The first third of this book was slower and filled with too many unnecessary details. I understand setting the scene and establishing a background, but this was a little too long for a thriller. However, the second and third parts of this book flew by and were so enjoyable. The suspense of the killing, the downfall of the pastor, and this history of the two women made up for the first part.

This book is full of twist and turns. Told from two different perspectives, it intertwines really well as it comes together. You think you know where the plot is heading but you truly don’t. It was slow in parts of the story, but worth the read. I don’t think I’ll ever think of a pastor or his wife ever the same again. Overall it was an enjoyable quick read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the early access!

This book was brilliant. I was worried that it would be all about religion, but it was so much more. Great characters which 2 of them both Mary and Martha tell the story. It's all about secrets and deceit. Nothing is as it seems. Loved it.

I've been a longtime fan of Walker's work, especially her investigative ficiton. I think I need to update that now. Walker nailed the suspense and tension in her newest novel, The Pastor's Wife. She gives big Ozarks vibes.

LynDee Walker’s The Pastor’s Wife is a slow-burn stunner with just the right amount of side-eye. Whitney Falls might look like a postcard, but the smiles are a little too tight, the pastor a little too polished, and the silence behind closed doors? Deafening. The cast of characters makes you question every smile, every sermon, and every cup of sweet tea. Told from a tantalizing dual perspective, this story drips with tension, hidden pasts, and a creeping dread that coils tighter with every chapter. It’s like wandering through a house with too many Bibles and not enough honesty.

When the final revelation hits—hallelujah, it hurts.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Twisty, Southern-Gothic Slow Burn
The Pastor’s Wife by LynDee Walker is a quietly explosive psychological thriller that explores the hidden dangers behind small-town smiles, religious facades, and long-buried secrets. Told from two alternating perspectives—Mary, the seemingly perfect pastor’s wife, and Martha, a young woman struggling to survive—it unravels slowly at first, but the payoff is well worth the wait.

From the first chapter, Walker paints Whitney Falls as a picture-perfect Southern town, but something dark simmers beneath the surface. As Mary and Martha's worlds begin to collide, so do their secrets. The tension builds in layers, and just when you think you know where the story is headed, it takes a sharp, surprising turn. The final third is particularly strong—fast-paced, emotional, and full of gasp-worthy reveals.

While the pacing drags slightly in the middle, and some readers may find it hard to fully connect with the characters early on, Walker rewards patience with a tightly woven and satisfying conclusion. Themes of guilt, judgment, trauma, and redemption are handled with sensitivity and nuance.
If you enjoy domestic suspense with rich atmosphere and morally complex characters, The Pastor’s Wife is a compelling and memorable read.
Recommended for fans of:
    •    Gillian Flynn
    •    Stacy Willingham
    •    Psychological thrillers with Southern Gothic undertones

Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for the chance to read this book

Pretty good fast paced read with a decent twist at the end

☆ARC REVIEW☆
Publication date: Available now on Amazon & KU!


**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**

This was my first LynDee Walker book, and let's just say it will not be my last!!! 'The Pastor's Wife' is a slow burn thriller up until about 70% of the way in and then BAM, you are hit with twist after twist.

The author did an amazing job of showing how evil lurks in all forms, and is especially well hidden in those that are in power positions and/or highly admired.

Parts of this book did make my stomach turn, particularly the part similar to the Robert Pickton case (IYKYK), so DEFINITELY check your TW before reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, LynDee Walker, and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for the ARC!

Martha is an 18 year old girl with a secret. She’s new to Whitney Falls and you quickly learn that she is running from something. The new pastor’s wife reaches out to befriend her and Martha is stunned by this. She calls Mary “an actual angel” and wants to make her and her husband, Pastor Tim, happy. As she gets to know them better, things become less and less perfect in their home. Martha is hesitant to question their intentions, actions, and behaviors because she has a job and place to live because of them. But, truth always comes out!

When the book started to pick up, I did think that the plot was interesting and kept you guessing. It always seemed the both narratives were unreliable - both Mary and Martha’s. There was always either truth missing or perspective missing. At the end, I really enjoyed the ending and could see it just as a movie in my head…

But, that movie may have been on Lifetime and on during the middle of the day. While I did solidly enjoy this book at a 3 star, it didn’t seem to pick up until about 40% of the way in, in my opinion. I may have DNF’d before then if I hadn’t been reading the ARC. Unfortunately, some of the dialogue made me cringe and seemed too simple or based on a Southern stereotype. With what Martha alludes to having endured, I don’t think she would have been as naive as she was portrayed.

I think this book would appeal to readers who want a medium paced read for a vacation or car ride. It will make the time pass more quickly and may provide some talking points to anyone else around when you reach some of the twists - whether you find them farcical or truly surprising.

If you like a book with different twists, then this is for you. Told from two different perspectives, you have to love the names of Mary and Martha, the story unfolds as you learn more about each character. There were definitely some shocking scenes in the book, which I enjoyed. I enjoyed the first 25% and the last 25% of the book. It dragged on a little too much for me in the middle of the book.

The reason that I gave it three stars is because I didn't enjoy any of the characters. I usually like to cheer on at least one character, but I didn't connect with any of them. I kept picturing Mary like Georgia in Ginny & Georgia. I also felt like the story skipped around a little too much, so I was confused at times. I enjoyed the ending, but I felt it was a little rushed.

