**please note due to low rating I will not be leaving a public review for this book as I have not paid for it.**

Cover ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ love it, but does not match this book.
Narrated by Imogen Church ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story by Lorna Dounaeva ⭐⭐

This is definitely NOT a thriller. At best it's a family drama with hits of comedy. So that was really disappointing.

This is my first time trying this author, I found the premise of the book really interesting but the delivery was really slow and underwhelming.

Even though I didn't like this book I would try Lorna Dounaeva again.

In The Wife’s Mistake, Lorna Dounaeva weaves a tale of intrigue, family dynamics, and the shadowy secrets that threaten to unravel a seemingly perfect life. Set against the backdrop of a luxurious new home and the promise of a bright future, Natalie finds herself ensnared in a web of mistrust and uncertainty when a cryptic message shakes the foundation of her marriage.

While the premise holds promise, the execution falls short in delivering the suspense and unpredictability one might expect from a psychological thriller. The narrative unfolds predictably, with the trajectory of the plot becoming apparent early on. Despite the potential for tension and intrigue, the story's progression feels somewhat formulaic, leaving little room for genuine surprise or revelation.

Themes of family dynamics and greed permeate the narrative, serving as catalysts for the protagonist's internal conflict and external turmoil. However, the exploration of these themes lacks depth, rendering the characters' motivations and actions somewhat one-dimensional. As suspicions mount and mistrust festers, the ensuing drama unfolds in a manner that feels familiar rather than truly captivating.

While The Wife’s Mistake offers glimpses of suspense and emotional intensity, its predictability ultimately detracts from the overall impact. Readers seeking a straightforward narrative of familial discord and hidden agendas may find some satisfaction in this tale. However, those craving a more nuanced and suspenseful exploration of these themes may find themselves wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley and Lorna Dounaeva for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Wife's Mistake" by Lorna Dounaeva, narrated by Imogen Church, offers a suspenseful journey into the complexities of marriage and hidden secrets. The author skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue and tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout the narrative.

One of the strengths of the book lies in its ability to create a sense of unease and mystery from the very first page. The protagonist's fear and paranoia are palpable, drawing readers deeper into her world of uncertainty and suspicion. Dounaeva's descriptive prose vividly paints the picture of a seemingly perfect life tainted by dark secrets and looming threats.

Furthermore, Imogen Church's narration adds an extra layer of depth to the story, capturing the emotions and nuances of each character with precision. Her performance enhances the overall listening experience, immersing the audience in the protagonist's tumultuous journey.

However, while "The Wife's Mistake" excels in building suspense and intrigue, it falls short in delivering a truly satisfying resolution. Some plot points feel rushed or underdeveloped, leaving certain questions unanswered and leaving readers wanting more closure. Additionally, the pacing occasionally falters, with moments of slow buildup followed by abrupt revelations.

Overall, "The Wife's Mistake" is a compelling thriller that offers a gripping storyline and strong performances from both author and narrator. While it may not reach the heights of a five-star read, it remains an engaging tale that will leave readers eager for more from Lorna Dounaeva.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for the advanced audiobook copy for review via NetGalley.

Narrated by Imogen Church
Have you ever wondered what it's like to win the lottery. It could be a life changer...for the better or for the worse.
This audiobook was a gripping psychological thriller narrated by Imogen who depicted the voices of her characters perfectly, which made it a gripping audiobook.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this audio.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC!

3.5⭐️

For someone who doesn't normally enjoy audiobooks I actually enjoyed this one! I definitely think the narrator helped me to enjoy it more. She had great expression throughout the whole story!

The beginning of the book slightly confused me and I found it a lot to keep up with but the twists and turns that the book threw at me further in were shocking! I wanted to continue listening as often as I could.

I'll certainly be trying some other books from this author!😁

Not sure I would class this Audio book as a thriller as a lot of it just didn't ring true
It had the makings of a really good storyline but the characters were too wet to give it credibility
I found the ending a let down too.

A well written twisted story about a couple who are just trying to get by, but who truly love each other. When one wins the lottery and at the same time is questioning her husbands fidelity she hides the ticket while trying to figure out what to do. She confides in her sister. From there on in, it is a web of deceit, betrayals of epic proportions, people turning out to be very different from who anyone imagines and how it intersects and intermingles with the “Lottery Curse”. Were they terrible people before and did the money change them or did it just allow them to become who they really were? So many people who are so not what they seem and just when you think they’ve hit bottom, boom…..A really good listen about some truly heinous people.

This original story from Lorna Dounaeva makes a cracking audiobook!

The story is that of Natalie, a woman who is happily married to Hayden, but work-wise she is not exactly living her best life - she works in a cafe with boss, Jan, making constant jibes to kill Nats vibe. Natalie's dream is to own her own cafe, a dream she comes increasingly close to with an unbelievable lottery win...however to make that happen she needs to NOT LOSE THE TICKET, and discover whether Hayden is upholding his marriage vows! Ouch!

SO much happens in this novel, but I am not one to share spoilers, so I will just say, I was NOT disappointed and as a result of this listen I feel I have indulged in some serious vicarious living!

