This is a fantastic thrill ride of a book, and the amazing narration beautifully adds to the drama and suspense.

The narration by Stephanie Cannon and Pat Rodriguez is flawless. They both capture the characters beautifully, and keep the story building and building to the jaw dropping conclusion.

In this book we meet Martha, a down on her luck young woman who is just about making it by working in a local grocery store and living in a just about habitable hotel. She is trying to start her life anew and has arrived in the small town of Whitney Falls. When she crashes her car, the local pastor's wife, Mary, comes to her rescue. They quickly become very close, and when Mary invites her to move into her home with herself and her husband, Tim, Martha thinks her life has truly turned around. But Mary and Tim are not as they seem. Under the cover of law-abiding, God fearing people, they are hiding something, and Martha is determined to find out what it is.

If you love a good mystery thriller with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, then I think you will love this book.

In "The Pastor's Wife," we delve into the complexities of life behind the polished façade of a pastor’s family. This captivating novel reveals that, despite their esteemed position in the church, hidden darkness and questionable intentions can lie beneath.

The story is skillfully crafted, sharp, and filled with tension, making it a gripping read. Character development is essential to the mystery, as each revelation draws you deeper into the narrative and instills a sense of unease that keeps you intrigued.

The author masterfully intertwines themes of secrets and dread, creating an atmosphere rich with suspense. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free advance copy of this thought-provoking book.ed copy of the novel.

I’d call this a solid 3.5-star psychological thriller—one that takes small-town secrets and church gossip into some seriously dark territory. A couple of the side characters were a little cringe, and a few of the twists didn’t totally surprise me, but the ending tied everything up in a way that worked.

The audiobook was definitely the standout. The dual narrators really brought the story to life and helped smooth out some of the slower sections. If the tension had kicked in earlier, this easily could’ve been a 4-star read for me.

A good psychological thriller, took me a while to get into it but the story got more interesting the more I listened to it. Recommend if you like a thriller, mystery story.

2 out of 5 stars - Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook of The Pastor's Wife by LynDee Walker. Narrated by Stephanie Cannon and Patricia Rodriguez.

The narrators did a really great job with this novel and playing the characters. This is my first book by this author and there were times when I had to rewind to hear what I missed. The story was just okay for me - there were several parts where I felt like it dragged and then the "ah hah" moment was gone quickly. I think I just didn't enjoy it because of what is currently going on with America right now and the abuse use of religion and cheaters. I was able to push through and finish it at the speed of 2. This just was not for me.

The Pastor's Wife is a psychological thriller that explores the dark side of a seemingly perfect marriage. The book's premise is immediately intriguing - two women who are outsiders, Mary, the pastor’s wife, and Martha, a struggling cashier, become friends. They soon discover that they each have secrets they are trying to keep hidden. Their dual POVs had me captivated as I was desperate to know what would unfold at the end. The story is packed with twists and turns, keeping you on your toes as the plot unfolds.

The tension in this book is palpable. The author does a fantastic job of building a sense of unease and suspense, making it hard to put the book down. The pacing is well-handled, and the narrative moves along at a good clip. Stephanie Cannon and Patricia Rodriguez narrated in a way that had me completely invested in the characters and the storyline.

This book is a strong and suspenseful read. I love when an author that is new to me delivers and exceeds the expectations I have. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

A riveting and fun read. Loved the audio for this the narration was phenomenal. Highly, highly recommend!

Martha cannot believe her luck when she gets rescued by Mary, the pastor's wife when she is getting assaulted by Ruth for no fault of hers!
Ruth has a vengeance against Martha, as she thinks her husband has a wandering eye and Ruth thinks that her husband is having an affair with Martha.
While Martha is running away from her past and would appreciate everyone just leaving her alone, her difficulties do not stop as Ruth is out to get her - and in every step Ruth is trying to take away Martha's job!

On the other hard, the pastor's wife Mary is sure that her husband is having an affair - but with who? When she finds a key to a local motel she is very sure that something is going on.
I really would have liked this book if not for Mary's character repeatedly talking in a cringe manner about motherhood, becoming a mother in almost every page in some chapters!

Thanks to Netgally and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for an unbiased review

Overall 2.5 stars only!

A gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story alternates between the perspectives of Mary, the seemingly perfect pastor’s wife, and Martha, a newcomer to the small town of Whitney Falls. As Martha becomes more involved with the couple, she begins to notice unsettling behaviours and secrets that suggest all is not as it seems. The pacing is relentless, with twists and turns that kept me second-guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed, and the small-town setting adds to the eerie atmosphere. While the plot may seem familiar, Walker's execution and the unexpected conclusion make this a standout in the genre.

This was an interesting read! i was definitely engaged the entire time by the characters. The whole time I was left wondering who the villain was and whose narration I could trust. It was a quick listen, and thoroughly entertaining.

There were twists I didn't get because I found the audiobook a little hard to follow, but what drew me in was the characters. From the first scene, I was making judgments about people and wanting to know their motivations and secrets.
The pacing was good and kept my interest, and I enjoyed where it ended up overall. The narrator was good and made the story more tense.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Martha is looking for a new start and thinks the small town of Whitney Fall is the perfect place. No one knows her so she can be whoever she wants here. When she meets Mary, the local pastor's wife, she feels she has found a true friend and connection. Martha becomes a regular at the church and the couple welcomes them into their home with open arms. But as time goes on, the happy couple seems to have secrets of their own they are hiding. Everyone else thinks the pastor and his wife are saints, but Martha thinks they might be the worse kind of sinners.

