The Other Wife

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on Waterstones
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 24 Oct 2019 | Archive Date 7 Nov 2019
Amazon Publishing UK | Thomas & Mercer

Talking about this book? Use #TheOtherWife #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are…

Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick.

When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. It’s impossible—does she already know what Suzi did?

Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder. After all, she’s done it before…

Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are…

Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous...


A Note From the Publisher

Claire McGowan was born in 1981 in a small Irish village where the most exciting thing that ever happened was some cows getting loose on the road. She is the author of The Fall, What You Did and the acclaimed Paula Maguire crime series. She also writes women’s fiction under the name Eva Woods.

Claire McGowan was born in 1981 in a small Irish village where the most exciting thing that ever happened was some cows getting loose on the road. She is the author of The Fall, What You Did and the...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781542093156
PRICE US$15.95 (USD)

Average rating from 424 members


Featured Reviews

The Other Wife is incredible! Following Suzi, Nora and Elle with each chapter starting from their points of view it can be a little difficult to begin but once I’d learnt a little about each character and their stories I was hooked! There’s a few twists but the one at 75% through absolutely blew my mind! Wow, what a plot!
You have to pick this up, the suspense is ever building and it’s one hell of a great story,
5/5

Was this review helpful?

Suzi and Nora are new neighbors and Suzi is so glad to finally have someone close by to talk to. She’s pregnant and her husband is a jealous control freak. Of course, Suzi isn’t perfect either, she’s done some things she’s not proud of, and now that she has a new friend, she’s tempted to confide in her. And that could be a deadly mistake. Then there’s Elle, living a perfect life, at least on the surface. The truth is that her husband has cheated on her, but she’s worked hard to have the perfect life and doesn’t plan on giving it up, no matter what she has to do, no matter who she has to hurt.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this one because this kind of domestic thriller is exactly my thing. But the writing and the pacing could not suck me in, entertain me, or distract me. And that is exactly what I’m looking for in a domestic thriller. Barely enjoyable

Was this review helpful?

A Brilliant Winner! One of the best books I have read this year!

Along with the main characters - Elle, Nora and Suzi is a plot designed to dazzle!

Nick, Suzi's controlling husband, has her basically imprisoned (and pregnant) in their home in the country. A neighbor, Nora, moves in and befriends Suzi. This is when the action really begins!

We see three personalities and their drive to get what they want - not to mention what they've already had!

HIGHLY recommend! Well developed characters, lots of plot action, suspense, and plenty of drama.

Many Thanks to Amazon Publishers, UK and NetGalley for a superb read!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of The Other Wife.

The Other Wife is a stereotypical domestic thriller filled with adultering, secrets, family drama and unreliable narrators.

Nora, recently widowed, has moved into a cottage near an expectant mother-to-be, Suzie.

Suzie is under siege. She is carrying the baby of an old lover, and trapped in an isolated house with a manipulative husband, Nick, who monitors and watches her every move.

Nora has secrets. Suzie has secrets. And Nick is your typical douche bag.

There is decent character development but its difficult to like anyone, especially Suzie, who sounds and acts like a wishy- washy twit.

I'm still not sure why she married Nick, even though she mentions how they met and their wedding.

Nora is a dark horse. At first, she sounded like your typical scorned woman, out for revenge.

But, something changes when she probes into the death of her husband. As her investigation reveals many twists and turns (most which I guessed), her target for revenge shifts and her demeanor toward Suzie is irrevocably altered.

What began as a domestic thriller ends as a revenge tale, and I love revenge stories.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Suzy, pregnant and scared, has moved to the country with her husband Nick. She's heartbroken because the man she was having an affair with has suddenly disappeared after she told him she's expecting a baby. Nick is very controlling and she's lonely, depending on him for everything because their cottage is far from anywhere. When she finds out her lover has died, she is inconsolable and her husband becomes even more impossible to live with. In the meanwhile a woman has moved into the cottage next to them and Suzy hopes that she'll have a friend to confide in. Little does she realize her life will become even more nightmarish; this woman wants vengeance!
The story is told from the viewpoint of both women and as the stories continue I found it more and more difficult to put the book down. It's a nailbiter!
None of the characters are likeable, (except for Poppet, the poor dog), but that didn't matter because the story was so good. The ending is terrific and quite satisfying. Recommended!

Was this review helpful?

It REALLY took me a while to get into this book, I almost gave up on it. I just kept being like WHAT IS GOING ON. The introduction of new characters, the characters each referring to their ‘you’ it all felt very confusing. I’m glad I persevered because I did end up enjoying it. I read from 50% to the end in one sitting. (Stayed up till 2am too) I found I guessed A LOT of what was going to happen, however the ending seemed nicer than I originally thought. All rather far fetched, but also very familiar at the same time. I’ve had my go at toxic controlling relationships in my time!

Was this review helpful?

This was an okay domestic thriller. The story just felt kind of flat and boring. At times I thought it would pick up in pace but I was just bored with the storyline. Took me a while to finish. Had promise but really just wasn’t there for me. Would not recommend. Thank you netgalley for letting me give an honest review of this book.

Was this review helpful?

One good thing about this book- it kept me hooked. The writing was enjoyable and the characters whilst flawed were also interesting. The only issue I had was the book was a tad too long I feel like it could have been wrapped up quicker.

Was this review helpful?

A great domestic thriller which revolves around three women, Suzy, Elle and Nora. What do these three women have in common and how far will they go to keep their secrets? Told from the viewpoint of each woman, this is a suspenseful story of secrets, deceit and revenge which has a good twist at the end.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book , some really good twists , fast paced and entertaining ....

The story is told mainly from the perspective of Suzi and Nora , they live next door to each other and both are harboring some secrets . Suzy is married to Nick who is controlling and abusive , Nora a recent widow . We soon find what connects these two women and the twists just keep coming .

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed The Other Wife by Claire McGowan. It's a taut, well written, well paced psychological thriller. In Part One of the novel, we meet three women: Nora, Suzi, and Elle. Each chapter alternates between the three points of view. Nora is a 42-year old widow moving into a rather run-down cottage in the middle of nowhere (outside London). She's an unhappy, mysterious character who's motives with the move won't come clear for many chapters. Next is Suzi, a pretty young, pregnant wife a good bit younger than Nora and her only neighbor for miles and miles. Suzi is married to an insanely controlling man (Nick) and is desperately unhappy about both her marriage and their move to the country where she has no job, no friends, and is trapped in her home playing wifey. Suzi is also in love with another man, someone who is married and may be the father of her unborn child, but the man has suddenly ghosted her. Finally, we meet Elle. Elle used to be a concert pianist but is now a full-time wife, married to a doctor. She seems to be a bit neurotic and as we meet her, she's going crazy waiting for her husband to come home, frantic that he's late. Nora and Suzi meet early on, but as a reader, you're not sure how Elle is going to fit into the story. And so it begins.

This is the second of McGowan's books that I have read, and I will be a faithful follower from here on. She is a skilled storyteller, and I thoroughly enjoyed both novels. The Other Wife is a complex, dark tale of deceit and vengeance, and I loved the way McGowan brought everything together in the final chapters. A very satisfying ending.

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer/Amazon for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting novel but one that could have, imo, greatly benefit from being shorter.
The way the chapters are, one in each of the character's POV, the story goes slowly unfolding, but it gets to a point when it is a bit too slowly.
It's more a character study than a thriller; you start to understand what is happening as you start to get into their minds and understand their motivations.
No one is really likeable here but the author does a good job of making the reader care for them, nonetheless.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A brilliant book following the lives of pregnant Suzi, Elle and Nora. Lots of twists and turns that start with Nora moving to the countryside that sets off a chain of events. Each chapter written from the perspective of Suzi, Elle or Nora, this book is very easy to read and switches between the characters effortlessly to keep the story moving. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book was fast paced. Hard to put down. It flowed well and it was very well written. It caught hold of me and had me hooked from the start . I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi has moved to the countryside with her husband Nick in order to repair their marriage. She is pregnant and the moved to an isolated farmhouse might be what they need to make things right between them. They even get a dog. From Nick's perspective Suzi has alot to make up for.

Suzi and Nick have a new neighbour Nora who, due to proximity, they are bound to be courteous to. There are no other close neighbours. It's clear from the outset Nora is not what she seems, though it takes some time for her agenda to be disclosed. Suzi is looking for a confidante. She feels alone, and we soon see Nick's continual gaslighting and methods of coercive control, his rationale being that Suzi has cheated on him (twice).

The Other Wife is told from multiple, and at times, confusing amounts of people's points of view across different time periods. For me, it tended to deflect from the story for me, rather than add to it. There seemed to be so many players and so many moving parts, making some of the plot twists fall short. The story did not evolve for me, it felt forced and somewhat chaotic.

I have had the pleasure of reading alot of thrillers lately and it's possible my view of this book was influenced by my high opinions of those. I could not rate this highly in comparison unfortunately. I also did not draw Suzi close, although she was very much the victim in this book and I applaud Clare McGowan for addressing the issue of coercive control in this book.

Thank you to Clare McGowan, Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.. This is published 24 October 2019.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan
Thanks @netgalley @evawoodsakaclairemcgowan and @amazonpublishing for my arc
Publication date 24th October
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
‘She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are’.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now. She feels trapped in her cottage, in the middle of nowhere with only her jealous and controlling husband for company. Then Nora moves in next door and Suzi is delighted to have a new friend. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. Does she know what Suzi did?
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This is definitely up there with one of the best books I’ve read this year. A dark tale of deceit and vengeance, well written characters that although had some horrible traits, were likeable in their own ways and I felt really invested in what happened to them. An absolute nail biter of a story, kept me on edge the whole way. Highly recommended xx

Was this review helpful?

I found this to be a very slow story and almost gave up on it. I did finish it but thought it was quite far fetched. An OK read but not one that I would enthusiastically recommend

Was this review helpful?

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars

This is what I would call a perfect trashy read.i read it in a few hours.
Full of unlikable characters in ridiculous situations,that they keep lying about,and getting away with... but oh so very entertaining.
If it wasn't the end of summer I'd be telling everyone to take this to the beach with them.
The main part of the plot,and it's (to begin with) triple narrative ,was I think easy to guess what was going on... but there were plenty of surprises to come.
Highly enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

I am not usually fond of stories that are told from different viewpoints, but it worked well with 'The Other Wife'. I really enjoyed this book, which had me turning the pages from start to finish. Good twists. Recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.

Was this review helpful?

I started this book in the morning and just finished it. I just couldn't stop reading!
Suzi is pregnant and living with her husband, but missing her lover.
Nora just lost her husband and had to leave her home as she couldn't afford it anymore. She moves next to Suzi and Nick. And just like them, she has a secret or two.
Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen next, there was another plot twist that just changed everything.
It was a great read, with amazing plot and very interesting characters. They feel so real, with all their flaws.
I loved the ending. It was very satisfactioning.

Was this review helpful?

A great domestic thriller with engaging well developed characters.

Suzi/Nora/Elle three characters whose lives will be tangled up together in ways that weren't least expected.

Suzi is pregnant and suffers from her obsessively jealous control freak of a husband who practically imprisoned her in their country home. Then a new neighbor "Nora" moves in and Suzi couldn't be happier to have someone to confide in, big mistake!

Then there is Elle who seems to be having the perfect life, but this is just a facade.
When those women's lives collide, there is a chain reaction of lies, betrayals, backstabbing, revenge and much more.

I was really invested in this story, but my only quibble was with the pace.
I felt that a more tighter writing would have sped up the pace, because there was a long gap between a twist and its denouement which took away from the shock value. Regardless I would recommend this book as it is both unique and engrossing.

I voluntarily reviewed this book through Netgalley, thanks Amazon Publishing UK, and author Claire McGowan.

Was this review helpful?

Couldn't get into this story line, just didn't 'grab me' sorry. I did persevere to about 50% but then had to give up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

Very well written and with plenty of twists and turns. I felt there could have been a little more tension, and a little more uncovered about precisely what was going on in that hospital! But some really interesting characters and the issue of coercive control was well handled.

Was this review helpful?

Nick and Suzi move to the countryside just outside of London. It is a fresh start after Suzi's affair. They agree to move away from London life. Less temptation for Suzi and she can concentrate on being a proper wife. No boozy dinners after work. No friends, no car. and no town nearby

When Nora moves in down the road- Suzi is delighted. She is a city girl, used to the hustle and bustle of London life and moving was a big change for her.

Nora happily greets her, grateful for a friend - she is a widow that has just had to downsize down to money.

Elle spends her day ensuring the house is perfect for her Dr Husband. Patrick. He spends hours at the hospital and is often late. Being alone with her thoughts and on medication he prescribed Elle worries and becomes a bit needy.

However when Patrick dies he leaves a trail of unanswered questions like why did all the money go? Elle decides to follow the trail and what she find is her most darkest worry of all!

The book tells the story through different perspective. It changes from Nora to Elle to Suzi. At first it can be a bit confusing as there is quite a few women but once you find out a bit about each person. Eventually the story pieces together nicely. I am glad I kept reading on as after I got know bits and pieces I became quite hooked.

The ending was unexpected.. I imagined it to be different to what was written. But I guess it shows the type of character.

Therefore this was a great read.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan
What I Loved: The way the author wove so many secrets into the story. The twists and turns were done so that you were propelled through the book. Something would be revealed and I just had to keep turning the pages to see what was next.
To Read or Not To Read: This is a To Read for anyone who loves mystery, suspense, or thrillers!!

Suzi has cheated on her husband, and now she's pregnant and the man she was seeing has disappeared. Nora moves in next door and immediately befriends Suzi, although she may already know more about Suzi than she is letting on. This story takes you on a rollercoaster ride!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this! I love a good old domestic thriller. The book hooked me from the start and I found myself warming to Suzi despite the things that let her down (trying not to give too much away). I guessed one of the twists, most likely because I've read so many domestic thrillers that I could probably write my own but guessing the twist didn't alter how much I enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading more by Claire McGowan!

Was this review helpful?

Great twists You are on the edge of your seat reading The Other Wife. Suzi and her husband Nick move to a secluded area. They have one neighbor named Elle Unbeknownst to Suzi, Elle is watching her. Secrets and lies

Was this review helpful?

The story starts off being told from 3 points of view: Suzi, Nora and Elle.

Suzi recently moved to the country side where she spends her days alone and lonely. She is pregnant and married to her man who definitely does not treat her well, an example of what her husband Nick would say to her:
"I'd prefer you focused on the house, actually cooking a decent dinner, that kind of thing."
Suzi's chapters are all written to another man (not her husband), as if she is telling him a story, she yearns for him, even after it becomes clear he does not deserve her love and devotion.

Nora is Suzi's new neighbor and she is up to something. It takes a while before we find out what exactly and why she is spying on Suzi... but it gets more and more interesting.

Elle seems like a timid woman. She constantly hears her mother's disapproving voice in her head.
"As if anyone could ever love you."
She's married, but not secure in her marriage. She spends her days at home, waiting for her husband to come home, trying to be the perfect wife based on a 1950s idea of a perfect wife. She seems mentally and emotionally rather unstable and completely dependent on her husband.

Throughout the story we get to know these women more and more. In my opinion, Elle was weak and just not really living her life. Suzi was not the smartest girl, she could have gotten herself out of her mess a lot sooner, rather than waiting for it to escalate. Nora seems smarter, but not the kindest person. So basically there was not one person that I loved or related to in this story, but I still enjoyed it and followed every twist and turn that got thrown at me.

It's funny how one of the women sums up what happens in this book as:
"The plot sounded so elaborate. Like something you'd read in one of those trashy thrillers...

and yes, I agree... the story wasn't fully believable, but it was still good.

Was this review helpful?

This is the 2nd book by the author and after the 1st book I couldn't wait to read another one. The Other Wife was so good and kept me hooked from start to finish. Claire McGowan is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. The Other Wife, has everything I look for in a good mystery novel. Mystery, complex characters, not a lot of romance, and lots of drama.

Was this review helpful?

The plot was intense, powerful and thrilling and held me captive all the way through! The characters fairly leapt off the page, and the tension was palpable. If you are looking for a book that you just CAN’T put down, then this is DEFINITELY the book for you!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Bookouture in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

#TheOtherWife #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

I was absolutely captivated by this book. .It was compelling as the story evolved and changed,there were so many twists and changes.Although Suzi had made mistakes she totally had my empathy and I wanted a happy ending for her! Buy this book,its the best book I have read for ages, you won't be disappointed!!

Was this review helpful?

This is the perfect psychological thriller. There’s lots of twists and turns throughout that you won’t see coming. Claire McGowan is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I’ve loved everything that I’ve read of hers recently. I’d strongly recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi made some mistakes. Now she's stuck in a bad situation. Things start looking up when Nora moves into the only other house nearby. Things are not as they appear and Suzi is not the only one with a secret...

I enjoyed this thriller novel. I did predict the plot twists (one very early on), but the book kept me interested for the most part. There were some slow moments that could have been shortened. I appreciated the multiple points of view and found the ending to be very satisfying. I had hoped for a bit more character development, and I think I would have liked the protagonists much more if they had shown some more growth. This was a solid domestic thriller that offered some scary, suspenseful moments and a whole lot of revenge.

Was this review helpful?

I received a free copy of this book from Net Gallery in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great psychological thriller.
Suzi did something bad and she is paying for it.
She is almost tempted to tell her friend Nora about it.
Elle spends her days in her perfect home and keeps her secrets to herself.
A shocking event occurs and it brings all three women together
A fascinating book

Was this review helpful?

A women who can't help but have an affair moves to a very isolated place. with her husband. Months later a women moves into a cottage next door. And so the story begins and we get to know the characters. I feel like if I explained anymore it would spoil the story.. This was a very Intriguing , entertaining book. One I couldn't put down. The author did a great job keeping me entertained and wanting to know whats going to happen next. Even though I guessed at a couple things happening in the story it did not wreck the story in any way. Many twists and turns in the book I never expected and kept me wanting more..

Was this review helpful?

Twists that I didnt see coming people you get to care about and route for. Very well written and a very good read.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed the pace of this book even though I figured out who connected to who and how the stories of the women intertwined. I think that there was almost too much foreshadowing that when it was supposed to be the reveal, I wasn't really gasping or really having any emotion. However, I couldn't put it down regardless because I had to know the ending. I don't think I was entirely shocked with the ending except for where the child ended up.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a book written from multiple points of view which sometimes doesn’t work but in this case, it does. If you are like me, a HUGE fan of mysteries and thrillers, you will want to read this novel. I cannot get enough of books like this one that keeps you biting your nails in fear!

Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick.

When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. It’s impossible—does she already know what Suzi did?

Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder. After all, she’s done it before…

Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.

Many questions, secrets, and lies that I was kept guessing throughout. Highly recommended!

This book comes out on October 24! Pre-order now.

Was this review helpful?

A domestic thriller with unlikeable-but-interesting characters that keeps you on your toes. It was slow to start (at least in my opinion— there are plenty of reviews saying otherwise) and the ending felt really chaotic in a forced way. There were definitely moments that were harder to believe than others, but once you learned to ignore that feeling it was overall quite enjoyable.

I would've preferred tighter writing and a shorter book in order to keep that urgent, panicked feeling, but it wasn't bad at all. I'll definitely consider reading Claire McGowan's other work.

Was this review helpful?

3 stars
I feel very conflicted by this book, The Other Wife by Claire McGowan. The story is told from the perspective of multiple people. I loved the vast majority of the book. I was instantly sucked into the plot and couldn’t wait to see how the whole plotline played out. And then when the end came, it was an utter disappointment.
300 pages of suspense building up to an incredible ending and then a complete failure. It was almost like the author just got tired of writing and just decided to wrap it up. Why? This book deserves a different ending and another 50 pages or so. What was the point of the very tiny subplot of Allison and her partner? It absolutely made no sense.
This book could have easily been a 5-star book with an alternate finale. But instead, I give it a 3.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.

Was this review helpful?

A psychological thriller told by the two main characters suzi and Nora.
Suzi and her husband nick move to an isolated cottage in the middle of nowhere, nick goes to work all day leaving pregnant suzi and a puppy alone all day with no car or money she has secrets to hide but feels isolated and has a sense that she is going mad all curtesy of her husband nick.
Nora a widow moves in next to them and somehow seems to know all about suzi as they become friends! The way these two women are linked and by whom gradually becomes apparent and the links and ties that bind them, a sobering thought that with today’s technology how we can be controlled and how easy it is to delve for information that is freely available! A thought provoking read.
Thank you net galley for this early read.

Was this review helpful?

One word sums the other wife up, clever it's really really clever and genuinely keeps you guessing until the very last page. Keep your wits about you and trust nobody.

Was this review helpful?

Brilliant book. I couldn’t put it down. It was complicated to decide who was the villain in the story. I thoroughly recommend this book

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun read - it drew me in right away with the alternating points of view as a new neighbor, Nora, moves into a cottage in a remote and isolated area. We see it from her point of view and also from Suzi's, who lives across the street with her husband Nick, and appears anxious and edgy about every little thing. Sure, she's pregnant and a bit scatterbrained, but there's much more to it. The women meet and become friends, as much as they can be with the secrets they're both keeping, that is. We also meet Elle, another anxious wife who dotes on her husband and never quite believes that their marriage is as perfect as it seems. She's right, of course.

I can't say that any of the twists were exactly mind blowing and you will probably see them coming, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy this story as it unfolds. The female characters are likable, although Suzi is a little too extreme with her nervousness and constant unease. It would have been nice to see her with a bit more backbone and less self-pitying remorse about her past. The male characters are almost all deplorable narcissistic jerks except of course the one that helps to save the day. Male readers may be a bit turned off by this!

Even though I felt like I've read this tale many times before, the author keeps it fresh and the story flows easily as the lies are exposed and everything starts to unravel for the women. I found myself turning page after page, impatient to see who survives and at what cost. I wasn't disappointed!

Was this review helpful?

This is a slow burner of a story that peels away at the layers of deceit and deception. Told form the viewpoint of 3 characters, it delves into their lives, showing nothing is ever quite as it seems! A great, solid read.

Was this review helpful?

A tangle of lies, deceival and marital abuse. Two women with similar destinies, whose lives were brought together and partly destroyed by a professional liar. The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a complex thriller of deceival and revenge, which explores the deep secrets of the angry brain.

Suzi, heavily pregnant and Eleanor/Nora a sad widow are new neighbours in the middle of the nowhere English countryside. A simple friendship which evoles to something else. More complex and unexpected. Both of them met a man that meant something to them. A man that apparently died and took with him part of those women' lives. But what actually do they know about this man?

Step by step, the novel is delving into revealing snapshots of secrets that were hidden. In both women lives there are secrets, deadly in some cases. The reality proves to be completely different and the truth is always hidden. When it comes out, it's a corpse left behind.

I've been fascinated by the technique of building the narrative, with unexpected turns and dramatic developments. All characters do have issues and bloody secrets they are easily living with and this is a pretty scary view on human nature. It might be, as one of the police officer said at a certain point that most crimes are committed by a person you know, but this dark side of humanity is terrifying. Maybe this is how it is, maybe not.

From the literary point of view, I've had often the feeling that the narrative is disbalanced as the main interest is on the characters. It's like the writer is so keen to share so much about the dark sides of them that sometimes the proper development of the plot is somewhere lost in between the cross-stories shared by different viewpoints.

