of the locals, but when he senses a link between the crash and two missing teenagers, he’s soon caught up in a morass of lies, secrets and coverups.

The narrative unfolds from two POVs: that of Eshana, the young female survivor of the crash, who describes events leading up to it; and that of Reid, as he seeks to make sense of the events that have hit the town. Every chapter seems to end on a knife-edge, making it nigh on impossible to put the book down.

I loved the intrigue surrounding Reid’s past and what this ultimately revealed about his character and the awful burden he was carrying from his childhood. And I appreciated how Pomare, from time-to-time, deftly wove in mini plot recaps so that I never got lost in its intricacies.

Most of all, though, I loved the powerful messaging Pomare delivers about the bonds of family and the lengths we go to to protect loved ones, whether rightly or wrongly. This lent the book a light, literary feel, which was a lovely bonus.

After finishing this book I realized it was just over 300 pages long. It felt like a much longer book, because the characters are great, the story is captivating and it’s full of unexpected large and small things happening.
Vince Reid returns to his old home town. There are many books that start out as this, but this time it immediately veers in an interesting direction. Vince is nearing his fifties now, has not long ago broken up with his boyfriend and frankly, he himself is not very keen to go back to Manson and Ethelton, the twin towns that have so much in common – and so many things not. But, an insurance company he worked for before offers good money to have a look what happened when Eshana and Oliver Stiles went off the road in their car, she being the survivor.
Soon, Reid finds out this crash could have had something to do with the disappearance of two young girls but as he digs deeper, he gets warnings not to dig too deep – but also encouraging messages that he is on the right track, a track that leads to a tale of betrayal, revenge and – as the saying goes: follow the money.
I loved the concise writing style; without using too many words the author paints the characters and their actions and this makes you want to read on. I must admit that I’ve never heard of this author before, but I will now certainly look out for more of his work.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this review copy.

I requested this book after previously reading 'in the clearing' and 'call me evie', two books that had me gripped. 'The Wrong Woman' did not dissapoint. Full of suspense and clever characters, this book had me gripped. This story may be a slow burn but it is full of twists.

The Wrong Woman is another gripping crime thriller from the pen of NZ author J.P. Pomare.

The deliciously dark and twisty narrative alternates between the present perspective of Private Investigator Vince Reid, reluctantly returning to his hometown to investigate a suspicious car accident, and that of crash survivor, Eshana Stiles, over the weeks and months leading up to the fateful night.

Upon his arrival in the "twin towns" of struggling Manson and more upper-class Ethelton, Reid discovers that the death of Sandown College academic Oliver Stiles and the serious injury of his wife in a car accident are not the only tragedy to face the towns. A local teenager has gone missing several days ago - and not just any girl, but the seventeen-year-old daughter of Reid's former boss, Chief of Police Stubbs. Maddison's disappearance follows upon that of another local girl, Kiara King, some months earlier.

As Reid digs into the circumstances of Oliver and Eshana Stiles's accident, more than once crossing the line between acceptable and illegal activity, he comes across alarming connections between the deceased college professor and missing girl Kiara. And it becomes clear that Reid is facing more than just the normal small-town animosity surrounding an insurance investigation - someone wants him off the case permanently. Can Reid uncover what really happened that dark and wet Wednesday night? Was Oliver Stiles's death the tragic accident it appears, and is it possible that he had something to do with the disappearances of Kiara and Maddison?

With short chapters and a back-and-forth split narrative, The Wrong Woman is a compulsively readable crime-thriller. Reid is an engaging hero, a man with a chequered past as a police officer, but a tenacious thirst for truth and justice, in spite of the barriers that seem to be constantly being placed in his way. Eshana Stiles, meanwhile, is a beguiling character - have her suspicions about her husband's fidelity led her to do something dreadful, or is she simply an innocent victim? The reader's sympathies are pulled backwards and forwards as her side of the narrative unfolds.

I'd thoroughly recommend The Wrong Woman to any reader who enjoys dark and twisty thrillers, especially those that employ the trope of small-town insularity and prejudice. Readers who love Jane Harper, Garry Disher or Chris Whitaker's work will gobble this up!

My thanks to the author, J.P. Pomare, publisher Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley (UK) for the opportunity to read and review this title.

On the positive side I did enjoy that one of the main characters was an ex-policeman turned PI doing a job for an insurance company. That at least was a likely and believable scenario. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy the constant swapping about of pov’s. It became annoying rather than intriguing. I’ve commented on similar style before with books I’ve reviewed and I cannot put my finger on why some authors pull it off perf3ctly and it ends up a very big plus whilst some don’t and the book is spoilt for me. It must just be a matter of taste.
The plot however makes this worth putting up with.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #‎Hodder & Stoughton for my advance copy of #TheWrongWoman by #JPPomare

This is the first book I have read by this author but it won’t be the last.
It’s a gripping story that revolves around private investigator Reid who is returning to his home town for the first time in years.
He is here to investigate a car crash that killed the passenger and left the driver in a coma
Having left here in a hurry Reid was not in any rush to return, and being back is bringing up old memories and not just for him.
I assumed that the story was set in America until I read the. authors bio afterwards and found he’s based in New Zealand so could be there.
Really enjoyed this book and struggled to put it down.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Wrong Woman, the twists and turns kept me hooked, I didn't want to put it down!