This book was hard to follow. The timeline jumps all over and plot twists come out of nowhere. At just under 400 pages, the story drags the build up and then things happen so quickly, it doesn't make sense. The story was just kind of illogical and underdeveloped in my opinion. The narration was well done and I did finish it to see where it went, but wished I hadn't spent the time on it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audiobook for review.

The Pastor’s Wife by LynDee Walker is a spine-tingling psychological thriller that masterfully blends small-town charm with creeping dread. Narrated with chilling nuance by Stephanie Cannon and Patricia Rodriguez, this story pulls you into the unsettling world of Whitney Falls, where secrets fester behind manicured lawns and Sunday smiles. The narrator’s keen observations slowly peel back the polished surface of the pastor and his seemingly perfect wife, revealing a web of manipulation, control, and sinister intent. With taut pacing and a constant undercurrent of unease, Walker builds suspense to a fever pitch, delivering twist after twist until the jaw-dropping reveal.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
This was a solid 3.5-star psychological thriller that took church gossip and small-town secrets to a seriously dark place. Some of the side characters were downright cringe and a few twists felt predictable, but the ending wrapped things up nicely!!

The audiobook was definitely a highlight. Both narrators delivered great performances that helped carry the slower pacing. If the tension had picked up earlier, this could’ve easily been a 4-star read.

Still, I enjoyed it overall!

🗣️ What to Expect:
• Church drama
• Dual POV
• Small Town Setting
• Gossip turned dark

📖 Final Score: 3.5 stars
🎧 Audio Score: 4 stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual

📅 Pub Date: June 16, 2025
Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

I loved this! It had the perfect amount of tension, drama, and twists. Martha moves to a small town, running away from her past and befriends the Pastor's wife, Mary. Desperate to feel normal and have friends, Martha does what she can to keep her friendship, but things are never as they seem. She suspects the Pastor of dubious activity, and drama ensues.
I was pleasantly surprised with the ending and the twists, really enjoyed this book.

This was a fast paced thriller! The narrator was perfect. It has just the right amount of twist turns and secrets! I loved the characters and the theme. Great read!

There are 2 narrators on the audio book edition and they thoroughly brought this book alive. The opening was strong and my hopes were high.

Some of the events were a bit “ eyes heading to look at the ceiling” and some things were just wound up too conveniently which didn’t do the initial powerful start to the book justice .

Would I read another book by this author yes, as for me the strong beginning was so strong hooking me in I can see such potential there. Plus there were some exciting jaw dropping moments that made me eager to keep listening well into the late evening.


For me
1 powerful start
2 some jaw dropping moments
3. Different topic/ theme than a lot of other books

Audio book was very impressive

Not for me
1 some Convienient strings tied in
2 some unbelievable moments

On the whole, I did enjoy it

The Pastor’s Wife by LynDee Walker is one of those books that pulls you in slowly, then refuses to let go. What starts off as a small-town redemption story quickly twists into something darker and much more disturbing. Martha, a woman running from her past, is taken in by the seemingly perfect Pastor Tim and his wife Mary. But the more time she spends in Whitney Falls, the more she realizes something is deeply wrong behind the smiles and sermons.

I loved how the story unfolded—creeping tension, well-placed flashbacks, and two very different but equally compelling narrators. Mary’s chapters, in particular, were heartbreaking and unsettling. The way Walker captured the pressure of keeping up appearances while hiding a dangerous truth was masterfully done.

There are a few pacing dips around the middle, and the ending came on a bit fast, but honestly? The twists were so wild and unexpected I didn’t mind. This book got under my skin in the best way, and I’m still thinking about that final scene.

Highly recommend for fans of domestic thrillers with a psychological edge. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC—I’ll definitely be reading more from LynDee Walker.

This was a really fun, twisty read. The two main characters are both really interesting women, and they are both well written, without falling into stereotypes that often come with southern clergy. The ending was completely unexpected!

I listened to the audio version, and was impressed by both narrators. Their accents provided strong contrast between the two characters, which helped a lot in following the dual perspectives of the story.

ALC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Martha” is running from a dark past. After stumbling upon the small town of Whitney Falls, she decides the community is the perfect place to hide in plain sight. Unfortunately, being a mysterious, young woman has raised some concerns amongst a few town locals. So when the young, new pastor and his gorgeous wife take an interest in her, she jumps at the chance to become apart of their inner circle. While working as the church’s secretary and living in the pastor’s garage apartment has been an answer to prayer, it has also made her privy to questionable behavior. After gathering several damning pieces of evidence, Martha” must decide if she will use her discoveries against the people who took her in, or aid them in covering up their lies.

The Pastor’s Wife by LynDee Walker is a MUST read if you are in the market for a mind blowing experience. In fact, it should come with a warning to buckle up as the plot is filled with so many twists and turns, readers are bound to get some degree of whiplash. But it doesn’t end there. This story is filled with so many jaw dropping moments even the most well read psychological thriller fan will be thinking about what they read long after finishing the book.

Despite reading the brief description that accompanies the book, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. For this reason I am struggling to give an accurate rating and review. This book delivers on ALL fronts, but the disturbing content was difficult for me to stomach. I would highly recommend those thinking of picking this book up to research content warning. I don’t want to list them here, as many of them play a huge role in the plot and would spoil the story.

A shining light of this audiobook was the narration. Being a dual POV, told from both “Martha” and Mary (the pastor’s wife) perspective, both narrators did a wonderful job. Hats off to the talented Stephanie Cannon and Patricia Rodriguez for their voice acting skills.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and LynDee Walker for allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.