Oh the Twists and Turns! This one really kept me guessing. Another great instalment by the author.

Olive Andersson is dining alone at a hotel and she’s joined by another woman pretends to be her wife. She plays along wondering what the other woman is up to, but as the night continues, she realises she is in grave danger.

As the story goes along various layers and back stories are woven into the novel. There are lots of different threads in this one so you really do need to pay attention. Overall, it was quite enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for this gifted review copy.

Thank you Orion and NetGalley for the ARC. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.

Writing: solid | Plot: nothing special but does the job | Ending: lots of unanswered questions

3.5 rounded down | HONDA CIVIC RELIABLE

SYNOPSIS

Two missing and one dead women are all connected to the same man.... DUN DUN DUNNNN!!!!!

MY OPINION

Before I get into it, I just wanna warn ya'll that the formatting of my ARC was absolute shite. Different 'scenes' and POVs were mashed together in the same paragraph, so a couple of times I had to reread to get a grasp on where I was at.

Shoutout to Karly for alerting me about a new Bolton book. As a certified #BoltonBish, I was super excited to pick up her latest. If you liked The Pact, this definitely has the same 'mainstream' vibes. It's nowhere close to as gritty or dark as her Lacey Flint series, but it does the job in a pinch. Definitely Honda Civic Reliable, but be prepared for a lot of unanswered questions at the end.

The story is quite layered but some may find the start a bit too slow and the timeline confusing. However, I prefer when an author gets a lil creative with how they lead into a flashback versus the typical heading at the top of the page. There's a mix of both in this book, but you do have to pay attention to those earlier scene with Olive in the car.

Also, watch out for some open-ish door sex scenes (FF, FM, and FFM threesomes) !!!! This caught me unawares as her Lacey Flint series was so closed door it was basically Fort Knox. I was gagging for a kiss between Lacey and Mark LOL. Here you get a kiss and a whole lot more...

While Olive's motives and actions may seem a lil whack, I'm gonna chalk it up to grief and complicated family relationship. Garry (with 2 r's!) was hit and miss for me. In some ways he reminded me of Jacob from Yours Truly with his #plantdaddy vibes, but then he also acted a bit anti-social and odd at times (what was with the naked sleeping?). I really couldn't draw a picture of him even if I tried my hardest. However, I did enjoy the budding romance between him and Kat.

Ultimately, this wasn't my fave from her, but it wasn't the worst. It's a fun, bingeable, and layered thriller but the unanswered questions and questionable decision-making held it back from being a total banger for me.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: Honda Civic Reliable, layered mystery, suspenseful, short chapters

Cons: no trademark shocking twisty twist (a la Dead Woman Walking and Now You See Me), unanswered questions regarding pertinent plot points, questionable decision-making by Olive down the line (girl must've been colour blind the way she was ignoring those red flags), ARC FORMATTING WAS ROUGH!!!!!

When Olive Anderson is joined at her hotel dining table by someone claiming to be her wife, the game begins. With Olive then going missing and her husband being a local MP, the police are soon on the case.

The story is slowly broken down in layers, with different points of view from the main characters.

This is a tale of love, blackmail, revenge and murder.

I did like the working relationship between the two police officers, Garry and Lexy. It was a real will they, won’t they game throughout the story.

My ARC copy wasn’t very good and I found quite often that the story would go from one part to another, but there were no paragraphs so I had to keep re-reading to work out what was going on. This did put me off but I’m glad I persevered.

I also found the story was at times too wordy. For example, instead of learning Garry made Christmas wreaths, I also learned how he made them - there was way too much information on things that didn’t need it.

Overall, it was a good story and at times fast paced. I found it did manage to hold my attention in spite of the problems I had along the way.

My thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Blurbed as ‘reading like a TV boxset’ I expected a read like a TV boxset
It wasn’t, although to be fair I think a TV adaption of the book would translate quite well
It starts oddly and I almost gave it up but if you do as I did and give it the benefit of the doubt it does then get quite exciting in parts
There are not so much a lot of characters but the ones in it are complex and I found myself getting who was who muddled and having to keep stopping to think ‘right who is this’ and what is their relationship
I did like the Police character’s especially Garry who was a likeable policeman with no edges and as a reader immediately warmed to him and his ‘ways’
Some odd dialogue and catchphrases used that made me pull a face and one especially at the end almost made me grimace ( cant say anymore or else gives the main plot away )
It was a cumbersome read at times and yet fast on action at others and makes me unsure tbh what I thought overall, but I finished it and so did kinda enjoy it, I think 🤗😎

The opening scene is one of the most bizarre I have read. Olive, the new wife of a local MP, is having a solitary dinner in a restaurant, when a stranger joins her. Inexplicably, she starts the charade that they are married. My feelings of bewilderment were matched by Olive’s. Initially what seems to be harmless fun and distraction, becomes rather more dangerous, very quickly.
As we learn more of Olive’s life, the facade of the happy MP’s family starts to slip. The daily passive aggressions and snubs start to compound, to form a very different picture.

The story plays out in a dual timeline, alternating swiftly, the action constantly moving. This is done very well, and I found no confusion in knowing where, and with whom I was.

I really enjoyed Garry and Lexy’s characters, especially Garry. It would be such a shame if we didn’t meet them, even fleetingly, in another book in the future.

As a reader, I had so many questions. Is anyone really who they seem to be? Who can I trust? How would all the seemingly separate strands join together?

There were twists and turns aplenty, with additional complications caused by the British winter. The extreme snow conditions added another layer of tension and danger, to an already fraught situation. Even as the story was nearing its conclusion, I had no idea of what exactly would play out.

The Fake Wife is the first book I have read by Sharon Bolton. I enjoyed it so much, that it won’t be my last. I found this to be an engrossing 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.

4.5 stars rounded down.

Olive Anderson is dining alone at a hotel when a glamorous stranger joins her table. What starts as a thrilling game quickly turns into something dangerous. But as mush as the fake wife has her secrets, Olive just might have more....

I wasnt's sure I was going to like this book once I started it. The first few pages were strange. But I'm glad I'm not the type who gives in easily, and I'm so glad I stuck with it. We have two alternating stories. Olive is staying in a hotel alone. A stranger sits at her table and she ends up flirting with them. But the stranger had planned the whole situation, so they could kidnap Olive.

PC Garry Mizon, a traffic officer, comes from a long line of police officers. But Garry is not a successful policeman. He makes an error of judgement during a raid, and is sent back to the station, There, he is the only available police officer to take DS Lexy Thomas to meet Michael Anderson, whose wife has gone missing.

This is a fast-paced thriller with lots of twists. The characters are well-developed. The story flips back and forth in Olive's life, and the police investigation. There's also an unknown narrator. I loved the relationship between PC Garry Mizon and DS Lexy Thomas. I hope we get more from them in future books, I took off half a star for the strange beginning.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #OrionPublishingGroup and the author #SharonBolton for my ARC of #TheFakeWife in eschange for an honest review.

I chose to read a free eARC of The Fake Wife but that has in no way influenced my review.

Olive Anderson, dining alone, gets an awkward surprise when she returns to her table to find a woman in her seat. Olive begins to address the situation, when the woman turns things on their head and tells the approaching waiter that she is, in fact, Olive's wife. Unsure of the best way to proceed, Olive plays along but before long she's telling the beautiful stranger things about herself that could get her into trouble. Who is this mysterious woman? Why is she playing this seductive game and exactly how much danger is Olive actually in...