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a chilling novel, you hardly leave it until it is finished, with a maigre touch of feminism - as both women are victims of manipulative men. A story that makes you think and pessimistically encourage you to suspect any couple you might see happily holding hands on the street. Something to think about later on.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a thriller about a couple and a woman who lives next door. Nora moves in next door to a pregnant Suzi and her husband Nick, in a neighborhood hidden away from the city. Soon both Nora and Suzi realizes they both hold secrets they don't want the other to know, and their lives are more connected than they think.

The story is written with several narrations: Nora, Suzi, Elle, and detective Allison. In the beginning, I wondered how these characters relate to each other. But I saw the twist coming from a mile away. I'm not sure if the author intended to make it obvious. However, towards 3/4 of the book, came the twists I did not expect. There is a lot going on in the book. The book has a "Gone Girl" similarity to it. I just wish the twists have a more "omg" factor it, because I wasn't shocked.

Overall, I thought it was a good read. Thank you to Netgalley, Claire McGowan, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

This story definitely kept me interested, which is why it's earned 4 stars. I don't feel that the plot was incredibly amazing or anything special, but it was a fast and easy - even fun! - read. I liked how strong Suzi was. She wasn't the typical simpering "oh poor me" character that you often find in these thrillers. I recommend it as an easy and quick read on a rainy weekend or at the beach/pool.

Was this review helpful?

Found this book amazing! Would love to read more of books from this author
5**** from me
Would definitely recommend this to others

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Net Galley and Amazon for an early release of The Other Wife. Claire McGowan does it again, Intriguing!!! Loved it, got a bit confusing at the end and I don't understand the title BUT a very good read. I never wanted to put it down.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife i'm sorry to say was not for me,i just couldn't get into the story of Suzi,her controlling husband Nick and their neighbour Nora who moves in to spy on Suzi after she discovers what Suzi had done to her.Suzi confides in Nora about what she did not knowing that she already knows her secrets and lies,I just found the whole book dragged on and on with no real purpose and off putting from the first page with it jumping from one character to the next without really explaining what was happening and it was a little confusing at times,i always try to give a book a while before i lose interest but this was hard work but i like to finish them and i did, but this really is not a book which i will recommend.I may be in the minority with my review and others may love it.But sorry it just wasn't for me.A 2 star read at best..

Was this review helpful?

A page turner that will keep you awake late into the night. Though I could guess the first twist, the others were a surprise. The women are very gullible for someone who are professionals in their fields and survivors. Otherwise a gripping read.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed most of this book. I found the interplay between characters interesting and thought it well written. For me , however, the ending was a little week and unbelievable.

Was this review helpful?

“The Other Wife” is the story of three wives, each with a secret.

Suzi cheated on her husband Nick and now she’s pregnant. The two have moved to the countryside at Nick’s insistence, but as his need for control increases, so does Suzi’s desperation.

Nora is widowed, and has just moved in next door to Nick and Suzi. Nora’s husband wasn’t exactly who she thought he was...but then, Nora’s not being honest about who she is either.

And lastly there’s Elle, a former concert pianist married to a doctor. On the outside Elle seems to have the perfect life, but she’s miserable. Convinced her husband is having an affair, Elle will go to desperate measures to keep her perfect life intact....

This is a novel about mistakes and secrets, and MAN, are there a lot of them! But the author manages to weave a deft and intricate story without it ever feeling too complex or heavy handed. I do enjoy a split narrative, but was a bit worried when the third voice came in as I thought it might be a bit too much. Thankfully, we are in capable hands, and it’s beautifully managed, with each character speaking in a distinctive and singular voice so that keeping track of each story is easy. The writing is skilful, and I loved the characters - each had a past and each had made mistakes, but I found myself quietly rooting for each of them in turn - I hate when a character is written as a complete saint or total sinner, I just find it unrealistic and irritating. These characters were flawed but they had real heart, and I connected with all three women. .

There are some excellent twists in this novel, and it’s perfectly paced, with the tension ratcheted right up towards the end. I loved it - it’s absolutely one of my top thrillers of the year so far (and I read a lot of thrillers!). I can’t wait to see what else this author comes up with - a really fresh and exciting voice.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Other Wife is a thriller about as original as its title. Which is to say not at all. It’s very similar to a great many women authors women driven thrillers that seem to be all the rage nowadays, it diligently works the formula, but doesn’t go out of its way to offer readers something new or exciting. So here you have the traditional split narratives, which do eventually narrow down via a twist so (from miles away) easily predictable, it barely seems like a twist at all. But essentially it is a story of two marriages, both crappy, with wives in both being the victims of coercive control. In fact, this is laid on so thickly, it can be a coercive control PSA. Which is, of course, a terrible thing, but also very much one of those two to tango scenarios. So before you go pitying the wives, consider this…they made choices, they made stupid choices and stuck with them and continue to do so on daily basis through personal weaknesses or self delusion. And also…they are not the naïve innocents in all of this. In fact, they are criminals, liars or both. Obviously, the wives are connected in some way and obviously it’s through a man, this is, after all, a very obvious book. And so everyone go around playing their games, lying and manipulating those around them, only the men are made out to be the deviant, while the women are helpless damsels who are just kind of waking up to their circumstances. The fact that one of them wakes up all the way (the other one makes some efforts, but essentially just rolls over and waits to be rescued) and gets in a mood for revenge is one of the best aspects of the novel, but it just isn’t enough to elevate the estrogen saturated (very much so, in fact the author also writes women’s fiction under a different name) triteness of the plot. So depending on how you like your suspense thrillers this may or may not work for you. If your expectations, need for clever twists and originality are all set to low and you don’t mind spending time with a bunch of not especially likeable liars and cheats…go for it. The writing itself is decent enough, very readable. It’s pop fiction, essentially, the psychological darkness of the genre (one of my favorite things about it) isn’t really all that dark. There is some demented behavior and some genuinely sh*tty mother figures for a book so obsessed with motherhood, but not enough, the bulk still rests with the helpless clueless women being manipulated by their evil, evil men. And if that wasn’t simplistic enough, the final twist, the reason someone gets found out, is so amateurishly dumb, especially after creating and executing such an elaborate plan, that it’s just…laughable. So yeah, mediocre at best, something like a mindless beach read. Very easy read, but not exactly intellectually or otherwise thrilling. Your mileage may vary. Thanks Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first Claire McGowan book. I found the story very slow and quite unbelievable at times. I didn't particularly like the characters enough to care what happened! Not a book I would recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, I just really felt this a a formula book. Very similar to so many of the suspense books out right. now. Nothing Original about it.

Was this review helpful?

Review
Suzi and Nick have moved to a cottage in the country, a cottage that has been modernised with security and technological features. Instead of feeling content in her new home, Suzi feels sad, isolated and lonely. She is also missing Sean, a Doctor, who she has fallen in love with and who she believes is the father of her unborn baby. She doesn’t know where he is and why she hasn’t heard from him.

Nick is controlling, possessive and critical. He seems to know all of Suzi’s movements and tries to control all aspects of her life.

Nora moves into the cottage next door and she and Suzi start to make friends, however Nora is suspicious of Nick’s attitude towards Suzi. It isn’t long before Suzi tells Nora all about the other man. She decides to go to the hospital where he works to find him. It is only there that she realises that Sean may not have been entirely truthful with her.

In the meantime, recently-widowed Nora has her own past to come to terms with.

This book deals with domestic abuse from a psychological as well as physical aspect. I thought the way it was written seemed realistic with Nick’s behaviour getting worse, the less control he had.

There were some other parts of the book that I struggled to relate to. Dr Holt’s parents - too much of a coincidence. Dr Holt’s unprofessionalism, eg contacting Suzi about Nora - this irritated me because it just wouldn’t happen. Suzi being such a wet blanket when she obviously had such a strong personality in London - to then being so passive in such a short period of time. Surely most women would still have some strength to stand up for themselves? I didn’t like Nora and I couldn’t see how she could get away with what she did without raising suspicion. And, how the two women could become close friends finished on a bit too much of “not sure how to end this book, so let’s give it a happy ending” note for me.

Overall, I would say that it was a good book, an enjoyable read but there were some anomalies that I couldn’t overlook. For its enjoyability factor, I rate it 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks
Thank you to the author Claire McGowan and publishers Amazon Publishing for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an independent review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a domestic thriller that keeps you on your toes. For once a domestic thriller that I didnt know what the outcome was going to be. It has some great twists that I didnt see coming. Was it the neighbor, the wife, the other woman, the ex, or the husband? Who was doing all these stalkerish things to Suzi. The story was fast paced and the chapters short enough that I just couldnt help to keep reading on. If it was a tad bit shorter it would have been just that much better because it was losing pace about 3/4 of the way for me and then picked up toward the end. I would read another one by this author.

Was this review helpful?

The other wife is a thiller based around betrayal, domestic violence and revenge..... or so you think, it has twists and turns galore and kept me guessing to the very end. I though I had the ending sussed.... I was wrong.
Suzi is living isolated in the country with her controlling husband and no friends, that is until Nora moves into the area. I found the characters hard to like to begin with but they grew on me as the xstory unfolded, this book skips from the perspective of different characters chapter to chapter which is a writing style I have come to really enjoy.
defiantly one to read

4 stars

Was this review helpful?

This book sucked me right in as it’s my favourite sort.

It’s twisty and full of suspense and although the characters are (I assume deliberately) unlikeable the story is enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this! Very strong characters which led you through a story of suffering and deceit with twists and turns along the way. It was very engaging and was definitely a page turner! Would recommend this to anyone looking for a thriller/drama novel.

Look forward to reading more from Claire McGowan. Thank you Net Galley.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife had kind of a creepy, sinister vibe. Like something wasn't right, and you knew something was going to happen, but who is bad and who do you need to worry about?

What I liked- there was a slow unravelling of the story, bits of information coming to light about each of the characters, and twists right until the end. Also, no one was perfect and the suspense level was good.

Some times the story lagged a little, and others it was full of twists and action. Also, the many names and points of view per chapter at first were confusing, which I'm sure was intentional. I liked the end and would read more by this author, this was a first for me.

Was this review helpful?

Told from the POV of at first three different women wronged by a scam artist, the story then cuts to just two of the women. The Other Wife, set in an isolated rural neighborhood, is a tale of deceit, murder, and revenge that slowly unfolds, the pacing as languid as the long days that stretch out for one of the protagonist's, Suzi. Wallowing in guilt over an affair she's had and the growing control her husband has gained over her life, Suzi starts a tepid friendship with a new neighbor, Nora, who has moved just into the cottage across the road from her. What Suzi doesn't know is that Nora's move is not just a coincidence.

Suzi's thoughts are constantly on the disappeared lover and his baby that is growing in her belly. While lost in her own private hell and suffering from pregnancy fog, the gravity of just how much her husband is manipulating her life is lost on her. Too late, she comes to learn that Nora isn't who she thought she was. But as carefully laid plans begin to unravel and secrets come to light, Nora might be her only salvation. Is she a friend or a foe?

The pacing was a little slow in the first quarter of the story, but the author paints a rich detailed internal life of her characters, making them vivid and lifelike for the reader. I don't think the slow pace, in the beginning, is a problem. It's more about personal taste. The story was well-written and had good twists and plot reveals. I enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

This was one of my absolute favorite books this year. It keeps you drawn in and trying to figure out the connections between the characters is so fun. At the beginning of the book, I was so confused because of how vague everything was being portrayed. Once you get to a certain point and you understand the connections, you can't stop reading. I read the entire book in one day. One of my favorite things about the book is how the characters progress. We see who the characters truly are as things are revealed in the story. I loved this part of the book. It has all the aspects that a good thriller needs. In the end, I would recommend this book to everyone. I think it has something for everyone. This was a 4.5/5 star read for me. I can't wait to spread the word about this book! I loved it so much!

Was this review helpful?

THIS! This book is definitely a must must read!! This book was so good that I did not want to put it down! I couldn't wait to see what happened at the end, but I didn't want it to end!! It was that good!!!!!!

Was this review helpful?

(Pregnant) Suzi had an affair and now her and her controlling husband are living in an extremely isolated house..

Then Nora moves into the only other house near them.. but what does Nora know about Suzi's extramarital affairs? What is her plan for moving there.. and whose side is she on??

I felt that this one started off a little slow, and somewhat confusing.. but to push through it is well worth it! The second half picks up, things fall into place, and it ends up being a solid, who's who thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley, Claire McGowan, and Thomas & Mercer for this galley in exchange for an honest review. #TheOtherWife #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

A domestic thriller three women three friends each with her own secrets .Book full of twists and turns told from each womens point of view a true page turner. #amazonuk #netgalley

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is a solid domestic thriller with relatively unlikable, but interesting characters and twists and turns that come together for a satisfying ending. It follows the popular multiple POV format, teasing bits of each character's story and how they are all interconnected.

What I really enjoyed about this read was the depiction of of gaslighting in Nick and Suzi's relationship. McGowan did a great job showing how easy it is for this to happen and the slow build process that can have deadly repercussions.

Thank you to #netgalley and Amazon Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a real slow burner, that for the first 2/3rds seems to be really skittish leaping from one thing to another without really getting anywhere. It jumps between the two main protagonists, who know of, but don't know each other. Embezzlement, fraud and control being their controlling factors.


From the city, to rural snow covered (for the most part), Kent. Music rooms, to bleak cottages.


There are twists and turns a plenty, which are drawn together very well towards the end of the book.


Well worth a read, if you have some spare time.


#TheOtherWife #NetGalley


Rating: 3.8/5


Status: Completed


Release Date: 24th October 2019

Was this review helpful?

A good quick read with some surprising turns. You quickly realize a few major details of each characters identity but how it plays out in the end was unexpected.

Adultery, murder, and blackmail. A perfect combo!

Was this review helpful?

This is a very good story, sleekly told. The principal female characters relate their story from each of their different points of view, gradually uncovering their interconnected backstories informing the reader of who they are and how they ended up where they are; as it happens, the male characters do not get a voice but wouldn't be able to justify their horrible behaviour even if they did!!

There are a few very good twists and the resolution is very satisfying; also by the end of the book, the reader gets a real understanding of the hideous and unpleasant practice of 'gaslighting' - if they didn't already know. The Other Wife is highly recommended, if you like psychological thrillers!!

I have read other books by Claire McGowan and this one definitely lives up to the high standard of her others.

Was this review helpful?

People are never who they seem.
This book is full of twist and turns, some you see coming others you don't.
If you are fan of thriller this book is for you.
It has a great plot and I couldn't put it down.

Was this review helpful?

A twisty thriller! Hold on to your seat! Suzi is living with her husband Nick. They live in a secluded area. One day they get a new neighbor Elle which Suzi is happy because she thinks she has a new friend but is Elle really watching her?

Was this review helpful?

Suzi and Nick live in a secluded are, both hiding secrets. Nora has moved in next in next door, Suzi is excited to have another person around but Nora has her own secrets. She knows who Suzi is and knows the secret that could ruin Suzi and Nicks marriage.

A quick and enjoyable thriller that keeps you on your toes trying to guess how everything to connected.
I had trouble rating this one because 3 stars seems to low but it didn’t quite reach 4 stars for me.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc!

Was this review helpful?

I was given this book by Net Galley for an honest review -
Susie is married to a jealous husband. She has an affair and finds herself pregnant - who is the father?
A new neighbor moves in and Susie shared her secrets with her - but what is the neighbor up to?
And then Nora meets Susies controlling husband and discovers all the ways he has been watching and controlling her - will she be able to help Susie before something happens?
With twists and turns this read takes you to a startling ending!

Was this review helpful?

I debated about giving The Other Wife 2 or 3 stars. The plot was interesting, but in my opinion author, Claire McGowan, had too much back and forth in time and too many points of view. I was given an early copy to review.

Was this review helpful?

This is an absolutely brilliant book, if I ever had a thought about writing a novel myself I reminded myself throughout that I could never come up with such an intricate plot with so many connecting characters. It's one of the best books I've read in a while and I read a lot. I could hardly put it down. Those involved, I could see clearly, the lane, the cottages, the hospital, Nick, Patrick, Andrew, Nora, Suzi and the inside of their properties, it was all there in my mind. What an amazing author Clare is, ten out of ten or more if there was more.

Was this review helpful?

A creepy psychological thriller that brings together the lives of the characters in unexpected ways with revenge, relationships, stalking, coercive control and more.

In the early chapters of this book we are introduced to Nora, Suzi, and Elle. Each woman has a distinct voice, and they all have intriguing stories to tell. Liz McGowan creates a lot of hooks for the reader that hint at secrets, troubled lives and hidden pasts and I was immediately drawn in by this. The connection between the women is slowly revealed in a way that keeps the story wrapped up in suspense and tension and at times I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what would happen next.

I formed lots of hypotheses as I was reading and guessed a few of the plot twists, but was still left surprised by others. There are unexpected events as intentions of characters change, and the connection between the women shifts and takes a different angle towards the end of the novel. The desolate country setting in the depths of winter adds to the sense of the characters being trapped, whether that is physically or emotionally.

A few chapters are written from a police officer’s point of view, and I didn’t think this added much to the book. While satisfying, the ending felt a bit flat compared with the rest of the book.

Overall a great read and I recommend this to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with dark characters and a story that keeps you turning the pages. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my personal review. #TheOtherWife #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

I was absolutely engrossed in this book. Read Well into the night in order to find out what happened next. This was the first book I've read by this author but hope that there will be more

Was this review helpful?

#TheOtherWife #NetGalley
The Other Wife is a beautifully written domestic thriller. There's a couple, and a newly arrived widow living in cottages. Well all is not what it seems. All of them have secrets. Written from three Women's POV, it will keep you engagrd until you turn its last page.
Claire McGowan has done it again after her succesful thrillers.
Its a good thriller. Everyone will like it whether they're fans of Claire or not.
A good read.

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed that. There is so much going on in this book; the story just rolls off the pages at you and you find yourself keeping reading until it is finished.

Between nutty Nora, nasty Nick and slippery Sean it is all going on.... poor Suzie!!. Highly recommended read!

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife has given my hope back for domestic thrillers. I am almost always disappointed with them, but not with The Other Wife, it blew me away and I haven't shut up about it since I've finished it.

I loved every minute of this story, told from the perspectives of Suzi, Nora, and Elle, the multiple points of view made the pacing just right, constantly leaving you hanging and wanting more. I adore the way Claire McGowan plants seeds and leaves breadcrumbs through the entire book, as well as the way she made me second guess myself and my own detective skills until the end.

The twists in this book were some of my favorites, some I saw coming (and I was very proud of myself for) and some I never guessed at all and left me shocked (in the best way, of course). With themes of adultery, gaslighting, and being trapped, paired with unreliable narrators, this story grew into pieces of my worst nightmare.

I can't recommend this book enough, I enjoyed every moment of it.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is the first book by Claire McGowan that I have had the pleasure to read. This book defiantly kept me on edge and turning the pages. There were twists and turns, some of them, I did figure out, but some I was totally blindsided by.
The Other Wife is full of lies, deceit, betrayal and lots and lots of secrets. Most, if not all, of the characters in this book, I disliked in the best way possible. I believe that Ms. McGowan’s goal was for the reader to find most of the characters abhorrent, and in my opinion, she achieved this goal.

The Other Wife is well thought out, the writing was solid and flowed well. Unfortunately, there were some implausible parts to this book, and I felt this distracted from the overall believability, but you will have to decide for yourself.

This story is told from different timelines and multiple points of view, all expressed by the female characters, Suzi, Elle, Nora, and Eleanor, that this story revolved around. Hearing from all these different characters could get a bit confusing. But maybe that was the intent of the author, to keep us on our proverbial toes. However, there were times I wanted to shake these women and say, “Really, what is wrong with you.”

Elle is the perfect wife with the ideal husband to go along with the quintessential life. However, things are not always what they seem to be on the surface. On the other hand, Suzi’s life is a mess, most of which, in my opinion, was her own doing. Her husband, Nick, is controlling, selfish, and belittling.

Under the guise of working on their troubled marriage, Nick moves them out of London to a remote cottage in the country. Suzi is feeling very isolated and unhappy, but as luck would have it, Nora moves into the cottage next door, and they develop a friendship of sorts. This is when the book gets interesting, but that is where I will have to end my review. No spoilers for my review.

The Other Wife is a bit of a slow burn. Ms. McGowan sets the scene thoroughly for this domestic thriller, and her character development is utterly devious. Overall, I did enjoy reading this book. I feel that I must mention there is an element of spousal abuse in this book, so if this is a problem for you, steer clear of this book.

*** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. ***

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is a domestic psychological thriller that will have you guessing until the end. This is my first novel by Claire McGowan, and I was pleasantly surprised. She did a wonderful job spacing the story line and revealing twists.

Set in England, Suzie and her husband move to a small isolated town. The only neighbor around is watching Suzie closely. Marital lies, betrayals and secrets… who is telling the truth and who is who they really say they are?

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves psychological thrillers. The Other Wife is a pleasant, easy read.

Thank you, Net Galley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I thought this was a great little read, I love the UK novels in this genre. This was a little reminiscent of Claire Macintosh or Ruth Ware. Great characters, both flawed and likeable at times.

Was this review helpful?

After reading and enjoying Claire McGowan’s other book, What You Did, I’m definitely disappointed by this one. I found the storyline very uneventful and I wasn’t surprised by anything. It’s also a storyline that I’ve heard several times before. I found myself having no energy to carry on reading, and thought about giving up several times. The only thing I liked is that it was quite a quick read and didn’t take me too long to get through it. I found the characters quite annoying and a bit weak. I will possibly read more from Claire McGowan in the future, but only because I enjoyed What You Did. Unfortunately The Other Wife isn’t one that I would recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun read about women who all have secrets and lies (why am I always drawn to these?) Suzi meets another woman when she and her husband move to a remote and isolated part of the country. Nora seems sympathetic and friendly (but how does she know Suzi's name)? Then we are introduced to Elle who is has problems of her own as she suspects her husband has been stepping out on her. Why are marriages so complicated? Well, you will see how complicated they are when you read this thriller! Twists and turns that I loved so it compelled me from beginning to end!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I loved it even though some things were predictable but never saw either of the husbands actions coming. Those men were sick and twisted and got what was coming. The wives? I have no words for either one, just pure twisted chicks, yet sadly brilliant.

Was this review helpful?

I couldn't get into this book no matter how hard I tried and no matter how good the reviews are. This book's writing fell flat for me. It did not grab my attention nor my interest. I was not invested in the characters and could not finish the book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

Publisher’s description: She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are…

Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick.

When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. It’s impossible—does she already know what Suzi did?

Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder. After all, she’s done it before.

Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.
************
Claire McGowan’s “The Other Wife” plays on a common theme of a woman scorned, but in this case, there are three women and we’re not sure at the start who is the scorned and who is the scorner. I had a difficult time following the story until about a third of the way through, which is one of the things that knocks the rating down a bit.

The book begins with an untitled chapter showing us a female character moving away from a house on fire. We don’t know who she is or how old she is, but we can tell that she is intentionally walking away and probably had something to do with the fire. When she sees Sebby calling to her from a window, she runs back. We don’t yet know who Sebby is in relation to her, but she clearly did not intend for him to be in the house.

Then Part One begins with rotating chapters between Nora, Suzi, and Elle. Nora has just moved in to a cottage home in a remote area, where she lives across from Suzi. Nora is alone but seems confident. Her chapters are narrated in the first person. Suzi’s chapters are also in the first person, but she is narrating to an as-yet unknown person (not her husband) with whom she clearly had a relationship. She is afraid of her husband, Nick. She worries when he has arrived home early and she isn’t dressed and hasn’t started dinner. Elle is the most insecure of the three characters. She constantly worries that something has happened to her husband when he is the slightest bit late coming home from work. He does his best to allay her fears when he arrives but expresses concern that she’s “going funny again.” For good measure, the author throws in a handful of chapters about Alison, a detective constable, with a chapter heading of February and either “three months later” or “two months later” in relation to a body found frozen under the snow. There are also a few chapters near the end about Maddy, which I believe are meant to hint at a big reveal, but I had already figured it out by then.

