The Final Wife by Jenny Blackhurst is one of those rare thrillers that pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go. From the start, I found myself completely hooked and eager to keep reading. The writing is accessible and fast-paced, making it a truly easy and enjoyable read.

At first, I thought the plot was heading down a predictable path—but I was wrong. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the twists at the end took me completely by surprise. Blackhurst weaves a clever narrative that plays with expectations and keeps readers on their toes until the very last chapter.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with unexpected turns and sharp writing, The Final Wife is definitely worth picking up. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping and cleverly crafted story.

The Final Wife is a twisty and propulsive psychological thriller that kept me hooked from the very first page. The story follows Anna, who confesses to the murder of her husband, Luke Whitney, but her inability to recall key details of the crime raises suspicions. As Detective Rebecca Dance delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of lies, deceit, and hidden motives. Blackhurst masterfully weaves multiple perspectives and red herrings, keeping readers guessing until the final, jaw-dropping twist. If you're a fan of domestic thrillers with complex characters and unpredictable plots, this book is a must-read.

This twisty and fast paced thriller had me hooked. Nothing was as it seems and the twists kept coming. I couldn't trust anyone by the end. Highly recommend!

This was a good book. It kept my attention the whole time. I read it fast because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. I was shocked! Great read!

Omg I loved everything about this! I love domestic noirs and this gave me everything I could want. The characters were well written and realistic, nothing too far fetched happened to make it all seem "just for the plot", it's well paced and well plotted out. It also had me thinking and wasn't quite obvious as to how it would all play out. I really enjoyed it

Well wasn't Luke quite the charmer! Womaniser and serial chat Luke is found dead and his latest wife has confessed to his murder. This was a good domestic suspense thriller as there were quite a lot of twists and surprises. I liked the characters of Rebecca and KIm the police officers, they were very well written. However, the plot became a little convoluted in my opinion, by the end I was a bit unsure as to exactly what had happened although the final twist was an excellent one. I was puzzled as to why all these women fell for this horrible man and why they put up with his behaviour.

It looks like an open and shut case - Anna Whitney, second wife of plastic surgeon Luke, has confessed to stabbing him. No need to look further, surely. But DS Rebecca Dance is convinced it's not that simple, and indeed it isn't. After all, there's more than one person who might want Luke Whitney dead.

This was a tightly plotted story with, at its heart, the mystery of why Anna would confess to something which it seems she didn't do. And if she didn't kill Luke, then who did?

There's a slight subplot about Rebecca's relationship(s) which seemed incomplete and I'm not sure if she is or will be a recurring character.

The ultimate resolution was a bit complicated, and I'm still not sure I entirely understand it, although I'm sure it all makes sense.

Not a spoiler, since nothing relevant happened, but I was almost sure the casually mentioned Becky of Anna's childhood was going to turn out to be police officer Rebecca, especially when it was mentioned that they came from a similar background. (I thought I was so clever to spot that.) But nope.

An enjoyable and unpredictable read.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Terrific book which would keep you hooked and give you plenty sleepless nights;p

Jenny Blackhurst’s The Final Wife is a taut psychological thriller that masterfully weaves layers of suspense, deceit, and emotional turmoil into a gripping narrative. From the very first page, readers are pulled into a dark and complex web of secrets surrounding the enigmatic figure of Luke — a man whose past holds more danger than anyone could have anticipated.

The novel is relentless in its pacing, with twist after twist that keep you second-guessing everyone’s motives. As the story unfolds, Blackhurst expertly peels back each layer, revealing betrayals, hidden identities, and the psychological scars left behind by manipulation and lies. The deeper you go, the more the lines blur between victim and perpetrator, love and obsession, truth and illusion.

What truly sets this novel apart is its exploration of revenge and justice, framed through characters who are equal parts sympathetic and unsettling. Luke becomes less of a man and more of a symbol — of the damage caused by narcissism, secrets, and control — and the women in his life must decide how far they are willing to go to free themselves from his shadow.

