I typically often read books based on the cover before knowing what the description is, and this one did not disappoint. I love the fact that the main storyline was relatable as this is something that many women have dealt with. He had an obsession with her, but she wasn’t interested. Her best friend convinced him that she was playing hard to get and that she secretly wanted him, too. After he kidnapped her with the help of her best friend, he beat and raped her trying to convince her that things would be different if she let him love her. Fast forward 20 years, and she never divulged her secret to her now husband. In fact, she often keeps things bottled up, and this has proven to be her biggest issue. It comes back to bite her when she starts receiving letters and flowers from an unnamed person that seem to be as threatening as they look. What noone knows is that the rape she endured resulted in a child that she gave up for adoption. With her rapist beling released after serving his time for his crime against her she is convinced he is back to finish the job only she is met with skepticism when she realizes that it could be the long lost baby she gave up.

Found this book very hard going, very slow and really not to my taste. Characters were not believable and found it hard to understand the situations the author talked about.....at great length. Not a book I enjoyed at all
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book

It was obsession twenty years ago. More than that actually. Much more. Today, it is stalking. Soriah has overcome unspeakable trauma and is now living a carefully ordered life. Happily married to Marcus, although perhaps wanting more, events of her past will soon come crashing back into her life in the present.

At just seventeen years of age, Craig’s obsession with Soriah led him to unforgivable as well as unforgettable behavior. Why couldn’t she love him back? Fast forward a couple of decades, and Craig, still fixated on Soriah, has been released from prison. As Victim Support Services informs Soriah of Craig’s release, her fragile peace and comfort are shattered.

The evidence of Craig’s stalking is undeniable. Meanwhile, Marcus is away on business, leaving Soriah to deal with challenging circumstances. Factor in a secret from her past, Soriah must find a way to navigate her present, especially as her life takes even another turn.

This captivating read was thrilling from start to finish, especially with the surprising twists along the way.

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

Didn’t enjoy this at all. The story dragged, the characters felt lifeless, and I kept checking how much I had left. Definitely not for me.

Woe, just wow! Every time I thought there could be no more surprises or betrayals POW, I got hit by another one. I felt like I was back in grade school in a dodge ball tournament, being bombarded from every direction by whammos.
Soriah was a very strong character for all that she was forced to endure in this book!!
Betrayed by most everyone she comes out the other side,
With “friends” like hers one doesn’t need enemies.
This book put me through the wringer!

Plenty of twist and turns in this psychological thriller told through various timelines fast paced and has a good conclusion would recommend

This book is about Soriah and it’s set in two timelines. The first is 21 years ago when she’d just started college and the other is the present day when she’s working and married to Marcus. The story draws you in right from the start. Soriah has so much going on in her life you won’t want to put the book down. It’s definitely a one more chapter type of read. If you like psychological thrillers then this is the book for you.

New to me Author but will definitely read more of her books. This book was so good I couldn’t put it down. Every time I thought I knew what was going on I was wrong. Great character development & plot twist.

Review posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Everand and Fable.

I have a whole list of go-to psychological thriller authors whose books are immediate 'must reads', Saxon is one of those authors. Her books have never disappointed.

The Quiet Wife is a story of obsession, secrets and lies. It's fast paced, engrossing and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.

It switches from chapters set in current day and back to the days that preceded the kidnapping. I do like being able to look at things from the bigger picture, making my own theories and assumptions as the story advances, waiting for Saxon to deliver that one final twist, then realising I'd got it all so very wrong.

Great characters, a dark plot with sinister undertones and suspense in spades.

This is an equally disturbing and addictive thriller. You literally won't be able to put it down . There are multiple POV and timelines but it's written in an incredibly skilful way and the issues within are handled well. The twists and turns don't stop until
the very end and you are literally gripped until the last page

This is an excellent read and one that I finished in almost a single sitting; the story is compelling.

Soriah tells her story which starts 21 years in the past when she attends the local college. She is a nice girl who works hard and is a good athlete. Her friend Gilly is clearly jealous of her, but it is the obsessive love of Craig that starts at this point in her life and ultimately shapes the future of them all.

Told along a dual timeline with the college year and the present time, we hear about the shocking events that quickly escalate and how they could at so many points have been halted and avoided. In the present time Soriah is still suffering from the effects of the past and the reappearance of people from then lead to even darker times.

The story is so well told that the reader is drawn in and suddenly hours have gone by! Great characters that are full of depth, many complex and unlikeable making a hugely entertaining story. I felt very uncomfortable at some points waiting for the terrible consequences to unfold, but the author leads the reader through so well, helping us to understand the world through the eyes of the different personalities.

This is a great thriller and one that I would definitely recommend.

This is a quick read. The style of writing is engaging and keeps you reading. I did find the twists were predictable but that in and of itself doesn’t spoil a book for me.

Something about this fell flat. I think there was something missing to explain why some of the things occurred. Without that obvious why it made some of the incidents hard to connect with.

I also never understood why the main character kept her past from her husband.

There is a lot of trauma in this novel. If you are a sensitive reader you should definitely check the trigger warnings before grabbing this.

Overall, if you like quick read thrillers you will find this one interesting.

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.