The narration in these chapters seems to have been set up to help keep the characters straight, but because the author is trying to keep the secrets secret, the male characters are almost all referred to with pronouns, so it took me a while to be able to keep the women straight. I kept flipping back to remind myself which one was which. In terms of “time,” we know that Nora and Suzi are in the same timeframe since they are neighbors, and Alison’s chapters always follow Suzi’s so Alison is a few months in the future, but we don’t know when or where Elle’s chapters take place, so this was intentionally but unnecessarily confusing — even knowing the ending and the who/what/where of all the story lines.

About a third of the way through the book, at the end of Part One, we start to see the connection between Elle and the other two women, and that’s when the book starts to make more sense and get interesting. I figured out many of the secrets long before they were revealed, but this was still a solid 3.5 star read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This title is scheduled for release on October 24, 2019.

Was this review helpful?

The beginning of the book had a slow moving plot that introduced a lot of characters that were hard to keep track of at first. I figured they were all going to be intertwined somehow so I was trying to make possible connections from the start and I'm not sure if that helped or hurt me in trying to keep everyone straight. At around the 2/3rds mark of the book, the plot really started picking up. Characters started revealing themselves and their true motives, connections were made and I was starting to get a glimpse at how it all might turn out. While there were still twists I didn't see coming, nothing was really crazy. This book, unfortunately, fell a little flat with me.

Was this review helpful?

I just finished reading this book and can definitely say it was gripping and a good read. The story was well told and carried me along fast and furious even though I didn’t especially bond with any of the characters. Suzie was pathetic and passively irritating. Nora was too crazy for me to feel comfortable in her presence.. Nick, Suzie’s husband was skillfully drawn as superficially harmless but with a dark underbelly. Elle was a wife blinded by her need for a husband she believed in.

This is a mystery, and a psychological study of what goes for love in our society. Marriage, infidelity, parenthood, jealousy, obsession and betrayal.. Nothing new really but the book was well written and even the parts that were a bit far fetched kept me guessing.

I dont like books that use dogs as a plot foil so here is a spoiler - Poppet survives!

I came away with the sense that human beings are rather unpleasant and selfish creatures. And perhaps that is true for many.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a multi-layered novel of secrets, deceit, abuse, and plenty of twists, all coming together in a suspenseful read that will have you turning pages late into the night. For me, the buildup was slow but the tension only ratchets up as the story progresses, and patience will be duly rewarded.

Told from the alternating perspectives of three women, Suzi, Elle, and Nora, it is immediately apparent that all is not as it seems in the lives of these three women. Suzi, the most fully fleshed out character, is pregnant and living in fear in a remote cottage where she is the victim of domestic abuse. Nora, coincidentally or not, takes up residence in a cottage of her own across the street, and might just be the salvation that Suzi is seeking. Or will Nora's secrets, in fact, be the undoing of them all?

This is a read that picks up steam as it progresses. There are lightbulb moments when individual stories shift into focus, and the twists will have you glad to have stayed the course.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This book kept me on the edge of my seat with the tangled web of lies and deception. Just when I thought I had figured things out another plot twist would come along. I don't want to say much about this book because I don't want to give ANYTHING away.! This was the first book I've read by this author - after my experience with this book I will definitely be seeking out additional books that she's written. I thought she did an exceptional job with the character development - not only with the main characters, but with the supporting characters as well. She also really set the scene of the isolated, cold, rundown cottages (Suzi's was newly renovated, but was formerly one of the rundown cottages). A fantastic read!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife tells the stories of Suzi, Nora, and Elle. Sui and Nora are new neighbors, and Suzi is delighted to finally have someone to talk to. Her husband is the jealous controlling type and he moved her to the country with no neighbors and without a car. He has some right to be jealous though has Suzi hasn’t always been the best wife. She quickly wants to confide all of her dirty secrets to her new friend Nora but that would be a terrible mistake.

Told from differing points of view and with new characters brought in randomly, it was often hard to follow. I finally got it all straight about 2/3 into the book, at which point it was hard to put down. This story has it all: secrets, revenge, gas-lighting, lies and murder. It is a quick and suspenseful read as the lives of these characters come together.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks Claire McGowan and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

The chapters are narrated from Suze/Nora/Elle’s perspectives. From the very beginning I was trying to figure out who ‘the other wife’ was...that was easily done by 20-25% of the book. I thought, now what? Well, now the story starts coming up with unexpected twits. There’s quite a bit going. One surprised that I did not see coming....Overall, it was good read and I have already recommended to some friends.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi, now pregnant, had an affair and this love of her life has apparently ghosted her. Her husband has moved her into an isolated internet controlled house as be becomes increasingly more and more controlling. A neighbor moves into the rambling cottage next door and has secrets of her own.

This book follows the currently very popular formula for psychological thrillers, narrated from multiple viewpoints with many twists and turns. It is well written and readable, but there is nothing really new here in a story that is a bit far fetched. I had a hard time with the characters. The women are seemingly out of the 1950s and most of the men full of deceit and domination.

Was this review helpful?

(SPOILERS AHEAD!)

Just fuck me up, honestly. What a twisty tale. I was pleasantly surprised to put together that Elle and Nora were the same woman BEFORE the big reveal (which rarely happens for me!), and I felt like it actually lent itself well to the story to know early, so I could read the story as they were the same person rather than piecing it all together later. I found Suzi to be super dislikable (probably a personal bias from a former spouse cheating but HEY! We've all get our own baggage) and honestly pretty irritating as she backed herself further and further into what felt like a super obvious corner with her husband.

Loved the ending. I was fearful it would end on a cliffhanger, so I was very pleased to have a definitive answer to what happened to most of the characters involved.

Was this review helpful?

This novel has every ingredient in the domestic noir repertoire- three women, and their various POV’s, deplorable husbands, a desolate cottage. Throw in jealousy, secrets, violence. Mix it all up. Out comes The Other Wife and it’s a great read. Recently read What You Did so I knew we had plenty of twists and surprises. Solid four stars.

Was this review helpful?

A good psychological thriller which at times stretches the imagination with lots of twists and turns. Don’t over think it, just read and enjoy and never forget not one of us know that goes on behind a hall door

How well do you know your neighbours?

With thanks to publishers and author for ARC in return for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

Good story, great pacing and reasonably realistically drawn characters. Although the story revolves Round some nefarious characters i found it unexpectedly positive and life affirming also...

Was this review helpful?

The other wife is a domestic thriller with deceit, lies and abuse, told through POV of three women.
Creepy with great plot twists kept me engaged. I read this in one sitting.
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon publishing for my advanced copy for sn honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi’s husband Nick moved them to a cottage in the country months earlier, forcing Suzi to leave her job. Now she’s 6-months pregnant, completely isolated and trapped, due to the fact she doesn’t have her own vehicle. And Nick is getting more and more controlling by the day, having a say about everything from how she cleans the house to any piece of food she puts in her mouth. Suzi wants to keep her family together, but all she can think about is the man she’s still in love with, the man she’s been waiting to hear from for months.

And then out of the blue, a woman named Nora rents the cottage next to Suzi’s. Finally, Suzi doesn’t feel so alone. Suzi hopes that she can find a confidant in Nora, but what she doesn’t know is Nora already knows all of Suzi’s secrets and she is planning to use them against her…

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a twisty domestic thriller with a cast full of unlikable characters. We see through the perspectives of 3 women: Nora, Suzi and Elle. We know Nora and Suzi are neighbors, but we are trying to guess how this separate woman, Elle, fits into the mix. Unfortunately, I guessed how the 3 women were all interconnected, which removed the element of surprise. But at the end, there were more twists that I didn't see coming, which kept me hooked to the story. I still would recommend this one! 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Claire McGowan for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Isolated in the English country-side Suzi is mourning a friend, unsure of her new neighbor, and trying to please her demanding husband. Claire McGowan's novel The Other Wife is a great thriller following several women as they unweave the truth and decide who they can trust.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

The author has titled each chapter with the character’s name whose point of view from which we will be reading. Did that sentence make sense? For example, if a chapter is titled, Suzi, we will be reading from the point of view of Suzi. I think this is a neat way to organize a book!

I knew from the synopsis that there must be a connection between the characters, but for the life of me I could not figure out what any of the connections were. I was confused for about 80% of the book just because the connections absolutely would not connect, but soon my confusion turned into intrigue.

At times the story moved slowly, but it gave me time to process what was happening.

McGowan is very detail oriented, which those readers who enjoy descriptions of settings, characters, and events will greatly appreciate. While I did not connect with or care for any of the characters in the book, it sometimes takes great talent to create characters who are unlikable and abrasive, and in the case of Claire McGowan, she shows immense talent in character development among other components.

And while I was baffled for the majority of the time I spent with this book, when things all started to come together, it was twist after twist, a symphony of surprises, and an ending that I had to sit with for a while just to process all that had happened.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy thrillers that are difficult to figure out. I would recommend it to readers who love detail such as the exact shade of a woman’s hair and how it falls on her shoulders, or how the snow settled on a quaint valley. Character development was also strong in The Other Wife as were the various setting descriptions.

Thank you for reading my review!

*Great thanks goes to the Publisher for presenting me with an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) via NetGalley*

Was this review helpful?

This book kept me up at night, I really enjoyed the pacing and the unpredictability. Every time I thought that I had it figured out, I'd discover I was wrong. Some parts might not always feel grounded in reality, but books like this are meant to be fun...and this one certainly was! I felt like a kid popping quarters into an arcade game, just one more chapter, one more chapter....okay, one more chapter.

If you like suspenseful domestic thrillers, this one will keep you on your toes.

Was this review helpful?

I have read a book by this author before and loved it (What You Did by Claire McGowan) so I was really excited to be given an egalley ARC of her newest book through netgalley. The premise was similar to the previous read in that it is a psychological thriller but the storyline was very different, with different types of crimes being committed. And I genuinely liked it just as much, even though it is very different. 

The storyline goes back and forth in time (which is well signposted) and no-one is who they first appear to be. The major twists are hinted at but there is more to the twists that initially meet the eye. Two women meeting for the first time as neighbours in a remote area of the countryside. Neither really wants to live there but circumstances necessitate it - one is a recent widow and the other attempting to absolve herself for her secret betrayal of her husband. As the mysteries unfold it appears that perhaps their husbands are not the men they claim to be. 

I really enjoyed this book and stayed up far too late one evening to finish!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an egalley ARC. 

***set to autopublish on release date***

Was this review helpful?

It is an ice cold winter and two women are holed up in small cottages next to each other. One is tasteful, snug and warm, the other is horrid and cold. So why are those women there and what is the role of their respective husbands?
We find out through the stories of Ella, Nora and Suzi. All three a bit strange; one is consumed by guild about something she did, so much she plays Cinderella for her husband all day instead of working on her own future; one is consumed by rage and one is simply devastated about what happened.
And then there are the men - Nick and Sean and Patrick. It's like a puzzle and the reader has to fit all pieces together.
None of the characters are very likable and it took me some time to find out what was happening and why, while the end of the book was a bit hurried, I think.
However, I enjoyed reading it; there was enough in the story to keep me interested.

Thanks to Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Was this review helpful?

Sometimes change can solve problem. That was what her husband, Nick, intended before moving to the isolated place and brought Suzi with him. That was what Nora said too about her moving to next of them after her husband's death. Well, it turned out every one of them had their own secret.

You can see that this is a domestic thriller book. Probably you can guess by the synopsis that this book is full of lies and dirty secrets. Yes, that about right. Layers of it.

My first Claire McGowan book, and I find her writing style is light enough to read in one sitting. It's a bit slow and boring at first but it goes faster. The book got so many twists so it is the right book for someone who loves twists. But let's just say the twists are more winning in quantitative than in qualitative ways. Half of the twists can easily being figured out and plain to see.

Anyway, the author took the coercion victims view to the surface with this story. That's great, since it is so common nowadays and people start to make some campaigns all over the place. Seeing Suzy or Nora, being the victim without them realizing it, shows me how victims usually not aware of their real situation. Of course, it is not the first book that came up with the issues, many books before this had it. So it is not that special for a book, but still an interesting issue to draw. It's just a little dissapointing the author not taking the opportunity to view the angle when the victim is not just women but the men can also be one.

The characters itself had some flaws. Like Suzy and Nora who's done so much faults in the past, I saw them as the anti-hero for the story. Well, Nora is. Suzy is not a hero in this, a damsel in distress is more suitable word but I don't blame her when you're being stress and pregnant. The men in this story are so unbearable and deceitful, it could make someone has trust issues by reading this.

Yes, it has many twists, interesting issues, and deceitful groups of characters but some things don't add up in this book. Like how some wrongdoings in the medical ethic, got away with it and no one knew is hard for me to believe. I felt so much dissapointment to the doctors here. How could they!! Also, the ending, it's a little below my expectation but well, I'm still glad for the ending. Overall, I enjoyed the book thoroughly.

Thanks NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

3 of 5 stars

Was this review helpful?

I did enjoy this book - I think I was perhaps just expecting a little too much following on from how much I loved 'What You Did' by Clare McGowan.

Nick and Suzi have moved to a remote location away from their bustling life in London. We very quickly become alerted that not all is as it seems to the outside world in their marriage. Suzi is isolated and practically held prisoner in the house as they are so far removed from the rest of the country and she has no money to go anywhere. Her loneliness seems to be about to end when a new neighbour moves in to their little street. But is Nora there because of more sinister reasons?

I did find myself wanting there to be a hidden twist in this book (And I've often read about how common and predictable twists are becoming) - I couldn't possibly tell you if it does but I will let you know that I did find myself wanting more from this book.

There were elements that were sadly unbelievable - Would someone really be able to gain easy access to a consultant's office and them become so easy to get on board? I also found the dog episode a little far fetched - surely it would bark?

I will read other Clare McGowan books as What you Did blew me away - sadly this one didn't quite hit the mark.

Was this review helpful?

Not a "who done it" mystery, but still great as a twisty psychological thriller that keeps the reader fully engaged. For the most part, it did not feel forced or overdone, and the writing is pretty solid. I am often disappointed by mysteries, but was not with this one. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for sharing an advanced copy of this engaging title!

Was this review helpful?

This was a domestic thriller with multiple points of view, deceit, and lies. It was a fast read that kept me engaged and I didn’t want to put it down.

Was this review helpful?

I voluntarily read this ARC in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts and opinions are mine


Loved this - had me hooked from the start.

Fast paced, wonderfully written - great story and character development

Kept me engrossed and couldn't put down - highly recommend

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this copy to read pre-release in exchange for an honest review.

This was a book that had really caught my eye and I was delighted to get a copy to read. After seeing mixed reviews, I was dubious but I have to say, I really enjoyed the book.

Its twisty, turny, and yes, some parts may be predictable, most thrillers can be, but what interests me is ow the author makes these predictable moments different, and this book was great for that. I felt even though I could guess where some parts of the story were going, it still made me want to read to see how it actually played out.

I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the story and I found myself wanting to pick it up more and more as the story went on.

For me this book gets a solid 4 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi, Nora and Elle are all very different women but they all have guilty secrets which, if they but knew it, connect all three.
To do this book justice you need to lock the door, turn off the phone and, if you're planning to read it at night, book the next day off work because I guarantee you won't put it down until you've finished it. It's an absolute gem of a book with characters you will pity, some you will like and others who will have you spitting with rage. And no spoilers but I loved the end.

Review posted on Goodreads and Amazon

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book that I have read of this author and I really enjoyed it. The characters may not have been on my favorite’s list but the twists and turns kept coming keeping the pages turning. I will admit to not being a fan of the ending of this book but I do look forward to reading more of Claire McGowan’s work.

Was this review helpful?

This is a quick easy read. I found it to be predictable in places. I didn’t like any of the characters either.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi doesn’t know how she got here. From a successful job and a happy marriage, to an isolated country cottage with a resentful husband. Struggling with the isolation, she is desperate to reach out, but mistakes have a way of repeating themselves... So when strange events start occurring in her home, her fear is immediate - is her past catching up with her? Or is there more to mysterious new neighbour Nora than meets the eye?

Now I apologise for the vagueness of that description but if I’m completely honest I wouldn’t really be able to do any better. Partly because there is very high risk of accidental spoilers, but also because this is perhaps one of the most difficult to describe books I’ve ever read. There are three narratives, all female, and especially at the beginning it’s very difficult to work out how everything connects and what is actually happening.

Now the big reveal of who everyone is and how they tied together was supposed to be a major twist in the book I think, but unfortunately it was quite easy to work out a lot earlier than intended. But that isn’t to say that knowing in advance ruined the twist, as from my perspective it was quite enjoyable to watch everything fall into place for both the reader and the characters.

This is a very difficult picture of you because obviously there is a limit on how much I can say without accidentally giving away some of the twists, as there were several along the way. What I will say is that some of the twists were better than others, and towards the end especially there was some things happening that were just far too improbable - suspension of disbelief is one thing, but at times this became almost absurd.

The characters as well were bit of a mixed bag. I didn’t really like any of them, I found them all to be quite irritating and a lot of their actions I just couldn’t understand. But this isn’t to say that it wasn’t an enjoyable book. It’s strange really, the plot was bizarre and the characters hard to relate to, And yet I still found myself quite gripped, And I guess in that sense it shows the true talent of the author to keep you intrigued in a story that by all rights you should of wanted to put down.

All in all, I’m not entirely sure what I think of this one. I read it very quickly, it only took me a day or two, and yet it wasn’t until the end when I realised that I actually enjoyed it. Because of the confusion, I have to say that I would definitely try another of her books, if only to clarify whether I’m actually a fan or not!


Disclaimer - I was provided with an advance copy of this novel by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way and all opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I adored this book and it had me absolutely hooked from the first sentence! What a fast and compelling read. Engrossing story told from three different perspectives that kept you on your toes the entire time! This got me out of my reading slump. Thank you Claire McGowan for writing such a fabulous book! Five huge stars!

Was this review helpful?

So many twists! Nothing is as it seems. I couldn't put this down! Claire McGowan has crafted a near perfect thriller and deftly keeps the pace with multiple narrators. You can feel the snowy English countryside closing in as the tension grows. Such a satisfying novel, right down to the very last line! This the first novel I've read by Claire McGowan, but I certainly look forward to reading more. So few thrillers deliver- this one does!

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife was definitely an interesting read. Most of the twists were very predictable, but it was still very fun (if by the numbers). I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to read these kind of thriller books, especially if you enjoy some of the books that have come out in recent years told by alternating points of view and with unreliable narrators. At times it feels very derivative of some of the popular books of this style (such as Girl on the Train), but in a way that kept it enjoyable and kept me reading.

What I especially appreciated in this novel was the realism in the portrayal of the abusive relationship that Suzi was in. Her husband's slow escalation and use of psychological abuse (coercive control) was very real, but what I really appreciated was that Suzi herself was not a saint. This is often lacking in stories of abuse, which portray the victim as a saint rather than a real person who makes real mistakes but still does not deserve this behavior. I found Nora to be slightly less realistic but I still appreciated the progression of her character and was glad that both women wised up about the men they were with.

Overall this is a simple book that, while not groundbreaking, is very entertaining.

Was this review helpful?

This was a solid domestic thriller with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting until the end.
Suzi, one of our main characters, is in a tricky situation, pregnant and in a relationship in which she is being subtly controlled. As you learn more about her you realise that there’s more to her and to her neighbour than meets the eye. Although some of the characters are not hugely likeable, as mentioned in other reviews, I was pulled into the story and to where it may lead. I also grew to understand many of the character’s actions as the plot unfolded, meaning I did grow to like empathise with the main female characters by the end.
The author pulls you into the story, leaving a few clues and references along the way and revealing just enough each time to shock and keep you guessing until the end. I enjoyed this book and will be going to read more of McGowan’s books.
Thank you to netgalley, the author and publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

A domestic thriller with plenty of twists and turns. However the varying narratives did not appeal to me and I found some of it very unbelievable. If you are looking for mindless entertainment this may be your cup of tea. Remember just because it wasn't necessarily for me it may appeal to someone else.

Was this review helpful?

Sadly I struggled with this book. I just found I was unable to engage with the characters and found the plot a little weak.
I didn’t finish either.
Other people might find it a good read. Sadly not for me

Was this review helpful?

I really loved the sound of this book and was really looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately I feel the story started out too slow and was hard to follow. The several character POV’s confused me and were so similar and dull it was hard to follow who was who. The second half of the book was a better than the first but it just wasn’t for me I’m afraid.

Was this review helpful?

(Also posted on my GR account!)

DNF @40%

This book has three different POVs and one weird 3rd person POV from a detective that might be involved in the future parts of the book.
That's one too many POV.

POV aside, the writing didn't give me anything interested. There's no varieties in three POVs that I fail to realize which POV I was without referring back to the name in the chapter.

Was this review helpful?

This is fun thriller to get sucked into. In the beginning, the shifting between characters and their POVs is confusing, but comes together in the first quarter of so of the book. Then things really get going and the bizarre twists and turns just keep coming.

Was this review helpful?

I really ...really.... wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I thought the story started out too slow, hard to follow, etc. I did however like the twists and turns! The second half of the book I thought flowed a little better than the first.

Plot is Suzi and Nick are married and Suzi has done a bad thing. She had an affair and is pregnant and under the roof of a cottage in the middle of 'no where' and living with husband Nick who is controlling and jealous. Suzi decides to reach out to her one neighbor Nora .. and slowly she started to reveal her secrets to her new friend the problem is ...does Nora know? But how?

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of the book for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire Mcgowan

The Other Wife is a creepy domestic thriller complete with remarkable characters and unexpected plot twists and all which keeps the reader spellbound and wanting more.

I quite like the multiple POV style of writing which seems to be the technique of most writers today.

This is a fascinating style as it takes out the monotony of the narration and allows the readers to get an insight into the depths of the various characters and their underlying emotions. The story covers gas lighting, coercive control, manipulation and other forms of emotional abuse which has become very common today.

Suzi is pregnant and has moved to an isolated farmhouse to supposedly protect her crumbling marriage with her jealous, manipulating and overly possessive husband Nick. Nick justifies his behavior as he thinks that Suzi deserves this as she cheated on him.
When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi hopes she has found a friend and confidante. But is Nora really who she says she is?

The third character in this narrative, Elle leads an apparently perfect life. Her husband’s betrayal however spins her out of control and she will go to any extent to protect her marriage.

These characters’ lives look unrelated but in reality are intertwined with one another in a web of secrets, lies and deceit until they realize that they have more in common than they ever imagined.

This unexpected turn of events keeps the flow of the narrative gripping and Claire delivers a taut and absorbing thriller. Touching on topics of emotional abuse, Claire’s choice of figurative language and the build up of the story line all add to the essence of the narrative.

Was this review helpful?

Domestic thriller meets The Scarlet Letter! I loved the vibe of this story - nice English countryside. Though the jealous husband trope can get old, I thought it was well done in this book. The book felt both plot and character driven which was very refreshing.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately I just couldn’t get excited about this book! I tried but the characters just fell a little flat and seemed rather boring to me. The storyline didn’t leave me wanting more and I craved that big twist that makes you go “wow”. Don’t think I’d recommend this one...

Was this review helpful?

