This book kept me fully engaged the entire time I was reading. I did not want to put it down. I highly recommend this one.

I have read many of Jenny Blackhurst's books and they always manage to keep me hooked. This one was no different as I couldn't put it down until I knew who had committed the murder.

Immersive Whodunit..
When Luke Whitney is murdered, wife Anna confesses to the crime. Did she really commit murder and why does her confession not sound believable? As the investigation gets underway, former wives and mistresses begin to emerge and it soon transpires that there are many people who would have liked to see the victim dead. Well plotted and well executed whodunit with a cast of credible and well drawn characters populating a pacy plot with twists aplenty. Immersive and compelling,

The Final Wife by Jenny Blackhurst

AD/PR from @canelo_co @netgalley

Out 17th April

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

‘I was determined I would be the final wife- there would be no need to replace me with a newer model’

Synopsis

Till death do us part…

Luke Whitney is stabbed to death. His wife Anna confesses after she is found next to his lifeless body. But if she did it, why can’t she confirm any of the details of the crime?

More than one person had a reason to want him dead; his scorned ex, his neglected mistress and Anna.

Luke Whitney had it coming. But who made sure he got what he deserved?

Thoughts:

A great domestic suspense thriller, and for the most part I enjoyed this one! I liked the fact this one was easy to read and hard to put down. The chapters weren’t too long too, so I was certainly kept gripped all the way through! It did become a little confusing for me sometimes though- there were a lot of characters to try and keep track of. In terms of unlikable characters, Donald was horrible with the way he treats women! 😡

However, I did think the plot was quite cleverly done. I’m still unsure what happened in the end though🙉😂(anyone else who has read this? Please explain!)
The twist was good and I honestly couldn’t have predicted it - it wasn’t anything to make my jaw drop though unfortunately!

Whilst I only gave this one 3 stars, it does make me want to check out more of this authors work, as I did enjoy it overall. I think I’m more used to reading thrillers with a slightly darker theme and multiple shocking twists, so it’s a me problem! 😂 I’m sure plenty of you would enjoy this one if you’re a fan of domestic thrillers, so definitely check it out!

All opinions in this review are my own. A huge thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

A brilliant storyline and outcome, love the style of writing and the ideas in it, it had everything AAA

An extremely entertaining and twisty psychological thriller, one of those great to read fast page turner's that keep you interested throughout.

It follows the murder of a rather horrible man and the shenanigans of his various partners. Some good writing keeps you guessing the actual outcome and the multiple points of view add to the unpredictability.

Enjoyable for sure I had a lot of fun reading it and trying to work it all out.

I have been a fan of Jenny Blackhurst since reading The Hiking Trip about 3 years ago so when I saw this title on NetGalley I knew I had to request it straight away! Queen of the red herring you never know what to believe and what not to believe in Jenny’s books and this one had me hooked from start to finish! 10/10 recommend for any thriller lovers.

Jenny Blackhurst's The Final Wife is a captivating psychological thriller that excels in its intricate storytelling and memorable characters. The story unfolds following the death of plastic surgeon Luke Whitney. We are treated to the perspectives of two women who were both married to Luke, creating a gripping exploration of their relationships with him and what might reveal who his murderer. was..

A true highlight of the novel is the brilliant DS Rebecca Dance. Blackhurst crafts her as a compelling character whose sharp intelligence and determination drive the investigation forward. Moreover, her interactions with her colleagues provide moments of levity, weaving humour seamlessly into the narrative. These lighter exchanges not only add depth to her character but also enhance the overall reading experience, balancing the darker themes of the novel.

I loved the character dynamics and twisting plotlines making for an engrossing read. The surprises and emotional complexity fully captured my attention while the interplay between humour and suspense elevates it to another level.

Luke Whitney is found stabbed to death at a rural cottage. His second, and final wife, Anna, confesses to killing him. But detectives aren't convinced. There are holes in her story that you can drive a freight train through, there are lies, and there are seemingly easy details about the crime that she can't confirm. I mean, surely if you're going to stab your husband after a fight, you'd remember what the fight was about, right? (Probably threw his socks next to the laundry hamper instead of it in it.)

Luke was a narcissist. A manipulator. A liar. And above all, a serial cheater. In short, a total catch. Not. It seems that there could be quite the list of scorned and dumped women who might like to get their hands on him and hurt him fiercely. But murder? Did Anna kill her husband? Why is she so quick to confess? If she didn't, then who did and why is she protecting this person? Is it wife number one? Someone else? And why?

