Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I absolutely loved this book and do not want to do a big review to spoil things for others. READ IT

many thanks to @netgalley for providing me with my copy for a truthful review.
Thoughly enjoyed the concise style of writing and amazed that its a debute novel.
The story unfolded brilliantly keeping me enthralled. At times the voyeuristic insight of the dysfunctional killer couple left me horrified and uncomfortable with their double personas and who perhaps should have thought twice about procreating, i really felt for the kids and although i went against my better judgement and routed for the protagonist due to feeling his fear and pure twisted awe for his psychopathic wife.

I guessed a few of the twists but the plot unfolded at a great pace keeping me engrossed. Great warped anti hero with a lovely last stab of the knife at the end. 
I shall look forward to her next novel.

Firstly thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I am so glad I got to read it. If you love thrillers then you will love this book. I can see this being made into a film it is so good. You would never suspect the perfect couple next door of being ab l e to accomplish the murders Millicent was so obnoxious I'm not sure how 'Tobias' (we never find out his real name) ever married her in the first place! At the end of the book it looks like he might start the murders all over again as he uses the phone to reinvent himself as 'Quentin'. Can't wait for another book by Samantha Downing, maybe she could retell the story from Millicent or the kids point of view.

Ty to netgalley and publishers I got the chance to read this novel
It's fun ,well don't get me wrong it's dark and at times I was like scared at wat was happening somewhere to a poor someone by a ruthless calculated and scarily efficient couple.
However as we explore and delve deeper it becomes even more so
Page turner at times I had no idea where this wd lead and did guess but was surprised I guessed so late into the book
Liked the concept alot and enjoyed ty

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK and Samantha Downing for the chance to read and review this book.

What can I say about this book? Well the first words that come to mind are: consuming,riveting, astounding, mesmerising, dark, twisted and unforgettable It lives up to the claim that it is “the next generation of domestic thriller” and is a fresh take on the genre that sets it apart from other thrillers and serial killer books.

“Life goes along like it’s supposed to, an occasional bump in the road but otherwise a fairly smooth ride.”

The story is narrated by Tobias, he’s married to Millicent and they live with their two children, Rory, 14, and 13-year-old Jenna. To everyone they appear to be just another affluent family: they have a happy marriage, a nice house, their children are well behaved and doing well at their private school and they socialise at the Country Club. But underneath this shiny veneer lurks a dark and disturbing secret.

From the beginning we know he keeps things from his wife he knows he should share, and it isn’t long before we find out she’s been keeping an even bigger secret from him. He immediately starts to wonder if she’s hiding anything more, a question that troubles him throughout the book, but ultimately he decides he trusts her.

“You didn’t think we were going to stop did you?”

This book is unusual as it is told solely from the perpetrator’s perspective. I loved this choice as instead of trying to figure out the culprit the reader is instead left to ponder other questions about the crimes, the motive and if the carefully stacked house of cards will come toppling down around him. The first sign that this might happen is when what seems to have been the perfect smoke screen results in their daughter living in fear of her life, becoming obsessed with the news, resorting to violence and even carrying a weapon for protection. The realisation that they’ve damaged their child while protecting themselves horrifies Tobias and results in a shift of his priorities. Suddenly their hidden life isn’t so alluring and all that matters is helping his daughter become herself again. A decision that leads to his whole world unravelling and puts them all at risk.

"I always wanted to be more than above average"

A key aspect of this story is the relationship between the couple. Tobias grew up with wealthy parents who were uninterested in him and felt rejected. He started playing tennis to try and win their affection and attention without success and left home as soon as possible. From the moment he met Millicent he was captivated by her and she has always made him feel more than average. It is this that explains why he allows her to control many aspects of their family and their lives, and why he will do anything to make her happy, something Millicent clearly takes advantage of and uses to manipulate him. Their relationship also revolves around their secrets. They have their own version of date nights and secret code. Another reason Tobias enjoys their clandestine activities and brushes aside his concerns is because of how it affects their sex life. Even a simple discussion about it results in them becoming sexually charged and have wild, passionate sex, which increases the allure for him.

“Piece by piece my life is destroyed, like it was never real at all.”

As Tobias finally realises the depth of Millicent’s betrayal he struggles to comprehend how she could be so callous and cold. She isn’t the woman he thought she was. You can almost hear his heart and soul shatter as he realises everything he thought he knew, everything he holds dear, is a facade. The book is expertly plotted and that pivotal moment when the truth dawns on Tobias occurred just minutes after it dawned on me and you are never quite sure where the story is going. At least not until the author wants you to and delivers a breathtaking twist that leaves you reeling. As the walls cave in around Tobias and time is running out the book speeds towards a spectacular, shocking and catastrophic conclusion.

It’s strange to say this about a killer but I loved Millicent’s character. She’s intelligent, manipulative, beguiling, calculating and at times a contradiction. She is unapologetic of her plans and actions while Tobias sometimes wavers. It was interesting to have a dynamic where the woman is the one pulling the strings and the man afraid of displeasing her instead of her being the victim cowering in the corner.

