Leah Williams knows exactly what she wants from life – comfort, luxury and security. All the things she would have had if her childhood hadn’t been derailed by her father’s bad decisions. And then she meets Miles Sinclair. After the death of his wife last year, Miles is ready to start living his life again, and Leah knows just how to help him… what could be so wrong with that?

When Miles takes Leah to his chateau in the French countryside, she's excited to get a taste of the life she deserves, even if it means enduring the presence of Miles’ cousin Vivienne, who seems determined to insert the memory of his dead wife into every conversation.

But the Chateau Clairvallon has a history, not least as the place where the last Mrs Sinclair died. And as Leah discovers more about the accident that took her predecessor's life, she begins to realise that the family she's set her sights on isn't quite what it seems.

What happened that summer?

Was it really an accident?

And is Leah in danger?

Oh the suspense and drama. Loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others

The Last Mrs Sinclair by T.J. Emerson is a tense and atmospheric thriller that kept me hooked from the start. The luxurious yet unsettling chateau setting adds to the suspense as Leah uncovers dangerous secrets about the Sinclair family. I enjoyed this gripping and twisty read and rated it five stars.

I think we after we read a few suspense books, you can spot the upcoming plot twists, while I did see a few, they were not the most jarring ones. By the end of the book, I really did not know which way the author would take the ending, but I was pleasantly surprised with the choice.

This was a brilliant read. It has deranged and totally unlikeable characters, with red flags for me from the beginning but is superbly twisty and one of those addictive ‘want to read at every opportunity’ books. Looking out now for other books by this author.

This was a quick and fun read. Well, as fun as any mystery with sordid family histories can be. Emerson did a great job creating characters who each had different secrets they were keeping, you never knew who to trust. I loved the perspective shift between the main characters and wondered to myself whether I would have felt differently if Vivienne or Miles story had been told first.

The Last Mrs Sinclair by T.J. Emerson is a moody, slow-burn thriller steeped in secrets and suspicion set against the backdrop of a hauntingly beautiful French chateau. This domestic thriller simmers with tension, privilege, and buried secrets. T.J. Emerson weaves a compelling story of ambition, deception, and the dangerous games people play when desire and power collide.

Leah Williams is a woman on a mission—she’s not looking for love, but for security, luxury, and the kind of life she believes she deserves. When she meets wealthy widower Miles Sinclair, it feels like everything is finally falling into place. But once they arrive at his secluded family estate, things begin to twist in unsettling directions. The memory of Miles’ late wife still lingers—especially in the form of Vivienne, his sharp and unsettling cousin who seems to be watching Leah’s every move.

This is a slow-burn thriller with a strong sense of atmosphere and psychological unease. Emerson excels at building tension through character dynamics: Leah’s ambition and vulnerability, Miles’s charm and evasiveness, and Vivienne’s quiet menace all converge in a claustrophobic setting where no one is telling the full truth. The chateau itself becomes a character—a place where past and present blur, and where the line between accident and murder grows thin.

Though the pacing drags a bit in the middle and leans into familiar thriller tropes, the final act delivers a satisfying twist that casts the entire story in a new light. It's a story that invites readers to question not just who to trust, but what people are willing to sacrifice for the life they think they deserve.

If you enjoy domestic thrillers with unreliable characters, simmering tension, and dark secrets hiding beneath a polished surface, The Last Mrs Sinclair is worth the read.

Leah is happy to find Miles and the love they share. He lost his first wife in an accident and is ready to start living again. Leah grew up in a difficult family and has been searching for someone to take care of her. Miles fits the bill and he's taking her to his family's French chateau for the summer. She ecstatic and is willing to put up with the vicious cousin Vivienne who lives there. But the more she learns about Miles' first wife's death the more she sees Vivienne as a threat. Good story.

Thank you to Bolwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

Now this is what I call a thriller! Suspenseful, horrible characters, a ton of twists! I loved the short chapters and found this to be a quick read that made me want to keep flipping the pages. If you are looking for a perfect book to read while relaxing this summer, this is it!

5 stars from me!

The Last Mrs Sinclair is a chilling, slow-burn thriller set against the backdrop of a dreamy French chateau with a history far darker than its picturesque façade suggests.

Leah Williams is a woman with a plan. After a childhood marred by instability and loss, she’s determined to secure the life she’s always dreamed of — one filled with luxury, safety, and status. When she crosses paths with wealthy widower Miles Sinclair, it seems like fate has finally given her a ticket to everything she’s ever wanted. But when she arrives at the secluded Chateau Clairvallon, things begin to unravel in ways she never expected.