The superb plot is only enhanced by a superb narrative, and as such I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this audiobook.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this audiobook in exchange for an advance copy.

Overall, I give this book a 3 star rating. I had high hopes based on the description, title, and book cover but it was a bit too drawn out. The second half of the book moved a lot faster and had an interesting plot twist but I wish the first half was a lot shorter. The ending was epic and definitely surprised me!

Honestly, I didn’t love this audiobook. I just couldn’t connect with the characters and it was a little monotonous to me.

This was a great book full of twists. The ending was unexpected, which is what everyone loves in a good thriller!

I enjoyed the story, but unfortunately, I didn't like the narrator. I think if I would have read the book instead of listened I would have liked it more. It's nothing the narrator did. Sometimes we just don't like certain voices.

"The Wife's Mistake" by Lourna Dournaeva is a cautionary tale about winning the lottery and keeping secrets from family and loved ones. I enjoyed most of this book. The ending seemed rushed and left me with several questions.

Series or Standalone- standalone
Genre - thriller
Target Age- adult
Cliffhanger?- no
Will I read again? - no
Recommended for? - thriller lovers

Characters - 5/5 good characters
Writing - 3/5 some characters do not behave as expected.
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 4/5 by Imogen Church is quite good with one exception. Her voice for the husband, Hayden, makes him sound stupid. She does a lot of voices and keeps them all separate. She has appropriate emotion for the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This is a domestic thriller that simply just took way too long to get to anything. From the synopsis, we know that the couple wins the lottery and all the aftermath after it. But 25% through the book, we have yet to get into the wife telling the husband about the winning because she's so doubtful of a possible infidelity. And when they finally take advantage of the winnings, anything thrilling takes a long time to get to yet again.

And to name the book The Wife's Mistake, I was thinking the twist would make it worth the longgg pacing of any event in this, but it wasn't so shocking. This was an alright read, but it didn't stand out so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this. book in exchange for my honest review.

I was given advance access to The Wife's Mistake in return for an honest review. This was the first time reading/listening to a book by Lorna Douneva, and it definitely won't be the last, I already have several of her other books on my tbr list. :). This book kept me guessing the whole time and was such a roller coaster! Loved, loved, loved the book! Thanks for giving me early access!

Thank you so much to Bookouture Audio for the free audiobook!

When I saw it was narrated by Imogen Church, I knew I had to listen to it! She is one of my absolute favorite thriller narrators!

To sum this one up, it was a FUN and EASY listen! It was one that I didn't want to put down and it helped the time fly by while I was listening!

I thought the twists were done well and the pacing was great! I was surprised a few times by these CRAZY characters!

This was my first book by Lorna Dounaeva and it won't be my last!

3.5 rounded up!

I have heard a lot of good things about this author and was happy to be approved for this ARC. Sadly, I did not enjoy this at all. It was extremely slow moving and confusing. It picks up at about the 80 percent mark, but still didn't impress me. I did not care for any of the characters at all. This felt more like a drama to me than an actual thriller. The whole book just felt ridiculous to me unfortunately.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lorna Dounaeva for allowing me to listen to an ARC.

2.5 stars rounded up because ARC and Imogen Church's narration.

What is this book actually about? Natalie has won the lottery for around £12M but is hesitant to tell her husband, Hayden, about it because she suspects he is cheating on her with a coworker of his.

When the couple finally cash in their win though, weird things start to happen, and this is when we start to wonder: what is Natalie hiding about her past?

Figured out 100% everything, one (or the main?) of the culprits of Natalie’s misfortunes in the present was so painfully obvious. Lorna Dounaeva’s writing lacked subtlety for most of the book, but it was more prominent during the first chapters, and this made for a stale read after about the 25% mark.

I honestly wouldn’t have finished this if it wasn’t for Imogen Church. A narrator really makes or breaks a book.

I may not play the lottery, but The Wife's Mistake would be an excellent reminder of what not to do when one wins millions with the perfect ticket. £12 million might have seemed like such a grand amount that all of Natalie's and Hayden's problems - as well as to give the both of the life they always dreamed of.

Instead, problem after problem face the couple. From family members who want as piece of the pie, to poor decisions, to secrets being exposed, things for Natalie and Hayden go from bad to worse. To dream of wanting more is not a bad thing, but when it suddenly fell into the laps of Natalie and Hayden rushing in to a new lifestyle just might have led to devastating effects.

As this ALC was expertly narrated by Imogen Church, I found myself both completely drawn into the story, but also cringing as it felt like a roller coaster ride that would end in disaster. The couple could have had it all if decisions were more balanced. But then, are most people balanced when you go from living paycheck to paycheck to becoming millionaires overnight?

Many say that money is the root of evil, but the Bible states that the love of money is the root of evil. If you want a wild ride when love of money, greed and deception rule the day, look no further than The Wife's Mistake.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

That was a crazy ride.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an advanced audio copy of this book.

What would you do if you won the lottery? Natalie and Haden are in for a whirlwind ride. Money can do crazy things to people.

This book had so many twists and turns. I had my suspicions at the start. Some proved true. I’m still reeling a bit about the ending. Loved it.