This jaw-dropping thriller is a book you don’t want to miss. It had me transfixed within the first two chapters and didn’t let go. The final line sent shivers down my spine and still haunts me. A debut that reads like the work of a veteran writer makes this author a talent to watch. I for one can’t wait to see what she writes next.

My Lovely Wife was a wild and thrilling insight into one couple’s marriage and the secrets they keep from one another. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and reading long past my bedtime! I look forward to reading further books by Samantha Downing.

Absolutely brilliant book! Gripping twists and turns and I finished it in one sitting! Had me gripped from the first page. 10/10 would recommend!

Written in the first person from a male point of view, this is a story of obsessive and destructive love. A couple are locked in a relationship which is truly dysfunctional. He is a tennis coach, she (Millicent) is controlling and together they make a lethal combination. It is clear from early on that for whatever reason, their relationship is kept going by their little hobby of murdering young women. After an accidental start to their diversion (the first murder wasn't premeditated) they spend time on their date nights planning who to kidnap next. The man does the pick up and passes on the woman to Millicent who then tortures and kills her. It all starts to go wrong when they decide to put the blame on someone else (Owen) who was thought to be guilty of earlier murders in the town. Terrified by the thought of a serial killer nearby (if only she knew how near!) their daughter begins to have significant behaviour problems. Added to that, their son suspects his father is up to something and starts to blackmail him. What a lovely family! At first I thought I liked this novel but as it went on I found the plot and the twists too preposterous and it became a bit of a chore to read. I never bought into the reason why they did it either. Needless to say the main characters are not in the least bit likeable which is always a bit of a problem for me. Thanks to the publishers and net galley for the ARC.

Really enjoyed My Lovely Wife, it grabbed you right from the start, i found it slowed up a bit in the middle but coming towards the end i was gripped and couldn't put it down until i knew what happened. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

An intriguing plot with a cliffhanger as the very last sentence!
A marriage with a dark exploration the world of serial killers. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and didn’t see the twist coming.

My Lovely Wife is one of those novels that hooked me in from the very start. I've had a bit of thriller fatigue lately as they all seem to be getting quite samey but this book is truly unique. This couple do not have a conventional marriage, they have two teenage children and appear to be normal from the outside but they have a nighttime activity that's just between them. The husband discovers something early on that suggests he doesn't know his wife as well as he thought he did. This book is full of twists and turns and is really unlike anything else I've read- I loved it!

I was excited to receive my copy of My lovely wife from Netgalley and started the book immediately. By the second chapter I had sussed the characters and knew who was hiding what. Maybe I’ve read too many thrillers and figured out what was going on, but it was a massive let down for me. I guessed the story behind Holly looooong before it was revealed. 3* because I did enjoy the writing style.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in return for my review.

5* read absolutely gripping - such an original plot
Husband and wife with two lovely kids with a very dark secret ... this book unfolds telling a gripping story of secrets and lies with a twist that you won’t see coming. I was blown away a gem of a read

I found this book hard to get into and disappointing once I did. I was expecting more dark thriller and intrigue.

Absolutely amazing! This starts slow, building over the first few chapters to the point where you just can't put it down and finishes with an amazing ending (no spoilers!!) I stayed up all night to finish this, I just couldn't stop, LOVED the characters, even the supporting cast drew me in, just the right amount of suspense and creepiness. The first thing I did when I finished was try to find more from this author, I can't wait for the next one! I hope someone picks this up for a film, this could be the next 'Girl on the Train' - amazing!!

A great psychological thriller- a very dark yet exciting book. Strong plot and meaty characters. As you start to read this book you put into a false sense of security. But there is so much more.
Fabulous read.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Penguin UK for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing is a very clever psychological thriller that had me hooked.
Millicent and her husband have a happy marriage, a house in a nice area and two children who attend private school. Millicent works in real estate and her husband is a tennis coach. The couple have a secret that is dark, dangerous and deadly.
I believe that this is a debut novel and the author has written a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I will be looking out for more of her work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing book! Dark, disturbing and twisted, it really messes with your head. Unusual in that you want the murderes to get away with it in the beginning. Entertaining psychological aspects to the married couple’s relationship and great family characters with their own problems - lots of twists and turns to keep you totally engrossed. Thoroughly enjoyed.

My Lovely Wife is insane and I mean that in the best possible way! ;) Great plot, executed well and I was disappointed the story had to end. Dark and twisted fiction at its very best.

Millicent and Andy are such a fabulous couple. They have two children and are successful in their jobs. There’s just one problem, they like to get away with murder! When a body is discovered of a girl Millicent makes out that she wanted to frame a local serial killer who had disappeared but there are knock on effects. Andy lures the women and she kills them. Can they make this one the last?

Jeepers! How creepy is Millicent? Controlling, demanding and manipulative! I loved this book. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.