The Wife’s Mistake
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Lorna Dounaeva

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: The hand-delivered note trembles between my fingers and my blood runs cold at the words staring back – you don’t deserve this life. Everything I’ve always dreamed of is finally within reach. How long do I have until my past catches up with me?

From inside our new perfect house, I watch the pool water ripple under the raindrops. Despite how calm it is outside, my heart pounds as I think about that terrible message and what it means for my marriage. I never expected that one day I’d be sipping coffee in our handcrafted marble kitchen but, despite our good fortune, my husband is more distant than ever. With Hayden absent once again, I’m left to ask: what exactly is my husband hiding and is the note related?

I spend all night tossing and turning, with my heart racing in my chest. Looking out into the darkness, I swear I see movement beyond the garden hedges. I try to shake my fears away; I must be imagining things. That’s what Hayden would say.

I can’t ignore the feeling in the pit of my stomach – what if the person outside isn’t looking for Hayden, and instead, they’re looking for me? I’m paralyzed by fear. It’s only a matter of time until I’ll have to confront my past. Hayden may have secrets, but so do I – my husband has no idea what I did all those years ago. I know what I need to do to protect my perfect new life, and those around me don’t know how far I’m willing to go…

My Thoughts: This is my first Dounaeva book and it will NOT be my last. The author knows how to grab your attention, hold it, and carry it through the chapters. Natalie and Hayden have the ideal perfect life. They have the perfect house with a beautiful pool and yard, however, they are both hiding secrets. Natalie has a nervousness in the pit of her stomach, feels like someone is watching her, and it shakes her to her core. Her husband is not home again, and it also makes her wonder what he is hiding? This thriller follows a miscommunication and secret trope.

The beginning starts out slow and somewhat confusing. Once I got my bearings of who is who, then following along the slow burn was easy. To hold a fortune in your hand but afraid to tell your husband as you suspect he is having an affair seems preposterous. However, in a thriller, it seems perfectly acceptable. I think the Bible coins the saying perfectly, “the love of money is the root of all evil.” This is definitely a roller coaster ride of nail biting domestic drama with a cat and mouse game thrown in for fun. The characters were well developed with mystery, secrets, cringe-worthy behavior, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, and compelling.

The mistrust, betrayal, lies, and secrets were perfect for this twisty, keep you up reading novel. This story has all of the earmarks of a fantastic psychological thriller that will keep you guessing. I would add a subgenre to this, domestic psychological thriller. I highly recommend picking up today!

I had such high hopes for this one , but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The reason was I found myself bored and putting the book down. It was just too predicatable for me.

Absolutely brilliant full of plot twists and turns and lots of ooooooh... moments with each one. Definitely a great and gripping read. You don't want to put it down.

Thank you to Bookouture Lorna Dounaeva for providing a digital ARC of this novel through NetGalley!

As soon as I read that a lottery win was part of this plot, I couldn't wait to read it. I love storylines that include something out of reach, but we are always wishing for, such as a lottery prize! I was incredibly hooked from the start. There was so much going on and I really wanted to find out when our main character was going to tell her husband about the winnings! There was also so many things happening in both real time and in the past that really kept this story going. It was a very quick read for me and I love a book like this that keeps me engaged and wanting to read more.

I was grateful to have the opportunity to read this ARC!
#netgalley #thewifesmistake

Lorna Dounaeva's "The Wife's Mistake" is a gripping and suspenseful journey into the depths of deception and betrayal. With shocking twists and turns at every corner, this psychological thriller keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The story follows a woman whose seemingly perfect life is turned upside down when she receives a chilling note that threatens to unravel everything she holds dear. As she grapples with the implications of the message and her husband's increasingly mysterious behavior, she is forced to confront the dark secrets of her past and the lengths she is willing to go to protect her newfound happiness.

Dounaeva's prose is taut and atmospheric, drawing readers into a world of paranoia and uncertainty where nothing is as it seems. The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, fueled by the protagonist's growing sense of dread and the looming threat of her past catching up with her.

