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The Wife’s Silence pulled me in from the first page with its eerie atmosphere and sense of quiet dread. As Lucy, I felt every bit of her desperation and guilt, and stepping into the Caine household was like entering a beautiful but rotting mansion—elegant on the outside, but filled with dark corners and whispered secrets.

Thomas is charming in that calculated way that makes you constantly question his motives. Emilia, though mute, was the most powerful character on the page. The way she communicates without words is haunting and honestly gave me chills more than once. The mystery surrounding their son’s disappearance is slowly and expertly unraveled, with each new revelation upping the stakes.

That said, while I was gripped all the way through, the ending felt... just a little too clean. After all the messy emotion, trauma, and mind games, I expected a bit more ambiguity, or at least a final gut-punch. Instead, things wrapped up a bit too perfectly, like tying a ribbon around a storm.

Still, this was a fantastic read—tense, emotional, and deeply unsettling in the best way. If you like your thrillers with a slow burn and a whisper of gothic, definitely add this one to your list.

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McKinney crafted a fast-paced, twisted thriller! Lucy Greer, looking for solace from unemployment and living in her Tahoe, accepts a job as an in-home caretaker for the wife of the famed Blade Smith, Thomas Caine. Lucy knows as well as anyone that everyone has a story and manipulation can drive people over the edge. This was a solid 4-star read for me! It was fast-paced, which I appreciated, and I enjoy multiple POV chapters— it keeps me turning the pages. The twist came out of left field for me (no hints leading up and looking back, I can’t pinpoint anything where I can say ‘oh, well that makes sense now’), but that being said, I did not see it coming, which is always appreciated. This was my first Amanda McKinney read, and I’m looking forward to more!
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The Wife’s Silence will release on May 22, 2025. Major thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC

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A thrilling drama just as expected, we ,I liked how the author created the toxic, mentally abusing husband, such a realistic character.
The wife was weak and fragile and the son had a lot of issues, his changing of character and denying his identity was a prove of that.
A interesting book to delve through, but the ending was so perfect, the * happy ending" cliche in all stories.
Overall, it is a story worth reading.

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The Wife’s Silence by Amanda McKinney is a psychological thriller filled with suspense and unexpected twists. The story follows Lucy Greer, who becomes a live-in caregiver for Emilia Caine, the silent wife of a wealthy entrepreneur. As Lucy delves deeper into the family’s secrets, she uncovers a web of deception tied to the mysterious disappearance of their teenage son.
The book has a fast-paced and gripping storyline, with an abundance of twists that will keep readers engaged. It offers plenty of action and suspense, with intense characters and a good old mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free advance copy of the book to preview. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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I enjoyed The Wife's Silence. The pacing was good, and the shifting 1st person narration, which can sometimes feel gimmicky, actually felt like it served a purpose. The twist was surprising but also well set up.

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I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could nor put the book down once I began reading it. I cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

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I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read with some shocking twists. I didn’t guess the ending but it definitely gave me Verity vibes.

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Thank you to Storm Publishing for the book in return for an honest review.
Lucy Greer is at the end of her rope. Desperate to pick up the broken pieces of her life—and atone for past mistakes—she finds herself on the doorstep of successful entrepreneur, Thomas Caine, who has hired her to care for his ailing wife. But beneath the polished surface, something is terribly wrong.
This is an exciting and gripping psychological thriller that I couldn't put down with some brilliant and very clever twists.
I enjoyed the author's pacing as she takes us between the past and present to read how the story unfolds with some shocking revelations.
It's been a while since I've read such an intriguing plot and absolutely devoured this book.
The twist regarding Lucy is extremely clever and I'm looking forward to the author's next release.
Kerry Kennedy Author

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An incredible read that takes the reader on a fast paced journey. Imagine the perfect husband and lifestyle untill his mask falls off to show their narcissistic side. Emilia is the dotting wife who loves her husband but how far is she really prepared to go. The chapters take us through the different main characters their perception and emotion. Lots of twists and turns and alot of things i didnt see coming. This book although its fiction does reflect on the challenges that people face in life and in a marriage. I literally couldn't put this down i was hooked from the very first chapter ! This will fly off the shelves when its made available. thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

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The plot was fine, I guess, but every single character was a total stereotype without any realistic or empathetic aspects - they were straight out of a terrible soap opera. Also their interactions with each other felt awkward and forced, and everyone’s motivation seemed to flip around throughout the book. One character is seen as jealous, then sympathetic, then a crazy murderer, then a troubled victim, then a blackmailer, and finally a compassionate and supportive ally? And a few chapters in the middle are written from the perspective of a character that we have already been shown to be a horrible abuser, but their chapters seem to be trying to show them in an empathetic manner? Were we supposed to suddenly connect with them? But then the story went back to how awful they are and we never had any conclusion to that?

The writing was just bad. Clunky, meaningless statements that seem like they’re taken from motivational posters or greeting cards. Maybe this was AI, who knows. The dialogue was so awkward - one character says "Professionalism isn't about hiding who you are. It's about bringing your whole self to the table. That's what makes people stand out.” I mean, I’m not in the high finance world so maybe they do talk to each other like that, but I have my doubts.

