This is a great book. It's hard to put into words how this book makes you feel. I absolutely loved it and have reccomended it to all my book club friends.

Nicole is part of a group in Lagos called “Nigerwives”, that is, foreign women married to Nigerian men. When Nicole goes missing, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her aunt Claudine flies to Nigeria to take matters into her own hands.

I have never been to Nigeria but I’ve read so many Nigerian books now that I just know I’m going to love it if it’s set there. This book is narrated on dual timelines, by both Nicole before her disappearance, and her aunt Claudine after Nicole has disappeared. This means that as the pace of the novel progresses, we get closer and closer to finding out the truth.

I enjoyed this book, the thriller/mystery aspect was done really well and didn’t involve the usual cliches that a lot of books in the genre tend to have. There was a lot of plot building in the first half of the book and ideally I would have liked it to be faster in pace, like the second half of the book. There wasn’t a single character that I liked (including the protagonist) but that’s ok. Overall I think this is an interesting look at Nigerian culture and expectations that are set on both women and men, and how those expectations can harm them.

I didn't find this book that interesting. I found that it kept going off at a tangent, giving background information or telling about something else that had happened, when I wanted it to get going. I stopped shortly after I started skimming pages.

Nicole is missing from her Lagos home and her aunt Claudine travels from the Uk to find out where she is.
A story told in different POV, Nicole tells her story before her disappearance and Claudine tells the story after she’s gone.
Both give insights into what happened in the past that led them to current day.
A great story that’s hard to put down and kept me guessing right to the end as to what happened and why.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book

Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of Lagos and a glamorous group of friends. When Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her aunt Claudine flies to Nigeria to take matters into her own hands. As she digs into her niece's life, she uncovers a hidden truth. But the more she finds out about Nicole, the more Claudine's own buried history threatens to come to light.
Loved this read and was absolutely hooked from the get-go. Really thought provoking and whip-smart, written exquisitely. Sometimes predictable but I think that was expected.

I mostly enjoyed this book! The pacing was a little slow for me but then suddenly rushed at the end. I enjoyed the character development. Wasn't as much of a thriller as I thought it was going to be
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review!

When Nicole Oruwari goes missing, her aunt flies out from London to investigate her disappearance. Frustrated by the lack of progress in the case, Claudine learns all about Nicole’s glamorous life as a Nigerwife in Lagos. As Claudine digs deeper, she realises that her niece’s life is more complicated than she thought, and she shouldn’t trust anyone.

The book discusses cultural identity and the complexity of family relationships. I really enjoyed the themes and the pace as it flips between Nicole and Claudine’s stories. I liked how the author brings the different cultures to life to show the challenges Nicole faces in a different country, and I think how they show up in the narrative made me sympathise with Nicole’s situation. However, I don’t think any of the characters were really likeable, Nicole included. I would have liked to see more from less characters, as the book seemed a bit over-stuffed with people and content. Towards the end, I think there was one plot twist/story line which wasn’t really necessary and didn’t add much.

Overall, I found topics explored in the Lagos Wife really interesting but some points in the story were a bit over-done, which took away from the impact of the book if it was pared back a bit.

"The Lagos Wife" by Vanessa Walter's is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of life in Lagos, Nigeria. The author skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-discovery, all set against the backdrop of this vibrant and bustling city.

At the heart of the story is Nicole Oruwari, a woman who seemingly has it all – a handsome husband, a luxurious home, and a glamorous social circle. However, when she mysteriously disappears after a boat trip, the facade of her perfect life begins to crumble. As the investigation unfolds, Nicole's aunt, Claudine, takes it upon herself to uncover the truth, leading her down a path of revelations and personal revelations.

One of the strengths of "The Lagos Wife" lies in Walter's ability to vividly portray the vibrant and dynamic city of Lagos. Through her rich and descriptive prose, readers are transported to the streets, markets, and neighborhoods, immersing themselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of this captivating locale. The author's attention to detail and her deep understanding of the city's culture and nuances add depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Furthermore, the characters in the book are intricately developed, each with their own flaws, secrets, and desires. Nicole's journey from a seemingly perfect life to a woman haunted by her past is both relatable and compelling. Claudine, on the other hand, is a strong and determined character, unearthing buried truths while confronting her own demons. The supporting cast of expat wives adds another layer to the story, showcasing the complexities of relationships and the challenges faced by those living in a foreign land.

