An excellent, fast, well paced mystery. I welcomed the change this time from the serial killer thriller to murder mystery for Kat, providing more distinction from Maslen's Stella Cole books. Eager to read the next in the series!

The Silent Wife by Andy Maslen is a very intriguing crime thriller mystery.
Maslen has masterfully weaved together a story that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish, with a well-paced plot that flows seamlessly.
Another enthralling and thrilling read. I was captivated from start to finish and loved it.

This, the third Kat Ballantine novel is in my opinion, the best one yet. A pacey and twisty page turner, totally engrossing, everything you would expect from the excellent Andy Maslen.

Technically, a police procedural, it is interwoven with Kat’s continuing troubles, with friends, family, her superior officer and the anti-corruption squad.

All in all an excellent read. Highly recommended.

I loved the first and second DS Kat Ballantyne books, The Seventh Girl and The Unseen Sister! If you did too, you won’t want to miss this gripping third installment. In this book, Kat is trying to solve an unusual murder while simultaneously trying to clear herself of bogus corruption charges after £50,000 mysteriously appears in her bank account. Kat knows she’s innocent and she’s sure the murder suspect is too, despite the confession and all the crime scene evidence to the contrary… she just has to prove it.

You can read The Silent Wife as a standalone, but the characters and their backstories weave throughout the series, so I recommend reading this excellent series from the beginning. Kat in particular is such a compelling character – she’s a dedicated and tenacious detective, but also emotionally vulnerable and slightly morally grey, shrugging off rules and directives when they don’t suit her drive to investigate murders. The murder and corruption subplots are deftly woven together, with plenty of twists that kept me guessing. The door is wide open for a fourth book, and I already can’t wait to read more!

Fans of Isabella Maldonado or Tami Hoag (one of my all-time favorite serial killer/police procedural authors) will definitely enjoy The Silent Wife and this series as a whole! Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me an advance copy of this book.

The Silent Wife by Andy Maslen is book 3 in the Detective Kat Ballantyne police series and is another excellent read in this crime series.
In this episode Kat Ballantyne is facing corruption charges which if proven would be the end of her police career.
There is also her netball playing friend, who has told Kat that she is guilty of the murder of her friend who was also a career criminals wife. Whilst she is being held for Alanna’s murder there are details that don’t reconcile to her being the killer.
It is an interesting read, particularly when her father and her corrupt immediate boss combine resources to end Kat’s career and even possibly her life.
Highly recommended

Before I start complaining: I really like this series and this particular storyline. It held some good surprises and twists. But, a couple things didn't make sense during the course of this book. Partly, I assume, so that the series could continue but that didn't keep them from annoying me! It makes me kind of want to scream. And I know that series need overarching story lines and villains, but there has to be a limit to how far it can be stretched. The characters have been well established at this point. Let's get some movement to the plotlines that have been continuing from the earlier books and we start getting new overall plots in the upcoming books! I want more! That's a good thing, right?

I love this series so much! I definitely recommend reading books one and two in the series before this one, as this picks right up from where we were left hanging at the end of book two, with Kat under investigation after a large sum of money appears in her bank account.

Kat receives a call from one of her friends, confessing to a murder, but Kat’s gut tells her Laura didn’t commit the crime. She is off the case though, so she has to fly under the radar, much to the fury of her superiors.

The characters in the series are so great! Tomski’s reaction to Kat’s situation made me feel so cross - he knows her better than that! As for Carve-Up, enough now, let’s bring this vile man down. Bring on book four!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Andy Maslen and Thomas and Mercer. for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Kat is facing one of the most difficult times in her career: she's been accused of receiving bribery and is under investigation, also one of her friends phones her to say she had committed a murder. The story is full of mystery and suspense, Kat is not trusting anyone and work and family life are difficult. The relationship with her supervisor reaches a new high and she realizes the truth is much worse than she thought. Fast-paced, well-written, The Silent Wife is great entertainment for those who appreciate thrillers. Highly recommended!
I thank Mr. Maslen, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

My first Andy Maslen book, it won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book, both the good guys and the bad. Really good story with plenty of twists. But why leave us wondering what happens next? Brilliant read - try it

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! I read the first installment of this series earlier in the year and couldn't wait to read more of Detective Kat Ballantyne. Before reading this newest book in the series, I read the second, which left you on a huge cliffhanger that this third installment picks right up at. Not only is Detective Ballantyne battling a bogus corruption charge and trying to figure out who has it out for her, but she is also simultaneously trying to solve a murder her friend claims she herself had committed - a claim that has a lot of holes to poke through. Throughout the book, Kat is battling against time to determine who the real killer is and also find out who has put a target on her back. This book keeps you guessing until the bitter end to figure out who is guilty for both mysteries. I really enjoyed this book and hope it's not the last we've seen of Detective Ballantyne any time soon.