This is one of those books that is tough to review as it's an entertaining and okay read, but there's nothing about it that really stands out. I had a few niggles throughout as well. It seemed to lack some depth and I never really felt like I got a good handle on the women in Luke's life. I had a hard time with the wives and their attitudes towards this man who treated them like poo. The bargaining, the changing of their appearance, trying to do whatever it takes to make this loser happy when he couldn't even keep it in his trousers for five minutes. Luke wasn't a nice person, in case you hadn't realised that yet. That made it rather impossible to try and figure out whodunnit. It really could have been anyone who decided whatever he did or said was the last straw.

In hindsight, I would never have reached the correct conclusion anyway. At first it was definitely rather far-fetched. Then, true to form for this genre, there was a twist that turned things upside down again. And maybe I would have been okay if things were left done and dusted at that point. Unfortunately, the author decided on another angle and explanation that quite honestly had me rolling my eyes, I'm sorry to say. It's tough to explain without including massive spoilers. Sometimes, enough is just enough, and too much is just too much.

Up until that point though, I was rather enjoying 'The Final Wife'. It's undoubtedly full of intrigue and just like the detectives, the reader is trying to dig through the lies and find the truth. However, it needed that little bit more for me, and I would have liked it less twisty. But maybe that's just me.

It was somehow preditable but entertaining at the same time. Maybe the epilogue wasn't needed? There were some twists towards the end that I didn't exoect. At some point the voices of the characters were similar to each other snd got confusing but towards the middle it shufted and was easier to differentiate between them. Overall, a good read.

🍾 The story follows Luke Whitney who is stabbed to death. His wife Anna has confessed to killing Luke. But DS Dance is convinced that Anna is innocent and lying to protect someone.

🍾 Pick this up if you like/ don’t mind:
📌 domestic thriller
📌 fast paced plot
📌 murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the end
📌 whodunnit vibes
📌 multiple POVs/ different timelines
📌 page turner/ addictive read
📌 “unlikeable” characters
📌 enough twists and turns, betrayal, secrets, infidelity

🍾 This was my third book by the author and it didn’t disappoint. The plot was quite gripping and I easily finished it in two sittings. I had no idea what was going on and what will happen next in the story until the revelation of main plot twist, which came as a total surprise. The ending twist was shocking however it failed to have an impact. Talking about the characters, I loved the detectives duo and their chemistry. Hopefully they will be featured in author’s upcoming books as their story felt incomplete leaving the reader wanting more.

🍾 Overall it was a good read. Recommended! Thanks to the author and NetGalley for ARC.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

A suspenseful tale of deception and what they thought was love.

Luke is a man who will make you believe you are his one and only. That you are the love of his life. But behind the scenes he is nothing more than a liar and a cheat.

He is married to his second wife who knows about his cheating and decides she can do it too. Only when Luke finds out he puts a stop to her affair.
He says all the right things and Anna chooses to believe him.

Then one night Luke is on the floor with a broken beer bottle in his gut. Who could have hurt him like this when he is a prominent plastic surgeon who helps people.


Could it be Anna, his current wife? Or Rose his first wife?
Or could it be a mistress no one knows about?


A must read you need to pick up to find out.

Luke Whitney is stabbed to death. His wife Anna confesses after she is found next to his lifeless body, But if she did it, why can't she confirm any of the details of the crime?

As the police dig into the circumstances, they learn that the victim was a liar, a cheat, and a narcissist, More than one person had a reason to want him dead; his scorned ex, his neglected mistress, and Anna - who knows what happens to Mrs Whitley's when Luke gets bored of them. Luke Whitney had it coming. But who made sure he got what he deserved?

DS Rebecca Dance is convinced that Anna is lying. We have the ex-wife, the mistress, and Anna, who all have reasons why they would like Luke Whitney dead. So why was Anna confessing?