What sets "The Wife's Mistake" apart is its complex and multi-layered characters, each harboring their own secrets and motivations. As the truth slowly unravels, alliances shift and loyalties are tested, leading to a series of shocking revelations that will leave readers reeling.

At its core, "The Wife's Mistake" is a chilling exploration of the consequences of betrayal and the lengths people will go to protect themselves and those they love. With its fast-paced plot, intricate plotting, and spine-tingling suspense, this is a novel that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

In conclusion, "The Wife's Mistake" is an absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will leave readers breathless with anticipation. Lorna Dounaeva has crafted a masterful tale of suspense and intrigue that will haunt readers long after they've turned the final page.

The minute I started reading this book, I knew it wasn’t going to be for me. The beginning was weird and it was a slow burn throughout the whole book. There was no suspense or thrill. I found myself putting the book down so many times. Natalie and Hayden really annoyed me which made it hard get through the book. I didn’t find this book gripping at all. Thank you NetGalley, Lorna and Bookouture for the ARC!

This book was really difficult to get into, and to finish. A couple who loves to keep secrets from eachother wins the lottery and you slowly see how money can ruin people. This book was honestly super slow, and way longer than it needed to be. A little too many twists and turns that maybe I just missed but made us deter a little too much from the main storyline and made it more confusing than it needed to be. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Wife's Mistake by Lorna Dounaeva. WHY are more people not talking about Lorna Dounaeva. This book was amazing. A true dream come true and nightmare all wrapped into one. TThis book had me guessing until the very last page. Loved this book so much!

I do love a new Bookouture author and this has been a gem from beginning to end. I loved this, I was pulled in quickly and unwilling to put this down.

This has been unpredictable and completely addictive. I devoured this in just one sitting. There have been plenty of twists and turns in this book to keep you guessing. I definitely found myself unable to predict where this was going.

I have to say, the characters have been awful- however, the author has developed them really well and this has been a real strength. It’s never easy to write someone you know people will dislike.

This is a book that is very well written and completely gripping. I was transported by this one. I felt as though I was watching the events unfold in front of me.

This is well paced and completely addictive. I definitely didn’t predict where this was going. I loved every moment of this book and found myself completely caught up in this.

I absolutely cannot wait to read more by this author and can safely say I have no hesitation in recommending.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝑪𝒐𝒑𝒚

A solid three star read that I have recommended to friends, I loved the plot and twists I did find some to be a bit predictable

Secrets, betrayal, infidelity, and millions of dollars prove to be a not so good combo. We follow our FMC, Natalie, who seems happily married and is just going through life, despite hating her job where she is constantly being mistreated and not appreciated for the work she does.
Whenever she realizes she has the winning lotto ticket, she’s beyond thrilled at the news…until she thinks her husband is having an affair.
She doesn’t want to claim her winnings because of this possible affair…
While slow at times, it does pick up towards the end and just when you think you have it figured out, the author takes you for another twist & then a loop.

This was a fun chilling suspense novel with the right amount of twists! The writing kept me engaged and had me page turning quite fast, the only issue I seemed to have was confusing the characters names... The length was perfect for the story.

When Natalie and Hayden win the lottery, their lives change overnight... but not necessarily for the better. Had their marriage been secure, things might have been different, but when one partner doesn’t trust the other, the money certainly doesn’t help.

Neither of them is being completely honest with the other, but when a long-buried secret from the past comes hurtling back into their lives, things go from bad to worse.

Some of the relationships and ‘coincidences’ seemed too easy and convenient, but they were explained away by the publicity following the lottery win. Despite this and despite the fact that none of the characters were particularly likeable, I still enjoyed this psychological thriller.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Natalie and Hayden are a married couple and they’ve been struggling financially for most of their lives. Neither of them are doing what they love: Hayden works in hospitality, but he dreams of being promoted, however, the opportunities always seem to pass him by. Just recently, his colleague (and ex-girlfriend), Daisy, has been promoted and he is feeling slightly bitter about this, as she’s flying through the ranks.

