My favorite character is the cat. I loved the whole book. It was a little predictable, if you read the author, but still fun and twisty. I think any domestic thriller reader would enjoy this one.

The Quiet Wife is a gripping and emotionally charged story woven in a unique way. Diane Saxon crafts a narrative that pulls the reader in, especially through the complex character of Soriah. Her choices and emotional blindness to certain aspects of her life make her both frustrating and deeply compelling. At times, you want to shake her for her naivety, yet as her past unfolds, you can’t help but feel protective of her. The trauma she endured and the way it shaped her decisions add depth to her character and the story as a whole.

Saxon does a fantastic job of balancing suspense, emotion, and character development, making this a book that lingers in your mind even after turning the last page. While there were moments of frustration with Soriah, they only added to the realism of her journey. Overall, The Quiet Wife is a thought-provoking and engaging read that I would definitely recommend to others!

Scarily thrilling!

Soriah has a past - like most of us - but hers was quite terrifying. She had a stalker who pursued her resulting, finally, in a court case and him being sent to prison. Now married, neither her husband, friends or colleagues are aware of what she went through and that's how she likes it, but Victim Support Services have just informed her that her stalker has been released and she is terrified. When weird things begin to happen, the past begins to creep into her life . . .

It's always a treat to have a Diane Saxon novel on my list and this was a fantastic read Tense and complex, I was hooked from the first to the very last word. It's not all straightforward, there are a few twists and turns along the way all of which had me gripped. Easily worth all five stars and my highest recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

The brilliant suspense thriller and amazing plot that make you almost being sad when the book is ended. The madness of love, pathology of obsession, the crazy relationships and fear at its worst

I rated this a 3 star book. I found the main character to be somewhat relatable. Sometimes you just never know who you can trust. But It took me awhile to read. I found it kind of slow and very predictable.

A brilliant page-turner from Diane Saxon, tells the story of brave Soriah who is re-living the nightmare of an horrific event from her past when the person responsible is released from prison years later. In what feels like a taunting game of cat & mouse Soriah is trying to convince herself she is paranoid about what is happening around her. But is she? This is a fantastic story about a difficult and triggering topic, but is written with great compassion and care. I'd highly recommend this one!

This gripping and suspenseful thriller delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche, exploring themes of obsession, buried secrets, and the relentless pursuit of the past. With its intricate plot and well-developed characters, the novel will captivate readers who crave a dark and twisty tale that will keep them guessing until the very end. As the protagonist's obsession unravels, the lines between reality and delusion blur, leading to a shocking climax that will leave readers breathless. Fans of psychological suspense and thriller enthusiasts will find this novel to be a must-read, as it delivers a chilling and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition and the devastating consequences of obsession.

The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon is a roller coaster ride of secrets and obsession. This novel does have a trigger warning of sexual assault and kidnapping so be aware.
Soriah was seventeen when she survived a terrifying assault by a fellow student who had become obsessed with her. Now twenty years later Soriah has received a letter from Victim Support Services that Craig, her attacker, is being released. Soriah doesn't know what to do. Her husband Marcus has no idea what happened to her in the past and all of the panic, nightmares and fear is suffocating her. Then flowers are being left for her on her doorstep, text messages from an unknown number keep showing up. Has Craig found her? And who can she trust to help her make it out of this alive?
This novel was absolutely gripping, dark and disturbing. Saxon keeps readers on the edge of their seats throughout this wild ride of a thriller. While the novel does deal with sensitive subjects Saxon writes about them very delicately and without the graphic details. A great read that I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Diane Saxon, and Boldwood Books for this ARC. Expected publication date is February 20th 2025.

This book is written from 3 POVs, Soriah, Craig and 'The Fox' which allows the reader to really understand why these characters do what they do. Soriah has had a terrible time and she is terrible at picking friends and husbands!! Throughout this book, you just wish things would get better for her. I had guessed who 'The Fox' was but it didn't make the ending any less shocking! Plenty of twists and turns to keep you gripped and I was hooked from the beginning! Thank you for allowing me to read this before release

Trigger warning: rape, sexual assault and stalking

A secret past that comes back to haunt her...

I wasn't sure what to expect from the rather demure title but it certainly wasn't this! What a rollercoaster of a ride this dark and disturbing tale of obsession is.

Soriah is a quiet wife living the quiet life with her husband Marcus. But her life is thrown into turmoil when she receives a letter from Victim Support Services. And suddenly, her past come rushing back to haunt her all over again. The nightmares, the claustrophobia, the sleeplessness, the fear, the panic attacks...all relative to a deep dark secret from her past. Something she has barely shared with Marcus, not that he'd show any interest anyway. But she's never really completely trusted another man again - not after what happened to her over twenty years ago.

When she was seventeen, Soriah survived a terrible ordeal after becoming the obsession of another student. Despite her protests that she wasn't interested, he persisted - mainly at the insistence of her best friend Gilly. And then one night, she was kidnapped and held for days while starved and raped repeatedly...all while he was professing his undying love for her. Soriah vowed she would never trust another man again.

Now two decades later, Craig is being released and Soriah is beside herself with panic. Suddenly flowers are being left on her doorstep and text messages from an unknown number. It could only be Craig. But how does he know where she lives? How does he know her number? And surely it's a breach of his licence that he even comes near her, let alone contact her? Soriah, who has never let anyone else remotely close to her in all these years, has no idea who to turn to. Who can she trust? Her family? But they have their own worries, so she doesn't want to trouble them.

Then when Marcus goes away for a work event, she begins to get the sense she is being watched. Items disappearing from her house. Her key safe unlocked. Luna being locked in the one place Soriah would never open. Is she losing her mind? Or is someone out there watching her again?