The Silent Wife is book #3 in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series. I found this to be an entertaining thriller that kept me turning the pages until the very end. Poor Kat is put through the ringer in this story line and she rushes to prove that she is not a corrupt detective. Even though this book is part of a series I feel like it can still be read as a stand alone. I would recommend this book to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My first time reading a book from this author which he doesn’t disappoint when it comes to psychology thriller. I couldn’t put this book away it kept me wanting more. Ds Ballantyne was superior cop who solved every dilemma that came her way. I wish we learned more about her dad’s shady business and his involvement with Frank. Also, Frank character leaves us hanging with more questions than answers. I would like to know if Frank is in the mafia or have police connections in other countries. Overall, this book was good thriller with plenty of suspense.

After receiving an ARC of this book I realised it was the 3td book in a series. I had to go and purchase books 1 and 2 so i could read those first. I got lost in what is a terrific series of books. I was addicted. What a superb author.
I went on to purchase and read another 6 books by this author and can safely say I enjoyed each and everyone.
Highly recommend reading these. Any crime thriller fan will enjoy these and the other series the author has written.
DS Kat Ballantyne isn't having the best of times. Desk duties/cold casses, you really know when you are not flavour of the month in work.
It appears Kat is being blamed for something she has no idea about. Is she being framed and if so , then why.
A superb gripping book and as I did, I would read these in order for the best reading experience.
I have just downloaded another 3 books by this author and I am about to start those. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for any new publications.

Well done to a very talented writer. I really was gripped.

I have read other books by this author, but none of this particular series. I will look to reading more though, I really enjoyed this book. Despite this being number 3 in the series and being plunged into a complicated murder case, I did not feel that I had missed out by not reading previous books about Kat and her team. As well as the murder case, Kat is also being investigated for possible fraud as 50,000 pounds has been transferred to her bank account from an unknown Swiss bank account. She has been prevented from taking an active part in the investigation by her own shady boss, Carver. The characters are well described, the investigation is interesting and realistic. There are plenty of alternatives which keep you guessing until late on in the book.
The mostly short chapters and fast pace meant that I raced through this book, I really wanted to know what had happened and if the criminals get their just rewards .
Thanks to Net Galley for a great read . I`m looking forward to reading more from this author and detection team

Love the Kat Ballantine series of novels.. I have read them all. . Great writing and premise. Amazing characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing.. Was a real rollercoaster ride. Definitely looking forward to the next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

This is the third book in the DS Kat Ballantyne series, I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed book one – ‘The Seventh Girl’, but I somehow missed book two – ‘The Unseen Sister’, something I need to rectify! I am glad that I had read book one, as this gave me insight into Kat’s unhealthy relationship with both her father and her boss, the ramifications of which are focussed on a great deal in this instalment. I really like Kat’s character, the author has successfully created a strong, multi-dimensional, and likeable female lead. The supporting cast are also well-crafted – if not all likeable, with each one of them contributing to the sophisticated plot. The author also creates a great sense of atmosphere and suspense, with timely twists and a well-paced plot, and in this book, he combines all this with more psychological aspects of human behaviour, thus adding an additional layer to the tale making it so much more than a standard whodunit. I am already looking forward to book four!

I understand that this is the third book in a series, but I was told it works as a standalone. So, I decided to give this book a go.
Even though I liked the plot, the setting and the author's descriptions, I really never cared for the characters and I guess I'm done with police procedural storylines.
After the first 30%-ish of the book I didn't mind or care for the mystery or the direction the story was going.
And honestly, I think it's a *me* problem, not the book itself. I just don't vibe with this kind of thriller anymore. I used to, but not anymore.
I'd still recommend it to readers who are genuinely into detective POVs and police procedural stories.

I could not connect with the story or characters. It’s entirely possible that since this is the 3rd book you must read the first two. I dnf’d this story about 30% of the way through. Since I did not finish I will only send this for feedback and not leave an unfair review on Goodreads.

Fantastic book. Found I couldn’t put it down until I had finished reading the last page. Wish I had read the two previous books in this series, nevertheless I was immersed in the story as well as the characters from start to finish. Another wonderful author to add to my collection.

DS Kat Ballantyne finds herself assigned to desk duty and cold cases while she is being investigated when a very large sum of money is found deposited into her bank account. Then she receives a call on her cell from a friend who claims to have murdered a friend. Kat ignores her orders and goes to the scene of the murder. Kat doesn't believe the story she is given so she starts digging. Kat is racing against time to not only find the real killer, but also to save herself. Then the husband of the victim is found murdered. Kat believes it's the same killer so that's where her investigation takes her. When she does find the double murderer, she and her partner are nearly killed before they can arrest the person. And she finds the donor of the money to her account, but next is to find the why...