A solid thriller. I felt the main characters were smart and capable and really cared about their fate. Very well written and insightful.

Was this review helpful?

This is a domestic thriller that had me guessing and trying to put all the pieces together before the end of the stunning conclusion. There were tons of great twists throughout and it reminded me a lot of "The Other Wife" but not in a copy-cat way but a kept me enthralled way. Suzi and Nick move to a very secluded area and Suzi has some secrets that she wants to share. Maybe she can share them with Elle...except Elle has plenty of secrets of her own.

Was this review helpful?

Fast-Paced Psychological Suspense

Suzi once had an exhilarating life in London, replete with a loving husband, successful career and a social life with lots of friends. But lately Nick has turned from loving to controlling—he's transplanted them both to a cottage in the middle of nowhere and dictates her every move. She finds herself pregnant, friendless, jobless and completely isolated, at least until Nora moves in to the cottage across the road. Suzi's hiding secrets she knows she shouldn't share with anyone, especially not a woman she barely knows—but she also needs help.

At first Nora seems capable, practical and strong, just the sort of woman who can be trusted. She's got secrets of her own, however, secrets that have stayed hidden since her childhood. And then there's Elle, the ex-concert pianist whose beauty has faded as thoroughly as her musical career. She spends most of her time as a prisoner in her beautiful home, doing her best to look attractive when her hard-working husband finally walks through the front door every night.

This is one of those addictive thrillers that I can't seem to put down once I start reading. Told from alternating viewpoints—primarily Suzi's, Elle's and Nora's—The Other Wife kept me guessing until the end. There was one key plot point I figured out very early on, but the novel had so many twists and turns I still couldn't see where it was heading. None of the main characters are especially sympathetic but for me this is a point in the novel's favor. Suzi's insecure chaotic, crisis-driven persona seems realistic and relatable—I also liked coming across a main character for once who isn't thrilled at the prospect of becoming a mother. The newly widowed Nora also held my interest. There's a dark, calculating side that makes her far from the dowdy, middle-aged victim her husband tried to mold her into. And Elle, who gave up everything for a man who deceived her, has a certain fragile glamour yet also a dated, naive, passive quality that gives the character a certain unresolved tension.

The novel is well plotted, with short, alternating chapters that shift in time so that the story unravels quickly—leaving a trail of tantalizing clues to follow. I also loved the bleak, slightly gothic setting and thought it was a great contrast to Suzi's fast-paced, liberated life in overcrowded London. My only criticisms are that the chapters told from the detective Alison's point of view didn't seem to fit all that well into the narrative. They are so brief and so far apart we don't get a sense of her and her presence seems almost unnecessary. And yet another part of me would have liked to have seen more of her character and more of a police angle to the story. I also think the ending had aspects that seemed a bit unlikely, but not to the point where it interfered with my enjoyment of the book. Overall, this is a gripping page-turner and I will definitely be reading McGowan's other novels.

Much thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife By Clare McGowan
I have rounded up my rating on this from 3.5 to give 4 stars.
There was a nice build up to the story, and a nice level of suspense. All in all, and enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

It's been a while since I read a thriller, and now I wonder why. I loved this one, and think I should read more of them again!

While I figured out one part of the plot, the twitst it takes have put me on wrong ideas a couple of times. However, I must admit that I was very pleased with the way it turned out in the end. The last couple of chapters certainly made my stomach tie itself up in knots, since I rooted for many of the characters in the end.

This is a book I couldn't put down if I wanted to, it was so good.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is a psychological thriller that’s fast paced & intense, and will capture the reader’s attention on page 1! I love the way the author tells the story through multiple perspectives. By doing that, the characters are well developed and the storyline is vivid & detailed.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately I did not finish this book, the differing points of view at the start were far too confusing and I really struggled to stay engaged so I am sorry to say that I could not stick with it till the end

Was this review helpful?

Just when you think you have it figured out, things change! That’s how I felt when I was reading The Other Wife. I thought I knew what was going on and then something happens and I’m totally thrown off!

The novel flips between Suzi, Nora and Elle, but mostly focuses on Suzi and Nora who have just become next door neighbours. Everyone has their secrets, but not all secrets stay secret for very long. I quickly guessed what the relationship was between the three women, but was surprised on what had happened at the end. There is a murder (there’s always a murder!) and I was so torn on who the victim was and who the killer was. I didn’t guess that part right!

3 calculators out of a potential 5. If you are looking for a twisty ride with a couple of unlikeable characters, then you should check this out!

Thank you to Netgallery and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi is pregnant and has her own secrets but she is stuck in an isolated cottage in the countryside with her possessive husband, Nick, always under his monitor. When Nora Halcombe moves in to the cottage beside Suzi, Suzi is finally happy to have a friend with whom she could lean towards. But Nora has her own secrets underneath her compassionate embrace. Meanwhile, Elle is a perfect housewife with a perfect husband who ends up betraying her. She has to deal with the consequences even if it means committing murder, after all, it isn't something new to her. As these three women unravel secrets and lies of past and present, they soon realise they have so much more in common then they would have imagined. As their paths cross, their lives alter unimaginably.

First off, after reading all the 'amazing' reviews this book has earned, I knew this book wouldn't let me down as "What You Did' did. Boy, was I wrong! Such a gripping storyline but the author could have done much more justice to it. Slow-paced, predictable and tiring, the story is told in 3 main narratives and 2 supporting narratives in 4 parts, the book turned out to be a complete letdown. Claire's writing made it a bit bearable but it was torture reading this book. Characters were good but the twists were predictable. In fact, it was cliched. I was immensely excited about the book after 'What You Did' turned out to be a bad read. But I am extremely disappointed. There was a certain aspect to the book which made me go on and hope it becomes better along the way but that aspect wasn't explored in a way it should have been.

It was okay as a one time read and I am terribly sad it isn't good enough for a second read. I just loved the storyline so much. I am utterly heartbroken. Giving this a 3.5 only because of the last two chapters and for those characters who deserved so much better. Or else this is a 2.5-star read.

Recommended: Most of the readers found this book incredible and even I would recommend it for the certain essence of it. You might love this book, who knows?

Was this review helpful?

A haunting thriller brimming with unlikeable characters and a twisty plot? I'm all in. The Other Wife by Claire McGowan did NOT disappoint. I couldn't put it down. "Page Turner" was coined for novels like this one. Highly (highly!) recommend to anyone looking for a chilling domestic thriller.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife had both the character development and sinister feel of a good thriller. Suzi and her husband move to a secluded home and a mysterious neighbor, Nora, moves into the cottage across the road. As the different perspectives tell their stories, the characters become less likable (in a good way). Unfortunately, the pointed hints to the reader made the twists of the story too predictable and when the story finally reached its end, the pieces of the puzzle fell too neatly into place, making for an unbelievable conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Claire McGowan for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book "The Other Wife" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I really didn't like the characters at all. The story moved slowly also. It was okay.

Was this review helpful?

Pretty good book, with several twists and turns. I think this book has a great premise, but it could have been developed more succinctly. I did find the characters interesting, and the story flowed well. I found it to be an easy read, and I will look for other books by Claire McGowan.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi has left her big city living to stay at home at an isolated home in the country. She is completely alone until Elle moves down the road from her. Suzi is married to Tom who is obsessed with monitoring and following her every move, however she does not know until she tries to find the man she was having the affair with prior to her move. Things are definitely not what they seem and even Elle is part of it. I loved the pacing of this book and the many twists as the book progresses. There are a lot of people that are seemingly involved however they may or may not know that they are. The past is not the past anymore and someone is settling scores. I really like this author and am eager to read more from her. I will be recommending this book to others

Was this review helpful?

Suzie lived in London, with a good job and plenty of nights out. However, her controlling husband makes the decision that they should move to an isolated cottage in the country. When Nora moves into the nearby house, the women form a friendship. However, not all is at it seems and when they get caught out in each other’s lies, Suzie doesn’t know whether Nora is a friend or foe! And who is Ellie and what is the secret that binds these women together?

The story switches easily between Suzie, Nora and Ellie and although I knew where this book was going most of the time, Claire kept me turning the pages with all the twists and turns. I did get annoyed at times with the mistakes Suzie kept making and I didn’t really like or trust any of the characters.

However, I enjoyed Claire’s style of writing and I will definitely be reading more of her books.

Was this review helpful?

This book had a really great start, as it’s told from the perspective of three different women. We soon learn how tangled up their lives are and how they are connected. At times, I found it hard to keep reading because it became predictable but as I kept going, some twists were revealed and a newfound interest in the book had me in a hurry to figure out just what REALLY is going on here. Three women, two husbands, countless lies and secrets. With a really satisfying ending.

Was this review helpful?

With thanks to Netgalley and Amazon for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I am a big fan of Claire McGowan`s Paula McGuire series. I was excited when I heard she had written a stand alone thriller.

The Other Wife is told from the POV of three women, Nora, Suzi and Elle.

Career girl Suzi lived in London with her husband Nick. After a drunken one stand with one of her collegues, Suzi reluctantly agreed to move to the countryside. Living in a remote cottage and no longer working, Suzi became lonely and started an affair with Sean Sullivan. When Suzi became pregnant she told Sean and never saw him again.

Months later Suzi was delighted when Nora moved in next door. Nora had been recently widowed, and had to move to a smaller house when her savings had dwindled. Heavily pregnant and lonely, Suzi and Nora quickly became friends.

Acclaimed pianist Elle, was married to Patrick a doctor. Elle suffered from anxiety issues and became convinced Patrick was going to leave her.

During the story the reader discovers how the stories of Suzi, Nora and Elle weave together.

The plot was a slow burner and didn't truly get going until the 40% mark. After that I found it hard to put down.

Although Suzi bought her problems on to hereself, I did understand why she she had an affair with Sean. Her husband Nick was a emotional abuser who constantly put her down. He deliberately moved to the countryside to isolate Suzi from her friends and work. Elle was an interesting character, she was clingy and her life revolved around Patrick. I did guess Nora`s secret but not until just before it was revealed.

The plot was skilfully woven with twists and turns aplenty. The ending was brilliant and the right people got what they deserved.

I highly recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

A good read was slow at times but definitely picked up! Would recommend for readers you live thrillers! Thankyou for the arc

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is another psychological thriller book by Claire McGowan, about a mistress and the wife of the cheating husband and how their lives become entangled. Yet again, I found that I couldn't put this book down. I read it in two days and I absolutely loved it.

As with her previous novel, What You Did, I don't believe any of the characters in this book were really meant to be sympathetic. I can't say I really liked any of them, but that didn't stop me from loving the book. The drama, the fear, and the excitement of finding out what was going to happen next was perfect. I can't wait to read what the author comes out with next.

Trigger warnings: domestic abuse, stalking, murder, cheating, rape.

Was this review helpful?

This book surprised me, i expected it to be the same formula but it had a lot more to it, i figured out the first twist pretty early but the twists kept coming. while the writing could have been sharper, more impactful, the story was engrossing. thanks for the ARC

Was this review helpful?

Suzi is pregnant and isolated living in a cottage in the middle of nowhere with her controlling husband Nick. She also has a secret, she's been ghosted by her lover. When Nora, who is recently widowed, moves in Suzi is overjoyed with the possibility she will have a friend but is Nora really who she says she is?

As the story unfolds you learn more about their lives and how they intertwine.

Its's a slow burner but keeps you entertained to the end. It has secrets, lies, murder, deceit and gaslighting. You come away with the sobering thought about how easy it is in this digital age for your every move to be watched or monitored and how easy it could be to deceive or be deceived.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC

Was this review helpful?

McGowan is fast becoming a household name with her breed of dark domestic thrillers that are so plausible they will make you squirm.

Was this review helpful?

A woman's husband buys a house in the middle of nowhere, forcing her to move from London.
A widow on a tight budget moves into the house across the street.
Their connection is pretty obvious. Some good twists as the women unravel the truth behind both their marriages.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great book, I loved it and thanks net galley for giving me the opportunity to read it.
Two woman and two husband.
One husband is a compulsive liar, the other husband is a control freak.
Somehow the two wives get together, and they work out what’s been happening in their lives.
That’s when this book really gets exciting, so exciting I could not put it down.
Loved it.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is mostly told from 3 perspectives. Suzy is pregnant and living with her husband in an isolated cottage. She has had an affair with someone who is now cold shouldering her. Nora is Suzy’s new neighbor. Elle is a woman who thinks her husband is having an affair. Suzy and Nora become friends but it isn’t a coincidence that Nora has moved in so close by.

I thought I had who these 3 women were worked out pretty early on. I was right because it was pretty obvious. So I was sort of disappointed at the half way point when all of that was revealed but then it took a bit of a turn and became more interesting as we waited to see how these relationships would play out. Overall I liked it and would probably read more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

Wow, once you've got your head round who all the characters are in the plot, you're good to go and it is actually rather good. Pure coincidence that your lover's wife is a new neighbour of your new home? Awkward

This story is told through various characters. Suzi, Nora, Elle and Maddy. Theres blackmail, possessive husband, an ally of a neighbour or is she? It took me a little while to settle in to the story but I really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. The tension just builds and builds. Great

I'll certainly be on the looking out for more of Claire McGowan's books. She has even done a series! I didn't realise her books were out there until I came across this one and investigated what other books she'd done.

Was this review helpful?

I'll start by admitting that I very nearly gave up on The Other Wife by Claire McGowan very early into the book as I found the different POVs and dislikeable characters quite off-putting, but I'm glad I stuck with it as the book turned out to be a very enjoyable read with lots of fastpaced twists and turns.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book and my first time reading a book by this author. This is a difficult book to review without giving away spoilers. The first half of the book is told from three different women’s POV. Elle who is married to a doctor but unhappy, Suzie who is married to Nick but cheated on him and his pregnant and not sure who the father is. Also, is mentally abusive to Suzie and then a new neighbor moves across the street from Suzie, a woman named Nora who is recently widowed. The first major reveal happens halfway through the book and I didn’t seen it coming which for me reading a domestic thriller is a great thing, being surprised. Then there are more twists and turns. Fasten your seat belts for a roller coaster of a ride. The reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 was I felt the ending was a little rushed. But all in all I really liked the book and was pleasantly surprised by all the twists and turns that were still to come after the first reveal. I want to thank net galley for this ARC I received for an honest review.


flag
comment · see review

Was this review helpful?

Suzi and Nora, 2 women living as neighbours in an isolated part of the countryside. Both women subjected to manipulative, controlling, lying husband's.
Suzi is pregnant and hiding a secret from her husband, her lover has recently been killed in a car accident.
Nora, a widow, who's husband has been killed in a car accident.
Suzi begins to confide in Nora but Nora is hiding secrets from her.
This story takes many twists and turns as the lies and complex lives of these women unfold.
Would highly recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. A bit twisty and turns but not too much. It’s about three women, all living in an extremely close, isolated area with many secrets. They come out slowly, with none of the three expecting much. Well written and fairly exciting. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are…

Suzi and her husband Nick move out to an isolated cottage several miles from any major highway and far from their old home in London. With their marriage on the rocks and their first baby on the way, things appear very tense. Suzi is paranoid and restless. She’s done something that is unforgivable and if her jealous husband finds out, her whole world will collapse. Nora Holscombe, a recent widow, moves in next door to the only other cottage in the area. And then there is Elle, a perfect housewife who is betrayed by her husband who will stop at nothing to hold on to him. Soon Nora, Elle and Suzi’s lives will intertwine, but the only one who knows it is Nora, because she moved here to be close to Suzi and she knows her secret. Three months later, DC Alison Hegarty and DC Tom Khan are on scene where a murder has taken place. Through shifting points of view between Suzi, Nora and Elle we find a story latent with secrets and twists.

This book had promise and a great hook in the beginning. The different points of view and twists kept me reading. After every short chapter I had so many questions and found myself suspicious of all of the women. I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likeable and felt the theme of abuse was forced in every character’s back story. Some characters weren’t fully fleshed out (i.e. Dr. Holt). The police investigation was not exactly resolved and the two detectives simply raised their hands up in the air, shrugging and went to have a beer. The last 20% of the book, everything is packed in with revelations, more twists and felt rushed. I liked the direction it was going but felt that at the end every plot point came too rapidly.

Was this review helpful?

This is an engaging, if not quite original, domestic thriller that made me think a little of Lisa Jewell or Shalini Boland. The story is interesting and the characters feel real, but sometimes it dragged a little for me. All in all, though, an entertaining read!

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book I have read by Clare McGowan and I will read others. The complex relationships between these characters and how their stories unfolded kept me reading. I was interested in finding out what happens to Suzi and if she ever decided to take matters into her own hands.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi and her successful husband Nick live in a beautiful, fully modernised and luxurious cottage in the countryside. It is so remote that the only neighbouring property is a vacant cottage that has seen better days. This domesticity is driving Suzi mad. Although she should savour her beautiful home she cannot stand the isolation. Gone is her job in London, her friends and the life she had embraced to the full until her husband discovered her transgressions and whisked her away. She has no money, no transport and the nearest station is a five mile walk away. She feels claustrophobic and although her husband has bought a dog to guard her and keep her company, she needs more human company.
When Nora moves into the cottage nearby, Suzi cannot wait to meet her. She longs for friendship and companionship, someone to walk the dog with and swap stories with. She introduces herself and soon they are friends. Nora is alone as well, so they both have at least one thing in common. She also loves dogs and readily agrees to Suzi’s request that they walk together. Suzi is pregnant and Nick is keen for her to keep healthy. She likes to please him for an easy life. The time flies by and their relationship flourishes. Suzi almost confesses to Nora about why they moved into the countryside. But luckily she holds back because she doesn’t yet know much about her new neighbour.
Elle’s perfect life is shattered into tiny pieces when she finds out that her husband has betrayed her. Their home is picture perfect, he has always been attentive to her and they have fabulous luxury holidays together. She is in denial and cannot believe it when she meets with their solicitor and learns that they have no money left. He has taken the lot and left her to pick up the pieces. Her life is about to change drastically and she is out for revenge. He should be very afraid because she will stop at nothing to track him down.
These three ladies have all been deceived and treated badly by their menfolk. Working together they could be a mighty army. They are angry, determined and dangerous, but what they don’t know is who or what they are dealing with. Their adversaries are strong, amoral, and have spun a web of deceit and iniquity. This novel is full of twists and turns, enough false leads to throw any detective into a fug of despair. What’s more there are so many lies and so much criminality that it would baffle even a seasoned policeman. When their lives collide there is a flurry of fireworks and police involvement is initiated. But who will be victorious?
I thought the storytelling was excellent and the storyline weaved with a magic spell. I didn’t know what to think about any of the characters. They were like wolves in sheep’s clothing. Their motives and instincts were for self-preservation, they were chameleons with a lethal bite. I didn’t know who to trust. Just how well do you really know your family, friends and relatives? If this novel is something to go by, I feel very afraid!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Thomas & Mercer through my membership of NetGalley and I would like to thank them for my copy, sent out to me in return for an honest and unbiased review. I really enjoyed reading the novel and recommend it as a solid, enjoyable read. There is a myriad of lies and deception and this makes 'The Other Wife' exciting, intriguing and I loved the ending. It’s a 4.5* review from me.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi is married to Nick. He's extremely jealous. Suzi had an affair and ends up being pregnant. She also has no friends until Nora moves I to the isolated countryside beside her. Nora quickly becomes friends with Suzi. But Nora already k ow more about Suzi than she's letting on about. It seems Suzi is not the only one with secrets.

This story does ot really start until you are a out two thirds of the way in. The pace is slow. The story is told from multiple points of view. The chapters are headed y who is narrating them. None of the characters are likeable but I think that was the authors intention. Suzi's husband is jealous and a control freak. When it becomes apparent how suzi and Nora are linked, I wasnt surprised. There are plenty of twists to put you off the trail. The resolution was satisfying. This is a thought provoking read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing Uk and the author Clzire McGowan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The characters were interesting and kept
the pages turning.
Suzi, once a city girl going out and having fun is now a country girl 6 months pregnant in complete isolation with her husband Nick. She has no friends, no vehicle and no one around for miles until Nora moves in next door. Suzi confides in Nora because she feels a connection to her and she is also the only friend that she has. She has done a terrible thing and is trying to decide what to do about it. Meanwhile Elle is concerned with being the perfect housewife in the perfect house trying to get pregnant with the child she so desperately wants. All of these women’s lives become intertwined when a terrible accident brings them together. The women find that their needs and wants have changed as a result of meeting each other. How far will they go for revenge or to acquire what they want the most!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I truly enjoyed this book thru to the last page!

Was this review helpful?

I just finished this book by Claire McGowan. It was a bit long and draggy at times, however I felt the end of the book made it worth all the plodding. Claire McGowan writes a suspenseful saga, and I found myself truly invested in the characters. It is recommended.

Was this review helpful?

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Claire McGowan for the opportunity to read and review her latest thriller - it will definitely keep you guessing.

Suzi and her husband, Nick, leave London after Suzi makes a lot of questionable decisions and her husband wants a new start. However, the cottage they move to is very remote and Nick is very controlling, leaving Suzi desperate for company. When a new neighbor, Nora, moves in, Suzi is excited to have a friend. We also meet Elle, a woman trying to be the perfect wife, obsessed and fearful than her husband is seeing someone else.
Told in chapters featuring each of these women's points of view, we find out how alike they are - plus, the book opens with a dead body.

None of these characters are likable, and for some reason I had trouble keeping track of who was who. But it was a fast-paced suspense read.

Was this review helpful?

#The Other Wife #NetGalley

Wow, another great thriller by bestselling author, Claire McGowan!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The setting is in a small English village in a remote countryside. Therefore, Suzi, who lives here and is pregnant and lonely with her controlling husband, Nick, is thrilled to have a new neighbor and friend. Nora who moves in next door has secrets and is living a lie, but eventually warms up to the unhappy Suzi. Also involved in the plot is Elle, who is a perfectionist with a perfect home, and
she is an excellent wife until her husband betrays her.

The story follows the lives of Elle, Nora, and Suzi in a plot that truly dazzles!! The reader discovers three very different women with different motives and goals. Their determination to get what each wants involves many lies, revenge, murder, deception and gaslighting. These elements fuel this exceptional thriller. The characters are well developed, but not very likable. I stayed up until 2 am to reach the blockbuster ending and huge reveals of this book! I highly recommend
to those who love a book that you just can’t put down! This is the second book I’ve read by Claire McGowan, and she continues to be a favorite author of mine!

Many thanks to Claire McGowan, to Amazon Publishing UK, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Other Wife. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I actually could not finish this book and it takes a lot for me to stop reading a book. I was so confused at the beginning with so much going on that I could not keep details straight so gave up.

Was this review helpful?

This book was fast-paced and full of twists, which is exactly how I like books in this genre to be. It was definitely a page-turner, keeping me reading because I wanted to know what would happen next. I also enjoyed the growth the main character (Eleanor) showed, as well as the ending that was different from the typical ending I have seen many times in thrillers. I would recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fast paced thrilling book with twists and turns. I feel like the major twist in the middle of the book wasn’t enough of a twist, I could see it coming a mile off. But that being said, the book didn’t end the way I thought it would and I really liked that.

The characters were unlikeable but in a good way and while there were parts where I really had to suspend belief in order to take what the book was offering... it was good fun! Dark but interesting.

I haven’t read from Claire McGowan before but I have read Eva Woods and I will carry on reading both for sure!

Was this review helpful?