The story is told from multiple points of view, the pace is fast, and I was kept guessing throughout. It also has different timelines that are told in the past and present day. The characters are well-developed, but not all of them are likeable. I hope that there will be more books featuring DS Rebecca Dance and her team'

Published 7th April 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Canelo and the author #JennyBlackhurst for my ARC of #TheFinalWife in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it!! I would give the book 4.5 stars. There were so many twists and turns. The story had me constantly guessing and there were so many people on my suspect list. Who wouldn't want to kill Luke? He wasn't the nicest person and was actually a horrible, manipulative man. If it wasn't Anna who could it be? DS Rebecca Dance doesn't believe Anna killed her husband. So what really happened???? There were so many twists and turns, Most of them took me by surprise. I was definitely shocked when the truth about everyone was finally revealed, especially who was involved with Luke's death. Pippa was very unexpected, especially her motives. If you hate someone that much and want revenge, would you sleep with him? Anna definitely knew what kind of man Luke was when she married him. Did she really think he would never trade her in for a newer model? The games they played with each other were crazy. I loved DS Rebecca Dance and her uncanny ability to know when someone wasn't telling the truth. She could always tell when something wasn't right about a crime scene. There needs to be more books with her solving crimes.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller. The book kept me guessing until the very end. Loved the characters, writing style and story. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Canelo through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you're into for a domestic thriller that'll keep your toes curled, "The Final Wife" is a fast-paced, page-turner novel that'll entertain you. It's a gripping murder mystery that had me guessing until the end. It spins around the lives of Anna, Rose, and Luke and their bizarre relationships, which have turned deadly! Anna "allegedly" stabbed Luke and confessed to the murder. I would say I felt a mix of emotions in this novel. There's boredom, excitement, amazement, and those satisfying "oooh" moments that every thriller lover craves!

It has multiple POVs and shifts through different timelines from past to present, but generally, it's surprisingly easy to follow and read, even though the first few pages are dull because it's a bit slow and has some unnecessary narratives. It's a bit of a mess, to be honest. There were some moments along the way that made me uninterested, and I skimmed some pages, but it didn't spoil any of the fun! Giving it a go is a great idea, and it kept me engaged until the last page. It amused me enough as a reader, and I enjoyed guessing the twists and turns. I had fun correctly predicting some twists, and plenty caught me off guard! LMAO!

I had no idea what was happening until the plot developed towards the big twists that made me say, "Oh! So that's what really happened!" and it pieced everything together as the story unfolded. However, the epilogue is unnecessary (I guess) because I don't know if "she" made a significant contribution to the whole act despite "her" relationship with the Kents. "She" was just there in the background, and for me, it didn't seem to add much to the overall plot twist. It would have been more gobsmacking if it was Anna or DS Dance, not "her". In conclusion, it was a brilliant plot twist, and the author did well with this whodunit novel!

Jenny Blackhurst's "The Final Wife" is a compelling psychological thriller that delves into themes of betrayal, deception, and the complexities of human relationships. The narrative follows Anna, who, after the sudden death of her husband Luke, finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and lies that challenge her understanding of those closest to her.

Blackhurst's storytelling is both engaging and thought-provoking, drawing readers into a world where nothing is as it seems. The novel's intricate plot and well-developed characters keep readers guessing until the very end, making it a standout in the thriller genre.

Overall, "The Final Wife" is a masterfully crafted thriller that offers a fresh perspective on familiar themes, solidifying Jenny Blackhurst's reputation as a talented author in the genre.

Entertaining, is what I feel. It's a super fast read, a super easy one, and Mystery being my fave genre, I could hardly feel bored reading something that was just so easy to follow along. But what could have been a 4 or 5 stars read got severely pulled down by the super predictable plot, full of 'twists and turns' that came at you in the final act of the novel, which felt soooo dated, for me, and the completely unnecessary excess of POVs, especially because they all read the same way. Except for the Rebecca POVs, Pippa, Anna and Rose could have been the same character, down to the manner in which they refered to themselves in terms of physical descriptions - do people really talk of themselves that way in their head? I know I don't even describe myself in my head in terms of my 'coffee brown loose waves' or my 'moss green eyes'... but it's something I find more and more in books written in first person POV where the character is a woman, and it feels so cringe because, honestly NO ONE WOULD SPEAK OF THEMSELVES THAT WAY!
There was a clever, interesting plot twist at the end, which I did not see coming and that, my friends, elevated the book to a better level. Loved that detail!

Thank you NetGalley! This is my first book by this author. I throughly enjoyed it. The back and forth between the main characters is always my favorite way to read. The twists really surprised me

The final wife by Jenny Blackhurst
Told through multiple POV this is a twisty thriller that will have you guessing who has committed the crime. I really enjoyed the different characters and hearing from each one of them.
I rated this book 4 stars simply because I felt some of the details put in this book just added more confusion than necessary.
Thank you Canelo publishing for allowing me to read this ARC. I