A gripping thriller that kept me guessing on what the characters were hiding and their motivations. A slow burn but it does pick up and is quite a good and interesting read. It has a mix of suspicious characters and themes. Overall an enjoyable thriller for the holiday season.

Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

A Good Wife is a good, ok read although it didn't wow me. I struggled to like Ava, the 'good wife' who has her own secrets. Her world is turned upside down when she finds out her father is not who she thinks he is. The story is full of secrets, lies, deceit, hints of historic gangland crime and child abuse/trafficking and focuses on Ava trying to find out what her father is hiding and why. I didn't take to any of the characters who all have their own agendas and secrets. The book is a slow burner initially and does gain pace although it didn't become the page turner I hoped for ... I would have liked more thrills, suspense and wow moments in the story. I've always enjoyed this authors books and haven't read any in a while and to be honest I felt underwhelmed when I reached the end. Ultimately I couldn't connect or relate to the characters here which affected how much I liked this book. Others may like this more than I did, I think I'd recommend it and just feel I wasn't the right reader.


3 stars

I have read all of Jacqui Rose’s books to date. I have enjoyed all of them, this was an ok read but my least favourite of her books to date.
It was nice to read a book based in Nottingham, and even in. My own village of Woodborough.
The storyline is slow, but picked up mid book, overall the story was not really believable. The Good Wife is a thriller but I wouldn’t call it gangland.
I also did not like Ava at all, she is not a likeable person. In fact, I’d say she has no redeemable qualities.

Ava Barclay is a practising psychologist, married to policeman Tony. Every Friday night Ava isn’t with clients as she tells Tony. She is out drinking too much, taking drugs and having one-night stands, all of which she hopes will blot out her very difficult childhood.
Ava also has a tempestuous relationship with her father Billy Fields. Following an attack, Billy is hospitalised and Ava starts investigating her childhood, working her way through her father’s property to look for her mother who disappeared when she was a child. Ava soon learns the truth about her father, which leaves her reeling. She discovers more about Billy’s past than she can stomach including the gang members whom he previously double-crossed and are now out for revenge.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this authors previous books, but I didn’t find this one to have the hallmark gripping story which I have come to expect. There wasn’t a compelling plot until about three-quarters of the way through and then it came full force and gripped me to keep me reading until the end.

I really like Ms Rose's books but this one felt less gangland than usual. That said, it was a good story with lots of twists. The story got really dark at one point and very uncomfortable to read.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Good Wife’ written by Jacqui Rose in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Dr Ava Barclay is a psychologist who has secrets in her life that she keeps to herself and doesn’t tell her police officer husband Tony about. She has a difficult relationship with her father Billy Fields but when he’s attacked and left for dead she decides to look for her mother who disappeared when she was a child. That’s when she learns the truth about her father, things she would rather not know, and the men he double-crossed who are out to punish them.

‘The Good Wife’ is a dark psychological thriller of Dr Ava Barclay who her husband Tony believes to be a good wife but he doesn’t know what she gets up to every Friday night. Ava doesn’t come across as a very nice person, although I’m guessing that’s what the author intends, but the descriptions are good giving depth to the characters and making them interesting. The story is gritty and kept my interest throughout with drama, suspense, twists and turns and a bit of bloodshed, and although not my favourite thriller by Jacqui Rose is well worth reading.

What a rollercoaster of a physiological thriller.
Dr Ava Barclay wants to be the good wiser her husband police officer Tony deserves, but she can’t help falling into the destructive behaviour that leads her life.
When her father Billy is beaten up and I a coma Ava’s life spirals out of control and she is faced with the lies her life has been built on.
Great book had me hooked from the start another fantastic read from Jacqui Rose highly recommended.

Was a DNF for me,some of the story was unbelievable ie going to a conference the day after being in hospital and some of the dialogue repetitive and nothing much happened for chapter after chapter, also very unlikeable characters,apologies as usually love this authors books

The Good Wife by Jacqui Rose delivers a dark and gripping tale of secrets, betrayal, and gangland drama. This is a gritty thriller that plunges readers into the underbelly of London’s Soho and the dangerous worlds that intersect there.