Finally I have no idea what book all the blurbs and summaries are talking about, but this story didn’t match up to them at all. What secret? Who is being destroyed? What was supposed to “keep [me] guessing until the final pages”? There was no “mystery” here - everything is pretty obvious by the first few chapters. At which point I probably should have stopped reading, but, here we are. This book is garbage.

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This read here is a ten 🌟 read !!! Because I did not see that spin coming it too me out I was not expecting that I really hated Thomas he was a hot mess and very unlikable and I love that Emilia was able to get her life back and her some came back it was such a great read I will recommend to everyone

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Amanda McKinney did it again! She delivered yet another unputdownable thriller!
Lucy is down on her luck, surviving day by day and living out of her car. So when an opportunity comes knocking, she’s sure it will be the answer to all her troubles.

She’s offered a job as a live-in caregiver for a woman incapacitated by a massive stroke. Lucy gladly accepts the position but quickly realizes there’s something quite odd going on in this house that’s just not adding up!

Hold onto your kindle and get ready for some big twists! Amanda McKinney is about to shock your world!

Amanda McKinney is quickly becoming a go-to author for me! I’m always keeping an eye out for what she’ll come up with next! I know I’ll be guaranteed a thrilling and twisty read!

Thank you to Storm Publishing via NetGalley

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Well now, that was a most satisfying read. Ticked lots of boxes for me:
- Dark ✅
- Twisty ✅
- Creepy ✅
- Suspenseful ✅
- Fast Paced ✅
- Nasty People Getting Their Comeuppance ✅

There's a slight Virginia Andrews vibe about the story, and I'm talking original Ms. Andrews, not the ghost writer who followed. But make no mistake, The Wife's Silence is in a class of its own, a true gem.
Told from three POV'S (it was nice to see things from the bad guy's perspective), across two timelines, The Wife's Silence is deeply unsettling. Plot twist follows plot twist; some you can see coming, but there's one huge one near the end that took me completely by surprise. 😱
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

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When Lucy takes a job as a live-in nanny, she doesn’t know what she’s just signed for. The Wife’s Silence is the story that Emilia has lived, and still lives, with her husband Thomas. Just when you think the situation can’t get worse, it definitely does.

The POV goes back and forth between Emilia and Lucy and provides us with a fantastic story of how some people refuse to let go. We are reminded that a lot can be hidden in plain sight….or glass houses.

This is such a wild and thrilling ride! I never saw the twist coming and I bet no one else does either. My jaw was literally hanging open.

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I had a great time reading this. The perfect length for an action packed and fun ride with great short chapters that kept things moving at lightning pace. These style of books can easily become repetitive but I’m glad to say that’s not the case here. In other hands this would probably be a 350 or 400 page book and it would be all the worse for it but the author here knew exactly what she wanted to say and the story she wanted to tell and resisted padding it out and it’s all the better for it.

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I'm adding Amanda on my Goodreads after this amazing read. Told in multiple perspectives and timelines this is an engrossing read. Loved the premise and the child throughout.

It's an engaging domestic thriller with some suspicious characters and a major twist that had mentioned re-reading. Definitely recommend!

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

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Started off really strong and I was hooked from the beginning. Then, once the twist was revealed, it was very predictable and boring and I was glad when it was over.

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Talk about serious plot twist!!! I most definitely did NOT see that coming. The Wife’s Silence is my first book written by Amanda McKinney and it didn’t disappoint. It gripped my attention from the beginning and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. It had other twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Storm Publishing for sending me this eARC.
Also thank you to NetGalley and of course Amanda McKinney.

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Jaw-dropping and shocking! I was so sure that I knew what the twist would be. As I was reading along, I thought to myself how this story sounds like others and I already know what will happen. BOY WAS I WRONG. I did not see that twist coming from a mile away! If you like thrillers this is one not to miss.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Hugely enjoyable “trapped in” style thriller/mystery with some fantastically inventive twists, it tells the story of a woman down on her luck and living in her car hired by a wealthy man to look after his wife who had a major stroke and needs full time care. Severely disabled by the stroke, she lives in a near vegetative state.

But as Lucy, the carer moves in and begins her work, she senses straight away that things aren’t right. A look from Emilia the wife hints at her having more awareness than presumed and the husband Thomas gives off a near cold attitude to his wife, while also coming across as very controlling and guarded.

I had a great time reading this. The perfect length for an action packed and fun ride with great short chapters that kept things moving at lightning pace. These style of books can easily become repetitive but I’m glad to say that’s not the case here. In other hands this would probably be a 350 or 400 page book and it would be all the worse for it but the author here knew exactly what she wanted to say and the story she wanted to tell and resisted padding it out and it’s all the better for it.

Yes you do have to suspend disbelief at times but you are having such fun you don’t really care.

I had a blast reading this and the author is now definitely on my radar.

Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

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