Reid gave me Jack Reacher vibes, as a massive fan of that series, I loved that fact

If you're looking for an enjoyable crime/mystery novel that keeps you guessing then read this!

I didn't realise when I requested the ARC from @netgalley that J.P Pomare was a New Zealand author, that just made the book all the more awesome!

The Wrong Woman is out now!

Thanks NetGalley and @hodderbooks for the advanced copy (which I finished late - sorry!) in exchange for my honest review

So good! So, so good!

This is one of those books that is, despite the many misses I’ve been having, responsible for yours truly returning to the psychological thriller genre again and again. Because once in a while you come across a gem and this is definitely one of them.

‘The Wrong Woman‘ is told by way of chapters set in the past and the present. In the present, Vince Reid returns to his hometown of Manson, a place he left behind a decade ago for reasons that will be explained as the story continues. Reid is now a private investigator and he’s been sent to Manson to investigate a car crash for an insurance company. But when Reid arrives in Manson, he catches word of a missing girl and she isn’t the first one.

The chapters set in the past deal with the couple involved in the car crash Reid was sent to investigate. Oliver and Eshana were on their way home after dinner at a restaurant, when the car Eshana was driving hit a pole. Oliver was instantly killed, his wife is in a coma. They had only been married a few years but rumours have been swirling around Oliver for ages. By way of Eshana’s point-of-view, we get a glimpse into their marriage and the events that lead up to the night of the accident. Did Eshana really know her husband? Was the car crash an accident? Will the things that Reid uncovers put him in danger?

Such a clever plot, such incredible writing and then there’s that always atmospheric small town vibe that I love so much. On top of that, Reid, our main protagonist is a fascinating character. There’s quite a bit to discover about him and his previous life in Manson. Questions that need to be answered as to why he left and was asked never to return. This complicates his investigation as he tries to get around the town unnoticed but nothing stays a secret long in a small community like Manson. Or does it?

There’s also plenty to learn about Oliver and Eshana. Can Oliver be trusted? Is Eshana paranoid? Why is it so hard for her to believe her husband? Did she mean to kill herself? Did she mean to kill her husband? Nothing is what it seems in this town and I was never entirely sure of any of the theories that popped up in my head. The author kept me guessing until the end. It’s one of the things that made ‘The Wrong Woman‘ extremely addictive, you just have to know how it all fits together, and it was near impossible to put this book down until all the threads came together and I finally realised what had been going on. Quickly followed by a massively satisfied sigh and a “wow, that was so good!”.

‘The Wrong Woman‘ is easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year and you’ll definitely be seeing it again in my books-of-the-year list. Pomare is a new-to-me author and one I’ll undoubtedly be keeping an eye on. Recommended!

Claustrophobic, Tense..
Investigating a car crash Reid returns to the one place he vowed never to go to again - his home town of Manson. Any efforts to keep his own past distant will probably be pointless. People remember. The car crash is the very start of his problems, however, when investigations take a worrying turn. Tension mounting suspense with a well done, claustrophobic setting and a credible cast.

A great, twisty mystery. A couple, Oli and Eshana Styles, have a car accident. Oli is killed instantly, and Eshana is in a coma. Reid is hired by a life insurance company to look into the accident. Oli's background is complicated, and there are two missing local girls which may be connected. Reid faces challenges himself in the investigation, and nothing is what it seems!
I really enjoyed this book, and Reid is a brilliant character, who is determined to get to the truth! Loved it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 ok stars. I think maybe my expectations were too high given the majority of the reviews however I thought this was an average but enjoyable book.

I like the different viewpoints of Eshana and Reid but felt both characters lacked real depth or back story. I couldn’t get a handle on Reid at all. Because of this lack of investment in the characters, this felt like a slow read to me.

The end was much better as the pace picked up but too little too late for me sorry

The opening is atmospheric and completely absorbing. Immersive, pacy and unputdownable. Like a chess game with multiple layers and complex characters, all leading to a shocking, explosive ending.

I may have said this before but I’m going to say it again, J.P. Pomare’s books are like a fine wine, they just get better and better with age.

This latest offering follows Reid, an ex-cop-turned-PI who has been contracted to look into a fatal car crash, and Eshana, the driver of the car involved.
Only problem is, the investigation is in Reid’s home town.
A place he is not liked.
A place he promised to never set foot in again.

Things don’t add up with Reid’s investigation, and he can’t go to the police - 1) because they hate him, and 2) because they have their hands full with the case of a missing young women, the second in as many as 6 months, and the Chief’s daughter no less, so he’s left to try and fill in the blanks himself.

Of course nothing is ever as it seems, and in a town so small, a crash and a missing girl on the same day is just a coincidence right..?

This book held my attention from the very first page. The suspense building was on point, with surprising twists and turns, and layers of story delivered in such a way that were not annoyingly dragged out or randomly thrown in your face to move the story along.