I enjoyed reading the book, though. I will never look at a pastor and his wife the same. I'm not sure that is a good thing.

Intriguing from the beginning, this thriller speaks to the heart of any of us who have felt like we don't quite fit in. Great thriller.

I love this book and all of the different boxes it checked for me: female drama: check. The church ladies, Mary, and Mary all provide more drama and mystery than you can shake a spatula at. Illicit romance: check, I can't give that away, but be prepared. Twist after twist: check. You will not believe the way this story unfolds throughout and at the end. The suspense is unreal and makes this an excellent and unexpected read. This author also manages to tackle some important social issues, so extra points for her there! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This book was a real treat!

The Pastor’s Wife was overall a good read. Martha comes off as mysterious, and the pastor and his wife seem like the perfect couple on the surface. I thought I had the plot figured out early on, but it definitely took a different direction—which I appreciated. It wasn’t predictable, and that kept me engaged.

That said, I wasn’t a fan of the ending. It felt rushed, and I was left wondering what happened to the cop who was supposed to help Martha. I really wish the conclusion had been more developed, with more closure around the cop, Mary, Charlotte, the town, and especially Martha.

Thank you Bookoutre and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Told in multiple POv’s this thriller will have you questioning who to believe, is it Mary the Pastor’s wife or Martha the new woman in town.

Set amongst a small town church community filled with drama and so many secrets, this thriller will have you immersed, wondering where the truth lies and enjoying the ride as you find out.

I recommend this for a quick read that will keep you engaged throughout.

Well this reaffirms my belief that you should never trust a pastor… KIDDING… sort of 🫣

As some who loves thrillers and has a ton of religious trauma, I knew I hadddd to read this when I saw it on NetGalley. Not gonna lie, the first 70%ish or so of the story kind of dragged on for me, but I was locked in for the last 30%! I guessed some of the plot twists, but there were a few that had my jaw on the floor. If you’re looking for a twisty story with dark religious themes and small town vibes, definitely check this book out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!! 🫶🏼

I absolutely loved how this juicy, thrilling story unfolded between the Pastor's wife and the new secretary. A delicious read that I could not out down. Clever writing, unexpected twists, and intriguing characters.

ARC Review: The Pastor’s Wife by LynDee Walker

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Setting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Themes: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotional: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, LynDee Walker, and Bookouture for the advanced copy and audiobook!

This was hands-down my favorite read of the month so far. The Pastor’s Wife is a gripping, twisty small-town thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. Told in dual POVs—from the seemingly perfect pastor’s wife to the newest woman in town who takes the job as church secretary—the story unfolds in a close-knit community where everyone knows your name… and your business.

It’s one of those towns where everyone pretends to be perfect, especially in church, but behind closed doors? Secrets, lies, and plenty of gossip. You know something shady is going on, but you’re never quite sure what—addiction? affairs? theft? maybe something much darker.

The suspense builds with each chapter as you try to piece together what’s really happening and who can be trusted.

Fast-paced, intense, and packed with tension, I couldn’t stop listening/reading until I uncovered the final truth. If you enjoy thrillers full of secrets, small-town drama, and layered female characters, this one is for you.

I enjoyed the digital copy as well as the audiobook, but with the dual POV I think I preferred the audiobook with the different narrators voicing each character.

The Pastor’s Wife by LynDee Walker
Holy cannoli, this was dark! But it was a slow descent into darkness, the further I read. The way this was curated was brilliant. The story within a story, dual narration, and perspectives were fantastic.

With delicious deceitful secrets and a need to please and feel wanted, Martha was the perfect candidate to be Mary’s friend. But Marth was not the naive waif Mary assumed. Plot. Twist.

I enjoyed the buildup of this story. I liked Martha, even though she had something she was running from in her past, and her closet had some skeletons. She was a young woman who had survived trauma, and that made her wise in ways the average person just couldn’t fathom.

Mary was well written, almost too perfect. Her ability to be whatever she felt folks expected her to be was bonkers. The way her character developed from start to finish was twisted.

This is my first LynDee Walker book, and it will not be my last. I enjoyed her writing style, and she knows how to tell a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Publication date: June 16, 2025
Publisher: Bookouture

twists, twists and more twists!

The Pastor's Wife was a page turner! I devoured this book on the first day of my summer vacation. This has everything I love about a good thriller. I will be recommending this one for a long time!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

Wow! The twists in this one were simply shocking! It took a little while to get there, but once the first twist hits, they keep rolling out. Then you just keep turning the pages so quickly that you just devour the book! I mean… I need to talk to someone about this book because WOW!!!!!

I enjoyed the chapters being told in the two different POVs – Martha’s and Mary’s. It was so interesting to see the buildup of the two meeting and then how things played out from there. The secrets and lies that were revealed!

I never imagined that this book would end the way that it did, but it was a fantastic ending. It did leave me with question that I would love to ask the author, but otherwise, I think it was the perfect ending. That’s all I’m going to say about that because I will not spoil the book for anyone.

This book is written really well and it’s really well developed. I think thriller readers will really enjoy this one. It’s out now, so get your hands on it!