I am a sucker for a psychological thriller these days but that does mean I now end up guessing the twists more often than not and sadly this was the case with The Other Wife. That said, don't let that put you off; I still very much enjoyed this one. For me, this had slow start and even during this time I had already guessed the twist, but the further in, the more I was hooked and eager to find out how the lives of these messy, sometimes unlikeable and lacklustre (although I think that's the point) characters turned out. The ending was good and I liked how everything felt solved - no cliff-hangers here! - but also a tad unrealistic and the lead up was bit chaotic and rushed considering the rest of the book was a slow-burner. A great plot, good writing and overall enjoyable read; it could have been better but I'll still look out for the authors' other works.

*I received an advance review copy of The Other Wife from the publisher through NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi and Nick have recently left London and bought a cottage out in the middle of nowhere. Suzi left her job and is now at home all day - bored and lonely. The house is very nice with lots of state-of-the-art security and other luxuries. Suzi is pregnant and is very nervous that Nick may learn a secret she has hidden. He dictates to her that she needs to keep the house clean, take a long walk every day, and have a nice dinner waiting for him when he gets home. Suzi misses her friends and has to ask Nick for money if she wants to go into London, which is infrequent. Some days she is so lonely she thinks she may be losing her mind.

Nora has moved into the cottage across from Suzi and Nick. Theirs are the only two homes in the area and Nora’s home isn’t as nice as Suzi’s. Nora is a widow and she and Suzi begin a bit of a friendship.

Elle is married to a doctor and lives in a nice home. She was a renowned pianist in her younger years but has given that up to be at home. She loves her husband dearly, but she also has some well-buried secrets.

These women become intertwined together and some secrets emerge with revenge not far behind.

This is a good story that builds slowly (it could have been faster) to show how a group of people end up learning about people they truly thought they knew. It’s amazing what some people can hide. I enjoyed the story and the ending wrapped it up perfectly. Hope other readers enjoy it as well.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A good story of secrets, lies and deceit. Suzi has a secret, Nora, her new neighbor knows this. Nora has her own secrets. This was a fun, fast-paced thriller. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Was this review helpful?

Well written. Not really fast paced and not much action but really good thriller with interesting characters you can relate to, a good storyline, secrets...
Even though it's not fast paced I didn't find it boring at all, it was a page turner! I wanted to see the connections between people, events, secrets... Well developed story.

I liked it a lot. 4 stars.

ARC received through NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was a real page turner! Unexpected in many ways. My emotions were all over the place as I read this book! The author did a great job hooking her readers until the very end. This is my honest review. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher.

Was this review helpful?

Exciting, scary and thrilling. A brilliant psychological book and another triumph from Claire McGowan. Makes you think and wonder about people! @NetGalley@TheOtherWife

Was this review helpful?

Unputdownable, addictive, and fast-paced Psychological Suspense!

This is a well-written plot, starring twisted and unlikable characters, all driven by different motives; greed, lies, deceit, jealousy, and all arrays of destructive emotions.

Secret upon secrets and twists upon twists, some easier to unmask than others. Moreover, there were many implausible occurrences in this story and the ending was no different but still managed to have a satisfying edge to it.

All is all, this is an enthralling read and I will definitely recommend it!

I would like to thank the Publishers, NetGalley, and the Author for sending me a copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this book. The story is engrossing, tense, lots of twists and turns, everything a thriller should be. I highly recommend..

Was this review helpful?

Excellent, suspenseful story! Couldn’t put it down! Interesting characters with plenty unexpected plot twists!

Was this review helpful?

Suzy is pregnant and her husband is acting very controlling. On top of that, she's getting very forgetful with this baby brain. This makes Nick even more protective and Suzy feels as though she's in prison. A new woman moves across the street. Her and Suzy bond instantly. Then Suzy sees a picture of her new BFF in a picture with a man who was once special to Suzy.

Is it all a coincidence or does she need to watch out for her new "friend"?

Was this review helpful?

4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book! It seems like the last few books I've read from netgalley everyone has been kinda batcrap crazy. It worked in this book unlike the last few. I really like different narrators in a book, but not too many, and this fit that perfectly. The characters were great and I really love books set in England for some odd reason, just beware the countryside fortress!

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife
by Claire McGowan
General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date Oct 24, 2019
322 pages
2⭐⭐

This story is told from different timelines and multiple points of view of all the women in the story. Suzi, Elle, Nora, and Eleanor. While the plot was interesting I found it moved very slow and was very confusing with all of the going back and forth in time and so many points of view. To make matters worse I did not care for nor connect with any of the characters. After 7 days of trying to read this book and making it 52% into it I finally gave up. This was my first read by this author and I will attempt to read another book by this author in the future. Many thanks to publisher, NetGalley, and the author for a ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you would like to follow my reviews please do so at my facebook page Joyce Stewart Reviews or my reading group Stewart Book Reviews Book Club.
#TheOtherWife #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

Once I got past the first 30%, which was a little confusing with the different points of view and timelines, I had a hard time putting it down. Some of the twists were predictable but others had me holding my kindle while making dinner to see what happened next. The wives were crazy but man with husbands like that, I definitely developed compassion for them. Will be looking for more books from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Ok now I'm sad Claire McGowan doesn't have as deep a catalog of adult thrillers on Amazon as I had originally thought. First What You Did and now The Other Wife, which I liked even more, and I have a slight book hangover!

This was an excellent, emotionally fraught domestic suspense in the vein of The Wife Between Us--fans of that book will like this one, I think. It has a variety of women scorned and battered by controlling, dubious men, with lots of sordid, soapy details and a satisfying, unsettling ending. I was guessing the whole time as to how the messy interpersonal details would play out--and that's how I would describe this. Things get MESSY, in the most delightful way.

It's multi-POV, third person, where the various POVs you get are all women entangled in deceitful marriages, or flirting with disaster, or investigating a mysterious death. It jumps around in time, but not too much or confusingly, and plays on a few favorite tropes: the creepy smart house, isolated in the woods (in a snowstorm, no less!), Gothic family histories, people who aren't what they seem. There are some unreliable narrators in this book, on more than one level. At the same time, as Gothically soapy as one or two turns are, the emotional arcs still feel grounded--the characters feel like real, whole people, and you easily get pulled into their emotional orbits and care about what happens to them. Much like in What You Did, I was tugged along on a very emotionally immediate read.

As with What You Did, come to think of it, the men are the least well drawn, but hey I'm fine with that. Turnabout is fair play? They satisfy fun/expected character tropes, though if anything could count as a quibble with the book, it would be that. There was one specific male character I would have liked a tad less distance from, though I think perhaps the air of mystery was to contribute to dramatic tension?

Anyway, I loved this--pulled a VERY late night going from 0 to 65%, highly unusual for me--and I'm looking forward to McGowan's next standalone domestic suspense! Sadly with publication schedules I'll have to wait a year :(

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan was Just excellent in so many ways! It was fast pace with lots of twists and turns that had me completely gripped from the very first few pages! What a cracking read this book was. I loved it!!!!

"She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are…............"

WoW..........what a gripping start of a book! and it will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat! But a word of warning! Don't start to read The Other Wife just before you are going to bed to just about to go out etc!!! As any plans you may have will all go out of the window. lol..........

I highly recommend this book! Just Brilliant!

Big Thank you to NetGalley, Claire McGowan, and Thomas & Mercer for this galley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi had an affair.  As a way to make amends to her husband, Nick, she agrees to move into a cottage in the woods ... a cottage with all of the latest in technology.  Now she is 6 months pregnant and trapped in a marriage - and a house - with a jealous and controlling husband.  Nora has just moved in next door and has become Suzi's only friend, but  does Nora know more about Suzi than she is letting on?

In the genre of psychological thrillers, Clare McGowan is one of my favorite authors.

(NetGalley ebook -  I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon UK Publishing and Claire McGowan for the ARC to review. This book was brilliant, I loved it. It was not your typical “other women novel”. It is fast paced and a real page turner. I was enthralled from beginning to end and what an ending. Didn’t see that coming. I thought I had it all figured out and wow! A must read, can’t wait for Claire McGowan’s next great read!

Was this review helpful?

first off thank you NetGalley and Claire McGowan for the opportunity to read this book. WOW is all I can say, this book threw me for so many loops it wasn't even funny, I was confused at first and then the more I read the more I started to figure out. Then my brain really went into action trying to figure out what was going to happen. I loved the ending, and how things turned out! Super Book!

Was this review helpful?

This is the perfect Psychological Thriller. You have no idea who anyone is, who is ‘bad’ or what is going to happen.
We start off interchanging between Nora, Suzi and Elle. Nora is moving to a remote cottage after her finances and her personal situation force her out of the home and life that she loved. Suzi is Nora’s new next-door neighbour, but it soon becomes clear that something isn’t right. Suzi is highly strung, erratic and clearly has many secrets. Elle is a stay-at-home wife waiting by the door for her husband to come home.
You start off wondering what any of these characters have to do with one another, but as the story develops, the lines begin to blur, and everything gets caught up in a tangled web. Nothing is as it seems.
The story keeps a steady pace with you discovering tiny nuggets along the way. It is in three parts, and at the end of each section, the character’s purpose to the story becomes clear, and you start to piece everything together.
There is shock after shock and a few twists I wasn’t expecting (and some I’d figured out).
I only recently discovered Claire McGowan, and I was really excited when I realised I could read a second book of hers pretty much straight away as it was just sitting there on NetGalley. I have to say I am very impressed with her style of writing. She manages to keep the suspense going throughout the novel and really draws you in with the characters whether they are likeable or not. I’m not sure I sympathised with any of the main characters in this book, but that didn’t stop you wanting to find out what was going on or feeling the fear they were experiencing.
An excellent and solid Psychological Thriller and I can’t wait to read more of her books.

Was this review helpful?

Gripping and full of suspense!

Just when you think you have figured something out - it flips your mind again.

All characters have their secrets, but not all secrets stay quiet for very long. I soon guessed what the connections were between the three women, but was surprised at the ending.

If you are looking for a rollercoaster of a ride this is for you.
I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Netgallery and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Other Wife by Claire McGowan. Now while I enjoyed this book I was also a bit confused because it is telling three different stories in a way. That being said it was still a real nail brighter. I just had a bit of a hard time keeping track of who was who and what was what.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi is living in the middle of nowhere, pregnant with her first child, and grieving the loss of someone important to her and she can’t discuss her pain with the husband who moved her to the country. When Nora moves in next door, Suzi is excited to finally have someone to talk to And help her pass her days. These women couldn’t be more different on the surface but they are tied to one another in a way that Suzi could never expect and Nora may just be her salvation.

The Other Wife was difficult to get into but about half way through the story picked up and took an unexpected turn which made me happy I had not stopped reading. This was my first Claire McGowan book but I would consider reading her again.

Was this review helpful?

I wanted to like this book, it sounded great! It was told from 3 points of view, Suzi, Nora and Elle. I typically like having the story unfold through different characters perspectives, but I couldn’t remember who was who. Then you also have the male characters who were also impossible to keep straight.

Were there some good points? Absolutely. But as the characters were confusing, I didn’t care about what happened to them. The twists were predictable and the story dragged in parts and felt rushed at the end. Had this book not been provided to me in exchange for an honest review I would have quit reading after 20%.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and #Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great read - full of twists and turns with stellar writing. I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait to read more from this author!

Was this review helpful?

There were times when I couldn't wait to pick up the book and others where I just wanted to finish it. On the whole, I did find it a good read, just a bit long-winded in places although the psychological aspect was good with lots of twists.

Was this review helpful?

Excellent fast paced thriller. Suzi is miserable in the out of the way cottage that her husband Nick has moved them into. When a new neighbor moves next door Suzi has hopes of a friendship with the older woman. When Suzi gets closer to her neighbor Nora, she finds that the move may not have been random, and is this woman someone she can trust. While Suzi has some major skeletons in her closet, she finds that her husband and new neighbor has plenty of secrets and lies of their own. Fast paced, twisty thriller that will not disappoint.

Was this review helpful?

This was a good book about deception and revenge. The story line kept you guessing on what Eleanor will do as she sets out to find out about her husband's death in a car accident . Unraveling not only her husband's death but his life as well.

Was this review helpful?

In The Other Wife, each of the profoundly flawed characters deceive and spy on one another. It's a domestic thriller which takes place in the English countryside, where a young expectant couple and a widow live in adjacent houses otherwise set in near-Gothic isolation.

Author Claire McGowan uses alternating points of view, with short, punchy chapters titled with the names of Nora (the widow), Suzi (the pregnant wife), and Elle (whose life in the city seems nearly as isolated as those of Nora and Suzi.)

McGowan handles the back-and-forth structure skillfully. I was intrigued by how interested I was in what happened next to each person -- even though I didn't much like any of them. We see a few variants on spousal psychological abuse, but we also see some of the characters growing and changing.

This is a book for readers who like to see characters who out-think the nefarious forces that confront them. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance readers copy.

Was this review helpful?

Very interesting plot and characters. I found this book to be a real page turner and really enjoyed it. Would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves suspenseful reads.

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable domestic thriller, with twists and secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The first 25% of the book happened in an intelligible blur; too many characters tell stories (apparently different ones?) but they elude way too many details for us to make any sense from it. Okay, it's a mystery, we get it, but at some point you have to give something to the reader, no? Instead, these characters keep talking and talking about things you have no clue about. It sounds repetitive, and you have to try and pay real hard attention to know who’s who; their stories seem similar… At this point, I made a definitive will to keep reading, not because I wanted to know—the story made no sense—but because the prologue was so good I couldn't believe it soured so quickly. So I continued. But, honestly, I shouldn't have bothered. It's an unoriginal domestic mystery with nothing new; the good prologue is a lure which is hardly related to the main story; and the characters not really likeable.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book.
Suzi is pregnant and living with her husband but missing her lover.
Nora just lost her husband and had to leave her home as she could not afford it anymore.. They become neighbors. And then wow!
There is a lot of twists and turns . Amazing plot and characters are very interesting.
It kept me hooked to the very end!
My thanks to NetGalley for a free arc .

Was this review helpful?

4.5/5

I may have found a new thriller author to follow!

I finished this book in three days. I would've finished it sooner but adult life and such. Each time I had to put it down I kept wanting to go back to it ASAP so I could find out what happened next.

The cast of characters is small, which I like as sometimes it can be difficult to keep track of who's who. That being said, unlike other reviewers I did not have difficulty differentiating between the four main points of view.

The author did a good job of building up each of the main characters and while I believe we are meant to dislike them overall, I couldn't help but sympathize with them toward the end of the book.

There were a handful of twists that you encounter from about halfway through and onward. I did predict a couple of them, but it was still enjoyable.

All in all, I'm glad I read the book and can't wait for the next one by this author.

Thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy.

Was this review helpful?

At first I found the book a little confusing. 3 different wormen. You really need to pay attention to who's chapter you are on ! Once I settled in I really liked this book very much. And with her other books. holy crap what an ending !!!!!!!!

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is your bog-standard domestic thriller with a pretty atmospheric and sinister vibe to it, but ultimately the characters were difficult to tell apart and weren't developed well enough to be enjoyable. What we did learn about the characters certainly didn't endear them to me, and I found they had some intensely annoying habits. I also found the story slow and the consistently changing points-of-view made it quite disjointed and as a consequence, you never are fully engaged with the plot. When it's getting to the stage that you are considering writing a character list to keep track of everyone the reading sadly becomes a chore rather than a pleasure. Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

"I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review"

Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick.
When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. It’s impossible—does she already know what Suzi did?
Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder. After all, she’s done it before…
Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.

I have decided to do this review a little different and every 25% I plan to mention my feelings and what I think of that book.

I have gotten to the first 25% of the book and I have to say that I am loving it so far (I was only planned on reading a very small amount today but I could not put it down). Even though I think I know what and how it's going to end I am still really into the story and wonder if my predictions are right when it comes to how the story will end. It is full of suspense and it has a very creepy vibe which I love.

I am now 53% into the book and I am still hooked. Things that are happening I did see coming but with so much of the book left I have no idea how it is going to end. The writing style gives off a very creepy vibe which is exactly what I want in a book like this. It is hard to say too much without spoilers but the one character I am disliking the most (the other is right behind him is Nick) is someone that isn't even alive.

I am now 76% into the book and wow I did not see some of these twists coming which for me with thrillers I normally can see them coming. I am still really enjoying the book and I seem to fly through it when I get a chance to read. I am very nervous on how this is going to end with so many things that are happening right now. I do know one thing I will be looking up more books by this author for sure.

I am now finished and I did not see that ending coming. Even though I didn't agree with the characters choices I have to say it still wrapped up the book better than I was expecting. I ended up rating this 4 stars and am very interested in reading more books writing by Claire McGowen. I am so glad I read this and it helped me get over my reading slump I was in.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi is married to Nick and they are expecting a baby. They recently moved in an isolated cottage, away from London and they got a new neighbor, Nora the recent widow. Meanwhile, Suzi has an affair with Sean and he seems like he ghosted her. Weird things start happening in and out of her house, new info that will blow her mind and her life as well.

Mystery thrillers isn't my go to genre, still this was the second book by this genre that I read within two weeks. I'm so glad I picked this one up, because it was so good! I want to say so much about it and yet I'm holding back because the book is so complicated and I think that's the way it's supposed to be. But I can still express myself and say a few things about the book, without revealing too much.

The book has different point of views and also different timelines. Present and three months later. I was intrigued by that fact, especially the different female name chapters. I couldn't help but feel intrigued when I started the book and discovered that.

The story was smart, well written, it was intriguing and kept me guessing and it wasn't as predictable as I thought. The characters and the web of lies was well made and it's a story that makes you like and dislike the same characters with a passion. Like Suzi? I felt for her, but also wanted to shake some sense into her. Same goes for others too. Won't be calling names though ;)

The Other Wife is a story was full of twists and turns, that some I saw them coming, but others I didn't and I'm happy it surprised me. I will definitely read in the future more by this author.

I was given a copy in exhcange for an honest review by NetGalley. Thank you!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Clair McGowan tells the story of three women- Ella, Nora, and Suzi-through each of their voices. Ella is a neurotic housewife, who is overly anxious about her doctor husband cheating on her. Nora, recently widowed, has moved to a cottage in the country to escape her past life. Nora's neighbor, Suzi, is pregnant and kept under the close eye of her controlling husband. Each narrator tells their own story, and by the end, it is clear how each woman's life intermingles.

The plot of this book is clever, and it is difficult to see how all the stories are linked for a good portion of the book. The ending is not predictable, which keeps the reader interested. I did find that there seemed to be a lot of characters to keep track of, and each needed a little more detail to remember them by. The first half of this book starts slow, and then is action packed towards the end. I found Suzi to be the most dynamic character, and I would have loved a bigger glimpse into her life in London before moving to the country. I would have enjoyed if each story weaved together a little sooner in the plot.

I recommend this book for readers who like a twisted domestic thriller. It will keep you guessing until the end.

Was this review helpful?

I had never read any Claire McGowan before but was intrigued with the short chapters told from the point of view of three different women. Suzi is married and her husband Nick has recently made them move to a house in the country, Missing her career and their fast paced busy lifestyle, Suzi is left without friends and and is also pregnant. As Nick starts to become controlling Suzi yearns for someone to confide in. She holds many secrets and knows she shouldn’t start to confide them to anyone but when Nora moves in close by she sees a chance to make a friend.

However, Nora has her own secrets. She may appear strong and capable of helping Suzi, but is she the right person to trust. Our final narrator is Elle. Elle is a retired concert pianist and worries that her looks have faded, along with her career. The one thing she has in her life is her husband and all her energy is spent making sure she is the perfect wife for when he gets home.

The novel is fast paced and uses short chapters to flit between the three different narrators which kept my interest. This was very much a case of ‘just one more chapter’. I was intrigued by the characters more than I liked them and I enjoyed that they had some unconventional viewpoints such as doubts about wanting to become a mother. Despite not liking them much, the women were quite relatable. Suzi’s insecurity and worries about her marriage felt real. Nora was probably the most intriguing because from early on I sensed a darker side just under the surface. She is calculating and complex, much more than the middle aged stereotype her husband saw. Elle seems like the least resolved character of the three and her passivity was difficult to sympathise with.

Added to these characters was a bleak rural setting to ratchet up the tension and I did find myself guessing about some of the twists all the way to the end, whereas others I’d guessed earlier on. This is a competent domestic thriller from the author and I will be checking out more of her work.

Was this review helpful?

Got bored at the beginning which sort of resulted in me putting it down for a while but I got the courage to finish it and I think it was okay.

Thank you NetGalley for giving this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

There was some suspense and mystery but it was also very predictable. Although two of the characters had different names it didn’t take long to figure out they were the same person. Some of the parts of the story were also too far fetched.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is a suspenseful tale told from the perspective of four of the characters. Full of twists and turns, fans of Liz Nugent will love this book

Was this review helpful?

The story begins with three different female perspectives: Nora, newly widowed, completely broke, and trying to start over. Suzy, unhappily married to a controlling man and pregnant, potentially with her lover’s baby. And Elle, married to a doctor who she constantly worries is having an affair.

I really do not like to write negative reviews. In fact, I try to avoid it by DNFing books that I won’t be able to give a positive boost to but sometimes mistakes are made. I don’t enjoy insulting someone’s work. I try to find redeeming qualities in everything to highlight along the way. I cannot seem to do that here. I really did not like this book.

As far as readability goes, it had some level of intrigue and moved at a reasonable pace. With the exception of a few drawn out parts, I was rarely bored. Maybe those are redeeming qualities?

I told myself throughout the story that it would get better and that the twists would be worth it. When I reached the first big “twist” I almost called it quits, as I thought this was glaringly obvious all along. It was a poorly executed attempt to fool the reader.

I persevered, deluding myself into believing that it might get better. It was a book built on lies so perhaps I just fell victim to the story line when I told that lie to myself.

The story seemed absurd to me and the plot holes were enormous. I felt like the women were made out to be so silly. I want to say so much more than that; I want to specifically tell you what drove me mad. But I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone who does choose to read it. I also don’t want to write a five page review and there was a lot that drove me mad.

Maybe if you haven’t read very many thrillers and you don’t really care if there is any level of plausibility to the story, you will enjoy this more than I did. There are definitely people who have liked it. Goodreads tells me so.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for a digital review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This is one of the best thrillers that I have read in awhile. The Other Wife starts off with us being introduced to three narrators: Nora, Elle, and Suzi. Suzi is pregnant and her life with her husband is not healthy or good in any way. Nora is a widow and Elle is married with a seemingly perfect life but there are secrets and lies that will unravel her life.

This story is extremely engaging and fast paced. Very early on I figured out something and I was preparing myself to be disappointed when it got revealed at the end. However, this thing I thought I figured out got revealed pretty early on in the book and the rest of the time I was totally captivated trying to figure out what was going to happen next. McGowan kept building and building the story up to the final reveal and I really liked how it all ended up. None of the characters are that likable but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment an any way.

My only criticism of this book is that there were a few side stories that I didn’t feel were necessary to the main plot. I don’t think it added much of anything to the story and the book would have had more of an impact without these added distractions.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.

I was looking for a good thriller with lots of twists and turns. I definitely got this here. The story is told from different points of views of the female characters.

I did figure out some of the twists, but there were a few that came as a surprise.

One problem I did have was the ending. It just ended. I thought I had missed something. But nope. It just ended. It is possible that it ended this way to open up the door for a second book - which I would definitely read.

I read this pretty quickly. It's not perfect but it's a decent read and I'd recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

WOW! What a rush! LOL! Taut, psycholical suspense that I could not put down. Plenty of twists I did not see coming...there were a few times I was SURE I knew where it was going but I was so wrong! Just loved it!!