The Wrong Woman weaves together a compelling, page turning, story that is as intriguing as it is disturbing.

Thank you to J.P. Pomare, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Wrong Woman, a thriller set in small town America.

Private investigator Vince Reid returns to Manson, the hometown he left under a cloud, to investigate a deadly car crash on behalf of an insurance company. Oli Stiles was killed and his wife, Eshana, is in a coma. He hopes to complete his work unidentified but the police chief’s daughter has disappeared and that puts the town on high alert.

I didn’t particularly enjoy much of The Wrong Woman, which is more my problem than the author’s. The writing is taut, the sense of mystery is strong and the plotting clever, so what’s not to like?

I have poor concentration at the moment so the format is not conducive to settling down and getting absorbed in the story. The narrative is split between Reid’s present day investigation and Eshana’s tale of what led up to the crash. Both are told in the first person, to, I assume, create an atmosphere of intimacy with the reader. It’s not confusing as each chapter is labelled with their name, but the constant switching is unsettling and creates natural break points where it easy to put it down.

The plot is quite slow for the first part of the novel. Personally I felt frustrated by the lack of explanation for Reid’s reluctance to be in Manson and the uncertainty around Eshana’s relationship with her husband so the need to know didn’t hook me. The finale, on the other hand, is spectacular, being full of action, twists and excitement. I can’t say it fully makes up for the slog in getting there but it certainly redeems a read I struggled with.

The main character, Reid, is a former police officer who left his hometown 10 years earlier after an incident. He is now a private investigator. He his hired by an insurance company to look into a suspicious car crash in his old hometown. He is reluctant to go back, but is offered a lot of money and feels he can’t turn down the job. The driver of the car, Eshana Stiles, is in a medically-induced coma and the passenger, her husband Oli, is dead. Oli was a professor. When he starts investigating the crash, he raises the hackles of the local police who are investigating the disappearance of two girls, who may or may not have some ties to Oli. The story is suspenseful and well-structured, alternating between Reid’s point of view in the present and Esahana’s point of view in the past. The oppressive, small-town atmosphere lent a sense of menace to the story. I had no idea where this story was going and couldn’t put it down!

The Wrong Woman is something of a change from JP Pomare being set in small town America rather than his home country of New Zealand. Actually that should be small towns as the action takes place in "the twin towns" ,the more genteel Ethelton and the rougher environs of Manson.

Private Investigator Reid takes on the job of investigating a tragic car accident in his home town of Manson,involving married couple Oli and Eshana Stiles, for an insurance company. With Oli dead , Eshana in hospital and their investigation concluding that the vehicle was not tampered with the local police are happy that there has been no foul play and it all appears to be routine and easy money for Reid.
Reid left Manson under a cloud and is hoping that time and disguises will help him investigate under the radar.
This proves to be wishful thinking and local suspicions about the late Oli Stiles' being involved in the disappearance of a young girl and Reid's own past have locals once again making him very much aware that he's not welcome in Manson...........and that's before the Chief of Police's daughter goes missing .

This is a great read from an author who has become one of my favourites. Told from 2 perspectives,those of Reid and Eshana Stiles, the tale gets increasingly darker as secrets are revealed and tensions in Manson build to breaking point when fingers are pointed and assumptions made.
Plenty of tension, some neat twists and most of all a great read.

This was actually a gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked from the beginning to the end!

Reid is working as a private investigator and he returns back to his hometown after many years. He was hired to find more about an accident, that killed the professor and the wife who seemed to be still alive. While investigating, he discovered the mysterious disappearances of two girls that might have some sort of connection to the accident.

I like the fact that this story is fast paced packed with lots of twists and turns that you wouldn't expect. The story is told in two perspectives--Reid, the PI and Eshana Stiles, who is the wife of Oli Stil.es I do like reading Eshana's story--the author has done a good job of writing the female point of view, detailing about her insecurities the way she suspect that her husband might be having an affair. I do like reading Reid's story as well. I simply couldn't put the book down as I kept reading, what is going to happen next--was the accident really an accident or...premeditared murder? The ending...wow it was completely unexpected--I did not expect such type of ending and twist at all! It was really an unexpected twist that really shocked me! This was the first time I am reading from this author and so I look forward to read more from this author!

Worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

This is my first J P Pomare read and definitely not my last.
I loved the writing style of the author - it felt easy and quick.
Looking forward to reading more.

Once again J P Pomare has delivered a page turning read. He by no means follows a repetitive style, with each book being uniquely different.
Reid is a private investigator and his latest case sees him return to his home town to investigate a car crash that killed Eshana Stiles husband and put her in a coma. The insurance company wants Reid to see if there was any evidence of foul play before they pay up, but Reid starts to see a link between 2 missing girls and Oli Stiles, the deceased husband. Soon his investigation veers off course and he finds himself at odds with the police and the townsfolk who wanted him gone all those years ago. Why was Reid sent packing from the police force all those years ago and why don’t they want him back.
Another excellent read.

#TheWrongWoman. #NetGalley

This was gripping right from the very first page and I couldn't put it down, if I didn't have prior commitments I would have hunkered down and finished this in one sitting.