This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Great book. Well written. I've enjoyed all the books I've read by this author and will be looking out for more in the future.

This book had all the ingredients for a great psychological thriller and the pace raced along and at times it was unputdownable, as you just wanted to know what was next for Bethany in her nightmare of being framed for murder. The fingers were pointing at several people, but I must confess I guessed early on what had happened that night and who was pulling the strings.

Nevertheless, the writing was great and I would definitely read more by Elle Croft.

This was a quick read which I enjoyed.

It was well written and although Bethany the main character was a whinny old so and so, she took the part well. It takes all sorts doesn’t it.

She’s having an affair when her husband is murdered.

Therein lays the pick’n’mix of the story. Chisel out the sweet bits with the sour taste in your mouth as a reader as you unfold the full picture!

3.75*

The Guilty Wife is the debut novel by Elle Croft and, in my opinion, it’s a really well written and gripping novel. Psychological Thrillers are my absolute favourite books to read and also one of the most popular genres at the moment so I’m finding it harder and harder to read one which keeps me guessing and turning the pages in anticipation, this book did though.

The main character Bethany is not the most likeable character, her behaviour and actions are not particularly honourable and it’s difficult to feel any sympathy or empathy for a married woman who has an affair with her client, even when her lover gets murdered and she is being stalked by the killer and framed for his murder.

This book is definitely one of those “just one more chapter” books and I will admit that I had my suspicions on who the killer was very early on, but I got it completely WRONG! Lots of red-herrings, twists and turns and a clever plot-line makes The Guilty Wife an easy book to recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.

Guilty of adultery. Innocent of murder?

The hook for this book is insanely good, and Elle Croft follows this up with a massively addictive read. The Guilty Wife in question, Bethany Reston, is having an affair with her client, and when he’s murdered, it starts to look an awful lot like she did it. Except she didn’t.

I won’t lie: Bethany is not a massively likeable character, but thanks to the grippingly tight plot, unexpected betrayals, and the thrill of watching her trying to figure out who actually did it, trying to avoid the law at the same time, I was hooked. There’s also a killer twist at the end, which is a fantastic climax to such a slow-burning, tense book. It’s a great game of cat and mouse, and it’ll leave you asking: who deserves what?

Disclaimer: you’ll also want to read it again from start to finish, just to spot the clues you missed the first time around.

Great read, a real page turner leaving you not wanting to put it down. Unexpected twist in the tale, it kept me guessing who’s done it right to the end. If this is a first novel I cannot wait for the next one !

Bethany and Calum met through work. He is a billionaire and she was the photographer following him around snapping shots for a TV show. They fell in love, but there was a problem: they were both married to other people. After a tearful break-up, Callum turns up dead. He's been murdered and the only lead the police has is the picture of a woman wearing a hat on the scene of the murder at the time of the homicide. That woman is Bethany, but the police hasn't identified her, yet. She didn't kill him, but the police is closing in and someone is threatening to reveal her affair with the victim. Although I felt a little sorry for Bethany, I didn't like this character. She was naive and selfish and I couldn't sympathize with her or her actions. My dislike for the main character maybe is the reason why I couldn't really get into the story. Despite this, the novel is well-written and there are a few twists that will surprise you.

Bethany is a 30-something married photographer who is contracted to provide media profile photos of millionaire businessman Calum Bradley who is also married. Before long Bethany and Calum are involved in a steamy, no strings attached affair which comes to an abrupt ending when Calum is found stabbed to death shortly after meeting her. Unfortunately for Bethany she had given Calum a memory card containing some rather graphic photos of herself which she knows will put her high up on a list of "persons of interest" to the Police. Before long a number of strange events lead Bethany to believe that someone knows all about her affair with Calum and seem to be plotting to incriminate her in his death.
This was a fairly decent read although the sheer stupidity of the character of Bethany annoyed me somewhat and made me feel that certain twists and behaviour were implausible at best. Overall some decent twists, original ideas and an easy, flowing style to read. 3.5 stars and I will watch out for this author in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another psychological thriller debut. Featuring a supposedly smart woman having an affair with a man who ends up dead. Bethany knows she is innocent but someone is sending her messages and warnings not to go to the police.

My problem with the book was the lack of information about the characters. It felt like we came in to an ongoing story and never quite caught up. I didn't care about any of them. I figured out the who immediately. It just did not have the depth of a psychological thriller. Or any type of thriller.

Sorry but this one wasn't my favorite.

Netgalley/Orion

Bethany seems to a great existence - a husband she loves and that adores her, and a career on the up. But despite her perfect life, she is playing with fire by having an affair with a famous client. When he is brutally murdered she finds her secret life is a risk of being uncovered. As she tries to hide the truth it becomes apparent that all the evidence is pointing to her and that she and her lover were not as clever at keeping their secrets as she thought.

This is a fast-paced although somewhat predictable thriller. In the tradition of this genre, the author has created a tense and thrilling story but there are no real surprises. If you (like me) read a lot of psychological thrillers you will enjoy this but perhaps be left a little cold by the ending. But it is a quick and easy read so definitely worth spending an evening with.

