Offering shades of The Silent Patient, this is a complex piece of story telling well handled.

When wealthy Luke Whitney is found dead at the couple's holiday home, his second wife Anna inexplicably confesses to his murder, even though the police officer investigating Whitney's death quickly comes to the conclusion that he was killed by someone other than his wife.

Luke's first wife, who got dumped after his affair with Anna, insists that Anna must be the killer. And if she didn't do it, why would Anna confess? The Whitneys did not have a conventional marriage, it turns out, but is Luke's death then simply the result of a high stakes game gone badly wrong?

An engaging read with plenty of twists, this one will appeal to readers who enjoy domestic thrillers.

4.5 stars
I really liked the different points of views. This story really kept me on my toes. This is a fast paced book that will keep you up all night wanting to know what happens next. I'm usually good at guessing who the "bad" guy is and I couldn't believe the ending in this!

When Anna Whitney confesses to the murder of her husband Luke, it should be an open and shut case. However, there is too much about the crime scene that strikes a false note with DS Rebecca Dance. She also always knows when someone is lying.

As the investigation hots up, a picture of Luke as a womaniser who moves through wives and lovers at a fast pace begins to emerge. Rose, his first wife, and Anna are only two of the suspects. Have his games caught up with him?

A slow burning thriller where the reader is usually a few steps behind.

told through multiple points of view is always a favorite of mine. because i like how in thrillers especially, you really get to know ow things can be different for multiple people in any given situation. it also help build tension as you find out who did it and how, based on who you reading about.
in this case we have a murder. but the victim in this case isnt innocent at all. and there appears to be a few people who might not mind if hes not here anymore. but who could have murdered him? because from the start his wife says she did it. but there is more than one woman involved in this mans life.
that is a great hook for me. who did it and why? and the questions you ask throughout the book as it slowly unfolds is great. i love how we slowly unravel as the book goes on of how we came to be here and exactly how it came to be.

Rebecca gets wakened up that there been a domestic a man has been stabbed to death in a holiday cottage, his wife Anna says she has done it but Rebecca is not convinced she has done it as the husband Luke Whitney has secrets this book is so addictive very past faced and very twisty i so recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Canelo Crime for this ARC!

Three women - thw wife, the scorned ex, and the mistress - are connected to Luke Whitney in one way or another. And while Anna, the current wife, does confess she has killed Luke, DS Rebecca Dance has the impression that is not what did actually happen. Also because it does seem that more people actually have a reason to see the man dead.

The story is told in several POVs - Anna, Rebecca, Pippa and Rose - you have to figure out by reading the book who is who from the last two - and yes, for me, this was overwhelming at times. But it was still a great book, and I am still going to read whatever Jenny Blackhurst does write!

Release: April 17, 2025
Author: Jenny Blackhurst
Publisher: Canelo

Rating: 4 ★ 

The Final Wife is a gripping murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. When renowned plastic surgeon Luke Whitney is found stabbed to death, his wife, Anna, confesses—but her story is riddled with inconsistencies. As Detective Sergeant Rebecca Dance investigates, it becomes clear that Luke was far from a devoted husband. His history of affairs, a scorned ex-wife, and a neglected mistress all add to the growing list of suspects.

Told through multiple perspectives and timelines, the story starts off a bit disorienting, but once the pieces fall into place, the suspense takes hold. The characters—while not always likable—are compelling, and the detectives make for an interesting investigative duo. With twists, betrayals, and a fast-paced plot, the novel keeps you engaged. While some subplots don’t fully develop and the epilogue may feel unnecessary, the overall mystery is intense and well-executed. If you enjoy a good whodunit with plenty of surprises, this one is worth a read.

Luke Whitney is found stabbed to death, and his wife, Anna, confesses to the crime. However, she can’t seem to recall any of the details. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Luke wasn’t exactly an innocent victim—he was a liar, a cheater, and a narcissist. With multiple people having a motive, including his ex, his mistress, and Anna herself—who knows all too well what happens when Luke loses interest in his wives—the question remains: who finally made sure Luke got what he deserved?

Favorite Quote:
"you don't always see the monster until it's too late."

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

A great murder mystery book. I flew through this book. There are not many twists but loved the ending never seen it coming. Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for ARC

This book didn't have as many shocks, twists and turns as I expected, but it was very bingeable. I; however, did not see the last few paragraphs coming so that was a fun reveal.

Oh my goodness, I love a good whodunnit, and this one was really good! It’ll keep you guessing up until the last page!

Luke is a successful plastic surgeon, married to his second wife, Anna. When Luke ends up dead, Anna confesses to killing him, but there are quite a few unanswered questions and holes in her story. Luke had cheated on his first wife, Rose, and ended up leaving her for Anna. Luke is not very good at being a faithful husband, so it’s not a huge surprise when Anna realizes he’s not been faithful to her either. There’s definitely more than one person that may have wanted him dead, but the question is, who actually killed him? There are twists and turns, betrayals and surprises, this one will keep you wondering! Even if you think you know how it’s going to end, I’m fairly sure the ending will surprise you!
This was my first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last. I’m definitely going to have to read more of her books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Crime for giving an advance copy to read. All opinions are my own.

digital arc was provided by Netgalley and the publisher

I quite enjoyed the book. At first it was a hassle to differentiate the women (or, the wives), but when it got interesting, their voices kinda differ by themselves. Unfortunately, some plot just went nowhere and the epilogue should be cut since it plays too much on the secret that readers can't guess.

A brilliant murder mystery full of twists and turns.
Wonderfully written characters, not all are likeable.
Everything you expect from this talented author.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Plastic surgeon Luke Whitney is stabbed to death and his wife Anna confesses to his murder. Surely its case closed, but DS Rebecca Dance is convinced that Anna is lying, to find out why she believes this you'll have to read this latest twisted novel by Jenny Blackhurst.
I liked the characters, the detectives worked well together, I wonder if they will feature in future novels. The novel is fast paced and intriguing.
I was gifted this advanced copy from Netgalley and Canelo with no expectations of leaving my review. I will post my review on Goodreads, Bookmory, Storygraph and Fable now and on Amazon and Waterstones on publication day

Luke is found dead and his wife Anna has confessed.

Luke is not a nice man, he left his first wife, married Anna and has been known to have affairs.

Although Anna has confessed there are suspicions that she is lying..buy why? Who is she protecting.

This is a good read and is intense and complex.

I loved my reading time and cannot wait to recommend this book to my friends.

An intriguing read with a complex plot. As the history of the victim is revealed, we discover a range of means and motives. Twists at the last minute reveal all.

Luke Whitney is a plastic surgeon who leaves his wife, Rose, and marries his second wife, Anna.
Anna is arrested when Luke is found dead. She insists she killed him, but there are too many things that Anna doesn't know for the police to doubt her confession.

A good read

4 stars

Thanks to net galley and the publishers for this arc.

Are you looking for your next thriller? Check out The Final Wife by Jenny Blackhurst. This is one out soon

The Final Wife is a good murder mystery with a difference. When plastic surgeon Luke is stabbed to death his wife is arrested and confesses. But DS Rebecca Dance is convinced that she didn't do it. So what is the real story here?

The narrative is revealed from different viewpoints and over various time periods, so it feels a little disorientating at first. But then the pieces come together as we learn of Luke's many affairs, his past marriage and current mistress. From one obvious suspect we now have many - but all appear to have solid alibis. The police investigation eventually sees several anomalies revealed and there are several twists before the truth is revealed.

This is a well plotted novel with several interesting, if not altogether likable, lead characters. It keeps the reader guessing and the pace is good throughout.

4.5 stars rounded up!

I love Jenny Blackhurst’s thrillers so I was excited to get stuck into her new book, The Final Wife. The story begins with Anna Whitney’s arrest for the murder of her husband, Luke. She admits that she killed him - but, DS Rebecca Dance isn’t buying it. Anna doesn’t seem to know the correct details of the crime and she won’t even say what they were arguing about.

Whilst Rebecca and her team start to delve into the lives of Anna and Luke, we flashback to how Anna first met Luke - when he was married to Rose. And their unconventional relationship where Luke held all the power and Anna tried to hold onto him by any means. Gradually the picture of what happened that final night shifts and changes… again… and again!

This was such a gripping story - I had no idea what was going on! It was so tense and suspenseful, and really well told so that it never felt over the top, but it kept delivering the surprises!

The characters were great too - I wonder if we might see DS Dance and her team again in another book? I hope so!