This is a very difficult book to review as to say too much risks me sharing unwanted spoilers and I don't want to do that. This book is best read with little to no knowledge of what it's about. Look at the publisher's blurb for example. It doesn't say a lot about what happens after the other woman arrives at Olive's table. I went in blind myself, having not even read the blurb, and I think that added to my overall enjoyment. So that would be my advice to you. Only read this review because it's spoiler free (😂) and completely forget the blurb I just told you to read! 🤦

The Fake Wife is a thoroughly gripping, highly engaging thriller from an author who is fast becoming a favourite of mine. I devoured this book in under 24 hours, picking it up at every opportunity and doing everything I could in my power to keep reading and avoid 'adulting'. The characters are believable and well-drawn, the tension was pitched perfectly and I have never been more keen to discover what the reasons behind events were. I was drawn hook, line and sinker into the story and I loved every single moment.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Fake Wife is sharp, packed full to the brim with suspense and a book where 'one more chapter' leads to two...three...ten, the early hours of the morning and a distinct lack of beauty sleep (it was flipping worth it though!). The Fake Wife has beautifully written twists and turns throughout and an engaging pace to keep the reader turning those pages (just as I did!). It's a complex, multi-layered story with different timelines and points of view but it's done so well that everything works and makes perfect sense. I did mention the characters earlier but I have to give a special shoutout to Garry Mizon who is my 'character of the year' without a doubt. In a story with dark overtones he made me chuckle and brought a lighter note to proceedings. I think I also fell a little bit in love with him. All in all, I loved The Fake Wife and would happily read this book again in the future, which from me is the ultimate compliment. A different take on a psychological thriller, hugely engaging and impossible to put down! A book hasn't had a hold over me like this one did in a very long time. Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Fake Wife. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Another of my go to author's has done it again!!!!
Once I started reading I found this book impossible to put down and finally turned the last in the wee hours. Plenty of shocks, twists and at times a nail biting read. Fast paced and gripping storytelling. Just go out and read this book absolutely loved it and highly recommended.

This is the first Sharon Bolton novel I have read for sometime and I loved it. This is an excellent thriller that I quickly got into and kept with it to the end. I found it a gripping page turner that made me want to read more from this author.

Olive Anderson is dining alone in a hotel restaurant when a stranger sits down at her table. What follows is a game of deception and danger. The stranger starts a game of pretence and role play when they claim to be Olive’s wife, setting off a chain of events that will change the course of Olive’s life. The story alternates between Olive and the police investigation led by PC Garry Mizon and DS Lexy Thomas as we try to unravel the mystery. I really enjoyed the characters especially PC Garry Mizon.

Olive is trapped in an overturned car during a snowstorm and she desperately tries to get free before she suffers more. It is Olive’s husband Michael Anderson who gets the police involved when she goes missing and as the story unfolds we learn of the connection between Olive’s abduction, her husband Michael’s past, and the recent police raid.

This is a well crafted plot that is full of suspense and is the best Sharon Bolton novel I have read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was not sure where this book was going with Olive sitting in a restaurant, and a woman joining her, pretending to be her wife. It turned out to be about deceptions, lies, marriages, affairs, and murders. There you have it, quite the cocktail. There are several sets of pairs in this book, and some of the people are part of several pairs. The story slowly reveals, and the past becomes present.

Another great read by Sharon Bolton. A nicely spun story that triggers your mind to come with possible solutions, yet you are not sure where it all is heading.

Olive is dining alone in a hotel when she is joined by a stranger pretending to be her wife.
She decides to go along with this charade and it turns out to be a very costly mistake.
A fast paced thriller with lots of twist and turns to keep you entertained.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a few books by Sharon Bolton and I'm never disappointed. The Fake Wife is no different. From the outset, it is incredibly intriguing and there are lots of questions, which I really wanted to know the answers to. The novel develops into a seriously twisty thriller and I loved unpacking it all as the story gathered pace.

The chapters in The Fake Wife are usually short, which makes the story perfectly paced and very difficult to stop reading. There are scenes featuring the police officers, scenes featuring the central character, Olive, and scenes set in the past. These different perspectives definitely increase tension as readers are able to see what the characters cannot and this creates a heightened sense of jeopardy. It was also interesting to gain some insight into the events that had led to the scenes we see in the novel.

As the novel reaches the ending, the tension increases yet again and I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I will be thinking about these characters for some time to come.

4.25⭐️

I’ve read a few of this authors books, they can be a bit hit or miss for me. I haven’t read one for a long time so was keen to try this one. I always prefer a standalone.