The story unfolds in the past and present between Soriah, Craig and an unknown narrator calling themselves "the Fox". It was interesting reading Craig's narrative, as entitled and arrogant as it were. And none of the characters were at all endearing. In fact, I found the story rather depressing for the first several chapters as all Soriah seemed to do was lament about her past or about Marcus and how little he seemed to care for her. Craig's behaviour was delusional and Gilly was a complete b****. Again, none of them were at all endearing. Except maybe for Soriah's parents but they didn't play a huge part. Then when things started to pick up, those chapters were indeed harrowing reading, both chilling and disturbing. It's these that will be triggering for some, hence my warning above.

Diane Saxon has the ability to pen a tense yet gripping tale that is as real as it is shocking. She keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout despite predictability (though that could just be me knowing what to look out for and suspect) and leave you wanting more. I devoured this book in a day, such was its fast pace.

Another entertaining thriller taking the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions and leaving you breathless by its end.

I would like to thank #DianeSaxon, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheQuietWife in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

When I tell you that I did not see the twist in this book coming, I am not joking. I totally predicted something completely different and I was so shocked on two separate instances in this story.

Trigger warning for SA, and kidnapping.

This was one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time.

This thriller was so exciting to read. The plot twist really got me, I didn't see it coming. I wish we got a little more background on the characters, but otherwise everything was so fleshed out. Will be reading more from this author.

This was my first Diane Saxon book but it won’t be my last! This book is written from 3 POVs, Soriah, Craig and ‘The Fox’ which allows the reader to really understand why these characters do what they do. Soriah has had a terrible time and she is terrible at picking friends and husbands!! Throughout this book, you just wish things would get better for her. I had guessed who ‘The Fox’ was but it didn’t make the ending any less shocking! Plenty of twists and turns to keep you gripped and I was hooked from the beginning! So recommended!!

I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Quiet Wife’ written by Diane Saxon in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Twenty years ago Craig Lane was obsessed with Soriah and attacked her so brutally that she would have died if his mother hadn’t saved her. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison leaving Soriah so traumatised that she couldn’t even tell her partner Marcus about her past. But now Craig has been released and plans to convince Soriah that he’s not gone away and that she loves him just as much as he loves her.

‘The Quiet Wife’ is a heart-racing thriller that’s had me hooked from page one. It’s jam-packed with excitement, drama and shocking twists and turns, with the tension increasing the further I’ve got into the story. The characters of Craig, Soriah’s friend Gilly and another that I won’t name for fear of spoiling the suspense, were so chillingly described that they made my spine tingle in anticipation of what they could do, so much so that I couldn’t wait to reach the final chapters to find out if Soriah was going to be okay. This has been a rollercoaster of a thriller that’s had me so involved that I read it in a day. It’s a disturbing and intricately woven thriller that’s been a brilliant read with a final twist that I wasn’t expecting, and is totally deserving of a huge five stars.

Diane Saxon delivers a powerful and emotionally charged thriller in The Quiet Wife, a novel that is as gripping as it is thought-provoking. While it comes with a necessary trigger warning due to its sensitive subject matter, Saxon handles the themes with depth and care, making this an intense yet compelling read.

The novel offers a well-developed backstory, immersing readers in a world of secrets, tension, and unexpected twists. Just when you think you have the plot figured out, Saxon masterfully introduces surprises that keep the suspense alive. Her writing is both immersive and engaging, ensuring that each revelation lands with impact.

For those who enjoy psychological thrillers with strong character development and expertly woven suspense, The Quiet Wife is a standout. While the subject matter may not be for everyone, those who appreciate dark and intricate storytelling will find this a rewarding read. Highly recommended, and certainly an author worth following.

I enjoyed this thriller. I thought it was different concept than other thrillers I had read before. I do think it drug a little bit getting started and towards the middle.

I hadn’t read a book by this author before and after reading The Quiet Wife, I’ll definitely be reading more! Told in a dual timeline format, Soriah receives notice that a former fellow obsessed student has been released from prison for threatening her twenty years prior. This novel is tense and suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat as Soriah comes to believe she is once again being threatened by this same person. I truly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to fellow readers.

This is a story about obsession and what can happen when incidents are not dealt with correctly at first point of contact especially by those who should know better. It is a dark and twisty tale and although you may try to surmise what is going on, it is only right at the end that you know for sure.

Thanks to Netgalley/Boldwood Books for the ARC to review

What I liked most about this book was how easy it was to read. The plot was gripping, with suspense and thrills unfolding effectively. However, the way the main character body shamed her friend left a bitter taste and the personal opinions on bodily autonomy came across as preachy, especially given the current sociopolitical climate. These made the main characte highly unlikable. Even before experiencing trauma, she had numerous opportunities to stand up for herself but failed to do so, making the narrative frustrating. The plot twists were predictable. That said, it was undeniably a page-turner and an entertaining read.

Suspenseful story about surviving and taking back your life. Soriah is a marketing professional and wife. She survived a terrible ordeal as a teenager when she was kidnapped and tortured by a fellow student who was obsessed with her. Soriah received notice that after 20 years her attacker is being released from prison and around the same time she begins receiving bouquets of flowers and messages from an unknown source. Has this man come back to torment her after all this time?

Told in then and now sections, the story explores how Soriah was lured into a bad situation by her best friend and she finds she cannot rely on anyone except her parents who have always tried to protect her. The story comes to a head when her husband Marcus is out of town and Soriah begins to feel watched, things are missing from her home and she feels cornered once again by someone or something evil. I liked Soriah and her loving parents who wanted to protect her. I did find the story was slow at times and spent a lot of time on mundane things like Soriah getting up, putting on socks, getting dressed etc. I did guess the twists but that never affects how much I enjoy a story. I liked the story but didn't find it to have that edge of your seat feeling that I like in a thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.