Natalie works in a cafe. Her boss, Jan, is mean and doesn’t treat her employees with respect they deserve. Natalie dreams of owning her own coffee shop, it’s something she has always wanted.

When the couple win the lottery, their lives change overnight.

However, not for the better.

Financially, they can afford everything they ever wanted. Hayden leaves his job and Natalie opens her own cafe, but the couple seem to be drifting apart.

Someone seems to be targeting Natalie: a mysterious note makes an appearance and a doll is found drowning in their pool.

What Hayden doesn’t realise is that Natalie has a secret. Something she’s kept hidden for a number of years… Something that could have repercussions on their marriage…

What a twisty psychological thriller.

I got sucked into Natalie and Hayden’s lives and I was desperate to discover Natalie’s secret. It turns out that everyone in their close circle had something to hide and they weren’t being honest at all. Some parts of the story were crazy, I was reading and thinking ”How is this possible?”, but the deviousness of the human race never ceases to amaze me.

Overall, this book is perfect for all fans of twisty thrillers. Be prepared to be at the edge of your seat.

Many thanks to Bookouture for approving my NetGalley request to read and review this title.

My Review: I enjoyed this book, it's told from two perspectives, husband and wife Hayden and Natalie. It's an easy to follow read, light, dark, full of suspense and OMG moments. Everytime I thought I had worked it out, another twist came. Having won the lottery their lives change, the cars, clothes, the big house complete with pool. Finally. Natalie gets her dream Cafe. However, the sudden wealth comes with a lot of suspision, envy and secrets uncovered. It reminded me a little of Joy Fielding's writing, and she's my favourite author. A recommended read.

Wow!! I loved this psychological thriller. What a page turner. I couldn’t put it down. I read this so fast, it’s a quick and easy read with plenty of great twists and turns and a brilliant ending. The characters were good, the story itself was enjoyable and has enough suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The style of writing was perfect. I have read
This is the first book that I have read by this author, so looking forward for the next books out if they are going to like anything like this one.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

I enjoyed this book. Was fascinating how the story unfolded. Also thought provoking on what life would be like if you won a lot of money.

I’m glad I stuck this book.

I couldn’t get into the book at first. Just didn’t understand the lead up and where it was going.

They’re married for a year, in normal jobs. Natalie finishes work, buys a lottery ticket. Was going to tell her husband, Hayden, until she see’s a text from a woman after a night out. She stalks her husband for a bit, until he finds her lottery ticket. They do the usual things, but a house, cars, leave their jobs.

She finally gets her dream. There’s a few twist's I did not see coming.

All in all, once I got past the first part of the book, it kept me reading till the end.

Thank you to Bookouture, Lorna Dounaeva, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I could not finish this book and I honestly barely started. Natalie wins the lottery, yes $12 million. Right after she finds out, she finds a text on her husband's phone from a woman and she suspects him of an affair and does not tell him about winning the lottery. Now who in their right mind would win the lottery and not scream it from the rooftops. It just didn't pull me in.

Wow, this book was amazing! This is a new to me author, but I am now a fan for life.

This book is a fast read, full of suspense, full of thrills, and will keep you guessing. I thought early on I knew which was this book was going to go, but I was so off base. This author created dynamic characters and it was hard to figure out who you could trust and who you couldn’t. Turns out, it’s pretty hard to trust any of them!

The author did a great job depicting what can happen when someone wins the lottery – people coming out of the woodwork trying to get a piece of the money! There may be one question I have about the book, but I can’t ask it here because I don’t want to give anything away!

So, what secrets will be revealed? Whose lives will be effected by these secrets? The only way to find out is to read the book. I highly recommend this to anyone that loves a good mystery/thriller. I found this easy to read and very enjoyable.