Miles is charming, yes, but distracted. His cousin Vivienne is cold, watchful, and a little too fixated on the past. And then there’s the shadow of the last Mrs Sinclair, whose tragic death hangs over the estate like a storm cloud. The more Leah learns about what happened that fateful summer, the more she begins to question everything — including whether her dream life might actually be a nightmare in disguise.

This novel delivers a delicious blend of tension, privilege, and secrets. Leah is a compelling protagonist — ambitious, flawed, and increasingly paranoid as the walls close in.

What kept me from giving it a full five stars? A slightly slow middle act and a few tropes that seasoned thriller readers will see coming. Still, the final twist packed a punch and left me questioning every character's motives in the best way. This is a story about power, deception, and the dangerous cost of wanting more.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

If you're in the mood for a slow-burn psychological thriller with rich settings, secrets buried in opulence, and just enough danger to make your heart race—The Last Mrs Sinclair will scratch that itch.

Leah Williams is determined not to let life short-change her twice. When she meets the wealthy, recently widowed Miles Sinclair, she sees a golden opportunity to secure the comfort and status she's always craved. But as any seasoned thriller reader knows: if something seems too good to be true... it usually is.

This thriller delivers a perfect blend of tension, intrigue, and heart. With every chapter, the stakes climb higher, keeping you breathless until the final page. Smart, stylish, and utterly addictive—it’s a standout in the genre.

The Last Mrs Sinclair is a sizzling summer thriller packed with glamour, secrets, and simmering tension. T.J. Emerson delivers a sharply written, twist-filled story that keeps you hooked as the layers of a high-society marriage begin to unravel. With its glitzy setting and dark undercurrents, this is the perfect beach read for 2025—enticing, addictive, and full of surprises.

I can't recommend it enough! I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down, I finished it in a couple of days!

I really enjoyed The Last Mrs Sinclair. It was an easy read full of twists and turns, some a little crazy but they all kept me guessing right the way to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

I love characters like Leah, the kind you hate to love, ones with bad intentions but admire their confidence. While the twists weren’t super shocking, they were well-placed, and the scenes weren’t overly drawn out. It kept me on the edge of my seat to find out how it would end.

The book first caught my eye because the title and cover reminded me so much of The Last Mrs. Parrish. The plot and characters were kept very simple. A showdown between two women, but I found myself leaning more towards Vivienne, and wished something more sinister would've happened to Leah. Also, the revelation between Miles and Vivienne seemed too abrupt and unaccounted for. Nonetheless, it was a pretty interesting read still, and if I have to describe the vibe of the book with a movie, I'd say it bore a tiny bit of resemblance to the Netflix series "Sirens".

The Last Mrs. Sinclair
By T. J. Emerson

What a fun little story, perfect for summer reading! Every character is completely unlikable, but I was thoroughly entertained by the storyline and all the crazy twists and turns! 4⭐️

Thanks to the author, Boldwood Books, and #Netgalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Leah is young and beautiful and determined to marry a rich man. Money means security and Leah wants a carefree life of luxury.

Miles is the perfect choice. A rich widower, he is ready to marry again and whisks Leah off to his Chateau in France. Everything seems to be going to plan and Leah can’t wait to get a ring on her finger.

But as this wedding day approaches,it seems like Miles is playing games of his own. His relationship with his cousin Vivienne is complex and Leah finds herself increasingly uncomfortable at the Chateaux. There are unanswered questions about the death of Miles’ first wife and as the wedding day approaches Leah becomes more paranoid and suspicious.

All of the characters are awful! I could Vivienne in particular a really unappealing character. As the stories about the past emerge, it’s hard to feel sympathy for any of the characters.

Despite the gorgeous and idyllic setting, this is a dark twisty read. It’s fast paced and the twists and turns will keep you guessing along the way.

I enjoyed this one way too much. I love a good grifter grifting a grifter kind of stories. There were plenty of twists. Some you can see coming and others just kind of hit you (which are the best kind). Unlikeable characters that you can root for and an ending that I found satisfying. All in all, this is well worth spending the hours you have saved up for thrillery reads on!!

This book was full of secrets, tension, and surprises—and I couldn’t stop reading. It starts with a simple moment in a hotel bar, but things get intense fast. The characters all have something to hide, and just when you think you’ve figured them out, another twist is revealed.

T.J. Emerson writes a suspenseful story about money, lies, and the choices people make to protect themselves. There’s a mix of mystery, danger, and drama that builds with every chapter. It’s the kind of book where you don’t know who to trust, and that made it even more exciting.

If you enjoy thrillers with dark secrets and shocking moments, you’ll want this one on your list.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and T.J. Emerson for this twisty four star read in exchange for a review.

Note: as of this post on May 28, 2025 Kindle Unlimited members can read this for free!