The story follows Ava Barclay, a psychologist with a turbulent past and a talent for making destructive choices. Her life takes a harrowing turn when her father, Billy, is brutally attacked, leaving Ava to uncover unsettling truths about his hidden identity. As she ventures deeper into the seedy Soho underworld to unravel the mystery, her double life—full of lies, infidelity, and questionable decisions—threatens to tear her world apart.

Jacqui Rose masterfully portrays the harsh realities of the gangland setting, painting vivid images of both its glamour and its violence. Ava is a flawed and complex character; while she isn’t particularly likable, her journey is undeniably compelling. The story is packed with tension and drama, keeping readers hooked as the layers of Ava’s past and present unravel.

While comparisons to authors like Kimberley Chambers are inevitable, Rose brings her unique style to the genre, delivering a plot full of twists and moments of raw emotion. However, some readers may find the characters less memorable or relatable than in similar novels. Ava’s self-destructive tendencies can make her difficult to root for, but this also adds to the authenticity of her struggles.

Overall, The Good Wife is an intense, fast-paced read perfect for fans of gritty crime thrillers. Jacqui Rose doesn’t shy away from the dark and depraved, creating a story that leaves you unsettled and eager to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

One of my favourite reads is gritty gang land thriller so I had high hopes for The Good Wife. The story revolves around around Ava Barclay who is on a slippery path of self-destruction, a psychologist she maybe but she’s a character with HUGE issues.

As for Ava being a “good wife” to her cop husband Tony that’s highly debatable, she prefers to lie, cheat and makes bad choices throughout her marriage. When her father, Billy, is attacked and left for dead, Ava learns that her problems are about to get a lot worse when she find out her dad isn’t who he says he is. To find out the truth Ava must head into the dark, seedy world of Soho.

Jacqui Rose’s writing has been compared to my old time favourite author Kimberley Chambers although there are similarities I felt Roses characters weren’t particularly memorable. Ava isn’t a likeable character so I found I didn’t really care what happened to her! The plot though is fascinating, gritty and packs a real punch so definitely worth a read if your a fan of gangland thrillers.

Great book by a great author.

Dr Barclay wants to be a good wife to her copper husband, and turn her life around. her life is on a path of self destruction because of her father…..

A rollercoaster of a story which keeps you reading.

Great book

Ava Barclay was to be a good wife to Tony who is a cop
She was so mad that having a mother when she was so young that her mother was leaving her
Her Father called Billy
But when she was older she had to go and look for him and find out the truth of her father
I had an ARC

Nottingham and London.
Dr Ava Barclay psychologist wants to be a good wife to her copper husband Tony. No more drugs no more been unfaithful she has to stop.
She's now on a path of distruction, she's taking down a path by her father Billy Fields.
Who really is this man claiming to be her father?
Oh Wow Oh Gosh this is one fast pace read from start to finish. Mind-blowing chapters, the author is back delivering to her readers once again.
Absolutely loved this read right up to the ending. It's a cracker.

i absolutely adore Jacqui Rose and this book did not disappoint. I was hooked from the beginning to the end of the book.

thank you for the opportunity to review

I love this Authors books and this did not disappoint. Ava has it all she has her own business as a psychologist and a loving husband who is in the police force. And she likes to be the good wife but Ava leads a double life she has a very complicated r with her father and it is going to get worse. when something happens to her and her father. Ava has to go on a journey to get the answers to find out exactly what her father is hiding a very addictive read so recommend

An amazing book. Could not put this down. So many twists and turns. I loved it. This genre is my favourite and this is one of my fave books this year

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 2nd Jan 2025. I stumbled across this author and I’m so glad I did!

I devoured this book in a one sitting! The plot was engaging, suspenseful and addictive I flew through it and couldn’t put it down! This book explores the dark corners of the London underworld as Ava searches for answers. The question is: Ava is she really ‘The Good Wife’.

I’d highly recommend this book it’s a must read for 2025!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟stars

Absolutely amazing, loved the storyline and how it ended, never a disappointment in her books, I can’t wait to see what the next book involves AAA

Another amazing book by Jacqui . Her writing is so intense and gritty that you find you have powered through her books in no time and this is no exception I loved it !!

What fantastic read from Jacqui rose . Love this author her books just get better and better each time .Can't wait for her next one .