Was this review helpful?

Claire McGowan writes a hugely engrossing and entertaining novel that deals with some serious issues in this gripping domestic thriller awash with glorious tropes of infidelity, ghosting, greed, imprisonment, revenge, menace, deceit and lies.

Pregnant and scared Suzi is living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick. Suzi has done a bad thing and when Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. Does she already know what Suzi did?

Meanwhile, concert pianist Elle spends her days in her perfect home, now a full-time wife, married to a doctor. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder.

Completely wrapped up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When an abhorrent event draws them together, their lives will be changed forever.

Claire McGowan delivers an unrestrained and exuberant story of drama in this toxic concoction of secrets, lies and deception. Taut and compelling, it was a cracking story and a book that I revelled in all the way through. It brought no disappointments and the clever plotting enabled me to fully grasp the motivations of the main protagonists. The shifting of perspectives between the three characters - Suzi, Nora and Elle - combined with alternating timelines, was handled with a deft touch by Claire McGowan and the masterful twist in the second half of the book paved the way for an enthralling denouement. A riveting tale of menace, hostility, psychological manipulation and vengeance, I would love to read more from this gifted story-teller and I am delighted to recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Was this review helpful?

A fast paced thriller that had me hooked from the first couple of chapters! I really liked the dual perspectives although found the fact that sometimes the timeline changed, slightly confusing, especially when it was switching to the past but it was easy to figure out within a few sentences.

The characters, all though unlikeable were all really compelling and fantastically written!

I found some moments where very convenient or hard to believe but once you looked past that, the story was really enjoyable.

Amazing twists that kept you guessing although there was one plot point that I guessed pretty much straight away, the other twists were enough to keep me surprised & well written.

This is the first book by this author I have read but it definitely won’t be the last!

Was this review helpful?

I swear that all domestic thrillers are following the same storyline now:
A vulnerable/alcoholic wife who is living with an abusive and controlling husband who all seem to have a crazy ex-partner intent on causing harm to the aforementioned vulnerable wife.
This plot is just getting a little stale now as it has been so overdone, and sadly this book is no different at all.
The characters were all stereotypical for the genre and not well developed, so I struggled to engage with the plot and the events that unfolded. Parts of the plot were quite boring and often felt disjointed, which probably wasn't helped by the choppy changes in POV either.

If you haven't read a lot of domestic thrillers then I'm sure it would be an enjoyable read, but for me, it sadly felt unoriginal.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife was a book I struggled to get into at first but once I’d figured out who was who I couldn’t wait to get to the end.
Suzi has a great life in London, good job, flat and married until she did something that she doesn’t think her husband knew about but he did and she finds herself in a small village in a house mikes from anywhere until someone takes over the cottage opposite, could this be a friend for Suzi as she does need one being pregnant and married to an overbearing man.
This was a book that got better and better the more I read, the chapters are told from the main characters viewpoint and gives the book more depth and more realness to the characters. I enjoyed seeing how this was going to unfold as there are multiple ways it could have done.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a perfect example of why British thrillers are my favorite genre - do many twists and turns, and stories that are wild yet believable. As a bonus, I learned a new phrase - until I read this book I had no idea that "people carrier" was a British term for a minivan! That one made me laugh out loud, literally.

This was a solid 5-star book for me and I am excited to read more by this author!!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I was afraid this would be a typical, tired trope-filled domestic thriller that would leave me disappointed with the time investment. But, wow, what a pleasant surprise. Although there were some aspects of the plot that were evident early on, this author did a fantastic job in weaving this story right until the final page. If you love plot twists and turns in your thrillers, unreliable characters and a range of directions the story could go in the end the. This novel is for you. Really well done. Clearly a fully developed plot and characters, leaving anyone open to be the villain character.
Definitely a recommended thriller from me.

#TheOtherWife #NetGalley #AmazonPublishingUK

Was this review helpful?

Suzi is pregnant and living in a cottage with her controlling husband. Then you have Elle and her husband who seem perfect. Lastly, you have Nora who moves in next door. What happens when they all come together? You have to read to find out. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I love thrillers!

Was this review helpful?

This novel was pretty good. We follow multiple points of view which is one of my favorite perspectives in a story. We have Suzi, an isolated and pregnant housewife who is desperate for companionship. Nora, who is widowed, aged beyond her years and moves in across the street from Suzi. We have Elle, who seems to be living the most idyllic suburban housewife life. All of them have secrets and no one really knows the truth until the end of course.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. One of my all time favorite things in a book is the multiple perspectives. I love seeing the story unfold from different directions. The characters are pretty unlikable, but I felt like that made them more real, they are flawed just like the rest of us. My only real issue with this book was that I occasionally got confused as to which character I was following and would have to go back to the beginning of the chapter to remind myself who we were with.

Was this review helpful?

I had a very hard time getting in to the story at the beginning- about the first 25% bored me and I didn’t care about the characters. But after that point, I started connecting the dots and making theories, and it got much more interesting and enjoyable. Good thriller that I will recommend to friends.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting plot, but everyone was bad. I like at least one character I can root for. It reminded me of reading behind closed doors- which I ended up hating so much I deleted it.

Was this review helpful?

Okay I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down from the beginning. It was a great fast paced thriller. I always es ted more and had questions. It kept my attention and kept me wondering what next. If you need a good thriller I recommend this one for sure! Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

A great read indeed with enough twists and turns to keep turning the pages! I will certainly be looking for more by this author.

Was this review helpful?

This book had a strong start. The characters were distinct, their situations and backgrounds intriguing and the likelihood of your guessing where they might end up slim to none. But as the book progressed, it got a little more ... fantastical with the characters making decisions that were not only a little irrational, but also (and this a cardinal sin for me) out-of-character. Finally, the climax of the novel involved the fabrication of a completely unnecessary and complicated cover story for something that could have been 99% explained by telling some limited version of the truth. Having read another book by this author that was part women's fiction, part mystery-suspense, I was somewhat disappointed to see what started out as a strong book turn into a Lifetime Movie of the Week. I listened (and read) to the end, but honestly, about 80% in, I honestly didn't care what happened to any of the characters. I will say this, though ... if you like so-twisty-you-get-whiplash novels, this might work for you. For me, I prefer when the mystery and the suspense centers around perfectly normal (at least outwardly) people, caught up in highly abnormal circumstances that flirt with, but don't cross the line into the unbelievable. This one, for me, sadly, stepped just a smidge over that line. But, this author is good, and I am by no means dissauded by this book from reading her others.

Audible Note: I listened to most of this book, and read and listened when I got close to the end. The narrator was good, and didn't get in the way of the story.

Was this review helpful?

"The Other Wife" is the story of Suzi, a pregnant woman in an unhappy marriage to Nick, who is jealous and controlling, and has moved Suzi out to the country from the city where there are no neighbors and its just them. Suzi is harboring a terrible secret, but no one, especially Nick, can ever find out. One day, someone finally moves into one of the two empty houses by theirs, and Suzi, so lonely, befriends Nora, its new occupant. However, Nora is harboring her own secrets, and isn't who she really says that she is. Then there is Elle, who struggles to portray the perfect marriage and life with her husband, but has her own secrets from her past. But when Elle discovers that her husband has betrayed her, she will do whatever she has to hold onto her marriage, and to her secretive past. As the book moves on, the secrets of these three woman intertwine to provide a lot of twists and turns and a shocking ending.

"The Other Wife" is told from the three women's points of view, along with those of a few other characters in the story, which leads to a slow start, but as the book moves along the pace of the story definitely picks up. There are quite a few twists and turns along the way. While the ending seemed like a very unlikely thing to happen, I still found it to be an enjoyable book, and am looking forward to reading more from its author, Claire McGowan.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

When I read the synopsis of this book, I was like yesss! It sounded really good. I wanted to like it. I really did, however the story fell flat. The story is about betrayal and revenge which is normally right up my alley. I was a little disappointed because it could have been so much more! I felt for none of the characters. Which isn’t a bad thing but it didn’t help the story. It’s not a bad read. Others may enjoy it but sadly it wasn’t for me. I give this 2 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Great book. I loved the way the plot unfolded, the characters were very relatable and I connected well with them. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Claire McGowan for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

With The Other Wife, I am back in my comfort zone when it comes to reading with a psychological thriller where a woman with a seemingly ideal life finds that things aren’t quite what they seem. I do wonder if I’ll ever get tired of this style of book but when they are good as this one by Claire McGowan, the answer is probably no.
What makes it so good? First, there’s the setting – a remote cottage outside of town in the middle of winter. You couldn’t get more remote or isolating. Then, there are the characters. I really liked them, even the one I maybe wasn’t supposed to at the beginning, the new neighbour whose motives are hard to fathom, but probably not good.
Finally, there is that sense of jeopardy and the feeling that the ground is constantly shifting under my feet as I’m reading. This book is full of twists, turns and red herrings and you can’t ask for more than that when it comes to this genre. I kept thinking I knew where McGowan was going then something happened and I changed my mind. It made the book a real page-turner, and one I highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

If I had to describe The Other Wife in one word it would be "unputdownable" - which is probably not even a word! Wow, this story was constant from the moment I started and had to know what happened. Highly recommend this one to fans of thrillers!

Was this review helpful?

A really good domestic thriller with an array of not particularly likeable characters. Full of secrets, lies, betrayal and mental abuse. All three female characters have interesting backstories. Are they all who they say they are? A gripping, dark read.

Was this review helpful?

Not the most engaging book and it was hard to read as each chapter was from a different person point of view

Was this review helpful?

4-5 stars. A thrilling, chilling read that I found very easy to read, but so very hard to put down. I found it quite chilling and loved the many POV, which I felt gave me a clearer picture to the story unfolding. Definitely a book I recommend to my fellow thriller lovers!
Will make sure I buzz it up!

Was this review helpful?

A fun read, this book was told in the POV of three women who have difficulties in life.

Suzi was thrilled when Nora moved next door. She had found a friend, so she thought. Suzi had a secret which sh ethought was well hidden, but maybe Nora knew it. Ellie 's husband betrayed her and that caused a secret of her childhood to unravel.

This was a slow read, but soon picked up. The Secrets pulled me in and I became fixated on the three women and their lives. A murder mystery soon found its way in the story and I was completely enthralled.

This was one of the most twisted reads which kept me eager to get to the end. A fun read

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of The other wife by Claire McGowan. Suzi is pregnant, and is living isolated in a cottage with a jealous husband; Nora moves nearby and Suzi is happy to have a friend. Elle, spends her days trying to keep up appearances of a perfect life. All three of these women have secrets....
This was an ok read for me. Unfortunately, I didnt really like any of the characters, and the constant changing of POVs was annoying. That being said, some people will like the storyline, and there are a few twists in the plot.

Was this review helpful?

My first book by Claire McGowan, THE OTHER WIFE is a deeply disturbing domestic thriller of a different kind filled with lots and lots of secrets, lies, infidelity, deception, family drama, coercive control/abuse and some totally unreliable narrators. So if you don't mind spending some time with some really unlikable people, then you are sure to enjoy this twisted yet deceptive ride.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Suzi, Nora and Elle it is immediately clear from the beginning that all is not as it seems in the lives of these three women. And while the three women are seemingly unconnected, it didn't take me long to work out just how their lives did intertwine. The pace is slow to begin with, but stick with it because it all begins to make sense quite soon, pulling you right into their web of lies.

Under the facade of working on their troubled marriage, Suzi's husband Nick moves them to a remote cottage in the country after a drunken indiscretion with a colleague, forcing her to give up her job in London. Nick, of course, could continue to commute by car but Suzi, now 6 months pregnant, is completely isolated with no access to her own money, transport or friends. He is incredibly jealous and while he never laid a hand on her, he controlled Suzi in other ways.

Before moving into their cottage, Nick had it gutted and completely renovated into their dream home...or so Suzi thought. What he actually did was turn it into a complete prison that monitored her via CCTV, controlled via an app on his phone which was linked to a hub at home that would randomly play music, whisper her name and change the codes for the locks on the doors. It was all cleverly designed to make Suzi think she was going mad and ultimately relying on him completely.

But Suzi is harbouring secrets of her own. Finding herself jobless, friendless and completely isolated...until Nora moves into the cottage across the road...she knows she shouldn't share them with anyone, let alone someone she barely knows...but Suzi is desperate. And so she confides in Nora about the married man with whom she'd had an affair, and after discovering she was pregnant, he'd decided to leave his wife to be with her. But now months after that promise, she has heard nothing from her lover despite anxiously trying to contact him, only to discover his number no longer connected. Had she been duped? Had she scared him off? Surely he wouldn't leave her without a word. But Nick knew none of this. He only knew of her one drunken liaison that preceded their move.

In the short time she had known Suzi and her husband, Nora suspected that had Nick known about this affair, Suzi's life would take an even more sinister turn. Nora was fairly sure that Nick was abusing his wife via coercive control and yet while she had no proof, she knew the signs. But what was she to do? She had her own reasons for moving into this musty little cottage. Should she get involved or let Suzi dig her own grave?

At first, Nora seems like a practical sort. She's strong and capable and just the type of person one could trust. But Nora has secrets of her own...some of which that have remained hidden since childhood. So just how credible does that make her? Should Suzi be trusting her with her secrets? There is something a little dark about the recently widowed Nora, almost calculating even, which is somewhat removed from the dowdy middle-aged persona she seemingly and outwardly appears. But there is more to Nora than meets the eye. And then something changes when she probes into the death of her husband...and her target for revenge shifts.

Then there is Elle, a former concert pianist married to a successful doctor. The perfect wife with the ideal husband, Elle tries in vain to keep her faded beauty alive and looking attractive for Patrick on a daily basis. She is obviously clingy where her whole life revolves around him. But does he appreciate her? He is constantly home late without a thought for his wife. Seemingly unconnected to Suzi and Nora, how does Elle factor in to the tale with the other two women? There is so little seen of Elle you don't really grasp her entirely but to do so would have given the game away...although there is just enough to have you questioning her role in it all.

It didn't take me long to form my suspicions regarding the three women which in turn proved to be correct...and yet, there are still so many more twists and turns to keep you guessing right up to the end.

There are a few occasional chapters from the POV of Alison, who is a detective investigating the discovery of a body found nearby, leaving us questioning how that fits into the story. Whose body is it? And how did they get there? There are plenty of possibilities as we journey through the lives of these women, and on this point my mind was constantly changing as to who it could be. Alison's narrative is rather brief and somewhat sporadic that it is difficult to get any real sense of her. It was this and the addition of another police presence in wanting to question Suzi that confused me a little, as I wasn't sure which investigation they were alluding to...despite being months apart. Had Alison featured a little more it may have been easier to follow that line. But not to the point that that it interfered with my overall enjoyment of the book.

My one fault I could find was the phone Nora swiped from Nick. Could she not then use the app installed on there to override the control Nick had over Suzi? It seemed there was no real mention of it after that, except in the briefest of references. And I'm happy to find that nothing untoward happened to Poppet, though I was saddened finding him so frozen cold from the arctic conditions. I don't believe I am spoiling anything here because as an animal lover (especially dogs) I want to know the outcome of their plight prior to reading, for nothing else but to be prepared.

Well-plotted with short, snappy and alternating chapters, THE OTHER WIFE builds slowly to begin with but soon unravels quickly leaving an intriguing trail of clues to follow through the bleak slightly Gothic atmosphere. The ice cold wintry ambiance of the setting merely adds to the trapped feeling of isolation.

THE OTHER WIFE certainly has a creepy sinister vibe throughout that has you questioning the roles of who is bad and badder? Something is mostly definitely not right and the tension is palpable as the story slowly builds and gains momentum, with pieces of the jigsaw gradually unearthed for the reader to make sense of.

There are a couple more narratives that are added later in the story which will shed even more light as secrets are unravelled. Then the ending is the piece-de-resistance and I felt was the perfect touch, even if slightly unbelievable, bringing the whole sorry tale to a brilliant fitting conclusion.

Suzi may have done a bad thing...but what is it in Nora's past that she is hiding? And who is the father of Suzi's unborn baby? And what is Nora's motive for moving to such a remote locale? Just how much does she know about Suzi...and how? These are just some of the questions you will ask yourself as you journey through the lives of Suzi, Nora and Elle in THE OTHER WIFE.

What began as a domestic thriller ends as a revenge tale, THE OTHER WIFE is a perfect combination of thrills and twists entwined with plenty of secrets, lies and deception you will not be able to put down!

I would like to thank #ClaireMcGowan, #NetGalley and #ThomasAndMercer for an ARC of #TheOtherWife in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely LOVED this book! Seriously I could not put it down and read it in about two days. Y'all definitely read this if you are ready to be hooked and intrigued by these characters! Claire McGowan did an excellent job and I cannot wait to read more from her.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is a must read and buy for the year. A fantastic thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat like a roller coaster. Wonderful characters and storyline.

Was this review helpful?

Addictive, gripping, and full of shocks and twists that will keep you guessing until the last page. This book was a great read that will leave readers flipping the pages to read more and see what happens next. Full of shocking twists, secrets and revelations, you will devour this book.

I enjoyed reading about the many twists and secrets in this book. No one is who they appear to be, each hiding their own secrets and having something to hide. When Nora and Suzi become friends, we begin to find they have more in common than what we first thought.

I enjoyed how fast paced this book was and how it left you guessing and second guessing what was going on. So many secrets and betrayals that will keep you entertained. And when not one, but TWO deaths occur throughout the story, it adds to the mix of suspense and secrets. Were these deaths accidental or is there something more sinister at plat here?

A great novel that I devoured, and I am sure you will love it too!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. I love reading new authors and just adding to the many books I read. Love mysterious stories it just helps with continuing on with reading the book. love the story line keeps you wanting to read

Was this review helpful?

Oh my! How do I even begin to review this book? First off I give it 5 stars because this is the most you can give. I would give it 10 stars if that were possible. It is definitely a mystery thriller. And exciting and convoluted and surprising and full of plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. Several times I had to shut the book and just sit back and clear my head before opening it back up again to find out what happened next. I will admit I was a little confused with the characters at the beginning and make a couple notes about each new character until I had read enough to keep them straight. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for something exciting and surprising to read.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read The Other Wife by Claire McGowan!

This is my second McGowan book I've read, and I have to say, she writes in a way that keeps you wanting more!

Suzi, who once had a successful career, social life, and marriage is now living in a cottage out in the country away from society. She's now pregnant, a loner and is in an unhappy marriage with her husband, Nick. She knows Nick shipped her out here with him because of her abundant drinking and the affair she had with a co-worker; but there is no talk of that. Now she is forced to become a housewife and reminisce about her past life; That is until she meets Dr. Sean Sullivan who makes her feel happy again. However, after telling Sean that she's pregnant and he promises her to take care of her, she never sees him again. She doesn't know if the baby is his or Nicks, but all she wants is for Sean to come back in her life. Meanwhile a new neighbor moves in next store, Nora. Nora is someone that Suzi confides in with all her secrets, worries, and fears of her controlling husband Nick. Little does Suzi know, she's confiding in the wrong person. A great book! Edgy, thriller, and exciting! Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

This was so fun!

The writing and characters were so good (not good people mind you). How will they all connect?

There were so many twists in this. Some you will see coming if you read a lot of the genre, some you may not. I admit to missing some just due to the sheer volume.

There are way too many coincidences and this does go for broke. That was not problem for me though because it was so entertaining and I couldn’t wait to see how these characters would fare at the end. Great and satisfying conclusion for this girl.

This was fun and clever and I will definitely look for more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Amazon Publishing UK for a copy in exchange for a review.

Was this review helpful?

This story, it was...something else.

Told from the perspectives of three women: Elle, Nora, and Suzi, The Other Wife is a twisty, domestic suspense relying heavily on plot points seen a million times. Readers will quickly and easily intuit the relationship between the three, and will likely feel underwhelmed by the story overall. Yes, there are a couple mildly surprising twists near the end, but again, it's all been done so many times before, I felt no spark of excitement while reading. Further, nothing felt fleshed out or expanded upon...chunks of plot were doled out like appetizers, but we never really got to the main course. (Sorry for the food analogies...I'm hungry.)

I also have something I need to get off my chest...I loathed Suzi's character. She was a thoughtless, vaguely ignorant airhead, who couldn't responsibly care for a dog. As a mom of four dogs myself, I found her character to be incredibly abhorrent.

I just realized it took me over 2 weeks to read this book. I usually read three books a week. This one just wasn't my jam. (Again with the food!)

Overall, a very average, not at all unique, story.
2.5 stars rounded up

**Thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for my candid review.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. A good story of secrets, lies and deceit. Suzi has a secret, Nora, her new neighbor knows this. Nora has her own secrets. This was a fun, fast-paced thriller. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

I expected a full-blown family drama from given the title called "The Other Wife", but this was more mellow and what lacked in the fast-paced action department was made up in the suspense department. The Other Wife is a great book to curl up with on a quiet weekend. It's suspenseful, twisty and keeps you hooked till the very end.

When Suzi and Nick move into a quiet neighborhood, having moved from a bustling city pregnant and having quit her job Suzi finds it challenging to settle down in the countryside. However, things between Suzi and Nick are not fine at all. Suzi hides a terrible secret from her husband Nick and Nick is a controlling partner, who watches Suzi like a hawk. So when Nora moves to the neighboring cottage, Suzi is happy and looking forward to some company. But there's more to Nora than what Suzie knows. Will Suzie share her terrible secret with Nora?
Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder. After all, she’s done it before… Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realize they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.

The characters of this book were great and the plot was good too. It moved a tad bit slow from what I like, but the story and twists were really good. There seemed to be a lot of chapters on Suzie and Nora too, Elle had a smaller share and I'd have loved to know more about the incidents from her past and what shaped her to be the person she was. The ending was fantastic. But there too, I'd have loved to more about how it came to be.
Thank you, NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Claire McGowan for an arc!

Was this review helpful?

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. This was a really interesting thriller and I couldn’t figure out what was happening until near the end.
Suzi has moved out to the remote country with her husband when a new neighbor named Nora move in next door. Suzi is expecting a baby and her secret is that she believes it belongs to her lover rather than her husband. Nora has secrets of her own. The book takes many twists after that. I really enjoyed this book but I do wish some of the characters had been developed further. I will recommend to friends! Thanks again to NetGalley!

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife was such a great read. Such an awesome and was a really enjoyable read. This was my first book to read by this author and I admit it wont be the last. I didn’t wanna put it down, I love all the twists, the suspense and all the tension. I live to be stressed out by a book haha. I would definitely recommend this book to any thriller seeker.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi and Nick move to the secluded countryside. Suzi is 6 months pregnant and Nick is getting more controlling.
Suzi feels alone until Nora moves in next door. She hopes she is someone who she can get to know.But Nora knows more about Suzi than she lets on.Nora also has her own secrets too.
Thanks NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

Many Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My, what wicked people live between the pages of this book! They are all about as crazy as it gets, but add a complete lack of moral compass and you get an incendiary combination of people who collide in the middle of a bitter English winter.

Lonely Suzi, pregnant and recently relocated from London to the isolated countryside lives in an expensive fortress of a home, She spends her days pining for a man she is cheating with, a man who has gone mysteriously silent.

Nora, Suzi's impoverished neighbor, spends her days spying on Suzi, wondering how she ended up widowed and almost bankrupt after a life of luxury with her doctor husband.

And then there is Nick, Suzi's controlling husband, who monitors her every move. After years of trying, he is obsessed with his wife's pregnancy and has no qualms gaslighting her to keep her helpless and tied to him. He controls the money, the home, the extensive network of surveillance he uses to keep tabs on Suzi. All for her own good, of course.