As the plot unfolds, "The Lagos Wife" keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the suspense building. Walter's writing style is engaging and fluid, making it difficult to put the book down. The narrative seamlessly alternates between past and present, offering insights into both Nicole's and Claudine's lives, and gradually revealing the hidden truth.

In conclusion, "The Lagos Wife" is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that explores themes of identity, family, and the pursuit of happiness. Vanessa Walter's masterful storytelling and her vivid depiction of Lagos make this book a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction. I highly recommend "The Lagos Wife" to anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking read that will transport them to the vibrant streets of Nigeria's largest city.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6335657470

I enjoyed this one. A peek into the world of the Nigerian super rich mixed with a whodunnit mixed with some really interesting and thoughtfully treated themes. I liked the alternating perspectives between Nicole in the run up to her disappearance and Claudine trying to find her afterwards. I can see that the ending could be divisive, but for me it worked well. I would definitely read more from this author - thanks to her, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters follows Claudine as she travels to Lagos, Nigeria, from the UK. Her niece Nicole, seemingly happily married to wealthy businessman, Tonye, living with their two young boys on his family compound, has gone missing.

We have two POVs- Claudine's as she tries to discover what Nicole's life truly was like, and where she is now, and Nicole's, detailing exactly what led up to her disappearance.

The novel has plenty of strengths. The main one is its setting. Lagos leaps off the pages. It's alive and vibrant, abundant with wealthy people and their secrets, as well as those who are struggling. The societal expectations and pressures, which often clashed with ones in the UK where Nicole was brought up creating very intriguing sources of conflict.

However, there were also weaknesses. The last part of the novel is very rushed, while the majority is much slower-paced. I believe it was marketed incorrectly as 'a suspenseful thriller', which it isn't. It's a psychological delve into a woman's life and experiences. Her disappearance is a sideshow to the main plot.

I think the problem perhaps goes beyond marketing though, and stems from the fact that the novel doesn't settle comfortably into an obvious genre. It was labelled as a thriller but the only thriller-esque elements are few and far between. Perhaps general fiction would have been the right fit, but I understand why they wanted to portray it as more niche.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I found the ending very unsatisfactory, but I reading it throughout. The characters were flawed but you still managed to root for them. A firm 3 stars out of 5.

An intriguing insight into the lives of western women who have married wealthy Nigerian men. They are expected to keep in their social circle and are there primarily to enhance the reputation of their husbands in return for a pampered lifestyle. Nicole is one of these wives who tries to rebel. When she goes missing her aunt from England is the only person concerned enough to look for her. Not particularly thrilling or mysterious but it’s an interesting peep into the lives led in Lagos.
Apart from the implied resurrection at the end of the novel!!

I really enjoyed this story about Nicole, an Englishwoman who goes missing in Lagos, Nigeria, after moving there with her husband and family. Her aunt comes to Nigeria to look for her and I enjoyed the way in which this story unfolded. It gave me a good insight into life in Nigeria, if only for rich, entitled families, and I found it really interesting. A great read!

This was such a great read , I loved it. I met the author and got to understand the book a little bit more. Would definitely recommend

No surprise given the title but The Lagos Wife is set in Lagos, Nigeria and is about the disappearance of Nicole: an English woman who moves to Nigeria with her husband. He's rich so she lives a pampered life - one that seems great on the surface but behind the scenes there's a lot more going on. And then, one day, she goes missing...

Her aunt Claudine, who raised her, travels from London to Lagos, worried about Nicole and wanting to make sure everything is being done to find her.

We have a dual POV in the chapters - Nicole's before she goes missing and Claudine's once she arrives in Lagos to find out what happened. This works so well in balancing the tension - I was hooked!

A slow-burning mystery read, you're right there with Claudine as she searches to find out what really happened to Nicole. Very much enjoyed this.

An interesting one. It definitely kept me moving with the story but I'm not sure I felt satisfied in the end.

It tells the story of an aunt who travels to Lagos when her niece goes missing, only to find nobody in the family appears to be urgently searching. Where the mystery went wasn't especially engaging but the tapestry of characters kept me with it.