A chilling dive into the consequences of deceit and the cost of uncovering the truth, The Final Wife is a compelling read that will leave readers questioning how well we ever really know the people we love.

In The Final Wife, Jenny Blackhurst delivers a tightly woven psychological thriller that keeps readers second-guessing every truth, every character, and every motive right up until the final page. From the opening scene—Anna Whitney found beside her husband Luke’s lifeless, bloodied body—Blackhurst plunges us into a world of secrets, manipulation, and twisted love.

Anna’s confession to the murder raises more questions than it answers. Her fragmented memory, paired with the chilling calm that surrounds her, sets the tone for a story built on psychological tension rather than brute violence. As the investigation unravels, so too does the image of Luke Whitney: not the charismatic, successful husband he portrayed himself to be, but a manipulative narcissist who left emotional wreckage in his wake.

Blackhurst masterfully paints a portrait of a man who made enemies of nearly every woman in his life—his ex-wife, his mistress, and Anna herself. But while Luke’s death may seem like poetic justice, the mystery of who actually dealt the fatal blow is what keeps the pages turning. Everyone had a reason to hate him. But who hated him enough to kill?

The strength of The Final Wife lies not just in its twisty plot, but in its character work. Anna is complex and haunting, with a voice that oscillates between strength and fragility. The secondary characters are equally well-drawn, each one carrying secrets that slowly peel away, revealing a darker picture of Luke and the world he controlled.

With its sharp pacing, layered perspectives, and unsettling psychological depth, The Final Wife is a must-read for fans of domestic noir and psychological thrillers. Blackhurst proves once again that behind every perfect marriage might be a chilling story waiting to surface.

Rating: 4.5/5 – A dark, addictive read that lingers long after the last chapter.

"I was determined I would be the final wife... there would be no need to replace me with a newer model."

The Final Wife by Jenny Blackhurst is a twisty and propulsive psychological thriller where nothing and no one is quite what they seem.

When Luke Whitney, a renowned plastic surgeon, is found stabbed to death, his wife Anna covered in his blood confesses. But when DS Rebecca Dance starts investigating the case, she finds some startling inconsistencies in Anna's account of the crime. As DS Dance digs deeper into Luke's life, she learns that he is a liar, narcissist and a cheat with a long list of scorned women including an ex-wife and a mistress. If Anna didn't kill Luke then who did? And why is she taking the fall for it?

This is a new to me author so I had no idea what to expect. The story does start off a little odd but as little clues and tidbits came along I was absolutely hooked. With multiple timelines and perspectives you are able to see the events as the characters perceive them. With twists, turns and a fast paced plot, this is definitely a read that I would recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jenny Blackhurst, and Canelo Crime for this ARC!! Publication date is April 17th 2025.

It took me a minute to get into it probably because I'm a mama at 11 month old but once I was able to sit down and really concentrate on this book OMG they twist I couldn't believe what happened happened it was truly shocking.. this is an oh my God I can't put down book!!!

Rebecca gets wakened up that there been a domestic a man has been stabbed to death in a holiday cottage, his wife Anna says she has done it but Rebecca is not convinced she has done it as the husband Luke Whitney has secrets this book is so addictive very past faced and very twisty i so recommend.

When Anna confesses to killing her husband it looks like an open and shut case but Detective Rebecca Dance isn’t happy and believes the crime scene has been staged. If Anna didn’t do it who is she covering for and why.

Rebecca’s team investigate to find out if Anna did stab Luke to death or if the real perpetrator is still out there.

This is an interesting take on a crime thriller as it starts off with the killer confessing and the main detective working hard to prove it wasn’t her that committed the crime.

I really liked the character of the detective and found her funny as well as insightful. It would be good to see her return in another book.

The plot is very twisty and takes several unseen turns as the true events of what happened to Luke and why unravel.

Overall a good thriller which kept me guessing till the end.

My thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Final Wife’ written by Jenny Blackhurst in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Luke Whitney’s wife Anna confesses to stabbing him to death when he’s found lying on the floor in their holiday home. DS Rebecca Dance can easily see through lies and is convinced Anna’s lying but she doesn’t know why.

‘The Final Wife’ is a psychological thriller of Luke Whitney, the women in his life and the police investigation into who’s actually responsible for stabbing him. After taking over from his previous wife Rose, Anna learns of the women he’s had affairs with before and since their marriage and is determined to keep him interested and be his final wife. It’s an involving plot that has many points of view and so many suspects that it’s kept me guessing as to who was responsible. Just as the loose ends were being neatly tied, a final twist arises that I wasn’t expecting and although I’ve enjoyed reading the story I’ve been left thoroughly confused and need to read the final chapters again.

Jenny Blackhurst is one of my favourite authors so when I seen this I couldn’t wait to read it and wow I was not disappointed. It was a gripping psychological thriller which had me hooked from the first page until the very last. I loved the pace of the book and how the story just flowed through told from multiple perspectives which I always find build up the suspense. Overall I absolutely devoured this book and can’t wait to recommend it to everyone. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great book.

A gripping, twist-filled thriller, The Final Wife pulls you into a world of secrets, lies, and chilling suspense. Jenny Blackhurst masterfully unravels a story where nothing—and no one—is quite what they seem. Fast-paced and full of tension, this book is perfect for fans of domestic thrillers that keep you guessing until the end.

Jenny Blackhurst's The Final Wife audiobook is a twisty and compelling psychological thriller that immediately casts doubt on the seemingly straightforward confession. The narration effectively conveys the unsettling ambiguity surrounding Anna's guilt, as she admits to the crime but can't recall the details.

Blackhurst masterfully peels back the layers of the victim, Luke Whitney, revealing a man with a dark side – a liar, a cheat, and a narcissist with a string of scorned women in his wake. The audiobook format enhances the sense of suspicion, allowing the listener to consider each potential suspect and their motives, from the neglected mistress to the jilted ex-wife and the enigmatic Anna.

The question at the heart of the story – who truly made sure Luke Whitney got what he deserved – propels the narrative forward with a relentless pace. The audiobook keeps you guessing as the police uncover the tangled web of relationships and secrets surrounding the victim. Just when you think you have it figured out, Blackhurst expertly throws in another twist, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the final, shocking revelations.

The Final Wife is a propulsive and addictive listen, perfect for fans of psychological thrillers that keep you questioning everything and everyone. Blackhurst delivers a satisfyingly dark and intricate tale where the truth is buried beneath layers of lies and the final wife might not be the only one with secrets.

The Final Wife by Jenny Blackhurst was another excellent psychological thriller and very addictive read. It was fast-paced,with brilliant twists and turns throughout that I just could not put it down until I had finished it.
Blackhurst writes all her books that will have you wanting more and this one was no different! It was a roller coaster ride. . . . .

Anna Whitney is found next to the body of her husband Luke, she claims to have stabbed him but is very unclear on the details of how and why and the police are certain she is lying. As the investigation gets underway DS Rebecca Dance and the rest of the team hear that Luke was not a very nice person, he was a liar, a cheat and a narcissist, and he tired easily of the women in his life, Anna was his second wife and he'd had numerous affairs but, did any of them hate him enough to end his life and why is Anna taking the blame?

The Final Wife is the latest thriller by Blackhurst and this one hits the ground running, it's a fast paced, multi perspective and dual timeline read with an intriguing plot and some interesting characters, which grabbed me from the start and kept me second guessing till the end when all the pieces of the puzzle slotted into place and what really happened on that night was revealed. This author is known for her great twists when you least expect them and the final twist in this book definitely caught me out. I've long since been a huge fan of Blackhurst's books and this one once again hit the spot, I'd love to see Rebecca and her team in future books.

I'd like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.