None of these people are very sympathetic. Nora's many incarnations border on shape shifting. Suzi is dimwitted and seems oblivious to the consequences of her actions. And Nick is just despicable on every level. Any could be the villian in this story, and in many ways they all are.

But that's the genius of The Other Wife. Your preconceived notions of right and wrong get twisted like an evening at Cirque du Soleil. The reader bounces between outrage and justification as the story of Nora, Suzi, and the men who warp their lives unravels. The moral ambiguity, and the way it feels like a shock of cold water when you buy into it, makes this a gem of domestic suspense.

On a personal note, I realize it is a common tool in this genre for the story to be told out of order. Chapters that leap ahead appear and are rolled back by the following ones as the story unfolds. I don't mind this, but I found the sudden insertion of the police detectives , as the story jumped ahead two months then bounced back, a bit jarring. It required a moment of regrouping that took me out of the narrative. For me, personally, it didn't work as well, but others may disagree.

Claire McGowan has written a delicious novel of psychological twists and turns. There is so much to enjoy while reading, and to think about when the last page is turned. If stories of domestic drama where nothing is as it seems appeal to you, this one will be a welcome addition to your book pile!

Was this review helpful?

This starts slowly and I found it a little difficult to keep the characters straight at the beginning, but stick with it and you're rewarded with an amazing thriller - loved it!

Was this review helpful?

Well this book was so confusing that start, that once the first twist was given, I had to go back and re-read the beginning all over again to really understand what was going on. Once I was moved past that, I realized that knowing which character was which was very important to the story, it was a very interesting read.

Every time I thought I knew what was going on everything would shift. I made me question everything and wonder if I really knew what I was even reading anymore.

I highly recommend this but pay careful attention to the characters as there are many and most of them are important and likely to come up later on in the story.

Was this review helpful?

Engaging Storytelling.....
Psychological suspense, taut, atmospheric and gripping. A group of apparent strangers, troubled pasts and a shocking incidence - engaging storytelling from Claire McGowan. Tense, compulsive resding.

Was this review helpful?

# The Other side # Netgally
Oh gosh talk of being addicted to a book I certainly addicted to this one. I could genuinely put it down from the first page. Although I had too. In the end being ill. I fell asleep reading otherwise I would have continued until the end. Suzie and Eleanor. Both brilliant characters each in their own way. At first I did not know which of the two I was routing for. They both had things going for them. If anything I would have to say Eleanor especially after the death of her husband. ... However Suzie had her own problems with Nick. At first unaware of what he was doing to he.r. The twists kept coming throughout the book. At one point the twists kept you on the edge of your seat. Just wanting to know more and more, leaving me breathless with anticipation. Would would Eleanor carry out her plan, would Suzie let her. More to the point the change in Nick was unexpected. He's definitely a dark horse..I would definitely recommend this book. Well written and brilliant storyline.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Did you want to go for a ride? Well read this book. There is so much going on and it’s so fast paced you will not want to put it down.

From the title you can guess that there is a woman scorned. Well I can’t give it away but that’s partly true! We have Suzy a pregnant housewife and Nora a widower. Suzy is married to a man she does not love and rightfully so. He’s controlling and very demanding. Then Nora moved in next door (the only two houses for a while). They become friends of sorts. But then Suzy starts to notice odd things happening. She is not sure who is responsible but she’s determined to find out.

This was an enjoyable read and it’s out now.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan was my second book by this author and I was so excited to receive an advanced copy. It did not disappoint! Full of twists and turns I did not see coming - I could not walk away until I knew the fate of Suzi, isolated from friends and family on a desolate countryside with only her controlling husband Nick by her side. Suzi has strayed before from their marriage and now finds herself even more cut off from friends, family and suddenly pregnant and uncertain of the baby’s father. She looks forward to a neighbor and when Nora moves in across the road she confides more than she should. Nora is not who she says she is... What a great read for a dark and stormy winter evening! I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of The Other Wife by Claire McGowan.

Nora has moved to this remote small town next to a quiet couple absolutely on purpose. They might not know her, but she certainly knows them, specifically the wife Suzi. And while Nora learns as much as she can about Suzi, Suzi is learning exactly why her new friend might want to get closer to her. Are her intentions good?

This was a fast, fun, and compulsively readable story. It was well written with complex characters and an unpredictable storyline. I had no idea what to expect the whole time, so that made it all the more fun. I highly recommend for a roller coaster ride.

Was this review helpful?

This was very suspenseful domestic thriller. I enjoy books told from different points of view because they offer you different perspectives and often keep you guessing. This one did not disappoint! I thought I knew where the plot was going, but then I would be surprised.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi loved her life in London, until one mistake landed her in an isolated house in the country. Determined to make her marriage work, she follows all the rules set by her husband Nick. When Nora moves in next door, she is so happy to have someone she can confide in. Until she realizes Nora might not be who she says she is.
I loved this book! I'm really a sucker for thrillers, and this one was great!

Was this review helpful?

Nothing new here really, except (view spoiler on the Goodreads link), which is what brought it up from 2 to 3 stars. I am really over thrillers heavily involving domestic abuse, though, which is the reason for the low rating. I know I have said that before, but it is tough to tell which ones have that and which ones don't, so I still end up reading a lot of them. On this one I was still curious to know how it ended, so I plowed through. But anyway. On to the next.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK for a free digital galley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

It was ok book. For me was very predictable which I didn’t like it . Is very easy to read . But definitely Is a book I would not recommend to another reader.

Was this review helpful?

I feel like it’s a bit repetitive in the “wife mysteries” subgenre, but has its clever moments. 3.5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

A dark and twisted tale full of lies and secrets and no one being completely themselves. When Susie and her husband Nick meet their new neighbour Nora the lies each one of them have been telling finally start to spill out and the truth about affairs, deceit, fraud, abuse and blackmail come clashing together in this exciting thriller which you can not put down

Was this review helpful?

This book kept me guessing for a while. I liked the characters, which is what kept me reading. The plot was multi-layered and beautifully written.

Was this review helpful?

Actual rating 3.5 ⭐

Twisty, fun read! There were a lot of characters in this book which slowed me down some in the beginning, but once I figured it out, this story moved!

Suzi, one of the main characters in this book has cheated on her husband more than once. Nick, Suzi's husband, is a controlling , manipulative jerk and stalks his wife to the extreme. Nora, the neighbor, or is she really, are just a few of the characters in this book. At times this book had too much going on, but by the middle I had figured out who was who and was engaged enough to want to see this book through to the end. I am glad I stuck with it!!

I received this book from Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I thought it was a bit confusing at first and had to keep going back to re-read details but after doing so I pretty much figured out how it would end. Worth a read if you can borrow it from the library.

Was this review helpful?

One wife is looking for the woman that took everything away from her. The other is looking for the that finally made her happy. Neither really knows who they should be looking for.
Claire McGowan has written another book that I enjoyed. The twists and suspense at the level I require to keep me thoroughly entertained.

Was this review helpful?

What a good read! It's like watching your favorite soap opera, knowing the characters are going to do something dramatic but then when it happens, you are like....on no!!!
When a small group of people become neighbors, the chances they will find out some not so nice things about each other is a certainty. How the story moves from point A through a whole calendar's worth of shocking events will definitely have you looking for more books by Claire McGowan.

Was this review helpful?

Pregnant Suzi and her manipulative husband Nick move away from London to a remote countryside cottage to save their marriage following an affair in this domestic thriller. Before long recently widowed new neighbour Nora moves into the cottage next door and lonely Suzi is very keen to form a friendship. But Suzi has secrets to hide and so, it would appear, does Nora.
The third main character, Elle, has the perfect marriage, husband, home and life - or has she?
'The Other Wife' is told from the viewpoint of Suzi, Elle and Nora and flashes back and forward in time although it is not hard to keep track of events. There were plenty of twists and turns, some obvious and some I did not see coming at all and although none of the characters were particularly likeable they were very entertaining and certainly held my interest.
Overall, an enjoyable story worthy of 4 stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley UK and publishers for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I was expecting more from this domestic thriller but the characters weren't developed very well and the changing points of view was hard to follow.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley
THE OTHER WIFE by Clare McGowan is a very twisty thriller that I enjoyed very much. Although it was predictable in parts it still kept my attention. I will definitely read more by this author.

Was this review helpful?

I originally didn't think I would finish this book if I am being 100% honest. To me, the book started slow and didn't really hold my interest. However, about 40%-50% of the way through the story took off. Things interesting and secrets started coming out. Although, I do have to say that I saw the big reveal of the neighbor coming a mile away. All in all the last half of the book redeemed itself for the slow start. Stick with it, it's pretty good.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi has cheated once on her husband, Nick, and now he is very controlling. She has done it again and now is pregnant and wondering who the father is. Elle is out for revenge as Suzi has cheated with her husband. Nora is Suzi's new neighbor and is keeping an eye on Suzi and Nick. I found these characters all very interesting and well-developed. The plot was well paced and after Part 1 took off gangbusters and made the book unputdownable. I had to keep reading in order to find out what was going to happen in the end. I loved McGowan's Paula Maguire books and her last book, What You Did. I would highly recommend this book and I look forward to her next release. I would like to thank Amazon UK Publisher and NetGalley for a free book for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I have read other books by Claire McGowan so I was excited to dive into this one. It did not disappoint. I enjoyed this book in spite of disliking the main characters. Nora has just lost her husband, along with most of their assets. She moves into a remote cottage next-door to a young couple, Suzi and Nick. Nora quickly befriends Suzi but their are secrets on both sides. It was a good thriller with a maybe not so unexpected twist.

Was this review helpful?

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC

A slow-Paced twisty domestic Psychological Suspense told from multiple points of view. Full of lies, betrayal and secrets.

Was this review helpful?

I typically enjoy fast-paced thrillers and this one was slow-paced. Slow-paced doesn't necessarily mean bad, in fact, some people often enjoy thrillers that have a build up instead. This book took me a long long time to finish, which is how I knew it wasn't a favorite. Usually thrillers that I love I finish in 1-2 days. Not for me.

Was this review helpful?

Great book, with multiple plot twists you won't see coming.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

If The Wife Between Us and Behind Closed Doors had a book baby, it would be The Other Wife. Those are two of my favorite thrillers, and I also enjoyed this one! It was a quick, fast-paced thriller, with some interesting (although maybe not unique) twists. Solid 3 stars from me.

Was this review helpful?

Great book with lots of plot twists that I didn't see coming! If you're looking for a thriller to read, this one will keep you turning pages until the end.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting story, a little confusing at the beginning but definitely a fun read once you get going. I give it 4 stars for creativity and for the writing because I did think it was well done and well put together, and delivers what is intended.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book!! Great story!! The book was crazy!!! Received this book from Amazon publishing Uk from netgally!!

Was this review helpful?

I typically enjoy fast-paced thrillers and this one was a bit slow for me but, still a good read. There were a few twists that held my attention and kept me going.

Was this review helpful?

A slow start that turned into a read I couldn’t put down! It’s similar to the typical thrillers that are out now but it was a nice read in between my book.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great mystery. The twist and turns was exciting to see unfold. Claire McGowan is absolutely an author I will be reading more from!

Was this review helpful?

I found the characters unlikable and found myself wanting to skip through chapters and wanting to just find out how it ended. I did like the multiple points of view and how they twisted together, and predicted some twists, but not all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review .

Was this review helpful?

This book had been published at time of reading. It had started a bit slow so I went and checked a few five star reviews (no spoilers). One in particular said the slow build in the beginning was necessary and to just keep reading. So I did.

Oh my goodness! Once the story finally took off I was powerless to stop reading. Read in less than 24 hours. Until now I didn’t think there were any books that could really baffle and surprise me. When I did manage to figure anything out it was mere pages before the reveal.

The characters are realistically described that you can’t help but become invested in what is happening to them. I had a deep love for three characters in particular. I dare not divulge who for it might tip you off to who is the victim; then again maybe in this book I rooted for the bad guy. You never know who a person really is, do you.

The story skips about a bit with the timeline but believe me when I say it’s precisely as it should be. I found it tricky at first to navigate it but quickly caught on. Thus the aforementioned reviewer was correct. You will not be disappointed when you race to an amazing end. I was sad it was all over.

I’m afraid I can tell you no details of this book beyond the publisher’s description for fear I’d give away some major clue. I highly recommend that you grab this gem ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me access to this ARC even if I was a bit late reading it.

Was this review helpful?

This book was an interesting story, although a bit predictable at times. I found the alternating perspectives hard to follow at times. I did enjoy the pace of the novel.

Was this review helpful?

A tad slow for my taste but still a good read. A few plot twists kept me going and it did get better as I went along., All in all I liked it and would pick up more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

I was excited to read this book but when I got into it well it started out very slow, so slow I had to skip some parts. When it did intact start to get interesting I was about a third into the book. I’m a instant gratification person so this book wasnt for me.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife wasn't anything new. I spent most of 2018 and 2019 reading every thriller that I could get my hands on, especially psychological thrillers. It's gotten to the point where nothing surprises me anymore. The Other Wife felt like it took elements from all sorts of popular books to make a successful book. Writing from multiple points of views, affairs, scandal...
It was written well though, so well done, Ms McGowan.

Was this review helpful?

It isn't a spoiler to say that once you realise that Ellie and Nora are the same person with two different perspectives then the story becomes a lot more understandable. Gripped me until the end. Recommended.

Was this review helpful?

What a tangled web we weave. But who is doing the deceiving?
Suzi’s husband, Nick has moved her to the wilderness, an old uninviting cold stone cottage style home in the middle of nowhere. She’s largely pregnant and has no one around to talk to. Forced to quit her job and stay at home playing the good housewife, she is unhappy and lonely. Soon, though, a woman moves in next door in the only home around for many miles and Suzi is elated to finally have someone else around.
Before long, strange things start happening. Music and lights turning oh by themselves. Words in the snow. Suzi confides in her neighbour, a total stranger, about the real reason her husband moved them away from everything. But is Nora really a stranger? And why did she move to such an isolated place in the country?
Odd things happening and bodies are piling up and Suzi has nowhere to turn as she tries to make sense of all that is going on. She has no one she can trust.
Oh, this was a delicious twisty read with many many surprises. And they kept on coming. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, something else was thrown into the mix.
I had never read this author before until earlier this month when I read “what she did” and I liked it so much I moved right on into “the other wife”. I never read an author back to back, just an odd quirk of mine so it really says a lot about how much I enjoyed the first book of hers that I had read.
Psychological thrillers are easy to come by. So many are written and it’s my favourite genre by far, so it’s difficult to find one that isn’t like all the others and offers me something different. I only give 5 stars to the very best ones and this one fits that for me. An Isolated spooky setting, so many twists and turns in this suspenseful gem. Solid five star for me.
Thank you to the publishers and net galley for allowing me the privilege to read and review this book in exchange of an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I was hooked from the beginning of this book. I enjoyed it very much and didn't want it to end. This is my first read by this author and it won't be the last. This is a book that once I started, I didn't want to it to end. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

Your typical run-of-the-mill thriller with secrets, lies, affairs, gaslighting and murder. It's not hard to see where the story e.g. who's actually who and how their lives are linked, though some moments still took me by surprise. I wouldn't have minded a revenge sequel but alas, it was a neat ending. Although this was quite a riveting read, it isn't anything that hasn't been done before either.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This was a fast-paced, psychological thriller. It kept me on my toes; I had no clue where the storyline was going next. We have young Suzi who is married to controlling Nick, she has an affair with a married man, ends up pregnant, isn’t sure whose it is. Suddenly the doctor boyfriend, Sean, stops responding to her and she thinks she has ghosted by him, he then turns up dead but may not even be Sean. She has a new neighbor, Nora, they live in the only two houses at the end of our lane in the middle of nowhere. They become fast friends, and she tells Nora everything; all her dirty laundry. Suddenly Suzi isn’t sure who to believe; who to trust. Is someone messing with her or is she losing it. And then there is Elle, who is she and what is she capable of?

This story was like a roller coaster, up and down and all around. I loved it, I couldn’t wait to see where it was going next. Very satisfying ending and so many twists and I couldn’t keep track of them all but it all made sense in the end. Great book will definitely be reading more books by this author.

Was this review helpful?

Devoured this book. Loved the writing style of alternate chapters being dedicated to the characters which gave us the opportunity to hear the story from their points of view. Enjoyed how the story unfolded. Definitely will watch out for more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this one on the whole.

I found it a little bit predictable in places but something about it kept me reading on. I also liked the mysterious ness behind the main character however the fact that a few things were never fully explained irritated me a bit. A good read bug I’ve read better books.

Was this review helpful?

A great suspense thriller! Women with dark secrets looking for and wanting someone to trust, and those who you think you might be able to tell your secret to is the least trustworthy of all!
Can one off a bit fast-paced initially so you need to pay attention to the characters and what they are doing/saying.
The ending is predictable but not a bag ending and a pretty good book in general!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! Such a page turner with an interesting concept. I was happy with the ending. I have read a few of Claire McGowan's books and already can't wait for her next one!

Was this review helpful?

What a twist and turn of a story.

You just never know who your neighbors could be or what could be happening behind closed doors.

How well do you get to know someone before you consider them a friend and confide your darkest secrets to them? How do you even know you can trust them?

Suzi was lonely and didn’t see the signs until it was too late. By then she realized the one person she thought could trust, was worse than the one she thought she couldn’t trust.

Grab this book and venture into the daily life of Suzi, I guarantee you’ll be screaming at her too.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book, it was confusing a bit at the start. Then when you figured it out it was a really good story. The characters were intriguing and the setting was good. I felt though that the ending was a bit of a let down I expected more. I will continue to read more books by this author in the future . And I will recommend this to anyone who likes reading psychological thrillers.
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this

Was this review helpful?

This was a great read. It was super confusing at first to keep up with the different characters but once you got into the story a little bit it all made more sense. A couple of unexpected twists and turns which always keeps things interesting. I would definitely recommend to a friend.

Was this review helpful?

This is the story of three women who all have secrets, but have more in common than they can imagine. Suzi and her successful husband Nick, have moved out of London and are now living in a luxury remote cottage in the countryside. Suzi is bored with her life as a housewife as she gave up a successful career to move there. She is now pregnant and resents been there even more. Nick is a very obsessive and jealous husband and wants to know her every movement, but Suzi is keeping a big secret from him. Nora moves into the only nearby cottage and Suzi is delighted to have a friend nearby at last. Little does she know that Nora has a reason for moving there and has her own secrets that are connected to Suzi. The third woman is Elle, a concert pianist but who is now a full time wife to her doctor husband. They have the perfect life, fabulous holidays so her life is shattered when she finds out he has betrayed her and taken all her money so she will stop at nothing to seek her revenge. This book is full of twists, turns and lies and when the connection between the three women is revealed the tension and suspense is unbearable. An excellent psychological thriller and a highly recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

This was a bit slow to get started, but once it got going, it was pretty fast paced and there were plenty of twists and turns. Suzi moves to the middle of nowhere with her husband Nick, having given up her job and being pregnant., she soon feels isolated. Nick is at work all day and she has no way of getting anywhere, or any money of her own. Her neighbour Nora is a godsend and Suzi finds herself confiding in her.
We learn of Suzi’s past and her previous affairs.
The story is told from Suzi’s perspective, as well as Elle and Nora’s and gradually the story starts to unfurl.
There were no great surprises in the plot but I have to say that I really enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

Great domestic thriller with surprises on every page! However, I found the ending to be a little predictable and flat...

Was this review helpful?

Suzi's a city girl who had it all, that is until a fateful mistake caused her husband to pull them from the life they knew to live in the countryside, isolated from everyone and everything. She is pregnant and confused with no one to turn to, until Nora moves into the cottage nearby.

Nora is a middle aged woman and a recent widower. Suzi finds herself wanting to befriend Nora and have her as a confidant, but something seems a bit off about Nora. Should Suzi trust a woman she just only met?

Elle is the doting wife of a doctor. She has the perfect life and the perfect husband. But her husband is hiding some big secrets that will make her question their entire relationship and everything she thought she knew about him.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. The multiple points of view and timelines worked so well with this story, and as you work your way through the novel, the timelines start to merge and twist in unexpected ways. At first, I felt like the POV's weren't given enough description and were hard to distinguish from one another, but the further I read, the more I realized that I think this may have been an intentional choice by the author.
I did find that the middle lagged just a bit, but I was still engaged enough with the different storylines to keep reading.

4/5*
Would recommend and definitely am interested to check out other titles by this author.

Was this review helpful?

Twisty and enticing this was a good read.

The premise wasn't amazing and the writing quality was ok but the story was strong.

Was this review helpful?

I almost gave up on this book about 30% in, because it started out so very slow and it was hard to keep me interested... but I’m so glad I didn’t give up! At about 39% the story started to get really good and picked up the pace, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. Told from three points of view: Elle, Susie and Nora, this was a well written and unique story. So full of suspense and twists once it got into the secrets of the characters. This is the third book I’ve read by Claire McGowan and I love her writing and story telling skills. She has now become one of my favorite authors for mystery/suspense/thriller (Although this book could also be considered as a domestic suspense genre as well).
The only reason I gave a 4 instead of 5 stars is because it was so slow to get going. I read the kindle version and bought the audible version so I could listen when I was unable to read. Totally one credit worthy and great narration. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense thriller. A very special thank you to Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

McGowan masterfully weaves multiple points of view into a story about revenge and relationships. As a reader you can feel the isolation and cold, clean air as McGowan builds up the atmosphere throughout the novel to the point where it's almost a character itself. The minor and major twists were well-executed and unexpected. The relationship between the main character and her husband was especially fun to read despite its immense unpleasantness. You can feel the tension between the characters and McGowan nailed the tone and voice of a couple that can't stand to be in the same room.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley.
First I really liked the cover. It was dark and forbodding sort of like the story!

This story is told by three women's POV, but really each character was no difference then the next. Three women living in a quiet neighborhood with secrets.

Suzi and Nick are a messed up couple with Nick being a controlling douche who never lets Suzi out of his sight. She soon befriends her neighbor Nora. But Nora seems off as well. Then there is Elle who pretends to have the perfect life until her husband messed her up. All three women are off and its hard to tell which one is which. I found myself going back to the beginning of each chapter to remember whose POV I was reading. There were some good twists in the book, some predictable and others not so much.

Good read, that had its slow points though..

Was this review helpful?

I'm always here for a good suspenseful book of lies, revenge and murder. This exactly what The Other Wife Delivered.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this page turning book. It was well written. Glad that I read it. Will be checking other books by this author.

Was this review helpful?

This book starts out fast for me and does not slow down. It is such a good story that will have you holding your breathe and on the edge of your seat in parts. Told from three different POVs from three different women.
It is such a good book. Great characters and plot. I loved the descriptions and the edge of my seat thrills.
Thank you to #NetGalley #TheOtherWife and #ClairMcgowan for this awesome arc. It’s my own review.

A big 4 stars and high recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of The Other Wife. It is a really great suspenseful thriller. It was a fast, enjoyable read. Although it might be predictable at times, I really liked the story.

Was this review helpful?

I was a little confused at the beginning of this book but am glad I persevered, because as I realised who and what the characters were I became thoroughly engrossed in the story. It seemed to be a little far fetched at times but in this day and age it might not be! I must admit that I didn’t like any of the characters but they were skilfully constructed and believable. There could have been less toing and froing to various places but this is a minor criticism. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and would recommend this book.
Thank you Claire Mc Gowan, Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I requested this book on NetGalley because of the blurb.