Olive is staying in a hotel overnight when a woman, a glamorous stranger joins her at her table pretending to be her wife.
What starts as a thrilling game turns into something dangerous.

It’s certainly got an intriguing hook, I was immediately interested to know the why. We are given several POV.

I enjoyed the budding relationship between Lexy and Garry.
I like the different POV and time frames they revealed the storyline smoothly for the reader, the use of of technology was also effective with the revelations. However, I found there was too much descriptive stuff that I didn’t need, such as the MP’s interior furnishing. The descriptive detailing of Garry’s flower arranging and his home styling obsession was a bit much for me.

It’s got a complex convoluted plot which only comes together right at the end. This is right up my street.

After a great hook, I found it took me some time to get settled into it. I’m not sure why. I think it might have been because I had a couple of audiobooks that I got really into at the same time. I wish I’d had this one on audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

Unfortunately I struggled to enjoy this book, the last book by this author also wasn’t for me so I think it’s just not my thing! I found it slow and boring at times, I had no desire to pick it back up and read it and it did not grip me one bit. But I know that other people will really love this!

I always really enjoy Sharon Boltons books. Just the way she writes, the stories, the characters.
Garry Mizon has failed his detective exams twice which is probably why he trained as an authorised firearms officer. It’s not what he really wants to do ( he loves growing and arranging flowers) but coming from a long line of officers of the law it seems it was just assumed that he would follow in their footsteps. He has a habit of doing things that result in him being on the receiving end of a fair few jokes. When a local MPs wife, Olive Anderson goes missing, Garry and Ds Lexy Thomas end up trying to find her. Garry is suspicious of the husband, Michael. His first wife, although dying from cancer, passed away rather abruptly and then there is another acquaintance, Mandy Black, who has vanished. The country is in the grips of winter with severe snowfall and blizzards, making the search all that more dangerous.
Loved it, although I have to say my ARC was a mess, lots of useless info in the middle of each page, words that ran on or were split in half. Honestly if it hadn’t been a Sharon a Bolton book I would not have bothered.
4.5 stars

Olive is married to MP Michael and lives with him, his 2 children and previous mother in law. One night, while Olive is away, a stranger joins her table in a hotel restaurant while she is dining alone and claims to be her wife. It is then the game begins. However, little does Olive know, the game may be more dangerous than first thought.

This story starts off slowly but eventually picks up a little with lots of twists getting thrown in. I enjoyed trying to work out what was happening and it all came together nicely. The book is told by the perspectives of not only Olive but also detective and police officer Lexy and Garry which added extra intrigue to the overall story but I found I didn’t really connect fully with any of the characters. However, this is a well written thriller with enough twists and turns to make you carry on reading after a slow start. As I read the uncorrected proof I did have issues with the formatting which was off and due to be edited but this has not impacted my overall rating. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Subterfuge And Misdirection..
Subterfuge, secrets, lies and misdirection galore in this unexpected tale of edgy suspense where absolutely nothing is really as it seems. An unexpected meet at a hotel, and an apparent slow burn beginning, is swiftly turned on its head as the reader is pulled down wholly unreliable paths with often shocking outcomes. A plot bubbling over with twists and turns and populated with a deftly drawn cast. Pacy, immersive and compelling.

Wow a true page turner with so many twists and turns.I could not put it down.Kept reading late into the night will be recommending.#netgalley #orion

A slow start to this latest book by Sharon Bolton but once it picks up pace it really takes off you start to wonder how everything will come together but when they do you have a OF COURSE moment Filled with plenty of twists and a good plot makes for a good psychological thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.

Olive Anderson is the second wife of one of Parliament's most eligible MPs, an encounter with a stranger in a hotel restaurant may be about to lead her off in a dangerous direction.

I was a fan of Sharon Bolton, I've read all her books up to and including The Split so was curious to read her latest.

It's got an original setup, original characters, Garry, the eager to help / seen as incompetent copper is a favourite, and a strong wintry atmosphere.

The plot seemed fairly straightforward up to a point, when it goes into twist after twist and twist mode.

It kept me entertained and reading if not fully engrossed in the plot.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group