Thought it was going to be a slow burner but ended up just ebbing out entirely. Shame, I was excited about having this type of story in a Nigerian setting.

Thank you to the author, Hutchinson Heinemann and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is apparently a re-release of the 2023 "The Nigerwife" under a new title, which made me wonder whether the reception of the original was too lukewarm to meet expectations. Lukewarm would describe my feelings about this as well - lengthy descriptions of well-off and bored foreign nationals married to what seem to be generally wealthy/very wealthy Nigerian men, i.e. the real housewives of Lagos, is not something that I found interesting. Yes, the cultural/social clash was described well, but there was little to no plot development and I found it impossible to care about what actually happens. The only thing that caught my interest was the parallel storyline of Claudine, who travelled to Lagos when her niece disappeared, and the efforts she undertook to find her. Overall. not a bad read per se, just not a very good one either.

This looked right up my street. I'm always saying there should be more multicultural thrillers rather than the usual US fare so I was really keen to read this.
It started well, the scenes in Nigeria felt very real. Great description and I lked Claudine from the outset.
Then I'm afraid it went downhill. The Nigerwives community felt very shallow. I also felt that I was reading a book I'd read before, maybe I've just read too many thrillers although I wouldn't put this book in the thriller genre
And then, well nothing much really happened. Slow burner definitely but the flames are just a flicker.
Apparently this book has been published before under a different title which I feel should have been mentioned in the blurb (I haven't read the previous book).
The author is British and lives in UK so why on earth do we get American spellings, American terminology and grammar? We don't speak like that nor write like that. It's just utterly wrong. Rating significantly reduced as a result.
Given the book has been actioned for a TV series in the US this maybe explains some things but I can't see myself watching 6+ episodes of not much happening either.
Sorry this book was a huge disappointment

An intriguing tale that centres around the disappearance of Nicole. She had been brought up in London by her aunt Claudine and lived with her Jamaican family. However, incidents in their past has affected their relationship.
Nicole marries Tonye and they go to live with Tonye's wealthy parents in Lagos.
The story is told through Nicole and Claudine.
On hearing of the disappearance of her niece Claudine decides to travel to Nigeria and look for Nicole. Once there, Claudine discovers the differing family values and traditions. Claudine is feisty and a character that i warmed to. I was fascinated to learn of the Nigerwives and their way of life and the way single women are regarded in Nigeria.
It seems everyone has secrets and eventually we learn of Claudine's big secret.
A real page turner, I really wanted to know what happened to Nicole,
A great read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Having left her troubled family behind in London for the bustling city of Lagos with her handsome husband, perfect house and glamorous group of friends, it appears that Nicole Oruwari is living the dream life. That is until she goes missing. When the police investigation falls flat, Nicole’s aunt Claudine flies to Lagos to search for Nicole herself, but after digging around, Claudine uncovers the truth that Nicole’s seemingly perfect life was not all it appeared to be.

Nothing I love more than when I get to read some exciting new Nigerian fiction, but I have to say I think my expectations fell a bit short on this one. It’s described as a thriller, but I’d say it only loosely fits this title, and so I think I was expecting something a bit more. Not an awful lot happens plot wise, and it’s a very descriptive heavy book and so the drama and suspense element wasn’t really there that you’d expect in a typical thriller.

That being said, I really enjoyed reading about the crazy rich lifestyles of the Nigerwives, and i think the dual POV of two timelines (Nicole before she goes missing & Claudine after she goes missing) worked really well.

If you like a bit of a mystery element in your books, or you want to read some Nigerian literature, then I recommend picking this one up!

One of the leading aspects for me was learning a lot about Nigeria and the relative terms used amongst the expat women and how they lived their life while in a land that is so foreign to them. This was quite educational as well as interesting. Reading the story being told from two completely different points of view was at first strange, but quite understandable well before I reached the end of the book. I did find that Nicole’s aunt acted strangely at times and I did wonder if her actions and the things she said would really have worked in Nigeria in modern times, so I can only presume the writer completed enough research to make sure this was right. The aunt's job was to find out what happened to her niece and in doing so, leads us mostly around specific areas of the country’s capital, while sharing plenty about their culture, which was mostly new to me. I will look out for more by this writer, as I expect they will be sharing more about Nigeria, but with a completely different story, in the future.