The Guilty Wife by Elle Croft is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Orion Publishing Group – who approached me with this title, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Synopsis: 
Bethany Reston, who considers herself happily married, is having an affair with Calum Bradley, her wealthy client. Calum is also married, but has a rather open marriage, as his wife also has affairs. However, due to their positions, Calum insists on discretion, and has instituted rules to ensure secrecy. That is fine with Bethany. She doesn’t want this getting out either. Her marriage isn’t quite so “open”. 

When Calum is brutally murdered, Bethany’s world explodes. It soon becomes evident that her secret may not be safe. Someone out there knows about the affair, and is sending her notes, and pictures, and threats. She can’t go to the police. Whoever it is has access to Bethany’s home, her social media accounts, her life. Whoever it is may be setting Bethany up as the murderer.

My Opinions: 
My only complaint about this book was the subject matter. This book was not for me. I don’t handle books about cheating spouses well, and I think Bethany got what she deserved. That being said, I am trying very hard to rate the book on the merits of the writing, because in one way, I really hated it, and it was all I could do to finish it.

So, on the other hand. First, let me say, that Elle Croft is an excellent writer. The dialog was good, and the reader really felt what was going on in Bethany’s head. You felt her anxiety, fear, anger. The pace was good. The actual plot was good. Although I had figured out who was behind everything, the ending was interesting.

Not for me, but I am sure there are a lot of people out there who love this one!

This was thrilling from start to finish. I adored the character of Bethany, she's relatable although you'll want to slap her at times. I guessed the ending half way, but it didn't ruin it for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this (as did my mum!)

What a debut novel from Elle Croft. Suspense until the very end and I had no idea who the killer was and was shocked when I found out! No way would I have guessed Alex! Manipulative lady, wanting things she can't have and isn't entitled to. I was disappointed that Bethany ended up with life in prison for the murder she didn't commit but understand why it had to end up this way, I liked the chapter at the end playing it from Alex's point of view and why she did it. I was glad to read Elle has another book coming out at the end of this year which I'm looking forward to already! Thank you for letting me read and review this book, I will be highly recommending it.

Bethany Reston is married to Jason and is guilty of having an affair with a client, Callum.. But she is not guilty of murder. When Callum is murdered, she cannot show her grief because no one can ever know about her affair. But someone does know...and is now threatening her.

This is a good book; it is fast-paced with short chapters and holds the reader's interest. It is a suspenseful psychological thriller from beginning to end with lots of twists and turns.

I can't really see why this book is compared to The Apple Tree Yard. Both books are phycological thrillers and married main characters have affairs, but this is where the similarities end. The plot and the characters in The Guilty Wife are as cliché as its title. The murderer was obvious from the beginning, so there weren't many surprises along the way. It's not badly written but the writing style is quite contrived and I didn't like it.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the advance copy.

Well this was a fab read, photographer Bethany’s having an affair, her lover Callum is brutally murdered and she seems to be the one the police believe murdered him, she says she’s been framed?!

I thought it was fast paced with enough twists to keep you guessing, I ploughed through it without pausing for breath haha, I loved all the different characters in it and thought that the ending was perfect for the book. This is totally my kind of book and I can’t wait to read more from the author as if it’s anything like this one I won’t be disappointed :o)

A gripping but slightly far fetched book about a couple having an affair and the woman is accused of murdering her lover....nothing is ever as it seems and I suggest sticking with it and reading to the end!

The Guilty Wife is an excellent debut novel: a taut, well-written thriller which is compelling and easy to read and rips along at breakneck speed. I can see it being a perfect holiday/beach read.

“Women, it seemed, weren’t naturally prone to cheating. Women, that is, apart from me”

I must admit, I wasn’t sure for the first couple of chapters: Calum, the adulter-ee, seemed like a total prick and Bethany a bit of a whiner. In the event, Calum wasn’t really given a chance to redeem himself but Bethany grew completely as a character as the story developed.

There were several shocking twists and turns, when the story escalated into ever-more-dramatic directions and, after the initial scene-setting, I raced through the book, desperate to know what was going to happen next and who was responsible. It really is a thrilling story and I could easily see it being made into a film or a TV series.

I kept thinking I knew where the story was going and suspected literally everybody at one time or another. I did actually land on the right person, temporarily, at one point, but I was only guessing and the true conclusion was still a complete surprise and was really well presented!

I totally enjoyed this gripping thriller and am already looking forward to Elle Croft’s next book, The Other Sister.

As always, I am extremely grateful to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC of The Guilty Wife.

An enjoyable quick read. When Bethany's lover, Calum is murdered she becomes the number one suspect. Who murdered Calum? Will Bethany's husband, Jason find out about the affair? There is a lot of action packed into this story. There are a few twists in the plot as well. Overall it is a good read. I just expected more suspense. I worked out the plot and the ending fairly quickly.