Suzi, suffering from guilt from an extramarital affair and now pregnant, agrees to quit her job and move to the country with her husband, Nick. Isolated, she clings to her new neighbor, Nora, for support. Suzi spills all of her secrets, relieved to finally have someone to talk to about everything that’s been going on. But can she really trust Nora? What does Suzi really know about her friendly new neighbor?

This book had lots of twists, and I felt like I was only figuring it out right before the author told me the big reveals, so I was right on time. There are enough little details to figure it out but not so many that the plot is obvious. The development of Suzi’s story kept me interested and turning pages, wanting to see what would happen next.

I really enjoyed this novel and definitely recommend to fans of the psychological suspense genre!

Was this review helpful?

Claire McGowan's gift is in the creation of strong, believable characters and this lifts this book above the average psychological thriller. Great rural setting too with a real sense of menace

Was this review helpful?

Great thriller- could not put it down once I started. Told from alternating view points, it keeps the reader interested and guessing.

Was this review helpful?

Fantastic domestic thriller that I couldn’t put down from the beginning. This is not my first novel by the author and certainly won't be my last. It was a great well paced thriller. We get good character set up with Suzi, Nick and Nora. I always wanted more and had questions. It kept my attention and kept me reading and thinking about what would come next. 4 big stars from me. I will recommend this one to my thriller loving friends.

Was this review helpful?

4 stars

Well this book was a bit of a twist. I love when these psychological thrillers have my brain working overtime to figure out exactly where the characters in the book fit into the story. It took a little bit for me on this one. (I’ll be honest, it normally does lol). But it all made sense after it fit into place. Not a huge surprise with the how and why, but I still enjoyed the book. The writing was good and the story overall was interesting. Although I wanted to flick Susie a few times. She got on my nerves a bit with her stupidity.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a good psychological thriller.

Was this review helpful?

My thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishers Uk for a copy or “The Other Wife “ for an honest review.

What a wonderful , suspenseful, tale of secrets and lies this book is
I felt clever that I’d guessed a twist a little into the book , but what came next I definitely didn’t see coming !
I’ve enjoyed and recommended , several other books by Claire Mc Gowan in the past and will certainly be doing so with “The Other Wife”
Highly recommended.A book that stands out from the crowded shelves of other psychological thrillers

Was this review helpful?

Wasn't quite sure where this was going in the beginning, but once I'd caught up with the story I couldn't stop reading, Another cracking read from Claire McGowan.

Was this review helpful?

This had a great plot and developed characters. I loved how many turns it had. The synposis was interesting and the book did not disappoint. I would read more from this author.I loved the ending.!

Was this review helpful?

This one was not great. None of the characters were very likeable, the story line was long and drawn out, it took a very long time to get to the "point".

Was this review helpful?

Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick. My first book by this author, but I'll be reading more

Was this review helpful?

Women and the men they have chosen, all of whom are harbouring secrets. Liked the start, but then it dragged until around the 60% mark, when it became interesting and far livelier. These women - how on earth did they tolerate everything, no backbone at all apparently! It was predictable and didn’t take long to work out but I like to work a bit harder than I had to with this book. Plus I don’t think the weather gets as bad as described in Kent with impassible roads for days on end, being described as “normal” for this part of the country. The cover was intriguing and I liked how it was written.

Was this review helpful?

Mark my words this book is going to be a huge hit for this author. This is an exceptional thriller.

I really don't want to discuss the plot because I want everyone to discover this story on their own terms. It's intricate. It's breathtaking. It's heart-pumping. It's shiver inducing. It's everything I could ever ask for in this genre. I started this book yesterday morning and tore through 75% without even realizing it. I was completely riveted to the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishing company for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

There is absolutely no doubt about it Claire McGowan is a powerful writer.

In this book we meet three women , Suzy, Elle and Nora. each with a secret but where does the real danger lie?

Claire McGowan creates a real feeling of jeopardy as the reader grapples with the commonality between the three women as we hear their stories from each of their own viewpoints. of each woman,

If your preference is for a suspense novel then this one is full of secrets and lies and served up with a dollop of revenge.

Was this review helpful?

This twisty tale just drags you deeper and deeper as you go. I kept wondering “is she going to kill her?” And the author made you think she was because of the inner voice. I was satisfied with the ending. It was a little obvious, for me at least, how it was going to go down. There were a few little plot twists thrown in I didn’t see though.

Was this review helpful?

thoughts
Would I recommend it? Yes , in fact I've already started enabling others to pick it up to read for themselves.
Would I read more by this author? Yes.
Fast-Paced Psychological thriller with a dark and sinister vibe to it that is told in the perspectives of three women: Elle, Nora, and Suzi. And each one has a secrets that has to be kept hiding but like all secrets they sometimes come out in the open for everyone to know. The story has twist and turns that will shock you, surprise you in some ways and in others will keep you guessing , and in many ways also show you how far others will go to get Revenge on the one that has wronged them.With tbat said i want to thank NetGalley for letting me read and review it .And i can't wait to see what else this author comes up with.

Was this review helpful?

I received a free e-copy of The Other Wife by Claire McGowan from NetGalley for my honest review.

The book had a good plot and several twists to it. I just really didn't connect with the characters.

A domestic thriller about women who have secrets. They want someone to talk to and trust but can they trust each other?

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife
Claire McGowan
I have read all of Claire McGowan’s books so was looking forward to reading this and I was not disappointed. It is a story of a young couple, the husband is totally controlling, the wife submissive and unhappy, she has been having an affair and is pregnant, but her lover has gone AWOL. Their neighbour is a widow and seems unusually interested in their lives. This book has layer upon layer of twists and turns and I found I was reading late into the night to see what was going to happen/be revealed next. I thoroughly recommend this.

Was this review helpful?

Quick moving psychological thriller! Suzi and her husband Nick move to the country away from her busy life in London when they fall pregnant. Suzi quickly learns to hate the isolation whilst Nick is at work, she is left on her own, no transport or friends around her. Suzi is keeping secrets from Nick - that she had an affair - that she can’t confide in anyone; until Nora moves into the cottage next door. Nora has her own secrets though!

Very surprising ending - I’d love to read more of the story in particular about Nora.

Was this review helpful?

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I usually love McGowans books but this one fell short for me. Unfortunately I had a hard time getting through it it was so slow.

Was this review helpful?

I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. The Other Wife followed the typical Ruth Ware/Paula Hawkins "Girl" genre. The characters weren't very likeable. The story was okay and kept me guessing. I'd recommend to someone looking for a quick, suspenseful read.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! This book does not let up with the twists and turns. A women scorned is a dangerous thing, and secrets always come to light! This is a story of karma, revenge and drama.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a psychological thriller that pits cheating spouses against their wronged partners. Suzi has been married to Nick for three years, and she has given him reasons to be jealous. Now she’s pregnant, not sure whether her husband or her lover Sean is the father, and she’s basically imprisoned in a cottage in a remote area near Kent, England, where Nick hopes to keep her faithful.

Nora has just moved next door, downsizing from a lovely home into a run-down rental cottage after the death of her husband, which has created a shortage in finances. Nora and Suzi strike up a friendship although each is cautious about revealing too much about their personal lives at first.

Then there’s Elle, who lives in a nice home in Guildford, where she waits anxiously for her doctor husband Patrick, who arrives home late most every night. Elle suspects there is another woman, and she worries constantly that he will leave her. She is about to come unraveled.

Not everybody in this novel is who they say they are, leading to deadly consequences for some.
Born in Ireland, Claire McGowan lives in London. She writes the “highly addictive” Paula McGuire series as well as her standalone thrillers.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting May 3, 2020.

I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Was this review helpful?

I was looking forward to this one having read the blurb and it’s been fairly well advertised but it really was quite dull and deathly slow.

Suzi is a pregnant woman who is married to Nick who is incredibly jealous. She’d had an affair. He does not trust her and is jealous most of the time.. She doesn’t Have any friends until she meets her new neighbour, Nora who also has a secret.

I didn’t like the characters and the book was written from the different points of view but was often repetitive and monotonous. The slowness of the story really put me off and wondered if was ever going to get going and I got a bit sick of how pathetic some of the characters appeared to be..

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is a domestic thriller that had me turning the pages and kept me guessing until the end. Be prepared for plenty of secrets, lies and deceit, which is what I love in a book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Not a bad story-pretty bog-standard. I really think the characters could have been better fleshed out. The usual twists and turns. Readable.

Was this review helpful?

This story ended up packing one hell of a punch!

The Other Wife is told from four different POVs, Elle, Nora, Suzi and Alison and is split into four parts. I initially believed this to be detrimental to the book as the storyline was incredibly confusing at first and as a result I think a couple of the earlier twists were unnecessary.

However, I pushed on and it soon became apparent why the novel is written this way. The pace of the book does increase and I became invested in the characters, one in particular I started to route for. I think the author wrote her quite realistically and she is definitely someone you wouldn't want to cross!

A very clever, well-planned ending and overall I think The Other Wife deserves a solid 4 stars. Definitely worth persevering with.

Was this review helpful?

I love this author and so should you! Great twists and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Set Suzi in a secluded area. The couple moving in have one neighbor named Elle. Unbeknownst to Suzi, Elle is watching her. Secrets and lies and twists and turns make for another fabulous book by this author.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a domestic thriller full of twists, suspense, and secrets. I appreciated the short chapters and alternating viewpoints. I will not say too much about this book because I don’t want to spoil anything. It did have a few confusing transitions/ moments. Also, the pacing was a little slow at times. I didn't really care for the characters. Overall this was an ok read.

Was this review helpful?

“The other wife” by Claire McGowan is a well thought out domestic thriller with many twists and turns to keep your attention.

It’s hard to describe the plot without revealing spoilers as nearly every chapter unveils a new secret.

I found it an enjoyable read but I did so,times get the characters muddled up and would have to flip back to double check exactly who was who. I’m undecided if this was down to my poor attention span or if the character development could use some work.

Overall it is a good read but not one of my favourite thrillers out there.

Thank you to netgalley for the free ARC in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is an intriguing story of two women and the unexpected connection between them.

I really loved the character building and the storytelling. It was a little jarring at first going between POVs, as we get to see the story in various ways. But ultimately the story was well crafted and I'm looking forward to read more from this author.

4.25/5

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own and are unbiased.

5 Bjg stars from me. Held my attention and kept me guessing the whole time. Great read.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to read/review this book due to other commitments. I will certainly update this review if/when I have the chance to read the book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

I found this book very thought provoking. How can one many do so much damage. His tentacles spread far and wide causing the women he met to look deep into themselves and take responsibility for there own lives. Well written and absorbing, thank you for allowing me to read this arc copy.

Was this review helpful?

A wonderful thriller which is easy to read and hard to put down. Not at all what I expected throughout! Why two wives? Who is responsible for his death? A twisted and delicious thriller from start to finish! Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

Love thrillers? Then this is the book for you! You will be kept on the edge of your seat as you read. This book is hard to put down and gave me the same feeling of confusion as The Silent Oatient and The Wives. Highly recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is an intriguing story of different women and the unexpected connection between them. It is hard to describe due to not wanting to give out spoilers.
I didn't like this quite as much as I had hoped but it was an enjoyable.

I apologise most sincerely for not reviewing this book when I read it on the 5th April this was due to the fact I forgot I had an ARC.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Claire McGowan and Amazon Publishing Uk for an eARC. My views are my own.

#TheOtherWife #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

I saw this book being advertised everywhere and it sounded like it would be right up my street. And so it was... A fast-paced unputdownable thriller. The story was told primarily from three main characters and, just as any thriller should, it had short chapters alternating between various timepoints. There were a lot of twists and turns in the story and the storyline moved at a perfect pace. Loved it!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great book! The pace was great and I liked how I kept guessing until the end. Suzi was definitely my favorite character!

Was this review helpful?

I had to DNF and was not able to finish before the archive date.
Thank you Netgalley for the free eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

While I thought the plot was a good idea, I just could not get into the story. I think that the author's writing style was just not for me.

Was this review helpful?

Great concept and plot with some great writing with some really unlikeable characters which makes the book so entertaining. Along with the twists and turns and some sinister moments it was a good book. I saw some similarities to books which was a little off putting but I do believe many would enjoy this nevertheless. Thank you!!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this ebook from Netgalley.
A pregnant woman who may be living next door to the father of the child's wife...
A widow who seeks revenge on her dead husbands lover...
A controlling husband, trying to make his wife think she's going mad...
A good read, I highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

It started to become an internal joke to me that this book should an alternative title relating to the toxicity that almost all the characters and their relationships were. The book is actually really good because of this, the author gives us a bunch of people that can be considered, in some aspects, the scum of the society, we have cheaters, abusive partners, liars, blackmailers, etc. My biggest problem with this book is that it had too many plots twists, which made the book dull in some parts. The book is narrated in 1st person by a different character, being they all women with their different points of view and perspective in the story. The writing was the best part of the book and it made even the dullest parts barebow. The only thing I can really say about the end with not giving any spoiler is that it was really satisfying.

Was this review helpful?

3.35/5 ⭐

This is somehow a classic thriller, with the element of surprise well-put there and twists and turns in the plot. I did appreciate the whole book, even though it was a bit predictable very early in the action.
There are all sorts of schemes going on, the characters manifest their fair share of problems that they tried to solve in a wrong way that led them to even complicated matters.
The book was enjoyable and I definitely recommend it to people who love readable thrillers.

Was this review helpful?

Finally, a great page-turning thriller! It took me a second to get familiar with the characters as the point of view would change with each chapter, but I quickly connected to the characters and became invested. I was really rooting for Suzi to be a strong woman and stand up for herself.

Was this review helpful?

This is another fast paced thriller from this author that I just couldn’t put down. It is such a great domestic thrillers with many twists and turns

Was this review helpful?

I had looked forward to this because I enjoyed this author's other books. This one had the domestic drama and suspense, but it was just a bit slow for me. It was told from several different characters perspectives and I knew right away how they were all going to be related. Each character had faults, but the main character was annoying and inconsistent to me. There were plenty of twists and turns, but they didn't keep my excitement going for the book. It was a good book, but not a great book for me. Many other people loved this book, so it might have just not been the book for me.

Was this review helpful?

As I lover of thrillers, I've read many of Claire McGowans books and loved every one of them.
Going into this book, it quickly pulled me in by the first page and from then on getting to know each one of the characters I was quite invested.
This book is very atmospheric which I loved! I loved the whole aspect of a little cottage in a small village where you can't really keep anything secret.
Once the plot slowly started to unravel I honestly couldn't read it fast enough.
great enjoyable read, especially for this time of year.

Was this review helpful?

I’m now a new fan of this author. This book was so good. It really kept me guessing. I liked that each chapter switched back and forth between characters.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoy this author and this book is another good one. Twists and turns galore, a little predictable because this style of narration and storyline is very popular right now. Well worth a couple hours of reading time but not something I will spend time thinking about.

Was this review helpful?

This was the first of Claire McGowan's that I had read, and I absolutely loved it. Now I'm currently reading one of her other books, The Push, and it is of the same high caliber—unputdownable. The Other Wife unravels the story of three woman, whose stories at first may seen unrelated, but weave together as one gets further into the text. The novel had many twists and turns and was incredibly addictive. The short chapters that alternate narration between the women kept me hooked. I look forward to reading more of author Claire McGowan's work in the future.

Was this review helpful?

I read this book very quickly thanks to such an engaging talented author! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Great characters, setting and storyline. Would highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Suzi is a young married woman who is pregnant. She suspects her husband Nick is having an affair when she's the one that had an affair. When Suzi became pregnant, they moved out of London to a remote location with only a few houses nearby. Suddenly, Nora moves in across the street from them. Nora is a widow whose husband had recently passed away. The unlikely pair become friends and Suzi starts thinking she is losing her mind because strange things keep happening at her house.

There are a lot of characters in this book and several twists. I had figured out one part of it but did not anticipate the ending. The book definitely could have continued as there was a storyline there but it wouldn't be necessary to continue.

Was this review helpful?

Okay I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down from the beginning. It was a great fast paced thriller. I always wanted more and had questions. It kept my attention and kept me wondering what next. If you need a good thriller I recommend this one for sure! Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Great book! Couldn’t wait to read it, and it didn’t disappoint! Grabbed my attention within the first two chapters, and then I didn’t want to put it down. Excellent character development - I think that every reader will find a character to whom they relate. I enjoy books where there is character development, and then also a surprise, and this book provided both! Looking forward to reading more from this author!

Was this review helpful?

I do love to read this authors books!
You find yourself immersed in the pages with hours flying by!
The characters are relatable and you can feel yourself drawn to them all for different reasons.
the settings and surroundings are easily imagined as the descriptions are so detailed.

Was this review helpful?

Fast-paced thriller. It was confusing at first, all the stories of each women. It wasn't clear how they all intertwined so it was a big cast to try to get to know and understand. But soon it was easy to piece apart who was who (but not necessarily the why). I found the mystery interesting and the thriller parts well done (and the music room frightening!) I liked this one.

Was this review helpful?

Lies, secrets, jealousy, murder, deception and some strangers always make an excellent and fun read. This book is written from different points of view from 3 different women. There are certainly several twists and plot changes along the way and the ending is fabulous. It did take me a few pages to get into the story, but once I was hooked I could not wait to see how it ended.

Suzi is pregnant and her husband, Nick does not trust her. They have moved from the city to the country and Suzi is not very happy with this move. Nora moves in next door and is full of secrets. Most of the characters are unlikeable but yet intriguing that I had to see what happened. I enjoyed the ending and was totally entertained. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Other Wife.

Was this review helpful?

I tried to get into this book, I really did, but it proved just not to be for me. The storyline was slow and sluggish and not captivating enough.

Was this review helpful?

Lured into this story by the lovely, innocent seeming, a little bit sad pregnant Suzi. She has done wrong but you still feel sorry for her and dislike her husband.
The along comes the answer to Suzi's prayers - a kind and friendly neighbour - or is she ! Then it all happens and the story really kicks in and you are in it, willing to read quicker.
Cleverly told and very very descriptive.
I loved this book. It was a fantastic read thank you.
I did not see the twist coming and I kept thinking back to this book afterwards.
Definite 5 out of 5 from me thank you so much

Was this review helpful?

It took me a while to get into this book but when I did I couldn’t put it down, Another great book by Claire, please keep them coming,

Was this review helpful?

This was another killer read by a very talented author. I haven't had a chance to read this book earlier, and I will not make that mistake again! This was a thrilling read, and recommended!

Was this review helpful?

This was a hard book to finish. I was interested enough to finish in one day but also so triggered by the content. If there has ever been a book about men behaving badly, it’s this one. So much of the storyline felt too hard to believe. I’m also realizing that I cannot handle the gaslighting of women in these kinds of novels.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is the second Claire McGowan book I've read. Unfortunately, this storyline wasn't right for me. There are a lot of characters in this book, and not one of them is very likeable. The three seemingly separate storylines do come together nicely at the end, but I didn't find that I could relate to any of the characters or appreciate their situations. At the 25% mark, I had figured out the twist that was coming; it's possible that the author means for the reader to figure everything out early on, as there are plenty of hints to alert an observant reader of what is coming.

Based on my previous experience with this author, though, I certainly would love to try out other books by Claire McGowan. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Great tension built throughout as you understand the narrators relationships to each other. Gripping in parts

Was this review helpful?

Definitely recommend. A great thriller with lots of unexpected twists and turns. The characters were well written and the book was a fast read.

Was this review helpful?

I really wanted to like this one, but I just couldn’t. I had trouble keeping things straight, but I did appreciate the building tension.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fast paced, thriller that I didn’t want to put down once I started. I enjoyed the alternating perspective the story was told from and the short chapters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

Somehow this one slipped through the cracks so I am just getting finished reading it and I am so glad I did. It is so well written and the characters are so realistic. I really like the authors style of writing. There are lots of twists and turns and lots to keep up with.. The ending tied everything together seamlessly. I highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I really wanted to love this book. And in the beginning, I did. However, the book fell kind of flat after most of its secrets were revealed. I mean, why would someone hunt down a woman to hurt her and then decide to hurt the woman's husband instead? Yes, he was a bastard, but my god. An odd tale from McGowan.

Was this review helpful?

Thrilling plot which I could not put down. Brilliant characters, and twists and turns. Highly recommend to other fans of this genre!!

Was this review helpful?

dnf at 16%
i just cant get into this book; might try again sometime
I had difficulties with the narrative change all the time and i cant tell u who was who. And the thing with the one woman complaining about an other man like bestie if u cant handle thw guilt, don’t cheat lol

Was this review helpful?

Really enjoyed this book. Great twists and turns. Couldn't stop reading it. Looking forward to reading more from the author!

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately this one fell a little flat for me. I had problems keeping up with the multiple POV at first because there was so little differentiating between the characters. After the twist, I understood why, however it was fairly predictable. None of the characters were likeable, especially Nick. It did keep my attention long enough to finish the book but a few times I had to debate if it was a DNF.

Was this review helpful?

Nice domestic thriller. Loved the way the twists and turns got me. I would recommend this book to everyone. Great writing and a fantastic plot.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this thriller and I flew through it in a day. Some of the themes included past trauma, domestic abuse, and a revenge mission. It didn't feel super original or shocking but it was pretty well done. I really liked the secluded autumnal and wintery setting and the contrast when the characters happened to be in a bigger city. Combine that with creepy elements of an old cottage transformed into a smart home and you get a great suspenseful and miserable atmosphere.

One of the plot twists was pretty obvious but I didn't mind that much. I liked that some of the other twists came from character development or looking at things from a different angle rather than suddenly revealing some shocking information. I don't know if the main female characters were meant to be likable or not but I quite liked them and enjoyed reading about them. There was maybe one (1) kind of nice guy. I always appreciate a good "abuse is not just physical abuse" commentary because it's worth repeating.

The book kept me interested the whole time and the ending was pretty satisfactory as well so I'm glad I picked it up and would be interested in other books by this author.

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife is an intriguing story of different women and the unexpected connection between them. It is hard to describe due to not wanting to give out spoilers.
I didn't like this quite as much as I had hoped but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Claire McGowan and Amazon Publishing Uk for an eARC. My views are my own.

#TheOtherWife #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

This was an excellent, compulsive psychological thriller that I absolutely could not put down. A real page turner of a book with some fantastic twists and turns. Recommended.

Was this review helpful?

This fast paced psychological thriller will keep you on your toes from the beginning to end. I enjoyed the premise of the novel and that you can really read through this one in one sitting. The only downfall was, to me, it was hard to get all the characters straight, I do feel the plot is predictable, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. Will for sure keep my eye out for more novels by this author

Was this review helpful?

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan is a multi-layered novel of secrets, deceit, abuse, and plenty of twists, all coming together in a suspenseful read that will have you turning pages late into the night. For me, the buildup was slow but the tension only ratchets up as the story progresses, and patience will be duly rewarded.

Told from the alternating perspectives of three women, Suzi, Elle, and Nora, it is immediately apparent that all is not as it seems in the lives of these three women. Suzi, the most fully fleshed out character, is pregnant and living in fear in a remote cottage where she is the victim of domestic abuse. Nora, coincidentally or not, takes up residence in a cottage of her own across the street, and might just be the salvation that Suzi is seeking. Or will Nora's secrets, in fact, be the undoing of them all?

This is a read that picks up steam as it progresses. There are lightbulb moments when individual stories shift into focus, and the twists will have you glad to have stayed the course.

Was this review helpful?

Brilliant! I couldnt guess where this was going, it is so twisty turny! Read in one sitting, phone off the hook and do not disturb on the door!

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: