The premise of Wife, Mother, Liar is decent, but the book violates the "show don't tell" throughout. The entire book consists of the characters - who are all extremely unlikable - telling long monologues to each other. And that is how we learn about every single thing that happens. There is very little action, but lots of exposition. I might have tolerated that better if there was someone to root for, but every person was despicable, even the one you want to sympathize with. There are some surprises at the end but those didn't really add to the story. This just wasn't for me.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Wife, Mother, Liar’ written by Sue Watson in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Jill and Wendy have been best friends from the day they became next door neighbours. Jill’s son Leo and Wendy’s daughter Olivia become close and attend the school prom together but Leo runs off and later that evening is found dead. Still grieving, Jill arranges a surprise weekend away at a secluded cottage in Wales for herself and Wendy but she’s got an ulterior motive as she’s positive Wendy knows what happened to Leo that night, and she plans to get to the truth.

‘Wife, Mother, Liar’ is a psychological thriller of friendship, secrets and lies with chapters told alternately by Jill and Wendy. The story is well-written but fairly slow and it isn’t until the two women are at the cottage that it becomes much more interesting. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions as the truth emerges and hidden secrets revealed, and we find out what did happen on prom night. All the activity is in the concluding chapters with the final twists changing all my preconceived ideas of what happened and who was responsible. It’s a good solid story that’s worth reading.

Whew! Give me a second while I collect myself after reading this gripping, shocking, doozy of a book! Holy Cow! Wife, Mother, Liar almost gave me whiplash at the end! Seriously, I did not see that coming at all! What a wild ride full of secrets, lies, accusations, and twists! My head is still spinning from this roller coaster ride!

Jill and Wendy have been friends and neighbors for a long time. They have shared meals, shared confidences, and watched their children go from babies to teenagers. They have had many good times together until one heartbreaking night when their children went to prom together and only one came home alive. No parent wants to bury their child. No parent wants to have their child be questioned. Tragedy affects relationships and in Wife, Mother, Liar, Jill and Wendy have decided to get together for another girls weekend.

This is the 8th book that I have read by Sue Watson! I know I can always count on her to deliver clever, well thought out, riveting, and twisted psychological thrillers. She delivered yet again with Wife, Mother, Liar! Just when I thought I had a handle on things and knew how things were going to turn out, she blind sighted me with another mind blowing and shocking twist.

I loved the drama, the tension, the hostility, the grudges, and the secrets! I also enjoyed how both women were presented. I could not help but feel for the mother who lost her child and still hoped to get answers. At the same time, I felt for the mother who was protecting her child from finger pointing. This book was like being on a child's teeter totter at times and on a roller coaster at other times.

Then there is the shock factor. I was shocked more than once while reading this book. I couldn't help but think: "how very clever of you, Sue Watson!" Fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy this book. I felt a bevy of emotions while reading this book. I love it when a book causes me to feel and to think. This did both. Mainly, it entertained, left my jaw hanging open, and kept my finger turning the pages.

I can't wait to read what Sue Watson writes next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wife, Mother, Liar had its moments, but overall it wasn’t my favorite. The story was hard to get into, and some parts felt pretty slow. That said, a few twists were interesting and kept me reading. It’s not a book I’d rush to recommend, but if you stick with it, there’s enough to keep you curious.

4.5 stars!

This plot was so twisty and I was living for it! I couldn’t figure out who was telling the truth as they were both hiding things! I loved how they each had their own agenda. When they say a mother will do anything for her child, they aren’t kidding!!! I honestly couldn’t predict what happened to Leo…. I had my money on one character but it wasn’t them haha.
When all was revealed I was impressed at how intricate the story was! I couldn’t believe it! That web was impressive!!!
Half a star was lost because of all the bickering between the two “friends”, while I understand it was for character/plot building it was just too much. I could have done without that whole tea/wine bit.
I’ve never read this author and I certainly won’t be my last! I genuinely loved how twisty the plot got!!!

Jill and Wendy probably would never have become friends if they didn't happen to be next door neighbours. Jill is quite straight-laced and principled, Wendy is a fun loving party girl who people instinctively warm to. Jill would love to be like Wendy in many ways, despite her not approving of how she runs her household or parents her children. Their husbands, Tim and Robert, are also very different beings. Tim loves a pint and a party, much like Wendy, whereas Robert is a doctor with Medicines Sans Frontieres and travels all over the world, rarely at home to support Wendy in bringing up their 3 children.

Sadly Jill lost her son Leo at 16 years of age on the night of his high school prom. Ever since that night Jill has endeavoured to find out who was responsible for his death - she doesn't believe it was an accident as decided by the authorities at the time. And, as Leo attended prom with Wendy's daughter Olivia, she is convinced the Jones family know more than they're letting on. But there again she's aggressively questioned many people in her quest to find out more so they shouldn't take it personally should they?

The bulk of this book takes place in Wales, at a remote cottage near where Leo went on a stargazing trip with his schoolmates. Jill wants to feel close to him, and invites Wendy along to try to heal the rift which has formed between them since Leo's death. The atmosphere is understandably strained as the two women clumsily try to get back what they've lost in their friendship. What follows is a rollercoaster of emotions as twenty years of friendship, jealousies and mistrust between the women come to a head.
I never expected some of the bombshells which were eventually dropped as the ladies came clean about some of the feelings they had experienced and events which had happened which the other was unaware of. As they say, you never do really know someone completely.

Although the story slows in places and not all the attempted red herrings are particularly strong or relevant in the grand scheme of things, I found this to be an engaging read and my heart broke for poor Leo on what should have been a much happier experience of his school leavers' prom.

Families, eh? you can't choose 'em!

This author for me is hit-or -miss, but I liked the cover and the title intrigued me. It was kind of a slow start, but then around the 65% mark, things started picking up. Once you get to the twist, it all comes together nicely and makes the book more enjoyable. I just wish the first half of the book was more entertaining. 3 solid stars.

Another great book by Sue Watson. Jill and Wendy were neighbours, and good friends, sharing much of their lives with each other while bringing up their children. Everything changes on the night of their now teenagers prom. Leo and Olivia both set off to the prom, but only Olivia returns home. Jill wants to know what happened to her son, and feels that Wendy is keeping things from her in order to somehow protect Olivia. Marriages are affected, and both women feel that they need some answers. The two decide to have a weekend away, but both have their own reasons for agreeing.
This domestic thriller kept me engrossed until the last page. A roller coaster of a read.

Loved this book and can't believe it's the first one I've read by this author. Glad I was on holiday when I read this as I literally read it in one day on the beach!

Jill's only child, Leo, tragically dies under suspicious circumstance at the school prom and his body is found in the water. Jill is trying to find out exactly what happened and felt her neighbour, Wendy, and her daughter, Olivia, know far more than they are saying.

Jill arranges a weekend in Wales with Wendy but has an ulterior motive from her, which is to get some answers as to what actually took place that night.

Lots of twists and turns

A story of two best friends raising their children together turns into a whirlwind of murder, lies and secrets. This book was addictive from the get go, every time i went to put the book down something happened to i just HAD to keep reading.

The twists and turns in the second half of this book had my jaw on the floor, every time i thought i knew what happened another spanner got thrown in the works. I loved the dual pov, it really helped to increase the tension and awkwardness between Jill and Wendy even further.

I absolutely love an unreliable narrator and these two proved again and again just how unreliable they are. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, any psychological thriller readers out there will eat this up. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy.

Wendy and Jill have been friends for many years. As young newlyweds, they watched their families grow and eventually their teenagers went off to prom together. Sadly, only one made it home alive. In the aftermath, marriages ended and families were torn apart. As a last attempt to mend the friendship the two women took a weekend trip together that ended in disaster.
NOTHING in this book is what it seems on the surface! So many mysteries and twists that at times it seemed unfathomable.

Messy friendships, unhealed wounds, and a relentless search for the truth.

Wife, Mother, Liar delves deep into the complexities of grief and the toll it takes on a mother’s mind. Jill is a woman shattered by the loss of her husband and son. As she struggles to navigate her pain, her tenuous grasp on reality begins to falter, leaving everyone (and us!) questioning her perceptions. She teeters on the edge of despair and paranoia, grappling with the dual betrayals of her past and her obsessive need to find someone—anyone—to blame for her son’s death.

At its heart, the book is about how messy friendships can become, particularly when layered with unresolved feelings and hidden betrayals.

As Jill’s grip on reality loosens, the lines between guilt and paranoia start to blur, creating a great psychological suspense vibe; add to that the dynamic between Jill and Wendy, told through alternating POV chapters, which adds layers of tension.

Though the book doesn't particularly call out to me as ‘wow! A new favourite!’ I think it’s still a worthwhile read and enjoyed the darker elements/scenes that the author included.

Wife, Mother, Liar is an intensely twisty thriller, taking the reader down shocking paths with every turn. The story follows Jill and Wendy throughout a weekend get together as they try to come to terms with a tragedy affecting their families two years ago. Told from multiple perspectives, the book slowly peels back the layers, uncovering lie after lie until it reaches a shocking conclusion. If you think you know what really happened, think again. Excellent narrative and well structured story.

Talk about "frenemies"! I was breathless and sleep deprived by the time I finished this one.

Sue Watson nails it again with this twisty tail of loss and revenge. I don't know who I liked less/more but the twists kept coming and the lies kept being revealed and Watson's brilliance was once again on full display.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

Another brilliant read from Sue Watson and I was completely hooked from the first page.
Jill’s life has fallen apart, her son Leo has passed away and her husband has had another affair. Jill decides to invite her old friend and neighbour Wendy for a trip away to a remote area of Wales.
This book was filled with twists and turns and had me on tender hooks.
It was good that the chapters alternated between Wendy and Jill as I think this added to the suspense of the story,
The ended was fantastic and not what I was expecting at all.
Thanks to NetGalley, Sue Watson and Bookouture for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Truely awesome. I was glued. In the beginning it sounds like an usual murder story premise., But as you read further, you feel intrigued, and the story gets more suspenseful. Very well written.

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and bookouture for approving my request to read this book and what a book it is!!

I absolutely loved this twisty, fast paced psychological thriller and couldn't turn the pages quickly enough-I desperately wanted to know how it was going to end and enjoyed every page leading up to it immensely.

This book had me guessing throughout and the final chapter was an absolute corker.

One of the best books I've read this year-5 stars from me!

WIFE MOTHER LIAR by Sue Watson
Release date set for the 10th of January 2025.
I have been really excited to start this book.
I was hooked by the end of chapter 1.
I binge read this book and i couldn't put it down.
I loved the POVs from Jill and Wendy.
This book follows the story of neighbours who used to be best friends until their kids went to prom together.
Only one of the kids returns home.
Packed with twists and turns that you don't see coming.
This is my first book by Sue Watson and i have already downloaded my second book of hers to read.
Brilliant storyteller.

I have read all books from this author and I never cease to be amazed by them. I thought this was slightly different from her previous books but definitely just as good.

The storyline was brilliant full of lies and deceit with two friends and it was definitely a page turner which kept me involved all the way.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Wife Mother Liar
By: Sue Watson
Pub date: January 10, 2025
Publisher: Bookouture

Watson always gives her readers fun and twisted psychological thrillers, and this is no exception.

Two families with secrets that can have devastated consequences. The mothers Jill and Wendy are very different and their children are set to go to prom. A past secret comes to front as this novel is told in alternating views and when someone is murdered, things come out. Who could possibly have a motive? Lies, affairs, backstabbing, jealousy and more are motives alone.

Thank you Bookouture for having me on tour.